Screech! Sensing its life was in danger, the leader screeched and fled from Kayden. Without a chance to stop it, it opened its mouth towards the corpse sprawled on the ground.
“No!” Rebecca cried out in horror. If the leader consumed that corpse, it would be back to square one.
At that moment, a crescent-shaped wind flew from somewhere and split the leader’s head in half. The leader died without even a scream.
“Is everyone alright?”
Beyond the leader’s corpse, knights of the Fifth Order led by Duke Wicksvil were seen rushing. However, by the time they arrived, nearly half of the knights from the First Order and Third Order had already been sacrificed.
* * *
“Second Prince Ferand is to be removed from the imperial family lineage!” Even the emperor, who usually had little interest in state affairs, could not conceal his fury over Ferand’s reckless actions. It was because many capable knights were lost due to his actions.
The emperor raged, declared that Ferand would be removed from the imperial family lineage, but the empress pleaded, asking not to take away the chance for a mother to hold a funeral for her son, and the matter was barely settled.
Rebecca could not escape the emperor’s wrath either.
“You let this happen because you couldn’t even control Ferand!”
The emperor knew well that Ferand was essentially Rebecca’s subordinate. Thus, he issued a house arrest order to Rebecca for failing to control Ferand and for sacrificing half of the First Order knights.
The first concubine collapsed upon hearing of Rebecca’s house arrest and was bedridden for days. Even the nobles who had unwaveringly supported Rebecca until now exchanged uneasy glances among themselves.
Considering the scale of the damage, the punishment was actually light. However, the fact that Rebecca, who had been the strongest candidate for the throne, had received an official ‘punishment’ caused a great stir among the nobles.
In the midst of this chaos, the second concubine’s palace maintained extreme silence.
“Mother, please eat something.”
Carlotta entered the second concubine’s room with a bowl of thin soup. But the second concubine stared blankly out the window, as if she hadn’t heard Carlotta’s voice. Her lips were dry and cracked, and her eyes were hollow. Carlotta felt a primal chill at the sight, but she suppressed it and placed the bowl of soup in front of the second concubine.
“The kitchen made this soup thinner for Mother.”
“…”
“Please, eat something. What to do if your condition get worse?” Carlotta pleaded, but the second concubine remained unresponsive.
Carlotta bit her lip to hold back her tears. What will happen to use now…? With Ferand dead, having inflicted significant damage on Rebecca, would she and her mother face consequences too? Or…
The more she thought about it, the more despair grew. Carlotta held back her tears and turned to leave. “I’ll leave the soup here. Please, have at least a spoonful.”
As she was about to leave the room, a frail hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. Carlotta staggered slightly and turned around with wide eyes. “…Mother?”
The next moment, the second concubine pulled Carlotta into her arms. Carlotta was startled, never having been hugged by her mother before. “M-Mother?”
“Lottie.”
It was the first time she heard her mother call her so tenderly.
The second concubine, with a teary voice, stroked Carlotta’s back. “You must not end up like your brother.”
“…”
“You must not end up like your brother…”
Hearing those murmurs, tears suddenly welled up in Carlotta’s eyes. She tried to hold back her tears by blinking rapidly, but soon, tears poured down her face.
“Sob…”
Carlotta reached out and grasped the second concubine’s sleeve. She feared that this sudden kindness from her mother might be a sign of madness, but the warmth was so sweet that she couldn’t think of rejecting it.
The second concubine comforted Carlotta, kissing her hair repeatedly. But her eyes were dry and lifeless. Yes. I can’t make the same mistake twice…
The second concubine realized that pushing Ferand had been the wrong approach only after he died. So she decided to take the opposite approach. Instead of pushing away, she would embrace her child with kindness. Then, her child wouldn’t dare think of betraying her and the first concubine, right?
At least you… The second concubine stroked Carlotta’s head, staring at the back of her head. I’ll make sure you don’t go astray, my child.
* * *
Thanks to Ludwig’s efforts, the second prince was given a simple funeral despite Rebecca being under house arrest. Since Ferand’s was completely devoured by monsters, the funeral proceeded with an empty coffin.
“Oh Tilia, please guide this poor soul to eternal rest…” The priest recited prayers for the deceased in a monotone voice.
The attendees included some members of the imperial family and a few nobles. The second concubine and Princess Carlotta stood at the front, followed by the empress, the first prince and his wife, and the third prince and his wife.
Fleur quietly wept into her handkerchief, and Elliot struggled to hold back his tears with a pained expression.
“…”
Kayden stared at the empty coffin with a troubled look. I’m not happy… Though Ferand was not a man of noble character, he was now gone. Thinking that he was born and raised as a tool, and died trying to escape that life, Ferand’s death didn’t feel pleasant.
At that moment, Diana quietly grasped Kayden’s hands firmly, as if to say she understood his feelings. Kayden looked at Diana. She smiled softly through her veil and patted his hand. In response, Kayden returned a faint smile.
Eventually, the coffin was buried, and the funeral concluded. As the ceremony progressed, nobles who had exchanged glances began to approach Kayden.
“Third Prince.”
“We heard about your feats. In this subjugation as well…”
“You were impressive…”
The nobles were eager to praise Kayden’s accomplishments. It was understandable, considering the emperor didn’t attend Ferand’s funeral, Rebecca was under house arrest at the White Flame Palace, and the first concubine was bedridden and absent. Their absence convinced the nobles. If Rebecca was like setting sun, then Kayden would be like a rising sun.
Seeing the nobles trying to align themselves with him even at Ferand’s funeral made Kayden felt a bit of revulsion. But he gripped Diana’s hand firmly, forcing a smile to ward them off. “Thank you all. But this isn’t the time or place for such words. I’ll take my leave first. See you next time.” With that, Kayden left the graveyard with Diana. The first prince and his wife, and the empress followed behind.
Once Kayden’s group departed, there was no reason for the nobles to remain. They glanced at the second concubine sitting by the tombstone and Carlotta standing behind her, then quietly dispersed one by one. Eventually, even the priest left the gravesite, leaving only the second concubine and Carlotta.
How long are we going to stay here? Carlotta, wanting to return to the palace, shifted her weight and watched her mother. But the second concubine remained silently bowed before the grave.
It was then.
“…Adella.”
A faint voice called out.
The second concubine’s eyes widened, and she turned her head. A sigh-like voice escaped her lips.
“Your Highness First Concubine.”
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