Chapter 67

67. A Dangerous Invitation

Jensen left the room, leaving Elkius’s letter on the table. Adelaide stared at the letter in disgust.

It’s probably just nonsense.

She stared at it for a long time, feeling like she knew what it said without reading it, then reluctantly opened it.

『Dear Duchess Tiflis

I am deeply concerned about what happened at the party.

I can only imagine that you must be deeply disturbed by such a disgraceful incident at a time when you were honoring Duke Tiflis.

His loyalty to the Empire is greatly valued.

Once again, he has traveled far and wide on my behalf, and I will reward him greatly for his efforts.

In three days, I will send a carriage to your mansion, and you may enter the palace.

Elkius Isulandt. 』

“…….”

She crumpled the letter in annoyance, having read the short paragraph in one swift motion.

How very Elkius of him to send her a visit now that Callion has left the capital.

‘I will send a carriage to your mansion, and you may enter the palace.’

The elaborate reasons written in the letter were all just excuses. The truth was clear: he intended to mock her while Callion was away. She didn’t want to go, but there was no way to refuse when he was sending a carriage all the way.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t expected this, and if she was going to see Elkius anyway, she might as well do it when Callion wasn’t around.

Sighing, Adelaide rolled her eyes. There was nowhere else to turn for help.

Callion had told her to talk to Julian if she had a problem, but he wasn’t a reliable confidant when it came to Elkius.

Adelaide unfolded a piece of paper she had been contemplating. There was only one person who could handle this situation skillfully.

When Adelaide finished writing, she called Margaret over.

“Margaret, I need to get some flowers.”

Margaret, accustomed to flower errands, accepted the letter without question.

“On your way out, will you call for Lord Ahio?”

“Yes.”

Not long after Margaret had left the room, Ahio knocked on the door.

“You called, Your Grace.”

“Sir Ahio, I have a favor to ask.”

“At your service.”

Adelaide showed him Elkius’s letter. After reading it, Ahio frowned.

“Do you really have to go?”

“It’s the Emperor’s order. Refusing would put the Duke in a difficult position.”

“What can I do?”

Adelaide said, handing him a sealed envelope.

“I want you to follow the carriage without being seen. If anything happens to me, you can open this then.”

“Understood.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Meanwhile, Callion was stranded near the capital. A wooden bridge on the road to the south had broken, and he was stuck until it could be repaired.

The town was small, with only one inn, and he had given it up to a southern nobleman and stayed in the barracks with his soldiers.

After a supper of mulligan stew, Callion left the barracks. The night was still and quiet around him. He crouched down near the bridge under repair and looked out over the rushing river.

Everything would be fine.

His heart pounded strangely in his chest. He didn’t believe in premonitions, but something was different this time. Even as he reassured himself that she would be okay with Julian and Ahio, it was hard to shake the uneasy feeling that was creeping over him.

‘Should I go and see her for a moment? ‘

Sighing, Callion rubbed his face.

It had only been a week since they parted, yet he already missed her terribly. What would he do with the remaining days apart?

He could feel it now that they were apart, how deeply she’d slipped into his heart.

“Can’t sleep?”

Interrupting his thoughts, a voice cut through the silence. Haywards, dressed informally, approached him.

“Why are you out instead of sleeping?”

“I’m getting old, and I’m losing sleep.”

Hayward chuckled and sat down beside him.

“We’re causing you trouble, Duke.”

“No.”

Callion held out his hand. Hayward smiled knowingly.

“In truth, it wasn’t necessary for you to come, but we didn’t object.”

“….Lord Hayward.”

“The South is deeply distrustful of the imperial family, having been ignored by the centre all their lives, so if the Duke wants to win the South, he’ll have to go through this much trouble.”

“I know.”

Callion replied calmly. He had been stung, but he didn’t think the experienced Hayward would be unaware. It was more comforting to think that he knew what he was doing and was travelling with him.

Even before he announced his intention to support the South, Hayward had been favourable to him. Callion assumed it was his way of honouring the late Emperor.

“I also spoke with Duke Howard, and the late Emperor values you very much.”

“…….”

“His Majesty even instructed me to take good care of you. Although I couldn’t comply with that order.”

“It’s because I’m not good enough.”

Callion said without delay. Haywards Changeling shook his head silently.

“At that time, you were too far away, and you lacked experience to deal with such matters. Even if you had gathered soldiers and come to the capital, nothing would have changed.”

“Nevertheless, I am an unfilial and disloyal person who did not step forward even after witnessing my father’s death.”

“You’ve handled it well. Sometimes enduring disgrace and lowering oneself can be helpful.”

Haywards Changeling stroked Callion’s wounds with the affection of a child. Somehow, it seemed to lift his mood.

“I don’t know if this is the right decision, and if anyone gets hurt because of me…….”

“Is it because of the Duchess?”

The question cut to the core, and Callion bit his lip in response.

‘Adelaide Cornwall does not deserve to be Empress. ‘

If Adelaide did not qualify to be an Empress, then he had no reason to become an Emperor. However, obtaining the throne was safer to protect Adelaide from Elkius.

He only worried that even if he became Emperor, people might abandon her.

What meaning would it have to be Emperor without Adelaide?

Changeling spoke, his face dark.

“Roella told me that the Duchess is very attentive and sweet.”

Callion smiled faintly at the praise for Adelaide.

‘Attentive and sweet’, he thought, for someone so wise, so bold, and yet so full of tears.

“I was worried that you had married into a heartless marriage, but this time I know that’s not the case.”

“I…… need her.”

Callion’s voice trembled faintly. He repeated the words to himself. Only then did he know for sure.

It wasn’t ‘love’, it was ‘need’.

To love is not the same as to need. Not everyone may loves air. But everyone needs air.

Adelaide was like air to him. Without her, he could not breathe, and without her, he would die.

He wondered if anyone would understand.

To others, he must be a poor wastrel, taking as his wife the daughter of an enemy who helped murder his father.

They wouldn’t understand, and he didn’t want to try to convince them. It only pained Callion that her sympathy for him should lead to condemnation of her.

“I understand.”

He looked up at Changeling’s words.

“My wife was the daughter of a barbarian.”

Callion’s shoulders slumped at the unexpected confession. It was an open secret that Haywards Changeling’s wife was a barbarian.

“Her father was the chief of a desert tribe. He came south in search of water, fell in love with a woman, had a child, and that was my wife.”

The prevailing opinion was that Haywards’ wife was the reason he was never accepted. The fact that Changeling’s wife never made any public appearances supports the speculation.

“I met her in the river. I went to wash my wounds and saw her taking a bath, and it was love at first sight.”

“Your wife must have been surprised.”

Howard chuckled at the flattering remark.

“At first, she thought I was a barbarian.”

“My father was very much against it, but in the end he couldn’t break my stubbornness. But it wasn’t easy. I could tolerate everything else, but I couldn’t bear ignoring my wife.”

“…….”

“So, when I was younger, I was only looking for battlefields. I believed that once I made a name for myself and gained a reputation, people would recognise my wife.”

It was similar to his current situation. Callion understood why Haywards was telling this story.

“But it didn’t work out that way. As my fame grew, so did the criticism of my wife. She said she was standing in my way.”

“…….”

“I found out later that she was having a really hard time while I was out there trying to make a name for myself, and now I wonder if I should have stayed by her side instead of going to war.”

“…….”

“Some people say I would have been more important if it weren’t for my wife, but I’m very fortunate to have her.”

Changeling brushed off his seat and stood up.

“It will take a few more days for the bridge to be completely repaired. Will anything happen if we’re a bit late?”

Callion watched the Changeling’s back as he walked away.

He missed Adelaide.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Adelaide looked at her reflection in the mirror. She’d made herself up so Elkius wouldn’t notice, but she felt like it wasn’t enough.

“I must have applied the ointment too hard.”

Adelaide grumbled, pointing to the fading bruise on her wrist. Margaret frowned.

“Don’t say that. It’s almost completely healed now.”

“Just saying.”

Bruises or not, it didn’t matter, Elkius would wield them at will. Adelaide exited the mansion, her black pearl necklace stretching to the brim.

“Your Highness, I have come to serve you.”

The man, an imperial chamberlain, bowed politely. A carriage sent by the imperial court was parked in front of the stairs. The black carriage bore no insignia or emblems.

“We’ve been ordered to bring you quietly.”

Even the mighty Elkius cares about people’s perception.

Adelaide smiled bitterly and climbed into the carriage. When she spotted Ahio among the departing crowd, she waved him over.

“We shall depart.”