Chapter 05
A shocking story dominated the headlines of major newspapers and spread across the capital. The gist was this: Michael’s mother, who had been suffering from severe depression and nervous breakdowns, committed suicide at a secluded villa where she was staying to recover. However, she was not alone when her lifeless body was found. Beside the Countess Meitner lay the body of her younger lover.
It wasn’t unusual for married nobles to have affairs, but the fact that the Countess had taken her own life alongside her lover stunned everyone. People were left speechless, and the news became even more horrifying with an additional revelation: Michael, her son, had been staying at the villa during his summer vacation.
“Can you believe it? Michael arrived at the villa just a day before his mother died!”
“It’s horrifying, isn’t it? To think she would do something like that with her son there. Did Michael find her body himself?”
“Ugh, I get chills just thinking about it. What on earth drove his mother to such an extreme?”
“I heard she was overcome with resentment toward her unfaithful husband, and her depression worsened over time.”
“But even so, it’s unbelievable.”
Friends whispered about the tragedy, and Tobias assumed that Michael, deeply affected, wouldn’t return to school for a while. Surprisingly, just a few days after the funeral, Michael came back to the dormitory, acting as if nothing had happened. His calm demeanor puzzled everyone, and even now, as an adult, Michael remained an enigma.
Tobias had known Michael Meitner for 19 years, ever since they enrolled in a private school at the age of eight. While it wasn’t wrong to call them friends, it also didn’t feel entirely accurate. Their relationship was cordial but distant.
Lost in thought, Tobias was suddenly interrupted.
“It’s time to get going, Tobias,” Michael said as he picked up his jacket, signaling that their meal was over. Tobias could sense that Michael’s mind was elsewhere—it was a look he had seen countless times.
Michael had mastered the art of keeping people at arm’s length. Tobias, despite his respectable background as a Marquis’ son, was treated with just enough courtesy to maintain appearances. It was a dynamic they both understood well.
Finally checking the time, Tobias rose and reminded Michael of an upcoming event.
“You’ll attend the gathering next week, won’t you? At least show your face this time.”
“We’ll see. Take care,” Michael replied with a practiced smile before leaving.
Michael’s car sped through the dark streets, the city lights reflecting off its sleek surface. As he left the bustling cityscape for the quieter, upscale neighborhood of his townhouse, his mind wandered back to his family’s history—a story as tragic as it was dramatic.
The Meitner family was known as “cursed” for good reason. Five years after his mother’s death, Michael’s father, Count Meitner, also died. It was the year Michael turned 17.
“Master Michael, the Count… he has passed away,” the butler had announced with a pale face.
The official cause was drowning, but the details were unclear. No one knew why the Count had gone to the secluded lake at such an early hour. Whether it was an accident or intentional remained a mystery, but most believed he had taken his own life. Rumors swirled that the Countess’ restless spirit had claimed her husband in the end.
Michael, inheriting the title at a young age, often found himself viewing life as if it were a theatrical play. His family’s demise seemed too tragic to be real. With a bitter smile, he slowed the car as he approached his home, a grand mansion others often referred to as the “cursed house of Meitner.”
In the royal court, whispers of another scandal circulated.
“Can you believe it? Prince Lars died of a heart attack during a wild party, intoxicated by alcohol and drugs.”
The palace denied the rumors, but the truth was undeniable. Prince Lars had passed away disgracefully, tarnishing the royal family’s name.
Queen Harvina, mourning the loss of her troublesome yet beloved youngest son, barely held herself together as she walked past the murmuring noblewomen. Reaching her private quarters, she collapsed onto a sofa, trembling.
“Are you all right?” King Marquis asked, guiding her gently to sit.
“I still can’t believe it… Lars is gone,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. The King closed his eyes, his expression heavy. Lars’ death, caused by his reckless lifestyle, was a stain on the royal family that could never be erased.
“We must move on,” Marquis said firmly. “As much as we grieve as parents, we must remain dignified as rulers. The longer we dwell on this, the more harm it will do to the crown.”
Despite his anger at Lars’ disgraceful behavior, Marquis refrained from harsh words, knowing they would only deepen his wife’s sorrow. He focused instead on damage control, silencing those who had been at the party and ensuring that Lars’ absence would not disrupt royal affairs.
Still, one unresolved matter loomed: what to do with Adeline, the princess who had been betrothed to Lars. Initially, their engagement had been seen as a strategic move to stabilize relations with her war-torn kingdom, but now it was another complication for the royal family to handle.
