A person who is very sensitive, who would never speak harshly to others, and who would silently swallow their sorrow alone.
That was the image of uncle Edward that settled in my mind.
Enoch also seemed to think of his father in the same way, as he stood frozen in surprise at the unfamiliar appearance of uncle Edward.
“You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?”
“Please, Your Majesty. Allow me to return to Gray. I have nothing more to say.”
“If not now, you would never agree to meet me. I desperately want to resolve the misunderstanding between us. I haven’t even properly greeted my lovely nephew, Enoch…”
“I told you I don’t want to.”
Despite uncle Edward’s rejection, the Empress was persistent. However, her attitude did not seem entirely forceful, as her trembling voice and pitiful expression seemed so desperate.
She was overcome with the emotion of finally meeting her longed-for younger brother.
Seeing her face, not many people would think she was being stubborn. But the instinct I had carried from my previous life was on high alert.
‘Ah, this is unsettling.’
Bad memories from my past life seemed to resurface.
It was during my days as an inspector. While struggling with insufficient evidence at the scene of a suspected serial murder, a criminal investigation officer was assigned from higher up.
I once worked with a profiler on that case to apprehend the criminal. The profiler’s brief explanation about sociopaths came to mind suddenly as I watched the Empress.
‘Do you know what’s scary about those people? They have no morality or ethics, yet they are excellent at wielding the power those concepts provide.’
The Empress spoke as if she genuinely cherished and loved her brother.
But if you listened closely, it was clear she ignored uncle Edward’s repeated refusals as if she couldn’t hear them.
“Although he have cut ties with the Marquess of Blandius, it doesn’t change the fact that Edward Gray and Her Majesty the Empress are siblings.”
“Indeed. It seems he have forgotten the grace that allowed him to become the son-in-law of the Duke of Gray simply because he’s the Empress’s brother.”
Despite rejecting the Empress’s demands, uncle Edward was gradually becoming a bad person for coldly rejecting his sister’s warm concern and love.
The fear in uncle Edward’s eyes was unnoticed by everyone except Enoch and me.
‘No way, right…?’
I tried shaking my head, but no matter how much I thought about it, the Empress overlapped with the traits the profiler had taught me. Especially the way she tried to manipulate Uncle Edward by portraying herself as a victim.
“Enoch.”
I quietly nudged Enoch.
Enoch, who had been watching the conversation between uncle Edward and the Empress like a battle between a spear and a shield, finally looked at me.
“Let’s get uncle out of here and send him home. I have a plan.”
“How?”
“Just follow my lead. We can get uncle out.”
Enoch glanced at uncle Edward’s face and quickly nodded. It must have been because he also thought uncle Edward’s looked unwell. With his permission, I immediately took action.
“Oh my, uncle Edward! Are you okay?”
With the loudest voice I could muster and the best exaggeration a child could achieve, I put on a worried expression and stomped my feet anxiously.
With a face that seemed like I was about to cry, I ran into uncle Edward’s arms.
“…So, please,… Uhh? Cherry?”
Uncle Edward, who had been begging the Empress to let him go, looked at me in confusion.
“You said you were feeling unwell earlier! What should I do? You seems have such a high fever. Right, Enoch?”
“…Yes. Father, you need to rest. You might collapse like this.”
Enoch also looked at uncle Edward with concern, despite not having discussed this plan beforehand. We were quite in sync.
“What…”
Uncle, who had suddenly become a sick person, tried to say something, but I spoke faster.
“I know Her Majesty didn’t permit it, but your complexion looks terrible. What if uncle collapses here? What would Enoch do?”
“Yes, Father. If you collapse here, today’s party will be remembered as the worst celebration events ever for me.”
Uncle Edward, became someone who would soon collapse, thanks to Enoch and me.
Seeing uncle’s lips twitching in bewilderment, it really did look like he might collapse at any moment.
His complexion had worsened ever since the Empress had appeared, and others seemed to have noticed it too.
Those who had looked at uncle Edward with disdain were now casting worried glances at him.
“Come to think of it, he kept asking to be excused earlier. He must have been feeling unwell.”
“Indeed. It would be difficult for him to leave without permission when Her Majesty the Empress had just arrived.”
People’s gazes gradually turned sympathetic. It was only natural to feel sympathy for someone who looked like they might collapse from exhaustion but couldn’t rest because they were worried about the higher-ups.
“…..….”
The Empress’s face stiffened slightly as she heard people murmuring. Watching her reaction, I raised my voice and continued speaking.
“Anyone can see that uncle looks like he could collapse at any moment! Surely, Her Majesty the Empress wouldn’t deny him permission to leave!”
The phrase ‘anyone can see’ carried a lot of weight. It implied that the Empress, who supposedly loved her brother, hadn’t noticed his condition. If she truly loved her brother, there was no way she wouldn’t have noticed.
‘When you remove the mask that a sociopath is wearing, their true nature can sometimes be revealed in an instant.’
This was a distinction given by a skilled profiler.
“I didn’t know…….”
“Her Majesty the Empress surely knows! She is allowing you to leave, uncle! Go ahead and tell her you want to rest!”
“Well, Edward, I…….”
“Oh dear, uncle looks like he’s about to pass out! Enoch, we must take him away quickly! If he collapses here, how sorry would Her Majesty the Empress feel!”
The more fuss I made, the more the Empress’s eyes began to tremble slightly. If she didn’t let uncle Edward go now, she would appear as someone who ignored her sick brother just to say what she wanted.
Blaming uncle Edward for not mentioning his illness would make her seem like an uncaring sister who hadn’t noticed her beloved brother’s condition. That wasn’t the mask the Empress was wearing.
“…….….”
With no other options left, the Empress’s gaze briefly met mine. Her eyes were so sharp that a cold shiver ran down my arms.
“Go on, Edward. It’s enough that I’ve seen your face.”
“……..…!”
“You’ve been frail since you were young. Even now, you still cause us worry.”
Finally, the Empress gave her permission. Afraid that she might change her mind, Enoch quickly grabbed uncle Edward’s hand and urged him.
“Father, please go in and rest now. Come with me.”
“……Yes, alright.”
When Enoch signaled to the Gray Knights, they immediately surrounded uncle Edward, blocking the Empress’s view of him.
“……..….”
Both Enoch, who could be considered the star of the party, and the Gray Knights, who were a significant part of it, left the hall.
The party had now become quite ambiguous. The Empress, who had been left alone, would surely have realized this too.
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped from the Empress’s lips.
