Chapter 55

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‘Why are you doing this?’

My mind was filled with questions. When I looked at the front page again, it was old and dusty. The same was true for the other books on the shelf. They were marked as new arrivals, but it didn’t look like they were recently purchased.

– His Grace has known of you for a long time. Ever since you first came to this mansion.

I suddenly remembered Alsdorf’s words. I couldn’t figure out why those words, obviously intended to protect the master they served, came to mind.

Duke Alexis Walten never came to me when I was still Kelly, a fifteen-year-old girl working as a kitchen maid. We had met a few times as master and servant, but I had no memories of us exchanging simple words.

‘……It must be an exaggeration.’

The essence does not change no matter how well it was interpreted and put together.

As soon as Kathleen struggled to close the book, Alexis appeared amidst the bookshelves and took the book from her hand.

“Recipes must have changed a lot these days so I’ll let you know when they bring in a new book.”

In an instant, he turned to the bookshelf and put the book back in place. He did it so naturally, like flowing water, and without any hesitation.

Although he did that, Kathleen was not flustered. She knew the intention beneath the person’s action.

This was often the case with people who wanted to hide their thoughts and only show the other person what they wanted. It was something Kathleen often did in the past. She approached him, hoping that her contract husband would be a little sympathetic to her and give her a little bit of attention. However, whenever she was visibly rejected, she would go back to her place, reminding herself ‘Didn’t you already expect it would turn out like this?’.

A defensive strategy to avoid taking as much damage as possible from the wounds that would be inflicted. Extremely focused on protecting oneself.

“You don’t have to. What I’m curious about isn’t the recipe.”

Kathleen purposely dug through. She didn’t ask if he had known her since long ago, just as Alsdorf said. If she did, she would only look more pitiful. From the moment she entered the mansion, she attracted the attention of the duke, but he soon forgot about her. She did not want to be that kind of pathetic woman.

After finding the location of the Natural Ecology bookshelf on the list, she felt him move to her side.

“You can go to the opera or hunt as you like. It’s okay if you don’t come back for a few months. Like you always did.”

Then a low voice came back with an unrelated answer.

“That’s not the shelf with childcare books.”

Kathleen replied uninterestedly as she walked towards the Natural Ecology bookshelf.

“Well, I thought about it, but there’s no way the duke’s library would have parenting books. Since you didn’t want a successor, of course.”

“……”

“So I was thinking of finding out if there are any herbs that would suit my child’s condition.”

He was silent for a while at the obvious rebuke. In the library, where it had become quiet again, Kathleen struggled to find the book. She stopped walking long after she had passed the Natural Ecology bookshelf. Two books at the end caught her attention.

A book containing flora and fauna native to all continents.

And, an overview of Trivellian medicinal plants.

She was conflicted over which one to pick. As she hesitated, she heard a squeak behind her. Kathleen reflexively reached out towards the medicinal plant overview. However, the shelf being much higher than she could reach, she could only touch the back of the book, and it was difficult to grab.

Alexis stood behind her and stretched his arm out. He handed the book that had been pulled out with absurd ease to Kathleen.

“Read slowly and come out. You can take it with you and read it.”

Then he left the library. Kathleen stood nailed to her spot until he left, then tossed the book on medicinal plants on the sofa and locked the door to the study. She then returned to the shelf and pulled out the illustrated book of flora and fauna, and sat down on the old chair with crumbling cushions.

She had to check it and find out for herself before she could believe it. The one who spoke to defend others, or the one who spared his words to protect himself, must have had a different purpose than hers.

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she opened the book and looked through the table of contents.

***

“His Grace the Duke of Walten seems to be living in seclusion.”

The Marquis of Ostaver, who eagerly waited for the court meeting, said as soon as he had the right to speak.

“The reason why he does not show up even though the southern rebellion has entered a quiescent state is probably because of his disagreement with your Highness’ decision.”

“Walten is not like that.”

Peter cut him off with a single strike. The Marquis of Ostaver’s eyebrows wriggled like a caterpillar. He seemed to be embarrassed.

‘You must not have expected this when you talked with my mother.’

After the meeting date was set, he had heard of reports that the marquis’s minions had come and gone to the palace several times. Peter audibly closed the documents he had submitted.

“Think about it, Marquis Ostaver. The person who had objected to the southern campaign the most was Duke Walten, and now that his will has been fulfilled, what can he disagree with?”

“S-Since Your Highness didn’t proceed with the political marriage…”

“That was just a proposition. Moreover, the main goal was to quell the unrest, so let’s not talk about Duke Walten any longer.”

The nobles kept their mouths shut at the decisive attitude. The meeting moved on to the next agenda item and proceeded smoothly.

‘You’re pretty defensive about your half-brother.’

Count Schenberg, who was sitting at the far end, observing Peter, drew an interesting conclusion. He contributed to a certain extent in resolving the unrest and was attending court meetings. He didn’t get a say, of course.

‘Do you know? Or is it the bond because of your blood?’

The Crown Prince had a deep affection for the imperial family. Count Schenberg tried to guess which of the two, unaware that he had pressed the quill on the paper which smeared the ink.

“Let’s end today’s meeting with this. If you have any additional items, please submit them separately.”

After some discussion on the subject, Peter stood up. Count Schenberg also quietly got up at the same time as the Crown Prince. 

Due to the mess in the hall no one noticed as he stepped out the door.

“Your Highness.”

Peter, who was leaving accompanied by his servants, frowned when Count Schenberg caught up with him.

“Why did you come here again?”

“The only person I can talk to in the palace is Your Highness, so where else would I go?”

“Spare me the lip service. Does it make sense that you don’t know anyone in the parties you were invited to when you came to the capital?”

“The people I know and the people I talk to are different.”

Even though Peter’s face distorted from the count’s shamelessly confident statement, he didn’t tell him to stop right away. Count Schenberg casually took the position of the lieutenant and stood beside him. The displaced lieutenant was about to open his mouth, but he ignored him.

“I have a question for you, Your Highness.”

“So what.”

“I’m going to ask you because I think Your Highness might be able to give me an answer.”

“Ask my lieutenant behind you. The position of the Crown Prince is not so leisurely.”

“Didn’t you take care of all the urgent matters? What is so urgent?”

He looked back at the lieutenant however, he pretended not to hear and averted his gaze. It meant that he would not dare give any information to a rolling stone*. Count Schenberg snorted and followed Peter, who had begun walking faster.

[T/N: This refers to the idiom where the rolling stone removes the already stuck stone. Like a newbie trying to take the position of a veteran. The lieutenant feels like his position is being threatened.]

“The southern tax rate adjustment case has just been negotiated, the northern administrator dispatch has already been completed, and you only need to sign the regular Imperial Palace’s budget plan.”

“Are you following me to spy on me?”

Peter, who had stopped, asked in surprise. Count Schenberg shrugged his shoulders.

“I thought about when it would be most appropriate to ask a question, and now we’re here.”

“Try now.”

“Won’t you be in trouble if I tell you here?”

“Try it.”

“Who is the mother of His Grace the Duke of Walten?”

Peter’s face, which had been carrying a look of annoyance, froze in an instant. Not only the lieutenant beside him, but also his servants looked troubled.

As Peter gestured a little harshly, everyone retreated as if his bubble had burst. In an instant, only Peter and Count Schenberg were left in the corridor.

“What are you doing?”

“I was going to ask the question separately for fear of getting in trouble, but I didn’t have a chance to do so.”

“I asked why you are suddenly interested in my brother’s biological mother.”

“I was wondering if his birth mother was from the South.”

“You mean from Schenberg?”

“In my opinion, yes.”

Count Schenberg looked into Peter’s eyes and said.

“Golden eyes are the symbol of the imperial family. Your Highness’ and His Grace’s eyes are similar but different. With Your Highness, it is a bright and soft light similar to the moonlight, but His Grace’s is a deep and dark light. I don’t know exactly which side of the imperial lineage is closer, but I’ve seen someone with the same color as his eyes.”

The pupil of his eyes narrowed, resembling a grain of rice, and threw him a curious look. That was when he noticed. Count Schenberg’s eyes were indeed somewhat similar.

“They call them the Southern Immigrants here in Trivellian. They are pure natives who once led the first dynasty of Schenberg, but whose lineage has now been lost. Their eyes were that color.”

The empress, a symbol of the capital city Meyer, had not had children for more than two decades after her marriage, and the emperor dreamed of expanding his territory by fully confining the foreign people. If the emperor took a woman of old southern blood and gave birth to a son…

His head went dizzy. Peter knew very little about Alexis’ biological mother. The woman who was said to have been a maid of the Empress had already passed away before Peter was born.

“Your words are useless delusions.”

However, Peter cut down the seeds of doubt like the crown prince he was.

“His real mother is a Trivellian, and Duke Walten is a loyal subject of the Empire.”

“I hope so.”

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be strange if he became the head of the rebellion.

The words that didn’t come out of his mouth was not something Peter would have predicted. Count Schenberg decided to back off at this point.

“That’s all, I will go back now. I’ve taken too much of your time.”

“Stand there.”

The voice that stopped Count Schenberg, who was about to bow and turn around, was rather sharp.

“Do you have something else you wish to say?”

“I remembered something I had forgotten. I think the Count would be interested too.”

Golden eyes that reached only up to his chin looked up at him.

“What is it?”

“As you know, it’ll be my birthday soon.”

“Oh. It’s early, but congratulations.”

“I’m going to have a coming-of-age ceremony as well.”

He didn’t know what it was, but it was intentional. Just as he thought that being informed about the ceremonial celebration was not the end, Peter threw a b*mb.

“I want you to be in charge of the party.”

“Pardon?”

“My lieutenant is too busy with my affairs so I can’t afford to have him worry about that.”

“But isn’t the banquet organized by the Empress?”

“Nowadays, it seems that my mother is struggling too. Besides, if someone well-versed inside and outside like you helps, it will be easier to prepare.”

He quickly read his intention to refuse so he tapped him on the arm and continued walking.

Being caught by his ankle, the unexpected attack made Count Schenberg feel like he got shot. The Crown Prince, younger than expected, was wise.

‘There is a saying that the darkest place is under the candlestick.’

[T/N: People often know nothing of what happens right in front of them; they fail to see the obvious.]

There would have been other opportunities if they were next to each other. Count Schenberg stared at the Prince, who was moving away from him, in a good mood.