CH 231

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but please refrain from drinking so much alcohol. It’s not good for your health.”

The Duke held out a plate in front of him.

“I hear you’re trying to draw a picture these days.”

The Duke’s hand stilled for a moment upon hearing the Emperor’s sudden words.

He was genuinely perplexed.

“. . . It’s just a light hobby.”

“I suppose.”

The Emperor accepted the plate of fruit from the Duke and ate the sweet grapes.

“There must be something you want to draw in the mansion.”

“Your Majesty.”

The Duke’s voice was slightly strained.

Even so, the Emperor didn’t seem to care. He ate another grape and continued the conversation leisurely.

“However, you cannot leave it to the painter. That in itself would be a problem.”

Listening to the Emperor’s words, the Duke naturally remembered what he wanted to put on his canvas.

That was normal.

The sounds of children’s laughter and joy. Things that had comforted him for a long time . . .

However, the Princess of Liz should be drawn at all those moments, so the painting ended up being something that would never be completed.

Keeping a portrait of someone belonging to a foreign royal family was treason in and of itself.

“Well . . . Wanting to keep the soon-to-be-departed child by your side, even in a portrait, is a reasonable parental desire.

“Stop. I didn’t pick up the brush with that thought in mind.”

“I know, my brother is a human made by the rules. To the point where he wouldn’t secretly commit even the slightest bit of treason.”

The Duke didn’t even budge.

Perhaps it was because he was expecting something.

“I can make an exception and allow it if you want.”

The Emperor’s words continued. The Duke lowered his gaze.

Right, something like this.

To make his older brother, who is only generous with himself, exercise special power and make his wishes come true.

“. . . No.”

The Duke shook his head.

“Are you afraid of leaving a record in history?”

“I’m not.”

“Portraits are good. Every time you miss it, looking at it and touching it brings comfort to your heart. Coincidentally, the Ducal family has a great painter.”

“It’s okay.”

“Why?”

The Emperor frowned again. It seems that he was displeased with his younger brother who did not receive the favor even after a long time.

“That portrait . . .”

The Duke thought of a slightly more distant future.

The Ducal family after the Duke and Darrel were gone.

A family separated from the Imperial family will inevitably lose its position.

He has seen countless people perish while embracing only the glories of the past.

There was no guarantee that Mayer wouldn’t be the same.

At that moment . . .

If somehow, there are remnants of Rieta in the Ducal family . . .

With that in mind, he didn’t know what kind of trouble that might cause the Kingdom of Liz.

“There is no guarantee that no one will be born who takes advantage of past relationships for personal gain.”

The Emperor rested his chin and looked at his frustrated brother.

He understood what his younger brother was worried about.

However, he didn’t think there would be anyone who could do that in his lineage.

“Then, only while you are alive . . .”

“Since I will have to remove the portrait anyway, it is better not to draw it in the first place.”

“So, you’re sending her without leaving a trace here. Princess Rieta.”

The Duke finally nodded his head. That way there won’t be any consequences left.

“But isn’t it a bit . . . Regretful, to do that?”

“Is there any reason for that?”

The Duke remembered the first time he had been entrusted with Rieta.

She was a difficult Princess to deal with.

It was pitiful to send her back, and they couldn’t leave her with the Imperial family . . .

What he did was simply done to protect the face of the empire.

“I was only in charge of protecting Your Majesty’s reputation so as not to harm it.”

. . . No, he didn’t think so.

The emperor remembered the change in Rieta.

The child, who was as skinny and small as a newborn deer, became a child that was strong enough as a Princess to rely on her heart before he knew it.

Humans were complex beings, so she could not grow up like that by simply getting food and safety.

Perhaps the Duke was affectionate in some way.

It seemed he didn’t realize it.

No, it seemed that he was desperately refusing to realize it.

“Well . . .”

The emperor smiled bitterly as he put down the empty cup.

Well, was it better not to realize it now?

His younger brother was lonely enough, missing Victoria.

If there was another emptiness there, all that remained would be suffering.

“Well, yes. You also have two children, so there’s no way a child from someone else’s house will ever become precious. She’s not even related by blood.”

The Emperor rose from his seat.

The Duke’s expression was somewhat stiff, which seemed to be an effort to hide his true feelings.

“Then, work hard for the rest of the summer. I will work hard too.”

The Duke got up after the Emperor and saw him off, with an extremely loyal demeanor.

Looking back at where he left, there were a few snacks left. The bottle also contained fragrant wine.

Should he drink it?

He felt that way for a moment, but he shook his head.

He shouldn’t give in to his moods.

There was something he had to do right away.

He sat down at his desk again.

As soon as he began to focus on his work, all his thoughts were filed away.