Chapter 98: The Scoundrel Like No Other

Edelweiss straightened her back with effort, but her heart ached sharply.

She felt disheartened.

Surely, if Gloria were to be favored by the Emperor, it should be a good thing.

But she didn’t feel happy at all.

“Since her name hasn’t been officially recorded in the imperial genealogy yet, it would be better to change it to Anasha.”

Anasha. A pet name for Empress Anastasia?

“…Your Majesty. Princess Charlotte left a will. She asked that if a daughter were born, she be named ‘Gloria’.”

At the mention of Princess Charlotte, the Emperor’s expression turned openly displeased.

There wasn’t a shred of sorrow in him.

“Please… I ask that you honor Princess Charlotte’s final wish.”

The Emperor’s face sharpened. His gaze, cast toward Edelweiss for not following his will, brimmed with displeasure.

He carried that distaste in his eyes, but soon replaced it with a look of feigned gentleness.

“…We shall discuss the imperial heir’s name later. Ah, the palace physician tells me the Grand Duchess is in grave condition.”

“……”

The Emperor clicked his tongue repeatedly in disapproval. No sign of concern could be found.

“I intend to name Damian as Crown Prince. In that case, he will need a wise Crown Princess to raise the heir.”

“…..”

“What do you think, Grand Duchess? Who would be a suitable remarriage candidate for Damian?”

Her throat clenched, as if tied in a noose, mirroring the helplessness inside her.

‘So he does receive reports through the palace physician—’

But how could he bring up Damian’s remarriage now?

“Why are you silent, Grand Duchess? Princess Leonia of Linvelle has been sending Damian persistent marriage proposals…

But she’s not familiar with the common language of Rejenoel. Wouldn’t that make it difficult to raise the imperial heir?”

“Your Majesty, I—”

Bang!

Along with the chamberlain’s urgent voice came the crashing sound of the audience chamber doors being kicked open.

“…Damian?”

She instinctively turned toward the sound. Damian stood there.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t enter like this!”

“I was just looking for something to throw at the pirates who attacked the port of Schwetz. If you’re blocking my way, does that mean you’re volunteering to jump into the sea?”

“…H-Heuk.”

“How thoughtful. I’ll be sure to remember the chamberlain’s loyalty.”

At Damian’s menacing warning, the chamberlain trembled and backed away.

“Damian, what is the meaning of this?”

The emperor appeared irritated by Damian’s nearly intrusive behavior—

“Waaaah!”

Gloria suddenly burst into tears, drawing the emperor’s gaze. He tried to soothe her with a gentle rocking motion, but she cried even harder.

“Why is the imperial heir suddenly crying?”

Damian approached and practically snatched Gloria from his arms. The moment he held her, Gloria stopped crying and nuzzled into his chest.

“She woke up from her nap like usual, only to find herself in the arms of a stranger. Of course she’d be frightened. Surely you aren’t unaware of that, are you?”

“…Ahem.”

The emperor flushed with embarrassment.

“She’s Your Majesty’s only daughter-in-law. Instead of worrying for her, you summon her just to talk about remarriage?”

“…I—”

“Why not go further and ask what size of coffin to prepare for her funeral?”

Damian, having overheard everything from outside, couldn’t hold back his rage.

“It’s unfortunate about the Grand Duchess’s condition, but you will be crown prince and inherit the throne. A proper crown princess is needed to raise the imperial heir. I summoned the Grand Duchess because I was concerned for the child.”

“If you plan to make me crown prince, then I will become a disgrace to the throne like no other. I’m sure you don’t doubt I’m capable. Where shall I begin? How about scattering your personal treasury on the streets?”

“You imbecile—!”

The emperor reached for a nearby vase to hurl it.

Edelweiss, fearing for Damian and Gloria, moved to intervene—

But Damian handed Gloria to her and stepped forward to shield them both.

The vase clattered to the floor at Damian’s feet.

Edelweiss crouched protectively over the frightened, whimpering Gloria.

“Oh, are you saying you’d prefer a foolish crown prince who leaks the emperor’s scandals, causing daily headaches?”

“Damian Rejenoel. Are you challenging my authority right now?”

“Perhaps Your Majesty’s hearing is failing. I never said I’d challenge your authority. I said I’d play the fool for the crown. You should seek treatment before the illness worsens.”

“…I can’t stand the sight of you—get out of my sight!”

The emperor clutched his temples and struggled to calm his furious breathing.

“If Your Majesty is truly eager for remarriage…”

“……”

“Why not take Princess Leonia as your empress? She’s young, and since Your Majesty is aged, she might actually listen to you.”

“T-That lunatic!”

“Y-Your Majesty, p-please calm yourself!”

As the emperor clutched his throat and staggered, the chamberlain ran to support him, eyeing Damian nervously.

“Let’s go, Edelweiss.”

She glanced briefly at the emperor, who looked ready to collapse from the thrown vase, then followed Damian out.

“You should’ve waited for me. Why did you come here alone?”

“The chamberlain came to the marquis’ estate. He ordered me to bring Gloria to the palace immediately…”

“Should’ve just tossed him to the pirates as bait…”

Damian muttered darkly, referring to the chamberlain.

Edelweiss felt a sudden tightness spread across her chest.

Something seemed to rise up from her throat, and she hastily pulled out a handkerchief.

Bowing her head, she pressed the cloth hard against her lips; a vivid red stain quickly bloomed on the white fabric.

“……”

Damian frowned, took her by the shoulders, and turned her toward him.

“I’m fine, Your Highness.”

“There’s a record that coral found only in the Arcané Strait can make even a stopped heart breathe again. They say it can cure any illness.”

“If you take that coral, you won’t die.”

The Arcané Strait—the place where Damian had vanished in her previous life.

It sounded as though he meant to sail there and fetch the coral himself, and Edelweiss hurried to stop him.

“No—please, Your Highness. If something goes wrong out there—”

“I’ve spent my whole life at sea. Why assume I’d fail?”

“Please… don’t go. There’s no proof the coral even exists, and it might not heal me even if it does.”

Clutching Gloria, Edelweiss forced her trembling voice down.

Damian gazed at her in silence; anger glimmered in his blue eyes.

“So I’m supposed to stand by and watch? Do you really want me to let you die—and then marry someone else?”

She could say nothing.

“I’m not leaving this instant, all right? So stop crying. When you cry, I feel mad enough to lose my mind. Don’t cry.”

Damian reached out and wiped the quiet tears that streamed down Edelweiss’s cheeks.

“Promise me you won’t go, Your Highness…”

“…Fine. I promise.”

***

Two days passed.

Damian went to the naval academy as usual, handled his duties, and came by to hold Gloria.

His ordinary manner had convinced Edelweiss he truly would not sail for the Arcané Strait, and she felt at ease.

But in the deep hours before dawn, while she was settling Gloria, she heard a beak tapping at the window.

Startled, she opened it. A navy messenger hawk perched on the sill, a strip of parchment tied to its leg.

She untied the ribbon; hurried, slanted letters filled the small page:

[Edelweiss,

By the time you read this, I will already be on my way to the Arcané Strait.

Stay alive until I return.

Like you said—perhaps I’m the one who won’t come back.

So, for Gloria’s sake, don’t die.]