The Emperor has come of age. The Regency Council firmly dissolved itself citing this fact.
Some people gossiped that Duke Ostein was foolish. They said there couldn’t be a bigger fool than him for going down to the south instead of maintaining his position and power as regent.
A very small number were also worried that without a regent, the weak Crown Prince would be swayed by either the Keruzhan Kingdom, his in-laws, or the Marchioness of Schroz.
“There are rumors that he’s gone mad.”
“Oh my!”
“No, such terrible talk!”
“I heard that a doctor from Mermont Psychiatric Hospital keeps making house calls.”
Craine was noisy with rampant rumors today as well.
“Let’s say we accept Prince Elkanan wandering around. After all, no matter how hard Keruzhan tries, they can’t covet our Crania. But isn’t that only possible if Duke Ostein properly supports our young Emperor?”
Such talk continued everywhere near political institutions – from the Craine social club and Belzebiere Park where nobles came and went, to the Ministry of State Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Emperor collapsed much earlier than expected.
Though health issues are unpredictable, considering his usual imposing presence and health, they thought he would at least live to see his grandchild. If that had happened, the imperial succession would have been more stable.
“At the coronation, His Majesty the Emperor’s crown looked too heavy.”
The new Emperor Gregory appeared completely weighed down by the sable fur mantle and crown, barely managing to hold the orb and scepter. If only he had squared his shoulders proudly and straightened his back – was the crown really that heavy?
In truth, the most impressive figures at the coronation were the three members of the Regency Council troika.
All male members of the imperial family received military education and actually served – one was Duke Ostein, famous for his good looks, and another was the Grand Duke of Lusenford, currently serving as an active military officer.
Just the two men standing at attention in their military uniforms created a stark contrast with the slouching Crown Prince.
The Grand Duchess of Lusenford, standing quietly between the two men, also sparkled brilliantly.
“With all of the Cranian Empire’s greatest treasures on display, what the Grand Duchess wore looked even more precious.”
To the victor go the spoils of victory. The Grand Duke of Lusenford dedicated all twelve diamonds from the Lusenford Kervan mines to his wife.
At the coronation, the highest ceremony where countless noble ladies wore their families’ historic tiaras, Kaela shone from head to toe in weighty new diamonds never seen before.
“Did you see how tall that tiara was? My goodness, it looked bigger than Her Majesty the Empress’s.”
“Remember when people said such things when the Princess of Ostein married into poverty and cold? That her wedding tiara would be the biggest?”
“Back then, the Princess of Ostein, no, now the Grand Duchess, wore her mother’s tiara, didn’t she?”
Titles are always tricky. With the Crown Prince’s ascension, Duke Ostein, as the only adult in the imperial family, naturally rose in rank. According to protocol, as the Emperor’s uncle, his status needed to be elevated one step higher.
“It would have been nice if the Empress had provided for her, but she wasn’t in a position to do so, so she wore her family’s tiara. Back then, people said ‘My goodness, even for a marriage beneath her station, imagine a bride wearing her family’s tiara when her mother-in-law is Her Majesty the Empress!’ But now……”
Whenever the topic of the Grand Duchess’s tiara came up, noble ladies would clutch their chests and sigh with envy. Meanwhile, the gentlemen would become somewhat sullen, feeling inadequate and averting their eyes.
“The Grand Duchess keeps receiving even bigger ones after marriage.”
“Doesn’t it look even bigger than the Grand Tiara that only the Empress wears?”
“It’s quite fortunate. If the marriage had happened, the Princess of Keruzhan would be wearing those tiaras, but she couldn’t even show up this time.”
A foreign princess becoming Empress right away! Would she even know the dignity and rules of the Cranian Imperial women? For noble ladies harboring such doubts, the Grand Duchess of Lusenford was their ray of hope.
Though she couldn’t become Empress, without even the Marchioness of Schroz present, the Princess of Keruzhan, who tried to assert herself as the new Emperor’s fiancée, was overshadowed by the Grand Duchess of Lusenford.
The story of how the Princess of Keruzhan, who had entered with her chin held high looking down on Cranian noble ladies, startled with wide eyes upon seeing the Grand Duchess was an ever-present favorite whenever the coronation was discussed.
“How many times did she keep glancing at the Grand Duchess?”
The young princess kept stealing glances at the Grand Duchess, who was only a few years older than her. Compared to the Grand Duchess who maintained a perfect, elegant bearing from start to finish, the princess was judged to appear unprepared.
“Well, it wasn’t just the princess. I kept staring too.”
The noble ladies laughed in agreement.
“Wouldn’t it have been more impressive if His Majesty the Emperor had completed his military academy education before ascending?”
A gentleman muttered. The young Emperor appeared completely lacking in spirit, slouching under the weight, giving no sense that a new era had dawned.
“Meanwhile, the Grand Duke of Lusenford even properly escorted his wife throughout. Not a single waver, not one.”
“When has the Grand Duke ever wavered? He didn’t waver at all even when Beatrice Ravalley was his match.”
“I heard rumors they broke up before the marriage.”
“Is that a reliable rumor?”
“Oh please, look at what the Grand Duchess wears. When did you ever see that shameless and lustful Ravalley wearing such things given by the Grand Duke? It’s quite obvious who he loves.”
The Grand Duke stayed by his wife’s side throughout the coronation. Not as a Grand Duke, but almost like the Grand Duchess’s personal knight – he even held the hem of her dress and carried her over every step and threshold.
Though it was unusual, the Grand Duchess turned bright red and didn’t know what to do with herself, making them quite an adorable newlywed couple.
“That’s quite strange.”
An elderly lady who had been quietly listening stirred her teacup with a spoon and muttered.
“It’s common knowledge that anyone in love gives everything freely, and seeing how the Grand Duke of Lusenford showers his new bride with two tiaras and whole sets of jewels, he seems especially generous in that regard. Moreover, he makes quite a show of it.”
As an elderly lady who had always looked after the Princess of Ostein, she recalled the Grand Duke whom she had found quite unsatisfactory.
When they met at the coronation, he was extremely courteous and never took his eyes off his wife. In front of Prince Elkanan, he even completely shielded his wife with his large frame – why did he do that?
“That Ravalley, called the Red Rose, received nothing to speak of, and the Grand Duke was quite reticent about their relationship.”
The elderly lady set down her teaspoon and, befitting her role as the Grand Duchess’s etiquette instructor, lifted her teacup most elegantly.
“I find that quite curious.”
It was a meaningful statement that could be interpreted in various ways in social circles.
****
Though Duke Ostein had become the only adult member of the imperial family, as soon as the coronation ended, he ignored all manner of talk and sent all his pre-packed belongings to Ostein.
Even the Emperor tried to dissuade him from leaving, but Duke Ostein declined with a smile.
“It’s reassuring that you came to see me off.”
Duke Ostein hugged his only daughter tightly and patted his son-in-law’s back.
“Of course we had to come see you off on such a long journey. When we got married, you saw us off, Father.”
Kaela clung to her father’s arm and smiled. His daughter, who had been raised with abundant love, had become completely expressionless before her marriage and caused much worry, but now her smile had returned.
Duke Ostein had come to thoroughly approve of his son-in-law, whom he had reluctantly allowed his daughter to marry.
Throughout their time in Craine and until now, his son-in-law had simply cherished and treasured his daughter above all else. Just as Duke Ostein had lived simply as a husband to one woman, known only as ‘Adeo’.
“You must be tired, please rest and travel at your leisure.”
“Don’t worry about me. I plan to alternate between land and water routes, so it should be a pleasant journey.”
Duke Ostein just laughed heartily.
“So, when will you two be moving?”
Now that the coronation was over, the nobles were gradually returning to their territories.
“We’re planning to travel slowly while enjoying the autumn scenery.”
Kaela and Peon had also planned to leave Craine. Their plans were just slightly delayed because Kaela wanted to see her father off.
“That’s good. Travel lots and enjoy yourselves. I wanted to travel the world with your mother but couldn’t, which I regret.”
He sincerely urged them, holding both his daughter’s and son-in-law’s hands together.
“Make lots of good memories together. I had a love marriage, but you didn’t. That really worried me. Don’t worry about heirs or anything else – just enjoy traveling together, have occasional arguments, things like that.”
Peon nodded with a smile.
“Yes, we will.”
“And about searching for Her Majesty the Empress…”
“Father-in-law.”
When the matter that had been weighing heavily on Duke Ostein’s mind came up, Peon shook his head.
“Please don’t worry about it.”
“But how can that be, your mother…”
“Please, don’t worry about it.”
Duke Ostein looked questioningly at his son-in-law who spoke with such emphasis. Then he looked at his daughter. She quietly nodded.
“It’s alright.”
“Al…right?”
“Yes. It’s alright. Please don’t worry. I feel the same.”
Duke Ostein quietly observed his son-in-law – who was the Empress’s son rather than the Emperor’s son – along with the missing Empress and the burned magic tool room.
He himself was someone who had served as chairman of the Regency Council and held the prosperous Ostein region in one hand.
“Is she alright now?”
The formal speech was deliberate. Rather than asking about Peon’s situation, it was about addressing someone Duke Ostein should properly speak formally to.
“It’s been too many years to say she’s alright. But she’s very happy just to have escaped.”
Duke Ostein quietly bowed his head. He reached out and gripped his son-in-law’s shoulder firmly, shaking it in encouragement.
He too knew that feeling of liberation. Sometimes he would sigh in relief and feel lighthearted about being free from his brother who, though appearing as a wise ruler to the outside world, was a tyrant within the family.
“I’m glad.”
Peon had subtly revealed his mother’s whereabouts because his father-in-law was this kind of person. Duke Ostein muttered while patting his son-in-law’s shoulder several times. A smile had spread across his face.
“I’m truly glad. Ah, among all the news I’ve heard this time, this is truly joyful and, yes, proper news indeed. Yes.”
Barely swallowing the surge of empathy that welled up, he kept nodding while looking back and forth between his daughter and son-in-law.
“It seems we have much to talk about. When will you come to Ostein?”
“Around when winter begins. Please don’t turn us away asking why we came suddenly.”
“I didn’t know you could joke like that! I look forward to winter.”
Duke Ostein, who had been laughing heartily, paused.
“But isn’t Lusenford a place that needs even stricter defenses in winter?”
“Because it’s harsh. That’s why I can’t leave my wife in such a place. Don’t worry about the defenses. And.”
There was one more thing to say. Peon lowered his voice further.
“…The Emperor will request help.”
“He will, eventually.”
Duke Ostein nodded.
“Father, I hope you won’t agree if it would be too burdensome for Ostein.”
“I won’t.”
Duke Ostein’s ready and cheerful agreement actually surprised Kaela and Peon.
“You’re not going to ask why?”
“If I don’t listen when Kaela, as the young generation responsible for Ostein’s future, says that’s what she’d prefer, wouldn’t I be just like my brother?”
It was quite a strong statement coming from Duke Ostein, who was known for being gentle and sometimes even called weak.
“I’ve seen and heard much during my stay in Craine. It’s fortunate the return journey is long. With all these things to think about, I should roughly piece things together by the time I reach Ostein.”
Duke Ostein muttered meaningfully before asking Peon:
“What is your highest priority?”
“Your daughter.”
At the answer given without a moment’s hesitation, Duke Ostein laughed in amazement.
“Someone who didn’t know you well might think you were trying to curry favor with me with shallow tactics.”
“You’ve understood me well enough to know that’s not the case, father-in-law.”
The father-in-law looked at his son-in-law with eyes that seemed to say ‘look at this fellow’ and decided to just laugh. He rather liked being called ‘father-in-law’ instead of ‘Your Grace’.
“Well, it pleases me to hear it. We’ll have so much to talk about in Ostein this winter. You both must tell me everything then.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Anything else to say?”
“Travel safely.”
“Father, I love you.”
Kaela was embraced by her father one more time.
“I love you too.”
Watching the father and daughter who didn’t hold back their expressions and cherished each other, Peon was glad his wife was so loved. A living father’s love would be as powerful as revenge in healing Kaela.
“I regret that we had so little time together because of the coronation. Let’s all three of us enjoy our time together in Ostein.”
As he was climbing into his carriage, Duke Ostein casually said to his son-in-law:
“Give my regards to your mother.”
Perhaps it was healing for Peon too. Without realizing it, he nodded with a bright smile.
“Yes. I will.”
Duke Ostein left Craine that day and never returned until the end of his life.
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