Chapter 37

Johannes Frache. A man with jet-black hair and red eyes who captured the hearts of noblewomen. Currently, the two most sought-after positions for unmarried women were becoming either the Emperor’s consort or the Duchess of House Frache. However, the Emperor had taken an unknown woman as his Empress and declared he had no need for a consort. Moreover, the young Lord Frache was known for clearly drawing boundaries, never being involved in any romantic scandals. To many, he was like an untouchable idol.

‘And that very Lord Frache is interested in the Saintess?’

This was also the first time Edelis had seen Lord Frache in person. Though there had been many chances to meet due to his affiliation with the Imperial Knights, the meetings never came to fruition. She hadn’t even seen him when Lehan sparred at the training grounds because he’d been absent at the time.

‘…But surely nothing will happen, right? The Saintess is leaving now.’

Even if Lord Frache was indeed a secondary male lead, the female lead—Saintess—wouldn’t be around. So nothing major was likely to happen. After all, he was the captain of the Imperial Knights—he wouldn’t try to kill the Empress. Edelis stared at Lord Frache. As soon as he met her gaze, he quickly bowed. Embarrassed, Edelis waved her hand dismissively, and he returned his attention to the Saintess.

“When will we meet again…”

“Before long…”

She couldn’t make out the words clearly from a distance. Soon after, once preparations for departure were complete, the Saintess boarded her carriage with Lord Frache’s help. The two looked sweet together, like lovers. Watching them, Edelis found herself hoping they’d become a couple.

‘Well, not that it matters. She’s leaving anyway!’

With a light heart, Edelis watched the Saintess depart. When her carriage had completely vanished from sight, Lord Frache approached Lehan and Edelis.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Johannes Frache, Captain of the Imperial Knights.”

“Hello, Lord Frache.”

Lehan gave a small nod to accept his greeting.

“It feels like it’s been quite a while since Your Majesty arrived at the palace. I’m sorry it’s taken this long to greet you properly.”

“No need to apologize. I’m glad to meet you now.”

“I’ve wanted to introduce myself before but…”

Lord Frache glanced at Lehan. The unspoken implication was clear.

‘Lehan must’ve stopped him.’

Though Lehan was the one who blocked it, Edelis felt a little awkward on her own behalf.

“I hope we’ll see each other often.”

“There’s no reason you should.”

Lehan cut in coldly. It was already tiring enough to have three escorts constantly around Edelis—adding Lord Frache to the mix was out of the question. Before, he had thought it might be better to have Lord Frache, with his clean reputation, as her escort instead of Pasis. That hadn’t changed. But after seeing how Frache acted toward the Saintess, he couldn’t feel as at ease with him anymore.

“Your Majesty, if you speak like that, Her Majesty might grow tired of you.”

“…What?”

Lehan was taken aback by Lord Frache’s sudden comment. But Frache continued nonchalantly.

“Though I understand, given that Your Majesty has always maintained a purer reputation than mine.”

“Johannes.”

“A mind and body as chaste as a temple priest’s.”

“Johannes Frache!”

Lehan’s face turned slightly red in embarrassment.

“Still, I’ve heard that men who try to control too much aren’t very attractive.”

“You’re not so different from me, are you?”

“But I let her go.”

Frache glanced once in the direction the Saintess’s carriage had gone before turning back.

“You two seem quite close.”

“Well, we did go through life-threatening situations together.”

He awkwardly slung an arm around Lehan’s shoulder. As Frache was just under 180cm, it was clearly a strain to reach the nearly 190cm-tall Lehan. Lehan smirked and pressed his hand firmly down on Frache’s shoulder in return. The two handsome men standing so close caused visible stirrings among the maids. Lehan had the rugged handsomeness of someone who had suffered, while Frache had the refined, pristine features of pure nobility. The contrast made their pairing visually striking.

“We’re not that close.”

“Oh, come on. After all these years?”

“The time may be long, but the bond isn’t.”

“Ouch, that hurts. Keirhan, you’ve changed since you got married!”

Earlier, Edelis had heard Lehan call him “Johannes.” Now Frache was casually calling the Emperor by name. Clearly, they were close. Edelis had thought she was the only one Lehan had. But during their time apart, he’d made friends too. It was natural—good, even—but still made her feel strangely left out.

“I probably know Keirhan better than Her Majesty does.”

Realizing he’d been too casual in public, Frache cleared his throat and switched back to formal speech.

“Then, please tell me later.”

“I’ll tell you myself.”

Lehan hastily interjected, but Frache ignored him.

“If His Majesty tells you, I bet he’ll skip all the embarrassing parts.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Frache pretended to cower in an exaggerated way. Edelis laughed and covered her face with her fan, though she couldn’t hide the sound.

“You feel very different from how you looked from afar.”

“R-Really?”

Edelis responded with a suppressed giggle still in her voice.

“Keep watching from afar.”

“How cruel.”

Frache shook his head.

“Well then, I’ll retreat, fearful of His Majesty’s wrath.”

“Until next time.”

Frache saluted and returned to lead the knights accompanying the envoy.

“Lehan, you and Sir Frache are really close, huh?”

“…As Johannes said, he played a pivotal role in helping me gain support from the Frache duchy during the coup.”

Edelis, eyes twinkling with interest, prompted Lehan to elaborate.

“The Frache duchy leads the noble factions and was a representative anti-imperial house.”

“I heard that—Duke Frache is still considered the nobles’ leader.”

“But thanks to Johannes, they no longer stand against the throne.”

“I didn’t realize it was because of the young duke.”

Edelis had only just become Empress and had spent seven years away in the countryside. She needed to start gathering this kind of knowledge to function well at court.

‘Maybe I should host a tea party someday.’

As Edelis began mentally planning the future, Lehan continued: “I once saw a commoner child being kidnapped in the duchy’s territory and intervened. That child turned out to be the young duke.”

“…He looked like a commoner?”

“Apparently, he’d run off to avoid studying.”

Truly not a normal story.

“Then, what about you?”

“Pardon?”

“I know about Sir Frache now—what were you like back then?”

The Lehan she knew was very fragmented. The one she remembered from years ago and the current Lehan were vastly different. And she hadn’t known this present-day Lehan for long yet.

“Sir Frache seemed to know a lot about you during the time I wasn’t around.”

“Are you curious?”

“Yeah.”

Edelis’s sincere interest lit up Lehan’s face. His story wasn’t lighthearted or cheerful—training and studying at the Grand Duke’s estate, assassinations, surviving assassins. Much of it was unsuitable to tell her. So he only shared the more peaceful stories—watching the garden, meeting people.

“I once visited a village in the eastern Stein territory and saw a young girl.”

“A girl?”

“Yes, she reminded me a little of you. I stared at her for a long time.”

‘He just throws that in out of nowhere?!’

“But… she wasn’t you after all.”

Lehan gently caressed Edelis’s cheek, smiling.

“Seeing you in person, being near you—even just having a girl resemble you—doesn’t compare.”

“M-Me too… I prefer this. More than worrying about whether you’re okay, or reminiscing about the old days at the manor…”

Edelis rarely expressed her feelings, so Lehan widened his eyes in surprise. Lately, she was clearly trying to open up more, and it made him happy.

“Being with you now is the best.”

She smiled at him, and Lehan, unable to contain his joy, pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Edelis.”

“Mhm.”

“I really love you.”

He whispered it over and over into her ear, making her blush furiously until she begged him to stop.

***

While Lehan was in a meeting with the ministers, Edelis slipped away to the library. With the envoys gone, she could finally focus on national affairs—and that was a relief. As soon as she opened the library door, she shielded her eyes from the dazzling light. The book was glowing again. Worried someone might see the light through the door, she told her guards to wait outside and shut the door.

“It’s only been a few days since I last opened it, but it feels like forever.”

She casually pulled the book from the shelf. She was no longer anxious or uneasy—she knew the future had changed. It hurt to think of the fallen Empress Edelis Brill in the book, but at least she had avoided that fate. Now, she even looked forward to what the future might bring.

“Maybe it’ll be helpful for Lehan.”

If she could foresee some natural disaster or major event, it might help Lehan immensely. Hopefully that wouldn’t happen, but still. Edelis opened the book and flipped to the beginning.

“Main characters, main characters… Ah, here it is.”

On the page listing major characters, the final blank slot had been filled.

Johannes Frache. 

Second son of the Frache ducal house. Becomes the heir after the death of the firstborn. Falls for the Saintess and supports her with all his heart and resources. When realizing she loves Keirhan Raksid, begins to support their relationship.

“To sum it up, he’s the secondary male lead.”

Underneath was a note: “A loyal knight who gives unwavering service to the imperial family.”

“If he’s loyal to the crown, at least he won’t try to kill me.”

That eliminated him as a suspect. Edelis tried to deduce who might be responsible, but her information was still too limited. Still, crossing Frache off the list was progress.

“Maybe there’s more info elsewhere…”

She began flipping through the book again, page by page. Then, upon reaching a newly added section, Edelis’s face twisted in dismay.

“…Why are you showing up here?”