“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I said this to see if what I heard was correct.”
The Emperor opened his eyes suspiciously. He watched patiently as Rhodnes, who was sitting proudly in front of him with his legs crossed and his toes tapping, slowly buttoned up a couple of his shirt buttons that were undone and even tied the cravat that was carelessly stuck in his pocket.
“If I had seen you two days ago, I would have looked a little better.”
Rhodnes, who noticed a slight annoyance in that gaze, snickered and made an excuse first.
“The meeting with the Elacon delegation took a long time. If I had known you had made this decision, I would have allowed you to meet me even if it was late at night.”
The Emperor finally uncrossed his long legs and looked at his son sitting upright. The first words of the son who had barged in before the sun had even risen were these.
'I will find father's government.'
The Crown Prince could not get involved in such a matter, the strategist Noevian was in mourning, and the ninth Prince, Ephero, was in Elacon, and considering that his mother was the current Empress, even if he had found the Baroness, he might have tried to kill her on the spot.
“Ro, Rhodnes?”
“Don't say anything.”
A very large body. A very warm temperature. A very sweet scent. I felt my mind loosening up. I let out a breath that had stopped for a moment in the firm embrace of Rhodnes as if I were lying on a huge bed. He was also trembling. Rhodnes must have noticed my legs that were not working, as he held me tightly in his arms.
“I said this to see if what I heard was correct.”
The Emperor opened his eyes suspiciously. He watched patiently as Rhodnes, who was sitting proudly in front of him with his legs crossed and his toes tapping, slowly buttoned up a couple of his shirt buttons that were undone and even tied the cravat that was carelessly stuck in his pocket.
“If I had seen you two days ago, I would have looked a little better.”
Rhodnes, who noticed a slight annoyance in that gaze, snickered and made an excuse first.
“The meeting with the Elacon delegation took a long time. If I had known you had made this decision, I would have allowed you to meet me even if it was late at night.”
The Emperor finally uncrossed his long legs and looked at his son sitting upright. The first words of the son who had barged in before the sun had even risen were these.
'I will find father's government.'
A sentence that removed the slightly more sophisticated words such as the disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda. The Emperor's mind, which had been dazed because it was so early in the morning, suddenly came to its senses.
“You’re finally starting to understand your father.”
“You are mistaken.”
The face that had been pretending to smile leisurely immediately turned cold. The Emperor immediately shut his mouth. The son who had always been upright and affectionate when he was young gradually became corrupted at some point. He was strangely misbehaving, and wandering, and even when there were outrageous rumors about his affair, he not only refused to explain anything but went even further as if he were protesting.
“You’re finally starting to understand your father.”
“You are mistaken.”
The face that had been pretending to smile leisurely immediately turned cold. The Emperor immediately shut his mouth. The son who had always been upright and affectionate when he was young gradually became corrupted at some point. He was strangely misbehaving, and wandering, and even when there were outrageous rumors about his affair, he not only refused to explain anything but went even further as if he were protesting.
He thought such a son couldn't do his request. However, judging from the fact that he said he would visit the government as soon as he was called in early in the morning, it seemed that he had changed his mind no matter how twisted he was.
Those in charge of the case had failed one after another and were often demoted. Furthermore, the rumors that had been investigated in secret at first spread and spread to the central nobles, who had learned of the Emperor's affair with Baroness Kuroseda. The secret that only those in the know had kept quiet had become a fact known to everyone. Someone trustworthy, someone in the imperial family, had to take charge.
“But there is a condition.”
"...Condition?"
“But there is a condition.”
"...Condition?"
The Crown Prince could not get involved in such a matter, the strategist Noevian was in mourning, and the ninth Prince, Ephero, was in Elacon, and considering that his mother was the current Empress, even if he had found the Baroness, he might have tried to kill her on the spot.
The Emperor, who still vividly remembered the warm, sunny days of Rhodnes’ childhood, secretly believed in Rhodnes, who seemed to be living in a barracks but had been properly recognized for his achievements on the battlefield.
“I’ve been on the battlefield for over two years. I need to rest and get married like everyone else.”
“...!”
“There is someone I want to be with.”
The Emperor was momentarily speechless and stared intently at Rhodnes' face. Rhodnes had said something very similar to what he was saying now, two years ago.
'Instead of subduing the demons, please let me get married before my brother.'
'Heh heh, kid. Even so, how could you get married before your brother?'
'There is a young lady I have in mind. She is one of the young ladies my father is considering as a candidate for the Crown Princess.'
'Are you talking about Doris Castagna?'
'I want to be with Adrienne Piretta.'
'!'
'Brother, he has given his permission. Yes?'
As the boy who had been desperately praying and kneeling disappeared like a mirage, a strong man with a cold smile came into view. The Emperor had received a secret report that his son, who had never returned to the capital after the woman he had wanted to marry another man, seemed to be in despair over her death.
“I’ve been on the battlefield for over two years. I need to rest and get married like everyone else.”
“...!”
“There is someone I want to be with.”
The Emperor was momentarily speechless and stared intently at Rhodnes' face. Rhodnes had said something very similar to what he was saying now, two years ago.
'Instead of subduing the demons, please let me get married before my brother.'
'Heh heh, kid. Even so, how could you get married before your brother?'
'There is a young lady I have in mind. She is one of the young ladies my father is considering as a candidate for the Crown Princess.'
'Are you talking about Doris Castagna?'
'I want to be with Adrienne Piretta.'
'!'
'Brother, he has given his permission. Yes?'
As the boy who had been desperately praying and kneeling disappeared like a mirage, a strong man with a cold smile came into view. The Emperor had received a secret report that his son, who had never returned to the capital after the woman he had wanted to marry another man, seemed to be in despair over her death.
However, he remembered the past days when he had not actively helped him and gave him time to stand up on his own. But then, all of a sudden, he brought up the idea of getting married...
“Even if it’s the Young Lady you keep in your heart...”
“It’s not Yeong Lady, it’s Madam.”
“Roan!”
“Blood is thicker than water, I guess.”
Oh my God. With that one word, the Emperor could not add any more words. The sensual lips that had been pretending to smile no longer moved.
“Now that I think about it, I think my father was right. I think my madness is getting worse because I understand you too well.”
The Emperor's mind was clouded by the word 'madness' coming out of Rhodnes' mouth. As the red eyes, shining even more brilliantly in the morning, stared at him as if they were piercing through his insides, his mouth immediately became dry.
“...Tell me who it is.”
“You’ll find out. I don’t really intend to hide it. And...”
The tall man who had been sitting crookedly got up from the sofa. The Emperor looked up, following the long shadow that was cast in front of him. It was difficult to tell whether the expression on Rhodnes' face, immersed in the shallow darkness, was sadness or joy, but...
“This time, I don’t want to miss her for any excuse.”
The low, hushed voice made it clear that he was not helping his father out of good intentions.
“Even if it’s the Young Lady you keep in your heart...”
“It’s not Yeong Lady, it’s Madam.”
“Roan!”
“Blood is thicker than water, I guess.”
Oh my God. With that one word, the Emperor could not add any more words. The sensual lips that had been pretending to smile no longer moved.
“Now that I think about it, I think my father was right. I think my madness is getting worse because I understand you too well.”
The Emperor's mind was clouded by the word 'madness' coming out of Rhodnes' mouth. As the red eyes, shining even more brilliantly in the morning, stared at him as if they were piercing through his insides, his mouth immediately became dry.
“...Tell me who it is.”
“You’ll find out. I don’t really intend to hide it. And...”
The tall man who had been sitting crookedly got up from the sofa. The Emperor looked up, following the long shadow that was cast in front of him. It was difficult to tell whether the expression on Rhodnes' face, immersed in the shallow darkness, was sadness or joy, but...
“This time, I don’t want to miss her for any excuse.”
The low, hushed voice made it clear that he was not helping his father out of good intentions.
***
Rhodnes left the Emperor's office without a second thought and leaned against the door. The fatigue that had been piling up exploded like a cannonball. After confirming that Adrienne's soul was not dead, he was able to finally sleep, but he couldn't fall asleep again unless he jumped up and ran to the office to check the cookie package in the drawer.
The cookies, which he couldn't eat because they were too precious, comforted him by covering their dangerous state with cute wrapping paper. Even now, he felt like he couldn't bear it without running to the office right away.
“Oh my, Lord Rhodnes?”
A startled voice came from him as he was lost in thought. It was Doris. Rhodnes quickly straightened up from where he was leaning against the door.
“It’s so nice to see you so often these days.”
As he walked away from the office door and toward Doris, Rhodnes bowed her head slightly. His face was clearly tired, but his eyes were not as sullen as they had been in recent months. Doris smiled and stroked her hair as if she was trying to show off.
“His Majesty is inside. He seems to be busy these days, Your Highness.”
“It’s because the welcome ceremony for the envoys is coming to an end. Otherwise, I’m usually free. So I have plenty of time to talk to Lord Rhodnes.”
Rodnes listened to Doris's quiet words and looked up at the hair she was stroking. Every place his gaze touched felt like it was being caressed by a large, warm hand, so Doris barely managed to smile with a low groan.
“His Highness the Crown Prince, he will not consider it rude of me to rely on his younger brother, Lord Rhodnes, will he?”
The numb red eyes were beautiful even without passion.
“Can I go now?”
The voice that asked without even a nod of the head was flat, but to Doris, it felt low and sweet like warm water. Doris, who had an ecstatic expression as if she had dipped her ears in that water, realized that Rhodnes’ words were a subtle consolation. Her heart grew impatient.
“Don’t you think something is different?”
“I don’t know.”
A secret lavender scent wafted from his slightly open shirt. Doris's expression, which had been drawn to him, instantly hardened. With her hair dyed black and wearing Madame Leblaix's dress, Doris was obviously different from before.
"Yes."
Without even looking at Doris’ disappointed expression, Rhodnes nodded and tried to pass by. Doris, who wanted to say something, opened her mouth hurriedly to him.
“Are you going to Count Acacia’s residence now?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Oh my, people were talking about a new lover, but it seems all were just rumors. Count Acacia passed away yesterday, and I sent a visitor to offer my condolences.”
A ripple appeared on his flawless face, like a well-carved statue. Doris opened her eyes wide as if she had encountered something unfamiliar, and stood there blankly watching the rapidly disappearing Rhodnes until he became a dot.
“Oh my, Lord Rhodnes?”
A startled voice came from him as he was lost in thought. It was Doris. Rhodnes quickly straightened up from where he was leaning against the door.
“It’s so nice to see you so often these days.”
As he walked away from the office door and toward Doris, Rhodnes bowed her head slightly. His face was clearly tired, but his eyes were not as sullen as they had been in recent months. Doris smiled and stroked her hair as if she was trying to show off.
“His Majesty is inside. He seems to be busy these days, Your Highness.”
“It’s because the welcome ceremony for the envoys is coming to an end. Otherwise, I’m usually free. So I have plenty of time to talk to Lord Rhodnes.”
Rodnes listened to Doris's quiet words and looked up at the hair she was stroking. Every place his gaze touched felt like it was being caressed by a large, warm hand, so Doris barely managed to smile with a low groan.
“His Highness the Crown Prince, he will not consider it rude of me to rely on his younger brother, Lord Rhodnes, will he?”
The numb red eyes were beautiful even without passion.
“Can I go now?”
The voice that asked without even a nod of the head was flat, but to Doris, it felt low and sweet like warm water. Doris, who had an ecstatic expression as if she had dipped her ears in that water, realized that Rhodnes’ words were a subtle consolation. Her heart grew impatient.
“Don’t you think something is different?”
“I don’t know.”
A secret lavender scent wafted from his slightly open shirt. Doris's expression, which had been drawn to him, instantly hardened. With her hair dyed black and wearing Madame Leblaix's dress, Doris was obviously different from before.
"Yes."
Without even looking at Doris’ disappointed expression, Rhodnes nodded and tried to pass by. Doris, who wanted to say something, opened her mouth hurriedly to him.
“Are you going to Count Acacia’s residence now?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Oh my, people were talking about a new lover, but it seems all were just rumors. Count Acacia passed away yesterday, and I sent a visitor to offer my condolences.”
A ripple appeared on his flawless face, like a well-carved statue. Doris opened her eyes wide as if she had encountered something unfamiliar, and stood there blankly watching the rapidly disappearing Rhodnes until he became a dot.
***
The sun, which seemed like it would never rise, rose outside the window. I couldn’t even bear the thin sunlight coming through the gap in the curtains, so I nervously closed the curtains. It was a night when difficult Elacon words were engraved in my eyes and then fell away repeatedly. My mouth, which hadn’t had a sip of water since the morning before, was already so dry that it felt like anything I said would fall apart.
Nothing entered my head due to extreme fatigue, but my mind was strangely clear. I jumped up at the sound of horse hooves from afar. Neil’s voice boomed from a very close distance, and then I heard the sound of the iron door at the entrance of the mansion opening roughly. In the process, there was a quarrel, and the sounds of someone stopping someone echoed one after another.
Even while I was out of my mind, I hurriedly gathered all the things I had taken from the Count's safe into my arms.
'Is it Jimsker? Or Noevian?'
The sun had risen, but it was still early enough that the mansion door hadn't even been opened. If I had been caught with these things, all the courage I had spent yesterday trembling with fear would have been in vain.
'Is it Jimsker? Or Noevian?'
The sun had risen, but it was still early enough that the mansion door hadn't even been opened. If I had been caught with these things, all the courage I had spent yesterday trembling with fear would have been in vain.
I sat down with a thud and pulled away the round carpet under the tea table. Then, like a madwoman, I laid out the envelopes and Blie's diary flat and covered the carpet again. And at the same time, the office door burst open!
It was Rodnes, with bloodshot eyes. Behind his face, which looked like he had just had a terrible nightmare, I could see the shocked faces of the old butler, Marge, and Jonah.
Bam-!
Rhodnes as if he sensed my gaze turning to him, slammed the door shut, and fiercely hugged me, who was barely standing on a chair.
“Ro, Rhodnes?”
“Don't say anything.”
A very large body. A very warm temperature. A very sweet scent. I felt my mind loosening up. I let out a breath that had stopped for a moment in the firm embrace of Rhodnes as if I were lying on a huge bed. He was also trembling. Rhodnes must have noticed my legs that were not working, as he held me tightly in his arms.
As I slowly pushed away his chest, a messy face came into view. A face that seemed to be burning hotly, but at the same time deeply sunken, was turned toward me.
“From now on, it will be Vincenzo, not Neil, who will be your escort.”
"What...?"
“When were you going to cut that guy? How could he not report this in this situation...?"
“I ordered him to do it, Rhodnes.”
"My husband died at night."
“I think Noevian killed the Count.”
Rhodnes, who had been absentmindedly rambling on about the information Neil had been rambling on about, stopped breathing. I brushed away his arms, which had been tightly held onto as if he were afraid of losing me, and sat down on the chair I had been leaning on until just now. Rhodnes was holding onto my cold hands tightly as if he was afraid of falling.
“I thought about that all yesterday. I’m going to use you like this to provoke Noevian...”
"Stop."
“What if Noevian kills you too?”
“Adrienne.”
“Even the Count, who was on my side, was killed so absurdly, so what if you, you...”
Only when I faced Rhodnes did I realize what was causing the fear that had been eating me up all night. He had killed me, whom he loved so much. He had even killed the Count who had been loyal to him. Why couldn’t he kill Rhodnes?
“From now on, it will be Vincenzo, not Neil, who will be your escort.”
"What...?"
“When were you going to cut that guy? How could he not report this in this situation...?"
“I ordered him to do it, Rhodnes.”
"My husband died at night."
“I think Noevian killed the Count.”
Rhodnes, who had been absentmindedly rambling on about the information Neil had been rambling on about, stopped breathing. I brushed away his arms, which had been tightly held onto as if he were afraid of losing me, and sat down on the chair I had been leaning on until just now. Rhodnes was holding onto my cold hands tightly as if he was afraid of falling.
“I thought about that all yesterday. I’m going to use you like this to provoke Noevian...”
"Stop."
“What if Noevian kills you too?”
“Adrienne.”
“Even the Count, who was on my side, was killed so absurdly, so what if you, you...”
Only when I faced Rhodnes did I realize what was causing the fear that had been eating me up all night. He had killed me, whom he loved so much. He had even killed the Count who had been loyal to him. Why couldn’t he kill Rhodnes?
Even the thought of it was so horrible that I had put it aside for a moment, but when I discovered Blie’s diary, all my emotions burst out. That was why my heart burned and was crushed all night. I looked up at Rhodnes, who was still holding my hand tightly. He was looking down at me as if the words I was about to say were the most terrifying things in the world. His red, gleaming eyes were desperate for no reason.
“Just don’t tell me to stay away from you.”
And he started talking first.
“That bastard can’t kill me, Adrienne.”
He knelt down on one knee before me as if he were comforting a crying child. The two hands he held together were shaking slightly.
“I know exactly what you’re afraid of. But if you think that the weakness I show you applies to others, you’re mistaken.”
The very low and cold voice that I had difficulty hearing since revealing my identity ironically became a great comfort. Unlike his trembling hands, Rhodnes’ face was firm, and at the same time, the sunlight that had been bothersome until just now shone on him, making me feel as if I was facing a God that no one could harm.
“Just don’t tell me to stay away from you.”
And he started talking first.
“That bastard can’t kill me, Adrienne.”
He knelt down on one knee before me as if he were comforting a crying child. The two hands he held together were shaking slightly.
“I know exactly what you’re afraid of. But if you think that the weakness I show you applies to others, you’re mistaken.”
The very low and cold voice that I had difficulty hearing since revealing my identity ironically became a great comfort. Unlike his trembling hands, Rhodnes’ face was firm, and at the same time, the sunlight that had been bothersome until just now shone on him, making me feel as if I was facing a God that no one could harm.
However, he was wrong in assuming that I would tell him about my separation. The body that had been trembling with fear became a strange tremble of joy with the assurance he gave me. I grabbed his hand tightly and pulled him closer to me. There was a slight emotion in his eyes that seemed to still be afraid of the separation that would come out of my mouth. He was wrong again.
“The fear of having to go away from you was me until yesterday, Roan.”
“!”
The dark office of Blie, barely any light streaming in.
“I think Noevian wants me to run away from you and regret not listening to him...”
I whispered quietly to Rhodnes, who was kneeling before me.
“I will not regret or back down anymore.”
Noevian.
'I'm sorry, but... I have no intention of giving up.'
“I will go all the way.”
I didn't think my distorted smile would be very pretty. However, Rhodnes couldn't take his eyes off my face and opened his mouth.
“Go all the way. I’ll be by your side.”
And it gave me confidence until the end. Just as Blie Acacia gave me unfounded confidence.
“The fear of having to go away from you was me until yesterday, Roan.”
“!”
The dark office of Blie, barely any light streaming in.
“I think Noevian wants me to run away from you and regret not listening to him...”
I whispered quietly to Rhodnes, who was kneeling before me.
“I will not regret or back down anymore.”
Noevian.
'I'm sorry, but... I have no intention of giving up.'
“I will go all the way.”
I didn't think my distorted smile would be very pretty. However, Rhodnes couldn't take his eyes off my face and opened his mouth.
“Go all the way. I’ll be by your side.”
And it gave me confidence until the end. Just as Blie Acacia gave me unfounded confidence.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment