Carson seemed to be sitting peacefully working on the outside, but his mind had been strangely busy since morning. Then Noah came in and told him that a message had arrived from the imperial court. Only then did he realize why his mind had been so turbulent all day.
Noah asked, organizing the documents he had been reading. Not long ago, Count Raymond had sent a letter to the imperial court. Directly to the Empress.
Instead of answering, Carson put the reply he had received from the Empress on his desk. It was permission to look at the letter. As he watched Noah read the letter, he soon left his seat to change into his banquet attire.
As he walked, Carson admitted that he had been waiting for the Empress’s letter very much. That was why he had been unnecessarily busy for several days.
Noah, who had been following him, spoke to him again.
“The Empress obediently accepted your request.”
The word ‘obediently’ did not suit the Empress, but she could not have refused.
“The issue of the noble family’s lands is not simple, but it was resolved quickly.”
“Yes.”
He answered casually, but Carson really wanted to hear a definitive answer from the Empress today. Fortunately, the letter arrived just in time.
“Tell Lady Swenden to meet separately after the banquet.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Don’t call her too openly, so people might misunderstand.”
“Yes, but what did you write that you received the reply so quickly?”
“I wrote that the gift sent to the Conero Square was well received.”
Noah couldn’t hide his surprise at those words. Carson had never once rebelled against the Empress’s words or orders. So it was naturally surprising that he had openly pointed out the Empress as the culprit.
“Is that true?”
“And that’s not all.”
Carson also mentioned Lena Mariere to the Empress.
The words of someone already dead have no power, but they can be powerful to those who hear them.
The Empress must have laughed loudly when she saw the letter.
His mother was dead, and his younger brother was in his hands. He had already become the lord of a territory, so he was out of her grasp for now.
Of course, he was still under the Empress’s control. He would have to pay a price for provoking the Empress. However, during his 21 years in the imperial palace, Carson had not been completely unprepared.
“What else did she say?”
“She’ll be busy from now on.”
Noah trembled for a moment, recalling the Empress’s stern gaze. There were many more things Carson wanted to ask about the fact that she would be busy, but he had to put out the fire right away.
The Lord of Lesonia had come to the banquet hall with his daughter instead of his son.
Carson was a royal family member before he was a lord. Therefore, it was right for Count Graham, a subject of the empire, to bring all his household members to see him.
“Permission?”
Noah asked, organizing the documents he had been reading. Not long ago, Count Raymond had sent a letter to the imperial court. Directly to the Empress.
Instead of answering, Carson put the reply he had received from the Empress on his desk. It was permission to look at the letter. As he watched Noah read the letter, he soon left his seat to change into his banquet attire.
As he walked, Carson admitted that he had been waiting for the Empress’s letter very much. That was why he had been unnecessarily busy for several days.
Noah, who had been following him, spoke to him again.
“The Empress obediently accepted your request.”
The word ‘obediently’ did not suit the Empress, but she could not have refused.
“The issue of the noble family’s lands is not simple, but it was resolved quickly.”
“Yes.”
He answered casually, but Carson really wanted to hear a definitive answer from the Empress today. Fortunately, the letter arrived just in time.
“Tell Lady Swenden to meet separately after the banquet.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Don’t call her too openly, so people might misunderstand.”
“Yes, but what did you write that you received the reply so quickly?”
“I wrote that the gift sent to the Conero Square was well received.”
Noah couldn’t hide his surprise at those words. Carson had never once rebelled against the Empress’s words or orders. So it was naturally surprising that he had openly pointed out the Empress as the culprit.
“Is that true?”
“And that’s not all.”
Carson also mentioned Lena Mariere to the Empress.
The words of someone already dead have no power, but they can be powerful to those who hear them.
The Empress must have laughed loudly when she saw the letter.
His mother was dead, and his younger brother was in his hands. He had already become the lord of a territory, so he was out of her grasp for now.
Of course, he was still under the Empress’s control. He would have to pay a price for provoking the Empress. However, during his 21 years in the imperial palace, Carson had not been completely unprepared.
“What else did she say?”
“She’ll be busy from now on.”
Noah trembled for a moment, recalling the Empress’s stern gaze. There were many more things Carson wanted to ask about the fact that she would be busy, but he had to put out the fire right away.
While Carson was being groomed by the maids, Noah spurred on the preparations for the banquet.
As the sun rose to the top of the sky, nobles from all over the territory began to gather one by one. The main banquet was held in the evening, but the doors to the lord’s mansion were opened in the afternoon. The garden was already full of nobles who wanted to impress the lord as soon as possible.
The garden, with soft music flowing, was filled with the laughter of people. At first glance, it looked peaceful, but the people were tense. Even though they were nobles, it was not easy to see the royal family up close unless they were nobles of the capital.
The most tense of all was Ines, who was occupying a corner of the garden.
She could not sit down because she thought she might see him again. Of course, the time she would be able to meet Carson would be very short. It might be the only time the nobles would take turns greeting him. Despite knowing this situation, Ines’s mind was in turmoil all day.
Joseph Benoit is coming to this banquet today.
After proposing and returning with an ambiguous result that was either accepted or not, Joseph had asked Ines to meet him several times. However, she had refused his requests every time, citing her father’s increased surveillance.
And just yesterday, Joseph sent a letter again. He had come to this banquet.
There weren’t many ways for a knight of commoner origin to come to this welcoming party. It was likely that he had accompanied the escort of Lord Lesonia.
When the sunlight felt a little warm, Carson appeared in the garden. Ines watched him from afar and didn’t approach him, but she kept a distance so that Carson wouldn’t disappear from her sight.
“Ines.”
Then a familiar voice called her name.
‘Joseph...’
As Ines rolled the name around in her mouth and controlled her expression, he grabbed Ines’ wrist and led her away from the people’s gaze.
Suddenly, when she felt the touch of his hand, Ines felt as if bugs were crawling all over her body. She unconsciously pulled her hand away from him and pushed him away.
“Ines?”
“You surprised me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was too happy to see you.”
***
As the sun rose to the top of the sky, nobles from all over the territory began to gather one by one. The main banquet was held in the evening, but the doors to the lord’s mansion were opened in the afternoon. The garden was already full of nobles who wanted to impress the lord as soon as possible.
The garden, with soft music flowing, was filled with the laughter of people. At first glance, it looked peaceful, but the people were tense. Even though they were nobles, it was not easy to see the royal family up close unless they were nobles of the capital.
The most tense of all was Ines, who was occupying a corner of the garden.
She could not sit down because she thought she might see him again. Of course, the time she would be able to meet Carson would be very short. It might be the only time the nobles would take turns greeting him. Despite knowing this situation, Ines’s mind was in turmoil all day.
Joseph Benoit is coming to this banquet today.
After proposing and returning with an ambiguous result that was either accepted or not, Joseph had asked Ines to meet him several times. However, she had refused his requests every time, citing her father’s increased surveillance.
And just yesterday, Joseph sent a letter again. He had come to this banquet.
There weren’t many ways for a knight of commoner origin to come to this welcoming party. It was likely that he had accompanied the escort of Lord Lesonia.
When the sunlight felt a little warm, Carson appeared in the garden. Ines watched him from afar and didn’t approach him, but she kept a distance so that Carson wouldn’t disappear from her sight.
“Ines.”
Then a familiar voice called her name.
‘Joseph...’
As Ines rolled the name around in her mouth and controlled her expression, he grabbed Ines’ wrist and led her away from the people’s gaze.
Suddenly, when she felt the touch of his hand, Ines felt as if bugs were crawling all over her body. She unconsciously pulled her hand away from him and pushed him away.
“Ines?”
“You surprised me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was too happy to see you.”
When she turned around, he was dressed as a knight. Ines just stared at Joseph, who was apologizing. Then, he immediately made a sad and upset face.
Ines had loved his innocent and pure passion. However, at this moment, she felt nauseous because he was expressing his feelings without hiding them.
“Ines, aren’t you happy to see me?”
“...Of course, I am happy to see you.”
“But, why?”
Joseph couldn’t finish his sentence as if he didn’t find anything particularly wrong with her behavior. There were a few hiding places hidden by the thick trees in the shady corners of the garden. Ines looked around carefully to see if anyone was watching them.
“I know how you feel, but I don’t like this anxious behavior. If my father sees me like this, I won’t be able to even come out like this.”
“But there’s no way we can meet.”
“Can you be patient for a little while for the many days we’ll be together?”
Although he had a sad expression, he nodded and agreed with her words. Then he quickly looked at her with rapt eyes.
“You look really beautiful today. The dress matches Ines’s eyes so well.”
Ines eventually crumpled her expression.
The reason she came wearing this dress was to express her gratitude to Carson Raymond. So even if it wasn’t exactly beautiful, she wanted to hear his impressions first.
Unable to endure the time with him any longer, she put her strength into her feet to leave.
“Thank you, but I have to go now.”
“So soon?”
As Ines was about to turn around, Joseph grabbed her wrist again. She instinctively slapped his hand away.
“Joseph, don’t do this.”
Joseph looked at his empty hands floating in the air for a moment. For a split second, she could see the expression on his face cool down. But as if nothing had happened, he put on a gentle expression again.
“I’ll see you again when it gets dark, right?”
She rubbed the wrist he had grabbed and calmed her mind. She couldn’t let him notice her condition any longer. Ines smiled brightly at him.
“Of course. I heard that the Count has a garden at his mansion. I’ll see you later.”
“What time?”
“I can’t tell you exactly. I’ll go now.”
Ines left him without asking for his understanding.
Ines had loved his innocent and pure passion. However, at this moment, she felt nauseous because he was expressing his feelings without hiding them.
“Ines, aren’t you happy to see me?”
“...Of course, I am happy to see you.”
“But, why?”
Joseph couldn’t finish his sentence as if he didn’t find anything particularly wrong with her behavior. There were a few hiding places hidden by the thick trees in the shady corners of the garden. Ines looked around carefully to see if anyone was watching them.
“I know how you feel, but I don’t like this anxious behavior. If my father sees me like this, I won’t be able to even come out like this.”
“But there’s no way we can meet.”
“Can you be patient for a little while for the many days we’ll be together?”
Although he had a sad expression, he nodded and agreed with her words. Then he quickly looked at her with rapt eyes.
“You look really beautiful today. The dress matches Ines’s eyes so well.”
Ines eventually crumpled her expression.
The reason she came wearing this dress was to express her gratitude to Carson Raymond. So even if it wasn’t exactly beautiful, she wanted to hear his impressions first.
Unable to endure the time with him any longer, she put her strength into her feet to leave.
“Thank you, but I have to go now.”
“So soon?”
As Ines was about to turn around, Joseph grabbed her wrist again. She instinctively slapped his hand away.
“Joseph, don’t do this.”
Joseph looked at his empty hands floating in the air for a moment. For a split second, she could see the expression on his face cool down. But as if nothing had happened, he put on a gentle expression again.
“I’ll see you again when it gets dark, right?”
She rubbed the wrist he had grabbed and calmed her mind. She couldn’t let him notice her condition any longer. Ines smiled brightly at him.
“Of course. I heard that the Count has a garden at his mansion. I’ll see you later.”
“What time?”
“I can’t tell you exactly. I’ll go now.”
Ines left him without asking for his understanding.
***
The Lord of Lesonia had come to the banquet hall with his daughter instead of his son.
Carson was a royal family member before he was a lord. Therefore, it was right for Count Graham, a subject of the empire, to bring all his household members to see him.
Lesonia, which bordered the sea, was clearly a much larger territory than Landhill and had more farmland than Landhill, which was mountainous. That’s why Lesonia had been acting as if Landhill was a part of their territory for quite some time. It was no different from revealing their arrogant intention that the next successor to Lesonia’s territory would not need to come to greet the Lord of Landhill in person.
The daughter of Count Graham was a beautiful woman with red hair and black eyes. And Joseph Benoit was right next to her. Only when Ines saw that she knew that Joseph had come here as Lady Graham’s escort.
The banquet flowed naturally. It was the host’s job to decorate the garden and welcome the guests, but the banquet hall was prepared by the nobles.
The banquet hall was small and the atmosphere was simple, but Carson could tell that the nobles had prepared the welcoming party with great care.
Although Carson did not lead them, the place where he was standing was prepared as if it were a place where royalty was receiving an audience.
Although he was standing on a single step, his overwhelming height made others look up to him. The nobles lined up one after another and waited for their turn to greet him.
The same was true of the Viscount Swenden and Ines. Since her father was a little late after taking care of urgent business, she had to wait a long time to meet him.
Soft music flowed in the hall, and the nobles who had finished greeting each other dispersed one by one to enjoy the banquet.
As the noble family right in front of Ines was greeting Carson, the Lord of Lesonia approached him with his daughter in front. Ines furrowed her brows at the unpleasant feeling that suddenly surged up.
This was the first time Ines had seen Count Graham’s face in person. He had a thin face with a perfectly asymmetrical mustache and long eyes. It was difficult to describe the color of his eyes, which seemed to be covered with a cloudy film.
“Count Raymond, today’s banquet was very good.”
Ines could hear Count Graham’s words well because she was standing close.
“Don’t mention it...”
Carson did not look at him and instead extended his hand to the person standing in front of him to shake his hand and answer. The people standing around him were the ones who were watching because of the cold air flowing between the two.
“I came with my daughter today.”
“You don’t have to say anything to see it.”
Even though it must have been unpleasant for Carson not to even look at him, Count Graham continued to speak as if he didn’t notice his coldness.
The daughter of Count Graham was a beautiful woman with red hair and black eyes. And Joseph Benoit was right next to her. Only when Ines saw that she knew that Joseph had come here as Lady Graham’s escort.
The banquet flowed naturally. It was the host’s job to decorate the garden and welcome the guests, but the banquet hall was prepared by the nobles.
The banquet hall was small and the atmosphere was simple, but Carson could tell that the nobles had prepared the welcoming party with great care.
Although Carson did not lead them, the place where he was standing was prepared as if it were a place where royalty was receiving an audience.
Although he was standing on a single step, his overwhelming height made others look up to him. The nobles lined up one after another and waited for their turn to greet him.
The same was true of the Viscount Swenden and Ines. Since her father was a little late after taking care of urgent business, she had to wait a long time to meet him.
Soft music flowed in the hall, and the nobles who had finished greeting each other dispersed one by one to enjoy the banquet.
As the noble family right in front of Ines was greeting Carson, the Lord of Lesonia approached him with his daughter in front. Ines furrowed her brows at the unpleasant feeling that suddenly surged up.
This was the first time Ines had seen Count Graham’s face in person. He had a thin face with a perfectly asymmetrical mustache and long eyes. It was difficult to describe the color of his eyes, which seemed to be covered with a cloudy film.
“Count Raymond, today’s banquet was very good.”
Ines could hear Count Graham’s words well because she was standing close.
“Don’t mention it...”
Carson did not look at him and instead extended his hand to the person standing in front of him to shake his hand and answer. The people standing around him were the ones who were watching because of the cold air flowing between the two.
“I came with my daughter today.”
“You don’t have to say anything to see it.”
Even though it must have been unpleasant for Carson not to even look at him, Count Graham continued to speak as if he didn’t notice his coldness.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment