Chapter 14
The fanfare blared—Bam-pa-ba~ ba-ba-ba-bam!!!
The sound echoed through the main hall of the Aventador Royal Palace’s central temple, signaling the commencement of the new King’s coronation. Iskal, the flawless first-in-line successor, ascended to the throne with the unanimous support of the Noble Council. Under the presidency of the newly appointed High Priest, the ceremony was conducted in a grand and sacred atmosphere.
“And so, in the name of our holy Lord Dominador, I hereby declare Iskal Straben Aventador as King.”
Simultaneously with the High Priest’s solemn declaration, magnificent music erupted to celebrate the birth of the new King, followed by a torrent of applause from the joyful crowd. Iskal was no longer the ‘Grand Duke of Lexton,’ but the ‘King of Aventador.’
Yet, even in this glorious moment, Iskal couldn’t help but glance at the empty seat beside him. The image of Estina, who had left without promise of return, flickered over that spot and vanished. The sight of the empty seat, waiting for a master it might never receive, pierced Iskal’s heart with sorrow.
One of Iskal’s first acts after the inauguration was the trial of the former Royal Couple. Because the case was of such gravity and public interest, the court’s verdict was swift.
“Euraxiz Covarde Aventador is found guilty of poisoning the late King. Furthermore, he and the former Queen, Aklis Bezensona Aventador, are found guilty of conspiring to murder the direct lineage of the Hertenes Ducal House and orchestrating the extermination of its branch families. Thus, they are convicted of murdering high-ranking nobles without just cause and seizing their assets. Therefore, Euraxiz Covarde Aventador is sentenced to death, and Aklis Bezensona Aventador is sentenced to life imprisonment.”
“D-death…!”
As the death sentence was handed down, the faces of Euraxiz and his wife turned ghostly white. While the maximum penalty was expected for the regicide of the late King, the severity of the punishment regarding the Hertenes massacre drew the most attention. In Aventador, the standard punishment for high treason by royalty or high nobles was usually confinement in a remote location. Sentencing them to a common prison signaled that the crime of trampling upon a thousand-year-old partner family was being judged with extreme gravity.
Listening to the verdict on the spot, Iskal closed his eyes, overwhelmed by complex emotions.
‘Estina, Roabellin. I hope this news spreads and reaches your ears. Nothing can be undone, but I hope this provides even a small measure of comfort…’
Prince Skark was stripped of his title, reduced to a commoner, and cast out of the palace. It was a punishment incurred by association with his parents’ treason. However, since he had been notorious since childhood for his thievery and debauchery, no one pitied him. Rather, the general reaction was: “I was so worried someone like him would become King; this turned out for the best.”
***
It was a typical breakfast morning. The savory scent of the soup Pheron was boiling filled the kitchen. Jeff was busy setting the table, and Lisa was helping Roabellin into the room.
Though Roabellin’s rounded belly was somewhat noticeable against her slender frame, she was still in the middle of her pregnancy, so it wasn’t overly large yet.
“Oh dear, I told you I’m not that heavy yet. You don’t have to support me like this. I’m perfectly capable of walking alone!”
“To my eyes, My Lady is always like a baby and a fragile glass bottle that could break at any moment. Now, watch the threshold there.”
Amidst this fuss, Estina emerged from her room with a haggard face. The family immediately noticed the change.
“Oh, Auntie! What’s wrong with your face?”
“Oh my, My Lady, are you ill?”
Estina sat at the table and looked around at her family with a shadowed expression.
“A lot happened last night. Many things have changed.”
“What? What happened?”
Letis, who had been yawning as he came out of his room, sensed the atmosphere and quietly sat down.
“Last night, I went to the Aventador Royal Palace. Via the gate.”
“What?!”
To the family gathered with wide eyes, Estina recounted the events of the previous night: how the King and Queen of Aventador were stripped of power after their crimes were proven, and how Heymelic, the temporary Emperor of Prahenfelt, was the true culprit behind the Hertenes massacre.
The family was shocked but processed the situation quickly.
“Then, does this mean we don’t have to live in hiding anymore?!” Lisa asked with a bright face.
However, instead of Estina, Roabellin replied from beside her.
“Well… as long as we are sure the Emperor of Prahenfelt isn’t looking for me.” Roabellin looked at Lisa with a slightly apologetic face while stroking her belly.
“Ah, right…” Lisa’s face fell instantly.
“Still, one of the groups tracking us is gone,” Estina said, smiling to comfort Lisa.
“True! We don’t have to fear being chased by Aventador anymore. Auntie, you’re amazing!” Roabellin spoke brightly, but Estina seemed lost in thought.
“No. We can breathe a bit easier, but a new question has arisen. Why did the Emperor suddenly attack our family eight years ago, when there was no connection between us?”
Then Letis, who had seen Heymelic several times while working for Radak, spoke up.
“Prince Radak tried to claim Lady Roabellin because of the ‘destiny of the Hertenes daughter.’ But that started only about two years ago. I don’t know if Prince Heymelic felt the same eight years ago. He was an adult then, and the Lady was only twelve. Would he have hurried to claim her back then?”
Estina shook her head.
“I don’t think so. If he wanted Roa, he could have sent a formal proposal as the Emperor. Even if we were the Queen’s family in Aventador, it would have been hard for a kingdom like Aventador to refuse a request from the Emperor of the Empire. At worst, he could have kidnapped just Roa. But the way they attacked that day… it felt like they intended to kill everyone, including Roa.”
Estina frowned as she recalled that day. Roabellin chimed in with her own theory.
“He was the temporary Emperor then. Could it be that it wasn’t Heymelic’s personal will, but an action taken as the Emperor of the Prahenfelt Empire?”
Everyone focused on her. Roabellin hesitated before confessing briefly about her encounter with Kaisertern in the palace hunting grounds when she was twelve.
“Perhaps I made a mistake that day, or that Third Prince—the current Emperor—exposed a flaw he didn’t want the world to see… Could the Empire have attacked us to silence us or for revenge?”
“Ah…”
It didn’t seem highly likely, but it was a plausible theory.
“I heard later that right after he met me and returned to Prahenfelt, that Third Prince suddenly completed his growth in just three days, like a Ukla tree. I heard that’s a trait of the direct imperial bloodline, but finishing in three days was a very unusual case. Maybe something went wrong in that process, and they tried to eliminate us because of it…”
“Oh, no! That can’t be it.”
“Of course not! My Lady, please don’t think it’s your fault!”
The family scrambled to deny it, worried Roabellin would blame herself. However, without knowing the exact reason, the creeping anxiety and fear were unavoidable.
“Yes, Roa. We won’t know just by talking amongst ourselves, so don’t think too deeply. It won’t be good for the baby. Roa, in any situation, the victim shouldn’t try to find their own fault by asking ‘Is this my fault?’ Whatever the reason, the one who did that to us is the villain. Understand?”
Estina spoke firmly, but Roabellin, who had been deep in thought, suddenly dropped her head.
“Come to think of it… this baby in my womb… the baby’s uncle is the man who did that to our family…?”
Everyone’s eyes widened. Tears began to pour from Roabellin’s eyes.
“I didn’t even know it was a family of enemies, and I went all the way to the Emperor… to someone who killed my family’s house… to have a baby as his nephew… sob…”
She tried to bite her lip, but her tears finally burst forth. Tears streamed down her beautiful cheeks. They wanted to deny it, but unfortunately, her words were true. Because of this, the family couldn’t even offer easy words of comfort. They simply pulled Roabellin’s small shoulders into an embrace and stroked her back.
***
Skark, who had been a noble prince and was suddenly kicked out of the palace with nothing, fumed with rage.
“What sin did I commit?! The punishment should go to my father who actually committed the crime! Why me?! This is unfair!!”
He seemed to have forgotten the law that children of those who commit high treason against the King can be executed alongside them. He spent hours screaming at the palace entrance until he grew tired and wandered into the city of Aselenton.
Wandering without a destination, Skark began to loiter in back alleys and hang out with thugs. Caught in a common street brawl and beaten senseless by local gangs, he eventually met a miserable end in the street. It was a pathetic finale for a man born as the son of a Grand Duke who had once reigned as a Prince.
***
A few days before Iskal’s coronation.
“Is there still no contact from the Archmage?”
“My apologies, Your Majesty. I will try to contact him again…”
The attendant cautiously left the office, wary of Kaisertern’s mood. Lately, Kaisertern had been in a constant low mood. Of course, his temper hadn’t been good since Roabellin left.
“Still, he seemed a bit better for a while, as if he got along well with Duke Hertenes.”
The attendant shook his head and attempted to contact Iskal again using a communication orb. Finally:
“It’s been a while.”
Iskal’s bright voice came through the orb.
“Archmage!!”
The attendant cried out, nearly in tears from relief.
“Haha, it’s you. Why so glad to hear from me?” Iskal replied with a good-natured laugh.
“The Emperor has been hounding me about why I couldn’t reach you!”
“I’ve been a bit busy lately. My apologies. Connect me to His Majesty at once.”
The attendant sighed in relief and connected his orb to the one on the Emperor’s desk.
“Your Majesty, it is Iskal.”
Iskal spoke brightly, but Kaisertern’s voice was heavy and sullen.
“It’s been too long. Don’t you have something important to tell me? Something… you’re hiding…?”
Actually, Kaisertern had intended to interrogate Iskal about his previous lies, but his disappointment over the lack of contact came first. Iskal, who indeed had many secrets from the Emperor, felt a pang of guilt.
‘Which one is he talking about? There’s more than one… In times like this, let’s sidestep.’
“Ah, yes! There is something important.”
At Iskal’s unexpectedly cheerful voice, one of Kaisertern’s eyebrows arched in disapproval.
“I have resolved the tangled affairs here, and I intend to become the King of Aventador. While Aventador is not a vassal state of the Empire, I felt I should inform Your Majesty in advance.”
Kaisertern had already been receiving real-time reports about the arrest of the King and Queen and Iskal’s nomination.
“I knew the general situation, but it’s good to hear it from you directly. Congratulations. No, you are no longer my subordinate but the King of a nation, so I should speak formally.”
“Oh, hearing formal speech from Your Majesty is too awkward. Please only do that in official settings. When we are alone like this, treat me as you did before. If you ever held any personal friendship for me, that is.”
Knowing Iskal’s personality—how he found cringeworthy or awkward moments hard to bear—Kaisertern chuckled and reverted to informal speech.
“Since you are opening a new era for the kingdom, is there anything I can help with? Purging the old factions, or perhaps a formal alliance with all the Empire’s vassals? You’ve worked hard by my side; I’d like to give you a gift.”
Kaisertern spoke lightly, but the weight of those offers was immense. Receiving an inauguration gift from the Emperor meant being recognized as a legitimate King by the Empire. For those who didn’t ascend through a traditional path, this recognition often stabilized their throne.
“I believe I can handle the old factions within our kingdom myself. It’s already well underway. However, the alliance with all those nations is incredibly tempting.”
Iskal’s voice turned serious.
“But more than that, I’d like to ask for a simpler favor. I have sentenced my uncle to death and my aunt to life imprisonment… but they are currently in a regular prison and the execution hasn’t been carried out.”
Kaisertern listened, resting his chin on his hand.
“Though the law dictated the death penalty, they are still my close relatives, and it feels uncomfortable to execute them personally. Being early in my reign, I must also consider public sentiment. Thus… may I use the ‘Prison of Wailing Souls’ in the Imperial Palace?”
He was asking to transfer the former King and Queen from Aventador to the underground dungeons of Prahenfelt. Kaisertern replied readily.
“That’s not difficult at all. I’ll order a spot prepared for them in the dampest part of the dungeon. And your inauguration gift shall be the ‘Alliance Pact with the Empire and all its Vassals.’ It’s my thanks for your hard work.”
Iskal’s expression brightened instantly. “Thank you truly. I will ensure we maintain a good relationship with the Empire and the vassals.”
Watching Iskal’s joy, Kaisertern also smiled slightly. Then, his expression slowly shifted into something terrifying.
“But you know.”
The sudden change in atmosphere made Iskal flinch even through the communication orb.
“That character I asked you about before. Do you remember? The one in my study that looked like a drawing.”
How could he forget? Iskal stuttered involuntarily. “A-ah… yes.”
“I found out. It turns out it was an ancient language from the Aventador region. As someone who received a high education in Aventador, there’s no way you didn’t know it. Why did you say you didn’t know then?”
“…”
Iskal felt a chill run down his spine.
‘What? How on earth did he find out…?’
Since he hadn’t been to Prahenfelt recently, Iskal didn’t know about the news from Itanistad.
‘Who told the Emperor? Only royalty and some nobles learn the ancient script… Did someone conspiring with my uncle get into the palace without my knowledge…?’
A million thoughts raced through his head.
‘But I don’t know how much the Emperor knows. I have things I need his help with. Lying further will only make it worse. I should tell the truth.’
After making his decision, Iskal broke the silence.
“My apologies. At that time, I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for me to admit I knew.”
As Iskal immediately admitted and apologized, Kaisertern’s expression softened slightly.
“Hmm. Weren’t you the Archmage of the Imperial Palace loyal to me then? Who else were you thinking of?”
As he asked, Kaisertern had a sudden, stray thought.
‘Could it be… that Iskal has feelings for Roabellin? They might have met as children, or while she was coming and going through the palace.’
Before Kaisertern’s jealous imagination could spiral, Iskal answered.
“You know of the Queen’s family of Aventador, the Hertenes? …I am in love with a daughter of that house.”
Kaisertern’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer. But Iskal, who knew Roabellin was Kaisertern’s first love through Radak’s memories, added quickly:
“It is another daughter of the Hertenes, not Roabellin.”
While Kaisertern, who was unaware of Estina’s existence, looked puzzled, Iskal explained:
“She is Estina, Roabellin’s aunt. Strictly speaking, she is a Hertenes daughter of the previous generation. She survived and fled with Roabellin, and has been living in hiding ever since. Both were born with the destiny of a Queen, but since the fall of their house, they simply wish to survive quietly.
I apologize, but that day, I recognized the character as meaning ‘Queen’ immediately. And so, I was able to guess that Roabellin was alive and near Your Majesty.”
Of course, Iskal had known Roabellin was alive from the start, but he hadn’t known she was in the Imperial Palace, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.
“So… using that as a clue, I found Roabellin in the palace and helped her return to Estina. Because that’s what the child wanted. I believed helping Roabellin was the only thing I could do for Estina. If you wish to punish me for that, I will accept it.”
Kaisertern was stunned by the revelation.
“You mean you helped her leave me? Then, do you know where Roabellin is now?!”
Kaisertern was about to explode with anger, thinking Iskal had mocked his desperate search while knowing her location. But Iskal replied immediately.
“I knew at first, because I sent her there. But it seems Estina didn’t even trust me fully. They moved their residence again afterward, so even I do not know where they live now. Since she knew I was your subordinate, she must have felt she couldn’t trust me either.”
Kaisertern’s tension deflated.
“Wait, you say you love her… and you couldn’t even gain that much trust from her…?”
While chiding Iskal, Kaisertern realized his own situation was no different and fell silent.
‘No, it’s not just the same; it’s worse. Estina simply hid her location, but Roabellin actively ran away from me.’
Unable to hide a heavy sigh, Kaisertern muttered weakly, “Then, there’s no way to find them…”
“As I said, I don’t know where they are. However, I can lift the protective magic I placed on them to prevent their mana signatures from being tracked. If I do, you might be able to find them before long.”
Kaisertern’s face, which had brightened at the possibility of finding her, crumpled again.
“What? You even blocked mana tracking?! Ha… You really are thorough. And all the while acting like you were helping me…”
Kaisertern fumed with a sense of betrayal. However, it was unwise to make an enemy of a mage this capable and intelligent—especially one who would soon be a King of another nation. Even for an Emperor.
“Yes, I was truly sorry then. That’s why I worked so hard to help you with everything else besides finding Roabellin.”
He was referring to the task of digging up graves and investigating corpses. Since he owed Iskal for that labor, Kaisertern was left speechless.
“Ha, you really…!”
Iskal didn’t give him a chance to get angry and cut in.
“So, shall I lift the mana protection magic?”
“Yes. Please do. One shouldn’t obsess over the past.”
Kaisertern flipped his attitude instantly. He was a proud Emperor, but he was also the type to choose practicality over useless stubbornness. Iskal knew this, which was why he attempted this trade in exchange for forgiveness.
Iskal, with a victorious smile, recited the dispelling incantation on the spot. As he did, he could vaguely sense the direction they were in, but he did not mention that to Kaisertern.
‘Regardless, that obsessed Emperor will find them eventually. Consider this a small kindness—enjoying a few more days of freedom. Estina, Roabellin.’
***
“Wow, has it really been months?”
On a mountain path overlooking Vicentium, Letis sat atop her horse and gazed down at the sprawling city. She had made the journey after a long absence, both to purchase a few magical items only found there and to catch up on the rumors circulating in the continental hub.
Born in a city near Vicentium, Letis was well-acquainted with the vibrant atmosphere of a metropolis. Consequently, despite her love for Roabellin and the family, she had been feeling stifled by their secluded life in the countryside.
‘If they knew I volunteered to come just because I missed the big city, would they feel sorry? Or would they be upset?’
Smiling as she realized she was still thinking of them even here, Letis pulled her hood low and headed to a large magic supply store. There, she purchased the necessary items and sold the magic potions Estina and Roabellin had crafted.
‘This is actually quite lucrative. Those two really are skilled. Since they said 10% is my errand fee, maybe I should treat myself to something expensive? Hehe.’
Letis, after all, came from a noble family. However, her family’s fortunes had declined in her youth, and after her parents passed away, she had wandered the streets until Radak took her in. While years of grueling training to become a knight had made her capable of eating anything, she actually had quite refined tastes.
She entered a high-end restaurant near the noble townhouses by the Lachen River, which bisects Vicentium. It was one of the city’s finest establishments, located in the same area as the one Kaisertern had once taken Roabellin to during the Vicent Festival.
‘Ah, the juice of this medium-rare beef steak, the tender texture, the aroma of truffle salt… Ah, truly, the taste of money is the best….’
As she ecstatically savored the luxury meal, snippets of conversation from the adjacent table reached her ears.
“Hertenes….”
“……so that Duke….”
Among the conversation between two noblemen, the word ‘Hertenes’ caught her attention.
‘What, Hertenes?! What are they talking about?’
Letis slowly set down her fork and focused all her senses. While not on par with Kaisertern, her hearing was sharper than an average person’s thanks to her knightly training.
“……so that young Baron suddenly became a Duke.”
“Even so, he’s just a Duke from a distant foreign land, not a Duke of the Empire. Where did they say he was from?”
“Aventador, apparently.”
When the name ‘Aventador’ left the nobleman’s lips, Letis momentarily held her breath. She continued to listen intently.
“……I heard he moved here after his family lost its power in some political strife back in Aventador.”
“Haha, do you really believe that? That’s just the official story. He might have been exiled for a crime or fled from debt.”
“If that were the case, the Imperial family wouldn’t have authorized him as an Imperial noble. Regardless, who can deny that House Hertenes is currently the fastest-growing noble house in Vicentium?”
“I heard the Duke is quite young; he must be unexpectedly resourceful.”
“I saw him at a social gathering recently. A handsome man with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes. Regardless of his skill, his appearance alone had all the ladies’ attention.”
Listening to the story, Letis couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose.
‘These old men, getting so chatty about gossip at their age.’
Yet, she took every word to heart.
‘Alright, let’s summarize. A man who was a Junior Baron suddenly became Duke Hertenes. He’s from Aventador and supposedly fled. He’s young, has platinum blonde hair, and blue eyes. He seems resourceful….’
Letis had never heard descriptions of Roabellin’s deceased family members. However, the information that ‘a young man called Duke Hertenes has the same platinum blonde hair as Roabellin’ was something she couldn’t ignore.
‘He’s either an imposter, or… he’s Roabellin’s actual surviving flesh and blood.’
Letis’s eyes sparkled.
Munching on her steak while eavesdropping further, she stood up to leave once the topic shifted.
‘The most successful family these days, huh? Then they’re likely in the most expensive neighborhood.’
While she wasn’t certain she’d meet the Duke there, Letis decided to head to the heart of Vicentium. Her motto was: short deliberation, immediate action.
‘If I remember correctly, the area in front of the plaza is the most expensive… Ah!’
Looking around, she spotted a sign reading ‘Hertenes Trading Company’ on a four-story building in the most prime location of the central district.
‘Unbelievable…. They put up a sign so boldly.’
Thinking of Roabellin and Estina, who had lived in hiding for years because of the Hertenes name, Letis found it absurd that it was this easy to find.
She stepped inside. Befitting its location, the interior was magnificent. High ceilings provided a sense of grandeur, and crystal chandeliers sparkled like stars. While commoners were allowed entry, it seemed the third floor sold only luxury goods aimed at the nobility.
‘Wow…. If even I can’t look away, this must be a trap for those with material greed.’
The place was filled with rare and beautiful items brought from across the continent and beyond by a skilled and discerning merchant guild. After admiring the goods for a moment, Letis approached someone who looked like a manager.
“Excuse me, what must I do to meet Duke Hertenes?”
“The Duke often visits his office on the fourth floor. However, he hasn’t come in today.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you.”
Though slightly disappointed, Letis was someone who tried until she succeeded.
‘Persistence is a vital virtue for a knight! If I come every day, I’ll catch him once.’
The next day, she returned. When she asked the same employee about meeting the Duke, they informed her he had arrived and called for the Duke’s secretary.
“Greetings. I am Keles, secretary to Duke Hertenes. Do you have a prior appointment with His Grace?”
If she said yes, she might get to his office, regardless of the consequences. But Letis was a knight of integrity; lying for personal convenience wasn’t in her nature.
“No, I do not.”
The secretary looked bewildered that someone would boldly seek the Duke without an appointment.
“Without a prior appointment, it is difficult to guide you to the Duke’s office. My apologies.”
“Ah…. well.”
Faced with a polite refusal for a valid reason, she had no choice.
‘Nothing for it. He’ll come out of his office eventually, so I’ll wait.’
Letis lingered in the shop, pretending to browse. After some time, she saw a pair of legs descending the stairs from the upper floor. Expecting it to be just an employee, she glanced over casually.
As the man descended, her eyes took him in: legs, waist, chest, neck, then chin.
‘My, someone’s son is quite handsome. His clothes are top-notch, and the fit is perfect…. Gasp.’
When she finally saw his face, she let out a sharp intake of breath.
‘What is this…. That face is identical to Lady Roabellin’s?!’
He was a young man with the same striking features as Roabellin—almost like a tall, male version of her. As Letis stared blankly with her mouth agape, the secretary approached him, calling him “Your Grace” and speaking to him.
‘That man is Duke Hertenes. A man who looks exactly like Lady Roabellin and appears to be around her age…. Could it be her family is alive? Even if not, he must be a close relative. Let’s try talking to him.’
Having made up her mind, Letis strode toward him. As she, a tall woman with short hair, marched directly toward the Duke, three men suddenly appeared out of nowhere without a sound and blocked her path.
“Whoops.”
Letis was startled, as she hadn’t sensed their presence until they appeared. While the crowd in the shop made it hard to track individuals, these men were clearly skilled enough to make even a seasoned knight like Letis tense up.
‘What’s going on? These guys are at the level of experts the Imperial Palace would assign to a Prince, like they did for Radak. Why are three of them guarding a mere noble?’
Unaware that Itanistad had the full support and backing of the Emperor, Letis couldn’t help but be shocked.
As she stood frozen, contemplating the identity of the guards, Itanistad turned toward her. Being a man of business, he didn’t show suspicion but met her gaze with a gentle expression.
“Who are you? Do you have business with me?”
“Yes. Important business. Very important. I wish to speak with Your Grace in private.”
Though Letis was dressed plainly for travel, Itanistad could tell from her confident expression and tone that she was no commoner.
‘Looking at her frame and posture, is she a knight?’
Before Itanistad could speak, his secretary intervened.
“It is difficult for His Grace to have a private meeting with someone whose identity is unknown, for security reasons. Please understand. Our apologies.”
‘True, even I wouldn’t grant a private meeting to a stranger.’
Nodding slightly, Letis made a proposal to Itanistad.
“I understand. Then, I will write my business on a piece of paper first. Read it yourself, and if you feel like meeting me privately, please call for me.”
“Very well.”
Letis wrote her business on the paper provided by the secretary, folded it, and handed it back. A moment after Itanistad, the secretary, and the guards went up to the fourth floor, the secretary came running back down, breathless as if ordered to hurry.
“Huff, huff…. His Grace says to come in immediately.”
‘As expected.’
Letis’s heart pounded, but she maintained a composed front and straightened her shoulders. She was guided by the secretary to the Duke’s office.
The office was spacious, furnished with tastefully high-end pieces that created a cozy atmosphere. Seeing Letis enter, Itanistad rose from his desk. He observed her briefly with bright, clear blue eyes before greeting her.
“I am Itanistad Hertenes. As you seem to know. Please, have a seat.” “I am Letis Berfen. Of the House of Viscount Berfen, and a knight.”
She finished her introduction quickly and sat on the sofa. Itanistad sat opposite her.
“A pleasure, Sir Berfen.”
After a brief exchange of searching glances, Itanistad spoke first.
“I wish to hear more about that ‘business’ you mentioned.”
His eyes were incredibly serious. Given the nature of the topic, Letis had to be cautious.
“Is this room soundproof? Is there a connected room, or someone guarding the door…?”
“Do not worry about that. I negotiate here even with major clients under strict confidentiality. The guards have been sent to the end of the hallway.”
Despite his confident answer, Letis hesitated. She had to choose her words carefully in case this man wasn’t Roabellin’s true kin or if this was a trap. Seeing her silence, Itanistad became the eager one.
“On the note, you wrote ‘Roabellin.’ What do you have to say about that child? Do you perhaps know the location of her grave…?”
Itanistad’s voice trailed off, his eyes momentarily clouding. Seeing the grief on his face at the mere mention of her grave, Letis became certain he wasn’t a ‘trap.’
Of course, Itanistad already knew from Kaisertern that Roabellin was alive. However, he also had to consider the possibility that Letis, who had suddenly appeared mentioning his sister’s name, might be a fraud. Thus, he intentionally feigned ignorance of Roabellin being alive.
“Excuse me, but I have a question first. Your Grace, what is your relationship to Lady Roabellin?”
A flicker of suspicion appeared in Itanistad’s eyes.
“Are you asking Duke Hertenes what his relationship is to the legitimate daughter of House Hertenes? I thought you came here knowing something.”
“Ah…. Then you really are siblings. You do resemble the Lady very much.”
At her response, Itanistad’s eyes widened.
“Have you seen Roabellin? When? Is she truly alive?”
He looked ready to jump up and shake Letis. Seeing his intense reaction, Letis smiled awkwardly and spoke slowly.
“Before that, I have a question. To Your Grace, is the Lady’s own life the priority? Or is it the House receiving the Emperor’s support?”
To Itanistad, who expected to hear about Roabellin’s status, it seemed like a random question. But after reflecting, he deduced two things: Roabellin was alive, and….
“It seems Roa and His Imperial Majesty do not want the same thing, whatever that may be. And Sir Berfen, you wish to know whose side I will take.”
Letis, caught off guard, looked at him with surprised eyes. It was what she wanted to say, but it was too direct for her to simply affirm, for Roabellin’s safety and to avoid the charge of defying the Emperor’s will.
“……”
Though she remained silent, Itanistad understood it as an affirmation.
“The restoration of my House is very important to me. As the eldest son, reviving our family with its thousand-year history is my life’s mission. Naturally, the Emperor’s support makes that much easier, and I am currently receiving his help in various ways.”
Hearing this, Letis could guess the identity of those guards.
‘As I thought, they were sent by the Imperial Palace.’
But Itanistad’s next words were unexpected.
“However, a ‘House’ isn’t just its property, territory, or influence. The ‘people’ of the House are the House itself. Material things are merely secondary. If I must choose, I would choose to protect my sister over the restoration of the House. If I cannot do it, my descendants may one day rebuild our wealth and power. I simply… want to see Roa again. To see my sister living in good health.”
He spoke calmly, but his eyes were filled with longing. Reading the sincerity in his face, Letis finally decided to trust him.
“Well then, could you perhaps leave your guards behind and take about two weeks of your time?”
She was proposing that he go with her to where Roabellin lived.
Of course, as the leader of a trading company and a rising star in Vicentium’s social circles, Duke Hertenes was a busy man. However, it was impossible for the pregnant Roabellin to ride a horse here for a week, and coming to Vicentium risked the eyes of the Emperor’s pursuit team. Thus, Letis judged it better for the Duke to visit quietly. Though unaware of those details, Itanistad immediately understood her offer and replied.
“Of course.”
“Good. Then let us depart early tomorrow morning. Prepare horses and travel funds, keeping in mind it’s a week-long journey one way.”
“Understood. I will speak with my secretary to clear my schedule. I’ll frame it as a business trip requiring confidentiality.”
Having finished her business, Letis gave a bright smile and stood up.
“Then I shall see you in front of this building at six tomorrow morning.”
***
Leaving Vicentium early the next day, the two reached the Nation of Zakt at the southwestern edge of the continent in six days. Thanks to their haste, they arrived a day earlier than expected.
They could have used the public teleportation at a magic shop to save time, but that would have likely alerted the Emperor to their final destination. Thus, Letis chose the week-long horse ride so they could lose any potential pursuers.
The two stood before the gate of an ordinary house on a hillside in a small town on the outskirts of Zakt. Over the six days of travel, they had dropped their guard and become something akin to friends.
“We’ve arrived. It’s this house.”
Dismounting, Itanistad looked at the gate and high walls with a mix of excitement and longing.
“So this is where Roa and Aunt Estina live….”
Learning during the journey that Estina was also alive, along with some of the household staff, Itanistad had been unable to hide his joy. His excitement had only made them push their horses faster.
Watching him look at the gate as if it were Roabellin’s face, Letis said warmly, “Yes. I’ll open the door. One moment.”
Clearing her throat, Letis stood before the gate and knocked five times—thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. Soon, a middle-aged man’s voice came from inside.
“Who is it?”
“A hunter who went to the market after breakfast. I shot a wild boar and a deer.”
It was the code they had agreed upon before she left. Just as Itanistad was tilting his head at the strange words, the gate opened.
“Sir Knight, you’ve returned!”
Pheron, the middle-aged servant, greeted Letis with a delighted face. Letis quickly stepped inside, gesturing for Itanistad to follow. Pheron hurried them in and immediately locked the gate before even seeing their faces properly. When he finally turned around, he looked utterly shocked. Standing in the yard was a noble youth with familiar features—platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Oh, oh! You, you are……!!”
Itanistad also recognized him.
“You… look familiar. Ah! Yes, Pheron the gardener! Right?”
Pheron rushed to Itanistad, and the two grasped each other’s hands.
“My word, Young Master! You were alive? Oh my, oh my…! Our Lady suffered so much, not knowing….”
Pheron’s eyes welled up, and his words were lost in a sob.
“What is all this noise? What’s happening?”
Lisa, drawn by the unusual voices, also recognized Itanistad immediately, followed shortly by Estina. Seeing her come out of the house, Itanistad ran to her and hugged her like a young boy reunited with his older sister.
“Aunt!!”
“I-Itan……?”
Stunned by his sudden appearance, Estina stood frozen, then pulled back to cradle his face in her hands, searching his features. Her eyes trembled incessantly.
“Are you alive? You? You were alive?”
Overwhelmed with joy and shock, she could only repeat the same question.
“Yes, Aunt. On that day, I thought I was the only one who survived….”
As the two talked through tears and laughter, Roabellin finally peeked her head out cautiously. As the one who needed to stay hidden most, she had promised her family never to look out when someone came.
Peeking out, her eyes went wide. On the day she lost her family, her home, and her status, she had thought she lost her brother too—but there he was. Though his youthful look had been replaced by a dignified young man, she could clearly recognize him as her brother, Itanistad.
“Bro…… brother……?”
Calling him by the name she used as a child, Roabellin stepped into the yard, looking dazed. Her steps faltered as she kept her eyes fixed on him. Was she dreaming? She couldn’t believe it.
Sensing someone approaching, Itanistad turned and froze at the sight of Roabellin. His sister, whose last image in his mind was that of a twelve-year-old girl—the sister he thought he’d never see again in this life—was running toward him as if she might collapse.
“…….”
Tears began to fill Itanistad’s eyes. He whispered her name in a choked voice.
“Ro……a.”
Managing not to fall, she reached him, and Itanistad pulled her into a fierce embrace.
“Roa……!”
“Brother, Brother…….”
Joy and sorrow surged up to her throat. The siblings, with their matching platinum blonde hair, stood for a long time, saying nothing and simply holding each other while they wept. All the grueling years felt compensated for by the mere fact that they were both alive.
They had spent years suppressing their emotions, living in bated breath. As if pouring out all that heartache, the siblings, Estina, and the servants wept in the courtyard for a long while.
***
Kaisertern was currently in Gelayen, a border region in the western part of the Empire, for an inspection. It was a place he had visited as a child with his father and brothers. At that time, Gelayen had been relatively peaceful for a borderland, with no major issues other than magical beasts. Now, however, the situation had changed drastically.
‘Back then, we came on a “royal tour” to celebrate the successful subjugation of magical beasts. Now, I come for an “inspection” because of people. Are humans more dangerous than beasts?’
Near the western border of Prahenfelt, three small kingdoms were huddled together. Originally one nation, they had split into three a few years ago due to a succession dispute among princes. Naturally, their relations were poor, and constant small-scale conflicts had devastated the lives of their citizens.
In this turmoil, many who lost their livelihoods turned to banditry to raid homes, while others attempted to enter Prahenfelt illegally to relocate. Strengthening border security was only a temporary fix. Gelayen was restless with the influx of these people.
The Emperor usually selected three or four regions a year for inspections. Although it had been less than two years since his last visit to Gelayen, Kaisertern personally chose it for this year’s circuit because the situation was so dire.
‘It hasn’t been that long, but things seem to get worse every time I come.’
Just before arriving at the capital of Gelayen, Kaisertern let out a small sigh as he looked down at the city from a low mountain.
‘That must be the Black Forest. The cave I collapsed back then should be around there. I wonder if the Forellin beasts still live in the other caves.’
After a brief trip down memory lane regarding his childhood “hobby” of blowing up giant magical beasts with mana, Kaisertern led his retinue into the capital of Gelayen.
“We are honored by your arrival after such a long journey, Your Majesty. I am Delus of House Hura, the Acting Baron Lord.”
Gelayen was an imperial territory directly under the Emperor, but due to its strategic importance, it was managed by a specially appointed Baron Lord. However, Marquis Moravia, who had protected this place for a long time, had returned to his hometown years ago due to old age.
Since no one had volunteered for the post, Delus Hura, the youngest son of a minor baronial family, was serving as the “Acting” Baron Lord. He wasn’t a wicked or corrupt official, but he lacked the competence to manage such a troubled region. The worsening state of Gelayen was proof of that.
“Yes, you have worked hard in a difficult place. Let my retinue be assigned rooms to rest. I shall tour the city with the Acting Baron Lord immediately.”
Delus was inwardly shocked that the Emperor intended to inspect the city before even recovering from the fatigue of travel. However, for those who served Kaisertern, this was hardly surprising.
“Ah? Ah, yes, yes. I understand. This way, Your Majesty.”
The state of Gelayen, seen firsthand under Delus’s guidance, was worse than the reports suggested.
“It looks as though a war has swept through. Explain in detail what has occurred.”
At Kaisertern’s heavy voice, Delus hesitated before beginning his explanation.
“Beyond those from the three kingdoms, various nearby nomadic tribes frequently cross the border to pillage and kill. Since we are far from the capital, the loyalty of the people here toward the Empire is… not particularly strong. That is why they do not unite to resist. Consequently, the tribes have even occupied some areas, which have become lawless zones… I am deeply sorry.”
Delus hung his head in shame.
‘Should I dispatch a large-scale force to crush those lawless zones, or should I negotiate with the neighboring countries?’
As Kaisertern considered several options, a familiar shape caught his eye.
‘Platinum blonde?!’
He saw a flash of long platinum blonde hair fluttering around a street corner before vanishing. His eyes widened, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably. Without a moment’s thought, he spurred his horse toward the spot, but the woman was nowhere to be found. Delus, catching up late, looked at the searching Kaisertern with a bewildered face.
“Your Majesty, what are you looking for?”
Kaisertern didn’t even look back. His eyes were still tracing the woman’s path.
“…I have a question. Is platinum blonde hair common in this region?”
Delus’s eyes rounded at the sudden question.
“Pardon? Ah… no, it doesn’t seem to be. It is only seen occasionally.”
“Then the task will be simple. Investigate all young women in this city with platinum blonde hair who moved to Gelayen within the last two years. Bring them all to me. As quickly as possible.”
Though puzzled by the nonsensical command, Delus bowed and complied.
About half a day later, a report came in that all those meeting the criteria had been gathered in the reception room of the Baron Lord’s manor. Upon hearing this, Kaisertern stood up abruptly and headed toward the room. He tried to appear calm, but his heart was racing. His mind was in such a frantic whirl that he barely heard his attendant speaking beside him.
Curbing his urge to sprint, he arrived at the door with long, hurried strides.
“Whew…”
Taking a deep breath with his hand on the handle, he opened the door himself. Inside the reception room were about a dozen young women. Though the shades varied slightly, they all had hair that could be described as “platinum” or “light blonde.”
At the sound of the door opening and someone entering hurriedly, they all turned toward him.
“Ah!”
“It… it must be the Emperor.”
Perhaps having been warned of the Emperor’s arrival, they all stood and bowed their heads. As commoners, they bowed in fear, but none knew the proper imperial etiquette to greet him correctly.
Kaisertern froze in his tracks. A wave of intense disappointment crashed over him. The moment those dozen women turned around, he knew at a single glance that Roabellin was not among them.
Delus, who had followed him into the room, studied his expression and asked, “If none of these women catch your fancy, I can expand the search to nearby Hillas and Dendel to find platinum blonde women…”
But Kaisertern cut him off sharply.
“No, it is not for that reason. I am simply… looking for someone.”
Even though he knew Roabellin wasn’t there, he checked each face one by one just in case. They were all people who had nothing in common with Roabellin other than their hair color. Kaisertern swallowed a sigh and instructed his attendant.
“Give these people two days’ worth of Gelayen wages and send them back.”
It was compensation for taking the time of people who lived hand-to-mouth. The women, who had been brought there for no apparent reason but got to see the handsome Emperor’s face up close and receive money, left happy with their small stroke of luck. Once they were gone, Kaisertern gave Delus a new order.
“Change the target of the investigation. List all women between the ages of 18 and 22 who moved to Gelayen in the last two years. Hair color does not matter. Bring every woman who can be considered a beauty. They don’t have to be stunning; bring anyone who is even slightly pretty.”
He gave the order keeping in mind that Roabellin could change her appearance. In truth, he didn’t expect much from this. But since he was here, he wanted to be thorough. A few hours later, the reception room was filled with about thirty young beauties.
Kaisertern personally checked their faces again and even used his mana to verify if they were under the influence of magical potions.
‘As I thought.’
Kaisertern felt the familiar weight of disappointment he had experienced daily for months. It truly felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Only after sending them away and returning to his quarters did a deep sense of despair appear on his face. Kaisertern ran his hands through his hair and rubbed his face roughly. His handsome brow furrowed.
‘Where on earth are you hiding so tightly? I thought I could find you instantly once the Great Mage’s protection magic was lifted. Roabellin. Are you even safe?’
The thought that he didn’t even know if she was alive made his heart grow more anxious. It was because of that anxiety that he had made such a desperate move today.
‘If I have to live the rest of my life never finding you, how much longer can I last without going mad? My life can never be complete without you. Please, come back. Roabellin…’
Kaisertern whispered in agonizing silence.
***
Only after everyone in the courtyard had cried their fill and calmed down was Itanistad guided inside the house. A modest meal was set before Itanistad and Letis, who had briefly washed up.
“Eat for now to curb your hunger. We will have a proper meal later this evening.”
Lisa encouraged them to eat, and the family gathered around the table. Letis first explained how she had brought Itanistad there, and Itanistad shared how he had been living. Roabellin and Estina also told the story of their past eight years.
Everyone listened to the tales of adventure with their mouths agape, but the part that shocked Itanistad the most was the latter half of Roabellin’s story.
“Wh-what? You and that Emperor bastard—no, I mean, His Majesty—you did… that…?”
In front of her brother, who was sputtering in shock, Roabellin blushed slightly and placed her hand on her lower stomach.
“Yes… I’m over five months pregnant now.”
Itanistad’s jaw dropped, and he reflexively stared at the hand on her belly. The slight, rounded curve of her lower abdomen stood out against her slender frame.
“So, in there…”
“…Yes. A baby… is growing.”
Though Roabellin explained several times that she had gone to Vicentium for her own purposes and met Kaisertern by chance, Itanistad didn’t seem to care about the details. In this moment, his head was filled not with his friendship with Kaisertern, nor the extensive support he had received from the Imperial family.
“That Emperor son of a bitch… got our Roa pregnant as soon as she became an adult?!”
He ground his teeth.
“Goodness, Itan! What if someone hears you say such things…!”
The startled Estina looked around cautiously to warn him, but the brother was seeing red.
“I finally find my only surviving little sister after years, and some bastard has already gone and gotten her pregnant. Am I not supposed to be angry?”
Unable to watch any longer, Roabellin spoke up quietly.
“Brother. That ‘bastard’ is the Emperor. Of the Prahenfelt Empire. His Imperial Majesty.”
“Yeah, so it’s the Emperor’s child! Then that child! That child is… uh… an Imperial… descendant…?”
Itanistad, who had been shouting whatever came to mind, fell silent as the weight of that realization hit him.
“…”
When Itanistad shut his mouth, a brief silence fell.
“S-so…”
While he stammered, Roabellin spoke up immediately.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s the Emperor’s child. But before that, it’s my child. I’ve already given the baby a nickname. ‘Edel.'”
‘Edel’ meant ‘noble one’ in the language of Aventador. It was the first name given to the child of the daughter of a thousand-year queenly house and the Emperor who ruled the only empire on the continent.
“I wanted this child, I am raising it in my body, and… it is the child of our house who will carry on the Hertenes name. His Majesty probably doesn’t even know this child exists. I only found out I was pregnant after I fled.”
At her calm explanation, the fire in Itanistad’s eyes slowly dimmed.
“…Right, you said you went to Vicentium with the intention of having a child to carry on the Hertenes line from the beginning.”
“Yes. That was what the oracle I received from Dominador at age fifteen said, and I thought it was necessary to rebuild the family.”
Roabellin continued with a small smile.
“I know you might be upset as my brother. But I desperately wanted to raise our house again. So, I thought about it a lot after receiving the oracle and made that decision myself. And I told Aunt this too—even if our family had remained intact, wouldn’t we both have had to marry and have children as soon as we became adults? Honestly, I’m not the fast one; you’re the late one.”
Though she spoke with a hint of humor at the end, it was undeniably true. In House Hertenes, where descendants were rare, direct heirs were usually betrothed early and married as soon as they came of age.
“…”
Unable to find a rebuttal, Itanistad just opened and closed his mouth silently.
“But brother, I just realized something important.”
“Hmm?”
At the serious tone in Roabellin’s voice, the whole family focused their attention on her.
“I had Edel because I believed I was the only direct descendant left of Hertenes. But now you are alive, aren’t you? Then, as the eldest son, can’t you be the one to have children and carry on the direct line?”
“Ah?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true!”
The family echoed Roabellin’s sentiment, looking at one each other, and Itanistad agreed with a dazed face.
“Uh… right. Though I’m not married yet.”
“Well, you can just do that quickly now.”
Then Letis, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
“Wait, does this mean it’s okay if we get caught by the Emperor now? Send the Imperial descendant to the palace? We don’t have to live in hiding anymore?”
At her words, a look of hope appeared on the servants’ faces. However, Roabellin fell into thought before speaking slowly. Although her aunt Estina acted as the head of the household, she left the decision regarding the whereabouts of Roabellin and the unborn child entirely to Roabellin.
“Brother is rebuilding the house, but… Hertenes is only a queenly house in Aventador. In Prahenfelt, it is just a foreign house. And you know the position of Empress is a political one. The Empress will likely be a lady from one of the Empire’s powerful, prestigious families.”
“Uh… but you have the Imperial descendant, My Lady. As the mother of the first Imperial child, would you not be qualified… to be Empress?”
Lisa cut in cautiously. Roabellin gave her a slightly sad smile.
“That’s exactly why it’s more dangerous. They might just take the child away and separate us forever, or if they do treat me as the mother of the Imperial child, I would be a concubine at best. Even if His Majesty loves me, the Empress would have to be chosen from a powerful imperial family.”
This time, Estina asked. She had maintained a neutral stance on the issue, but she seemed curious.
“That’s usually how it goes… but might Prahenfelt be different from other countries?”
She was hoping, given that systems and situations differ by country. But Roabellin shook her head slightly.
“Probably not, Aunt. While I was a maid in the Imperial Palace, I heard many stories about the power struggles during the previous Emperor’s reign. The infighting between his concubines and numerous mistresses was immense. Even the previous Empress, the current Emperor’s mother, was a victim.”
She let out a small sigh.
“If that’s the case, even if I were to become Empress, Edel and I wouldn’t be safe. I would rather help brother rebuild Hertenes together. And raise my child safely in my own arms.”
In any country, power struggles among concubines in a palace where life and death hung on the King’s favor were common. It was only rare in Aventador during the era of queens who weren’t from the House of the Queen Consort.
Listening to Roabellin, Itanistad’s anger erupted from a point slightly off-center.
“Listening to this makes me furious. Hah, you, as a mere concubine? The only direct daughter of a thousand-year queenly house, as a mere concubine?? The child in danger, and you caught in infighting??? Hah, forget it, forget it!! Absolutely not.”
Roabellin wanted to say that being a concubine wasn’t the point, but the heated Itanistad gave her no room. His voice was now solemn.
“Let’s raise the child together with me. I’m the child’s uncle. I’ve gathered quite a bit of wealth while running the merchant guild. It’s enough to raise a child without wanting for anything. Since I’ve been recognized as an Imperial Duke, if you’re okay with it, we can raise the child as if they were mine. If the child looks like you, they’ll look like me too, so who would know? Either way, it’s a descendant of Hertenes being raised in Hertenes.”
The starting point of his anger was a bit odd, but since it led to a realistic conclusion, Roabellin decided not to point it out.
“Yes, there are parts that worry me… but that might be the best for now. Pretending the child is yours to the outside world and raising them as the eldest grandson of Hertenes…”
“Right? Or we could even go live on a different continent. If you’re okay with it, I can wrap up the guild and go with you.”
Itanistad proposed with sparkling eyes, but Roabellin smiled gently at him.
“Brother, you look too excited. Hehe. But I heard people’s appearances and languages are very different on other continents. If so, we might stand out more. I think it’s better to stay on this continent for now and move our residence periodically. It’s too dangerous for me to go to Vicentium where you live.”
“I suppose… that’s true. Then later, when I have my own territory, you can come stay there.”
“Yes, that sounds good. Thank you, brother.”
As the conversation seemed to reach a conclusion, Lisa, who had been listening, stood up.
“Now, now, it’s time to start preparing dinner. You two should go take a walk around the back garden, and Pheron, Jeff, help with the meal.”
It was a gesture of consideration for the siblings to catch up after their long-awaited reunion. Everyone understood and dispersed, leaving the brother and sister to walk slowly through the yard.
As she moved, she felt the baby kick, and Roabellin repeatedly stroked her rounded belly. After sharing various stories, Roabellin suddenly remembered something.
“If you’ve been recognized as an Imperial Duke, you must have met Kai—no, His Majesty the Emperor?”
“Yeah. Actually, we’ve known each other since before then, when I was pretending to be a young Baron. Honestly, he is quite handsome, but! He’s a man who gives off an incredibly overbearing and strong aura. How could you be so fearless with a man like that…”
Reaching that point, Itanistad’s thoughts returned to the fact that he had gotten his sister, who still looked like a child to him, pregnant. The thought made his stomach turn again, and he fell silent. Knowing what her brother was feeling, Roabellin defended Kaisertern with an embarrassed face.
“He might look a bit scary to others, but… he was kind to me.”
Itanistad was about to say, “Kind? That terrifying man?” when he remembered Kaisertern asking him for relationship advice. At the time, he had suggested that if Kaisertern wanted to hold onto the unknown woman, he should get her pregnant with an imperial heir.
If he realized that woman was Roabellin, he would regret that advice for the rest of his life, but fortunately, he wasn’t quite that quick-witted. He hadn’t yet connected Roabellin with the woman from the advice sessions.
Roabellin had only mentioned that she became a maid in the Imperial Palace and had an encounter with the Emperor that led to the pregnancy; she hadn’t detailed the romance in between. Thus, Itanistad didn’t realize the Emperor had been desperate to win her heart. In part, this was because he held a prejudice that the Emperor was a womanizer.
“Ah… that’s right, Roa. I remembered. His Majesty asked me for relationship advice. He even asked for a lecture on how to capture a woman’s heart and body, so I gave him one.”
In truth, Itanistad brought this up to voice his disapproval of the Emperor, suggesting he was overly interested in women. But the spark flew in a different direction.
“Huh? You’re an expert in such things? You weren’t like that before. Brother, just how have you been behaving all this time?”
She was asking how many women he had toyed with to know enough about women to give such a lecture while unmarried. Shocked by his sister’s look of disgust, Itanistad desperately explained the circumstances.
“…That’s how those strange rumors started. I told His Majesty it wasn’t true, but he didn’t believe me and insisted on the lecture, so I had to get private tutoring myself. Anyway, the Emperor seemed very interested in romance. He seemed to like someone. Even if it’s not public yet, he seemed to be thinking about taking someone in.”
If he had explained that this happened while Roabellin was in the palace, she might have realized the advice was about her. But since it had been almost five months since she left and Itanistad didn’t specify the timing, she misunderstood, thinking it had happened recently—after she had left.
“Sigh… I knew it. Well, the nobles wouldn’t leave an unmarried Emperor alone. Royalty from neighboring kingdoms and powerful noble families must have lined up their daughters. And from His Majesty’s perspective, he would need an Empress with a strong background.”
Imagining the current state of the Imperial Palace, the corners of Roabellin’s eyes and lips sharpened.
“You are also a fine lady of a thousand-year queenly house. But I think you’re too good for him. Maybe it’s because I’m your brother, but… at the very least, I don’t want you to go to a place where you have to share a husband with other women.”
Listening to Itanistad’s kind words, Roabellin nodded slightly.
“…Yes. Let that womanizing Emperor be everyone’s husband.”
Hidden by her slightly bowed head and petulant tone, Itanistad did not see the tears welling in Roabellin’s eyes.
***
During dinner, Estina shared a brief account of her undercover investigation within the Aventador Royal Palace. Though she bashfully glossed over most of her romance with Iskal, Itanistad listened with boundless admiration for her exploits.
“Aunt, you’re truly incredible. You went through so much! By the way, Grand Duke Lexton did eventually ascend to the throne. It makes sense; anyone could see he was the only one fit to be King.”
Unlike Roabelin’s family, who lived in hiding in the outskirts, Itanistad had already heard the news of Iskal’s coronation while running his merchant guild in Vicentium.
“Oh, already? I suspected it would happen soon. He held the coronation quickly.”
To think he was now the King of a nation, a man one could no longer meet without a formal petition for an audience. Even though she was the one who had chosen to leave, Estina felt a sudden chill in her heart, realizing just how distant he had become.
“Yes, it’s good news for us. We still aren’t certain who the true culprit behind the attack on our Duke’s castle was, but the Grand Duke—no, His Majesty the King—has essentially eliminated a major threat for us.”
“Ah, right. About that.”
Hearing Itanistad’s words, Estina spoke with a serious expression.
“I heard this from Lord Iskal. He said the person who attacked our castle that day was the Emperor of Prahenfelt at the time. Heymelic, the current Emperor’s older half-brother.”
At the mention of a name he never expected, Itanistad’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? What grudge did that man have against our family? I heard he was recently imprisoned on new charges of treason. But since he was already confined for treason anyway, it wasn’t something people in Prahenfelt paid much attention to.”
“I only heard the brief story from Lord Iskal, so I don’t know the detailed circumstances. We’re curious too…. Seeing as the current Emperor threw him in a deeper dungeon, I can tell they aren’t on good terms. But we don’t know why he attacked our home. If it was a matter concerning the Imperial family as a whole, then we aren’t truly safe yet…. I’m anxious.”
Itanistad nodded at Estina’s words and added his own thoughts.
“The current Emperor, whom I’ve met, definitely knows Roa’s identity and is searching for her desperately. He seemed to truly yearn for her, but hearing that story, I’m not sure anymore. I don’t know if the Emperor is sincere toward Roa, or if he’s trying to use me to lure her out of hiding….”
Roabelin, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke with a heavy heart.
“For now, we must stay well-hidden and preserve our lives. Regardless of His Majesty’s true intentions, if only to ensure Edel isn’t taken away….”
“Right. We mustn’t trust anyone easily. Survival is the priority. I’ll keep an eye on the movements in the capital and the Imperial Palace and let you know periodically.”
Itanistad pulled out a multi-use communication device he had brought from the guild.
“Keep this. I bought it at a high price from the Magic Tower; it should work about three times. I’ll contact you if anything urgent happens—for instance, if you and the family need to move suddenly.”
Roabelin accepted the shimmering, fist-sized communication sphere. The servants, seeing such a thing for the first time, watched with fascinated eyes.
“Wow…. Thank you, Brother.”
“It’s nothing. I want to give you everything, but I didn’t bring much since I came in a hurry. Next time I visit, I’ll bring plenty of things you need.”
They continued to talk long into the night.
The next morning, Itanistad left his reluctant family behind and returned to Vicentium. As the head of the Ducal House and the master of a merchant guild, he could not leave his post vacant for too long.
“I’ll see you all again soon!”
***
“Continue.”
In Gelayen, Kaisertern was receiving a status report from Delus.
“Yes. There are regions where nomadic tribes who crossed the border illegally have set up camp and settled down. They sell smuggled goods to the nearby areas and steal local goods to sell across the border.”
It was a truly exasperating situation.
‘At this rate, it would be better if I just blew up that entire bandit den at night.’
As Kaisertern contemplated suppressing them with his mana, the platinum-blonde woman he saw yesterday flashed through his mind again.
‘Wait. What if that woman was Roabelin and she wasn’t among those brought to me yesterday? What if she is in that bandit den?’
Knowing full well that his mana attribute specialized in explosive offensive power, Kaisertern felt goosebumps break out on his arms. He imagined the image of Roabelin bleeding, pinned under the rubble of a building he had demolished.
‘I truly don’t know. This won’t do. I must use a more peaceful method for this region.’
After reaching his conclusion, Kaisertern finished his inspection and returned to the capital. He immediately summoned Itanistad, Duke Hertenes, to the Imperial Palace. Having only been back in Vicentium for a day himself, Itanistad headed straight to the audience chamber upon receiving the Emperor’s call.
‘Did he put a tail on me after all? Or at the very least, does he know I left the capital and intends to interrogate me about my destination? What excuse should I give…?’
Though he fretted over various possibilities, the words that came from the Emperor were slightly different from what he expected.
“Is the guild business settling in well?”
“Ah, yes. Thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration, it is running smoothly.”
“That is good to hear. However, while Hertenes is growing rapidly, there are whispers among some nobles questioning whether it is right for the Empire to recognize a foreign title as it is.”
Unsure of the Emperor’s intent, Itanistad gave a neutral reply.
“Yes, I am aware of such talk. In a way, I have received special treatment, so I believe their point is valid.”
At the candid response, Kaisertern raised his gaze to look into Itanistad’s eyes. A face that looked exactly like Roabelin’s was staring back at him with a virtuous and upright gaze.
“…….”
Briefly dazed by the feeling of looking at Roabelin, Kaisertern quickly blinked to clear the lingering image.
“Right. That is why I am asking—would you like to perform a great service for the Empire? Then no one in the Empire would dare complain about the Hertenes Dukedom.”
Performing a service for the state to receive a new title or a promotion was a method used in most nations.
“Yes, if you grant me such an opportunity, I would consider it an honor and serve with all my might. ……But, by any chance, is it a task that requires me to risk my life?”
When he asked cautiously, Kaisertern couldn’t help but chuckle as he imagined Roabelin’s frightened face.
“Haha, why? Are you afraid?”
“……If something happens to me, wouldn’t my sister become the sole heir of the family? Would she have to inherit the Dukedom then? No, if I am dead and gone, she might not even bother to come to Vicentium to find the family.”
It was a truth and a threat delivered in a joking tone—that if he couldn’t protect the family, Roabelin wouldn’t exactly come running to stand by the Emperor’s side either.
At Itanistad’s pointed counterattack, Kaisertern was momentarily speechless. It was a rare occurrence for him, a ruler who always reigned above everyone else.
“…….”
“So, Your Majesty. Please take it easy on me, and I ask that you provide plenty of troops if necessary.”
Though his tone was polite, a playful smile hung on Itanistad’s face, having succeeded in getting a jab in at the Emperor.
“……Ah.”
Realizing at last that the Duke’s words were intended to secure ample support for the dispatch, Kaisertern’s expression brightened ever so slightly.
“Of course. It is a region with some armed conflict, but you won’t have to risk your life. Though it is a position as a Baron Lord, I am sending you to strengthen the border by reviving the region rather than for war.”
Kaisertern explained the current situation in Gelayen to Itanistad and the role he expected him to play.
“……Because it is such a complex situation, I intend to trust your management skills from the guild and your administrative skills in leading a house. I assume you received much education as a Young Duke since you were a child.”
Itanistad also knew that this was the minimum hurdle House Hertenes had to cross to be recognized as a Ducal house within the Empire. Understanding Kaisertern’s intent, he bowed his head with gratitude.
“I understand. I will surely live up to Your Majesty’s expectations.”
“I shall look forward to it. Thanks to you, it seems I will be visiting Gelayen again soon.”
……Unaware of what would happen in that place.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chibipinkbunny
Thanks so much for updating!