SOWD Chapter 69

Chapter 69

“The party held at the Marquis Tollein’s residence yesterday was a huge success. Rumor has it that there were more attendees than at the imperial banquet.”

Dimarcus wore a smiling face, but Laszlo, standing beside him, could easily sense the displeasure behind his tone.

“Do you think they’ve really been lying low all this time? They’ve probably been consolidating their power even more intensely.”

“I’m not unaware of that, but now they don’t even seem to be trying to hide it.”

After the fall of the Lancaster Duchy, the three major families had kept their heads down, barely making a sound.

But no one truly believed they had been idle during those ten months.

The fact that the Tollein Marquisate’s party reportedly attracted more people than the imperial banquet was proof enough of their continued influence.

However, Laszlo remained unfazed.

“The shock of the Lancaster Duchy’s annihilation is still fresh. Those who flocked to the Tollein Marquisate’s party were likely just there to gauge the three families’ movements.”

“That doesn’t mean they won’t eventually align with them.”

“People are fickle. They won’t commit to any side until the very end. And in the end, they will stand beneath His Majesty’s feet.”

Dimarcus felt a strange sense of ease at Laszlo’s calm tone. Unlike those who loudly proclaimed their victories, Laszlo silently eliminated his enemies and claimed his triumphs. He was the sword Dimarcus trusted.

Yet, at times, Dimarcus felt a pang of regret at the distance between them. After all, they ought to be closer than this.

“Laszlo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When will you reclaim your rightful position?”

“I’ve only just started reorganizing my household, so I’m still overwhelmed. But I’ll enter society as soon as I can.”

Dimarcus still looked dissatisfied.

“I doubt you misunderstand my meaning. Will you continue pretending you don’t know?”

“I genuinely don’t understand.”

“Laszlo.”

Dimarcus sighed deeply and added a single word.

“My brother.”

This time, Laszlo’s expression soured.

“Why do you insist on this, Your Majesty?”

“Why not? Am I saying something I shouldn’t? We’re brothers, even if we don’t share the same mother.”

“I abandoned my past when I was twelve.”

“Who allowed you to do that? Do you think it’s that easy to cast aside?”

Dimarcus scoffed.

Laszlo shook his head at Dimarcus’s periodic bouts of whining.

‘I get why he’s like this, but it’s genuinely annoying.’

Unlike the three great families, who had solidified their foundations during the reign of the late emperor, Dimarcus had spent his time on the battlefield, unable to build a proper power base.

Though his consistent victories and smooth ascension to the throne had gradually strengthened the emperor’s faction, Dimarcus was always desperate for reliable confidants.

To Dimarcus, Laszlo was the blood relation heaven had returned to him.

“Right now, people believe you’re of common birth, but once it’s revealed that we’re half-brothers, they’ll see how much we resemble each other.”

“I take after my mother.”

“Yeah, right.”

Though Dimarcus sneered, it was true that Laszlo resembled his mother.

‘If I didn’t, I’d never have been able to live in my father’s house.’

Laszlo’s mother, the youngest daughter of a wealthy baron, had been quite famous in social circles at the time. Her beauty was stunning, but it was her charm and ability to captivate men that truly set her apart.

The late emperor had been so smitten with her that he made her the legal wife of a powerless viscount while keeping her as his mistress. For ten years, she was the object of his affection, leading many to speculate that she might wield more power than the empress herself.

But the affection of a powerful man is fleeting.

“I’m getting tired of this. Leave the palace.”

“Your Majesty! My son is your blood! Are you abandoning him too?”

“I only recognize the children born of the empress. No one else.”

When the emperor found a new lover, he grew indifferent to the son he once publicly claimed as his own, casting aside both the boy and his now-out-of-favor mistress.

Weeping, she had no choice but to return to the home of her ‘husband on paper.’

Usually, after being disowned by her legal husband, she would have pleaded at the doors of her family home, but something unexpected happened.

“Welcome back. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll raise that child as my own, so there’s nothing to fear.”

The legal husband, who had fallen for her the moment they were introduced for the sham marriage, had waited a full 10 years for the emperor to discard her.

The fact that she fell passionately in love with her legal husband after having no other options was, in a way, fortunate.

‘Though it was torture for me to witness their public displays of affection.’

Their love soon bore fruit. The following year, Rinia was born.

It was, in its way, a harmonious household.

Her stepfather, perhaps because of his great love for her mother, treated Laszlo like his own son. As a result, Laszlo wasn’t resented by his biological mother either.

It probably helped that Laszlo was protective of Rinia as well.

‘If only he hadn’t passed away so soon, it would’ve been an ordinary family.’

But normalcy shattered in an instant…

“Laszlo.”

Dimarcus’s call snapped Laszlo out of his thoughts, and he turned his head.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I said it like a joke, but I truly look forward to the day you’ll call me ‘Brother.’ I mean it.”

“…”

Laszlo found himself unable to respond.

Having had his family destroyed by the imperial family and the nobility, reclaiming the position Dimarcus referred to felt almost impossible.

To even imagine himself as the “Emperor’s brother” made him feel nauseous.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Even the position I hold now feels too much for me.”

Dimarcus chose to remain silent this time.

But before long, with his usual playful expression, he pointed at Laszlo and said,

“You’re underestimating yourself.”

“Hardly.”

“Just wait. One day, you’ll seize your rightful place yourself.”

Laszlo couldn’t answer again, but Dimarcus only smiled without reproach.

And in Dimarcus’s mind, a card named “Idel” gleamed brightly.

‘She’s already changed Laszlo this much. She’ll accomplish even more. The only issue is when to reveal Laszlo’s true identity to her.’

Even if Laszlo and Idel didn’t fall in love, Dimarcus had a feeling Idel would be able to tether Laszlo.

Why?

There wasn’t any specific reason.

It was just the gut instinct of someone who’d survived for a long time on the battlefield.

“Why are my ears suddenly itching?”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Pressing her ear firmly with her palm, Idel smiled brightly as though it was no big deal. Now wasn’t the time to be distracted by something as trivial as itchy ears.

She was inspecting the newly renovated laundry room with Celia.

“I couldn’t believe this was the laundry room. It’s amazing!”

Celia expressed her amazement repeatedly, marveling at the spotless, mold-free room.

The rotten wooden chairs had been discarded and replaced with clean new ones. The tubs, basins, and buckets all gleamed as if brand-new.

They no longer had to make soap every month. Now, powdered soap was being supplied by a vendor.

The old windows and entrance had been repaired, making ventilation easier, and additional hearths had been built to allow for boiling water and doing laundry simultaneously.

Watching Celia excitedly inspect the new items, Idel spoke with a touch of guilt.

“Even with all these changes, laundry is still hard work.”

“Still, now that we have more staff, it’s much less of a burden than before. And the work itself has become a lot easier.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Both Celia and Lila had declined Idel’s offer to change their roles and chose to stay in the laundry room.

They claimed it was because they were accustomed to the work, but it was also because the job had become significantly easier.

“Please guide the new maids well, Celia. And Lila too.”

“I’ll do my best, Steward!”

“Don’t tease me.”

They parted ways with cheerful laughter.

Idel then headed straight to the kitchen.

The kitchen, too, was completely transformed.

‘Now this is refreshing.’

The comparison to just a few months ago, when she had to avert her eyes from the filth, was astonishing.

“Oh, you’re here, Steward.”

“You’re doing a great job, Mr. Oliver. How’s lunch preparation coming along?”

“Of course! It was hectic at first, with the new layout and equipment, but we’ve nearly adjusted now.”

Oliver, the new chef hired after Arturo’s dismissal, was a disciple of a renowned chef. Introduced by Barbara, he had just been looking to start independently.