‘I told you to be careful so many times!’
The empress pressed her temples firmly to ease her throbbing headache and summoned the crown prince.
“…Crown Prince, go assess the situation.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Crown Prince Astrian Erepan Vesasium left, the empress gently linked arms with the emperor and changed the subject.
“Astrian will assess the situation and return, so please wait a moment.”
“Very well.”
The empress stroked her chest and gripped the emperor’s arm tighter. Then she hastily changed the topic.
“Come to think of it, the Duke of Radelica must be pleased. The wife he’s been waiting for has finally returned to his side. Perhaps you could bestow a congratulatory drink?”
“That’s a good idea.”
‘She seems to be scrambling to hide something.’
The empress was normally the epitome of a refined lady who maintained her dignity, but today she seemed rushed and anxious, like something was chasing her.
‘If that escort knight the attendant mentioned resembles the Marquis of La Voletta, then it must be the marquis’s illegitimate child that’s been rumored about for days.’
But why was the empress trying to prevent him from encountering the illegitimate child?
“…Go ahead. We should bestow it before the duke feels slighted, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Let’s go.”
The emperor watched with a peculiar gaze as the empress held onto him while keeping her eyes fixed on where the commotion had occurred.
* * *
Crown Prince Astrian moved toward where Ashiel and Cardel were, following the empress’s orders.
Ashiel was speaking to the girl with deep navy hair standing next to Cardel, while Cardel looked at Ashiel with an annoyed expression.
“Ashiel.”
“Brother? When did you arrive?”
“I came because it was noisy. But…”
Astrian’s steps stopped abruptly.
If the Marquis of La Voletta had transformed into a young girl, wouldn’t she look exactly like this?
The illegitimate child wearing the robe was the spitting image of the marquis.
‘She’s the prince’s escort knight, they said.’
Securing a position in the Duchy of Radelica’s knights and even becoming the prince’s escort knight—truly befitting a descendant of Kelic.
However, being a descendant of Kelic and being illegitimate were separate matters.
‘Mother sent me because she doesn’t want Father to see this child.’
That meant there was a reason the emperor shouldn’t see this face.
“I greet the Small Sun of Vesasium. Infinite glory.”
Cardel, the young marquis, and Evolaine offered formal greetings to Astrian.
“…Enough with the stiff greetings. Ashiel, I have something to discuss. Come with me for a moment.”
“Does it have to be right now?”
“Yes, so hurry and follow me.”
Astrian took the lead and urged her on, while Ashiel followed with a sigh.
As Astrian and Ashiel left, Cardel, Evolaine, and the young marquis naturally remained as a trio.
Cardel glared at the young marquis standing next to Evolaine.
He’d expected him to read the room and leave once Ashiel was gone, but for some reason he stood rooted to the spot.
The first meeting between the legitimate wife’s child and the mistress’s child.
Whatever the situation, their relationship was bound to be delicate and uncomfortable.
“Dame, let’s move.”
“Yes, Prince.”
Cardel wanted to escape this uncomfortable situation while showing consideration for Evolaine.
But the young marquis stopped them both.
“I’d like to continue our conversation, but it seems you both find this situation uncomfortable.”
His remark made it appear that Cardel and Evolaine had a problem and were leaving because of it, stopping them in their tracks.
‘There’s another snake here.’
“It seems the young marquis has questions for me.”
“…That’s correct.”
Hesion La Voletta. The Young Marquis of La Voletta.
Normally he would have just let them go, but he deliberately stopped them.
‘Because of Evolaine?’
Was he flustered from meeting the illegitimate child he’d only heard about in rumors?
Or was it because of Kelic?
Neither topic was appropriate. Especially not to bring up at a banquet.
“…The location doesn’t seem suitable, so please contact me separately.”
“…Yes.”
“Then.”
Cardel hurriedly moved with Evolaine toward where the Duchy of Radelica members were gathered.
‘Why is the young marquis stepping forward himself?’
Why would he, rumored to be weak and peace-loving?
Whatever reason prompted his actions, Cardel felt his mood souring.
His expression grew increasingly menacing until even Evolaine noticed.
“Prince? Are you alright?”
Seeing those round eyes turned toward him with an innocent face,
“…Yeah.”
Cardel deflated completely.
“…D*mn it.”
“Pardon?”
“No…, never mind.”
His head filled entirely with questions.
‘Why am I worried about Evolaine? She’s just my escort knight, isn’t she?’
She was just a skilled knight.
A rare knight with the excellent card of Kelic…
“Prince…?”
Why did she keep catching his eye and getting under his skin?
While acting completely unbothered herself.
“You—when we get back, run 50 laps around the training grounds.”
“What??”
Cardel assigned the 50-lap punishment, deposited Evolaine with Ashili and Lucia, and hastily fled.
“Oh my, Dame. Where is Cardel going?”
He heard his sister’s voice behind him asking Evolaine what happened, but Cardel focused on getting away without looking back.
However, there was something he overlooked…
“I’m not sure either. The prince didn’t say anything…”
“Hmm, I think I know why our little brother is acting this way.”
“Why is that?”
His sister had exceptional perception.
“Well…”
At the ambiguous answer, Evolaine tilted her head in confusion while Ashili opened her fan to hide her rising smile.
Her departing brother’s ears were red.
Like a single blooming red rose.
* * *
Hesion La Voletta glared at the departing Evolaine and Cardel.
‘Evolaine…’
Just an illegitimate child Father had with a gypsy.
Lucky enough to possess Kelic and be considered special, but without that, she never would have set foot here.
“……”
Why did Mother hide that child’s identity from us?
He tried to remain composed, but his sister Verit couldn’t suppress her emotions and ended up leaving early with their mother.
Hesion, who remained, had approached them to assess the situation and salvage what he could.
The First Princess taking interest in Evolaine was unexpected, though.
‘What is the First Princess plotting?’
Why would she, the most quick-footed person in the imperial family, have business with an illegitimate child…
Hesion’s thoughts stopped then.
Someone carefully grasped his arm.
“Young Marquis, do you have a moment?”
“…Lady?”
Why was the Lady of Arpi here?
He knew she’d entered the banquet today, but he hadn’t expected her to show herself.
Though momentarily confused, Hesion quickly collected himself.
‘I don’t know her purpose, but this is an opportunity.’
The Duchy of Arpi and the Marquisate of La Voletta had no connection.
Officially.
Unofficially, the two families had close ties, but since the marchioness had built them behind the marquis’s back, they usually pretended not to know each other in public.
‘She approached deliberately.’
Whether to maintain her image or advance a project.
Either way, the lady came because she wanted something from him.
Hesion smiled the way young ladies his age liked and kissed the Lady of Arpi’s hand.
“I always have time to devote to you, Lady.”
At Hesion’s answer, the Lady of Arpi smiled brightly.
Between her highly saturated red hair, crimson eyes that seemed ready to burst into flames sparkled.
“Follow me.”
The perfect predator’s gaze overwhelmed him.
An eerie feeling, like she wasn’t human, raised goosebumps on his skin.
“Yes, Lady.”
But what did it matter?
She possessed the power to help him.
Hesion followed the Lady of Arpi without hesitation.
Not knowing he’d become her prey.
* * *
The marchioness took Verit to an empty lounge.
‘That Evolaine thing definitely has a reason for coming here.’
Among many possible reasons, the most likely was the marchioness herself.
If she’d realized what had been done to her, if she’d discovered who orchestrated it all?
Naturally, she must have appeared here targeting her.
“…Mother! Let go! My wrist hurts!”
The marchioness’s steps finally stopped when Verit’s resentful cry reached her ears.
Verit’s wrist, which she’d been gripping, was completely red, and Verit wore an expression barely holding back tears.
“Wh-what have I done…”
When the flustered marchioness released her wrist, Verit clutched her swollen wrist and snapped accusingly.
“Why did we even come to the lounge, Mother? And who was that girl earlier!”
“Verit, Mother will explain. So…”
“Explain what! Anyone could see she was a girl who resembled Father. Even I thought so seeing her for the first time—do you think others would think differently? I was just excited because I thought it was a banquet to congratulate the knights returning from the expedition. I thought it would be full of joyful things. You even said you were looking forward to seeing if there might be a wonderful gentleman who could become my fiancé!”
“……”
“But…, but…!”
Verit poured out words rapid-fire before finally bursting into tears.
The fact that she’d encountered a half-sibling at a banquet of all places, combined with the marchioness’s unusual behavior, had thrown her into confusion.
“Verit, my child…”
The marchioness embraced her trembling daughter but couldn’t continue speaking.
“This mother was wrong. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
If only that child hadn’t appeared at the banquet looking so confident, her daughter and son wouldn’t have been hurt.
‘I will never forgive you.’
She would repay today’s humiliation two-fold, three-fold.
Just like her plan to lock you in an orphanage for 12 years and erase you from the world succeeded,
This time would also surely succeed.
* * *
The marchioness sent the exhausted Verit home first in a carriage, then headed to the banquet hall’s back door.
There, the empress’s trusted head maid Mael and loyal maid Haina were waiting.
“Please tell Her Majesty the Empress that I wish to see her privately.”
“…Please wait a moment.”
The head maid entered through the back door and returned shortly after to convey the empress’s response.
“She says to come to the Red Rose Palace in two days at this time.”
“…I will see Her Majesty then.”
Without further words, the marchioness boarded her carriage and returned to the estate.
When the empress, who’d been waiting inside until she left, revealed herself, the head maid and Haina knelt in respect.
“What a complete embarrassment. We’ve lost a card.”
“Will you seek another candidate?”
Another candidate. Though she hadn’t considered it, a person came to the empress’s mind—Evolaine.
‘That child always wanted to protect her family.’
Then what if she used Evolaine, who could destroy a family?
“Haina, go to the Marquisate of La Voletta.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Haina would become the shackles pressuring the marchioness publicly.
That child knew of Haina’s existence and had painfully learned whose pawn she was.
Translator
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bluemoon238
I get that FL is being portrayed as a dense character. She is also supposedly a returner going through 3 lives while remembering the 1st. Being dense with people’s emotions is not the same as losing all weariness of strangers and/or losing survival instincts. Betrayed one life already forgetting the fact and walking straight into danger. The protection and good will is due to usefulness as far as FL is concerned… and then verbally promising to leave the protection fence.