Chapter 3

3. A Risky Gamble
 
When Adelaide arrived at the dining hall, Callion was waiting for her at the entrance.
 
Adelaide fiddled with the hem of her dress and bent her knees.
 
“Your Grace.”
 
For a moment, Callion’s gaze wavered upon seeing her. Adelaide, feeling the intense stare, gently touched her cheek and asked.
 
“Is there something on my face?”
 
“Oh, no.”
 
Callion, finally regaining his composure, held out his hand. Adelaide took it cautiously, his callused hand as cold as ice, as she remembered.
 
Escorting her to the table, Callion pulled out a chair and sat down.
 
Something was different about Adelaide today, as he had sensed since their encounter in the tower.
 
Maybe it was the dress, he said with an unfamiliar feeling.
 
“Is the dress… something new?”
 
“Is it too fancy?”
 
“It looks good on you.”
 
Her face flushed at the unexpected compliment. Adelaide responded with an awkward smile.
 
“If you’ll excuse me, my lady.”
 
Meanwhile, the food arrived. The awkward conversation was cut off completely as the meal began.
 
Adelaide watched Callion eat in silence, then picked up her fork belatedly and sighed at the food on her plate.
 
She can’t believe the Duke’s dining table is so shabby.
 
Not only was the variety limited, but the quality was also an issue. From wilted salads to meat with a strong odor and shriveled fruits.
 
Adelaide began to estimate how much the chef had embezzled from the ingredient budget while starting her meal.
 
At least the taste wasn’t bad. It seemed the chef had used all kinds of tricks to make the inferior ingredients palatable.
 
Adelaide popped a piece of shredded meat into her mouth and pretended to eat it, then put her fork down.
 
“Is the meal not to your liking?”
 
“I don’t usually eat breakfast.”
 
Adelaide replied nonchalantly and bit her tongue, a mistake.
 
Seeing her reaction, Callion pushed aside the servants and asked again.
 
“What was the reason for requesting breakfast if you don’t eat it?”
 
“…….”
 
His deep blue eyes, never in a hurry, pierced her. Adelaide clenched her clammy palms.
 
Now it’s a real gamble. A very risky one with almost no chance of winning.
 
If she made a wrong move, she might lose her life even faster than last time, not to mention any chance of revenge.
 
Not by Elkius, but by Callion.
 
The image of Callion, with his clean face covered in blood, overlapped with that day’s memory. Adelaide shook off her hesitation.
 
“Before I tell you, I need you to promise me one thing.”
 
“Promise?”
 
“That you won’t kill me, no matter what I say.”
 
“Why would I…?”
 
Callion rubbed his face harshly as he watched Adelaide mutter more and more unintelligible words.
 
“There is no reason for me to do such a thing to you, is there?”
 
“Maybe you’ll change your mind when you hear what I have to say, so promise me now.”
 
“I won’t lay a hand on you even without a promise, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll swear to you that I won’t hold you responsible for anything you say.”
 
Adelaide was a little surprised by the word “swear” instead of “promise.”
 
Knowing the gravity of a knight’s oath, it was unlikely that he would take it lightly.
 
Adelaide finally relaxed.
 
“In that case, Your Grace, please come to my room tonight.”
 
⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜
 
It was a moonless night, and the darkness was thick and silent in the Duke’s Mansion.
 
Adelaide dismissed her maids, claiming fatigue, and waited alone for Callion.
 
Adelaide listened for a knock at the door and opened it. It was Callion.
 
“Come in.”
 
He glanced around and quietly entered the room.
 
Adelaide closed and locked the door, drew the curtains, and lit a candle.
 
“Have a seat.”
 
Adelaide motioned for him to take a seat in the center of the room.
 
Callion coughed awkwardly as he looked around.
 
‘I should have dressed properly…’
 
Unlike Adelaide, who was wearing a dress, Callion was in his nightwear. They hadn’t even shared the same bed, despite being a married couple. How impolite would he appear?
 
He felt embarrassed and made excuses.
 
“Well, I’m dressed this way to fool the servants, not because I have any other intention, so please…….”
 
“I’m fine, Your Grace. Please don’t worry about me.”
 
She replied calmly, her nonchalance both reassuring and disconcerting, and he steadied his racing heart.
 
Across from him, Adelaide poured tea into a teacup. He stared at her for a moment, transfixed by how serene and beautiful she looked.
 
A clink. The sound of the teacup being set down brought him back to reality, and he bit his dry lip.
 
He must be crazy. Barely able to shake off the feeling of being possessed by the moonlight, he asked bluntly.
 
“What is it you are trying to tell me?”
 
Taking a sip of her hot tea, Adelaide cut to the chase.
 
“Elkius is after your life.”
 
“……What did you say?”
 
The voice that came out shook slightly.
 
It was nothing new. Callion had known that Elkius’s blade was pointed at him.
 
But he hadn’t expected to hear it from Elkius’ sword.
 
Callion stared at Adelaide in disbelief. The one who had thrown the bomb seemed unaffected.
 
“I know what you are worried about. The empire suffered a great blow from the war with the kingdom, and the former emperor passed away without any chance of stabilizing the empire. If a civil war breaks out in such a situation, the people will bear the brunt of the damage.”
 
“…….”
 
“So, rather than regaining your position, you chose to run away.”
 
Callion perfectly understood why Adelaide insisted on getting a promise that he wouldn’t kill her, no matter what she said.
 
He’d been asked countless times why he didn’t try to reclaim his throne.
 
Every time he was accused of being a coward and a weakling, his pride was trampled upon, but he endured it. Because he believed that as long as he endured, the empire would be at peace.
 
But Adelaide should not have been the one to stroke his pride.
 
“You called me here just to say that?”
 
“Your Grace, please listen to me to the end.”
 
“No. I don’t think I need to hear anymore, I’m leaving.”
 
Callion stood up coldly and moved away from her. He felt foolish for showing her any kindness.
 
“Your Grace, wait!”
 
Adelaide, who had risen in a hurry, blocked his path. As he reached for the doorknob, ready to dismiss her, she fell to her knees.
 
“What do you think you’re doing?”
 
Callion was taken aback by the unexpected behavior.
 
As the crown prince, he was used to people kneeling before him, but he hadn’t expected Adelaide to do so.
 
“I know you don’t trust me, but just this once, just this once, please listen to me. Please…….”
 
Desperation seeped into her voice. He should have shaken it off, but he couldn’t.
 
Callion sighed and reached out his hand.
 
“The floor is dirty. Come on, get up.”
 
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him. Callion, who had been waiting for her to get up, lowered his body to his knees.
 
“I’m not going, so don’t cry.”
 
Callused fingers rubbed at her wet eyes. Droplets of water soaked his hand every time he blinked.
 
He feels like he is possessed by a ghost. Thinking like that, he waited for her to calm down.
 
“Are you okay?”
 
“I’m ……, I’m sorry.”
 
Adelaide pushed herself up, her emotions barely under control. Callion moved quietly to the couch.
 
“Talk to me, I won’t be angry.”
 
Adelaide moistened her lips with the cold tea and forced herself to speak.
 
“Elkius executed the late emperor and usurped the throne as a traitor. But because the person who should hold him accountable neglected his duty, he ascended to the throne without paying the price.”
 
“…….”
 
“So people have forgotten that Elkius usurped the throne. They think it’s useless to remember without an alternative.”
 
With each word, her mouth grew parched. Adelaide continued speaking, feeling like she was stepping on thin ice.
 
“But that doesn’t change the fact that you are still the closest thing to the throne, which is why Elkius sent me to you.”
 
Callion’s eyes fluttered wildly. As if he couldn’t comprehend her admitting that she was Elkius’ person.
 
“So, are you telling me to strike first because His Majesty is targeting me?”
 
“Yes, but that’s wrong.”
 
“Right, but wrong?”
 
“You don’t need to dirty your hands yourself, Your Grace. It’s not right, either.”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
Adelaide picked up her teacup again, the short pause feeling frustratingly long.
 
“Elkius knows his throne is like a sand castle, and he’s doing things he shouldn’t do to keep it.”
 
“Things he shouldn’t do?”
 
“The tragedy of Alberden.”
 
Callion’s eyes widened at the unexpected revelation.
 
The tragedy of Alberden was the unexplained destruction of the Marquis of Alberden’s manor and the deaths of his family and fellow manors.
 
Elkius had just been crowned Emperor, and in honor of the tragedy, he had canceled all events besides his coronation and offered generous compensation to the surviving people.
 
“Is it certain that His Majesty caused that?”
 
“I am certain, for I was present when he gave the order.”
 
Callion swallowed dryly at the assurance. Adelaide did not.
pause.
 
“That’s just one of Elkius’ many misdeeds, and if all of them are known, he’ll have a hard time keeping his throne.”
 
“……I don’t understand.”
 
After pondering Adelaide’s words, Callion asked bluntly.
 
“Why are you telling me this?”