Chapter 59

Fedeshar opened the door quietly and stepped inside. For an Emperor who despised the Empress and hated the idea of putting Bastien on the throne, that newspaper praising Bastien’s damage control must have been unbearable. The central nobles knew it was the Empress’s scheme, but the outlying nobles and commoners were easily swayed.

 

Fedeshar simply stood still until the Emperor’s fury cooled. As Evan had said, he had no interest in the throne at all. But neither the Emperor nor the Empress would let him go.

 

The first time he told the Emperor he wanted to renounce his claim, he was struck across the face. His mother had been anxious ever since—there were times when his “faults” became her punishment.

 

When he told the Empress, the answer that came back was an assassination attempt. From Bastien, what returned was wariness.

 

“Father, please calm down. That petty slander is hardly worth caring about. In the end, the guard was dismissed for misconduct. None of the central nobles think you ordered anything. There’s no reason for you to target the young lady who’s the fiancée of a duke’s son.”

 

The Emperor finally calmed at Fedeshar’s words and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a rough hand. He sat down. Attendants rushed in to clean the wrecked office.

 

“Her Majesty the Empress has touched someone she shouldn’t have touched. It’s true that my brother’s support among the commoners has grown, but the ducal family’s retaliation has begun. Can’t you hear the wailing of the Empress’s faction?”

 

“Ahem… yes. You’re right.”

 

Hearing Fedeshar’s level-headed explanation, the Emperor realized the Empress had effectively cut off her own flesh. The plan failed, and this was the result—but it was a result favorable to him.

 

“Are the nobles being won over?”

 

“Of course. There are many who resent Her Majesty for stealing their former glory. Some still stand with my brother out of talk of legitimacy, but quite a few cannot accept that the Empress has set herself at the peak of the power structure.”

 

The Emperor nodded as he listened. Then he rose and patted Fedeshar’s shoulder.

 

“You truly are my son. You’re doing well.”

 

“……”

 

“Less than a year remains. On the day you come of age, I will declare you crown prince and pass the throne to you.”

 

Fedeshar gave no reply. Nor did he ask whether that would truly go so easily.

 

He had to begin his plan in earnest before he came of age.

 

 

***

 

 

“I’m finally free!!”

 

“The only reason I said you may move is because you seemed so restless, my lady. We still need to monitor your condition. Please restrain yourself.”

 

“Don’t worry!”

 

I answered brightly. After a long confinement to bed, the physician had finally allowed me to move around again.

 

The moment he left, I leaned toward Mary.

 

“Mary, let’s go to the Weiss Duchy!”

 

“…Pardon? Did you not hear what he just said? We must watch your—”

 

“I have a duty to check on Evan’s condition!”

 

My heart wouldn’t settle otherwise. He was still technically a patient, even if he acted fine around me. And he tended to hide things from me.

 

As I prepared to board the carriage, Fran suddenly leapt out of nowhere, raising his hand and insisting he would come too. I nodded. After the last incident, I understood the importance of a guard. But then…

 

“What happened to your face?”

 

He looked like he’d rolled across gravel. Bandages everywhere.

 

“I failed last time, did I not? I’ve been training! You can rely on me, my lady!”

 

“Well… we’re only going to Evan. I’ll trust you.”

 

Fran climbed up next to the coachman and the carriage departed. It was a familiar route—I had gone countless times—so we reached the Weiss Duchy quickly.

 

Liman greeted me with a delighted smile.

 

“I heard you were ill, my lady. Are you all right?”

 

He inspected me anxiously, searching for any lingering signs of sickness.

 

“We were terribly worried—you returned all the gifts His Grace and Her Ladyship sent.”

 

“It wasn’t that serious. Just a mild fever.”

 

A mild fever didn’t require miracle-tier herbs. Evan should’ve been the one taking that, not me. When he first brought an entire bundle, I’d thought it was his medicine. Then he handed it straight to my physician in raw form and I nearly fainted.

 

“I’ve kept you long enough. The young master is waiting. And… thank you. Truly.”

 

“I only did what I should.”

 

Liman’s always-calm eyes looked faintly wet. Considering Evan had improved so much and was close to full recovery, his emotions were understandable.

 

“The young lady of the house has arrived…!”

 

I heard hushed whispers around me.

 

“Huh?”

 

Maybe because people believed I risked my life to get that herb for Evan, the servants’ attitude had changed dramatically—more polite, more reverent. And of course, the “young lady” title had returned without hesitation.

 

Even though I’d told them to stop calling me that…

 

Except him, of course.

 

Liman must have noticed my confusion, because he added suddenly, “Now that the young master is recovering, the wedding won’t be far off. We’ve all waited years. That’s why. The young master has been quite proactive lately as well.”

 

“What?”

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

Wrong? A number of things. Who said anything about a wedding?

 

“We can’t wait to welcome you to the duchy as our lady.”

 

Liman smiled brightly, lost in his own happy imagination. What about my opinion, sir?

 

“Please, this way.”

 

He ignored my stare completely.

 

I opened my mouth to object—but then froze at the sight in front of me.

 

No wonder he didn’t lead me to Evan’s room.

 

Evan was in the training grounds, crossing swords with a knight.

 

Sweat trickled down his forehead. He’d clearly just finished a fierce bout. He wiped his face with a towel. The sight was… well—

 

‘No. No. Focus.’

 

“Li—Liman! Stop him!!”

 

But Liman was crying.

 

Evan wasn’t done. He strode back to the center and barked, “Next!” The clang of blades rang sharply.

 

“It’s fine, my lady. He trained yesterday too.”

 

“What??”

 

“And he was perfectly fine afterward. He’s only moments away from complete recovery.”

 

Liman was moved to tears. I could only watch Evan blankly.

 

The match was brutal—neither gave an inch, each aiming for an opening to knock the other down. If Evan had become a proper Sword Master, I wouldn’t worry. But he was a patient who’d barely risen from his bed.

 

My heart twisted as I watched his back. I couldn’t help worrying he was overdoing it.

 

But this—this was his original self. The self he’d regained after five years.

 

“Young master, it’s time for your medicine.”

 

Elena approached from a distance.

 

“Already? Then I should get ready.”

 

“Are you visiting the young lady again?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Evan sheathed his sword, accepted the medicine from Elena, and drank it in one gulp. I would have been about to greet him, but I hid behind a tree.

 

He had been visiting the count’s estate constantly, and after what he said on the pirate ship… I’d thought nothing had changed. But maybe something had.

 

Yes, he seemed much closer to her now. Elena wiped his sweat, handed him medicine… Maybe I didn’t need to be here. I turned to leave.

 

“Young mast—”

 

“Ah! Wait!”

 

When Liman tried to call him, I stopped him.

 

“Leave them. I don’t want to interrupt their good moment.”

 

I watched them fondly.

 

Liman’s expression twisted. Then, as if ignoring me completely, he cheerfully waved and called Evan anyway.

 

He did not listen to a word I said. When I glared, he simply smiled.

 

“The young master is always happiest with the young lady. He cherishes you more than anyone. And… if you two fought, please make up quickly.”

 

“Lepina…?”

 

Evan spotted me. His face lit up instantly. I gave an awkward wave. He handed Elena the empty vial and towel, then ran over.

 

“You should’ve told me you were here.”

 

Liman tactfully slipped away. Elena also withdrew.

 

Why is she leaving? Why is everyone leaving?! I tried to reach for her, but Evan took my hand instead.

 

“Did you need Elena for something?” he asked.

 

“No… it’s just… you were with her. I didn’t want to interrupt…”

 

“Why would you think that?”

 

…So maybe there was no ‘progress.’ Or maybe my eyes had exaggerated it. I could’ve sworn there were flowers blowing in the background…

 

Then I saw the sweat dripping down his jaw. Elena hadn’t wiped it all. If it dried, he’d catch a chill.

 

I took out my handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat still clinging to his skin.