At first glance, the unfolded paper appeared to have nothing written on it. Since it was a document of the utmost importance, it wasn’t written for everyone to see.
Roxis brought the paper closer to the lit candle. After a moment, words slowly began to appear on the paper, as if someone had written them out of thin air.
<It still has its use.>
Though just three words, Roxis understood instantly. Narrowing his eyes, he burned the paper directly into the flame.
As the paper quickly turned to ash with acrid smoke, Roxis muttered to himself.
“It still has its use.”
Not knowing where the stupid thing would be useful, the Duke’s orders were absolute, especially if it was a black order.
“Kyle.”
“Yes, Master!”
“We will mobilize the knights. Prepare for it.”
Still, it was better to do something, anything, than to stand by and do nothing.
Leaning deeply into the backrest, Roxis planned for what lay ahead.
Why were the orders directed to him instead of Liliana?
His father was giving him a chance.
I will make sure it succeeds.
No matter how difficult it may be, he needs to succeed and make up for his mistakes.
His silver eyes, similar to those of the Duke of Cassian, shimmered faintly in the darkness.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The Empress lost her words as she observed the boxes being brought into the palace.
The onlookers held their breath as the maids opened each one to see the contents.
“These are five boxes of the finest silk.”
“Various jewels.”
“This is a box of gold ingots.”
“And this is said to be produced only on the Eastern Continent…”
Dozens of boxes were brought in, and in the last ten that were opened,
“Your Majesty, all ten boxes contain Ned ore.”
The Empress sighed, touching her forehead.
This seems more like a display of wealth than an act of repentance.
“Here is a letter.”
The letter handed over by the maid bore the official seal of Duke Cassian.
The Empress unfolded the letter with a sigh. As she read through it silently, the Empress furrowed her brows.
“Why does this feel so unsettling?”
They said to deal with Yeffa according to imperial law, and they even provided a substantial amount of wealth.
This was a total bargain.
But what is this indescribable sense of discomfort?
“Your Majesty, what shall we do?”
The maid asked, looking at the pile of boxes in the garden.
Suppressing her troubled heart, the Empress ordered her to bring them inside first.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Rohiriel had been unable to wake up for several days. Her fever had fallen and risen, her breathing steady and then ragged again.
Julion, unable to sleep, spent the night at Garnet Palace.
Even when he went to his office, he found himself unable to do anything but stare at the papers, and only the face of Rohiriel, who was struggling, was floating in his mind.
“Your Highness, I have a report.”
A quiet call from outside interrupted Julion. He gently released his grip on Rohiriel’s hand and pushed himself up from the bed.
When he stepped outside, Freck was waiting for him.
“What is it?”
Freck broke out in a cold sweat at Julion’s sharp question.
“It seems Cassian has sent a large number of gifts to the palace.”
“A large number of gifts?”
“Yes. As a gesture of repentance…”
Before Freck could finish, Julion chuckled. If the Duke was someone who genuinely cared for his child, he would have taken good care of Rohiriel.
Besides, wasn’t Cassian the one who caused Rohiriel’s mother, Shahadna, to get sick? Considering all the circumstances, it was hard to see these gifts as sincere.
“How did Her Majesty the Empress respond?”
“For now, she accepted it.”
“…Is there any other movement?”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
Freck’s words became more and more polite, and his back dipped a little lower.
Since Julion’s momentum didn’t show any signs of softening,
Julion was about to say something to Freck, but then shook his head.
“Very well. Summon Pailson. I have something to tell him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Released from the pressing questions, Freck breathed a sigh of relief and turned away.
Although he had intended to find Pailson himself, unfortunately, Freck could not move a single step.
“Your Highness, it’s an urgent report.”
This is because his target was coming his way in a hurry with his green hair whipping around.
Seeing Pailson arrive and pushing up his glasses, Freck bit his lip in disappointment.
“Just in time.”
“Oh, were you looking for me?”
“I was about to ask you to check if there have been any recent unusual movements.”
It was a vague question, but Pailson immediately understood, and his expression turned serious.
“As it happens, I have a report on that.”
Pailson spoke while rummaging through the documents he was holding close to his chest.
“Since it seems like it might take a while to explain, would you like to move to another place?”
“…Then let’s go to the office.”
Julion briefly glanced at the closed door of Rohiriel’s bedroom before taking his steps.
Freck attempted to follow Julion, but…
“You stay here. If anything happens with Rohiriel, report to me immediately.”
With Julion’s instructions, Freck found himself bound once again.
“…Understood, Your Highness.”
Freck wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. He stood alone in front of the bedroom, watching Julion and Pailson move away.
…He earnestly hoped Rohiriel would wake up soon.
Leaving Freck behind, Julion and Pailson entered the office.
It was the office at the Garnet Palace, not the Crown Prince’s Palace, as Julion had chosen to work here to save travel time.
Pailson, having locked the door and closed the window, immediately got to the point.
“Roxis’s forces are on the move.”
Julion’s eyebrows twitched slightly. With a look prompting further explanation, Pailson unfolded a map on the table.
“Here, and here. We’ve detected covert movement in two places.”
Pailson marked a few spots with red circles on the map.
Julion inquired, “The gathering point?”
“We haven’t figured that out yet.”
Julion, silently staring at the map, momentarily pursed his lips.
“How interesting.”
Cassian had clearly agreed to handle Yeffa according to imperial law.
So, in a few days, Yeffa was scheduled to be sent to the southern labor camp. And that was not yet officially announced.
However, Roxis was mobilizing his forces.
Although the exact destination was unknown, it was not difficult to guess their intentions.
As Julion was lost in thought, Pailson asked, “What shall we do, Your Highness?”
Various ideas flickered in Julion’s mind.
Then, suddenly, Rohiriel’s face would appear in the midst of his thoughts.
If it were her.
What would she have done?
“Hmm…”
With a sigh, Julion shook off the thoughts. Now was the time to focus on the task at hand. After some consideration, he discreetly instructed Pailson.
It was three hours later when he left his office after their discussion.
“Your Highness!”
Upon coming out, Freck was lingering in front of the office. Julion, with a slightly negative notion, nudged him and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, Her Highness─”
Before Pailson could finish, Julion rushed into the bedroom.
The door was already open from Barmid’s visit, and through it, the first thing that caught his eye was a head of snowy white hair.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
Seeing Julion, Hemion, with reddened eyes as if she had been crying, bowed her head.
Julion, suppressing his anxious feelings, stepped inside.
“Julion?”
A soft yet distinct voice, like a bird chirping, penetrated his ears. As he took one more step inside, Dr. Barmid, moved aside, revealing a round and fair face.
“Are you done talking to Viscount Pailson?”
In her fair face, there were bright blue eyes shining like jewels. The moment their eyes met, a dazzling smile adorned her lips, slowly pronouncing his name again.
“Julion, what’s the matter?”
Her hair cascading down in white waves, and with every blink, the fan-like flutter of snowy eyelashes. And her eyes were widening slightly, as if surprised.
There was nothing about her that didn’t catch Julion’s attention.
“Rohiriel.”
After several attempts to move his lips, Julion finally managed to utter her name.
Suddenly, he realized.
This white-haired woman before him had somehow found her way deep into his heart, without him even realizing it.
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
Translators note:
Kyle (카일) and Kali (칼리)
I’m not sure if they are the same person or not, but they are both Roxis’ attendants.
