Chapter 102

When the coronation was over, delegations from neighboring empires arrived. There was a banquet held, and most of the nobles attended. They seemed to be busy trying to make a good impression on the new Emperor to survive.

However, it seemed unlikely that Sezh could present herself at the event. Just sitting at the top seat throughout the coronation and receiving the attention of the nobles was overwhelmingly burdensome.

‘You don’t have to go.’

Even if she was there, what would she do? Sezh hastily left the banquet hall as if she was running away from something.

‘Eton, Eton, where is he?…’

After leaving the main hall, Sezh looked around twice to find him. However, she couldn’t see Eton anywhere.

Had he already gone to that room again?

“Princess.”

Sezh turned her step at the sudden voice.

“Mathias Kareem greets Princesa Sezh,” greeted Mathias politely.

Soon he raised his head again, showcasing the worried face Sezh saw earlier.

“Princess, if it is not disrespectful… Could you spare a moment for me?”

Sezh’s eyes reflexively turned back to the banquet hall entrance already full of the nobles. Actually, she didn’t need to be nervous about them now. Didn’t Raytan already say that too? No one will be able to bully her. However, she still felt uneasy.

Sezh nodded then walked forward as Mathias followed. It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the back of Lize’s palace.

“Princess.”

Mathias looked around first then asked her in a small voice.

“… Are you okay?”

What was he worried about? Her depressed state at the coronation or that she was the only Imperial family member who survived the coup?

Sezh hesitantly answered, “I’m fine.”

“…”

“What about…you?”

“…I am fine too,” Mathias said with a joyless face.

“It’s because… my family never expressed any direct views on Imperial conflicts or political issues.”

The Kareem family was one of the most powerful families in the Denhelder Empire, but as Mathias said, they never expressed any particular political views. Neutrality— the dukes of Kareem always maintained their neutrality.

The Kareem family could maintain their power without aligning with a party because they made substantial contributions to the development of Denhelder.

Economy, trade, education… In every way, the Kareem family extended their superior minds. Regardless, they had never involved themselves in any political affairs.

For this reason, some belittled the Kareem family as cowardly scholars or opportunists walking on a tightrope.

Nevertheless, their choice was excellent. Thanks to that, their family survived the coup.

“I worried a lot about the Princess. Along with your maid that day too. So I kept sending letters…”

“… I’m sorry. I have been so busy with various things….”

Mathias really kept sending letters. From the day after Luna died and every single day since then.

Sezh knew that Kaen kept and collected them. However, Sezh didn’t have the energy to read them and write a reply.

“No, Princess. I don’t dare to ask for an apology. I’m just worried.”

Mathias shook his head.

“I’m glad you said you’re okay.”

“Thank you for your concern. And I’m sorry for worrying you…” Sezh bowed her head.

It was uncomfortable, but not because she met Mathias, whose letters she ignored.

The whispers of the nobles still lingered in her ears. Sezh understood. Anyone who saw her would think it was strange. All the other members of the Imperial family died, but only Princess Sezh survived. Mathias would probably think so too. When the possibility arose in her mind, Sezh suddenly lacked the courage to talk with him.

Silence descended, and the atmosphere became heavy. Mathias stared at Sezh silently, then continued the conversation with an offer.

“Princess, if it’s okay with you, may I escort you to your palace?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you sprain your ankle last time? Prince— No, His Majesty cherishes you so much, so he surely wouldn’t want the same thing to happen.”

Mathias smiled softly. He was being considerate in his own way. Perhaps he was aware of what Sezh was thinking.

“No, it’s okay.”

Sezh refused with an apologetic expression.

“There are a lot of soldiers in front of the palace. Nothing will happen…”

“Soldiers?”

“Yes. They’re always on alert day and night. Today will be the same.”

It wasn’t a lie. Since Sezh moved there, soldiers have always been in Lize’s palace. They even outnumbered how many Lize had when she was alive.

“And my palace is located right in front of us here. I can go alone.”

“If it’s near us… Did the Princess move to another palace?”

“Yes. Just yesterday.”

Mathias’ eyes narrowed.

He noticed that the new Emperor doted on Sezh during her debut, but he didn’t expect it would be this much. It wasn’t just because he moved her residence to a prime location. It was also because the said palace was located centrally within the Imperial Palace, and it was also the closest to the Emperor’s palace.

“I’m sorry, but thank you so much. For everything.”

Sezh, who was clueless about Mathias’ thoughts, eagerly thanked him.

“And as you may have seen last time, my ankle has healed. Look at this….”

Sezh lifted the bottom of her dress and revealed her ankles.

She did such an unbecoming and excessive action because she felt sorry for Mathias. Let alone reply to his countless letters, she’s sorry she hadn’t even read them properly.

However, the embarrassment soon came belatedly.

“Oh that… No, I… just want to assure you that you don’t have to worry anymore…”

Looking at Sezh gibbering in panic, Mathias burst into laughter.

“Don’t worry. Of course, I understand well what the Princess means.”

“Oh, I’m… glad then…”

The red-faced Sezh muttered in a low voice.

“Then now, if I have something to say to the Princess in the future, can I come to this palace?”

“What?”

“I think I’ll have a heap of opportunities to visit the Imperial Palace in the near future. As the Princess knows, There are a lot of vacant positions in the main government posts in the Imperial Palace now.”

It was natural — the officials are all dead. All those in charge of vital government posts were imperialists or nobles with steady trust in the late Emperor and Bern.

“People also came to our family. Along with a request to take over an official position. Unfortunately, my father is old and in poor health.”

“Then that means… it’s going to be you…?”

“Yes. I haven’t been able to give an answer yet… but I’m thinking of doing so.”

“But hasn’t the Kareem family… never been in a major governmental post? They send several offers, but they all turned down…”

“So far, that’s correct,” Mathias replied with a smile. “Anyway, since I have a lot of possible visits to the Imperial Palace, won’t there be more opportunities to see the Princess? Perhaps it’s impudent, but … I hope so.”

Sezh’s eyes shook briefly.

Sezh thought the reason why Mathias took care of her, the shabby, friendless Princess, on her debut day was because he was simply a kind person.

But what about now?

Is he trying to impress Raytan, who became the new Emperor, through her like other nobles? Or… does he sincerely regard her as a friend…

“I had a lot of fun exchanging correspondence with the Princess,” Mathias kindly said as if he had looked into Sezh’s mind.

“I think I will continue to send them. The Princess can reply slowly, so please don’t concern yourself with it.”

“Ah, I….”

“Am I bothering you by sending those letters?” asked Mathias while putting on a gloomy face. “As I said before, it hasn’t been long since I came back from studying abroad, so I don’t have any friends. The Princess is the only friend I hardly made here…”

“No! No. It doesn’t bother me,” Sezh waved her hand.

Mathias relaxed his previous expression and replaced it with a smile.

“That’s a relief. Even if it doesn’t, I was worried. I was so chatty that I wonder if the Princess got bored of me or maybe made a better friend than me.”

Hearing his child-like remarks, Sezh also smiled. Mathias Kareem was still a caring person. As always.

“Then I’ll get going now. Next time I visit the Princess, I will make a formal request first. I’m allowed to do that, right?”

“P-probably,” Sezh nodded.

Mathias once again bowed politely then waved goodbye, and Sezh also told him to return safely.

Left alone, Sezh stared at Mathias, who was gradually getting farther away, and then she began to walk to her current palace without noticing the two beings on the roof.

“You seem to like the Princess.”

Standing on the roof, Belkiel stated such with an expressionless face. His gaze turned to Mathias, who was walking under them.

“The newborns are funny,” Eton smirked at Belkiel’s mocking words.