144. What Cannot Be Given Up

As Larael had instructed, Herwen returned quietly to his residence. Upon arrival, he was informed that Ariella was waiting for him in the reception room, and he went there at once.

Seeing Ariella, his face brightened with rare delight as he stood before her.

“Ariella!! I’ve missed you.”

At Herwen’s affectionate words, Ariella looked at him warily. He opened his arms to embrace her, but she stepped back cautiously.

“Your Grace, what are you doing?”

Though Ariella spoke sharply, displeasure plain on her face, Herwen paid her no mind and pulled her tightly into his arms. Ariella did not push him away; she simply allowed him to do as he pleased.

“Ariella, let me meet Duke Nox.”

Herwen stroked her back gently as he whispered. Ariella eased him away with an expression that said she had expected this.

“In fact, Father asked me to convey his regards, which is why I came here.”

“Duke Nox?”

Herwen’s eyes widened in surprise. Ariella smirked faintly at his feigned confusion and lowered her gaze.

“Yes. We’re planning to spend the winter at the duchy. Before we depart, Father wished me to deliver his greetings.”

“Ariella, what are you saying?”

Herwen frowned and snapped at her.

“What else could I mean? Did you not hear me? We’ll be staying at the duchy for the time being. Since the estate lies in the south, haven’t we often spent winters there?”

“But winter is nearly over… and this is the first I’ve heard of you going there. What you really mean is that you plan to stand back and watch the situation unfold, isn’t it? That you intend to retreat?”

At his words, Ariella lifted her head with feigned nonchalance, eyes fixed on the air above.

“If I must step back two paces, then I must step back two paces. Why? Is there a problem?”

“You’re the problem, Ariella.”

Ariella pressed her lips together in a tight smile, then slowly nodded, as though in reluctant agreement.

“How did things end up like this, Your Grace?”

“Ariella, just let me see Duke Nox. With both Mother and Duke Anderman unreachable, I’m in a very difficult position.”

“The moment Your Grace began to act on your own without consulting me, our symbiotic relationship was broken.”

“Ariella, we’re engaged. My survival is tied to yours.”

“Relationships between men and women are unpredictable, aren’t they? You and Her Highness the Empress Consort were once betrothed too, but now you’re worse than strangers. Ah! But Your Grace won’t admit it, will you? Let me be blunt. Doesn’t what belongs to others always seem greater? Do you think I don’t know you harbor feelings for Larael Hedway? I’m not a fool. After all these years together, do you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“……”

Herwen, who seemed on the verge of making excuses, closed his mouth tightly and stared at her without expression. Ariella felt as though he had acknowledged what he never wanted to admit.

It was something she had long dreamed of since childhood—that the place at his side would be hers. Yet now everything felt empty. The humiliating emotions she had suppressed rose bitterly from the depths of her chest.

She had withdrawn from the world, choosing not to appear, and yet everything had gone awry. Herwen, strutting about as if he alone were the best, stirring trouble here and there, suddenly seemed pitiful. In the end, he had achieved nothing. He looked as fragile as a candle before the wind. And he made even her feel miserable.

“Ha… at this point, should I just marry that useless invalid emperor instead?”

Ariella sighed deeply, raising her eyes with a scornful mutter. But it was a mutter meant to be heard, and Herwen could not possibly have missed it. His gaze flashed sharply as he suddenly seized her right arm in a fierce grip.

“I told you not to speak carelessly, didn’t I?”

Ariella let out a derisive laugh as she yanked her arm free. Yet his grip had been so tight that his hand still clung to her, the pressure on her arm only tightening. His lips moved as his eyes bored into her.

Their gazes clashed in midair, locked for a long, tense moment. It was Herwen who finally broke the standoff. He released her arm and dropped his gaze.

“Fine. Go down to the duchy. Stay there until matters are resolved.”

His voice came suddenly weak, his expression pained. Ariella rubbed her arm with her opposite hand, staring at him in silence.

“……”

In the awkward silence, Ariella finally offered the most courteous bow she could manage, then left to board the carriage waiting outside the residence. With a brisk clatter, the carriage began to roll away.

Ariella’s mind was tangled with conflicting thoughts. If there had been a clear answer, she would have followed it. But Herwen seemed shrouded in an impenetrable fog. And yet…

“Wait.”

“Shall I stop the carriage, my lady?”

“Turn back to the residence.”

Just after leaving, her carriage returned to the grand duke’s estate. Ariella alighted and went back to the reception room where she had parted from Herwen.

Herwen stood motionless, staring at her as she entered again, as though he had known all along that she would come back.

“I will try to arrange a meeting with His Grace. But don’t expect too much.”

Ariella spoke in a resigned tone, her eyes half-lidded. Even if it was the Duke of Nox, there was no real way to turn this situation around.

“Ariella, I know the Duke of Nox acts according to your will.”

“That is why I said I would try to persuade my father, isn’t it? But may I ask—what kind of plan does Your Grace have? I would like to hear it at least once.”

“Ariella, what do you think?”

“It’s been quite a while since you last asked for my opinion.”

Ariella gave a bitter smile, lowering her gaze before continuing.

“I believe the first thing we must do is remove Larael Hedway. If you think about it, everything has gone wrong because of her.”

“Ariella, that’s excessive. Larael is…”

“Please stop pretending she is some naïve country girl who knows nothing. You already know it yourself, don’t you? She will never return to you.”

Herwen pressed his lips together and furrowed his brow. Hearing an unpleasant truth from someone else was never a good feeling. And the fact that it was Ariella saying it made it all the more unbearable.

“Enough talk about Larael.”

“Didn’t you just ask for my opinion?”

“Arrange a meeting with the Duke of Nox. After that, I will take care of the rest.”

Though displeased, Ariella nodded. Since the carriage had already turned back, there was nothing she could do.

***

Edward wanted water. His throat was parched, burning with dryness.

He strained desperately to lift his heavy eyelids, fighting to open them. His eyelids began to tremble as though in spasm. Beside his body, which lay perfectly straight, his pale fingers twitched ever so slightly.

Edward was struggling to escape, thrashing as if he were trapped inside a shipwreck, sinking into the depths after colliding with the raging storms of unconsciousness.

Sadly, no one noticed his desperate effort. It was midnight, and Larael was at his desk, absorbed in reviewing documents she had not yet managed to read. She stretched, leaning back against her chair. Piles of documents still covered the desk, never seeming to diminish. She couldn’t help but feel respect—how on earth had Edward managed to handle all this work without rest?

Larael gazed absently at the flames in the fireplace, lost in thought, before turning her head toward Edward’s bed.

A strange sensation crawled up her spine. Larael tilted her head slightly, staring at Edward’s bed.

“Is it because it’s a little cold that I’m shivering?”