Chapter 74

Warning: Brief mention of s****de, will mark with ————

“What do you mean?”

“The ingredients that can be used to make the medicine are limited. Most of them were prepared with only the Grand Duke in mind. But His Highness is demanding that all of it be used for the young master.”

“…..”

“The Young Master is still young and he is not ill from drinking the poison himself.

“Are you saying that His Highness is refusing to receive treatment?”

“It’s similar. He seems to think that he has improved. But he’s not completely cured yet so he shouldn’t take it too lightly.”

Edith’s expression as she anxiously explained was not bright either. She concluded after carefully considering Luci’s condition.

“Tell His Highness that you have prepared the undiluted solution, but make it with a lower concentration.”

Once you start taking the medicine, the poison adjusts to it and gradually fades. Unlike Alexis, Luci is a child, so if he became too dependent on the Tassart herb, he might become poisoned by it and no other treatment would work.

‘If I explain the situation to Joseph, he will cure Luci.’

She was determined to leave this place as soon as possible.

“Then for the time being both His Highness and Luci will be taking the same amount, is that right?”

“Yes, That’s right.”

Edith sighed in relief. Then she asked, as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“But, the Grand Duke asked why the young master was sick. For the meantime, I answered that I don’t know, but are you going to keep pretending you don’t know?”

“Yes.”

Kathleen said quietly.

“He doesn’t even know that Luci is his son. So I hope Edith doesn’t say anything as well.”

“Pardon? His Highness doesn’t know that the young master is his son?”

She had a confused face. She thought that the Grand Duke Walten and his wife had cleared up the misunderstanding that had accumulated over the years, but somehow, the misunderstanding between the two seemed to have deepened.

“All my child has inherited from him is his blood and the poison, nothing more, nothing less. I will soon renounce his status as the successor, and I will find a way to treat his illness separately. That’s why, don’t worry about the child and just focus on the health of the Grand Duke.”

The Grand Duchess who spoke with an indifferent face seemed reluctant to speak any more about her husband. As Edith nodded her head several times, Kathleen took her ring off and placed it on her hand.

“I will trust you.”

“Grand Duchess. Even if you don’t do this…”

“Just as you tried to keep his secrets from me, I want you to keep mine till the end.”

As she hesitated to answer her words with hidden meanings, Kathleen turned and left the greenhouse. Edith looked down at the ring that sparkled in the palm of her hand. The ring embellished with sapphires and diamonds looked expensive at first glance, as if they were made with the color of Kathleen’s eyes and hair as inspiration.

‘Didn’t His Highness the Grand Duke of Walten himself give this ring to you?’

Did you have a fight with your husband? This is why people shouldn’t get involved in affairs between husband and wife.

Edith looked at Kathleen’s back with complicated emotions as she moved away.

***

The tedious court meeting was nearing its end. The agenda about the tax rate adjustment which had been moving along sluggishly during the days of the late Emperor, was quickly and swiftly dealt with when Peter became the emperor. It was because he clearly expressed his stand about it.

“With this, it has been decided that the tax rate adjustment for southern farmlands will be reduced to the same rate as that of the imperial people.”

At the declaration of the chairman, Count Turan, the nobles who had territories in the south expressed dissatisfaction, but did not dare to object. They glanced sideways at Grand Duke Walten looking for a glimmer of hope, but in the end, they had no choice but to agree as he did not show any reaction.

The meeting ended after the emperor’s aide announced that the detailed information on the tax rate adjustment would be delivered in an appendix. Peter was the first to leave, but he sent his aide to speak to Alexis separately. He was told not to leave and stay where he was.

Alexis said to Peter as he entered the empty conference room again.

“What’s going on?” [Alexis]

“Is Luci okay?”

“We have a pharmacist on site for his treatment. I know that Kathleen sent someone to inform you.”

Peter was quite surprised by the fact that he was already aware not only of the people who had traveled to and fro the Grand Duke’s residence and the imperial palace, but also the contents of the message. But she nodded her head without showing it.

“Yes. I’ve heard from Kathleen. But I also wanted to talk to Brother.”

She couldn’t say it first before Kathleen revealed it, but now she wondered if he had noticed that Luci is his son.

“Have they found out why a child under the age of two is suffering from such a disease?”

“Something that even the imperial physician cannot diagnose will be difficult to find out in such a short time.”

But Alexis didn’t seem to know yet. It was something that she agonized about bringing up, but she kept still. Peter sighed involuntarily but Alexis seemed to have taken the meaning of that sigh differently.

“Now that you have ascended to the position of emperor, don’t pay too much attention to the family of the Grand Duke. Have you prepared what measures to take against earthquakes? I heard that there were already several earthquakes in the south.”

“Ah, that.”

Since their father died, earthquakes had occurred according to the contents of the oracle, but only on a small scale. After secretly sending scholars to research it, they reported that there was little chance that it would spread to Meyer.

There was less damage than when it was only the Emperor and Alexis, so Peter presumed that it was likely thanks to Luci. Perhaps the blood he inherited on his mother’s side had somehow influenced it.

Peter replied, thinking that if Joseph found the members of Kathleen’s family, she could find out more.

“I have plans in place. Don’t worry.”

“I hope so. I don’t want my mansion in ruins when I come back to Meyer.”

“Are you leaving?”

Peter asked in surprise at the sudden remark.

“Where are you going?”

“I am going to inspect the local estates. I’m taking Kathleen and the child with me.”

“Why all of a sudden… Didn’t you send Viscount Reylent to the local estate the other day to inspect it?”

“It is only natural for the lord to take care of his estates. There is a difference between receiving reports in the capital and actually seeing it and looking around.”

“But….”

I don’t know when Joseph will come to Meyer, but it will be a setback if they miss each other.

“I have no intention of becoming a threat to the Emperor.”

Alexis cut her off.

“Brother, that’s not it.”

“Haven’t I told you over and over again? I’m not interested in the emperor’s seat.”

He stood up and added.

“If Your Majesty will properly deal with those involved in the assassination of the late emperor, the Walten family will continue to protect the imperial family.”

He was referring to the fugitive Count Hopewell and the Empress imprisoned in the West Tower. The eyes looking down at his half-brother were as bitter as when he was a commander on the battlefield.

“……I will.”

Hearing Peter’s answer, Alexis left the conference room. Even after that, Peter could not stand up for a long time due to his complex thoughts.

“Will you allow the Grand Duke to go down to the local estates?”

Count Schenberg asked quietly. Peter just then remembered that he was following him as an aide, and stood up.

“It’s none of an aide’s business.”

“As an aide, I’m just asking to be able to properly serve Your Majesty.”

He said as he followed the emperor who stepped out of the conference room.

“It’s my job to point out if there’s anything you’ve missed. If the Grand Duke comes into contact with the runaway Count Hopewell, it will be dangerous.”

“It’s not that I’m not aware of that.”

“… Is your trust in your brother that much, Your Majesty?”

He didn’t think he was a very good brother to her. If she truly trusted and followed him, there would be no way she would still be hiding her secret of being a woman. [Schenberg]

Count Schenberg was genuinely curious.

“I want to trust him.”

Peter replied simply.

“Because now, I have no one to trust other than him.”

At those bitter words, Count Schenberg froze. Kiana’s voice, who had always protected the empty county alone, crossed his memory.

– “I, I can’t trust anyone but my brother! Are you going to leave me like this? Really?”

———————————————Warning—————————————————

At that time, he dismissed his sister’s words, who was so weak in both mind and body, as mere complaints. He would never have let it go if he had known that it would result in her taking her own life.

————————————————————————————————————

The guilt uncovered by his memories from long ago constricted his chest painfully.

“If you want me to trust you too, do your overdue tasks properly. Don’t just keep standing there.”

The emperor’s voice brought him back to reality. For a moment, he could not step forward as if he had fallen into a dark swamp as the memory washed over him.

The tearful amber eyes in his memory overlapped with the golden eyes in front of him.

“Yes, I’m going.”

Count Schenberg hastened his strides, following the new emperor’s footsteps.

***

Luci successfully recovered his health. Edith’s medicine seemed to have worked quite well, and he didn’t have convulsions or a high fever again.

“These days, he’s getting better at running on his own.”

The nanny said with delight. But in truth, Luci was hopping around with his head perched up trying to peek at the cage that was hanging up high.

“I tell him old stories every night before he goes to bed, but sometimes, he asks me to continue until late at night. I think it’s time to read a book to him soon.”

“Oh my. I think it’s true that he’s growing faster than his peers, madam.”

Emily responded with pride. Kathleen was also happy that Luci was healthy and smart, but she still couldn’t stop the growing anxiety in the corner of her heart.

‘What if he starts looking in the mirror?’

From the time Luci could speak, she kept mirrors as far away as she could. The same was true for ornaments made of materials that had reflections. He was still young, so it was fine, but once he grew up enough to be able to walk around at will, he would likely question how he looked in the mirror wherever he went.

‘Once his face returns, there is no turning back.’

Her determination became stronger. It has been a while since Peter sent someone to the north in case they missed each other, but there was still no news from Joseph. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t been reached yet or there was a reason why he couldn’t come to Meyer.

‘I have to leave first.’

***