Chapter 2 – What Remains the Same and What Doesn’t (1)

The last day of the festival week, the Lord’s Day, is the Grand Festival.

It was also the anniversary of the founding of the empire, marked by the union of the two kingdoms when the first Emperor Franz married Angela, the last queen of Campo. The union of the two royal families was blessed by the main deity Erd, and the conquest wars of Arthuzen that began after the coronation were a series of victories.

After about ten years of war, when most of the continent’s countries had either been absorbed by Arthuzen or declared themselves vassal states, the Conquering Sovereign Franz attributed all this glory to Erd. In response, the Holy Kingdom sent strong support, and thus, the Empire of Arthuzen, based on a powerful religion, formed the “Imperial Federation” into a single cultural sphere.

Thanks to this, the Imperial Federation has been able to harmonize well even after a thousand years. Of course, except for Scandar.

For these reasons, the Grand Festival was the most significant and grandly celebrated national holiday in Arthuzen.

Citizens of the capital gathered at Franz Square, named after the first emperor, to sing of the union of the first emperor and empress and the grace of the gods, while all the nobles gathered in the main temple within the capital to attend the Grand Festival ceremony.

The Lacroix family also had an early lunch and headed to the main temple.

The area in front of the temple was bustling with carriages that had brought their masters, carriages leaving after dropping them off, and people who had just alighted. The sound of hooves, coachmen urging their horses, and the chatter of acquaintances exchanging greetings after the winter added to the bustling atmosphere.

As it was a significant event not only in the empire but also in the Holy Kingdom, groups of dispatched priests could be seen here and there.

“Oh, there’s the Earl Amis’ family. Loi, didn’t you dance with their young master at your debutante?”

“Oh, Father, you remember the strangest things.”

“Haha, I was so looking forward to my daughter’s debutante at the Ridote graduation ball. That’s where I met your mother.”

“If you say that sixty more times, it’ll be a hundred, dear.”

“Is that so? Hahaha.”

Since the Lacroix’s protocol rank was high, it was customary for them to arrive late, allowing them to observe the social figures of the capital from the carriage at any event. Thanks to this, Chloe could appreciate the appearances of acquaintances she hadn’t seen in a long time during this period.

‘Wow, it’s been a while, Melanie. Over there is Serenia. She cried, saying she’d write, but in the end…’

As Chloe scanned the crowd gradually nearing the temple entrance, she felt an inexplicable anxiety, her fingertips growing cold.

‘In the end, no one…’

The social circle of Gotiue, which was her entire world until she left for Scandar. There were young ladies she had been close with since the Ridote Academy, and many young gentlemen she had befriended in the social scene.

As the daughter of the Count Palatine overseeing Gotiue, Chloe was warmly received by everyone in the social circle, and everyone viewed her actions positively. No matter how special she and her betrothed, bound by oath, Demetrian acted…

The dazzling chandeliers in the banquet halls, the fine wines that enhanced the night’s atmosphere, the courteous faces full of intimacy and affection, the dresses of the young ladies adorned with decorations, and the hair meticulously styled by maids and servants… and amidst them, Demetrian’s face, which could be recognized anywhere.

Everything she had left behind was right here.

Thinking of this, she felt both excited to see the familiar scene after a long time and a sense of sadness.

‘In a few years, they will be people I won’t hear from.’

Chloe’s hand gripped the opposite sleeve, lined with layers of lace. It was a sleeve style that seemed outdated to her now, but was fashionable at the time.

Four days into reliving five years ago, Chloe’s face fell gloomily as she faced the world of her childhood in earnest.

In two years, she would leave this place, and after that, it would be difficult to contact anyone here.

How could she have known at this time that she would become a consort of Scandar? She had vaguely thought she might leave Gotiue, but never imagined she would leave the Imperial Federation entirely.

When she left, she thought she might visit once every year or two, but it wasn’t easy. She had parted with many people, but they had only parted with her, so she had hoped they might send a letter first, but no news came from anywhere.

‘Even Demi…’

Thinking of a world where she would soon drift away, and they wouldn’t miss her, Chloe unknowingly cast a shadow on her face until the carriage stopped in front of the main temple entrance.

As she waited for her father, Etienne, and her mother to disembark first, an unexpected voice reached Chloe’s ears.

“Oh my, isn’t that the Young Duke? It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Madame. It’s been a long time since I visited. Your Excellency, it’s been a while.”

“Indeed, it’s been a while. I heard you’ve been adapting well to the Senate.”

Chloe’s eyes widened.

Looking beyond the open carriage door, she saw Demetrian conversing with her parents.

Could he have read her melancholy heart?

‘Why is Demi here already?’

Lacroix’s protocol ranking was after Crevelle and provincial high nobility, meaning the five Dukes. So Crevelle should always arrive after Lacroix.

Young nobles might arrive early to socialize with their peers, but it was more fitting for the Young Duke to be awaited rather than waiting.

“Come on, Loi.”

That Demetrian was standing in front of the Lacroix carriage as if he had been waiting. As always, and like that night a few days ago, extending his hand to help her out of the carriage.

‘Demi too, in two years…’

The large hand always extended to her. The face beyond it was the same quiet face she remembered, though there seemed to be a slightly different expression somewhere… but Chloe, who could only think of what she would eventually lose, ended up speaking sharply.

“Why did you come so early?”

“I had urgent business, so I entered the palace in the morning and came straight here.”

No one among the Lacroix noticed Faigen, watching from a distance, with a grimace as if he had bitten into something unpleasant.

“Entering the palace even on the Grand Festival, the future of the Senate is bright.”

The Count Palatine of Lacroix laughed heartily, patting Demetrian on the shoulder, and then moved towards other nobles who were greeting him.

Chloe couldn’t quite manage the dissatisfaction that rose within her.

This time was different. Again, only Demetrian was different.

It didn’t make sense for Demetrian, who should arrive much later according to protocol, to be here now.

‘Could it be because he captured the separatists? Originally, he should have been busy chasing them, but now he’s free? But investigations aren’t originally the Senate’s responsibility…  Oh, he mentioned interrogating them, so maybe he entered the palace for that and found time?’

Not knowing what twists and turns were involved, Chloe couldn’t question him here, so she stared at his face for a while before reluctantly placing her hand in his.

“Thanks for coming.”

Demetrian, holding her hand tightly, smiled. 

Had his lips ever formed such a deep curve before?

Every time she met him recently, the absurdity she felt grew. Initially, he wasn’t someone who would wear such a bright smile, and he must have had a harder time than she did, having come from the suburban mansion to the palace, while she had only come from the townhouse in the city.

‘What kind of flattery is this, from someone so stingy with praise.’

Raising one eyebrow, she looked at his face, but he seemed like someone who had no intention of averting his gaze.

Seeing Demetrian’s warm smile, Chloe felt a sense of injustice.

‘Even if you’re this kind, eventually…’

Even after Chloe stepped out of the carriage, his hand lingered a little longer, just like a few days ago. It was a hand held more tightly, warmer than usual. Though they couldn’t feel it through their gloves, perhaps today too, a gentle moisture would seep through.

Though it wasn’t an exceptionally long time, Chloe, who had likely been escorted by him more than anyone except the Duchess of Crevelle, could keenly sense the difference.

Not in some secluded corner near her home at midnight, but here where the eyes of Arthuzen’s noble society were all gathered.

‘Besides, the Grand Duke Campo will soon arrive here.’

Chloe gave him a slight glare, then, trying not to give the impression of pulling away, she pretended to adjust her hat and withdrew her hand.

“His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Edward III, and Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Marguerite!”

The Great Temple’s chapel was packed with people, as nobles from Gotiue and its vicinity and every family in the imperial federation had at least one representative attending. When the imperial palace servant announced the Emperor’s entrance, the nobles, who had been socializing with those nearby, rose in unison.

Accompanied by the sound of the pipe organ, the emperor and empress, dressed in ceremonial attire, entered through the central aisle of the chapel, receiving the nobles’ silent bows.

Stepping on the red carpet laid on the floor, with a ruler’s smile on his face, the emperor in his late forties waved to the nobles filling the chapel.

Chloe, along with her family, was seated in the third row, bowing her head toward the emperor and empress like everyone else. As she subtly rolled her eyes to look at the emperor, she unconsciously clenched her hands, which were politely clasped in front of her.

‘The young lady is indeed the hero of our Arthuzen’s salvation.’

Chloe recalled the time she went to meet the emperor after it was decided she would go to Scandar as a consort.

While she grew up comfortably interacting with the princes, who were of the same generation, it was the first and last time she privately met the emperor, with whom she had only exchanged greetings during New Year’s greetings.

What was impressive about that meeting wasn’t the silver utensils adorned with magic stones with heating functions, the formal dinner’s flavors, which the imperial kitchen had put its heart and soul into, or the taste of the imperial brewery’s red wine, which could only be savored if invited to an imperial dinner. Nor was it the fact that the emperor had a habit of attaching a hearty laugh to the end of his sentences.