Chapter 121

“I had to take over the family matters right after my father passed away. Although it was tough since I had to take over the role as the head of household and there wasn’t time for me to grieve his loss, I had to overcome it for the sake of the citizens in the Northern Lands.”

“Why are you alone?”

“…What did you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“You might be taking on the role of a representative, but you’re not the officially appointed heir of the Duke. There was no need for you to shoulder everything alone. Strictly speaking, your stepmother is more qualified to take on that role.” Rashid spoke calmly.

But his stare could easily make Lania feel a pang of gradual guilt coming over her.

“I feel the same way, Your Highness,” Lania replied with a bright smile, concealing her embarrassment.

“If mother steps up, she will be of great help to the Northern Lands.”

“But?”

“As you know, she has been feeling unwell ever since my father’s passing. Despite countless recommendations, she was adamant about being alone. Of course, Your Highness may check with her since she had put forth that request first.”

“It’s not a matter for me to meddle in. But… Why does the Lady think that I would have known about how your mother was all this time?” Rashid asked as a smile crept up his indifferent face.

It was a subtle difference that only those looking at him could see, but the reaction was evident.

“How are you sure that I knew what kind of person your stepmother was?”

“W-well, I’ve been hearing that she has been visiting the Winter Palace more recently. And she was even assisting You Highness with some work.”

“Rumors, you say.” Rashid’s smile grew, yet his eyes remained ice cold.

“Interesting. She doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle the affairs in the Northern Lands but yet is assisting me.”

“…I’m quite worried as well, afraid that she might be hindering the progress of Your Highness’s work.”

“This isn’t the only problem that you must be worried about.”

Lania could only remain silent at his response.

“If you’re so worried about your stepmother, you should have looked into her living conditions, should you not?”

“Your Highness, I’m unsure what my stepmother has been telling you, but…”

“I told you to ask her about it, didn’t I?” That cold smile had been completely wiped off his face by now.

“I have no intentions to meddle into affairs of the nobles as the Emperor.”

“I- I apologize, Your Highness.”

“But it’s different if it concerns the royal family’s prestige.” Rashid then placed his hands by his hips subconsciously. The absence of his sword, which he had always brought around him up until yesterday, got to him as he slowly curled his fingers up.

“It’s true that your stepmother is assisting me in some stuff, but as you’ve said, if she really were mentally unstable, shouldn’t you watch on the sidelines for the sake of myself and the royal family?”

“Your Highness, I’ll look after my mother more carefully…”

“No, she should be the one doing it.” Rashid glared down at her with icy cold eyes as he expressed his disagreement.

“Highly meticulously, without missing out on a single thing.”

“Your Highness!”

“Are you possibly doubting her judgment, that it might be inferior to yours?”

“…Of course not.” Lania gritted her teeth as she looked up at Rashid. She knew to not tremble in anger from her past experience.

“I couldn’t be happier if that’s the case. Father would be extremely relieved to see our heartbroken mother getting back on her feet.”

“The duke…?”

“Of course. Father cared so much for her while he was still alive, of course, he would be grateful to see her get better.”

The princes who were watching from behind were puzzled by her intentions.

A servant’s wife, who was also the wife of the Northern Lands’ protector. How would their brother take in the news of Catherine’s position expressed so clearly in her words…?

“Of course. I’ll gladly accept it as the Emperor if that was the case.”

“Your Highness…”

“Over my dead body.”

Lania was speechless.

“I haven’t met him before, haven’t I?” 

That light bitter smile on Lania’s face disappeared in a flash. Seeing Rashid who could clearly distinguish between the living and the dead made her heart fall. The echoes of her breathing grew louder in the forest.

“Your Highness is quite busy and yet seeing you getting concerned over this…”

“You seem to think that you know your stepmother better.”

“It’s all because of my loyalty towards you…”

“Is that so? Then you’ll know this as well.” Rashid turned around right before they crossed paths. He took a completely new interest that was different from when he had met Catherine.

“What are the nobles’ thoughts about your mother from the last time they met her?”