Caw, caw!
A raven searching for food perched on a bare branch, crying ominously. Black ravens gathered, watching the newly arrived imperial inspector team.
Though the evil dragon Gusalante was unexpectedly quiet last winter, Lusenford remained on high alert. If the dragon rampaged or foreign tribes invaded during planting season, it could ruin the year’s harvest.
In truth, Lusenford, with its barren farmland, was gloomy and desolate. To the people from Crania, who had already passed spring and were approaching summer, it seemed even more so.
This savage place seemed ill-suited for a bright southern-born princess.
The rugged people of Lusenford eyed the outsiders with suspicion. Unlike Crania, there was a palpable sense of coarseness, war-weariness, and brutality.
The inspectors, who had come to look into the incident where the new Grand Duchess nearly died, thought it understandable if she found it difficult here.
“Welcome. We’re glad to have you in Lusenford. His Highness the Grand Duke is waiting inside.”
The Grand Duke should be rushing out to receive the Emperor’s orders, not waiting inside. Did he not understand the gravity of this situation? Then again, the Grand Duke of Lusenford was known for his arrogance despite his birth.
Clank, clank.
The sound of swords hitting metal ornaments echoed as the inspector team climbed the stairs and entered Lusenford Castle, which gaped like a black cave.
Though he held the only Grand Duke title in the Cranian Empire, the Grand Duke of Lusenford was said to be inferior even to a border count guarding the frontier. What made him hold his head so high?
He had taken the Emperor’s precious niece and nearly gotten her killed in just a few days. His negligence was a grave offense.
Several heavy, thick doors opened silently. The inside was darker and colder than the colorless outside, where mud was scattered everywhere.
The castle stood like a massive fortress, its stones tightly interlocked, bearing the weight of ages and exuding a chilling coldness.
Enormous axes, spears, and shields that seemed too large for human use hung on every wall. Each window had arrow slits and crossbows. It was truly a place that could turn into a battlefield at any moment.
“Your Highness.”
The ruler of this gloomy castle stood alone in the hall. He had his broad back turned to the inspector team.
Even from behind, the inspector felt intimidated. They say people from Crania go mad after living here for just a few years, so the man who ruled this place was clearly no ordinary person. He might not even be human.
Would such a man even care for a young Grand Duchess?
The Grand Duke, who cowed even warriors, turned around. He had piercing, heavy eyes and an unapproachable appearance.
The inspector, meeting that gaze head-on, tried not to flinch but failed. Though counted among the most honorable knights in Crania, he felt his pride wounded belatedly. But as this was a common occurrence, he was quick to give up.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke.”
He clenched his fist and placed it over his chest, showing proper respect. Whatever else, as a knight, he couldn’t help but revere this figure.
“So you’ve come, Sir. It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, it has been some time.”
Formal and stiff greetings were exchanged. Peon, who already knew the identity of the inspector through advance dispatches, no longer even felt like sneering.
Would the Emperor, who had sent Beatrice, be careless in selecting an inspector? The inspector was young. And he shared blood with Peon.
Sir Isidore Dakiten, guardian of Crania’s gates and nephew of the fallen Empress, shared the same black hair and clean jawline as Peon, but beyond that, he gazed complexly at the far superior and gloomy Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke, the only child of his aunt, seemed to be waiting for him to speak.
“His Imperial Majesty, ruler of our sacred Cranian Empire, has issued an imperial edict.”
“I shall gladly receive it.”
Isidore, Peon’s cousin and heir to the Dakiten family title, read the imperial edict before his cousin, who was always at the Emperor’s mercy.
The edict was filled with so many flowery phrases and modifiers that Peon initially focused more on the soft footsteps approaching than on the words.
“…regarding the harm inflicted upon a member of the imperial family, Grand Duchess Kaela de Chasser of Lusenford…”
Although they were married, the use of Kaela’s pre-marriage name occasionally caught Peon’s attention, but it was mostly fine. After all, if they divorced, Kaela de Chasser would remain Kaela de Chasser. What was the point of adding his surname, Ferraro, which his mother had given him for reasons unknown?
“…Lusenford must reveal everything without concealment, and above all, thoroughly investigate according to imperial law to ensure no injustice remains for the victim, Grand Duchess of Lusenford, Princess of Ostein. Lusenford is ordered to cooperate with the imperial inspector. That is all.”
Even before the regression, the Emperor had sent similar edicts, pretending to care for his orphaned niece while actually picking faults and wounding the pride of Peon and the people of Lusenford. In the end, it only narrowed Kaela’s position and made her the target of resentment.
The Emperor, who had made his niece an orphan out of greed for her inheritance, couldn’t truly care for her.
It was all for show, and a ploy to suppress Peon and Lusenford. The Emperor enjoyed wielding imperial power in this way.
“Of course, His Imperial Majesty should be fully informed of this matter. I feel great responsibility, so investigate thoroughly during your stay here.”
In response to the inspector’s questioning look, Peon recited formal words.
“All incident reports have been collected for your review. Let us know if you need anything. We must follow the imperial order, so Lusenford will do its best.”
With Peon’s declaration, the people of Lusenford had to cooperate, even if unwillingly.
“I need to interview Her Highness. Is she alright?”
“See for yourself.”
As Sir Isidore Dakiten was about to respond to this unfriendly reply, the dim hall brightened. No one had lit any lamps, but the cold, dreary hall suddenly felt brighter and warmer.
Into the hall, where knights with deadly weapons stood at every entrance, entered a small lady wearing a soft dress with much fabric, unlike the thick uniforms and armor around her.
“Oh?”
As soon as she entered, her eyes widened, and she smiled unbelievably brightly.
“Oppa!”
Who was this person the young Grand Duchess, always so dignified, called “oppa” without hesitation?
The one who was once called “oppa” unconsciously started to move towards her before catching himself. Kaela, who hadn’t genuinely smiled since before her marriage, was smiling. Not at him, but at his similar-looking cousin.
Isidore strode forward and bowed respectfully, just as he had to Peon. But his eyes weren’t as cold as when he looked at Peon.
“Your Highness.”
Isidore’s expression also showed how delighted he was to see her.
“Oppa, no…”
Ah, she made a mistake out of excitement. If the people of Lusenford knew that the Emperor’s inspector was close to the Grand Duchess, they might view her unfavorably. Kaela closed her lips once, then opened them again.
Habitually touching the vial of poison hidden in a small pocket inside her dress, she spoke in a calmer, softer voice.
“It’s good to see you again since the wedding, Sir Dakiten. Are the Marquis and Marchioness well?”
“They are in good health. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. How is your health?”
“I’m fine. I’ve recovered a lot.”
Kaela answered as she inevitably moved towards Peon.
“I heard Your Highness had fallen ill due to food.”
“That’s what happened.”
However, her voice and manner of speaking sounded slightly different from the particularly dignified and solemn tone she usually used in Lusenford. A glimpse of the vivacity befitting her 21 years, which they thought had been completely lost, was briefly visible.
As Kaela approached him, Peon felt an extreme deprivation and thirst he hadn’t realized before.
“Your Highness, Grand Duke.”
She greeted him. He couldn’t remember how Kaela, who had been losing her vitality day by day until she finally withered, could smile so brightly, or how her voice would rise when she was in a good mood.
He used to closely observe her voice tone, where she looked, the shape of her lips, and even the movement of her facial muscles.
He had tried to discern any discomfort or hardship she wouldn’t tell him about, but in reality, it seems he had been trying to find even a little smile or vitality in that face, already like a finely crafted porcelain doll.
Even that brief flash of a vibrant smile, just the momentary curve of Kaela’s eyes, shocked Peon deeply.
He wanted to see more. He wanted to see more of that faint vitality filling her fair face. Just a little more, more, more. Please, more.
Fill this terrible void.
“You’ve come, Your Highness.”
Peon’s reply came out fractured. He had a black, endless void within him that even he didn’t know about.
He didn’t know when it was created or even that it existed, but it was an empty space that only Kaela could fill. It was so deep that he didn’t know what to do.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“I’m fine. It’s much warmer now.”
Kaela stood beside him.
He had thought her mere presence was enough, but now the endless hell he had discovered kept reaching out to her. Just smile a little more. How can I make her smile more? His thoughts tangled, rolling in that direction of their own accord.
“How is Her Majesty the Empress? Has her health improved?”
Kaela asked about the Empress, whom Peon would be most curious about. If anyone might know, it would be Sir Isidore Dakiten, the Empress’s nephew and heir to the Alemich Marquisate.
“There’s been no new news since you two married and left for Lusenford. Still…”
Isidore shook his head. The Empress’s lack of improvement was sad news for the people of Lusenford too.
The Empress, confined to the palace, had tried her best to support her son’s domain. The people here had made good use of the grain and weapons she had managed to send.
“I see. How is His Majesty the Emperor?”
“His Imperial Majesty is deeply troubled. He’s very saddened that there’s no sign of Her Majesty waking despite mobilizing numerous doctors. Amidst this, he received reports of the unfortunate incident involving Your Highness, which has greatly upset him.”
The nobles of Lusenford, who had anticipated this when the Grand Duchess collapsed due to the tour berry, trembled.
Even those who had thoughtlessly wondered, “What’s the big deal?” were now prostrating themselves and watching cautiously. How dare they disrespect the Emperor’s precious niece, the Princess of Ostein born in Lanpallar Palace.
The Emperor’s inspector, clad in gleaming white and gold armor, had brought several knights armed with swords and spears.
Their imposing presence and wealth greatly intimidated the people of Lusenford. The only ones who remained composed in their presence were the Grand Duke and Duchess, who had long observed the glorious and great imperial power up close.
“As the Grand Duke responsible for Lusenford, I believe this incident should never have happened and is an inexcusable sin against Her Highness, but you, Sir, as the inspector, will make your own judgment. We’ve prepared accommodation for you, so you may begin your investigation.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Your Highness. May I start right away then?”
Peon nodded silently. Kaela seemed to have many questions for Isidore Dakiten. He was the captain of Crania’s gate guard and also the heir to the Empress’s family, and coincidentally, Kaela and Isidore were of similar age.
While Peon and Kaela had a seven-year age gap, the Crown Prince, Kaela, and Isidore were all within a year or two of each other. So it was somewhat natural for Kaela to be closer to Isidore.
The captain of Crania’s gate guard becoming the Emperor’s inspector – quite a promotion. The Emperor, who had elevated the Empress’s family, the Dakitens, from a mere count’s family, would likely continue to appoint Isidore.
There was a petty history of the Emperor elevating the Dakiten family from counts to dukes when forced to marry the daughter of a mismatched count, causing talk of an unequal marriage. Then, when the Empress gave birth to Peon, he demoted them to marquises, calling it a betrayal.
“Your Highness. Are you busy?”
Kaela turned to Peon and asked. Peon recalled her before their marriage, desperately trying to escape from the Ostein townhouse to the gate despite her whole body feeling like it was on fire.
She had struggled desperately as if there was a way to pass through the gate. Despite the Emperor’s administrators coming to inspect the guard gate, she had risked danger to try to escape.
“What is it?”
“I have something to discuss with you privately.”
Could it be that she had known Isidore Dakiten well as the captain of the guard and wanted to ask him for help escaping? Would Isidore Dakiten turn his back on his family to help Kaela escape? Were they that close?
“The head maid has noticed the butler’s misconduct.”
The disproportionately large void he had just discovered kept pointing out useless details, making it hard to believe. Isidore Dakiten and Peon looked quite alike. Many people said that from a distance, they looked like brothers.
Could it be that Kaela hadn’t seen him before the regression, but had been looking for Isidore in him?
‘No, that’s too far-fetched. I’m going too far.’
Peon quickly tried to erase the thought. But it wasn’t easily erased.
“She’s strongly insisting we investigate.”
“So we have an extra hand.”
“Yes.”
In their harsh married life, there was no way Kaela could have liked or been fond of him. She would rather have hated and despised him. After all, their marriage ended with the husband confining his wife.
How much must she have cursed him when she was starving to death in that tower, unable to get food because of her incompetent husband? There was no way she could have liked him. So, if she had tried to run away before the marriage because she hated it, it all made sense.
Kaela had never liked him at all.
[Hey, look at this! Looks like Kaela likes you!]
He only remembered Beatrice’s voice, laughing and mocking as she pulled out the gift Kaela had carefully hidden for him, and Kaela with tears in her eyes. She had never once told him she liked him.
[Are you crazy? Don’t you know I’m dating Peon? How could you do this?]
[Stop it, Beatrice.]
[Oh, let go!]
[Kaela. Go. Go now.]
[Hey!]
[I said go quickly!]
Not once had she said it. Had she really liked him, when he had only forcibly sent her away out of embarrassment?
He tried to compose himself, finding it presumptuous to even struggle to breathe just from measuring the past. He needed to snap out of it, even if he had to slap himself. He didn’t even deserve to suffer.
“I hope the inspector’s work goes well. It might be fortunate that Oppa Isidore came.”
But why did she think it was so fortunate that Isidore Dakiten had come?
And above all, while she now called Peon “Your Highness” instead of “oppa,” why was that guy still “Oppa”?
