Chapter 5

“By the way, this is a big problem.”

“A big problem?”

“What should I do for fun when Zikreon comes?”

Rox, clutching his hair as if thinking gave him a headache, appeared even more serious than when discussing the Empire’s situation earlier.

Watching Rox, Audrenette’s mind became just as tangled. Seeing him already preparing to welcome Zikreon with such excitement made her anxious.

How much trouble would they cause this time?

Of course, both of them had grown up somewhat, so they probably wouldn’t cause incidents everywhere like before… Or at least she wanted to believe that. Honestly, she was worried.

…She silently wished that, since Rox was still a little immature, Zikreon would be more grown up, more mature. Audrenette unconsciously clasped her hands together and prayed earnestly in her heart. How many years had she spent cleaning up after them just because she was close?

She was too tired, both physically and mentally, to keep worrying about them now.

She might not be able to gently reason with them as she used to.

…Maybe something other than words would come out first.

Unlike the cheerful Rox, fatigue steadily settled over Audrenette’s face. She hadn’t even seen Zikreon arrive yet, just heard the news of his return… but she already felt as exhausted as if she’d spent several sleepless nights.

＊＊＊

Had it been three weeks since Hussian last visited Heden Mansion? A letter arrived for her.

“……”

Audrenette quietly looked down at the neat, orderly handwriting on the fine paper. It was an invitation from Hussian; the date written below was two days later, the time was early evening.

As she gently traced his signature with her fingertips, she felt emotions she thought were dulled rise up again. Would she have felt less miserable if she couldn’t read and didn’t know what was written on this paper? It was a pointless thought. She had already read everything.

Hussian didn’t like parties or even small gatherings much. He only attended when necessary. For him to personally invite people to his mansion meant there was only one reason.

[Dear Audrenette. If you have time, I sincerely hope you will attend and grace the occasion.]

She didn’t know how many times she’d read this short sentence, worried she might have misread it.

What was he thinking when he sent this to her? Audrenette, her mind clouded, blinked blankly.

She hadn’t expressed it in words. But from her expression when she saw him, her eyes, her voice, her actions… He must have seen her true feelings. No, he surely knew.

It was truly a cruel act.

The disappointment she had tried to ignore, the love rusting away inside her, the anger and resentment she couldn’t voice—all piled up.

“…It’s too much.”

This was, surely, like dealing with someone she hated.

He tore open wounds that had barely begun to heal. Audrenette bit her trembling lips and pressed her hot forehead with her palm, taking a deep breath.

Since he had personally signed and sent the invitation, she had to attend unless she had a very important prior engagement. But her pride wouldn’t allow her to hastily make another appointment now. She didn’t want to look like she was running away.

She wanted to just burn it and pretend she never saw it… but she knew she couldn’t.

No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t come up with a solution. She felt anxiety creeping up her legs.

Could she stand there and pretend to be fine when she saw the two of them together? Even choosing a dress for the occasion would be agony. What if her face twisted as soon as she saw them? What if someone noticed?

Every imagined scenario ended with him turning away from her, holding the hand of a fiancée whose face she hadn’t even seen.

Even if she saw another woman by his side, she honestly didn’t think she could act calm. She was forcing herself to endure because wasting another day felt so foolish, but not even a month had passed. It was nowhere near enough time to sort out her feelings. They weren’t so shallow that she could just let go, nor so light that they would dry up quickly.

Two days. Just two days.

She couldn’t possibly do in that time what she hadn’t managed so far.

Audrenette agonized over it until sunset, again and again. But no good solution came to mind.

＊＊＊

“…I have an appointment two evenings from now.”

Audrenette spoke as she slowly finished her well-prepared dinner in the dining room. She felt resigned. The invitation didn’t mention it was an engagement party, so she could just say she was invited, but for some reason, her lips wouldn’t open.

“Two days from now?”

While Audrenette hesitated, Rox frowned and muttered.

“Rene, did you forget? There’s something important happening then.”

“Something important?”

“Wow, did you really forget?”

“Rox.”

Unable to ignore her son raising his voice at the dinner table, their mother, Leira, sharply rebuked him.

“No matter if it’s just family at the table, what kind of attitude is that?”

“No, it’s not that. Mother, listen. Since it’s come up, everyone should hear this.”

Not wanting to be scolded, Rox quickly calmed down and raised both hands to get everyone’s attention. Thanks to him, Earl Heden also had to look up from his meal to face his son.

“Some of you may know… That day. Zikreon is coming back.”

His gentle voice and almost reverent gesture made him look like a prophet delivering a prophecy.

“Oh, really? I heard he was coming back…”

With Madam Heden’s attention now on Zikreon’s return, Rox was saved from further scolding and turned triumphantly to Audrenette. Now she understood—this was the important event.

“…Zikreon coming back is one thing, but why is that such an important event?”

“A welcoming party.”

Still not understanding, Audrenette stared at Rox with wide eyes. Rox straightened up and explained again.

“Of course we should clear our schedules that day and attend Zikreon’s welcoming party.”

“Hm. I haven’t heard anything about a separate welcoming party.”

Earl Heden trailed off, replying to Rox. In fact, the news of their return was top secret, known only to the Emperor, Crown Prince, and a handful of high nobles.

He’d been especially careful not to mention it to Rox.

Yet here was his son, somehow knowing all about it and talking like it was his own business. Earl Heden’s eyes narrowed, but Rox’s voice grew louder as if on cue.

“Yes. I heard there’s no official welcoming party, just a personal reward. So shouldn’t we do it ourselves, Father? After all the hardship he endured in a faraway land, even if it can’t be a grand party, we should at least give him a warm meal.”

“…We should?”

Earl Heden, taken aback by Rox’s confidence, could only mutter. It was more a soliloquy than a reply.

“Yes!”

“So, Rox, you’re saying that since there’s no separate welcoming party for Zikreon—Earl Berkif—our family should do it. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

He grinned and spoke confidently. For some reason, that confidence made Earl Heden feel stifled.

He’d watched his son for over twenty years, spent as much time as possible with him, and poured out love raising him.

But he still didn’t understand Rox at times.

“…Where should we…”

“Where else, Father? Here, of course.”

Annoyed by Earl Heden’s slow, thoughtful reply, Rox answered quickly, even pounding his chest.

To sum up: the welcoming party would be held at Heden Mansion, and the four people present would prepare and attend it…

The important thing was that, except for Rox, none of them knew this. If Audrenette hadn’t mentioned her schedule at dinner, they would have found out on the day itself.

“Rox.”

Madam Heden sighed, trying to understand her son, and called him gently.

“Think about it logically. Of course… I know it’s a difficult request for you.”

She set her knife down solemnly, knowing it would take significant effort to persuade him.

“Zikreon… I mean, Earl Berkif, on the evening of his return from Atia, don’t you think he should dine at the Imperial Palace with His Majesty and His Highness, rather than at Heden Mansion with us…?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Zikreon said he’d come here first as soon as he arrived.”

Of course.

Through the conversation between wife and son, Earl Heden realized where and how the secret had leaked, but he wasn’t surprised. Instead, his head ached and he had to ask the servant for a glass of cold water.

“That’s not the important part, Rox. Even if you want to do this…”

Feeling she couldn’t handle it alone, Madam Heden sent a pleading look to Audrenette. Normally, Audrenette would have just tapped her lips with a finger and frowned without saying a word. But given her situation…

Audrenette subtly avoided her gaze and inwardly urged Rox on.