Chapter 29

Chapter 29

What’s wrong with everyone?

“That’s not it.”

I spilled out the information only I knew with much hesitation.

“He has a reason to be engaged with me. That’s probably why he acted differently.”

“What’s the reason?”

Come to think of it, I couldn’t really hear the answer.

“I don’t know. He told me to discover the reason on my own.”

The young ladies’ faces were crumpled hearing my words.

“I heard His Highness visited the temple a lot these days. Is it because of that?”

Temple?

“From what I heard from my father, he has frequented the temple since a month ago. There are many high-ranking priests in the capital temple, you see.”

Julia continued,

“Maybe he received some sort of oracle?”

What would the oracle be if it were true?

If you take the esteemed daughter of Yeronimo as the Crown Princess, you will receive enormous wealth and honor. Is that it?

For such a dull person like me, that was the only thing that came to mind.

“Should I ask my grandfather?”

Everyone’s eyes were on Claire.

“My grandfather is an expert at this matter. He’s ridiculously good at analyzing the future, too.”

Who’s her grandfather?

While I was puzzled, Elizabeth shouted out of frustration.

“It’s Lord Verus, Claire! You should mention the best medical scientist in the empire with his honorable name!”

“But it’s true that he’s my grandfather.”

“Claire!”

I was a little surprised to hear a familiar name.

“You were his granddaughter?”

“Yeah. My grandfather is also the teacher of Navian’s brother.”

As I listened more, it suddenly occurred to me that Claire was a mixed child of the fairy family. It was such an exceptional family.

“Then I’ll ask my grandfather for information!”

“Nevermind. Don’t do that.”

When Claire was about to rise, I hurriedly grabbed her wrist to stop her.

“Why?”

“He must be busy with his work in the imperial palace. Lord Damian is not in a good condition either.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure he’d spare some time for a brief talk with me.”

“Actually, Ulysse didn’t even know that the royal decree would arrive. It’s highly likely that Lord Venus doesn’t know either.”

“…Still!”

“Claire.”

I gazed at her pure blue eyes and spoke firmly.

“Being able to read celestial energy is an exclusive talent. Obviously, possessing such ability will come with a responsibility.”

“…..”

“I am grateful that you are thinking about me. However, please don’t overdo it.”

Elizabeth sided with me.

“Navian is right. Lord Aslan also suffered from the aftereffects of the incident. Lord Verus won’t have that much free time.”

Claire became sullen. Julia and Vivi looked gloomy as well.

“Please keep your head up. The heart you gave me is enough. I will be more careful from now on.”

I was grateful that they helped me, but I must deal with this on my own.

“Allow me to help you.”

Everyone turned their eyes to Elizabeth. She beckoned the servant with a smile on her face.

“Bring me a piece of paper and a quill pen to write a letter on.”

As soon as the servant went out, Claire asked.

“Who are you going to send a letter to?”

“His Highness Signus’ ex-fiance.”

I raised my head at once.

“Do you mean Lady Ayaran of the ducal family?”

“Yeah.”

Elizabeth chuckled small when she saw me tense up.

“Maybe she’s the only one who can help Navian.”

After the young ladies left, I leaned on the bed as I looked at the sky.

The sight of the golden sunset turning red was very beautiful.

Signus’ eyes turned red, too. He didn’t seem to be in good health.

So I looked down at my white hands. My hands barely moved because the paralysis had gone.

I can talk to Aya? I never thought about that before.

Because I didn’t mean to approach her. If not for the royal decree, I wouldn’t have met Signus.

Fortunately, I was able to enter the Imperial Palace, and I thought about how nice it’d be if I could watch her from afar.

How can I be this lucky?

Starting from knowing Lady Julia of the Philter family, who was good at socializing.

Claire, the granddaughter of Lord Verus, a living legend in the medical world.

Vivi, the lover of an aspiring knight who was well aware of the situation inside of the Imperial Palace.

Even Elizabeth, who was acquainted with the ducal family. All of them helped me.

How can I pay back their kindness?

I sighed deeply at the thought of me becoming greatly indebted to them. But soon, I heard a knock.

Knock. Knock.

“Come on in.”

And then the marquis and Ulysse came in.

“Why are you still knocking when this is not my room, but your office?”

“I don’t want to disturb you when you’re resting. How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling better. I’ll go to my room now so you can work.”

I was about to get up, Ulysse and the marquis stopped me.

“Just lie down!”

I lay back on the bed as they seemed to have something to say.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

“…That’s…ahem. Do you want to go to the palace with father?”

What?

“I have something to tend to in the Imperial Palace. Well, that is, the duke asked for my help to prepare for the festival.”

So what does that have to do with me?

At my inquiring gaze, the marquis scratched his head.

“Didn’t you send a letter to the duchy? I think it’s better to get their help. Since there are two weeks left until the festival….”

I squinted my eyes cynically.

“Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping on our conversation?”

The marquis and Ulysse’s faces twitched before stammered an answer.

“Th-that can’t be! I-I just thought that you probably miss the Imperial Palace…”

What an obvious lie. I would go to the Imperial Palace once they opened the castle anyway.

“D-Don’t get me wrong! T-The door was open! Plus the mansion is especially quiet…”

So I quietly asked.

“The one who was shocked by what the young ladies said earlier…it’s you two, right?”

“……”

“You broke something this time.”

The marquis noticed my serious expression and muttered.

“…Plant.”

Hearing that, I sighed deeply and asked them.

“Since when did you hear the conversation?”

“I-I’m not sure. From the middle, I guess?”

“That’s not true, father. We only heard the last part.” Ulysse said.

That means you heard it from the beginning. Who are you fooling?

“Anyway! That’s not important, so let’s move on.”

The marquis, who tried to change the topic, continued speaking.

“This is a good thing. It’s a little embarrassing, but I was going to ask the duke for help.”

The Duchy of Cyben was indeed a noble family known to be difficult to have an audience with. One shouldn’t waste a chance to meet them.

“It’s a good thing that the daughters connect with each other like this.”

The marquis laughed and asked me one more time.

“What do you say? Do you want to go to the Imperial Palace?”

I laughed at his words, too.

“Yes.”

It worked pretty well for me, too. At first, I was worried about how to bring up this matter to them.

“Then, next week….”

“No. Tomorrow is fine with me”

The marquis was startled.

“B-But you haven’t recovered yet.”

“Don’t worry. I can go, father.”

Ulysse also tried to persuade me.

“You need to rest more.”

“I said I can move.”

“Please, don’t overdo it…”

So I asked them with a serious look.

“Then, do you want to bet?”

“….”

“…”

The marquis and Ulysse made tearful faces. I thought their silence meant that they gave me permission.

They’re given up so fast now. As expected, my effort to join the tea party wasn’t all for naught.

But then Ulysse asked me.

“Can you postpone it until next week?”

“Do you agree to do the bet?”

“…can’t you go 6 days later? No, 5 days later?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Ulysse looked depressed.

“I have to give a report to His Highness.”

I remembered that Signus told Ulysse to give him something before. That was a report?

“It’s impossible to write a report in just one day. It’ll take another 5 days for me to finish it.”

“What does that have anything to do with postponing my visit to the Imperial Palace?”

“Because it’s a report about you.”

Huh? Me?

“His Highness asked me to write down everything about Navian and sent it to him. From her food allergies, lifestyle, place and time of birth, and even family relationships!”

The marquis asked as if he was dumbfounded.

“What’s the point of knowing that?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?! Of course, he’s interested in Navian!”

“Gosh, he has a good eye for women.”

“I know right. That sly bastard.”

I really couldn’t understand why the ladies and these two were acting like this.

In addition, there was something else that I couldn’t understand.

“But why does it take you 5 days to write about me?”

“5 days are not enough. There are so many things to write.”

“Alright. I’ll go with father, so please write well.”

“No. I’ll go with you to watch your back.”

Watch my back? What do you mean?

“Did you forget already? You’ll be in trouble if you run into His Highness.”

I was spaced out for a moment.

-So don’t think about going outside and just stay still. If you’re lonely, call your friends over to play with you.

-Do you understand? You just need to lay in bed and squander away my wealth until the engagement ceremony.”

“….”

I felt so stupid for forgetting that. Signus lived in the Imperial Palace. How could I forget such a thing?

I almost got in trouble.

“Then, I’ll go in five days.”

The gaze directed to me was filled with worries, so I opened my mouth.

“I’m sorry for being stubborn, but I can’t postpone it any longer.”

There were two things to check. One is related to the prophetic dream about the fall of the empire, and the other one is….

‘Li!’

The gorgeous red hair fluttered in front of my eyes.

Recalling Ayaran’s bright smile, I murmured unknowingly.

“I miss you, lady.”

To the point, I couldn’t wait to meet her.

“…I should stay up all night from now on.”

Ulysse sighed and swept his hair up.

Early in the morning.

Leo and Droop went to Signus’ room to report on the monster’s subjugation result.

“Your Highness. It’s Leo and Droop.”

When there was no answer from inside, Leo opened the door and entered as usual.

“Your Hi-”

The two knights stopped their stride because they saw an unbelievable sight right in front of them.

Signus was sleeping peacefully.

Avita’s symbolic black hair is scattered over the white sheet. The dark energy was nowhere to be found.

Leo and Droop were silently astonished by Signus’ rare appearance.

“….”

So the two quietly left the room.

Droop, who closed the door with a dazed face, muttered to Leo.

“How long has he been suffering from insomnia?”

“…I think it’s been a year.”

The two knights were frozen to the spot.