Chapter 77
The Archduke of Halbern smiled a plausible smile. Even at this moment, it was a stunningly beautiful smile.
“I asked Regent Locke to return my sister, whom he took by force, and as you can see, he refused.”
“I see.”
Duke Mubisk, Duke Sperom, and even Emperor Edward fell silent, not knowing what to say at this point.
“On the contrary, Regent Locke accused me of stealing his sister.”
“…”
“I see you have a problem with your sister.”
Emperor Edward remembered an old and venomous scandal involving the House of Halbern.
‘That the previous Archduke of Halbern had sold his only daughter to the Regent of Locke in exchange for a share of the estate.’
The current Archduke of Halbern, Valar’s sister, and the current Duchess of Locke, Lady Ione, was allegedly forced into an unwanted marriage.
It was a scandal of unknown origin, but everyone thought it was nonsense.
Except for those who knew the truth.
That was the current Archduke of Halbern, Valar.
“I suppose you would have been better off… in a northern castle.”
The Duke of Mubisk was speechless, as if thinking about something, and the Duke of Sperom’s head was spinning.
Only the Archduke of Halbern remained silent.
It was not good news that the Archduke of Halbern, who supported Albrecht, was at odds with the Regent of the Southern Empire of Peytal.
“Valar, you don’t mean to steal your sister, do you?”
Emperor Edward asked insistently, suddenly feeling ominous.
“Of course not? Huh? Valar. As soon as you do, you’ll be at war with the Southern Empire. You know that, don’t you?”
“So you think Albrecht will lose?”
“It’s best not to go to war!”
“I’ll take over the Southern Empire and give you the whole continent, but you don’t like it?”
“Uh, no, I don’t like it, leave me alone, please.”
Archduke Halbern laughed softly.
“Our Majesty does not have much desire for land.”
“Do you have any idea how much the Holy Land cares if we occupy that place and persecute the weak because Shugra and the Yuuyo Alliance give a fuck? I want to live my life in peace.”
Unnecessary turmoil means more work to do, and more work means less time to spend with his beloved wife.
That was the last thing Emperor Edward wanted more than anything.
Even now, he can’t wait to get away from his immediate duties and spend time with his Empress.
Emperor Edward pressed his brows together in a soothing manner.
“Your sister might be doing well there too.”
“…”
The Archduke of Halbern’s face lost its expression.
His deeply sunken eyes were so dark that for a moment Emperor Edward wondered if he had said the wrong thing.
“Well, maybe not, but at least she hasn’t called to say she’s in trouble, has she?”
He poked the Archduke of Halbern with anxiety, but his eyes stared off into thin air, unable to discern what he was thinking.
The mood plummets to the floor in an instant.
Match!
“Okay, stop it, your majesty, tell us what you have summoned us for.”
The mood was suddenly lifted by the appropriate interjection of the Duke of Mubisk.
Emperor Edward glanced at Archduke Halbern and nodded.
“Speaking of which, at this convention…”
***
Duke Mubisk hurried to find the missing Archduke Halbern.
Beside him, Duke Sperom called out to his dragon, searching for Archduke Halbern, but he was already out of the Imperial Palace.
‘It’s not that fast.’
“Why did he disappear so quickly?”
“I thought Simon might be bothering you.”
“Alas, dragon byproduct.”
The Duke of Mubisk nodded in understanding.
There was a short silence between them.
This was the only person of his age who had ever crossed swords with him for any length of time.
The Duke of Mubisk knew he had the advantage in pure swordsmanship, but he could not guarantee victory against the one and only Archduke of Halbern. He still does.
‘Halbern is a man of many secrets.’
Not knowing his opponent’s strength meant that even if he had the advantage in skill, there were variables he couldn’t control.
“Valar, to be honest, I didn’t think you would come. I thought you were going to die in a castle in the north.”
“I wasn’t planning on coming either.”
“Well, you did.”
“I thought I’d regret it if I didn’t come.”
The voice was languid and dull.
“I’m sick and tired of regrets.”
His wandering purple eyes looked vulnerable today.
It was not easy to tell what he regretted, or what he had regretted, but the Duke of Mubisk chose to bury it quietly rather than probe.
“Have you come full circle?”
“Perhaps.”
“… Cheer up.”
The Archduke of Halbern smiled at the belated consolation.
“Let me know if you’re struggling, we’re friends.”
“Friends.”
Nice word.
“Quian.”
“Huh?”
“Haven’t you heard that you’re too nice? You shouldn’t go around saying that to just anybody.”
“You’re not just anybody.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Halbern doesn’t share secrets.”
The Archduke of Halbern shrugged.
What secrets are there, anyway?
The Duke of Mubisk sighed.
“Your daughter, she was very cute.”
“Have you seen her?”
“I hear she’s friends with my son.”
“You have a son?”
Friends, by the way. He remembered the tiny body cowering at the sight of him, and he was puzzled. He’d expected him to be timid and quiet.
“I have two.”
“I think I saw you that day.”
“Anyway, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, so please be nice to him. It’s the first time he’s seen his father since he was born, and he must have missed him a lot.”
Done. As he recalled, he didn’t look that affectionate.
“Well…”
Archduke Halbern smirked, remembering how she had clung to Mehen by the hem of his robe.
So this is it, Wen, who’s the parent.
“Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so take good care of yourself. From the child’s perspective, isn’t this the first time she’s seen her father since she was born? She must have missed her father so much.”
“You make me feel like rubbish, I don’t think I can do that.”
“I know you…”
“That’s a bit much.”
You’d think he was going to slap you.
The Duke of Mubisk stepped aside without a word. He disappeared in another direction, and the Archduke of Halbern, who had stopped laughing, stood before the small circle.
“Archduke of Halbern.”
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Pession glared at Archduke Halbern with a look of displeasure.
***
Pession looked up at Archduke Halbern with a disgruntled expression. The height difference made it difficult to look up.
The Archduke of Halbern, who smiled crookedly, made the first move.
“We have never met. His Imperial Highness, the Archduke of Halbern. May the spirituality of the Little Sun be with you.”
“Crown Prince Pession Allermann.”
Pession, who had been polite, opened his mouth, still looking disgruntled.
“I’ll allow you to call me by my first name in private.”
“It is not proper to call a noble man by his first name.”
“The Archduke of Halbern?”
Instead of answering, Archduke Halbern only smiled faintly. It seemed as if he would refuse even if he gave him permission, since he did not feel like it.
Pession thought that Archduke Halbern was a very annoying person.
“Is there anything you would like to say to me, Your Highness?”
Pession scowled. Maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t even weaned yet, but even so, he was cute.
‘You look like Edward.’
Where had Empress Ageni’s genes gone, he could have been a mini-Edward. Of course, Pession was prettier than Edward.
Archduke Halbern clicked his tongue inwardly.
He could have been nicer to him if he hadn’t been talking nonsense about being a son-in-law.
“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll take my leave.”
Pession’s mouth barely opened, a look of great pride on his face.
“…I need permission to visit the Halbern mansion.”
“Me, why?”
“Because I miss Arellin!”
Archduke Halbern’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of Pession looking down at him as if there was nothing else to think about.
Behind him, Graham put his hand on his forehead and looked frustrated.
