Episode 29

“Well, it seems like we’re being summoned every other day.”

Chris walked down the corridor of the imperial palace, listening to Jade’s grumbling. Jade had been increasingly dissatisfied since they arrived in the capital.

“Just the other afternoon, the Dowager Empress suddenly summoned us to the Duke’s mansion. Your Grace nearly got caught up in a violent incident there.”

“It wasn’t as bad as you make it sound.”

“What else would you call it but a violent incident?”

Jade clenched his fist.

“You even drew your sword inside the Duke’s mansion. Hearing about it nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“His Majesty probably summoned us because of that.”

“Because of that incident?”

“The Duke must have reported to His Majesty that I drew a weapon at the mansion.”

“…The young Duke shouldn’t have provoked you in the first place.”

Jade couldn’t hold back his frustration.

“You prevented a murder, and yet they have the nerve to complain! Especially when he cowardly attacked an unarmed lady!”

“Jade.”

“Those Reinhardts…”

Jade’s incessant grumbling resumed.

Chris sighed briefly and waited for Jade to finish his rant. At least there was no one else around. After his outburst, Jade whispered as if he had just remembered.

“By the way, after hearing about what happened that day… things seem a bit different.”

“What does?”

“Mindia Reinhardt.”

Jade’s expression showed an unusual hint of pity.

“I was suspicious when I saw her wounds at the banquet… but to think she’s treated like that at home.”

“You used to criticize her a lot.”

“That’s different. This is about principle. Don’t those people have any chivalry? To treat a lady who can’t defend herself like that…”

Chris recalled the scars on Mindia’s body. The memory of those wounds made his brow furrow.

Turning his head, he saw the lush garden through the arched corridor.

The morning air was still cool.

Somewhere, the sound of a fountain could be heard. Birds sang in harmony with the splashing water. The faint sound of a harp mixed with laughter from various corners.

It was a surreal, lively, and beautiful scene.

…So different from the harsh and suffering North.

Suddenly, he thought of the Northern snow.

The fierce blizzards that bound the Northern camps and froze the ground were an unwelcome presence. Every year, people got isolated or froze to death because of the snow.

But sometimes, the snow also served to obscure the vision of monsters. And without the snow soaking the ground, the following year’s crops would fail.

So the blizzard was something he desperately didn’t want, but at the same time, something he deeply needed.

‘…Mother.’

When the blizzards raged so fiercely that he couldn’t see ahead, Chris would stand in the garden of the Grand Duke’s castle for hours.

In the numbing cold, staring at the grey sky where he couldn’t see a foot ahead, he could reflect on his situation.

Traps that could come anytime, anywhere. Problems that seemed insurmountable on his own.

Suddenly, in that grey haze, someone’s hair appeared.

“……”

Hair the same color as the ashen sky. And sharp, bright golden eyes visible through it. A body marked with scars.

Chris stopped his thoughts there.

He couldn’t help but smile wryly.

To think he would recall Mindia Reinhardt when remembering things familiar and dear to him.

‘Am I becoming desensitized?’

He had a bad habit of becoming lenient with those he let into his inner circle.

‘Of all people, a Reinhardt.’

Yet, strangely, it didn’t feel horrifying.

It should be horrifying, considering he still felt his mother’s blood on his hands, her cold body still cradled in his small arms…

Yet, when thinking of Mindia and her constant, peculiar sense of longing, it wasn’t terrifying.

“…Are you listening?”

“……”

When he turned his head again, Jade was passionately ranting, his fist clenched in indignation.

“This is still unjust. The imperial family sides with the Duke’s family even during the banquet!”

“Jade.”

“Every moment we’re stuck here, the North is under the threat of monsters!”

He saw palace servants hurrying by in the distance. Chris raised his hand to cover Jade’s mouth.

“Watch your mouth in the palace. I trust the Northern garrison.”

“I trust them too. But people might misunderstand.”

Jade grumbled. Though his attitude wasn’t fitting for the Grand Duke’s aide, Chris didn’t seem to mind.

Jade pouted.

“You should reprimand me when I talk like this!”

“I know you’re a good aide.”

“Being a good aide and being respectful to Your Grace are different! You look so stern, but why are you so soft-hearted?”

“It’s your trait to act consistently despite knowing it well.”

Jade resumed his grumbling. Chris repeatedly reminded Jade to watch his mouth but didn’t force him to be silent.

The silence might bring back memories of that grey, the necessary yet unneeded grey.

Jade’s voice broke the thoughts again.

“At times like this, I regret my lack of abilities. I should have studied more instead of just training with the sword.”

“You?”

“Why do you only joke around at times like this?”

“I’m not joking.”

“I’m not smart enough to study!”

Jade sighed and whispered with a touch of sadness.

“It would be good if there was someone to assist Your Grace. Someone familiar with the capital’s politics, even if not a brilliant strategist.”

“I already found someone, so calm down.”

Jade’s eyes widened.

“When did this happen?”

“Not long ago.”

“The only places we attended were the banquet and the Duke’s mansion yesterday…”

As Jade pondered, his expression twisted. His face was full of varied emotions.

“Did you find someone at the Duke’s mansion? A spy, perhaps? But Marie is just a maid.”

“It’s impressive you figured that out.”

“Is it someone else? Ah, perhaps…”

Jade, who seemed to be thinking seriously, blurted out.

“…Lady Aria Reinhardt?”

“Why do you think that?”

Chris answered with genuine curiosity. He wondered if Jade had developed an interest in Lady Aria Reinhardt.

“She has a reputation for being different from the other members of the Duke’s family.”

“What kind of reputation?”

“Beautiful, kind-hearted, and broad-minded. Unlike the rest of the Reinhardts, she’s said to be quite gentle and doesn’t overlook injustice.”

“Is that so.”

“I believe it’s largely because she wasn’t raised in the Duke’s household.”

“…….”

“Didn’t you meet her with the Crown Prince yesterday? Is she helping you? It’s all well and good, but the fact that she’s a Reinhardt princess doesn’t sit well with me…”

“I’m not sure.”

Jade tilted his head at Chris’s murmured response.

Chris recalled the pink-haired young lady he met yesterday.

He couldn’t ignore crying women. Even though his mother rarely cried, whenever he saw her staring dry-eyed at some distant place, it felt as if she were crying.

It was the same this time. The young lady looked so sorrowful that he approached her, and she looked up at him.

With her pink hair and bright green eyes, he recognized her.

She was Aria Reinhardt.

‘Who are you?’

Her eyes were innocent and pure, seemingly ignorant of evil or negative emotions.

The moment her eyes met his, he felt an instinctive revulsion. It was like peering into a forbidden crack of the world, a disturbing feeling.

‘…Truly, eyes that knew nothing.’

Looking into those eyes that believed only kindness and goodwill would be shown to her, he felt a strange sensation.

It was a loveliness that seemed almost crafted for that purpose.

At the same time, Mindia’s eyes came to mind. Eyes deeply etched with some sort of scars.

‘Were you in much pain?’

Eyes that held more pain than loveliness.

People with scars could be trusted.

Those who, like him, had rolled in the muck but couldn’t reveal it. Those who knew how hard and dirty it was to wash off.

‘…Is that why?’

Why he couldn’t stop thinking about Mindia Reinhardt.

Why he kept feeling a longing for her.

Jade spoke again, interpreting the frown on Chris’s face.

“Honestly, it’s hard to trust the Reinhardts. Of course, there’s talk of Aria Reinhardt being the best bride candidate in the Empire right now.”

“…….”

“Well, it’s better than Mindia Reinhardt throwing herself at you. You ended up in this mess because you tried to save her from being beaten.”

“Jade, I’ve told you not to speak carelessly about a lady’s reputation…”

Chris’s face hardened as he spoke. At that moment, a page came running from the end of the arched corridor.

“Your Grace, Grand Duke Elzerian, I’ll escort you from here.”

Jade nodded and stayed behind.

Shortly after, Chris, his face set, entered the audience chamber.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Chris bowed his head to the figure on the throne.