“I don’t care about that, as long as it doesn’t harm my family. I’m only worried about what my testimony will actually do, and whether it will actually put Kyle in a worse position. They’ll probably think of me as Kyle’s ex-lover. They might even think of me as the government. The fact that we met in Graz last night could be interpreted in a negative light. They might even claim that I’m lying on his behalf.”
Michael was silent for a moment. She wasn't wrong. Then Angie spoke again. Even though she said that it seemed like she had no intention of just standing by and doing nothing.
“If I go to Trieste... you’ll be there when I enter the country, but when I return to Vintegar? Will I be able to cross the border without any problems then?”
“You’re a citizen of Vintergar, so there won’t be any problems. There was a peace treaty between King Renier VIII and the Vintergar royal family before his death. The treaty will be activated immediately after the seal is affixed on that day.”
Angie nodded silently. Her face still looked complicated. Then Michael hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Actually, I have one more confession to make. He... Kyle is actually my half-brother. We share the same father, but we are blood brothers.”
“What? What is that...”
Angie asked back loudly without realizing it. Her eyes were filled with shock. It was a different shock than when she heard the news of Michael's marriage.
“Just before Edward married Duchess Eugenia, my biological mother... He was so drunk that she didn’t remember. My mother, Edith Randall, was a helper. She knew about Eternity. The moment she found out she was pregnant, she pretended to be sick so that I wouldn’t be a sacrifice, and hid in my aunt Hester’s residence. She died right after giving birth to me, but... My aunt looked after me as if I were her own son, and as I grew up, she told me a little about my birth and Eternity.”
“Kyle too... He knows too?”
“He knows. All the people of the dukedom. He offered me support and independence as was customary, but I asked to stay in the dukedom. I had no intention of asserting my rights, and even if I did, Trieste does not recognize illegitimate children.”
“...”
“I was just scared. To leave my familiar surroundings behind and go far away. When the fire spread to the island, Aunt Hester died, and I lost my family... I had no one to rely on anymore. So from the time Kyle left for the capital and settled down, I stayed at Te Deum and worked quietly like everyone else. I tried my best not to be noticed by him..._
“Then how did you end up in Kyle’s bodyguard?”
“The Shadow Guard was Jerome’s suggestion. Ever since I was little, Aunt Hester always told me to keep my voice as quiet as possible and not be noticed by people, so I became good at hiding my presence and detecting the energies of others.”
"I see..."
Angie trailed off. She felt very sorry for Michael. He had lost his mother at birth, and his biological father, Lord Edward, had died without ever knowing about his existence. He had also lost Hester Randall, his only family, so he really had no other choice.
“Honestly, I don’t have any feelings of brotherly love or affection... that’s a fact. But if things continue this way, not only Lord Kyle himself but the Blackwell family itself could be wiped out. If Grand Duke Winston succeeds to the throne after the customary two-month mourning period ends, Trieste will become a truly terrible place. So I believe that all Blackwell family members will be equally determined to grab onto even a shred of hope.”
“Understood. I’ll follow you to Hedestad, Michael.”
“Really?”
“Do you know anything about Kyle’s health? Yesterday in Graz...he coughed up blood in front of me, but he hid it as nothing. It could be a relapse of the side effects of the Eternity drug.”
“What? I had no idea.”
Michael raised his voice. He seemed genuinely surprised.
“I'm an unofficial bodyguard, so we rarely actually encounter him. But I’ve never heard of any health problems... It could be nothing serious. He had a bad cough, or maybe he had temporary fatigue in his lungs.”
“Then that’s really fortunate. If by any chance he needs treatment, we’ll have to make sure he gets treatment while he's in custody. If he ends up being imprisoned, I’ll go back to Vintergar and discuss it with everyone. Then you’ll help me cross the border again, right?”
“Of course. Don’t worry about that.”
Angie couldn't stay in Trieste for long without Noah. Of course, she was going to keep her mouth shut about Noah. She wasn't going to tell anyone, not even Michael. It wasn't a matter of trusting him or not. She had to keep quiet until she was sure that the baby was no longer in danger.
“For now, I plan to testify as much as I can... Whether it works or not, I’ll have to try to find out.”
Angie finished speaking with a stern expression. Michael nodded, then became serious again.
“But will the people in this house approve of you going? You said they were your cousins’ family, right?”
“Yeah. I think he’ll be against it. So I’m thinking of sending him a letter when I get to the train station. I’ll be back in a few days, so don’t worry...”
If they saw the letter, there would have been a huge uproar that she had gone all the way to Trieste without saying a word. She knew how reckless and foolish this plan was. However, she couldn't just sit back and watch Kyle's situation from afar. If it weren't for the blood on his hands, she might not have gone that far.
“Just wait outside for a moment. I’ll pack a simple luggage and take you to the train station.”
“Angie, thank you so much!”
Michael took her two hands and smiled brightly. It was the first smile they had seen since their reunion. It was a kind and warm smile, bright and clear like sunlight. Michael said he would wait for her in the park beyond the residential area and left the gate of the mansion.
Angie left the annex with a heavy heart and headed to the nursery first. Her heart ached at the thought of being separated from Noah again for a week, or at least a few days.
Noah and Patty were not in the room. Patricia had woken up a while ago and was breastfeeding in Bryn's arms. Noah, who was also in the nanny's arms, waved his hands wildly when he saw her.
"mom!"
The child screamed in joy and ran straight to her.
“Noah, how have you been? Did you listen to your uncle and aunt and play well with Patty?”
“Ugh. Mom, why are you here now? I miss you...”
“I’m sorry, Noah. My baby... I’m so sorry.”
Angie kissed Noah here and there on his face and buried her nose in his crown. Her throat was tight and her eyes were hot.
Noah, I'll go see Dad for a bit. If Dad is really as he said to Mom... If Dad is someone Mom can trust and be with, then maybe, Noah can meet Dad too. It might be difficult right now, but someday. No matter how long it takes...
There was an eerie atmosphere in the Duke's residence at Te Deum. It was usually a quiet and lonely place, but that day it was enveloped in an even more eerie atmosphere.
Louis Dunst read the secretly delivered letters and her face hardened. The letters were from Jerome and Michael. The former contained the desperate message that Kyle had been arrested on charges of the assassination of the Emperor and treason. Fortunately, the latter contained a glimmer of hope that could offset the crisis.
“Michael. My hunch was right.”
She called all the helpers in the mansion, informed them of the general situation, and hurriedly prepared to go to the capital. Then she called Michael's wife, Charlotte, and instructed her to pack quickly.
“Yes? I’m going to the capital too?”
“This is an unprecedented crisis that could destroy the family line. Jasmine and the other stewards will guard Te Deum, while a few others and I will go to Hedestad Main Office to find out what the Duke is up to.”
“But Michael hasn’t come back yet...”
“Michael has also decided to come to the capital’s territory. He said he will leave today, so he will arrive before the sun sets. Even though this is the situation, there will be a big change for you and Michael.”
Louis looked around and made sure that she was alone. Then he whispered something in Charlotte’s ear. Charlotte’s eyes grew wider as she listened to Louis’ story.
“Is that true?”
There was no time to hide her agitation. Charlotte widened her eyes like a squirrel and covered her mouth with both hands. She could not believe it because the change was as great as she said. At the same time, she felt guilty. For that assumption to come true, she had to hope that Lord Kyle would not be released.
“In my view, Lord Kyle is hopeless. It may be disloyal to say this, but there is nothing we can do. We must face reality and consider alternatives to protect our family.”
“mm.”
“You don’t have time to sit around like that. Go and get ready. You must never say anything about what you just heard. If you say something wrong before you know for sure, your life will be in danger.”
“Yes, I understand, Mrs. Dunst. I will keep quiet.”
Charlotte only then nodded and hurriedly left the room. As she had said, it was a serious crisis. If the arrested Duke were to be convicted of murder and hanged according to imperial law.
Just thinking about it made her heart tremble. The Duke, who seemed omnipotent and perfect in every way, would disappear like the morning dew on the execution ground. However, if that really happened, it would be a huge opportunity for her and Michael. It would be a very sinful thing for the Duke, but their lives would change completely.
Michael was silent for a moment. She wasn't wrong. Then Angie spoke again. Even though she said that it seemed like she had no intention of just standing by and doing nothing.
“If I go to Trieste... you’ll be there when I enter the country, but when I return to Vintegar? Will I be able to cross the border without any problems then?”
“You’re a citizen of Vintergar, so there won’t be any problems. There was a peace treaty between King Renier VIII and the Vintergar royal family before his death. The treaty will be activated immediately after the seal is affixed on that day.”
Angie nodded silently. Her face still looked complicated. Then Michael hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Actually, I have one more confession to make. He... Kyle is actually my half-brother. We share the same father, but we are blood brothers.”
“What? What is that...”
Angie asked back loudly without realizing it. Her eyes were filled with shock. It was a different shock than when she heard the news of Michael's marriage.
“Just before Edward married Duchess Eugenia, my biological mother... He was so drunk that she didn’t remember. My mother, Edith Randall, was a helper. She knew about Eternity. The moment she found out she was pregnant, she pretended to be sick so that I wouldn’t be a sacrifice, and hid in my aunt Hester’s residence. She died right after giving birth to me, but... My aunt looked after me as if I were her own son, and as I grew up, she told me a little about my birth and Eternity.”
“Kyle too... He knows too?”
“He knows. All the people of the dukedom. He offered me support and independence as was customary, but I asked to stay in the dukedom. I had no intention of asserting my rights, and even if I did, Trieste does not recognize illegitimate children.”
“...”
“I was just scared. To leave my familiar surroundings behind and go far away. When the fire spread to the island, Aunt Hester died, and I lost my family... I had no one to rely on anymore. So from the time Kyle left for the capital and settled down, I stayed at Te Deum and worked quietly like everyone else. I tried my best not to be noticed by him..._
“Then how did you end up in Kyle’s bodyguard?”
“The Shadow Guard was Jerome’s suggestion. Ever since I was little, Aunt Hester always told me to keep my voice as quiet as possible and not be noticed by people, so I became good at hiding my presence and detecting the energies of others.”
"I see..."
Angie trailed off. She felt very sorry for Michael. He had lost his mother at birth, and his biological father, Lord Edward, had died without ever knowing about his existence. He had also lost Hester Randall, his only family, so he really had no other choice.
“Honestly, I don’t have any feelings of brotherly love or affection... that’s a fact. But if things continue this way, not only Lord Kyle himself but the Blackwell family itself could be wiped out. If Grand Duke Winston succeeds to the throne after the customary two-month mourning period ends, Trieste will become a truly terrible place. So I believe that all Blackwell family members will be equally determined to grab onto even a shred of hope.”
“Understood. I’ll follow you to Hedestad, Michael.”
“Really?”
“Do you know anything about Kyle’s health? Yesterday in Graz...he coughed up blood in front of me, but he hid it as nothing. It could be a relapse of the side effects of the Eternity drug.”
“What? I had no idea.”
Michael raised his voice. He seemed genuinely surprised.
“I'm an unofficial bodyguard, so we rarely actually encounter him. But I’ve never heard of any health problems... It could be nothing serious. He had a bad cough, or maybe he had temporary fatigue in his lungs.”
“Then that’s really fortunate. If by any chance he needs treatment, we’ll have to make sure he gets treatment while he's in custody. If he ends up being imprisoned, I’ll go back to Vintergar and discuss it with everyone. Then you’ll help me cross the border again, right?”
“Of course. Don’t worry about that.”
Angie couldn't stay in Trieste for long without Noah. Of course, she was going to keep her mouth shut about Noah. She wasn't going to tell anyone, not even Michael. It wasn't a matter of trusting him or not. She had to keep quiet until she was sure that the baby was no longer in danger.
“For now, I plan to testify as much as I can... Whether it works or not, I’ll have to try to find out.”
Angie finished speaking with a stern expression. Michael nodded, then became serious again.
“But will the people in this house approve of you going? You said they were your cousins’ family, right?”
“Yeah. I think he’ll be against it. So I’m thinking of sending him a letter when I get to the train station. I’ll be back in a few days, so don’t worry...”
If they saw the letter, there would have been a huge uproar that she had gone all the way to Trieste without saying a word. She knew how reckless and foolish this plan was. However, she couldn't just sit back and watch Kyle's situation from afar. If it weren't for the blood on his hands, she might not have gone that far.
“Just wait outside for a moment. I’ll pack a simple luggage and take you to the train station.”
“Angie, thank you so much!”
Michael took her two hands and smiled brightly. It was the first smile they had seen since their reunion. It was a kind and warm smile, bright and clear like sunlight. Michael said he would wait for her in the park beyond the residential area and left the gate of the mansion.
Angie left the annex with a heavy heart and headed to the nursery first. Her heart ached at the thought of being separated from Noah again for a week, or at least a few days.
Noah and Patty were not in the room. Patricia had woken up a while ago and was breastfeeding in Bryn's arms. Noah, who was also in the nanny's arms, waved his hands wildly when he saw her.
"mom!"
The child screamed in joy and ran straight to her.
“Noah, how have you been? Did you listen to your uncle and aunt and play well with Patty?”
“Ugh. Mom, why are you here now? I miss you...”
“I’m sorry, Noah. My baby... I’m so sorry.”
Angie kissed Noah here and there on his face and buried her nose in his crown. Her throat was tight and her eyes were hot.
Noah, I'll go see Dad for a bit. If Dad is really as he said to Mom... If Dad is someone Mom can trust and be with, then maybe, Noah can meet Dad too. It might be difficult right now, but someday. No matter how long it takes...
***
There was an eerie atmosphere in the Duke's residence at Te Deum. It was usually a quiet and lonely place, but that day it was enveloped in an even more eerie atmosphere.
Louis Dunst read the secretly delivered letters and her face hardened. The letters were from Jerome and Michael. The former contained the desperate message that Kyle had been arrested on charges of the assassination of the Emperor and treason. Fortunately, the latter contained a glimmer of hope that could offset the crisis.
“Michael. My hunch was right.”
She called all the helpers in the mansion, informed them of the general situation, and hurriedly prepared to go to the capital. Then she called Michael's wife, Charlotte, and instructed her to pack quickly.
“Yes? I’m going to the capital too?”
“This is an unprecedented crisis that could destroy the family line. Jasmine and the other stewards will guard Te Deum, while a few others and I will go to Hedestad Main Office to find out what the Duke is up to.”
“But Michael hasn’t come back yet...”
“Michael has also decided to come to the capital’s territory. He said he will leave today, so he will arrive before the sun sets. Even though this is the situation, there will be a big change for you and Michael.”
Louis looked around and made sure that she was alone. Then he whispered something in Charlotte’s ear. Charlotte’s eyes grew wider as she listened to Louis’ story.
“Is that true?”
There was no time to hide her agitation. Charlotte widened her eyes like a squirrel and covered her mouth with both hands. She could not believe it because the change was as great as she said. At the same time, she felt guilty. For that assumption to come true, she had to hope that Lord Kyle would not be released.
“In my view, Lord Kyle is hopeless. It may be disloyal to say this, but there is nothing we can do. We must face reality and consider alternatives to protect our family.”
“mm.”
“You don’t have time to sit around like that. Go and get ready. You must never say anything about what you just heard. If you say something wrong before you know for sure, your life will be in danger.”
“Yes, I understand, Mrs. Dunst. I will keep quiet.”
Charlotte only then nodded and hurriedly left the room. As she had said, it was a serious crisis. If the arrested Duke were to be convicted of murder and hanged according to imperial law.
Just thinking about it made her heart tremble. The Duke, who seemed omnipotent and perfect in every way, would disappear like the morning dew on the execution ground. However, if that really happened, it would be a huge opportunity for her and Michael. It would be a very sinful thing for the Duke, but their lives would change completely.
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