Originally, Kaela was not a very healthy person. In Lusenford, she would easily catch colds, her life was threatened by pneumonia, and she would suffer from eating the wrong foods.
The hardy northerners who survived Lusenford’s harsh weather looked down on the frail Grand Duchess. Not only did she take the position of Grand Duchess that everyone thought belonged to Beatrice, but her family’s ruin meant she was of no help to Lusenford, and she was also weak physically. Weakness was a sin in Lusenford.
But what could one do about their innate constitution? Kaela was extremely careful about her health, but being careful did not prevent illnesses from coming. From the beginning, there was no way Kaela, born and raised in the south, could adapt to Lusenford’s harsh climate. She was born frail and raised preciously.
“It’s fine if you’re away for about 20 minutes.”
Kaela looked up at Peon, who was standing beside her speaking quietly. His voice was naturally very low and clear, so he could be heard distinctly no matter how softly he spoke. Or perhaps all of Kaela’s nerves were always focused on him, so she tried to understand whatever he said right away.
“Go.”
His looking down glanced at her indifferently before turning away. Kaela could barely respond to the overly familiar gaze of her ‘husband’.
“It’s not that I’m sick…”
“You have a fever, don’t you?”
How could he not notice? She was so obvious that everyone could see. She never did anything properly. Kaela unconsciously hunched her shoulders.
It was true she was sick. Since this morning, an odd heat had been rolling down her back, and her joints began to ache. Her strength was gradually draining away. The heat rose higher and higher, stabbing at her head.
Was it because she had relaxed in relief that her father was alive, or because of the unbelievable experience of dying and the past unfolding, and still running around trying to please the Emperor?
The cold pierced through the sheer dress made according to the latest fashion, but she endured it since the event had just begun.
She never expected to take on this role in this life, but everything was unfolding differently from before, starting with the Empress collapsing and her father still being alive. She had to endure, she was already used to enduring, and she had confidence.
“Put something warmer on. What is that outfit?”
Peon’s face tightened slightly as he looked down at Kaela. In Lusenford, one had to wear fur to survive. Feeling somewhat reassured when they were bundled up in animal fur from head to toe, but in Crania, insane people sacrificed health for fashion. How could layering such flimsy fabric provide any warmth? It’s no wonder Kaela, already frail, developed a fever from overworking on the preparations. Wearing that kind of outfit, she’ll definitely fall seriously ill. She’ll sweat profusely, unable to even groan, toughing it out for days.
“Go inside now.”
The open doors and windows let the outside wind blow right into the venue.
“They’ll think you’re elsewhere.”
But Kaela just looked at him without moving.
“Beatrice is looking for you. Why don’t you go see her?”
Unlike the polite honorifics she usually used, her tone was the natural one he remembered, but extremely cold.
“I’ll take care of my body myself. I won’t collapse and cause you any trouble, so don’t worry about it. Just go to Beatrice.”
The petite princess fired off those words and swiftly left his side. Peon tried to stop her but too many people pushed between them. In front of those addressing her, Kaela forced a reasonable smile and went about her duties.
“The banquet?”
“I just checked, Your Highness. No issues so far.”
“Okay. Be sure to let me know if anything comes up.”
She had to be present at the front and back of the stage simultaneously. Even sick, she had to persevere.
“Your Highness!”
Kaela was called from all directions. If she messed up this banquet, the Emperor who valued appearances would react terribly. She could be killed again on his whim, the trigger pulled for his amusement.
So being sick wasn’t the problem. Such things were never important in the face of death. What did it matter if she was a little ill? Lusenford taught her that enduring, just enduring, was the only way for her to carve out even a small space.
[Again?]
Her supposed family, her husband, would always furrow his brow in annoyance when told she was sick “again.” Yes, he must have found it vexing too. How annoying a constantly sick woman must be.
[Escort the Grand Duchess inside.]
[The Grand Duchess inside.]
[Inside.]
So when she was ill, she was always sent away from his sight. Sick, so go inside. Sick, so stop what you’re doing. Sick, so the Grand Duchess shouldn’t do anything.
In Lusenford, Kaela shrank smaller and smaller until eventually she had no place left to stand. Thanks to that, she grew used to enduring illness. This time too, seeing her sick, he clearly wanted to brush her aside. Just pretending to care. So she shouldn’t foolishly get excited about that, she should turn her back on him, and tell him to go to Beatrice. That’s what was proper.
No matter what the drawn-out, interminable love led to in the end, Kaela felt it just had to continue for her to feel some relief.
“Aren’t you too cold, Your Highness?”
Kaela smiled more brightly and walked towards Prince Elkanan. Her flushed, rosy cheeks made the charming princess look adorable, and the prince smiled back.
From where Peon stood apart, Kaela’s smile looked so precarious. She might collapse, unable to withstand the cold while smiling. She’d lie there shivering uncontrollably, unable to close her eyes as her breath stopped short. Kaela was so frail. And simultaneously, so dazzling.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, I’m delighted to see you again in Crania!”
Peon’s shoulders stiffened rigidly. No one noticed his chest heaving in apparent surprise.
“How is Lusenford? Are you well, Your Highness the Grand Duke?”
In Crania, there were many who admired the Grand Duke.
Those who yearned to at least greet him, the one who single-handedly defended the north despite the great flaw of being the empress’s illegitimate son, approached. Thanks to them, Peon could barely realize the reality flowing by without concerning him.
“Lusenford remains the same.”
He answered with difficulty, forcibly tearing his unscrupulous gaze from Kaela and managing a formal expression. His tongue automatically carried on a suitable conversation about the weather, how the northern climate differed from here, and so on.
However, his frayed nerves were completely focused on the feverish yet smiling woman. He knew it was no longer his place to worry. He had no right to do so brazenly.
There were already rumors of a prospective marriage alliance between Keruzhan and the Crania Empire. Allies were ultimately solidified through marriage after all. In that sense, Prince Elkanan and the Princess of Ostein seemed a well-matched pair.
“My, what a dashing couple.”
“The age difference is just right too.”
Once the Emperor mentioned it, everyone started nodding in agreement. Some probably said it to please the Emperor, but anyone could see they suited each other well. So it should be stated more emphatically that the Emperor was right this time too.
The Emperor saw all, heard all–he was the ubiquitous sun. His eyes and ears were throughout the empire.
Even in Lusenford, that land ruled by bitter cold, he could discern right at the palace whether the Grand Duke properly defended the empire or harbored other intentions.
“Of course His Majesty, upholding the late Emperor’s will, would not fail to arrange his niece’s marriage.”
“How benevolent. Despite the Empress’s collapse, he does not neglect his caring uncle’s role.”
