I couldn’t hide my astonishment and looked at the spot where the man had been standing just moments before.
Was he a wizard?
The sudden appearance and disappearance of a person could only be attributed to teleportation magic, and the man had used it without employing a magic crystal. Thus, it was natural to think he was a wizard.
I stood there dazed for a moment, then snapped to my senses and slowly started walking.
Whether the man I had just seen was a wizard or not was of no concern to me.
Therefore, there was no need to dwell on it any further. As I finished my thoughts, the unintentional encounter with the red-haired man began to fade from my mind.
***
I sat down in a spot where the sunlight was nice, putting down the books I was holding. Then, pondering what to look at first, I picked a book that categorized families into factions.
To help Ruth, I had to find information he didn’t know, so reading the books in the royal library was pointless. Everything here was likely something Ruth already knew.
Therefore, reading these books wasn’t for the purpose of obtaining new information, but rather to draft a rough plan for the future. It was necessary because it was impossible to move forward without any knowledge.
…But was there information that Emperor Ruth didn’t know?
As I flipped through the book, a question suddenly came to mind, and my shoulders drooped powerlessly.
The Emperor inherently possesses absolute power, meaning he should be able to have everything he desires. So no matter how hard I try, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to surpass Ruth’s informational resources.
Then, why did Ruth, who probably knew this fact better than anyone, accept my proposal?
While I was engulfed in a low mood, a question lurking in a corner of my mind began to swell up until it reached a conclusion and then stopped. For some reason, despite all these disadvantages, Ruth needs me.
“I am needed, huh…”
I murmured softly and forced my lips into my mouth to stop myself from laughing foolishly.
But she couldn’t do anything about the gently bending eyes.
“Hmm?”
It was when I was picking up the pace, flipping through the book again with renewed confidence. A familiar family name briefly caught my eye.
[Neutral Faction: Harvest Marquis].
If my memory serves right, the Harvest Marquis was the family of the aide who brought Ruth’s proposal last time.
She was like spring, with pink hair and clear silver eyes, probably named Lilia, I think. I was still tracing back a vivid memory from a month ago, and looked over the Harvest family tree written in large letters beneath that name.
While examining the family tree that stretched from the 1st to the 18th generation, I suddenly felt something was off. There was clearly a line connected next to “Lilia Harvest,” but the actual name was missing.
Was Lilia not an only child? I hadn’t heard of another bloodline within the Harvest family…
Could it be a bastard child?
But even if it was a bastard child, by law, it should be written on the family tree. Numerous thoughts crossed my mind, but no satisfactory answer emerged. I just fell deeper into the mystery.
I’ll have to ask Ian later. In the end, without resolving the uneasiness, I decided to ask Ian later.
I was planning to obtain the information necessary to meet the contractual conditions with Ruth through Ian anyway. Adding the issue of the hidden bloodline of the Harvest family wouldn’t be a problem at all. He promised to help me with all his might in every possible way.
As I stopped looking into the Harvest family and moved on to the part about the nobility, the name of the house written at the top of the first page caught my hand that was thoughtlessly about to turn the page.
[Nobility: Duke Hazel House]
“……”
A cold shiver ran up my spine.
“Uncle is Laszlo Hazel, the head of the Duke Hazel House.”
An old event that I had tried hard to ignore came crashing back like a broken dam. Even though 11 years had passed, it was as vivid as if it had happened just yesterday.
This person is still doing well. Unlike my father, who fell at once, he hasn’t collapsed yet.
I remembered the snake-like gaze of the Duke Hazel and shrank a bit. Even though the Duke Hazel was not in front of me, the pressure of that day was still felt vividly.
If I were to receive the support of more than half of the four great ducal houses…
Suddenly, the future seemed grim.
Someday, as Ruth’s fiancée, I would have to face Duke Hazel. Will I be able to act as if it’s nothing?
Could it be possible not to resent Duke Hazel?
“Sigh.”
I let out a short sigh, trying to shake off my distraction by quickly shaking my head.
Pull yourself together. Now is not the time to weaken.
One cannot always be trapped in the nightmares of childhood. Therefore, instead of fearing a confrontation with Duke Hazel, I had to focus on something else. For instance, considering how to approach the other two ducal families aside from the Hazel family.
Excluding the Obelton and Hazel families, the remaining major ducal families are the Abyss and the Dright…
While I was counting the remaining ducal families, I saw Ruth walking towards me.
Startled by Ruth’s sudden appearance, I hastily stood up and greeted him with proper respect.
“Your Majesty. What brings you here…”
I managed to ask the question, but had to swallow the rest of it before even finishing, as…
“…”
“…!”
Ruth glanced at me and walked past me without another word.
“…”
As he moved away from me, I clenched my hand tightly enough that my fingernails could wound the delicate flesh of my palm.
Until just moments ago, the clarity of my future actions had provided a sense of relief, but now my chest felt heavy as if weighed down by a stone.
I dropped my head, heavy with this burden, and repeatedly clenched and unclenched my hand.
I had long expected to be neglected. Thus, I didn’t want to behave foolishly over something so trivial. Against my complex feelings, I pushed them aside and took a deep breath, which gradually diminished the bitter taste swirling in my mouth.
Eventually, as I gathered my swirling emotions and lifted my head, I saw Isabella standing outside the open library door, looking at me.
“!”
Isabella, upon our eyes meeting, appeared significantly flustered.
My reaction was not much different.
Hadn’t the door been closed? When did it open?
I looked towards the ambiguously open door and sketched a self-mocking smile.
So, she saw everything about how Ruth ignored me?
“So, there were rumors about His Majesty’s first love for a while. And yesterday, His Majesty called off the engagement party for no other reason than the Lady’s ill health,”
Isabella’s words from our way to the library echoed in my ears.
“Ah.”
A small sigh slipped between the lips.
…Would it have been better if I had denied that rumor immediately? An unreachable question wandered in my head like a vagabond.
I faced the confused Isabella, holding back the rising bile, and lifted the corners of my mouth. 150 days, 150 days. I muttered the duration of my contract with Ruth out of habit.
Although all the choices I’ve made so far turned out to be wrong, it was still okay for now.
***
“……”
“……”
Throughout the walk from the library to the bedroom, there was no conversation between Isabella and me. It was an uncomfortable silence, but on the other hand, I was relieved that she didn’t bring up what happened in the library.
As we hurried our steps engulfed in the awkward atmosphere, we soon found ourselves in front of the bedroom.
I started speaking as calmly as possible, without showing my eagerness.
“I want to be alone now, so please leave. I’ll call you later.”
“Yes, I understand……”
“Lady.”
It was at the moment Isabella was about to leave, following my instruction, that Wilson’s voice was heard from behind.
“Wilson? What is it?”
As I turned my head in puzzlement, Wilson rounded his lips.
“I have found someone to take charge of your bridal lessons, my lady.”
“Already? I heard from Isabella it would take a few days.”
“Yes, I thought so too. But I just received a positive response from the person I contacted a moment ago.”
That’s why he seemed so pleased.
I chuckled and asked,
“Who is that person?”
“She is the Countess of Sirael.”
“The Countess of Sirael, is it?”
If it was the Countess of Sirael, then she was someone quite well-known to me.
Back in her maiden days, she reigned as the belle of social circles and after a passionate romance, married the emerging noble, the Count of Sirael. Now, she devotes her efforts to teaching young ladies.
I was inwardly astonished as I pieced together the stories I had heard about the Countess of Sirael.
She had once been the flower of social circles and now stood at the core of the emerging noble forces. The fact that such an impressive figure would be in charge of my bridal lessons felt surreal.
At the same time, I realized this was a good opportunity. If she could become my person, there would be nothing more reassuring than that.
“So when is the first lesson?”
“In four days.”
The prompt reply made my mind whirl.
After a moment of calculating time and organizing plans, I smiled slyly.
I had more to do now.
***
Looking forward to the lessons with Countess Sirael, I quickly passed four days studying about the mining business. And now, I was in the drawing room, waiting for Countess Sirael to arrive soon.
“Sigh…”
Feeling nervous, I glanced at the wall clock and fiddled with my fingers.
To make a good first impression on her, I diligently prepared since early morning.
I neatly tied up my long hair and chose the best outfit from the ones brought from the mansion.
I hope I will be to Countess Sirael’s liking.
As I was checking my appearance again, a strange woman followed by a servant entered the drawing room.
