4. In the Name of Family

Episode 35

The next day, after a heated political meeting, I returned to my room. The perceptive chamberlain, Tito, brought me a refreshing cold tea.

I downed the cold tea in one gulp and sprawled on the sofa, prompting Tito to ask with a worried face,

“Your Majesty, did something happen during the meeting?”

“Lian was spouting nonsense.”

“Duke Zernia?”

“Yes, he made a fuss about pouring the second half of the year’s budget into creating a new royal guard unit, and it was exhausting to stop him.”

Lian had come up with a detailed plan for the formation and budget of the unit, including training guidelines, and he aggressively pushed the nobles to agree overnight.

Just thinking about it gave me a headache, so I asked Tito for another glass of cold tea.

“It doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.”

“Tito, the Belpator Empire already has 150,000 imperial troops. Do you know how much the annual defense budget is? And now, he wants to create a unit of ten thousand troops solely for the protection of Lothania and me? How is that not a bad idea?”

“The safety of Your Majesty and the Crown Princess is more important than money. With assassins targeting you, I am also concerned.”

“The royal guard is sufficient for the protection of the royal family. I was careless that day. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Seeing Tito’s worried face, I reassured him with a promise.

Tito smiled kindly and handed me another glass of cold tea.

“I’m unsure whether to be impressed or worried that Your Majesty prioritizes the empire’s finances over your own safety.”

“Be happy that we avoided unnecessary waste.”

I sipped the cold tea and replied, making the chamberlain laugh heartily.

After putting down my glass, I finally asked Tito the question I had been meaning to.

“Tito, do you know anything about the quarrels between the Emperor and Marchioness Senwood since last fall?”

Tito chose his words carefully, recalling the events, and then spoke cautiously.

“I overheard them quarreling once.”

Last winter, Bonita had barged into the Emperor’s office, venting her anger at Nerian.

Tito, retreating from the room, had heard her voice through the partially closed door.

“She said, ‘We share the same blood, so why am I just a marchioness and my son merely a marquess?’”

When Bonita was still a princess, she had always wanted to become the master of the Oath.

Her bold nature was evident when she openly expressed her disappointment when Nerian awakened.

But since the bond between the siblings was so strong and the position of the master was fixed until death, she eventually accepted it.

Years passed, and only after more than a decade did she suddenly feel wronged.

Nerian, who initially understood and consoled his sister, began to be wary of her, causing the once close siblings to drift apart.

I asked Tito, who finished speaking with a somber face, another question.

“Why haven’t you told me this before? The one who killed the Emperor could be Marchioness Senwood.”

“Pardon? No, that can’t be, Your Majesty.”

“Why not? Because she’s family to the late Emperor? Tito, you know she covets the throne Lothania is to inherit.”

“She may be ambitious enough to covet the empty throne, but they were devoted siblings for over thirty years. I can’t believe she would harm the Emperor.”

Tito was well aware of Bonita’s ambitions.

As a loyal chamberlain who wished to uphold the Emperor’s will and protect the Crown Princess Lothania, he had always been wary of Bonita’s attempts to take over the palace and push me out.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to believe that Bonita had killed Nerian.

The chamberlain, who had watched over Bonita since birth, shook his head firmly, denying the possibility.

Until Aiden found conclusive evidence, all of this was just speculation.

I tried to comfort the distressed Tito.

“I understand, Tito. There’s nothing certain yet, so don’t worry too much.”

“Even though it seems impossible, if, if she really did it… what will become of His late Majesty and the Crown Princess? Oh, Your Majesty…”

Every death is a tragedy, but a death at the hands of a loved one is especially so.

The time spent trusting and loving them becomes the very reason for the tragedy.

When the one who took the life is a family member who has been with them since birth, the tragedy transcends even the bounds of sorrow.

Seeing the tears well up in the eyes of the loyal, old chamberlain, my own throat tightened with the weight of this immense tragedy.

 

* * *

 

Yesterday I saw him, the day before too, but today was the dog’s day.

I couldn’t just wallow in sadness, so I headed to the palace.

Under the scorching summer sun, Aiden, dressed in black from head to toe, was waiting for me.

When he spotted me, he ran over like a puppy.

“Aiden.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Aren’t you hot?”

“I am.”

Despite wearing a suffocating black outfit, he looked refreshed as he admitted to feeling hot.

I guess snakes don’t feel heat, and dogs must like it.

It must be because they’re beasts; they’re strong.

Accepting Aiden’s offered hand, I entered the palace and sat down to have lunch together in the dining room.

The weather was hot, and my mood was low due to the earlier conversation with Tito, so I had no appetite.

The main course, a thick steak that looked overwhelming, was brought out. Watching Aiden heartily devour his portion of meat, I managed to eat a few bites.

For dessert, a cake topped with sugar-coated grapes was served.

Aiden, who had been staring blankly at the cake, pushed his plate towards me.

“Aiden, don’t you like grapes?”

“I don’t have any particular dislikes.”

“Then why?”

“You like grapes.”

Did I?

I tilted my head, then remembered yesterday’s lunch in Alpo.

Tired from the long journey, I had only nibbled on the fruit salad, picking out the grapes because they were refreshing.

I thought he was too busy eating to notice, but it seemed he had been watching.

Despite his impudent demeanor, he had a considerate side, which made me chuckle.

“I’m fine with this, so you can have it.”

“Please, eat more of what you like. You always eat as little as a bird.”

He pushed the cake plate back to me, insisting, but Aiden placed the plate firmly in front of me.

Birds? That was unfair. I had eaten half of my steak today.

I was about to protest that no bird eats that much, but then I remembered that he had eaten about five times the amount of steak I had.

Thinking about the food costs for raising a beast with a hearty appetite, I made a playful remark to the thoughtful dog.

“They say dogs don’t share their food. Did I get it wrong?”

“Wolves do. They feed the pack first.”

“Were you a wolf and not a dog?”

I asked with wide eyes at the unexpected answer. No wonder he seemed fierce.

Gaining a clue that made sense, I nodded in understanding. Aiden, with a self-deprecating smile, replied,

“What does it matter? Once tamed, I’m just a dog anyway.”

I couldn’t tell what he was bitter about.

Was he upset about being treated like a dog when he was a wolf, or was he bitter about being tamed?

If it was the former, it was beyond my understanding as a human, and if it was the latter, it put me in a difficult position.

I gestured to the servant standing behind us.

“Bring two slices of cake for Duke Tilender.”

The servant promptly placed two plates of cake in front of Aiden.

He looked at me in astonishment, and I smiled, picking up my fork.

“You gave me this, so I will eat it all. You eat those. It’s a gift for the obedient dog.”

Aiden glanced between me and the cake, twitching the corners of his mouth.

I saw his lips twitching like a tail wagging uncontrollably, but he glared at me with his red eyes and asked,

“You intend to tame me with just this?”

His tone and expression suddenly became threatening and insolent.

Was it his pride that was hurt at the thought of exposing his belly for two slices of cake, or was he testing me, or just putting on a show?

Who could understand the heart of a sensitive dog? But what could I do? I had already seen it.