Chapter 27. Enjoying Time in a Carriage

Suharto’s eyes were dark beneath as he looked out the window.

‘Where did it all go wrong?’

A life destined to become Emperor, ruling over the Empire. The highest position a human could reach belonged to Suharto.

The path he walked was a unique flower path that no one else could walk. He believed it was his own path given to him from birth. He was confident that no one could interfere, and yet…

His mind kept digging into the shadowy thorns hidden behind the brilliant flowers.

When Suharto’s pupils turned toward his true nature, he recalled memories of the past. From a time so long ago he could barely remember, the Raion grand ducal family had been a very familiar and close presence to Suharto.

He had heard plenty about the historical relationship between the imperial family and the grand ducal family, but it didn’t particularly resonate with Suharto. If he had to assign meaning to it, it was just enough to be cautious. He was wary of him but didn’t hate him.

Whenever his father tried to bring down the Grand Duke, Suharto dissuaded him, saying it wasn’t necessary. He thought highly of his abilities and believed he could make him a loyal subject.

[He must not be left alone.]

The Emperor always showed a sharp reaction to Grand Duke Raion. Even over trivial matters, if the Emperor heard about the Grand Duke, his mood would sour so much that no one could approach him that day.

[Father, the Grand Duke is just a nobleman of the Empire. We should keep him by our side and use him.]

[Nonsense. That man was born with the energy of an emperor. Not just him. The Raion family is absolutely not a family that can be ruled.]

From when Suharto was young, the Emperor constantly watched the grand ducal family. Fearing the Grand Duke’s military power might grow, he ordered the imperial guard knights to be strengthened and demanded reports whenever the grand ducal family met with other nobles. And when that anxiety peaked, the Emperor couldn’t hold back and drew his sword.

[I must sweep away the Raion grand ducal family.]

After a lifetime of following the grand ducal family with anxious eyes, he finally tried to eliminate them completely.

While he was creating justification for this, Rudfelix ascended to the position of Grand Duke. As if sensing the Emperor’s plans, he concluded the Grand Duke investiture ceremony simply.

Suharto still couldn’t forget the Emperor’s empty gaze when he couldn’t pin the father’s crimes on Rudfelix, who had become Grand Duke.

[Now I will handle Grand Duke Raion myself.]

He believed that the young Grand Duke’s counterpart was himself, living in the same era. And until then, Suharto thought he could move Grand Duke Rudfelix as he wished.

That was certainly true until the Grand Duke poured cold water on his bright future.

The moment the subjects who knelt before the Grand Duke praised him in front of the Crown Prince, he knew he could not command Rudfelix as his subject.

“He will serve me?”

Negative thoughts followed his self-made question. Though he had recovered, his face burned with shame, and occasionally the place where Rudfelix had kicked him throbbed.

Suharto closed his eyes and shook his head. The more he did so, the more vividly he recalled being beaten by Rudfelix in the past. Grand Duke Rudfelix had carelessly laid hands on his body. He was the Empire’s only Crown Prince, yet Rudfelix didn’t treat him with reverence.

“Everything has gone wrong.”

Suharto pressed his eyes firmly with the back of his hand. He tried to sift through the dark past to find where it all went wrong, but he gained nothing.

“It’s not my fault.”

He hadn’t gone against his predetermined fate. He had prepared to rule the world and waited for things to flow naturally.

‘I miss the old days.’

He wanted to return to the leisurely times of before. Back then, even while wearing a mask-like smile, he had been waiting for someone.

He believed that a love where just looking into someone’s eyes would melt his heart was possible. He waited for the moment when someone would enter his hardened heart, and he would be helplessly drawn to that person.

Suharto closed his eyes, burying his head in the chair. Then, with the afterimage of light on his closed eyes, a person’s face appeared.

A small face. Delicate features with eye corners that gently narrowed when smiling. Pure eyes that viewed the world through a pink lens looked at him. Elena Jellisto. Elena’s afterimage smiled and extended her hand to him.

‘Take it.’

‘Why are you reaching out to me?’

‘Do you hate me?’

Elena pouted her lips with a sulky expression.

‘I like ……’

‘What?’

‘I like you, Suharto, but do you hate me?’

Hurry and take my hand.

Though it was his own imagination, it felt strangely vivid.

If Elena had whispered love to him, could he have loved her deeply?

“No.”

These were all useless thoughts.

She had already rejected him. She loved someone else and pushed him away.

Now he couldn’t go back to the past, nor did he have time for regrets. Thinking this, he clenched his fist, causing the veins on the back of his hand to bulge.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Viscount Tozille cut through Suharto’s contemplation as he entered.

“I will personally visit the Grand Duchy.”

Suharto did not answer. Viscount Tozille, interpreting his silence as permission, bowed his head.

“Lady Roina Cecil is waiting outside. What should we do?”

“Send her away.”

“Understood.”

Viscount Tozille didn’t inquire further and immediately left the room. He approached Roina who was waiting for him.

“His Highness has postponed the meeting.”

Viscount Tozille shook his head as if troubled.

“I have something to tell His Highness. It must be now.”

Roina pleaded earnestly, but the order had already been given.

“Please come again next time.”

After confirming his aide had arrived, Viscount Tozille nodded lightly and passed by Roina.

Left alone, Roina gazed at the Crown Prince’s room.

“Why do we keep missing each other?”

She needed to meet him now.

She wanted to embrace his feelings that no one understood. Strangely, she felt she could comfort him. But even the heavens seemed indifferent as she kept crossing paths with Crown Prince Suharto without meeting. Her feet remained bound to the ground, unable to leave.

Viscount Tozille, having left his position, looked back at Roina.

Suharto no longer showed interest in Lady Roina.

‘It was never there from the beginning.’

It was surprising enough that a lady from the countryside had held the Crown Prince’s hand. Though he kept her by his side because she had some use, the Crown Prince had already shown her enough consideration for his needs.

“That’s as far as it goes. Let’s hurry. I need to meet the Grand Duke and handle this quickly.”

The longer they delayed, the more complicated the path to becoming Emperor might become.

***

Elena left the Grand Duke’s mansion and entered a residential area. Unlike the market, the street was relatively quiet and cozy, and Elena walked with her hands behind her back.

Separated from Rudfelix and alone for the first time in a long while, she looked around with unburdened eyes. Ironically, during a time when she should be busy, she found herself with some leisure.

‘It’s been a while since I walked around alone.’

Elena closed her eyes and inhaled the clear air. Walking alone felt both awkward and pleasant after such a long time.

Though she came out alone today because she had something to do, she thought about walking down this tranquil street with Rudfelix next time. She entered an ordinary house that she had originally prepared to stay in when she first came to the Grand Duchy with Rudfelix. She had bought a small building thinking she would stay alone, but Elena had never actually stayed in this house. Inside flowed a warmth that seemed unsuitable for a house where the owner didn’t live.

“Fatie, I’m here.”

When Elena called out the name loudly, rustling sounds came from a room.

“Yaaawn! Miss Elena, what brings you here?”

A young woman named Fatie came out yawning, as if she had been sleeping.

“I have something to ask of you.”

“Did you use up all the paper you took last time?”