63. Bridesmaid

Even though it was such an obvious game, Edgar found himself helplessly caught up in its schemes. Yet, even in this desperate situation, Edgar could not understand his father’s calm demeanor. The Marquis, bound by Dominic and played by the hands of Heritten, heard of the many who had sworn their lives in Akuris’s name—only for those lives to be at risk—and still, for days, did nothing but listen to everything without reacting.

“Please, prepare yourself, Count.”

“Edgar.”

“If you keep doing nothing, things will go exactly as Heritten wants.”

“Should you call Veone’s sun that way?”

“Father!”

“How are things on your end?”

“It’s quiet for now, but there are traps everywhere I’ve stepped, so I don’t think I can avoid them.”

“Hm…”

“While you still have breath, you should rise to the surface, Father.”

Edgar, frustrated, pulled off his neatly tied scarf and raised his voice, unlike usual. After days of this, even his patience was wearing thin. He understood all the plans and who was behind them, yet the Marquis seemed to comply with everything as if he wanted their family erased from the world. If things continued, Heritten would surely burn everything in Akuris.

“Who said the surface is the way to survive?”

“So, are you saying we should just let this happen?”

“Let it happen, Edgar.”

“Father!”

“You know there have been plenty of times lately when we let things slide after the war ended.”

“…….”

“Remember how hard it was when Elena had to go to the border with us last time?”

“Is this the time for jokes?”

The Marquis only laughed kindly at his eldest son’s temper, not trying to get any more words out of him. Edgar didn’t completely disagree with putting Veone’s glory before Akuris’s honor, but Akuris’s survival felt more urgent to him, so he couldn’t lower his raised voice.

“What will you do if the palace declares war at any moment, Father?”

“An honorable death is always a glory, Edgar.”

“Innocent lives will be lost.”

“Even if, as you say, we storm the palace, the result will be the same.”

At Edgar’s words, Yuan’s fingertips trembled imperceptibly. Having recently been at the front, Yuan felt as if the scent of rotting corpses was drifting into the fragrant drawing room, so he quietly checked the windows and door cracks. He couldn’t actually see any smell, but it was an anxious habit.

“How many traps did you step into?”

“…Several letters stamped with the Midonia seal have arrived, knowingly or not.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“The damage won’t be great, but it can’t be avoided.”

Tap, tap. The Marquis’s fingers quietly but darkly drummed the armrest of his chair. After days of unresolved arguments, Edgar was so tired he pressed his temples, unable to relax his frown.

In the end, Count Viamel and the knights of Akuris would all have to return to the battlefield. D*mn Heritten never knew gratitude. He’d climbed by slaughtering his own kin with Dominic’s help, so peace was far from people like that. Still, Edgar blamed himself for thinking that the blood might have thinned over time.

“Excuse me for interrupting.”

Hanel, who had been quietly standing behind, spoke carefully, drawing the attention of all three men. He must have come with urgent news, as he stood behind Hanel, head bowed, holding his breath. Please, let it be nothing. As Hanel opened his mouth again, Edgar prayed a thousand times in his mind and swallowed nervously.

“The Crown Prince requests to see you.”

“What?”

“Oh, right. Both of you, please step out for a moment.”

“…….”

“Yuan, I’d like you to stay here for a while.”

“Yes, I will.”

As Edgar and Yuan hurried out of the drawing room, Verdick strolled down the hallway in a white uniform embroidered with sky blue. Edgar couldn’t help but forget his lifelong pretense at the sight of Verdick, one of the causes of all this trouble, brazenly wandering through his house.

“I wish I could just punch him once.”

“He’ll hear you.”

“Still, is it because he’s family, Count?”

“…….”

“I shouldn’t take it out on you. Sorry.”

“Let’s step aside.”

“…….”

“I’m worried you’ll really do as you wish and end up in prison.”

It made sense. Edgar patted Yuan’s shoulder gratefully before quickly walking away. He’d always thought Verdick was gentle and incapable of hatred, but Yuan was surprised to see a side of him he’d never known, and for a moment, forgot the scent of death lingering at his nose.

“Beloved Yuan.”

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You surprise me every time.”

“…….”

“I never thought the kid who always cried would grow taller than me.”

It was only a finger’s difference, but Verdick slyly praised Yuan, though Yuan’s expression didn’t change. It was awkward, but Verdick didn’t care, ruffling Yuan’s hair like a beloved younger brother and smiling brightly.

“You look better now.”

“…….”

“With all my brothers like this, how could I be at ease?”

“Do I really look well to you?”

Verdick’s hand paused atop Yuan’s head. His face overlapped with the long-gone boy’s face from his youth. Now, finally able to speak his desires instead of crying, Yuan had once worn a miserable expression asking to be saved from the hell he lived in. To show that face during his engagement, when he should be happiest… All his brothers seemed to have a talent for tormenting themselves.

“When you’re not okay, just look at that ring, and look at your love.”

“You’re always the same whenever I see you, Your Highness.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“You always say embarrassing things so easily.”

“Try it yourself.”

“…….”

“It works pretty well.”

“I doubt Lady Rosia would agree.”

Lady? Verdick’s eyebrow twitched, his lips pursed, and he finally withdrew his hand from Yuan. He already knew Yuan had worked with her in Yulzante, but no one would call a noblewoman who parachuted in a knight. Yet, Yuan called her by a knightly title, which was partly his nature, but also, Verdick suspected, something Rosia would appreciate, which annoyed him.

“How do you know what Rosia thinks?”

“Let’s go in, Your Highness.”

“Say it, Yuan.”

“I’ll see you next time.”

He’d thought neither side wanted the marriage, but maybe he was wrong. Yuan bowed lightly to Verdick and turned away, and Verdick called his name urgently. The normal flow of time, despite the chaos in his head, made it easier to breathe. As Yuan left the corridor, Roberto offered to show him to his room, and Sejio also joined them.

＊＊＊

“You snuck out well, didn’t you?”

“If you came, you should greet Father. Why come here?”

“Did I look like I’d come?”

After parting with Yuan, Felicia lay gloomily on her bed until a hand tapped her right shoulder. She turned to see Rosia, beautifully dressed, looking down at her with a displeased expression. The endless sky-blue embroidery on her white dress made her look like she was wearing a wedding dress, and Felicia stared at her sister in awe for a moment—until the barrage of nagging forced Felicia to cover her ears.

“Look at me when I’m talking.”

“Stop talking. My head hurts.”

“If you’d stayed home, you wouldn’t be sick.”

“Lady Rosia, you’ll wrinkle your dress.”

Marie blocked Rosia from climbing onto the bed, and Felicia was relieved, glancing at the slightly open door. Just hours ago, she’d acted as if she’d never see Yuan again, but now she hoped he might come.

“So.”

“So what?”

“Don’t you have anything to say, Felicia?”

“…….”

“You only shut your mouth when you’re at a disadvantage.”

“That’s why I do it.”

“If you’re going to close it, do it properly. Don’t talk back.”

Grumbling, Felicia, lips sealed, swallowed her complaints and quietly slid over to sit beside Rosia, who had sat down carefully to avoid wrinkling her dress. Her usually wild, dark hair was today tamed with a pearl headband and hair ornaments, showing off her long, graceful neck. Felicia had envied that neck since childhood, thinking it the most beautiful she’d ever seen.

“It’s hot, move away.”

“Why did you decide to become Crown Princess?”

“What’s that out of nowhere?”

“You always said you wanted to be a traveler.”

“Why bring up childish dreams?”

“Still, I really thought you could do it. Who but you could be a traveler?”

Unlike herself, who was always a bit cold, Rosia’s shoulder was always warm, and Felicia’s cheek felt hot against it. Rosia had always wanted to be able to travel freely, to make every moment a journey—a dream no noble child, no woman, could dare to have, but she’d boasted about it openly. Yet, suddenly she’d decided to become Crown Princess, choosing a cage over freedom, and Felicia had once resented her for it.

“You’re so sentimental when you’re sick.”

“Do you regret it?”

“…….”

“You always wanted to leave.”

“What’s the point in regretting?”

“…….”

“I’m here now.”

Maybe it really was hot—Rosia’s cheeks and chin were red as she gently pushed Felicia’s forehead back. Felicia let herself be pushed but grabbed her hand anyway. Usually, Rosia wouldn’t even come close, but she let Felicia act spoiled because she was sick. After all, there wouldn’t be many more chances like this.

“So get a grip.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t act like you’ve lost your mind.”

“…….”

“What did the Count say?”

“…I’ll handle it.”

“Finish quickly. Looks like Yuan’s at fault, so if you’re going to drop him, do it for real.”

Rosia stood up abruptly, speaking coldly. Felicia felt her heart soften, thinking Rosia cared for Yuan after all, but she knew she could never abandon him.

“And by the way.”

“…….”

“Marie, do you have a nice sky-blue dress Felicia can wear now?”

“You want to change?”

“No, not for me. For her.”

“Ah… there should be one from last spring.”

“Why the dress, all of a sudden?”

Rosia’s flushed cheeks turned even redder. Muttering and pressing her cheeks, she finally clenched her fists and stared at Felicia. When Felicia tilted her head, Rosia looked away.

“If not you, who would stand as my bridesmaid?”

“Huh?”

“For my wedding.”

“…….”

“Of course you have to be my bridesmaid.”