Chapter 70

The emperor’s funeral was held frugally under Peter’s supervision. Externally, it was reported that it was because there was a will that asked to look at the difficult life of the people, but in reality, the emperor was assassinated and most of the nobles were aware that the instigator was the empress.

So, while no one questioned the Empress’ absence from the funeral, they were not alone in surprise that the Crown Prince remained the emperor’s heir and that the Duke of Walten had no objections.

“Isn’t that right, Madam? No matter how much he had grown up, the imperial family is the imperial family, and he had justification.”

“That’s right. I heard that on the day His Majesty died, His Grace, the Duke of Walten suffered a lot. If it wasn’t for him, who knows what might have happened to Meyer.

The ladies at the funeral began to secretly support Alexis, hoping that Kathleen would listen. However, when Kathleen stared straight ahead and did not respond, they all turned mute and went back to their seats one by one.

The ceremony was nearing its end.

The heir, Peter, covered the emperor’s body lying in the coffin with a golden cloth, and Alexis closed the half-open black marble coffin.

As the magnificent pipe organ sounded along with the ceremonial message of the High Priest, the nobles all stood up and commemorated the death of the emperor, who dominated an era.

Soon, the ceremony was over.

Alexis and Peter approached while those present left in turn.

“Kathleen.”

With a smile, Peter held out his hand.

“I heard you were attacked. I’m sorry. I should have paid more attention…”

“It’s okay. It’s not something you should apologize for.”

As he took her outstretched hand, Kathleen was greeted softly. It was heartbreaking to see Peter’s face that she had not seen in a long time, looking very emaciated.

“You’ll be busier in the future, so take care of yourself. The Empire is up to you.”

“Of course. Even burning this one’s body is not enough to pay for our sins.”

Peter said jokingly, clasping his other hand around Kathleen’s. A small note slipped into her palm.

“Then I’ll have to go now. There are quite a few things to prepare for, including the coronation ceremony.”

“Yes. Go quickly.”

“I hope we can talk next time we see each other. We will be holding the coronation ceremony and the conferment of titles together, so I hope you will have time.”

Peter winked and left. Kathleen asked naturally, hiding the note under the hem of her sleeve so Alexis would not see it.

“It’s a title conferment ceremony, are there any nobles who have contributed this time?”

When a new emperor ascends the throne, it is common to raise the title of the contributors. The scope of the contribution was usually always from the maternal side or the in-laws. It was to support the authority of the young emperor.

However, in the case of Peter, neither of them apply, so everyone expected that there would probably be no conferment of titles, but it was surprising.

“He said he would give me the title of Grand Duke.”

Alexis nodded, grabbed Kathleen’s hand and escorted her out.

“It means he wants to hold my hand. It also means that the Empress will be locked up in her tower and will never be seen again.”

“Then you will become the Grand Duke. Congratulations.”

Kathleen smiled. Alexis felt that her smile was beautiful, but he thought for a moment that it was somehow unexpected.

‘I thought she would be worried about Peter first and foremost who has to punish his mother.’

But when he recalled how the Empress usually treated Kathleen, he was convinced. She had been persecuted and had struggled for a long time, so the words about the empress must have been pleasant. Thinking it wasn’t a big deal, Alexis said.

“We will receive more territories. I’ll give you all the tax collection rights, so tell me if you want any of them.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Or take it for Luci.”

Unexpectedly, Kathleen paused for a moment before she got into the carriage first.

“Anyway, if it’s a land given in Walten’s name, it’s yours and it’s also ours. There’s no difference.”

She wasn’t wrong. In fact, Alexis wanted to cede her tax-collecting authority to Luci, officially cementing his position as his son, but he had no intention of forcing Kathleen if she didn’t want to.

Besides, he liked to hear the fact that he, Kathleen and Luci were tied under the same name and that wouldn’t change.

He felt like they had truly become a family.

“Then, after the conferment of titles, we will schedule a tour of the estates.”

It was difficult to predict how large the earthquake would be. It’s not going to happen on a large scale overnight with him and Peter, but it’s better to leave the Meyer mansion as it’s not equipped to handle earthquakes at all. On the other hand, the new castles built on the local estates were designed to withstand large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis just in case.

“A lot of people will wonder if we leave Meyer in a situation like this.”

“To me, keeping you safe is my top priority.”

She widened her eyes as if asking what he meant. Alexis had decided to divulge the imperial secrets he had never told her.

“The earthquakes that occur sporadically across Trivellian are closely linked to the imperial family. It was an oracle that has been passed down since the founding of the Empire.”

While brief explanations were given in the carriage returning to the duke’s residence, Kathleen seemed startled at first, but she gradually calmed down.

“Every member of the imperial family must have known the secret.”

“……..Yes.”

With that affirmation, Alexis realized again. How isolated she was in the past.

I also didn’t tell her because I was suspicious and wary of her, and Peter was also close to her, but she would have been silent because to her, the imperial family came first.

Perhaps cowardly, Alexis was now able to confess his hope that she would never leave him.

However, he still omitted the part where he repaired the castles in case of massive earthquakes in the event that he failed to cure the southern scorpion venom. Or if he died before Peter was able to produce an heir as well as, if the emperor and himself died in the rebellion as planned.

Kathleen was his wife now and he’ll be by her side.

“Let’s leave with Luci for a while.”

Concealing his nervousness as he thought she might refuse, he asked, and he got a more straightforward answer than expected.

“Okay.”

There weren’t any signs of disappointment in her answer. Rather, she had a soft smile on her face.

“Let’s go together.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter.”

His heart was overwhelmed. If she cried and resented him, he was prepared to apologize and explain for days and days, but to think that she understood him so easily made him happy, but his guilt overcame him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. It will never happen again.”

“Okay. Please let me know when the destination is decided. I’ll pack my bags in advance.”

They soon arrived at the duke’s residence. After alighting the carriage, Kathleen gently refused Alexis to accompany her to her bedroom.

“I’m a little tired since it’s the first time in a while that I’ve been surrounded by noble ladies. I want to rest.”

“Then see you at dinner.”

He gently kissed her right cheek. Kathleen meekly fell into his arms then entered the main building.

And when she stepped on the stairs opposite Alexis’ bedroom, the smile on Kathleen’s lips had vanished.

‘What’s the point of telling me now?’

It was then that she understood why the Empress did not kill Alexis even though she hated him so much, and why her obsession for the duke’s heir was so great. Since Peter was a woman, she would have had no choice but to make the most of the Duke of Walten. No matter how great Peter’s abilities were, they would not be able to stop the catastrophe predicted by the oracle.

It was a surprise, but the imperial secrets did not impress her very much. Alexis had disabled Kathleen’s single ability because of his greed, and his jealousy drove her only friend away.

Had she not known what he had done, she would have been delighted and moved by the late reveal of the imperial secret. No, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered if he had informed her even later. She might have even comforted him by telling him that Luci was really his son.

But the secret he hid to keep her felt like a more terrible betrayal than the secret of the imperial family.

He will never learn that Luci was his son.

She returned to the bedroom with a rather quick pace. The maids offered to help her change her clothes, but she refused, went in alone and locked the door. She looked at the note Peter had handed him.

[I sent a man to the north, but he never met Joseph. It’s been a while since he last appeared in the temple. It was confirmed that he entered Carmine, but I don’t think he has returned yet. I will let you know as soon as we get more information.]

After Kathleen read the note over and over again, she tore it up and put the shred in a vase. The ink on the wet paper smeared, and the contents soon became obscure.

As the writing on the paper faded, Kathleen’s determination became clearer.

‘I have to go north again.’

Joseph must have clearly understood the intentions of the Duke of Walten here. So he would have thought that he had no choice but to find the winter fairies base, as he had promised her before.

If he did not return after entering Carmine, there were two possibilities.

Either he was still persuading them, or he was still searching for their location. Either way, he would be trying to help her, so she thought she would go with him.

‘Let’s leave after the conferment ceremony.’

He was the first to propose to leave Meyer, so even if she prepared to leave, she would avoid suspicion.

Like Alexis Walten, Kathleen could lie and betray him.

Now that he trusted her without a doubt and was relieved, Kathleen was thinking of leaving.

Unlike before, when she thought of him as everything.