Episode 136
“My dear.”
As soon as I got out of the carriage, Lloydin approached me and called out.
“Duke.”
“The weather is very cold. Let’s go inside quickly.”
“Yes. Let’s go inside together.”
The temperature difference was quite severe during this time of year, so while it was somewhat bearable during the day, it got very chilly at night.
Holding hands with Lloydin, I walked into the mansion.
“Did the meeting just end?”
“Yes, it did.”
“Oh, how is His Majesty the Emperor? Is he alright?”
“It seems the situation isn’t very good.”
“What do you mean by ‘not very good’…?”
“They say His Majesty the Emperor suddenly collapsed, but they don’t know the cause.”
“They don’t know the cause?”
“Yes. The palace physicians and the temple are trying to find the cause and a treatment, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
“I see…”
Collapsed from an unknown illness?
Could it be the Crown Prince’s doing?
If it really is, what method did the Crown Prince use?
After hearing Lloydin’s words, my mind became even more tangled with thoughts.
I was so deep in thought that I didn’t hear Lloydin calling me.
“…**My dear.**”
“…Yes?”
“What are you thinking about so deeply? I’ve called you several times, but you didn’t answer.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just a bit concerned about what might happen next. So… until His Majesty the Emperor regains consciousness, will His Highness the Crown Prince take over state affairs?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
While we were conversing, we arrived at the bedroom on the second floor.
“I have some unfinished work from visiting the imperial palace today, so I’ll need to wrap that up. I might be quite late, so please go to sleep first.”
“Will you be very late?”
When I asked with a hint of disappointment, Lloydin smiled faintly and gently stroked my cheek as he answered.
“It’s already quite late, so it would be better for you to go to bed first.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
For some reason, the words telling me to sleep first felt more disappointing than usual today.
So much so that I unconsciously felt a bit dejected and was about to turn away.
“**My dear.**”
“Yes? Ah, mmph!”
Lloydin grabbed me and swiftly captured my lips.
Surprised by the soft touch of his lips, I instinctively reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck.
What began as an unexpected kiss lasted longer than I anticipated.
The kiss, which was both rough as if it would take away all sensation from my lips and gentle as if he was carefully caressing each part, overwhelmed me completely.
Lost in the kiss, it wasn’t until a while later that Lloydin finally pulled away.
“Ha…”
As soon as our lips parted, the breath I had been holding rushed out, and I slowly began to steady my breathing.
“…I’ll finish up as quickly as I can and return.”
Lloydin whispered in a low voice, so close that our lips almost touched.
Feeling my throat tighten, I could only nod in response.
A moment later, Lloydin escorted me to the bedroom and then left for his study.
Even after he was gone, I stood there for a long time, still dazed, unable to escape the lingering warmth of the kiss.
* * *
The determination to wait for Lloydin couldn’t overcome my tired body.
While waiting for him, I nodded off, but eventually, I couldn’t resist the drowsiness and collapsed onto the bed.
I don’t know how much time passed.
The sudden sound of the door opening snapped me back to full alertness.
“…Duke?”
As I focused on the door, trying to see clearly, a figure emerged from the darkness and slowly approached.
“You’re still awake?”
“No, I woke up just now. What time is it…”
I gazed out the window, trying to estimate what time it was.
“It’ll still be a little while before the sun rises.”
The dawn was just starting to brighten, and it seemed like the sun would soon rise.
“Did you just finish your work?”
“I tried to come back quickly, but I got caught up in too much work. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I slept as well. But, you hardly got any sleep, Duke. What will you do?”
“I’m alright. A short nap will be enough.”
“Then hurry up and get into bed. Get some rest, even if it’s just for a little while.”
“Yes.”
With that, Lloydin climbed into bed and pulled me into his arms.
“You should sleep some more too, my dear.”
“Yes. Let’s sleep together.”
Already drowsy and reassured by Lloydin’s return, I fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.
* * *
The next day, as soon as I woke up, I received a message from my father and headed to the Anaïs estate.
When I arrived, my father, mother, Jade, and today, even Luke, were there to greet me.
“I’m here.”
“Ayla, you’ve been visiting often lately,” my mother said with a pleasant smile.
“I missed you, Mother.”
“It feels like we’re back to the days before you got married.”
“It does, doesn’t it? And today, Luke is here too?”
“You’ve been coming and going from the house while I was away?”
“Yes. What keeps you so busy that you’re never home?”
“Well… there’s just something going on these days.”
Luke stammered, clearly flustered.
“Hmm… What could that be?”
“It’s just something, little sister.”
“And what is that?”
“You don’t need to know, little sister.”
“Then, I won’t tell you something I’ve been meaning to share with you.”
“What? What is it?”
“Since you have secrets, I should have secrets too, right?”
“No, what is it exactly?”
“I’m not telling.”
“Hey, that’s not fair!”
The family laughed heartily as Luke and I playfully bickered.
“Jade, you know, don’t you?”
Seeing that I wasn’t going to spill, Luke turned to Jade for help.
“Know what?”
“The secret Ayla is hiding.”
“I do.”
“What? Why does he know and not me? Tell me too!”
“You’ll have to hear it from Ayla.”
“But she won’t tell me.”
“Then I can’t tell you either.”
“Why is everyone against me!”
Luke scratched his head in frustration.
“Alright, let’s go inside now.”
“But, Father, we’re not finished talking.”
“I said that’s enough.”
“…Understood.”
At Father’s stern interruption, Luke finally backed down.
But he didn’t seem to want to give up completely. As we walked inside, he whispered to me.
“Fine. I’ll tell you, but you have to tell me too.”
“Really?”
“But only you can know. We’ll talk later.”
“Hmm, alright.”
Honestly, even though he’s my older brother, he’s so transparent that he feels more like a cute younger sibling.
I found it amusing and laughed, and after that, we had lunch together and enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
Later, when I heard that Father was calling me to his office, I got up immediately and headed there.
*Knock, knock.*
“Father, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
“Yes, Father.”
As soon as I entered the office, Father and I sat down on the sofa.
“So, you’ve probably heard the general situation from Duke Blighton?”
“Yes, he told me that His Majesty the Emperor collapsed from an unknown illness.”
“That’s correct.”
“Neither the palace physicians nor the temple have been able to determine the cause?”
“Yes. It’s hard to understand how this happened…”
“What about His Highness the Crown Prince? About what I mentioned yesterday. Have you noticed anything suspicious?”
“The Crown Prince has always been difficult to read, so it’s hard to tell.”
“Really? I suppose I might have been wrong. After all, how could His Highness…”
“It’s hard to completely rule out the possibility.”
Just as I was about to dismiss my suspicions about the Crown Prince, Father reignited them.
“What do you mean by that? Do you have any guesses?”
“Not yet. But…”
I fell silent, waiting for Father to continue as he seemed lost in thought.
“But he was too calm, and it all felt too natural.”
“Natural, how…?”
“As if everything had been prepared in advance.”
“Ah…”
Understanding what Father meant, I felt as if I had been struck, leaving me momentarily dazed.
“For now, we should just observe.”
“Yes.”
“And… I think it might be time to tell the family about your condition. What do you think?”
“I was thinking the same. I feel too guilty and sorry to keep it from Mother and Luke any longer.”
“Good. Then let’s do that.”
“Yes. However, I won’t mention the prophetic dreams or anything related to treason.”
“That would be wise.”
“Yes, Father.”
After our conversation, I left Father’s office.
I then made my way to the study where my mother was.
