'I confirmed that everyone was dead.'
She never said outright whether he had done well or not. She always asked him to evaluate himself, but Valquiterre had a hard time answering 'yes' or 'that' that he had done enough.
Queen Sylvia never accepted his answers at face value.
'...Yes.'
'Really? You did your best, but this is all you could do.'
'No.'
'You're not ashamed of your own shortcomings.'
Even if she said humble words.
Queen Sylvia always regarded Valquiterre as a subject for evaluation and scolded him harshly.
To Valquiterre, who was hungry for a warm word and affectionate encouragement, Queen Sylvia scolded him, saying, “Don’t act so weakly.”
However, for some reason, such a mother would only smile softly at his younger sister, Bianque, with eyes dripping with honey.
Why was that?
They had the same lemon-colored blond hair and blue eyes as if they had been painted here and there with a single brush.
“Yes.”
I was surprised.
“He... set the village on fire under the orders of Her Majesty Queen Sylvia. But how could my mother be with someone like that..."
“Claudel.”
Madame Cronach took my hand.
“That was ordered by the previous Queen. It’s taboo. It’s treason to reveal a secret order.”
“That’s...”
“Kaian is the lord of Rowen. If he reveals this, Rowen will become a land of traitors.”
I knew that in theory. However, when I found my father’s nameplate on his desk, I was so excited that my judgment became clouded.
For me, it was related to my deceased parents.
Those who had prepared in advance and were on their deathbeds would have difficulty understanding.
Growing up, having lost my family in a sudden accident, I had learned that whether it was Cme or Hannah, everyone was desperate for even the slightest bit of news.
“I resented Kaian for not telling me anything.”
It was something I desperately wanted him to do. He cut me off coldly as if he couldn’t tell me.
“It’s something he can’t tell you even if he wanted to. But I guess there’s something he can confirm for you.”
Madame Cronach said forcefully.
“He didn’t hurt us.”
“Really?”
“He actually saved me.”
She unbuttoned the end of her dress sleeve and rolled up her clothes.
“Even though I was burned like this, I survived in the end. He treated me properly.”
“...”
“He also helped me set up my salon.”
He had paid for her to use her, but Madame Cronach tried to put it in the best possible light.
“So don’t hate him too much, okay?”
“I want to stop talking about it. I have nothing to do with him.”
“Claudel.”
I took my hand that was caressing hers.
“Right now, I just want to talk about us.”
“Yes.”
Madame Cronach swallowed a sigh inwardly.
“It might not be easy.”
Her worries were endless.
Kaian and Baron Colon dismounted.
The royal attendants diligently handed them their reins and led them through the crowded front.
“What are they talking about?”
Baron Colon responded to Kaian’s monologue.
“It doesn’t seem like a bad story.”
“That’s true.”
When he had come to the capital before, he had personally taken Claudel to the salon.
There was no one among the nobles who didn’t know that Salon Arvo was as good as Temnes.
However, when he set foot in the palace like this, his shoulders felt heavy again.
‘She hasn’t been here since the royal order was revoked.’
Claudel who had left the name of Temnes.
It stung.
The wound on his arm where the tip of the sword in her hand had touched stung, and a sharp pain spread through his shoulder and side toward his heart.
“Duke of Temnes.”
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard.
“Count Makie. It’s been a long time.”
“Have you come to see His Majesty the King?”
Kaian narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Why are you picking a fight with me?'
To him, a Duke and a royal relative, a man of Count rank said something like, 'You must not have come to see Claudel, in that way.
"Yes."
Kaian found his attitude irritating, but he answered dryly so as not to show his emotional weakness.
"Then I have something to do, so I will be going now."
As the servant finished preparing the carriage, Count Makie hurriedly got on and disappeared.
Kaian watched the carriage going down the hill and said to Baron Colon.
'Follow the Count.'
Whenever he recalled the old memories of Plogne Village, they were vivid as if they were yesterday.
Because it was the first time Valquiterre had been so enraged.
Queen Sylvia was very strict.
'Is this the best you could do?'
'... '
Because it was the first time Valquiterre had been so enraged.
Queen Sylvia was very strict.
'Is this the best you could do?'
'... '
She never said outright whether he had done well or not. She always asked him to evaluate himself, but Valquiterre had a hard time answering 'yes' or 'that' that he had done enough.
Queen Sylvia never accepted his answers at face value.
'...Yes.'
'Really? You did your best, but this is all you could do.'
Even if she said affirmative words.
'No.'
'You're not ashamed of your own shortcomings.'
Even if she said humble words.
Queen Sylvia always regarded Valquiterre as a subject for evaluation and scolded him harshly.
To Valquiterre, who was hungry for a warm word and affectionate encouragement, Queen Sylvia scolded him, saying, “Don’t act so weakly.”
However, for some reason, such a mother would only smile softly at his younger sister, Bianque, with eyes dripping with honey.
Why was that?
They had the same lemon-colored blond hair and blue eyes as if they had been painted here and there with a single brush.
Originally, Valquiterre had asked to be taken to the village of Plogne with her.
“There seems to be a problem in Arbor. I will hurry and come back, so you are responsible for the palace in the meantime.”
At that moment, he thought that Queen Sylvia had considerable faith in him. He soon found out that his mother had left the palace with only his younger sister.
...He felt strangely upset.
In the meantime, Lady Elise and Kaian had arrived at the palace from Rowen to visit the capital. Valquiterre could not calm his confused heart even as he greeted these people whom he should have been happy to see.
The inexplicable feelings continued until Queen Sylvia and Bianque visited the village of Plogne.
'Is the matter of the sacred tree resolved well?'
The Queen stared blankly at him for a moment, as he asked politely, unable to avoid the formalities.
'Why do you think so?
“There seems to be a problem in Arbor. I will hurry and come back, so you are responsible for the palace in the meantime.”
At that moment, he thought that Queen Sylvia had considerable faith in him. He soon found out that his mother had left the palace with only his younger sister.
...He felt strangely upset.
In the meantime, Lady Elise and Kaian had arrived at the palace from Rowen to visit the capital. Valquiterre could not calm his confused heart even as he greeted these people whom he should have been happy to see.
The inexplicable feelings continued until Queen Sylvia and Bianque visited the village of Plogne.
'Is the matter of the sacred tree resolved well?'
The Queen stared blankly at him for a moment, as he asked politely, unable to avoid the formalities.
'Why do you think so?
They say that if you become King, the country will be engulfed in war.'
Her words were so sudden and shocking.
'What do you think?'
And once again, the ball was passed on to Valquiterre. Valquiterre heard a cracking sound in his head. The evil that he had endured in his heart gathered together, tore the chrysalis, and emerged as an adult.
'Do you want to know what I think? If so, I will show you.'
Valquiterre immediately led the soldiers given to him as the Crown Prince and attacked the village of Plogne.
'They are all traitors.'
Traitors? The soldiers who had suddenly gone on a campaign were bewildered.
'We must condemn all those who try to harm the honor of the kingdom and the royal family by putting the sacred tree Arbor in the lead!'
However, when he saw the strangely grown giant tree on the ridge overlooking the village of Plogne as if it had gathered the energy of the earth, he was excited by the fact that the secret of the hidden continent had been spewing evil words at the royal family that was loyal to it.
Those who had shared the strong drink rushed to protect him, and Valquiterre jumped into the building in front of the giant tree, the center of the branches that covered the sky.
No one in the village survived.
If there were less dead, he would be sorry, but he had set fire to it with great determination.
He ate the fruit of sin and transgressed the taboo.
What was unexpected was that Queen Sylvia had sent Kaian to clean up the mess.
When Valquiterre returned to the palace first, Queen Sylvia asked him to evaluate himself again.
'Do you have any regrets about your choice?'
Only this time, he could answer without hesitation.
'Yes.'
How many hardships did he endure and how did he endure this place?
Just wait and see. In the end, it will all be his, as King.
'Well done.'
The praise he had longed for came back in vain.
He had always struggled to receive the approval of his mother, the Queen, but instead of feeling happy or proud, he felt empty.
Valquiterre, who had been lost in the past for a moment, finally came to his senses.
“The owner of Salon Arvo? That bastard Kain must have been thinking.”
No matter how she had obtained the information, he felt that she had fabricated something that Claudel could trust.
“The problem is that we don’t know what it is.”
Valquiterre looked at the maids.
“Who is watching them right now?”
“Huk.”
The maids looked at each other in surprise. They had been so anxious to tell Valquiterre the situation that they had left Claudel and Madame Cronach alone in the room and had come all the way to the office.
“I, I’m sorry.”
“I’ll go back quickly.”
As the maids disappeared from the office, Valquiterre put his hand on his heated forehead.
“Call Count Makie.”
“Yes.”
After ordering the servant, Count Makie entered the office a moment later.
“Have you found her, Your Majesty?”
“This is ridiculous. The owner of the salon that Kaian owned is suddenly claiming to be Claudel’s mother.”
“The maids came running to tell me anyway.”
When he told the maids to go back, they seemed to beg the Count who had met them to look after the situation.
“Something has come up that needs to be done.”
“Give me your orders.”
“I have to get rid of that kid.”
Count Makie wiggled his eyebrows in surprise at Valquiterre's words.
“Hurry up. We can’t just leave the variables alone.”
“Yes.”
When the Count Makie disappeared, Valquiterre muttered,
“Nothing will change now.”
Her words were so sudden and shocking.
'What do you think?'
And once again, the ball was passed on to Valquiterre. Valquiterre heard a cracking sound in his head. The evil that he had endured in his heart gathered together, tore the chrysalis, and emerged as an adult.
'Do you want to know what I think? If so, I will show you.'
Valquiterre immediately led the soldiers given to him as the Crown Prince and attacked the village of Plogne.
'They are all traitors.'
Traitors? The soldiers who had suddenly gone on a campaign were bewildered.
'We must condemn all those who try to harm the honor of the kingdom and the royal family by putting the sacred tree Arbor in the lead!'
However, when he saw the strangely grown giant tree on the ridge overlooking the village of Plogne as if it had gathered the energy of the earth, he was excited by the fact that the secret of the hidden continent had been spewing evil words at the royal family that was loyal to it.
Those who had shared the strong drink rushed to protect him, and Valquiterre jumped into the building in front of the giant tree, the center of the branches that covered the sky.
No one in the village survived.
If there were less dead, he would be sorry, but he had set fire to it with great determination.
He ate the fruit of sin and transgressed the taboo.
What was unexpected was that Queen Sylvia had sent Kaian to clean up the mess.
When Valquiterre returned to the palace first, Queen Sylvia asked him to evaluate himself again.
'Do you have any regrets about your choice?'
Only this time, he could answer without hesitation.
'Yes.'
How many hardships did he endure and how did he endure this place?
Just wait and see. In the end, it will all be his, as King.
'Well done.'
The praise he had longed for came back in vain.
He had always struggled to receive the approval of his mother, the Queen, but instead of feeling happy or proud, he felt empty.
Valquiterre, who had been lost in the past for a moment, finally came to his senses.
“The owner of Salon Arvo? That bastard Kain must have been thinking.”
No matter how she had obtained the information, he felt that she had fabricated something that Claudel could trust.
“The problem is that we don’t know what it is.”
Valquiterre looked at the maids.
“Who is watching them right now?”
“Huk.”
The maids looked at each other in surprise. They had been so anxious to tell Valquiterre the situation that they had left Claudel and Madame Cronach alone in the room and had come all the way to the office.
“I, I’m sorry.”
“I’ll go back quickly.”
As the maids disappeared from the office, Valquiterre put his hand on his heated forehead.
“Call Count Makie.”
“Yes.”
After ordering the servant, Count Makie entered the office a moment later.
“Have you found her, Your Majesty?”
“This is ridiculous. The owner of the salon that Kaian owned is suddenly claiming to be Claudel’s mother.”
“The maids came running to tell me anyway.”
When he told the maids to go back, they seemed to beg the Count who had met them to look after the situation.
“Something has come up that needs to be done.”
“Give me your orders.”
“I have to get rid of that kid.”
Count Makie wiggled his eyebrows in surprise at Valquiterre's words.
“Hurry up. We can’t just leave the variables alone.”
“Yes.”
When the Count Makie disappeared, Valquiterre muttered,
“Nothing will change now.”
He was going to do the remaining things for sure.
The destruction of the village of Plogne was the moment he awakened as a King.
After that, Valquiterre did not regret his choice.
After some time, the two were finally able to calm down. They sat side by side on a comfortable and soft sofa, and their eyes met as if filling the gap they had not seen each other, completely filled with each other’s appearances.
“What happened to Mom? Dad said Mom died.”
Evan left me and Hannah at the inn in the town’s downtown area for money to take care of and visited the town frequently.
Dad, who entered the room smelling of smoke and looking disappointed and soulless, tried not to show it when he saw me and Hannah and took care of his young daughters’ meals. He must have gone out to find Mom.
If Dad had found traces of Mom’s life, he would not have said that she had died for sure, but it was questionable that she was alive.
“You see.”
Madame Cronach covered the scar with her hand, which looked even more messy due to her tears.
“I was lucky enough to be trapped in the burning village. I was badly burned, but Kaian saved me and I barely survived.”
"...That person?”
The destruction of the village of Plogne was the moment he awakened as a King.
After that, Valquiterre did not regret his choice.
***
After some time, the two were finally able to calm down. They sat side by side on a comfortable and soft sofa, and their eyes met as if filling the gap they had not seen each other, completely filled with each other’s appearances.
“What happened to Mom? Dad said Mom died.”
Evan left me and Hannah at the inn in the town’s downtown area for money to take care of and visited the town frequently.
Dad, who entered the room smelling of smoke and looking disappointed and soulless, tried not to show it when he saw me and Hannah and took care of his young daughters’ meals. He must have gone out to find Mom.
If Dad had found traces of Mom’s life, he would not have said that she had died for sure, but it was questionable that she was alive.
“You see.”
Madame Cronach covered the scar with her hand, which looked even more messy due to her tears.
“I was lucky enough to be trapped in the burning village. I was badly burned, but Kaian saved me and I barely survived.”
"...That person?”
“Yes.”
I was surprised.
“He... set the village on fire under the orders of Her Majesty Queen Sylvia. But how could my mother be with someone like that..."
“Claudel.”
Madame Cronach took my hand.
“That was ordered by the previous Queen. It’s taboo. It’s treason to reveal a secret order.”
“That’s...”
“Kaian is the lord of Rowen. If he reveals this, Rowen will become a land of traitors.”
I knew that in theory. However, when I found my father’s nameplate on his desk, I was so excited that my judgment became clouded.
For me, it was related to my deceased parents.
Those who had prepared in advance and were on their deathbeds would have difficulty understanding.
Growing up, having lost my family in a sudden accident, I had learned that whether it was Cme or Hannah, everyone was desperate for even the slightest bit of news.
“I resented Kaian for not telling me anything.”
It was something I desperately wanted him to do. He cut me off coldly as if he couldn’t tell me.
“It’s something he can’t tell you even if he wanted to. But I guess there’s something he can confirm for you.”
Madame Cronach said forcefully.
“He didn’t hurt us.”
“Really?”
“He actually saved me.”
She unbuttoned the end of her dress sleeve and rolled up her clothes.
“Even though I was burned like this, I survived in the end. He treated me properly.”
“...”
“He also helped me set up my salon.”
He had paid for her to use her, but Madame Cronach tried to put it in the best possible light.
“So don’t hate him too much, okay?”
“I want to stop talking about it. I have nothing to do with him.”
“Claudel.”
I took my hand that was caressing hers.
“Right now, I just want to talk about us.”
“Yes.”
Madame Cronach swallowed a sigh inwardly.
“It might not be easy.”
Her worries were endless.
***
Kaian and Baron Colon dismounted.
The royal attendants diligently handed them their reins and led them through the crowded front.
“What are they talking about?”
Baron Colon responded to Kaian’s monologue.
“It doesn’t seem like a bad story.”
“That’s true.”
When he had come to the capital before, he had personally taken Claudel to the salon.
There was no one among the nobles who didn’t know that Salon Arvo was as good as Temnes.
However, when he set foot in the palace like this, his shoulders felt heavy again.
‘She hasn’t been here since the royal order was revoked.’
Claudel who had left the name of Temnes.
It stung.
The wound on his arm where the tip of the sword in her hand had touched stung, and a sharp pain spread through his shoulder and side toward his heart.
“Duke of Temnes.”
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard.
“Count Makie. It’s been a long time.”
“Have you come to see His Majesty the King?”
Kaian narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Why are you picking a fight with me?'
To him, a Duke and a royal relative, a man of Count rank said something like, 'You must not have come to see Claudel, in that way.
"Yes."
Kaian found his attitude irritating, but he answered dryly so as not to show his emotional weakness.
"Then I have something to do, so I will be going now."
As the servant finished preparing the carriage, Count Makie hurriedly got on and disappeared.
Kaian watched the carriage going down the hill and said to Baron Colon.
'Follow the Count.'
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