150. Escalating Conflict

Edward headed toward the reception room where Herwen was waiting. Although he smiled at Larael as if nothing was wrong, telling her not to worry, his face gradually hardened as he moved farther from the bedroom. By the time he entered the reception room where Herwen was waiting, Edward’s face was enveloped in coldness.

“Brother!!”

Seeing Edward enter the reception room, Herwen called out to him in an excessively welcoming voice and half rose from his seat. Edward slowly passed him by with an expressionless face. Though his steps were slow, he walked steadily to the sofa and sat down.

“Your Majesty, I’m truly relieved that you’ve recovered. You don’t know how worried I’ve been!”

“Herwen, let’s dispense with unnecessary greetings when our mother is in such a state. Tell me why you’ve been so persistently seeking me.”

Edward said coldly. At his words, Herwen’s excessively cheerful expression instantly disappeared. The sound of Edward’s labored breathing echoed softly in the quiet reception room. Seeing this, Herwen gave a small snort and lowered his eyes.

“Brother, I’m hurt. Since I’ve seen that you’ve safely recovered, I’ll stop asking after your health as you wish. Don’t you know why I’ve been so desperately trying to see you?”

“It must be because of Mother?”

“You know well. Don’t you also know that Mother isn’t the type of person who would…”

“No, I don’t know.”

Edward immediately countered.

“What will happen if you turn your back on Mother? No, is this how you repay the person who raised you? By carelessly suspecting her? You are truly cold-hearted.”

This had always been Herwen’s way of speaking. He would turn the tables and attack Edward instead. And now it was time to appeal to Edward’s emotions by emphasizing how he had suffered because of Edward. Edward had never doubted whether Herwen had actually suffered. At least until recently.

“Since childhood, I’ve yielded everything to you.”

“No, you didn’t yield anything. You simply couldn’t have it. Because you lacked the ability.”

Normally, this would be the point where Edward would feel uncomfortable and reluctantly grant Herwen’s request. It was uncertain whether this would work given his increasingly cold attitude, but Herwen had to try every method. However, Edward’s response was more unexpected than he thought. A flash of murderous intent momentarily crossed Herwen’s face, which had been expressing indignation, before disappearing.

“Brother, if it had been someone other than Mother in the same situation, they would have already poisoned you during that time when you were isolated from the outside. But the fact that she didn’t means she had no such intention.”

“If she had no such intention, she wouldn’t have brought poison at all. Isn’t that what common sense would suggest? Herwen, you’re too emotional. How can you govern the North like that?”

“……”

Herwen felt a strange sensation creeping up his spine. He couldn’t tell whether Edward was speaking with knowledge or just saying things, but Herwen felt something squeezing his heart.

Edward was looking at the speechless Herwen with unreadable eyes. After hesitating for a moment, Herwen collected himself, smiled slyly, and stared into Edward’s eyes.

“Your Majesty, would you like me to prostrate myself and beg for Mother’s sake?”

Herwen spoke slowly and nonchalantly. He would probably be pleased with himself for not getting drawn into Edward’s pace. Seeing this, Edward gave a hollow laugh. Since emotional appeals weren’t working, it seemed Herwen had moved to the next stage of acting unreasonably. It was always like this.

“Grand Duke Vellaus, I had no intention of meeting you. But I’m glad I did. I plan to use the emperor’s ‘right to exclude you from council.'”

“What? Your Majesty, what did you say? Ex… what?”

“Don’t you understand? Simply put, I’m telling you not to come to tomorrow’s council meeting.”

Judging by Herwen’s expression, he had understood. His mouth gradually opened and the wrinkles between his eyebrows deepened.

“No, not just tomorrow, but I forbid your attendance until the investigation results for Duke Anderman and your mother are out.”

“My mother?”

Herwen repeated Edward’s words, openly showing displeasure on his face. Then he immediately continued in a surly voice.

“Your Majesty, when was this decided?”

“Just now.”

Edward’s eyes looked at Herwen as if examining him. He stared intently, not missing even the subtle changes in Herwen’s expression. Herwen glared at Edward at his words, but when their eyes met, he lowered his gaze and turned his head.

“You never know. Depending on the investigation results, you might also be investigated, so don’t return to the North and stay in the capital.”

A fleeting smile tinged with contempt crossed Edward’s face.

“Brother, no, Your Majesty. Is it right for you to treat me like this? After stealing my fiancée.”

“Herwen, watch your mouth. You should be grateful that I haven’t fully recovered. And I know the truth about that matter, so if you mention it one more time, I won’t stay quiet. Did you think I didn’t know? I’ve been enduring for Larael’s sake, so it would be better not to provoke me.”

“…W-what truth are you talking about? Larael…”

Edward cut off Herwen’s words and spoke with a gentle smile.

“You should call her ‘Her Highness,’ Herwen. Once, my only family was your mother and you. But now, my only family is Larael. You know better than anyone how terribly I thought of family, don’t you? It was ultimately your mother and you who made me this way.”

“……”

Herwen was frozen by the murderous aura Edward was emitting and couldn’t say a word. He barely moved his lips before giving up and firmly closing his mouth. Edward looked at the immobilized Herwen with a strange expression before rising from his seat. After staring at Herwen for a long time with cold eyes, he turned and slowly left the reception room. As soon as he left, the anger he had suppressed and failed to express instantly surged through his entire body.

Edward shook his head vigorously to dispel the thought of why Larael’s image from his dream had overlapped with Herwen’s figure as he watched for Edward’s reaction.

Treating someone he had long considered family as an enemy was much harder than he had thought. But despite his trembling anger, the reason he couldn’t deal with Herwen immediately was because of the memories of their time together as family.

Edward exhaled deeply to suppress his anger, then gritted his teeth and hurried toward the bedroom where Larael was waiting.

***

Larael was resting her chin on her hand, watching Edward dress in his formal attire after a long time.

“Larael, why are you staring at me like that? Are you worried?”

Edward asked, glancing at Larael. He couldn’t fail to notice the concern in her eyes.

“You might laugh when you hear this, but I’ve briefly experienced how heavily the weight of Your Majesty’s position rests on both shoulders. It’s true that I’m worried you might overexert your body when it hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

Edward chuckled at Larael’s words. He raised his hand to stop the attendants and walked over to Larael. Then he bent down to bring his face close to hers and meet her gaze.

“Your Majesty.”

Larael, startled, lowered the arm she had been resting her chin on and straightened her back. Edward’s eyes curved playfully at Larael’s flustered face.

“Larael, shall we work together now?”

“What?”

“Since you’ve become familiar with the flow of work, you can assist me with my duties. That way, we can be together from morning till night every day, can’t we?”

“…It somehow feels like you’re just trying to increase your workforce…”

Edward laughed softly at Larael’s words and returned to his place. Larael sighed quietly and sat back down, resting her chin on the armrest of the sofa as she watched Edward.

‘When should I tell him?’

Edward seemed to have recovered a lot, but it was difficult to find an opportunity to speak. She was disappointed in herself for constantly making excuses and postponing what she wanted to say. But when she stood before Edward, the words simply wouldn’t come out.

“Larael, will you attend the nobles’ council?”