Chapter 72. Resting Here

What kind of person was Theresia Rubel?

I quietly pondered in the moving carriage. Enoch, sitting across from me with his legs crossed in a careless manner, stared out the window. Today, his expression was particularly indifferent, and his gaze was as cold as frost.

To avoid disturbing his mood, which was undoubtedly sharper than usual, I even breathed carefully.

‘He seemed fine when he first woke up…….’

It seemed the problem started after he received that letter with an unknown sender. Who could have sent it? Former King William? Or someone mourning Theresia?

‘If it’s someone who deeply mourns Theresia…… it must be Margrave Rubel…….’

Margrave Adonis Rubel was Theresia’s older brother. Given their close sibling relationship, he wouldn’t hesitate to come to the capital to mourn his sister.

Though I wasn’t sure, it seemed Enoch cared about the Margrave to some extent. He didn’t even blink when Former King William spoke, but he changed his decision after receiving that letter.

‘It’s probably best not to say anything now…….’

I was curious about what had happened between Enoch and his mother, but I suppressed my curiosity. I couldn’t force someone to talk about something they didn’t want to.

So, I sat quietly for a long time, endlessly gazing at the rainy cityscape. By the time the carriage finally stopped, the rain had lessened.

I pulled the hood of my waterproof coat over my head and got off the carriage. Enoch, who had already gotten off and was waiting, held my hand. Despite the chilly weather, his hand was as warm as a heater.

Thinking about how his high body temperature was like a cat’s, a smile crept onto my lips.

We slowly walked towards the royal cemetery. Jasmine followed closely behind us, holding a large umbrella.

She didn’t care that her shoulders were getting wet while shielding us with the umbrella, which worried me. I hoped she wouldn’t catch a cold.

When we arrived at the cemetery, someone who had arrived earlier was waiting for us. As soon as they saw us, they bowed deeply and greeted us with a solemn demeanor.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived. It’s been a long time. And the lady beside you must be Miss Ellenore Lopez. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He appeared to be around the same age as Former King William but had a more mature expression and gaze. More than anything, he exuded a sharp atmosphere like a well-honed blade.

I was almost certain this was Margrave Rubel when Enoch’s low, calm voice confirmed it.

“It’s been a while, Uncle. I didn’t expect you to come to the capital again this year. It would have been nice if you had informed me beforehand.”

Though his tone was subtly sharp, it didn’t feel rude. It was rather polite and formal. There was a clear difference from how he treated Former King William.

Back then, he felt truly reckless.

“Theresia was my only sister. As her anniversary approaches, I will come to the capital every year. It’s unfortunate that she chose to be buried in the royal cemetery instead of our hometown. It must have been because of Your Highness.”

“…….”

Enoch’s face remained expressionless. Though the rain had stopped, the sky was still filled with dark clouds, and the gray tombstones in the cemetery exuded a bleak atmosphere.

It might have been my imagination, but this place felt colder than anywhere else. As if ghosts with lingering attachments to life were wandering around.

I rubbed my arms and hunched my shoulders. Indeed, going out on a rainy day wasn’t a good idea. On such days, one should stay cozy and safe indoors. Rainy scenery is only romantic when viewed through a window……

Shivering in the cold, Enoch’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. He pulled me close with one arm.

When I looked up at him, his eyes seemed to ask if I was cold. I shook my head in response, but he still took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

Whenever he took care of me like this, my heart ached a little. ……It wasn’t a good thing.

“You… you didn’t attend the memorial service, did you?”

“Of course, Uncle did.”

“Yes. I attended quietly without making my presence known.”

We began walking through the cemetery. Margrave Rubel conversed with Enoch while casting a peculiar gaze at me.

Though I felt uneasy under his inscrutable gaze, I didn’t show it and matched Enoch’s pace.

After walking for about two or three minutes, we arrived at Theresia Rubel’s tombstone. The tombstone read: Here lies the noble Lady of the House of Rubel, the revered consort of King William Frederick, Theresia Rubel.

And in front of the tombstone, there was a mountain of flowers. All left by people mourning Theresia Rubel.

Among them, a bouquet with a blue ribbon stood out. The ribbon had the following words embroidered in gold thread:

[Waiting for the day I can join you. Forever loving you, William.]

……It was undoubtedly a bouquet left by Former King William.

A glance at Enoch’s face showed a displeased expression, and Margrave Rubel’s was similar. Enoch muttered irritably.

“The old fool, acting pitiful without any shame despite his age.”

……I had no right to comment, but the phrase ‘forever loving you’ embroidered on the ribbon seemed problematic. After all, Former King William had an official queen.

The children of that queen were King Henry and the three siblings Julian and Roelyn. Even if it was an ‘unofficial’ act, Former King William’s…… yes, as Enoch put it, ‘pitiful act’ could easily provoke those who supported King Henry.

‘That faction is already hostile towards Enoch…….’

In the increasingly somber atmosphere, Enoch received flowers from Jasmine and placed them in front of the tombstone. After a brief moment of silence, he turned around.

Surprised, I quickly placed my flowers and took a longer moment of silence than Enoch. Though I had nothing to say in my heart, three minutes was my limit……

Since Margrave Rubel had already finished his mourning, there was no need to wait for his turn. After completing the memorial, we left the cemetery. We walked faster than when we arrived because Enoch, who was leading the way, was almost running.

‘Ah, I’m out of breath…….’

Though I was out of breath, I tried hard to appear fine, not wanting to show an unsightly appearance. My long dress and boots were dirty with mud.

“Are you staying at the townhouse while in the capital?”

“Well, actually, I plan to return immediately. My territory borders Atreos, so I can’t neglect its surveillance.”

“Knowing that, you abandoned your duties and came to the capital just to attend your sister’s memorial?”

“Abandoned? That’s nonsense. My son Endymion is acting as the head in my stead. He’s a promising child. I hope Your Highness will also get along well with my children.”

“That’s even more nonsense.”

Enoch laughed cynically, then politely bid farewell to Margrave Rubel before pulling me away. I hastily bid Margrave Rubel goodbye and was promptly led away by Enoch.

The whole way here, and even now, Enoch’s mood had seemed bad, making me uneasy. When someone like that is around, one tends to be cautious. Instead of talking or making small talk as usual, I kept my mouth shut and stayed quiet.

But it seemed Enoch didn’t like that.

“Why are you so quiet?”

“……Should I talk?”

“Yeah. Chatter a bit.”

Chatter…… Though I was displeased with his arrogant tone and choice of words, I didn’t show it and spoke again. Since he seemed to want small talk, I decided to oblige.

“Your Highness, do you like poetry?”

Enoch paused momentarily, halfway into the carriage, and stared at me. I was already seated inside.

Clicking his tongue briefly, he lightly jumped into the carriage and answered.

“Seems like you peeked at the poetry book in my armchair.”

“I didn’t peek, I just looked. You didn’t exactly hide it.”

“You’re the one who snuck into my room. Even into the room of someone sleeping n*ked―”

“That’s……! It’s Your Highness’s fault for sleeping n*ked……!”

……I stopped, thinking I might be too cheeky. Enoch chuckled softly and, for some reason, sat down next to me. I widened my eyes and scooted closer to the window to distance myself from him.

He watched me closely and began to speak.

“……I sometimes wonder, Ellen.”

“What…….”

“If you’ll still be so reserved even after we’ve spent our first night together.”

“…….”

I felt like retorting, but I couldn’t think of anything to say, so I just glared at him. Enoch only laughed mockingly at me.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“……About what.”

“Why I dislike my mother.”

Startled by the sudden change in topic, I widened my eyes. Enoch’s hand slowly reached out, grabbed my waist, and pulled me closer.

Momentarily flustered by the proximity, he wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my shoulder.

With a hot breath, he whispered in a low voice.

“I hate that damned royal cemetery, Ellen.”

“…….”

“Even if I die, I won’t be buried there, next to my mother. I’d rather be buried at sea……”

……Buried at sea.

That single word made my body stiffen.

In contrast, my heart started pounding like a hummingbird’s wings. The word ‘buried at sea’ seemed to act as some sort of catalyst.