Change of heart is betrayal.
“Hyperion, I trust you.”
The emperor, who was momentarily out of his mind because of the empress, spoke very seriously, but Peon did not believe his words at all. He had learned through experience that such words, which he was tired of hearing, were all blatant lies.
The emperor, who claimed to trust him, had several legendary magical tools called mirrors that could be seen anywhere. He constantly checked Lusenford with those mirrors and even planted spies meticulously.
So, Peon doubted everything just like the emperor. Naturally, Kaela was also included in his suspicions. No matter how hard she worked for Lusenford, he, whose eyes were covered, did not see properly and only doubted from beginning to end.
Even if the people of Lusenford were receiving money from the emperor and acting as spies, he gave them another chance and showed tolerance, however he never gave her a chance.
The fact that Kaela died miserably in a narrow tower, being hit by sharp spears and arrows and being pierced to death, was a very generous end for the Grand Duke. It was really generous to die by her side when he didn’t even deserve to be by Kaela’s side.
“They say they’re sending Prince Elkanan from Keruzhan. It’s not an average bet.”
(t/n: average bet=An ordinary person who is easy to deal with)
Elkanan of the Kingdom of Keruzhan. The second person in the kingdom following the king.
Even before the regression, Peon, who had experienced a visit from Prince Elkanan once, remembered his handsome and neat face that was slightly burnt.
Unlike Peon, Elkanan was outwardly friendly and smiled well, so he had quite a lot of conversations with Kaela. It must have been a great comfort to her, who suddenly lost her father, but in the end, her husband was chosen to be Peon, not Prince Elkanan.
“Of course, Prince Elkanan is outstanding, thus King Huigel will trust and send him.”
Peon replied indifferently. Before the regression, the reason the emperor arranged his marriage with Kaela was to put a leash on him once more and instill an endless sense of defeat. It was to teach him that what Peon wanted could never be obtained.
The emperor was cunning. He laid a bait or a brainwashing that should be taken for granted in front of young Peon. He would live with his mother someday, and he would marry Beatrice Ravalley, his childhood friend and first love, someday.
Because the memories of the young days when he was with his mother and peers were the happiest, Peon naturally pursued only those times instinctively.
The faint memories with his mother, and the first love of a seven-year-old, soon disappeared, buried in the absolute duty of ‘must be done’.
“So you and Adeo have to deal with it.”
Even Grand Duke Ostein narrowed his brows. Peon spoke flatly.
“It’s an honor, but please appoint the Crown Prince. It’s not a place for a mere Grand Duke, Your Majesty.”
In the past, if such a thing happened, he would try to prove his worth somehow. But all he did was gasp as he was told in the life designed by the emperor, not even knowing what he wanted. It was all in vain.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. It’s only right that your successor takes charge rather than this unworthy brother.”
Peon let Adeo’s words slide. Having died properly once and lived again, he finally found leisure.
The leisure to be angry, to wait and be patient, to let things slide and say things off the cuff, and most importantly, the leisure to quietly watch where his heart was heading.
All of his nerves flowed to the petite Princess Ostein, who was standing still with her mouth tightly shut. He was incredibly conscious of this calm, dignified, and intellectual lady to the point of absurdity.
Was it because he felt sorry? No, if he felt sorry, he wouldn’t have cared about how healthy Kaela was before the wedding and how nicely her cheeks were filled.
“He’s still too young.”
The emperor cut it off without mercy. He thought that Peon would be more grateful if he did that. It was like casually throwing a bone without a piece of meat to a dog tied with a leash.
“We need to teach him basic manners again.”
If the Crown Prince had just waited in the Altein Palace when the Empress fell, he wouldn’t have heard such words. The emperor’s voice was full of displeasure.
“But he is of Your Majesty’s bloodline.”
Not me. Peon always drew a line, just as the emperor did. The way he drew the line was just more polite.
“He must have parts that resemble Your Majesty.”
Kaela, who had no choice but to listen quietly, looked at Peon as if it was strange.
‘Isn’t he speaking so smoothly?’
To be precise, Peon was reticent. He clearly expressed his opinion, but he couldn’t beat the emperor’s push. Because every time, he couldn’t help but think of his mother and Beatrice, who were held in the emperor’s hand.
After getting married and going to Lusenford, it was the same when he faced the emperor’s envoy or letter. Whatever the emperor demanded, he refused with a reasonable reason, but the emperor was relentless, and Peon eventually had to bear a bigger sacrifice himself.
‘Is it because Her Majesty the Empress fell?’
That could be possible. There is a possibility that he judged that the most important person to him can no longer play the role of a hostage.
Compared to such a precious mother, Beatrice is a little less weighty, so he might draw a line to Beatrice. Then Peon would be comfortable. Kaela, who was thinking, lowered her eyes.
For a long time, she had no one on her side. So the incoming information was scarce, and she always had to observe and analyze and think for a long time.
The habit of that time still remains. Of course. In her memory, it hasn’t been a week since she drank poison and died in the cold tower in the north of Lusenford.
“Learning anything comes first.”
The emperor, who had been thinking for a while, shook his head as if he couldn’t figure it out no matter how much he thought.
“You have to show the example first so that Gregory can learn a lot.”
What did Peon learn? He learned manners and necessary education from the empress, who he met only once a year, but it was not enough.
The rest of the social skills and politics were fiercely fought under the fierce gaze of the emperor and the nobles, and he barely learned by directly experiencing them.
Even then, it was clumsy, and the compulsion and sense of duty that were instilled in him prevented him from acting more skillfully. He was at a level where he couldn’t even realize that he was cast a taboo, thus died.
“I am also very immature to show an example.”
“Ah, that’s enough. Stop being humble and do it. You are the suitable person. Let Kaela take care of the banquet. If you don’t know something, ask Adeo, not me.”
The emperor waved his hand as if he wouldn’t listen anymore. Since the empress fell, he looked noticeably aged these days.
“The three of you do it together. The only people I can trust now are the three of you here.”
He couldn’t refuse any more when he said that much.
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
At the words of the Grand Duke of Ostein, Peon bowed his head with Kaela.
****
Having to discuss the visit of the envoy suddenly, Kaela, who had returned to the Altein Palace instead of going home, bit her lips and looked at the table.
No matter how serious the times are, the Crania Empire is extremely wealthy. The land is wide, so the food culture has developed diversely, and the table set in the royal palace was not simple or frugal. The emperor, who is famous for being picky, was a gourmet.
Kaela, who had postponed her appetite for a few days due to continuous shock and tension, felt the hunger that was lurking deep in her stomach, no, in her heart, stirring.
Today’s menu is a thick onion soup that has been fried for a long time, potage that has been boiled with plenty of vegetables including potatoes, crispy grilled mackerel with grilled vegetables, asparagus and thick beef, apricot torte with plenty of cream, and three kinds of drinks.
She could eat as much food as she wanted. Kaela closed her eyes tightly at the urge to eat the whole table.
‘I have to pull myself together. I can’t lose my dignity in the royal palace.’
Starving is a very painful thing. When she was trapped in the tower, she tried to endure her hunger by only drinking melted snow, but later she wanted to put anything, whether it was rotten wood, stone, or soil, into her mouth.
