“We are grateful that you are hosting us despite going through such a sorrowful event.”
The Keruzhan delegation led by Prince Elkanan had arrived. They began their schedule by expressing sufficient condolences over the Cranian Empress’s sudden lapse into a coma.
The feast table harmonizing Keruzhan’s and Crania’s food cultures was splendid and bountiful. It was no exaggeration for Prince Elkanan to express gratitude for the hospitality. Tomorrow, the banquet prepared by Kaela would also be held.
Peon watched Kaela exchanging greetings and conversation with Prince Elkanan. They matched very well.
The leisure Peon could not provide, the shared upbringing in a warm maritime climate, plus similar cultural refinement and conversational topics–they matched well.
It would suit her better to marry the king’s brother and become a prince’s consort rather than a high-sounding but nameless Grand Duchess of the Empire.
‘I committed a foolish act.’
Peon defined simply what he had done. There was no greater fool.
Before his regression, he had remained indifferent even when Beatrice conversed with other men, despite the taboo.
The jealousy or concern that should have arisen despite the taboo was nowhere to be found–he would just pass by thinking ‘I suppose she has something to say’ without any feeling.
Yet now, just seeing Kaela exchange smiles with the stately prince made his gut churn, blinding him to anything else. He could focus on nothing, be it the meeting or trivial matters.
If he had trouble keeping his gaze from following her even in the bitter cold of Lusenford, wasn’t this sheer shamelessness?
At times like this, Peon would automatically recall the Emperor’s words that always seemed to remind him not to forget.
[You were born with the thick-skinned blood of a thief. You must dilute that blood through a lifetime of effort.]
Not words to say to a child, but ultimately true. He was foolish, lacking, and thick-skinned as well.
He turned his head away. Having ignored Kaela throughout Lusenford, he could do the same this time. He could do it even without the taboo.
This was the time when Hyperion Sabrand Ferraro would be completely excluded from the list of potential grooms for Kaela de Chasser, the blessed Princess Ostein.
Rather than his pale northern complexion, Prince Elkanan’s olive skin tone better complemented Kaela’s.
“In fact, I was overjoyed to hear that Your Highness prepared a banquet. It is my greatest honor.”
With his pleasant personality and eloquence already making Kaela smile, wasn’t that enough? Better than a husband who only imposed duties but gave nothing but death and humiliation in return.
Peon felt a prickling pain in his heart, but bore it quietly without concern. He knew all too well this was a pain that came too late, thus repulsive. A shameful matter to be hidden, over and over.
“It seems the prince prefers the princess’s attention over the Empress’s care.”
“It is better for peers to spend time together, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor laughed heartily at Adeo’s words. In the past he would have roared with laughter, but now the life had drained from him like someone who had lost life’s joys.
“Yes. It’s good for young people to stay close.”
Crania’s high society, which attaches meaning to every word from the Emperor, would now begin speculating about the possibility of a marriage between the Princess Ostein and Prince Elkanan.
Prince Elkanan was not a bad match. Being royalty, it was not a reduction in status, and though not as wealthy as Crania, the Keruzhan royal family was affluent.
Moreover, as a non-heir, Prince Elkanan could live comfortably without obligations.
Peon thought harder than anyone about the benefits and prosperous life Kaela would gain by marrying the prince. It was a life he could never provide, had already failed to provide. Most importantly, it would be safe.
“Although it is unfortunate that the Empress is bedridden, I am relieved that the mature Grand Duke and Princess have taken on major roles. Adeo has raised his daughter very well.”
At those words, the three overseeing this entire event simultaneously bowed to the Emperor.
“May the Emperor who rules the Great Cranian Empire live long and spread his great achievements across the continent.”
Only the illegitimate proof of the Empress abandoned in the north gazed at the shadow cast beneath the Emperor’s glory, more dazzling than the sun and more brilliant than gold.
The Emperor slowly clenched his slightly trembling hand into a fist, as if hiding it. He was afraid of something.
****
“Peon, Peon!”
The one whose name was called stopped abruptly while walking away, forced to turn around despite not wanting to stop.
He did not wish to pause, but the footsteps chasing from behind would eventually catch up to him. Beatrice Ravalley, with her silver hair styled to fully accentuate her charms, was the one pursuing him.
The pearl necklace she was wearing made clattering sounds every time she hiked up her ornate dress skirt and hurried along. It wasn’t her appearance that irked Peon, but rather himself for not realizing the situation despite seeing it.
Where else could such a dazzling hostage be found? He used to think her showiness was a desperate attempt to survive high society and the Emperor. Or perhaps the taboo made him think that way.
Damn it. Even if pressured between the Emperor, the evil dragon, and the constant invasions of foreign tribes, he should not have thought so comfortably. He should have doubted everything. Doubted the taboo itself.
“Peon!”
Once she had stopped, she looked up at him reproachfully and blurted out his name again like an exclamation. Behind Beatrice, Kaela stood silently observing from afar.
“Why did you come running over? You’ll just have to go back anyway.”
Noticing his gaze shifting towards Kaela, he curtly responded.
“Are you mad at me? Why have you been acting like this towards me lately? Kaela too. Should I ask her where you are?”
So Kaela told her. Peon lowered his head.
Beatrice mainly touched upon the deep emotional memories built up in her relationship with Peon.
That was likely the incantation triggering the taboo. Peon was not someone swayed by shallow emotions, but he had been lenient when it came to the Empress and Beatrice, making it possible.
“Mad, you say. I’m not angry at you.”
He calmly spoke with an impassive expression. In reality, he was not angry at Beatrice.
His anger was directed at himself; Beatrice did not even warrant his fury. She was undeserving of it. Only boundless contempt and indifference remained–just like viewing a noisy insect.
“But why, why is it like this?”
Beatrice was so flustered by his overly calm words that she began stumbling over her speech.
“How can you treat me this way? I came because I was happy to see you and worried about you, since you only visit the capital once or twice a year. So we can’t really meet, yet in front of everyone else, how could you…?”
The torrent of grievances ultimately boiled down to him humiliating her in front of Kaela, not concern for Peon.
Though childhood playmates, Beatrice never liked Kaela at all. Kaela had far better clothes, shoes, and toys, but more importantly, a doting father that Beatrice lacked.
No matter how much she tried using kind Kaela to obtain things or lord her age over her, Beatrice ultimately had to bow before nobility, so she could never see Kaela as gracious.
Beatrice’s feelings never included Peon’s existence. Only her own self mattered. In that sense, they matched well–both selfish, sacrificing others for their own sakes.
“Beatrice. You need to be more careful since everyone is watching.”
He gently admonished Beatrice in an utterly calm and quiet manner.
“What good would it do for you to be held accountable?”
“But still, how can you be so heartless? Do you know how embarrassed I was? You can’t treat me like that.”
You can’t treat me like that.
The tiresome words he had heard so often began. Black venom dripped from her crimson tongue towards his ears.
“You know, Peon. At this age, unable to marry, I only have you. Everyone in Craine knows it. I’m your woman.”
