Gote chuckled and lifted his monocle.
“Ha ha, are you sure about that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I foresee a time in the near future when His Highness the Grand Duke will be jealous of a red-haired head.”
A future where he would be jealous. The “red-haired head” Gote mentioned could only refer to someone getting close to Hilane.
“Who is it?”
Aachen’s blue eyes, as deep as the sea, flared with intensity.
“That, I don’t know. As you know, the future is only glimpsed briefly and momentarily.”
Gote stammered under Aachen’s threatening gaze.
“Speak clearly, or I’ll have your head off.”
Aachen’s expression hardened, and Gote, feeling a chill, closed his eyes to see the future.
“What do you see?”
“It seems you also dislike the little head next to…”
“Not very helpful.”
Aachen sighed, massaging his temples.
“That’s too much! You need to be generous. There will be many men you’ll be jealous of in the future, not just the red-haired head!”
Gote protested as if aggrieved.
“What?”
In response to Aachen’s question, Gote murmured in a pleased tone.
“The descendants of Amphitrite retain their youthful beauty even into old age. They receive many suitors throughout their lives.”
“…”
“If you’re not generous, you’ll end up with a rage-induced illness. Didn’t I tell you that earlier?”
Gote grinned mischievously, aggravating Aachen.
Aachen considered opening the window after drawing the curtains with a sharp tug.
‘Should I throw him out? No, if I kill the Grand Magician… I’ll end up taking over his duties.’
He hated the idea of being tied down or affiliated with any place, especially if it was the Magic Tower in the imperial palace.
Sensing a chill run down his spine at the vision of being thrown out, Gote spoke hastily.
“…I see a future where I’m thrown somewhere, but it’s fine. After all, you’re the bonded partner.”
Sensing the threat to his life, Gote raised his thumb reassuringly.
“…I’m sorry.”
Gote quickly raised his hands in surrender.
Aachen left without a word, slamming the door.
“Stop throwing people out of windows! I’ll tell the Grand Duchess later!”
Much later, after confirming that Aachen had left the Magic Tower, Gote shouted loudly.
* * *
Aachen’s mood was terrible upon returning to Hestur Castle.
‘Who could the red-haired head be? Not Marquis Rata…’
Gote’s words echoed in his mind, annoying him more the more he thought about them.
‘Should I temporarily ban anyone with red hair from entering Hestur Castle?’
While seriously considering it, Aachen noticed Hilane walking toward him.
Her silver hair swayed gently with her movements.
“…My Lady?”
Aachen called out to her as if nothing had happened.
“Grand Duke, here you are. Just in time; I was about to come to see you.”
Hilane smiled brightly, her emerald eyes blinking a couple of times.
He felt relieved that she hadn’t caught him in his earlier unpleasant state.
“Would you like some tea?”
“That sounds good.”
Listening to her elegant footsteps following him, Aachen thought,
‘If only you knew what I wanted to do to you right now.’
He hoped she would never know.
He was afraid she might run away if she knew the depth of his desire.
* * *
Hilane entered Aachen’s office with him.
As she sat on the sofa, Aachen poured the tea himself.
“Please, have some.”
“…Thank you.”
As she held the teacup, Hilane was inwardly surprised.
Aachen’s face was reflected in the clear blue tea.
“It has a pleasant aroma.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Aachen smiled as Hilane took a sip and set down the cup.
“I apologize for the late morning greeting. Did you sleep well?”
“…Yes.”
“I’m relieved you had a good first night in Belzette.”
As Aachen looked after her with care, Hilane hesitated to bring up the matter of Winter.
‘Should I tell him we were once betrothed? What if he becomes suspicious like Revan?’
Even though it was a political marriage for the sake of national harmony and complicated circumstances were involved…
It made her more cautious. She wanted an unbreakable family this time.
She wanted no flaws in the environment where Chevelyn would grow up.
Having already failed once, she didn’t want to show her weakness a second time.
‘I’d better not say anything.’
It would be a big problem if it led to discord.
“Is something troubling you?”
Seeing her hesitance, Aachen spoke first.
“Tomorrow, a doctor will come to Hestur Castle to treat Chevelyn.”
“A doctor?”
“Since it’s about bringing in an outsider, I thought you should know.”
Aachen nodded slightly at Hilane’s words.
“It’s good that a doctor is coming to treat the princess. It’s hard to find someone well-versed in child psychology.”
Having experienced similar symptoms, he understood well.
“I’ll instruct Gaeren to treat the guest well. They’re an important guest to you, aren’t they?”
Hilane appreciated Aachen’s thoughtful gesture.
“More importantly, I have something for you.”
“?”
Aachen moved to sit beside Hilane. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace.
“It’s a gift. If it’s not too much trouble, may I put it on you?”
“…Sure.”
With a clinking sound, Aachen clumsily gathered Hilane’s hair.
As he lifted her hair, he noticed red marks on her collarbone.
“……”
They were marks he had left in his desire. He tried to ignore them as he clasped the necklace around her neck.
“It’s done.”
At the time when misunderstandings were deepening due to their lack of understanding, Elisha urgently called for Hilane.
“Your Highness, you need to come to the princess immediately!”
“What’s wrong with Chevelyn?”
“Let’s go to the princess first.”
Aachen tried to calm the alarmed Hilane.
Hilane hurriedly ran to Chevelyn’s room.
“Chevelyn!”
The child, who had been fine in the morning, was now groaning and struggling to breathe.
Her body was covered in a rash and burning with fever.
Hilane placed her hand on Chevelyn’s forehead to check her temperature and shouted,
“When did this start?”
“She seemed to be sleeping soundly after breakfast, so we didn’t wake her, but when I checked just now, she was burning up….”
Elisha’s response left Hilane feeling despondent.
‘It’s just like that day.’
It had been the same then. An infant with no symptoms had suddenly spiked a fever.
“I’ll bring the doctor. We need a proper diagnosis….”
“…It’s useless.”
Hilane bit her lip as she spoke. Back then, Chevelyn had barely survived thanks to a divine miracle.
But if that was indeed a miracle, it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
“What?”
The doctors couldn’t even determine why she had a fever.
All they could say was that she wouldn’t survive the night, ripping Hilane’s heart apart.
She didn’t want to relive that memory.
Did they have any idea how devastating it was to hear that your child was about to die?
“She had a fever like this before, and no one could cure it.”
“…”
“Back then, she survived due to a divine miracle, but now… will the gods be merciful again…?”
Although she spoke calmly, Hilane was barely holding herself together.
“I wish I could be the one in pain instead….”
“…At the very least, I’ll cool her down since she’s in so much pain.”
Unbearable to watch Chevelyn suffer, Aachen conjured water droplets with magic.
He placed them around Chevelyn’s body.
Chevelyn seemed to find some relief from the coolness, but it wasn’t enough to be reassuring.
As they worried and fretted, Aachen suddenly spoke.
“My Lady, The princess’s palm… it’s glowing.”
As he said, Chevelyn’s palm was shining with her baptismal name.
At that moment, Chevelyn began to breathe heavily again.
♡♡♡
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