It was barely a year after the Empress’s death, and the Emperor’s affection had already shifted to his newly born illegitimate child.
No one dared to stop Joseph, who was the most likely heir to the throne, and in that chaos, there was no one to look after the daughter of a traitor.
Even Sienna could only watch helplessly as Joseph committed his atrocity. That cruel girl didn’t shed a single tear at the sight of the mangled animal carcass.
Simply gripping the hem of her dress tightly with both hands was the only emotional expression she showed at the time. Joseph smiled coldly as he recalled that scene.
“I’ve always wanted to destroy everything she cherished. I couldn’t bear to see any trace of happiness in someone who was born from my mother’s misfortune.”
“…..”
“The same went for those who cared for her.”
Cold eyes, the same color as Sienna’s, finally turned toward Declan.
“I care for you, Grand Duke. In some ways, I even respect you. That’s why I want to keep you by my side for a long, long time.”
Joseph had no intention of dwelling on the past bad blood between the Grand Duke’s family and the Imperial family. And he thought his counterpart would feel the same.
Whether willingly or unwillingly, Declan had acknowledged before the former Emperor that the deaths of the Grand Duke’s family were unfortunate accidents from a carriage crash, and had dutifully gone off to war. Unless he was now turning against the Imperial family, he would stick to that decision.
He had already chosen survival over avenging his parents. Though in a humbling way, he struggled to reclaim his family and lost honor through survival.
And for the House of Monferrato to regain its former glory, using Imperial connections was the quickest and easiest path.
Having gained Joseph’s trust and won Marianne’s heart, everything would be settled if Declan just reached out his hand.
It was that simple.
“But for that to happen, we need to be honest with each other.”
Declan easily realized why the Emperor had personally dismissed everyone and come to the training ground. After seeing that scene at the banquet, there was no way the Emperor would let it slide.
Suspicion toward him had already taken root in the Emperor’s mind.
Moreover, Declan knew well that no matter how cleanly you cut off a sprout, as long as the roots remain firmly planted, new sprouts will eventually emerge.
Declan lowered his rifle to the ground and spoke.
“If you have anything to ask me, please feel free to do so, Your Majesty.”
He wasn’t unaware that asking Sienna to dance was tantamount to throwing away the Emperor’s trust on his own. The Emperor’s trust simply wasn’t more valuable than Sienna.
In the end, he lost both, but he had no regrets. Like her, he simply chose a path that would leave no lingering attachments.
At Declan’s composed attitude, the Emperor smiled wryly and lowered his rifle. Then he caressed the muzzle with his other hand.
“The Kaiyan Unit where you first served in the military. I hear it’s notorious for taking on the most grueling and menial tasks in the military? They say it’s the place soldiers avoid most.”
“While that’s largely exaggerated, it wasn’t actually like that.”
“How modest of you.”
The Emperor nodded to himself and continued.
“I heard the Kaiyan Unit also supervised Melophe’s execution. I had forgotten, but you were already enlisted by then, weren’t you.”
Declan silently listened to the continuing words.
What flowed from the Emperor’s lips was from a time when he was merely a greenhorn soldier, from the distant past. But it wasn’t difficult to recall the events of that day.
The central square, the largest in the capital, was packed with crowds, with the execution platform at its center. The once most noble woman in this land had become its most beautiful spectacle.
However, what remained strongly etched in Declan’s memory wasn’t any of that. It was the child who screamed alone amidst the cheering crowd. She was the only clear memory that remained.
That inadequate sympathy from back then was the beginning of all this.
“Were you there too?”
At the direct question, Declan’s gaze turned toward him. The Emperor’s blue eyes were also coldly fixed on Declan. At this, Declan was certain.
The Emperor already knew the answer.
So this wasn’t a question seeking an answer. The Emperor was now testing his reaction.
Declan calmly stated the truth.
“I was there as part of the guard.”
At this plain response, surprise flickered across the Emperor’s face. But it soon transformed into an odd satisfaction and crude interest.
“…I hadn’t known. To think you were at that woman’s execution.”
His tone was like that of a hunter who had found proper cause.
“The Princess doesn’t know this fact, does she?”
Declan refrained from answering hastily. But the Emperor smiled knowingly.
Just then, birds hidden in the trees took flight all at once. The Emperor didn’t miss the opportunity and aimed his rifle at the flock.
Bang-
With the heavy gunshot, one small body fell to the ground.
“I was worried you might have unnecessary feelings for that child, but seeing today, it seems my worry was pointless. Whatever feelings you might have, she would never love a soldier who might have tied the rope around her mother’s neck.”
The interest faded completely from the Emperor’s gaze as he looked toward where the bird had fallen. Emotionless eyes turned to Declan.
“So in the end, we just need to sort out your feelings.”
With those final words, the Emperor turned away without even collecting his prey.
Standing still and watching the Emperor’s retreating figure, Declan let out a silent sigh. His gaze returned to where the bird had fallen. He walked heavily toward the forest.
From just beyond the nearby bushes came faint, pitiful crying sounds. Despite the close range, it seemed the shot had missed its mark.
Declan looked down at the bird writhing and bleeding. There was no hope visible. The bird on the ground looked up at him, crying sorrowfully as if begging to be saved.
He aimed his revolver precisely at the bird.
With an empty gunshot, the bird’s cry ceased.
****
The palace in Parma, where only beautiful birdsong occasionally settled upon the silence, was peaceful as any other day.
The man resting his chin on the window looked down with a bored expression. He could see a sparrow darting about in the rear garden.
When the man carelessly threw some cookie crumbs, not only the sparrow but other birds from around flew in as well.
At this, the sparrow flew far away without managing to peck even once. The man’s brow furrowed deeply with displeasure.
Knock knock, at the sound breaking the silence, golden eyes turned toward the door.
“Your Highness. It’s Philip.”
“Enter.”
A sturdy-built man entered and bowed his head toward the prince.
“Word just came that the knights have crossed the border. They should arrive at the Imperial Palace by this afternoon.”
Hearing this, the prince heaved a deep sigh.
“I thought they’d come next week. Earlier than expected.”
“I suspect they’re conscious of the rumors about the Princess that have been spreading throughout the Empire recently.”
“Rumors?”
The prince glanced up with a look that said ‘what’s that about’ as he reached for his whiskey glass.
“Recently, the Emperor held a banquet for soldiers returning from war, and apparently, the interaction between the Grand Duke and this Princess seemed unusual.”
The motion of bringing the glass to his lips froze. He turned to face the man with a hardened expression.
“The Grand Duke…”
“Yes. It’s the man you’re thinking of.”
The prince, who had been momentarily stunned, let out a hollow laugh.
“It seems even the one called the Military God is no different. Unless the future stepmother is beautiful enough to melt even that murderer’s heart?”
Jeremiah took a nervous drink and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
“Is Father still unconscious?”
“The physician says there’s no sign of further improvement.”
A dark shadow fell across Philip’s face. Jeremiah’s expression also darkened as he watched him.
“Should we try to find other medicine? The Empire might have better medical knowledge…”
“No. This is enough.”
Jeremiah ran his hand over his face.
“Even if we found new medicine, it would only be keeping Father’s body alive. That wouldn’t be fulfilling our filial duty either.”
If anything, it might have been unfilial to have kept their father’s breath going this long with all sorts of medicines. The King was in a state where his passing wouldn’t be surprising at any moment.
A month ago, he would occasionally regain consciousness and mumble deliriously, but lately, even that had stopped. He was literally no different from a living corpse.
“As originally planned, only I and a few soldiers will accompany me to the Empire. You stay here and continue monitoring Father’s condition.”
“Will that be alright? The Empire will find it suspicious that the King doesn’t make an appearance.”
“They already know that Father’s health isn’t good. So they won’t mind much about him being bedridden.”
Their situation wasn’t optimistic. The Empire acted as if Parma should consider it an honor to receive their princess as the second queen, but who didn’t know their true intention to interfere in internal affairs through the princess?
