Chapter 34

“Since I’ve heard nothing useful from you, Duke, I had no choice but to act personally.”

The Emperor’s voice carried a sense of pride. 

“There seems to be news about the Princess of Kettlin.”

“What?” 

Eric reflexively questioned. 

That couldn’t be true.

He had strongly suspected Euphrasia of being the Princess of Kettlin. However, he hadn’t reported this to the Emperor, uncertain of how the Emperor might use the Princess’s existence. In some ways, the Emperor’s rebuke about not doing his best was accurate. Moreover, it was still just circumstantial evidence. There was no definitive proof that she was the Princess of Kettlin, so Eric had held off on making a final judgment.

But what did it mean that the Emperor had already found the Princess? Could it be that he had discovered Euphrasia’s true identity?

While Eric was grappling with confusion, Carian added further explanation. 

“Go to the slums near the capital’s borders. Search for traces of Prince Leopold.”

Eric quickly collected himself. 

Slums? Whatever the Emperor had discovered, it seemed unrelated to Euphrasia. 

Bowing silently, Eric swiftly left the audience chamber.

“Once you find her, bring her back safely and discreetly. This is an imperial command.” 

The Emperor’s stern voice followed him as he exited.

Slums, Princess of Kettlin.

Muttering these contradictory words under his breath, Eric crossed the imperial palace with a dark expression.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Emperor’s information network. On the contrary, he trusted it deeply, which only added to his confusion. Within the Empire, there was no place beyond Carian’s reach. If he claimed to have found clues about the Princess in the slums, it was likely true. 

Then what about Euphrasia? Did this mean she wasn’t the Princess of Kettlin? If so, why was Leopold by her side?

Determined to head to the slums immediately, Eric quickened his pace. Just then, a long shadow blocked his path, forcing him to stop abruptly. One of his eyebrows shot up in irritation.

Thud!

A dull metallic sound echoed as something collided with the ground. Eric looked down and saw a blunt training sword lying at his feet. These types of swords were commonly used for friendly sparring among knights and soldiers for safety purposes. Eric was familiar with them, as he often oversaw the training of the ducal private soldiers.

The shadow blocking his path seemed to have come to retrieve the training sword. Judging by the uniform adorned with a large sun emblem, the individual appeared to be a member of the Imperial Knight Order.

The person quickly bent down to pick up the sword and, upon noticing Eric, greeted him loudly. 

“Duke Herrington? Greetings, Sir!”

The knight had a strikingly handsome face. His salute was sharp, his posture firm, and his smile stretched confidently upward. His gaze burned with admiration for Eric. It was a look Eric was all too familiar with; there wasn’t a knight in the Empire who didn’t respect him, a Sword Master.

Eric gave the knight a half-hearted nod before shifting his gaze elsewhere. Nearby, the outdoor training grounds of the Imperial Palace were bustling with activity, more lively than usual.

It didn’t take long for Eric to identify the reason. Among the familiar uniforms of the Imperial Knight Order were individuals dressed in unfamiliar, scanty attire. They were engaging in sparring, chatting in groups, and laughing loudly, their camaraderie evident.

“The delegation from Kettlin. Are they holding a friendly sparring session?” 

“That’s correct, Sir!” 

The knight responded immediately to Eric’s rhetorical remark. 

“Though our nationalities differ, we share the common goal of honing our martial skills for the sake of our countries. Surprisingly, we’ve found much in common.”

Eric frowned slightly as the knight continued to block his path, his cheerful demeanor unrelenting.

‘A delegation composed primarily of knights rather than administrators?’ 

Eric thought. It seemed their true purpose was to search for the Princess. 

How could the Imperial Knight Order mingle so freely with individuals harboring such ulterior motives? Did they lack even the minimum level of vigilance?

Eric’s eyebrow twitched in frustration.

“Sir Isaac! Come quickly! Surely you’re not going to give up because you’re scared?” 

“Ah, Sir Albert! Just a moment! I’ll be right there!” 

A playful voice rang out from the training grounds. The speaker was a plump knight from the Kingdom of Kettlin. Responding cheerfully, Isaac turned to Eric and bowed respectfully. He appeared oblivious to Eric’s displeasure, his expression bright and carefree.

“I’ve been meaning to meet you, Duke Herrington. I wanted to ask how my sister is doing. Of course, she’s such a good girl that I trust she’s doing well wherever she is.”

“Wait, your sister?” 

Eric’s eyes narrowed.

Isaac? Isaac Olden? 

Eric was already aware that the eldest son of the Count Olden family was a member of the Imperial Knight Order. After all, Devonie had been blatantly using Euphrasia to advance her son’s career. It was impossible not to know who Isaac was, though Eric had never sought him out personally.

Now, Eric scrutinized the knight before him. Isaac’s tall, clean-cut appearance was trustworthy and likable at first glance. However, his overly bright eyes gave off a naïve and immature impression. 

Isaac seemed like a young master who had grown up sheltered, untouched by the hardships of the world. Despite being raised in the same household during the same period, Isaac’s upbringing appeared to have been vastly different from Euphrasia’s. 

This stark contrast only deepened Eric’s already tangled emotions.

“My wife has nothing to do with your family, Count Olden.” 

Eric said coldly.

“Ah, well…” 

Isaac faltered.

“Sister? Your mother publicly disowned Euphrasia not long ago. Isn’t this a bit ridiculous?”

Isaac’s cheerful expression darkened slightly at Eric’s cutting remarks.

“But Duke Herrington, Euphrasia is someone I’ve cared for deeply and genuinely for over twenty years. I believe we’re bonded by a connection stronger than blood.”

“Ha!” 

Eric scoffed, unable to hide his disbelief. The response was shamelessly bold.

From Devonie to Isaac Olden, the entire family seemed adept at interpreting situations to suit their own narrative, changing their stance as circumstances demanded.

Eric vividly remembered the first time he met Euphrasia at the founding ball. Her subdued presence, hesitant demeanor, and repeated questions about carriage rentals. 

And then—

“I’m an illegitimate child born outside of marriage.”  

She had revealed her origins matter-of-factly after they spent the night together.

Euphrasia had consistently exuded a sense of resignation and suppression, traits common among those accustomed to living in despair. Her low self-esteem and lethargy seemed ingrained, as though she had grown used to them.

‘That’s why I assumed she had ulterior motives.’

Eric’s initial impression of Euphrasia resurfaced. He had pegged her as someone willing to use her beauty and feigned innocence to escape her dire circumstances—a logical method for anyone trapped in a living hell.

‘But now…’

Eric shook his head, dispelling his thoughts about Euphrasia. Initially suspicious of her motives, he had forced her to stay at the Ducal estate to observe her intentions. 

Despite everything that had happened between them, if he were to evaluate their emotional exchanges solely for the sake of understanding her sincerity—

‘There haven’t been any meaningful results.’

In fact, their interactions had often been negative, with only a few rare moments of positivity. He had imprisoned her against her will, and she had resisted by harming herself. He had taken her to the ball under the guise of the Elixir of Truth, only to change his plans arbitrarily.

Yet, throughout these events, Eric’s suspicion and wariness toward Euphrasia had gradually faded. While the sense of betrayal hadn’t entirely disappeared, it had diminished significantly compared to when they first met.

At some point, the malicious intent that had once consumed him vanished. He no longer found pleasure in tormenting her. Instead, a different, more confusing emotion took its place—one that was difficult to describe.

He found himself increasingly curious, concerned, considerate, watchful, and aware of her, without fully understanding why.

This ambiguous feeling defied explanation.