Chapter 46

46. This Is My Husband

The most secretive place in the palace is the emperor’s chamber. The emperor’s chamber is connected everywhere and inaccessible from anywhere else.

In the emperor’s bed-chamber, one could come and go as one pleased, from meeting rooms to banquet halls, through a web of secret passages.

But to get to the Emperor’s Chamber from anywhere else, you needed a key, so even if you knew the passageways existed, you couldn’t use them.

The structure was also unique. Inside the door was a resting area with sofas and tea tables, and there was another door behind it. Through the door was a hallway, and at the end of the hallway were three more doors.

Beyond the three doors were bedrooms of similar construction, but it is not known which of the three bedrooms the emperor slept in.

Elkius Isulandt slept in a different room every night, so the only one known to know the exact location was the chamberlain.

“Elki.”

Tonight, two people knew his whereabouts.

“Is there something bothering you? Your shoulders seem tense.”

Rosaline Harper asked softly, her hand on Elki’s shoulder. Elki didn’t answer, his eyes closed and deep in thought.

“You seem preoccupied, skipping meals and all. You seemed unable to sleep last night. Should I call a doctor?”

“Never mind.”

Elkius spat the words out bluntly. Sensing that he was in a bad mood, Rosaline pouted and made fun of his hand.

“National affairs are important, but you should take care of your health first. If you get sick, there’ll be people pouncing on you like dogs on a loose cannon.”

The nagging voice was the last thing he wanted to hear today. Elkius swung his arm toward her.

“That’s enough.”

“Already? I could go on.”

“Go get the wine.”

“Okay.”

Sliding off the bed, Rosaline headed for the wine rack. The face of the woman from earlier in the day was superimposed over her flowing red hair.

It had been a long time since she’d seen her.

Adelaide Cornwall is as pretty as ever.

But the woman who had been so tiresomely naïve, so high-minded that it was no fun, so shy as if the mere touch of his hand had gotten her into trouble, had changed.

“I’m…… pretending to be in love with him”

Pretending to love Callion……?

It was an interesting thing to hear.

He didn’t know if Adelaide could fool him, and he doubted if he would fall for her clumsy act. Or.

‘Maybe they’re working together to fool me.’

Though that was extremely unlikely.

Adelaide Cornwell had Arnold Cornwall as a failsafe: the moment she betrayed him, the sins of both father and daughter would be exposed.

Would Callion accept Adelaide if he knew her father had killed his grandfather?

Elkius was sure he would not.

“Here’s the wine.”

Elkius took the wine Rosaline offered and downed it in one gulp, his throat burning every time he thought of Adelaide for some reason.

Maybe he should have held her, at least once, before he threw her away.

He regretted that he’d been so polite to her, telling her he’d protect her until after the first night, just in case she got into trouble.

“What were you thinking about earlier?”

“Hmm?”

Rosaline’s hand slipped under his shirt. She cupped his firm br*asts, and her piercing eyes questioned him.

“Thinking about that woman?”

“That woman?”

“Adelaide Cornwall.”

Rosaline withdrew her hand, the smile instantly gone from her face.

“Do you know what she said to me?”

Her anger flared again, recalling the verbal abuse she’d heard from Adelaide.

Her expression changed as she pulled away, expecting Elkius to be furious if he heard that wench threaten to cut out her tongue.

“Did you talk to Adele?”

Elkius’s brow creased.

“Why? Is it not allowed?”

“I told you not to act like you know her.”

It was a tone of reproach as if asking why she did such a thing. Realizing that Elkius, whom she thought would take her side, responded like that, Rosaline raised her voice.

“It’s weird avoiding her when we’ve known each other for years. Why do I have to pretend to know her?”

“Rosaline.”

“You said you’re going to get rid of it when the time comes anyway.”

“I need that woman now.”

“More than me?”

“Don’t be childish.”

Elkius hedged his answer, and Rosaline, knowing his way with words, knew it was an affirmative.

“Why is she so important to you? She’s a commoner, after all, and now the wife of your enemy.”

“Enough.”

“Do you think that woman only had eyes for you? Even if she pretends to be innocent, she must have done everything with that guy.”

Boom! Elkius threw his wine glass down on the nightstand.

“Elki!”

“Shut up. Don’t call my name so lightly.”

By the time he realized he’d crossed the line, it was too late.

He glared at Rosaline with a cold stare. Rosaline bit her pale lips.

“Get out.”

The banishment was unrelenting.

Sliding off the bed, Rosaline turned to Elkius and walked slowly away. She hoped he would stop her, but he didn’t even look at her.

This is all because of that b*tch.

Her critical mass of resentment began to turn to hatred.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Two days before the memorial service, Adelaide boarded a carriage bound for the Earl of Cornwall’s estate.

She had originally planned to make a quiet stop at the mansion to see her father alone, but her plans were unexpectedly derailed.

“You don’t have to come with me.”

“You don’t want me to come with you?”

Callion asked, laughing softly. There was a hint of wistfulness in his laugh. Adelaide shook her head, embarrassed.

“It’s not that I don’t want to…….”

She stammered. It’s just that it’s strange for a Duke to go to greet an Earl.

Normally, imperial marriages were between members of similarly situated noble families, or with princesses from other countries, but the fact that their marriage was unusual was the reason for this.

“I think it’s better if I just go and see him today, and then we can arrange a separate day to have him come to the mansion.”

“Since we’re already on our way, what’s the point? We’ll go today and invite the Earl to the manor another time.”

He showed no sign of backing down. Adelaide nodded helplessly and turned to look out the window.

Her companion is the Duke of Tiflis, and her escort is the heir to the Duchy of Lephisto and the second son of the Marquis of Uclaire. How surprised her father would be.

He’s a quick thinker, so it shouldn’t be too much of a shock.

While Adelaide was lost in thought, the carriage turned into Cornwall Street. The mansion hadn’t changed in a year.

As she stepped out of the carriage to her delight, the Earl of Cornwall, who was waiting for her on the porch, ran out.

“Adele!”

The Earl of Cornwall, who hugged his daughter whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, teared up.

“Have you been well? This indifferent fellow, how could you not even contact your father even once? Look at your injured face. How much hardship you must have endured in that countryside…”

“Father, wait a minute.”

Adele hastened to cover his mouth in case he said something.

“Greetings, father. This is Duke Tiflis.”

“What? Who?”

The Earl of Cornwall’s eyes widened at the sight of his daughter in her luxurious attire. Callion, who had been standing a foot behind, watching the father-daughter reunion, bowed respectfully.

“My greetings are late. I am Callion Tiflis.”

“Your, Your Grace?”

The Earl of Cornwall immediately knelt and put his head to the floor.

He was his daughter’s husband, so socially, he was his son-in-law, but to Arnold Cornwall, who had been a commoner for forty years, he was also a highly noble aristocrat.

He had seen him from a distance when he was a crown prince, but he could not remember his face because he could not look him in the eye.

He had not accompanied Adelaide on her journey to Tiflis, so this was their first proper meeting.

Callion helped him up, looking bewildered.

“Please rise, Earl. I have come to meet you, my father-in-law, as Adelaide’s husband.”

“I humbly apologize for bringing Your Grace to such a humble place.”

“I’m sorry I came unannounced and startled the Earl.”

“Ah, no, no, please come in.”

The Earl of Cornwall led Callion into the mansion. The Earl was a merchant, so the mansion was filled with rare and expensive ornaments.

Pausing at the entrance to the parlor, Callion turned to Adelaide.

“It’s been a long time since you have met, and I’m sure you have much to talk about, so take your time, while I take a tour of the mansion.”

“Yes. It won’t take long.”

“I will summon the butler.”

The butler came running at the earl’s summons and led Callion away. The Earl of Cornwall, at a loss for words, wiped his face as the footsteps faded into the distance.

“What is it, my dear, what has happened?”

A cold sweat broke out on his face. Adelaide smiled wryly.

“How have you been, father?”

“I have been well, but what has happened to you, that man…… No, I mean, how did you come with him?”

“Well, he’s my husband, so naturally, I had to introduce him.”

“What do you mean, husband…… No, I mean, he’s your husband…….”

The Earl of Cornwall stammered as if he didn’t know what was going on.

Wasn’t this the same daughter who had burst into tears when she left for Tiflis, saying she didn’t want to marry any man but Elkius?

‘What about Elkius then?’

Adelaide smiled at her confused father.

“It’s a long story, but would it be alright if I told you here?”

Sensing his daughter’s intentions, the Earl of Cornwall rose to his feet, locked the parlor door, and drew the velvet curtains.

“Go ahead and tell me.”

Adelaide lowered her voice and spoke in a low, straightforward tone.

“Father, I have decided to take the hand of His Grace.”