In his desperate situation, Peon, who was far from forgiveness, had to carefully listen to his wife’s words. Since he had been ignoring her all along, he now needed to listen well.
So, he obediently listened to his wife’s words, which she emphasized by clenching her fist and shouting, “No way!”
Her insistence that he must not be late for the palace entry was typically wife-like. She was an incredibly kind wife who had given him clothing as a gift, even though her husband, who had driven her to the brink of death, would not appear attractive.
“Do you like it?”
Kaela, who had turned her back as if she hadn’t seen her husband changing clothes, sat down at the vanity and hesitantly asked. She was curious about what Peon thought.
“On the day you wear that sapphire, I’ll wear these clothes too.”
The blue seemed refreshing, maintaining a serious tone.
“Oh, did you finish changing?”
“Yes.”
When he said this, Kaela turned her head and was startled.
“No, you haven’t!”
“What’s there to make a fuss about when you’ve already seen everything.”
He smiled and picked up his waist belt. Gentlemen had just as many supplementary items as women.
So, while changing, servants usually accompany him, but Peon casually gathered everything himself – socks garter, waist belt, shirt garter, and cravat.
“Take a look. Is it okay? I really like it.”
“Did you really change completely?”
“Not entirely, just covered the bare skin appropriately.”
Her eyes, full of suspicion, glanced at him through her fingers. Peon chuckled.
“Why are you being so formal? You’ve already seen everything.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“…We’ll do it during the day.”
Kaela didn’t respond and helped Peon, who was in the middle of putting on his vest. These days, since he himself helps her with her stocking garter, she couldn’t just receive help.
“You’ll help?”
Peon gladly welcomed her small hand approaching.
Though his body was enormously solid and muscular when stripped, when dressed in a vest and pants delicately embroidered without excess, and a pure white shirt, he looked surprisingly agile and slender.
The expensive yet light fabric wrapped him perfectly. The formal wear he originally wore was also prepared by the empress and suited him well, but a new outfit is still a new outfit. He looked like a sophisticated Craine gentleman and a powerful ruler who controlled everything.
Kaela deliberately fastened the buttons tightly and wrapped the cravat.
As if to suppress the terrifying power he held within by wrapping it in well-refined civilization – though she knew he was enjoying her earnest assistance with a slight smile.
“Are we done? Can I go now?”
Kaela tilted her head, then rummaged through the jewelry box he handed her. After contemplating for a while between the smallest brooch and scarf ring, she attached a brooch with a small sapphire to his cravat as decoration.
“Done?”
She finally nodded. Next time, she’ll make him a cufflink made of blue sapphire as a return gift. Since he’s given her so much, it’s just a reciprocation. Peon will probably like it.
“Go now.”
The small jewel on Peon’s cravat and the brooch Kaela wore on her chest were exactly the same shape.
Looking like a couple, they left the townhouse and headed towards the imperial palace. Even the path to the palace was predetermined. The couple descended from the carriage, with the husband accompanying his wife without separation, all the way to her destination.
It was already well-known throughout Craine that the Grand Duke of Lusenford cherished his sickly wife with utmost care.
Rumors that mocked him naturally followed, but that was because the Grand Ducal couple was at the center of everyone’s attention.
“Don’t overexert yourself, and don’t try to take care of everything for the Crown Prince. Anyway, he can’t do everything, so think about yourself first.”
Worried that Kaela might cause herself more suffering, Peon firmly instructed her.
“Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Not just ‘yes’.”
“Okay.”
When she nodded, Peon finally smiled brightly and kissed Kaela one last time before letting her inside.
“See you later.”
As always, he planned to stand there until she was out of sight. However, a servant approached him.
“Grand Duke, His Majesty is calling for you. He requests you come to the Soleil Palace immediately.”
Peon’s cold eyes were filled with Kaela’s radiant back.
Would giving her one dress, perfectly matching accessories, and a jewelry set each day improve her mood a bit?
After all, such things are just a temporary measure to momentarily draw her attention from death back to reality. Kaela had no interest in the world.
“Go.”
It was time to endure nausea again.
****
“What’s the recent situation with the Evil Dragon?”
The emperor suddenly asked upon summoning Peon. Having already submitted monthly reports, Peon calmly answered while looking at the mountain of report stacks on the emperor’s desk.
“Since my departure, it has been quiet after one attack attempt.”
“Isn’t this more of a riot than an attack? Wasn’t it like screaming and crying? The report said there was no military friction.”
He answered brazenly about the cause that made the Evil Dragon Gusalante wail.
“I cannot say for certain. After intrusion, I personally scouted countless times to understand why they retreated without a proper attack, but I couldn’t even see the monster’s shadow.”
“Suspicious.”
“Yes. Because it’s suspicious, we’re expanding fortifications and intensifying reconnaissance.”
“The Evil Dragon is extremely cunning. While appearing dormant, he might strike from behind at any moment. He’s definitely planning something.”
The emperor spoke anxiously, as if he’d experienced it himself.
“Yes. Therefore, I plan to return immediately after the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony.”
“The foreign tribes outside the border were thoroughly beaten this spring, so they’ll be quiet for a while. That’s how people are. But beasts are different. They’re unpredictable.”
“Your Majesty, even if the monster army is sent, I have always blocked them well.”
The emperor looked up with clouded eyes, observing Peon, his shield.
Peon is Gusalante’s son. Gusalante hasn’t sent enough monsters across the border because of Peon.
Even dragons love their offspring. He was deliberately positioned here, but the emperor had been extremely anxious recently.
While it had been manageable until now, with magic tools scorched and the empress slipping from his grasp, would the methods used so far be sufficient?
“The Evil Dragon absolutely cannot use magic in the Crania Empire, can he?”
Peon said to the emperor, as if reminding him.
Yes. But the emperor had definitely seen something. That’s precisely why he called Peon.
“…Didn’t the monsters use magic when they invaded this time?”
“The magic they use is also included in the promise made by the First Emperor to the Evil Dragon. They absolutely cannot use it within the border. Why do you ask, Your Majesty?”
The emperor, who was carefully observing Peon, who asked knowingly, hesitated for a moment. Then, recalling that he had recently punished Peon, he stood up.
“Come here. You should also check on your mother’s condition.”
Believing that appropriate whips and carrots are very effective when taming beasts, and that beasts should be raised like beasts, the emperor walked with Peon to the inner bedroom.
Since he had him understand the subject once in the ‘Sacred Forest’ – the monster’s garden – that the emperor alone called it, now was the time to throw a carrot.
“Your mother, in fact, disappeared for a moment.”
“Pardon?”
Of course, Peon had already guessed what the emperor was thinking, and he struggled quite a bit to feign appropriate surprise.
“Since you’re in charge of guarding the border, you alone should know. The Evil Dragon has definitely done something.”
And so began the emperor’s long speech, detailing how the empress disappeared and how anxious he was, hoping to share this worry and unease.
Ultimately, he wanted to draw Peon into this anxiety and have the empress remain in this palace.
Peon, after watching the emperor, whose nerves were on edge, turned his head to his mother when the emperor opened the bedroom door, pulled back the curtain, and showed her.
“She was lying exactly like this back then, and then suddenly disappeared. This is no ordinary matter.”
His mother was still lying with her eyes closed, breathing without any consciousness. Peon bowed to her silently, as if greeting her.
“Were there no other strange reactions?”
“None at all.”
The emperor shook his head.
“It’s truly strange.”
“She won’t even wake up when her son has arrived…”
The emperor turned away, seemingly upset. Peon leaned down slightly and called to his mother.
“I have arrived.”
Mother, what taboo has bound you so that you cannot speak of who my father is? There was a woman who used to envy your current state immensely – are you happy?
Peon looked down at his pale mother, letting the emperor’s disgusting rambling flow past him. He wanted to know what his mother wanted, but there was no way to know. At least, she wouldn’t want to be here.
He missed Kaela.
****
The Marchioness of Schroz had never dared to speak of what she had seen. The terrible vision she witnessed would go with her to the grave.
Her brave son, the Crown Prince, being helplessly torn apart by the Grand Duke of Lusenford – the Marchioness of Schroz had pondered what she had seen to the point of sleeplessness, and ultimately concluded it was a ‘hallucination’.
It must have been a hallucination. The Grand Duke of Lusenford was so intimidating that she must have mistaken her terrifying vision.
After reaching this conclusion, the Marchioness of Schroz began to dislike the Lusenford couple even more. How dare the illegitimate child born of the empress have such an impudent attitude toward the Crown Prince’s mother!
‘I’ll get back at them someday. I’m only tolerating this because our Crown Prince is kind.’
Indeed. Therefore, she held her head high and participated in the event about to begin. She absolutely could not miss the reception where the emperor would meet congratulatory delegations from various countries and have light conversations on the eve of the event.
Though today the Grand Duchess of Lusenford’s dress was particularly radiant, with large blue sapphires hanging all over, which was irritating, the Marchioness of Schroz didn’t even look in that direction.
She was well aware of the recent rumors circulating about the Lusenford couple.
‘The Grand Duke who kicked out the debt-ridden daughter of Duke Monde and caught the wealthy Princess of Ostein is a materialist, and that Grand Duchess is a fool. Now that Lusenford has struck gold, the Grand Duke will probably just cover his mistress’s debts.’
So, like the Marchioness of Schroz, a noble lady should hold her chin higher and not pay attention to such vulgar illegitimate children.
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations.”
People from all over the world were offering her congratulations! Yes. She was the mother of the Crown Prince who played a very important role in this engagement ceremony.
“The prepared drinks are quite good.”
The light wine and fragrant tea of Crania, along with the accompanying dishes, were all highly praised.
The Marchioness of Schroz happily explained how much effort she had put into selecting these foods and what pains she had taken. Anyone could see that everything was prepared and hosted by the Marchioness of Schroz.
She watched with great satisfaction as her son, today’s main character, interacted with high-ranking officials and foreign royalty. How could he be so admirable?
What a well-built, handsome, and intelligent young man. How eloquently he speaks! The Marchioness of Schroz couldn’t take her eyes off her son, even when he was speaking about fields she knew nothing about.
“…So, with a naval base in Bayetta, pirates will soon be eradicated.”
Doesn’t he speak so well? The Marchioness of Schroz was immensely proud. All the humiliation she had suffered from the arrogant head maids of the empress’s palace was washed away today.
“Your Highness, there is no naval base in Bayetta.”
How that impudent Grand Duke of Lusenford keeps butting in where he doesn’t belong. The Marchioness of Schroz half-covered her face with her fan.
“The Grand Duke is only familiar with the north, so he doesn’t know the south. There is a base in Bayetta.”
The Grand Duke of Lusenford smiled kindly once again.
“There is nothing in Bayetta, Your Highness.”
“Yes, nothing. Perhaps Your Highness, being so busy, mistakenly remembered. It’s not Bayetta, but Protinang that has a base.”
The Duke of Ostein also approached, smiling and supporting the Grand Duke of Lusenford.
How dare they! Son-in-law and father-in-law, embarrassing our Crown Prince! The Marchioness of Schroz’s fan trembled.
“Oh… I see. I was mistaken. It’s Protinang, not Bayetta.”
The good-natured Crown Prince corrected himself, looking embarrassed.
‘It’s just a small mix-up! Our son has been so busy lately!’
He was just too busy to remember correctly. So she should feed him well. She would call him separately whenever she could and take care of him. Isn’t that a mother’s job? The Marchioness of Schroz made this resolution.
In any case, today was a good day.
And so, she was completely unaware of the Foreign Minister hurriedly managing his expression at the back, and the exchanged glances. She had no idea that an emergency meeting would be held immediately after this light reception.
