Chapter 2

The Empress glared at Iana with a look of disbelief and said,

“My Lady, what is the meaning of this? You want to build a railway from the Duchy to Colmar? Just how little do you think of the Empire, coming from a mere Duchy—unbelievable! That’s not even a matter of money!”

The Empress, unable to argue logically, kept repeating exclamations and shook her head. It was exactly the reaction Iana had expected. Still smiling, Iana replied,

“If you don’t like it, you can simply refuse.”

After finishing her words, Iana glanced at Karl, who still had his head buried in the corner of the room. The Empress’s gaze followed Iana’s to Karl’s turned back. Unconsciously, her hand moved to her chest. His handsome looks remained, but his now thin body made his protruding spine visible through his shirt. His once dazzling golden hair had lost its shine and looked dry, and his skinny, crouched legs and sharply jutting ankle bones revealed how serious Karl’s condition was.

The Empress tightly closed her eyes and then opened them again. Even if he went to Colmar, there was no guarantee he would recover, so she knew that simply sending Iana Marseille away was the most rational decision. But now, there really were no options left. Healers, pharmacists, magicians, astrologers. She had tried everything possible, enduring the Emperor’s harsh stares.

Her son, once her pride and the Empire’s treasure, had lost his light and fallen into ruin in an instant, yet no one seemed to care. At first, even the Emperor worried and searched for famous healers, but as the illness showed no improvement and dragged on, he became visibly annoyed. The people were the same. The daily bouquets and medicines that used to arrive now stopped coming altogether a few days ago.

People were forgetting Frederick Karl Gosling.

In truth, the Empire had several Princes besides Frederick Karl Gosling, and especially Emmanuel, born to the Second Consort, possessed beauty and swordsmanship skills equal to Karl’s. His temperament was also said to be gentle, and some even said that if the Second Consort’s family had been just a bit more influential, Emmanuel would have already become Crown Prince.

So, wasn’t the future obvious? The tragic Prince Frederick Karl Gosling would be forgotten. And if Emmanuel ever became Crown Prince, Karl would become a thorn in his side and be assassinated. The Empress could not stand by and watch that happen.

The Empress made up her mind and looked at Iana. The woman who had so persistently chased after Karl until recently now entered this room with an indifferent expression, as if nothing had ever happened. At the last ball, her burning eyes and flushed cheeks had made even the Empress uncomfortable. Now, the Empress almost missed those days, and could only smack her lips in regret.

“But, Lady, do you truly have no interest in Karl anymore?”

“Yes. Not even a little.”

The answer was so flat and decisive that it was almost embarrassing for the one asking. Ahem. The Empress cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Very well. As you wish, a railway will be built from the Duchy to Colmar. Please take good care of Karl.”

‘No, this wasn’t it.’

Iana’s brow furrowed slightly. She had expected her answer to be rejected, yet the Empress just said ‘very well’ and agreed. Iana, who had been waiting to be thrown out in a rage, steadied herself and spoke again.

“I know this isn’t something you alone can decide, Empress. Once you have the Emperor’s permission and all the necessary documents from the Imperial Palace, please contact me again.”

It was true that the Emperor’s permission was required. Unless the Emperor was a fool, there was no way he would allow a railway from the Duchy to Colmar to be built right through Imperial land. This time, Iana thought, the Empress would finally show a troubled face and refuse. However—

“So be it. I’ll have everything ready within a few days.”

The Empress even nodded her head, complying without resistance. Even though all her demands had been accepted, Iana looked a little taken aback. This time, she turned to Karl and spoke.

“Colmar is a resort, not a sanatorium or a treatment center. I must repeat, I am not a healer either. In His Highness’s state, he will clearly need several attendants, but as you may know, Colmar restricts the number of servants.”

“Still, he is of the Imperial Family. Shouldn’t at least dozens of people accompany him?”

When the Empress spoke with an annoyed expression, a satisfied smile appeared on Iana’s face.

“Even for the Imperial Family, only up to three are allowed. For royalty, two; for nobles, one. Commoners are not allowed any attendants, without exception. So, given His Highness’s current state, it would be difficult to accept him in Colmar.”

‘Please send him only after he’s been treated enough to move and live daily life on his own.’ 

As Iana finished speaking, the Empress unconsciously gripped the armrest of her chair tightly. Even when healthy, the Imperial Family usually kept dozens of attendants—where did she come up with such a ridiculous restriction? Besides, if Karl weren’t ill, there’d be no reason to send him all the way to distant Colmar in the first place.

Everything she had endured and yielded so far was for Karl’s sake. But now, Iana Marseille was going too far, almost as if she was shunning Karl. How dare she! As the Empress, furious, was about to pick up the teacup in front of her and throw it at Iana, a warm hand gently wrapped around her own.

“Mother.”

The Empress’s eyes widened. The sickly face from just moments ago was gone, and though he was a bit thinner, Karl now looked like his old self. His complexion was tinged with blue, his shirt—clearly tailored to fit him—now hung loose, and his dry hair still showed he hadn’t fully recovered. But his eyes were clear again, and, most importantly, she heard him call her”Mother.” The Empress covered her mouth and wept silent tears. Karl—her Karl—had returned.

The astrologer’s words were right. Iana Marseille must be the noble one destined to save Karl. Just by being in the same room for a short time, she had shown such healing power. If Karl went to Colmar for a period of rest and treatment, he would surely return to his former self in no time.

The Empress jumped up from her seat. The sudden movement pushed the table, and the teacup she had just been about to throw at Iana lost its balance and tumbled away.

“My Lady, y-you saw Karl, didn’t you?”

The Empress grasped Iana’s hands with both of hers and pressed them to her forehead in gratitude. She didn’t even notice how sullen Iana’s expression was.

“Karl stood up and spoke. He looked at me and called me ‘Mother.’ This is a miracle. Whatever you ask for, My Lady, I will grant it. Just say the word. Anything.”

That fox-like Prince Karl was definitely going to come to Colmar. Iana, with her head slightly bowed, glared at Karl. The servants, overcome with emotion, covered their mouths and teared up, and some ran outside to spread the news. It was already clear what would be on the front page of tonight’s newspaper.

‘Miracle! Iana Marseille heals Prince Karl!’

The Empire would go wild over a story that was nothing like the truth, rewritten into something thrilling and sensational. And the peaceful, leisurely life she had so longed for would flutter away into the distance.

As she glared, Karl secretly flashed her a bright smile.

‘That little brat!’

He hadn’t seemed like this at first. The image of Frederick Karl Gosling as a beautiful and gentle Prince was clearly a lie. Iana felt a headache coming on.

* * *

Iana Marseille was not Iana Marseille. She herself could not explain exactly how this had happened.

How had Alis Remaxion, the 87-year-old Marquis, suddenly become the 18-year-old Iana Marseille?

She had just been enjoying the ball.

“Your Lordship, what do you think will be in fashion this autumn?”

“Every autumn, it’s always silk dresses in subtle colors, isn’t it? The same old story.”

Alis had recently purchased a large quantity of silk said to be made from bamboo from the Eastern Continent. They had just begun making prototypes, so it wasn’t widely known yet, but it was easy to dye in luxurious colors. The texture was a bit coarse, but in chilly autumn, such a fabric would sell better than something that clung or drooped. While Alis just smiled silently, a discussion about the season’s fashionable autumn fabrics broke out nearby.

‘Instead of standing around here, they’d know much better if they just went home and asked their wives.’

Rumors were already spreading among the noble ladies, so if these men just asked their wives or daughters, they’d get a proper answer. Alis looked around at the men whose eyes sparkled as they gazed at her, as if she were some lifeline that would make them all rich. Inwardly, Alis scoffed.