Chapter 3 – Unrequited Love, That Difficult Path (Part 2) 

On the second floor of <La Blanc>, in the largest of the six private rooms, the four Wiig sisters and one man were seated facing each other.

“My name is Erich Price.”

True to his friendly introduction, the man spoke first.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Via. She said you are kind and beautiful.”

Erich smiled gently, making eye contact with Olivia.

“You’re a composer, I hear.”

“Yes, I’ve released a few records, though not many.”

Thinking his humble explanation was insufficient, Olivia spoke up first.

“This guy is the hottest right now. He’s also a performer.”

‘Don’t butt in.’

At Diana’s cold glance, Olivia quickly pouted. Diana, having silenced Olivia, got straight to the point.

“You proposed to Olivia, right?”

“Yes, I have a concert tour planned for about six months.”

‘What’s so good about that?’ 

Lorraine sipped her tea, barely wetting her lips, and watched her sister and her lover exude a pinkish atmosphere.

“I think six months without Libby would be too long.”

“I heard you’ve only been dating for a year. Don’t you think it’s a bit hasty?”

Despite Victoria’s question, which could have seemed a bit rude, Erich answered politely.

“I don’t believe you can measure the weight of emotions by time.”

“…….”

He added with a smile as he made eye contact with Victoria.

“Especially not when it comes to love.”

Lorraine, sitting next to Victoria, heard her take a deep breath.

She took a hit.

Lorraine shook her head slightly.

A few hours earlier, Olivia had firmly warned them.

「Just be nice, and don’t be rude. We’re adults.」

Of course, that didn’t mean Victoria would listen. She had snorted at her sister’s warning.

「What are you talking about? You haven’t even graduated yet.」

「I’ve passed the early graduation application! I just need to take the exam!」

Watching the two bicker like a cat and mouse, Diana had asked.

「What do you mean by rude?」

「Things like family relations… why he took his uncle’s surname….」

Olivia had trailed off. Listening quietly, Victoria had frowned and retorted.

「If we don’t ask at least that much, what should we ask?」

“Is he a con artist or what?”

When Victoria had muttered in disbelief, Olivia had shouted in anger.

「He’s not a con artist!」

Their voices had been rising again when Diana, who had been rubbing her forehead, called Olivia’s name.

「Olivia.」

「What?」

「Seriously, be careful at night.」

But despite Diana’s mediation, Olivia and Victoria’s tones were as fierce as ever.

Diana had sighed deeply and called Olivia once more.

「Libby.」

At that, Olivia’s gaze had immediately turned to Diana.

Staring at her, Diana had pushed her glasses up. The glasses chain had made a rattling sound.

Her voice had been calm, as if reciting a law.

「You have to be honest. This is separate from marriage. Mutual trust and faith. You know that well.」

There was an example not far away.

At Diana’s words, Olivia, who had been hesitating, had cautiously spoken.

「I just… heard that his mother couldn’t get married. So he was registered under his uncle, who had no children. That’s all.」

Olivia trailed off. It was almost like admitting she doubted his story herself.

‘Something’s off….’

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought so, as Victoria, sitting next to her, had whispered in Lorraine’s ear.

「Something’s off.」

「That’s true. But it’s not the time yet.」

Lorraine hadn’t wanted to doubt someone she hadn’t even met yet. And she had believed Olivia wouldn’t be so bad at judging people.

Fortunately, Erich, who had come to the meeting, seemed decent.

‘But his eyes bother me.’

Erich’s gray eyes were filled with love for Olivia. But the color was the problem. Gray eyes were a characteristic typically found in people from Fontaine.

“Excuse me… if it’s not too rude.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

Lorraine cautiously started, while Erich’s response was brisk.

“…Is your father from Fontaine? Your eyes….”

Lorraine said, unconsciously pointing to her own eyes.

Then, thinking it was rude to ask even with permission, she quickly added a reason.

“Although relations with Fontaine are peaceful these days, I still think this issue should be clearly addressed for the future.”

To the south of the continent, Moses and to the north, Fontaine, had engaged in light skirmishes until a truce agreement was reached five years ago. Because of this, there were few people living in the border areas who didn’t shudder at the word Fontaine.

Thankfully, after the truce agreement, light cultural exchanges had begun, slightly reducing psychological resistance.

Even so, it was still difficult for many in Moses to accept someone from Fontaine.

Erich nodded and replied.

“I understand.”

“Then….”

“My father is from Fontaine.”

His face showed no intention of hiding the truth.

“But I’ve been estranged from him for a long time. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Although Erich spoke confidently, Lorraine sipped her sweet tea, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Despite her doubts, she decided to trust him for her dear sister’s sake.

However, Erich’s voice lingered in Lorraine’s mind for days.

As if warning her of an ominous future.

***

“I heard you’re getting married.”

Edwin asked indifferently while looking through the documents.

In a tone so casual it seemed like a passing comment, Lorraine, who had been lost in thought, had to take a moment to process his words.

After thinking, Lorraine looked at Edwin with an expression asking if he was serious.

“…Me?”

‘Do I have to prove my trust again?’

Lorraine wondered when she would be able to escape the cycle of distrust. Then Edwin, having finished signing the document, closed it with a snap and looked up.

“Then who else here but you?”

“Of course, but… I’m getting married? Who says?”

In the strange situation where the subject of the conversation was asking back, Edwin was momentarily silent.

Then he rubbed his forehead.

‘Philip Lloyd….’

‘Philip had babbled nonsense about Edwin liking Lorraine and now had pulled a trick that even a ten-year-old wouldn’t fall for.

But what made Edwin angry was that he had fallen for that story.

It was just for a moment.

“A Wiig is getting married. Technically, engaged….”

Edwin looked at Lorraine with surprised eyes.

Whether she noticed his gaze or not, she prepared the next document with a nonchalant face.

Lorraine placed another document in front of him and said.

“My sister. She’s also a ‘Wiig,’ after all.”

“…….”

“But where did you hear that? It’s not even confirmed yet…?”

Lorraine asked as if she was genuinely curious.

“Ah….”

“It’s Philip, isn’t it?”

Lorraine quickly grasped the situation. Her eyes turned cold behind her glasses. Unfortunately, Philip was currently in Astia attending his brother’s memorial service.

Edwin handed back the last document Lorraine had given him and said,

“Well… anyway, it’s fine if it’s not true. Attach the additional materials and resubmit it.”

“Yes, well….”

Though it didn’t seem like much, Lorraine reluctantly nodded.

***

“Please wait a moment.”

Zero, Jamie’s aide, entered the office to get permission for entry. Edwin briefly stared at the door.

To be precise, he was looking at the emblem of the Laftana royal family intricately engraved on the door.

A shield with a golden crown and four swords positioned in all directions. Each sword bore the insignia of the four ducal houses.

At that moment, Zero opened the door and spoke.

“You may enter.”

Nodding, Edwin stepped into the office. As befitting the emperor’s office, it was filled with only the finest items, but its owner sat there like a wax figure.

“You summoned me.”

At Edwin’s words, Jamie, who had been sitting blankly with a cigarette in his mouth, spoke.

“What is the Noble Council saying?”

Jamie stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and ran a dry hand over his weary face. But it was only for a moment; he soon returned to his emperor’s demeanor.

“Marquis Gillas entering the country while Emperor Heron is bedridden…. Duke Rochester must be quite troubled.”

Edwin shrugged and answered.

“We can only speculate about the reason for Marquis Gillas’s entry.”

Marquis Gillas was a prominent supporter of the emperor in the Fontaine Empire. The fact that he was trying to secretly enter Moses while the emperor was ill was widely considered suspicious.

“What’s the atmosphere like in the border region?”

Jamie asked, pressing his temples as if he had a headache.

“It’s still peaceful for now. Brigadier General Alisa Quill, who was on leave, has returned, so it should be fine.”

Located to the north, Fontaine and to the south, Moses, were inevitably in frequent conflict.

With its long winters and barren lands, Fontaine, located closer to the continent, had long coveted Moses, which enjoyed a mild climate and was surrounded by seas on three sides.

“Let’s hope so. So… is the reason for the marquis’s entry still unclear?”

Jamie unconsciously reached for his cigarette case but was blocked by Zero’s hand. When he looked back, Zero firmly shook his head.

“The amount allowed by Lord Lotger was the last one you smoked earlier.”

Harold Lotger, the royal physician, had earnestly pleaded with Zero during his weekly check-ups.

「You need to control how many cigarettes His Majesty smokes. Even two is too many… but you’re the only one who can stop him. Please.」

At Zero’s firm expression, Jamie pouted and muttered loudly enough to be heard.

“One more won’t hurt that much….”

“It’s a matter of your health.”

Zero replied firmly, and Jamie raised his hands in defeat.

“Alright, I won’t smoke.”

“Haven’t you quit yet?”

Edwin asked with a chuckle, and Jamie retorted indignantly.

“I heard you didn’t quit voluntarily either….”

He added with a meaningful look.

“Come to think of it, it’s the first time I’ve seen you care so much about someone else.”

“Anyone listening would think I’m completely inconsiderate.”

As if their earlier conversation had never been serious, the cousins began to bicker lightly.

“Let’s be honest. You quit smoking because of that new secretary, didn’t you?”

“It was on the doctor’s recommendation.”

At Edwin’s calm reply, Jamie smirked wickedly and muttered.

“Liar.”

Jamie’s blunt comment left Edwin momentarily speechless.

Sensing an opportunity, Jamie continued to press the point.

“Ever since that secretary of yours had severe bronchitis.”

“…….”

“Philip mentioned it. ‘He suddenly told me to clear them out one day. Oh, come to think of it, it was the day after Lorraine took a leave…?’”

Imitating Philip’s tone, Jamie looked triumphantly at Edwin.

“Did I really say that?”

But Edwin couldn’t even remember if he had done so. When he asked as if hearing it for the first time, it was Jamie who found it ridiculous.

“Why are you asking me that?”

‘Is he serious?’

Jamie looked incredulously at his cousin.