Although it was early summer, the sun was quite hot at noon. The twins were busy playing outside the carriage windows on either side, while Bartholomew and Cheraan were busy pulling the children into their arms every now and then to keep them from sticking their heads out too far.
As the carriage stopped in front of Magnus Palace, the children jumped out first. The maid who had been waiting outside for them to arrive led the four inside.
The place where the King or Queen personally invited guests for a meal was not the general dining space that was always open to the public, but a more private place.
When they went inside, Franz and Judith were already waiting. Erwin, who had been playing with wooden dolls lined up, opened the door and saw the twins coming in. As soon as he got up, he kicked all the dolls he had lined up in a row, but he didn't seem to realize how much he regretted it.
While the children were playing with the dolls in a flash, Cheraan and Bartholomew sat down. Bartholomew, who was watching with delight as little Yvianne, who was in Judith's arms, babbled and reached out, looked at Franz, and said.
“I finally got a vacation, so why did you call me out to eat on a day like this? Do you not like me resting?”
“You’re complaining when I didn’t even call you to do it?”
Although they were officially the King and his closest knights, Franz and Bartholomew were still brothers behind closed doors. The same was true for Judith and Cheraan. Cheraan, who still carried the sword her father had given her on her belt and was brave enough to occasionally ask Bartholomew to spar, was one of the people who knew Judith better than anyone else.
“It would have been better if you had stayed home. I’m sorry, Cheraan.”
“No, Your Majesty. It’s been a long time since the four of us have eaten together like this.”
It was as Cheraan said. It was certainly the case when Franz was the King's replacement, but it was even harder to find time after he ascended the throne. The King's schedule was packed most of the day, and it was inevitable because it continued almost every day.
And Judith was busy in her own way. Even though she did not like noisy gatherings or banquets, and even if there were some people who were somewhat uncomfortable, the Queen needed to invite people from time to time and listen to their stories.
Even at simple tea parties, or brief gatherings in the Queen's salon, one could hear countless stories if one listened attentively. Some of these stories could be of help to Judith and Franz, and so they could not be neglected.
Since the two were busy, it went without saying that Bartholomew and Cheraan, who were closest to them, were also very aware of the situation, and so they did not complain for long even when they were summoned to the palace during their long-awaited vacation.
As the servants brought the food, the children who were absorbed in playing with their dolls were called to the table. Erwin, of course, and the twins also ate by themselves with small utensils made for children's hands. Cheraan, who was watching the two children eat with amazement, said with a hollow laugh.
“I wish I could do this at home too.”
Judith and Franz looked at Cheraan as if to ask what she meant.
“Why? At home, the twins don’t eat well?”
“Your Majesty, don’t be ridiculous. I told you that the nannies and servants would chase after him and feed him. He would take a bite and then run away to do something else. He was getting spoiled, so I told him to stop feeding him and leave him alone, but the nannies are too kind.”
“Erwin was hard to feed when he was younger than he is now. Don’t worry too much, Livif and Heike will eat well when they grow up.”
“Erwin was very well-behaved for a three-year-old. I have told you this many times, Your Majesty.”
“I see,” Judith said with a small smile.
Ever since Erwin was born, Cheraan had always been telling her such stories. How could he be so gentle, so kind and pretty! If only all the babies in the world were like Erwin, there would be no parents who would have a hard time raising them. Erwin was a gentle child who didn't get sick easily, but Cheraan's affection for him was special. When asked why one day, she answered like this.
"Because I noticed that Your Majesty had become much more stable since Erwin was born."
Judith, the person involved, wondered if that was true, but Cheraan insisted firmly. Judith later thought that maybe she was right.
Just before Erwin was born, her condition was almost emotionally unstable. Even though Krald was dead and Queen Gilsis was locked up in the tower, she seemed to be constantly being chased by something. After giving birth, it disappeared as if it were a lie. Strangely, when she was pregnant with Yvianne, she did not show the same symptoms of anxiety.
After finishing their meal, the four of them took the children outside for a walk. Erwin took the wooden horse, toy sword, and shield that Rogero had given him and played with the twins. Since Yvianne was still young, they sent her to her nanny for a nap, so it was a rare moment of leisure for everyone.
“Oh, did you hear that story?”
At the tea table, Bartholomew suddenly spoke. The three people's eyes were focused on him.
“I heard that the Count de Montfort’s daughter got married.”
“Miss Montfort?”
Judith was the first to show a surprised expression. She recalled the last time she had seen Libencia. It was the day when Rogero had mistaken her for the Duke of Laetian's gang and brought her to the Nation Palace without warning.
From that day on, Libencia never showed up in the capital or in the social circle again. When everything was settled, the Count of Montfort received the land that had been the Marquisate of Heybourne as promised and sent his daughter there without anyone knowing. The Count and his wife remained in the capital.
People said that Libencia would not last even a year in the Marquisate before returning to the capital. Such speculations were bound to run rampant, for the Marquisate of Heybourne was a land of abundant harvests but no real fun.
It was unreasonable to expect that Libencia, accustomed to the luxurious and stimulating life of the capital and the palace all her life, would last long in a leisurely country estate. Even her parents were worried about this in their hearts.
But despite the gossip of the people, Libencia had not come out of the marquisate. Judith had not heard from her for a long time either. The toy bird she had sent Erwin on his first birthday a few years ago was still decorating one side of Erwin’s playroom, but the face of the person who had actually given the gift was almost blurry.
As time went by, one year, two years, she was forgotten in people's minds. As people avoided mentioning the second Prince who met his death in an ominous and presumptuous manner, the name of his mistress, Libencia, naturally became distant from rumors.
“It seems like there really was someone who wanted to marry that woman.”
Cheraan said indifferently. She didn't like Libencia much, either then or now. Franz also joined in the conversation and asked.
“Did you hear who she married?”
“I haven’t heard that. But the Count de Montfort, that sly old man, would have let his daughter marry just anyone? We all know how well he raised her. Besides, he must now have lands beyond his remote county, so he has no shortage of them.”
Franz looked thoughtful. Judith watched him closely.
“Your Majesty, is there anything on your mind?”
“Ah... It’s nothing special. I wonder which family is related to the Count de Montfort.”
“If you’re curious, ask someone to find out.”
They soon understood Franz's intentions. He still did not trust the Count de Montfort and sometimes watched his movements with concern. Although the Count had once been on the same boat as him for a short time out of necessity, the Count was by no means a man to keep close to, like the Duke of Vergy or the Marquis Ebelta.
Even if he did not commit any great evil, there are people whose behavior is not in good faith. The Count de Montfort was one of those people. Despite his age, he was still a frivolous and vulgar person. If someone had stirred up his short thoughts and stimulated his vanity, it could have caused him trouble in the future. Franz was worried about this.
“Send someone to the new county. Preferably someone you can trust, Bartholomew.”
“Yes. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear any news.”
Cheraan, who was listening to the conversation between the two, still snorted with an unpleasant attitude.
“I guess he’s a man with a lot on his body but nothing on his head. Like who else?”
Judith furrowed her eyebrows and tried to appease her.
“Perhaps it is the opposite. I remember hearing that Count de Montfort was looking for a son-in-law. It was a long time ago, though. After being treated badly once, he might have chosen a son-in-law who was the complete opposite. He might be surprisingly calm and gentle.”
“Personality is not important, Your Majesty. No one in their right mind would want to marry someone like Libencia. Even if you offered me a castle made of gold, I would have refused it outright.”
Judith smiled and backed away, knowing that Cheraan's personality was such that persuasion was useless when it came to things she didn't like. Bartholomew spoke as if joking.
“I told you that you really hate Miss Montfort.”
“Would I like that? It’s not just her. I get goosebumps from everyone in that house.”
“I haven’t done anything bad to the Queen Mother, have I?”
“That’s not the problem.”
Cheraan was about to get really angry, and Franz and Judith had no choice but to step in and stop her. There was nothing better than talking about children to change the mood. Cheraan, who had been angry just a moment ago, quickly became lively and started talking about a new toy store in the downtown area.
The recent major restructuring of the shopping district in the Plaza de Michiel has seen the opening of many shops selling high-end toys aimed at children, especially those from noble families, Cheraan said.
“I’ve only been there once, but there were more stores and a wider variety of items than I thought. How about you two go there for a look around?”
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