The Emperor was throwing a tantrum, refusing to let go of the Empress’s hand, until he eventually took a sedative and fell asleep.
No one dared to utter the words that the Emperor had gone mad. However, everyone began to act with the implicit premise of that fact.
“For now, we’ll return to the banquet hall. We must at least keep our positions.”
Count Horhen actively agreed with the Duke of Ostein’s words.
“Indeed.”
“Can His Majesty possibly attend the engagement ceremony tomorrow?”
“We must find a way for him to be present.”
“Prince Elkanan must not notice. The atmosphere is already quite tense due to the Bayetta naval base.”
Mountain after mountain. Who would have thought the path to sending off the Crown Prince would be this treacherous.
If only the Crown Prince hadn’t caused any trouble, everything would have been fine. On this good day, with diplomatic relations becoming strained, there were not just one or two foreign guests expressing their displeasure.
“I’m worried he might declare war with the Dragon.”
“We must prevent that. It must absolutely not happen.”
Duke Ostein shook his head definitively.
“We must do our best to divert His Majesty’s attention to the current issues. The Empress is also a problem, but isn’t this a critically important situation?”
Count Horhen nodded heavily.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
When the Emperor wavered, those beneath him had to somehow manage the situation.
“My daughter and son-in-law will be smiling outside, so please take care of the inside.”
Duke Ostein hurriedly returned to the banquet hall with his daughter and son-in-law. After confirming they had disappeared, Count Horhen walked down the corridor and entered another room.
There sat Beatrice, who was receiving treatment for her burns, having removed her gloves.
“The magic tool is completely fine. Good work.”
“And His Majesty?”
“He is resting.”
Count Horhen had hidden Beatrice here, unable to expose her as the Emperor’s sorceress in front of the collateral royal family members, especially before Duke Ostein could burst in.
“I heard him shouting earlier.”
“He was continuously angry about the Empress’s disappearance. You know it’s confidential.”
“Of course.”
Beatrice furrowed her brow. She had been coming and going from the Soleil Palace for years, and yet they still didn’t understand something so obvious.
“His Majesty’s health is the most confidential of confidentials, especially in a place with many eyes and ears. We must be more careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
Her sharp voice was openly expressing irritation. Whether the Emperor had touched a woman or a man, they all ended up like this. Especially Beatrice Ravalley, who was among the most proud.
Of course, the Marchioness of Schroz was trying to catch up to her. However, the Marchioness had a son who was the Crown Prince and had received additional titles.
From Count Horhen’s perspective, Beatrice seemed to believe she could bewitch the Emperor with her sorcery. It was the most dangerous yet ultimately least substantive approach.
“Are you going to go around saying he’s gone mad?”
Beatrice scoffed, looking down at her burned hand. The royal physician had treated it, but she was not satisfied.
Her hand, carefully maintained with honey, rose water, and oils imported from the south, was damaged! Thanks to the power provided by that merchant along with the magic tool, this was the extent of the injury – she had nearly been burned on the face! It was a very serious matter!
‘After being injured like this, something must be done!’
Having been burned on the hand, the Emperor should have prostrated himself and repaid her debt in apology.
Yet the Emperor was just babbling nonsense. It was too frustrating. It was so frustrating that the Emperor, who had used her extensively and tossed her some money, was not providing proper compensation and seemed to be going mad.
The magic tool had momentarily overloaded but then stabilized, and the Empress was back in her place.
Wasn’t it abnormal to even think that the dragon Gusalante would use magic against the Empress in Craine? The Emperor had absolutely believed in the covenant between the first Emperor and Gusalante!
“I’ll send your compensation separately.”
“Please make it substantial. I’m exhausted.”
Beatrice pressed her uninjured hand to her forehead. Having not slept and causing a commotion today, she was at her wit’s end.
“It would be good to rest now.”
“Yes. I really need to rest.”
Nodding with a tired face, she silently rose and slipped out of the palace through the shadows.
She had always thought that one day she would confidently enter the Soleil Palace in broad daylight, with a retinue of maids and knights behind her. She had pledged and sworn that it would happen.
Beatrice looked back at the tall roofs and beautiful windows of the Soleil Palace she had always yearned for. Somewhere, Count Horhen was watching her.
“…It looks a bit less beautiful.”
For some reason, the Soleil Palace didn’t seem beautiful. Everything Beatrice wanted had to be perfect. If her interest dropped even slightly, her gaze would drift away, and she would seek something more perfect.
Just as the Emperor had always sought replacements, she too needed to find a replacement for the mad Emperor before her current piece became completely useless.
Beatrice walked away, her eyes bloodshot and scoffing.
Now was the glamorous prelude with dazzling dresses, fluttering fans, ties and formal wear spread brilliantly, and cocktails in beautiful glass moving from hand to hand. It was her solo performance.
****
It had been a long day for everyone. The Crown Prince, one of the busiest people today, felt that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was monitoring his every move.
He was supposed to smile in front of his fiancée, but Princess Keruzhan with her somewhat unfamiliar appearance – he couldn’t even tell if she was pretty.
Duke Ostein, who had been away, quietly approached and helped the Crown Prince with his conversations. Duke Ostein was like a soft wooden person.
Like his daughter, the Grand Duchess of Lusenford, who was as ethereal as a bride’s veil. In contrast, the Grand Duke was like a mountain made of steel and glacier – rigid, cold, and high. Absolutely insurmountable. At the same time, completely mismatched with the Grand Duchess.
“Your Highness.”
“Crown Prince.”
Everyone called him and simultaneously monitored and measured him. Just because he was Crown Prince, nothing was forgiven.
Not everything was overlooked just because he was Crown Prince. He was tired of sitting in this prestigious position, constantly being treated like a child and evaluated.
“Just a moment.”
Finally, Gregory shook off the Minister of Foreign Affairs and came to the back to catch his breath.
Avoiding the brightly lit banquet hall, he came to the dark back area where not even one light was on. It felt much better. He roughly nodded at the attendant’s words that he should come out soon and peered through the door at the people.
Golden light was pouring, blinding, yet there were a few who were not consumed by that light but instead used it to highlight themselves.
Of course, Gregory was not one of them. In contrast, the Grand Duke of Lusenford, who had been discriminated against and mistreated even in this imperial palace, remained unwaveringly confident.
‘Huh?’
Gregory opened his eyes wide. Surprisingly, even the frail Grand Duchess of Lusenford, who was overshadowed by the Grand Duke and subdued by the light, was glowing white.
She, with her small frame, was leaning on her husband’s arm and smiling slightly. The Grand Duke’s gaze was fixed on the Grand Duchess and showed no signs of moving away.
Was it not just a veil but one embroidered with jewels? Gregory tilted his head, redefining his feelings about Kaela, when he heard a presence and looked up.
“It seems you’ve come to rest, Your Highness. I thought you’d gone to Soleil Palace as well.”
It was Beatrice Ravalley. She was also someone who didn’t get consumed by light but shone on her own.
To Gregory, she seemed somewhat motherly yet much more intelligent. Her nickname “Rose” suited her perfectly. While bowing to greet Gregory, she couldn’t help but add:
“Soleil Palace?”
“I just saw Duke Ostein and Peon with the Grand Duchess near the Soleil Palace. They left their seats and seem to have gone that way. I thought you had gone with them, but of course, today’s main figure can’t leave the event.”
Beatrice smiled with her face covered in light and shadow seeping through the door crack.
“I was short-sighted.”
Gregory didn’t ask further. But he definitely stored her words in his mind.
Gregory was left out of the newly changing Regency Council.
And only those rumored to be appointed to the Regency Council quietly went to the Soleil Palace. The Emperor hadn’t even participated in the eve event. As the Crown Prince, he understood the full meaning of this.
By the way, was the Grand Duchess of Lusenford also included, not just the Grand Duke?
Gregory alternately looked at Kaela and his distant fiancée.
The princess from Keruzhan was a bit rough and burdensome. What fortune did the Grand Duke of Lusenford have to marry a woman who communicates well and sparkles?
Though they were both illegitimate children, he was the Empress’s illegitimate child, and Gregory was the Emperor’s illegitimate child. At this point, he felt somewhat aggrieved.
“Now that I’ve had some alcohol, an interesting story comes to mind.”
Beatrice, who had sat down on the floor, was spinning her wine glass. Her elegant dress spread out, making her look even more beautiful. Even in this back area of the reception hall, her atmosphere was incredible, and she was undoubtedly a top beauty.
Gregory also wanted to marry a woman like her. If a crown prince married a nobleman instead of royalty, it would be called a misalliance, but so what?
He was also an illegitimate child of the Emperor. He would prefer to marry a woman from his own country who could communicate, rather than a foreign, unfamiliar woman. Wouldn’t that be better?
“Your Highness, do you know how to break people while enjoying yourself?”
Her voice was so captivating that he couldn’t help but turn around. Gregory inadvertently looked at Beatrice again. The leaked light illuminated her pink eyes. It was like a color that softly covered a reddish hue.
“For both women and men, it’s simple. Just steal their lover.”
Come to think of it, Beatrice had been rumored to have an affair with the Grand Duke of Lusenford for quite a long time. Gregory felt as if he had forgotten this fact for a long time. Perhaps because the couple looked too perfect through the doorway.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Beatrice tilted her head slightly. Her bloodshot eyes stared intently at the Crown Prince. A dark energy slowly crept towards him.
“……Indeed.”
The Crown Prince, who had been sparing even his replies, finally answered slowly. It was an unexpectedly interesting story.
“I should return. Then.”
Gregory walked back towards the bright light.
“Yes, Your Highness. It was an honor to meet you.”
Beatrice also bowed her head without trying to stop him.
****
Kaela was destined to guard the eve event until late into the night.
Meeting and conversing with people was not this difficult before, but after the regression, she became tired more quickly.
Not every conversation was like this, but sometimes she would worry if someone would mock her before speaking, or suspect if they were asking with malicious intent. Memories would suddenly surface, making her flinch.
“My Lady. You seem tired. Shall we rest for a moment?”
Had she been noticed? Though she didn’t think she had flinched that noticeably. Kaela looked up at her husband, who had smoothly intervened in her conversation and was gently leading her away.
“I’m sorry. Our Lady is delicate, so she needs to rest whenever possible…”
Peon spoke to the gentlemen and ladies Kaela had been conversing with, and everyone nodded immediately.
“Oh, we’ve been holding Her Highness for too long. Please rest. Sit and take a break.”
“Yes, today the wind is gently blowing, perfect for resting.”
“We’ll talk more later.”
The Grand Duke, who rarely smiled, would escort the Grand Duchess, and people would quickly make way and retreat. Kaela thought this was due to Peon’s aura.
He was someone difficult to refuse. His devastatingly handsome and neat face was always positioned far above people’s eye level, and with his low, powerful voice, no one dared to act carelessly towards him.
Knights admired him, and ladies found his lowly birth as an illegitimate child attractive.
Did everyone see the slight softness or pain between his cold, sharp eyes? Kaela saw it. And that’s why she fell for him.
“Sit here.”
“Is this okay?”
Kaela was especially sensitive in the royal palace. She knew well that the Emperor’s eyes were everywhere.
“It’s fine.”
He sat Kaela in a first-floor corner room with doors wide open to the outside but absolutely impossible to escape, and gave her water first.
“Drink slowly.”
A cool breeze gently blew. Instead of brilliant lighting, only moonlight settled on the marble floor.
Kaela drank water while looking at various foods on the round-edged table. Was this really okay? Letting her rest seemed too elaborate.
He had carefully selected the most delicious foods from the eve event – popular fruits, small desserts, and even banquet dishes he missed – colorfully arranged.
Properly cooked soft beef with gravy sauce, lamb cutlets, always the boiled vegetables Peon prepared, fresh salad, and onion soup loaded with cheese were steaming.
This was clearly prepared separately by his order. This would definitely be reported to the Emperor later.
“Eat a little. Are you hungry?”
His voice, always desperately ensuring meals, was tender, but Kaela simultaneously recalled the Emperor’s condition.
“…Is the Emperor continuing to be ‘like that’?”
“Yes, he continues to be like that.”
The one who had transcended humanity answered in an extremely light voice. Kaela moved her lips and pondered for a while.
“Why, Kaela? What are you curious about?”
The man, carefully observing his wife, prayed that she would ask the question he desired.
