CH 12

“I didn’t get it.”

“Ah, Your Excellency usually uses mana stones, so it seems the princess didn’t give it to you.”

Rubel kept fiddling with the soft back of his hand as if it was interesting.

“Servants rarely have a chance to use mana stone.”

“It’s because mana stones are expensive, but above all, they’re not good for the body.”

Then suddenly, the duke raised his eyes. “Don’t you know that I always suffer from the aftereffects of mana stones?”

“Yes?”

“On the other hand, the ointment you received must be different.”

Even so, his cold impression was hardened indifferently.

“Is this why you say that raising children is useless?” It was the words that the duke himself unknowingly spat out.

“Aah… Honestly, Your Excellency.” Then Rubel replied. “It’s almost as if the princess grew up alone.”

The duke’s hand, which was moving the pen, paused. Rubel was a straightforward person, so he was already nervous about what he would hear from him.

“Your Excellency is always on the battlefield, so you only come to the capital once every few years.”

Rubel’s words reminded the duke of past memories. It was after his wife died… So, the duke voluntarily left the capital for ten years after Siani was born. He was mostly out on the battlefield or wandering around the territory, so there were few times only when he stayed in the duchy.

I didn’t want to see her. The duke thought as he looked at the portrait of the woman on the desk. Every time she was Siani, it reminded him of his wife’s death.

“Since Your Excellency had also left the duchy after Madam passed away, they had no choice but to say that Felicite Duchy was cursed.”

“…”

Inside of it, a child growing up alone.

By the time the duke realized that fact, too much time had already passed.

“Even when Your Excellency completely returned to the capital, you brought young Master Irik and Lady Luna…”

“So that’s why I didn’t receive the ointment.”

“Rather than that.” Rubel shrugged his shoulders. “Thinking about it, I wonder if the lady did anything wrong enough to be called a witch.”

The Red-Eye Witch of Felicite… The words he had heard casually suddenly felt unpleasant.

“How dare they not fear anything against the Felicite family. Who came up with such a—” The moment he got angry.

“Everyone was talking about me like that. That I was born after killing my mother.”

“Even my father looks at me with those eyes ahead of my birthday, so what about others?”

The duke paused. It was because Siani, who spoke those words in a calm voice, suddenly came to his mind. No way.

“Now it has come to this. What would you do?”

The duke shook his head. “Just as I failed to act as a father, that child must have no intention of acting as a daughter to me.”

“Still, Your Excellency.”

“Enough. Let’s stop talking.”

His heart has already drifted apart. To the duke, Siani was a difficult and complex existence.

* * *

“Thank you for making such an opportunity to come to our Grand Duchy Benio, Your Majesty.”

Grand Duke Benio bowed his head towards the emperor and gestured to his son.

“Go ahead and say your greeting to His Majesty.”

“May the blessing of Goddess Theia be upon you. Ash Benio greets Your Majesty.”

Ash got down on one knee and bowed.

“Long time no see, Grand Prince. How was your life in the estate?”

“I was comfortable, thanks to your care.”

“I can hear the joy of the young ladies of the capital from here.” The emperor, who was sitting in the upper seat, laughed softly.

Ash, who was looking at the emperor, quickly lowered his gaze. Dark blue hair, dark golden eyes, and a black cloak represent the Rixon family. Unlike his soft voice, he had a face with prestige.

“How old are you this year?”

“I’ll turn eighteen.”

“…I see.”

The emperor pondered for a moment. If that child was alive, he would have been about that age.

“Your Majesty, if the Benio family knew about this, they wouldn’t be silent.”

“Don’t you know! That they’ve been aiming for the throne.”

“But I can’t kill my sister’s son!”

“Just because an unmarried princess gave birth to a child, the authority of the imperial family will fall to the ground.”

“Besides, the child’s father is the owner of Magic Tower! The princess ended her life, and the Magic Tower also chose to disappear. No one can protect that child now.”

“You have to kill him, Your Majesty!”

“I can never do that.”

“Why, Your Majesty!”

It was right for that child to die as soon as he was born. But the emperor couldn’t bring himself to do that. The child was the one who inherited the blood of the elementalist and magic tower lord at the same time. He couldn’t predict what would happen if he killed that child.

“You’re in the marriageable age. Isn’t it time to think about getting married?”

The emperor brushed off his thoughts. He didn’t even know whether his nephew was still alive or not.

Benio’s son has grown so tall. It was very disgusting.

“Besides, I heard you’re doing quite a lot to help the Grand Duke.”

“I’m still not good enough yet, Your Majesty. Please teach me many things.”

At that, the emperor stroked his chin and smiled, but he didn’t answer.

“By the way, there’s going to be a welcoming party at the Grand Duchy, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I don’t know what kind of lady it would be, but the future grand duchess could  be found in there.”

“That would be nice, but I’m worried that my son isn’t interested in anything other than helping me.” This time, the grand duke trembled.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me for being rude during your conversation.” Jake, the emperor’s aide, hurriedly entered the parlor.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, that’s.”

Jake was about to speak immediately but hesitated. Come to think of it, Grand Duke Benio and his son were around. If this news reached the ears of that snake-like man…

“I have something to say about the morning meeting.” Jake made up his words and whispered to the emperor, covering his mouth. “Your Majesty. This is news related to the resort you’re preparing for. Please listen to me.”

“…”

The emperor’s expression of lifting the teacup remained unchanged.

“We’ve seen a person who bought more than half of the Belleng district we chose for that place.”

However, it was difficult even for the emperor to maintain his composure.

Only he and his few closest aides knew that the place would be developed as an imperial resort island. It was natural because that idea came from his mind, and he didn’t tell anyone about it.

Someone dares. But who the heck was that person who bought that spot that was obviously unsightly?

“Who is that…”

The emperor’s whole attention was focused on Jake’s voice.

Is it the underground guild? A certain group? Or did the information spread among the imperial family?

“— the one who bought it.”

“What? Who?”

The emperor couldn’t believe his ears when Jake said the name.

“Siani Felicite?”

* * *

Ash pretended to focus on the tea while keeping his attention on the emperor. No matter how hard he tried to listen, he couldn’t hear what Jake was saying to the emperor. He even came in person.

Jake was a close aide to the emperor. If someone like him ran directly to the emperor, it must have been something important.

What? What is it? What are you talking about?

Looking at the grand duke, he could feel that his father was pretending to be calm but that he sharpened his five senses. If only he could get a glimpse of the information, he could even tell his father.

It was when Ash felt nervous.

“Siani Felicite?”

A random name came out of the emperor’s mouth.

What? Who? At the same time, Ash’s hand holding the teacup stopped. Why did Siani’s name come out of his mouth? Even the emperor’s expression was filled with surprise.

“Haha, Hahaha.”

Unlike his dizzy head, the emperor burst into laughter.

“Your Majesty, what are you two having so much fun with?” The grand duke asked as if he couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer. “Did you just say Princess Feliciter? Did something interesting happen to her?” He, too, seemed surprised to hear Siani’s name come out of the emperor’s mouth.

“We also have a pretty close relationship with Princess Felicite, right, Ash?”

“Ah…”

It had been long since he annulled his engagement with her. So he was speechless, but the grand duke’s eyes toward Ash were fierce.

“Yes. Although we annulled our engagement, we are still close to each other for a long time.”

“That’s why we’re on the friendly side of the princess too.”

The grand duke tried to make a connection with Siani somehow. But that was all he had to put forward.

It was the same with Ash. Just a few years ago, he could say they were close. But now he was in a relationship where he couldn’t explain anything… It’s ridiculous. He was annoyed for no reason.

“Did Lady Felicite have an accident?”

“Ah, no. Something very interesting happened.” The emperor, who stopped laughing after a long time, waved his hand. “I wish I could tell you.”

It was the first time everyone had seen him smile so brightly.

“If you annulled your engagement, you’re no longer in a close relationship. That’s why I’m reluctant to speak carelessly.”

“Yes?”

“Well, if you’re that close, wouldn’t it be okay to ask the princess directly?” The emperor, who stood up from his seat, added. “I must go now. Once again, congratulations on the return of the Grand Prince Benio.”

“…Your Majesty!”

The emperor left the parlor like that. A cold wind blew across the faces of Grand Duke Benio and Ash as they watched the emperor’s back.