Chapter 66

66. The Road Not to Take

Adelaide, who had whiled away the time with trivial chatter, returned to the mansion after seeing off Roella Changeling.

She waved to Callion, who was sitting on the terrace overlooking the pavilion, leafing through a newspaper. Adelaide approached him, and Callion, lowering the newspaper, took her by the waist and seated her beside him.

“Has Lady Changeling returned?”

“Yes. I had Ahio escort her to the mansion.”

“Good.”

Callion lightly brushed aside Adelaide’s tousled hair in the wind. Adelaide relayed what she had heard from Roella.

“They’ve decided to permanently expel the Marquis of Flanders from the Imperial Council.”

“I see the Marquis has relented.”

“I suppose he had no choice, given Duke Howard’s insistence.”

Adelaide replied lightly and picked up the newspaper Callion had set down. It was a four-page paper published twice a month.

The topic of the paper was the party. An article detailing how the information was gathered and what happened at the party took up two pages.

“Subtle Conflict Between the Emperor and the Duke of Tiflis?!”

“Exclusive Release of Dress Information for the Duchess of Tiflis”

“The Truth Behind the Scuffle Between the Duchess and the Marquis of Flanders!”

Under the provocative titles, the articles were filled with testimony and speculation from “unidentified sources.”

“Madame Daisy would be pleased to see this.”

Adelaide chuckled as she read the article.

She knew there were people who sold stories for money, but what a bunch of nonsense!Shaking her head, she flipped to the back page, which was an editorial by Viscount Valyev. It was a gossip paper, but sometimes noblemen who had no other outlet for their opinions would write like this.

Viscount Valyev’s editorial detailed the situation in the south as she had heard it from Roella Changeling.

Severe droughts and food shortages due to sandstorms, yet taxes remained unchanged. The criticism centered around the palace’s neglect of the south and its handling of the council.

Adelaide read the editorial carefully and put the paper down. Callion spoke up, as if to supplement the editorial.

“It seems the food situation in the south is dire, according to Lady Roella. They’ve requested food aid, promising to repay with interest once conditions improve.”

“And Elkius? Shouldn’t they seek help from the Emperor first?”

“My uncle refused, saying that the imperial coffers are not deep enough and that this is not a problem that can be solved by temporary food aid.”

“That’s a plausible excuse.”

Adelaide sneered. Elkius intended to use this opportunity to dry up the seeds of rebellion in the south.

Southerners were not submissive to the palace and nobility. Perhaps because they were originally from another country, they had a different temperament than imperial subjects.

As a result, even Haywards Changeling, who had been trusted by the late Emperor, was not as well supported as he should have been.

“What do you think we should do?”

“Of course, we should provide aid.”

“Aid may not be difficult, but I agree that it may not be a fundamental solution.”

Adelaide pursed her lips at Callion’s sigh. She knew how to help the south, but whether she could act on it was the issue.

“Why don’t you go to the South yourself, Your Grace?”

“Me? Personally?”

“Yes. The southerners feel abandoned by the imperial family, and if you travelled there yourself with a cargo of provisions, you’d gain their trust.”

Callion narrowed his brow. Adelaide continued.

“And a trader I met once told me that there is a water source at the headwaters of the Slani River.”

“I heard that the Slani River has dried up because of the drought.”

“Maybe there’s an underground water source they haven’t discovered yet.”

Adelaide said, and she pulled out a map of the entire south. Pretending to study the terrain in the south, she pointed to a spot.

“I think it’s around here, from what I remember. It’s gravelly around here, so it won’t be easy, but if we dig deep enough, we might find something.”

Callion glanced at Adelaide, his eyes twinkling.

He thought it foolish to go through hardships based on a merchant’s hearsay, but for some reason, he felt she might be right.

Just like when Adelaide discovered the sapphire mines.

“I’ll see Lord Changeling and we’ll discuss it.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Hm…….”

The darkened room was thick with smoke. An animalistic moan rose from the smoke. The Marquis of Flanders, his right hand bandaged, downed the bottle of wine he held in his left hand.

“The motion to permanently ban the Marquis of Flanders from the council has been passed.”

With a crash, the bottle smashed against the wall and shattered. Sharp shards were scattered in all directions. His anger was unabated.

“I-I’m deeply sorry. It seems writing with your right hand would be difficult.”

That was the quack doctor’s diagnosis. It was over. His life is over.

It is no secret that he had been beaten to a pulp for attempting to humiliate the Duchess of Tiflis on the day of the party and had been banished permanently from the council.

His wife, who had gone to her parents’ house for childbirth, might still be unaware of this news, but rumors spread like wildfire.

“Grr…”

The Marquis of Flanders ran a hand through his hair. He couldn’t accept the fact that he, who had once held power second only to the Emperor, had fallen so low in an instant.

“The son of a b*tch…….”

This is all because of Callion. If that bastard hadn’t appeared, he would still be enjoying all the wealth and power as the Emperor’s closest confidant.

He grabbed a handful of Velido leaves and threw them into the brazier. It crackled, and he breathed in the smoke as it burned, feeling much better.

Ding. A gentle knock sounded outside the door.

“Y-Your Lordship, a courier has arrived.”

“A courier?”

The marquis’s butler dropped the paper and scurried away. After a few fumbles, the Marquis unfolded the paper.

『Marquis of Flanders.

I am very sorry for what has happened.

Though you made a mistake, I do not consider it grave enough to warrant such consequences.

After personally sending a letter of protest to the council, I couldn’t find a way to save the marquis, as they wouldn’t listen.

I knows well how just and loyal you are.

But you don’t know how sad it is that I can’t have the Marquis by my side because of those who disapprove of your relationship with him.

I can’t begin to imagine the pain you must be feeling.

It is right that the Duke of Tiflis should be punished, but I am afraid that his supporters are not few, and his army is too strong to be ignored.

Moreover, I cannot tell you how troubled I am by the strange rumours that are spreading about Adelaide Cornwell and me.

It is true that I was once close to the Earl of Cornwall through my friendship with his daughter, but I have not seen her since she became the wife of the Duke of Tiflis.

Perhaps because of this, or perhaps out of resentment towards me, it seems Adelaide is trying to drive a wedge between the Duke and me.

In a way, she is to blame for all of this, and I fear it will cause great anger.

I hope that the Marquis will be able to ease my worries so that he can return to the palace as soon as possible.

Elkius Isulandt. 』

Next to the Emperor’s name was his own signature. The Marquis of Flanders read and re-read the Emperor’s letter.

The Emperor was right. This was all a trap set by Adelaide Cornwall. It was clear that she was resentful of not being empress and wanted to harm the emperor.

His presence at the Emperor’s side would be a hindrance to her plans, so she has concocted this to get rid of him and take revenge on him.

Adelaide Conwall. First and foremost, he needed to rid himself of her.

“I won’t let this go…”

His eyes, clouded with alcohol, glinted fiercely.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After serving his ten days’ probation, Callion hastened his departure for the south. He was troubled by the thought of leaving Adelaide behind, but there was no better opportunity to win the hearts of the Southerners.

“Farewell.”

Adelaide, seeing him off, smiled brightly. Callion asked with a worried expression.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t even step foot outside the mansion.”

No matter how quickly they travelled, it would be over a month. It might take more than two months to find a water source that might or might not exist.

He had only sent out a minimal force, and although he had left Julian and Ahio to protect her, he still couldn’t shake off his worries.

He wanted to go with her, but the journey was too far and perilous for her fragile body. Moreover, it was evident that the southerners wouldn’t welcome Adelaide, so Calleon couldn’t insist.

“Please be careful.”

At Adelaide’s insistence, Callion pulled her close.

It was necessary and not particularly dangerous, so why couldn’t he shake off his anxiety?

Turning to Julian Uclaire, Callion spoke in a strong tone.

“Julian, if anything happens to the Duchess, I will hold you responsible. Do not take your eyes off her at any time.”

“……I understand.”

As far as Adelaide was concerned, Lucid was more trustworthy than Julian; Julian was better at assessing situations and commanding troops in emergencies.

Callion reluctantly got on the horse, thinking it would be okay since Ahio was there too. Lord Changeling was waiting outside the mansion, and they had to get going.

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll come back as soon as possible, so take care.”

“Yes. You too.”

After saying goodbye, Callion kicked his horse’s rump.

His horse’s pace seemed unusually quick today as he left the manor.