Episode 79

Chapter 79. I’ll Go in Your Place

“As if I wouldn’t remember.” Jerome let out a dry laugh. Of course it was a lie to say he didn’t remember what happened. The final night of the Founding Festival—even after drinking several bottles of that dreadful liquor, he could recall everything clearly.

Why did I say such a thing? He dragged a hand down his face. He couldn’t understand it himself. The words had come out so impulsively.

Jerome lowered his gaze. In his hand was a small music box. His straight fingers slowly turned the crank, his touch unusually careful.

♩♬♩

As the cylinder spun, a gentle melody spilled out. Jerome closed his eyes, listening intently.

“Why do you have this…?”

“I stumbled upon it when I visited the area before.”

With the music’s shifting notes, the events of that day rose to the surface of his memory.

“By chance?”

“Yes. By complete chance. I really did just happen to find it.”

He remembered Helena’s expression as she said that—vividly.

“How in the world…?”
How did she know there was a music box there?

Jerome furrowed his brow. Rather than making things clearer, thinking only seemed to tangle his thoughts further.

The melody faded away.

And then—

Knock, knock.
Someone knocked at the door.

Before Jerome could respond, the door opened gently.

“Your Majesty. So this is where you were.”

The person who stepped inside was none other than Fay.

“My goodness, what is this room? I didn’t know there was a place like this in the palace.” Fay looked around the room in wonder, then approached Jerome with a bright smile. “What are you doing in here?”

Jerome said nothing. He merely continued staring at something in silence.

What’s he looking at so intently? Fay followed his gaze and spotted the object in his hand.

“Is that a music box?”

It was clearly an old one—its surface worn, as though it had been touched by many hands.

Curious about the unfamiliar item, Fay reached toward it.

But her hand didn’t make it.

Jerome pulled it away.

Caught off guard by his reaction, Fay was visibly startled.

There it is again.

That invisible boundary he always drew between them.

It felt like something sharp was pricking at the corner of her heart. She pressed her fingers to the stinging ache in her chest and opened her mouth.

She wanted to ask what that music box meant to him.

But Jerome spoke first.

“Marquis Niklad.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Jerome’s call, Marquis Niklad appeared from outside the door.

“I’m certain I gave orders not to let anyone into this room.” Jerome’s voice was cold.

Marquis Niklad quickly bowed his head.

“My apologies. Her Highness the imperial concubine was insistent—”

“I asked him to let me in. Please don’t be too hard on Marquis Niklad.”

Fay rushed to interject before the marquis could finish.

“I’m sorry. I just… missed you so much, I couldn’t help myself…” Her eyes began to redden, as though she might cry at any moment.

“You know, don’t you, Your Majesty? All those rumors people whisper about me lately… I’m so frightened, I can’t even step outside my chambers.”

Fay hung her head.

“So… because I was so anxious… I wanted to see you…” Her voice trailed off.

The hands clutching her dress trembled.

Then, a large hand covered hers.

Startled, Fay looked up.

Her teary green eyes reflected nothing but Jerome.

“You don’t need to pay attention to what others say. People will always look for something to criticize.”

Jerome comforted her in the gentle tone he always used.

“But if it truly bothers you, I’ll assign someone to keep them in check.”

Only then did Fay begin to stop crying.

“…You’d do that for me?”

“I would.”

“Really?”

“I promise.”

Jerome nodded.

With a sigh of relief, Fay leaned into his embrace.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. You’re all I have.”

Even as the pain in her chest lingered.

After Fay left following her conversation with Jerome, Jerome summoned Marquis Niklad once again.

Niklad braced himself, expecting a scolding for allowing Fay into the room. After all, that was the Jerome he knew—someone merciless when it came to mistakes, who tolerated no slip-ups, no matter how small.

Still, I thought he made an exception when it came to Her Highness the imperial concubine, Niklad thought nervously.

Apparently, he had been wrong.

He waited tensely for Jerome to speak. After a pause, Jerome’s voice broke the silence.

“Where is the Empress right now?”

Niklad’s eyes widened slightly. The question was completely unexpected.

Why is the conversation suddenly shifting toward Her Majesty the Empress…?

He struggled to understand, but quickly recalled the Empress’s schedule and answered.

“She should have just finished her afternoon meeting and returned to the empress’s quarters by now.”

“I see.”

“Is there something you wish to say to Her Majesty? Shall I fetch her?”

Niklad asked.

Jerome shook his head.

“Then why… would you ask about the Empress—?”

Niklad furrowed his brow in confusion.

What Jerome said next was shocking.

“I believe someone is targeting the Empress.”

“What? Targeting Her Majesty the Empress?”

Niklad was startled.

“Who on earth would plot such a thing? And more importantly, how does Your Majesty know this?”

“The Empress told me herself.”

Niklad’s expression shifted strangely.

He hesitated, then spoke frankly.

“I don’t mean to overstep, but surely you don’t believe that, do you? It’s possible Her Majesty is fabricating the story herself.”

He implied it might be a ploy for attention, a falsehood to draw concern.

Given Helena’s past behavior, it wasn’t an entirely unbelievable scenario—in fact, it was quite plausible.

Jerome said nothing, closing his eyes instead.

Seeing this, Niklad refrained from saying anything further.

“I will begin an immediate investigation.”

In the dead of night, with nearly everyone asleep except a few essential servants, Conrad sat hidden in a corner of the royal stables.

He was waiting—waiting for someone who would come to that place.

Ugh, when will they finally arrive?

The usual time had already passed.

Could it be… they’ve already left?!

As time dragged on, Conrad’s anxiety grew.

After hiding there for what felt like ages, the stable door finally creaked open.

They’re here!

Conrad sharpened all his senses.

Footsteps approached with no hesitation—probably coming to fetch his horse.

Everything was going according to plan.

Soon, the person would lead the horse outside—

But then, the footsteps suddenly turned toward Conrad’s hiding spot.

They stopped.

A long shadow fell over him crouching in the corner.

Swallowing hard, Conrad slowly raised his head like a broken machine.

“What are you doing here?”

The voice above made Conrad break into a cold sweat.

Damn it. He’d tried so hard to stay silent.

Actually, it wasn’t that Conrad hid his presence poorly—his opponent simply had unnaturally sharp senses.

I planned to ambush the scene quietly, but I’ve been caught this fast…

It’s okay. Time for Plan B.

Wearing brazen confidence, Conrad stood up with a wide grin and dusted off his clothes.

Leonard, the captain, watched him silently with an indifferent expression.

“I asked what you’re doing here, Conrad.”

“What else? As you can see, I was waiting for you.”

“Waiting for me?”

Leonard questioned, and Conrad nodded.

“I had something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Captain, is something wrong?”

“Wrong? Nothing’s wrong.”

“But you’ve been coming and going inside and outside the palace more frequently lately. I’ve never seen you leave the palace this often.”

Leonard raised one eyebrow.

“Maybe you were lacking in training if you had time to follow me around.”

“Oh, come on, don’t say such scary things.”

Conrad waved his hands in protest and then asked seriously,

“Are you getting enough sleep?”

“……”

“I didn’t think so. You leave as soon as your duty to protect Her Majesty the Empress ends, and once you return, you immediately go back to the knights’ duties.”

“So? What are you trying to say?”

“I’ll go instead.”

“No.”

“If you keep trying to bear it all alone, you’ll really collapse. No matter how much of a captain you are…”

“It’s none of your business.”

Leonard said bluntly.

“How can you say that? As your most loyal knight, I’m hurt by that.”

Conrad refused to back down.

Leonard sighed deeply.

“What I mean is that this has nothing to do with the knights. I have no intention of involving you.”

“Ah.”

Conrad smiled as if he finally understood.

“Well then, it’s simple. Just let me protect Her Majesty the Empress.”

“…What?”

Leonard furrowed his brows, as if Conrad had crossed a line.

Conrad let out a bitter laugh.

“I’m not saying this with any hidden motive. I’m just saying we should divide the workload. You said you don’t want to involve the knights in the tasks you’re going to handle, right?”

“……”

“So, if that’s the case, you either let me know where you’re headed now, or…”

“……”

Leonard’s expression remained displeased, but he didn’t immediately reject the suggestion—Conrad’s reasoning made sense.

Especially considering what had happened that morning.

—Are you sure nothing’s wrong lately?

Lost in thought, Leonard spoke in a low voice.

“Captain.”

Watching anxiously, Conrad urged,

“Please…”

Finally, after much deliberation, Leonard lifted his head, having made a decision.