“Michael...! Michael?”
Angie stood up with a surprised look on her face. Everyone followed her and opened the study door. They couldn't help but be wary that it might be Leticia Blackwell's puppet. Helen answered before her master could ask.
“I have completed a thorough body search at the gate and have also received the Trieste Empire citizen ID card and the Vintergar residence seal.”
“I’ll meet him. Michael is my friend. He helped me on Cullinan Island, and as I just told you, he saved my life last night.”
The Kyle side also said that they stopped the assassin at the same time, but they didn't say anything further. Angie added a word to reassure everyone.
“He is my savior, so I can trust him. Aunt Helen. I will be right across, so could you please tell him to wait at the teahouse across the street?”
“No, tell him to come in, Helen. Angie, I think it would be better if we met in the reception room in the annex. I think it would be safer for us. I’ll have a guard posted outside and I’ll be waiting. Bryn and Father should stay here.”
At Martin's words, Angie nodded without saying anything else. She prepared the tea herself and hurried to the annex.
Michael felt a deep sense of relief as soon as he saw her. He also realized belatedly that Angie had to disappear so suddenly in front of Grandma Catherine's house.
“I immediately asked the Vintergar police for help. I thought you might be another of Leticia’s spies after reading the letter you left behind.”
He mentioned that there was an arrest warrant out for Kyle and that the chalk dust Angie had scattered along the way had played a significant role in the pursuit. She couldn't help but feel a pang of self-reproach.
“I knew it was Kyle when I went. I could recognize his handwriting right away. But I had to leave a trace because I didn’t know if he... would hurt me or what he would do. At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to get home safely...”
“I understand, Angie. I was shocked too. I didn’t tell you yesterday, but I’m actually one of his bodyguards. When Leticia suddenly showed me the lace you made and gave me secret instructions to find you... I didn’t know she would try to hurt you. I just said I would convince you to go away if I ever saw you.”
“So what happens now? This house is very heavily guarded. Since I’ll be living isolated from the outside world for the time being, I’m not really afraid of Leticia. I’m just worried that the people in this house will be harmed because of me... Honestly, I’m worried about Kyle too.”
Angie looked straight at Michael.
“Jerome said Kyle was framed for political reasons. Is that true? Then even if it takes some time, he can clear his name and be released?”
“No one knows. I must return to Trieste before the sun sets. I am a member of the Blackwell family’s private army, so given the current situation... If I do not return home today, I too may be arrested and interrogated. I will thoroughly investigate whether or not he was involved in the assassination of the Emperor in any way.”
“That... I don’t know the situation on your side at all, but he has to clear his name somehow. Kyle clearly said it in Graz yesterday. He has been persuading Rainier VIII for a long time to join his cause for a better country... The imperial family will be abolished within this year, and Eternity will be completely abolished. He has been reassuring the helpers at the Duke’s residence that he has arranged a political marriage with Leticia for that purpose and will continue Eternity. I believe that.”
Michael's purple eyes were strangely bright. It was hard to tell if the bright light was joy or some other emotion. But whatever it was, it couldn't be malicious. If he had any ill feelings toward Kyle, he wouldn't have stayed with the Blackwells and become his personal guard after the island fire.
“You had that conversation in Graz yesterday. He still hasn’t forgotten you. Hasn’t he? Certainly... He and Leticia have been acting like strangers for the past three years. It wouldn’t be strange if they divorced at any moment.”
Angie nodded. There was no point in hiding it now.
“He also officially announced his intention to divorce yesterday. He said that if the royal family was abolished, he would introduce a cabinet system like Vintergar and transform it into a desirable constitutional monarchy... He said that he had no interest in Eternity from the beginning. I believe that too. If he really wanted to continue Eternity, he would have...”
Angie paused for a moment. She couldn't bring herself to say that casually. She said it as indirectly as possible.
“He wanted to have a child with Leticia and inherit Eternity. So... I told him to come back once he divorces Leticia and their relationship is completely resolved.”
“You told him to come back?”
“Yeah. No matter how long it takes... I asked him to come back when he can return proudly.”
Angie continued, biting her lower lip as if in pain.
“I still... love him.”
“...”
“I thought I could never be with him. I believed that I could never accept him because of the evil deeds of his ancestors and his family. But...”
“You realized yesterday that you still have feelings for him.”
Angie nodded. She couldn't face him because she felt sorry for Michael. The moment he confessed to her on the island, the time he helped her escape from the mansion, and just yesterday, when he disobeyed Leticia's orders and saved her life, flashed through her mind.
“I’m sorry, Michael. I can’t do anything about my feelings...”
If emotions themselves were something that could be controlled, there would be no such pain or distress. Once again, her heart ached at the strangeness of fate. After meeting again after three years, the moment she realized the emotions that she had tried so hard to deny, he ended up in a life-or-death crisis.
“No. If it’s because of the confession I made before, then don’t worry about it. Now that I think about it, there’s something I haven’t told you. Actually..."
Michael calmly told his story. There was a faint smile on his lips. It wasn't the boyish, bright smile he used to have, but there was still warmth in his eyes as he looked at Angie.
“I got married two years ago. Two and a half years ago, to be exact.”
"What...?"
Angie almost spilled her teacup. She was so surprised that she forgot her worries about Kyle and opened her eyes wide. She had no idea Michael was married. But it was natural that she didn't know because he hadn't told her. There was no way she could have known how he had lived in Trieste while she was in Vintergar.
“You’re married? Is that true?”
“Yeah. There was a maid named Charlotte among them. She was a maid who had been in Hedestad’s territory from the beginning, so you wouldn’t know her at all. She doesn’t have any children yet, but anyway... I indeed have a proper family now. I didn’t have time to talk about this yesterday.”
“Michael, you did really well. Belated but sincere congratulations!”
Angie was sincere. How could she not be happy that he had found a new love, fell in love, and even got married? She sincerely hoped that Michael would be happy.
“I think your wife is more worried because you haven’t returned yet. She’s probably just waiting for you to come back safely today.”
“Charlotte is at Te Deum, a lakeside cottage on the Scarborough estate to the south, where Mrs. Dunst, Jasmine, and most of the helpers from the island are.”
"I see."
Angie's expression hardened a little. At the time, she thought they were good people, but in reality, Mrs. Dunst and Jasmine were the main helpers who had procured and managed the remedies. Even if the Eternity ritual had disappeared as Kyle had planned, the things they had done could not be returned to nothing. They too would have to atone for their sins in some way.
“There’s no Remedy left, Angie. The Helpers will eventually give up on Eternity. It’s only a matter of time before they learn to discern right from wrong and follow Providence.”
“I believe so. Everything will work out in the end. If only Kyle could be freed, I could ask for nothing more... What should I do? What should I do to...”
She put her hands together as if praying. Seeing her truly troubled appearance, Michael suddenly made a suggestion.
“Angie, then, will you come with me to Trieste? If you could go to the Hedestad Palace and lend your support to his defense, it would certainly be of great help. Appear before the Lord Chancellor, the nobles of the Privy Council who are on the Blackwell side, and testify to what he said yesterday in Graz.”
Angie raised her head. At first, it sounded like nonsense. What kind of testimony would she give in front of them? As if he had read her mind, Michael continued speaking in a more heated tone.
“Right now, Renier VIII and Blackwell’s men are probably desperate. Don’t worry about Leticia either. I’ll be guarding you thoroughly from the moment you cross the border, so you can rest assured about your safety.”
Angie stood up with a surprised look on her face. Everyone followed her and opened the study door. They couldn't help but be wary that it might be Leticia Blackwell's puppet. Helen answered before her master could ask.
“I have completed a thorough body search at the gate and have also received the Trieste Empire citizen ID card and the Vintergar residence seal.”
“I’ll meet him. Michael is my friend. He helped me on Cullinan Island, and as I just told you, he saved my life last night.”
The Kyle side also said that they stopped the assassin at the same time, but they didn't say anything further. Angie added a word to reassure everyone.
“He is my savior, so I can trust him. Aunt Helen. I will be right across, so could you please tell him to wait at the teahouse across the street?”
“No, tell him to come in, Helen. Angie, I think it would be better if we met in the reception room in the annex. I think it would be safer for us. I’ll have a guard posted outside and I’ll be waiting. Bryn and Father should stay here.”
At Martin's words, Angie nodded without saying anything else. She prepared the tea herself and hurried to the annex.
Michael felt a deep sense of relief as soon as he saw her. He also realized belatedly that Angie had to disappear so suddenly in front of Grandma Catherine's house.
“I immediately asked the Vintergar police for help. I thought you might be another of Leticia’s spies after reading the letter you left behind.”
He mentioned that there was an arrest warrant out for Kyle and that the chalk dust Angie had scattered along the way had played a significant role in the pursuit. She couldn't help but feel a pang of self-reproach.
“I knew it was Kyle when I went. I could recognize his handwriting right away. But I had to leave a trace because I didn’t know if he... would hurt me or what he would do. At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to get home safely...”
“I understand, Angie. I was shocked too. I didn’t tell you yesterday, but I’m actually one of his bodyguards. When Leticia suddenly showed me the lace you made and gave me secret instructions to find you... I didn’t know she would try to hurt you. I just said I would convince you to go away if I ever saw you.”
“So what happens now? This house is very heavily guarded. Since I’ll be living isolated from the outside world for the time being, I’m not really afraid of Leticia. I’m just worried that the people in this house will be harmed because of me... Honestly, I’m worried about Kyle too.”
Angie looked straight at Michael.
“Jerome said Kyle was framed for political reasons. Is that true? Then even if it takes some time, he can clear his name and be released?”
“No one knows. I must return to Trieste before the sun sets. I am a member of the Blackwell family’s private army, so given the current situation... If I do not return home today, I too may be arrested and interrogated. I will thoroughly investigate whether or not he was involved in the assassination of the Emperor in any way.”
“That... I don’t know the situation on your side at all, but he has to clear his name somehow. Kyle clearly said it in Graz yesterday. He has been persuading Rainier VIII for a long time to join his cause for a better country... The imperial family will be abolished within this year, and Eternity will be completely abolished. He has been reassuring the helpers at the Duke’s residence that he has arranged a political marriage with Leticia for that purpose and will continue Eternity. I believe that.”
Michael's purple eyes were strangely bright. It was hard to tell if the bright light was joy or some other emotion. But whatever it was, it couldn't be malicious. If he had any ill feelings toward Kyle, he wouldn't have stayed with the Blackwells and become his personal guard after the island fire.
“You had that conversation in Graz yesterday. He still hasn’t forgotten you. Hasn’t he? Certainly... He and Leticia have been acting like strangers for the past three years. It wouldn’t be strange if they divorced at any moment.”
Angie nodded. There was no point in hiding it now.
“He also officially announced his intention to divorce yesterday. He said that if the royal family was abolished, he would introduce a cabinet system like Vintergar and transform it into a desirable constitutional monarchy... He said that he had no interest in Eternity from the beginning. I believe that too. If he really wanted to continue Eternity, he would have...”
Angie paused for a moment. She couldn't bring herself to say that casually. She said it as indirectly as possible.
“He wanted to have a child with Leticia and inherit Eternity. So... I told him to come back once he divorces Leticia and their relationship is completely resolved.”
“You told him to come back?”
“Yeah. No matter how long it takes... I asked him to come back when he can return proudly.”
Angie continued, biting her lower lip as if in pain.
“I still... love him.”
“...”
“I thought I could never be with him. I believed that I could never accept him because of the evil deeds of his ancestors and his family. But...”
“You realized yesterday that you still have feelings for him.”
Angie nodded. She couldn't face him because she felt sorry for Michael. The moment he confessed to her on the island, the time he helped her escape from the mansion, and just yesterday, when he disobeyed Leticia's orders and saved her life, flashed through her mind.
“I’m sorry, Michael. I can’t do anything about my feelings...”
If emotions themselves were something that could be controlled, there would be no such pain or distress. Once again, her heart ached at the strangeness of fate. After meeting again after three years, the moment she realized the emotions that she had tried so hard to deny, he ended up in a life-or-death crisis.
“No. If it’s because of the confession I made before, then don’t worry about it. Now that I think about it, there’s something I haven’t told you. Actually..."
Michael calmly told his story. There was a faint smile on his lips. It wasn't the boyish, bright smile he used to have, but there was still warmth in his eyes as he looked at Angie.
“I got married two years ago. Two and a half years ago, to be exact.”
"What...?"
Angie almost spilled her teacup. She was so surprised that she forgot her worries about Kyle and opened her eyes wide. She had no idea Michael was married. But it was natural that she didn't know because he hadn't told her. There was no way she could have known how he had lived in Trieste while she was in Vintergar.
“You’re married? Is that true?”
“Yeah. There was a maid named Charlotte among them. She was a maid who had been in Hedestad’s territory from the beginning, so you wouldn’t know her at all. She doesn’t have any children yet, but anyway... I indeed have a proper family now. I didn’t have time to talk about this yesterday.”
“Michael, you did really well. Belated but sincere congratulations!”
Angie was sincere. How could she not be happy that he had found a new love, fell in love, and even got married? She sincerely hoped that Michael would be happy.
“I think your wife is more worried because you haven’t returned yet. She’s probably just waiting for you to come back safely today.”
“Charlotte is at Te Deum, a lakeside cottage on the Scarborough estate to the south, where Mrs. Dunst, Jasmine, and most of the helpers from the island are.”
"I see."
Angie's expression hardened a little. At the time, she thought they were good people, but in reality, Mrs. Dunst and Jasmine were the main helpers who had procured and managed the remedies. Even if the Eternity ritual had disappeared as Kyle had planned, the things they had done could not be returned to nothing. They too would have to atone for their sins in some way.
“There’s no Remedy left, Angie. The Helpers will eventually give up on Eternity. It’s only a matter of time before they learn to discern right from wrong and follow Providence.”
“I believe so. Everything will work out in the end. If only Kyle could be freed, I could ask for nothing more... What should I do? What should I do to...”
She put her hands together as if praying. Seeing her truly troubled appearance, Michael suddenly made a suggestion.
“Angie, then, will you come with me to Trieste? If you could go to the Hedestad Palace and lend your support to his defense, it would certainly be of great help. Appear before the Lord Chancellor, the nobles of the Privy Council who are on the Blackwell side, and testify to what he said yesterday in Graz.”
Angie raised her head. At first, it sounded like nonsense. What kind of testimony would she give in front of them? As if he had read her mind, Michael continued speaking in a more heated tone.
“Right now, Renier VIII and Blackwell’s men are probably desperate. Don’t worry about Leticia either. I’ll be guarding you thoroughly from the moment you cross the border, so you can rest assured about your safety.”
Previous Next
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment