Chapter 95

95. An Unwelcome Visitor

“Duke of Lephisto?”

“Yes.”

Callion, puzzled, mulled over Jensen’s words.

The Duke was not someone who would visit without prior notice.

Assuming there must be urgent news given the unexpected visit, Callion spoke up.

“Escort him to the drawing room and let him know I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Oh, and tell Lucid to meet me there as well.”

“Understood.”

As Jensen left the room, Callion donned his coat.

“I wonder what this is about.”

“…You’ll find out once you meet him.”

Adelaide said, straightening his collar. Callion adjusted his loosened cuff buttons and turned to her.

“You should come along.”

“No, thank you. Go ahead.”

“You’ll hear it from me anyway.”

“Sorry, but I don’t want to meet him, Your Grace.”

Her face, now devoid of its faint smile, turned cold. Callion, who had assumed it was a polite refusal, was taken aback.

Is it because he’s Shayla Lephisto’s father? Or perhaps…

High-ranking nobles like the Count of Owens and his wife openly despised her family. The Duke of Lephisto might be among those who felt the same, Callion thought. Realizing this, he decided not to press further.

“Very well, I’ll be back.”

“Take your time.”

She saw him off to the door and closed it behind him. He stared at the closed door for a moment before moving on.

In the drawing room, the Duke of Lephisto put down his teacup and stood up as Callion entered.

“Your Grace.”

“What brings you here without notice, Duke?”

The Duke’s face hardened at Callion’s straightforwardness. As Callion took a seat, he went straight to the point.

“Is there an urgent matter at the palace?”

“Nothing of that sort.”

The Duke cleared his throat lightly and began.

“The Imperial Council has sent a sixth petition today, urging His Majesty to disclose the Regalia. They’ve stated that if there’s no response by the end of this week, they will check the treasury themselves.”

“There is no opposition from the nobles of the Emperor’s faction?”

“There is some opposition, but they can see the tide has turned. It shouldn’t be an issue.”

Nodding at the confident answer, Callion felt a sense of puzzlement.

‘Why did he come to see me? ’

Although it wasn’t light news, it wasn’t urgent enough to warrant an unannounced visit. This could have easily been communicated through Lucid.

The fact that the Duke had come personally, distracting with trivial talk, indicated he had a difficult matter to discuss.

“So, what is it you really want to say?”

Callion asked directly. The Duke’s hand, which was about to lift the teacup, paused mid-air. Taking a sip, he spoke.

“His Majesty is apparently using illness as an excuse to seclude himself. According to his attendants, even the chamberlain hasn’t seen him for days.”

“What does the court physician say?”

“The Emperor refused an examination, so the physician only prescribed medicine based on the symptoms described.”

“So it’s not a serious illness.”

“In my opinion, he’s not truly ill. He’s likely contemplating a way out of this crisis.”

Callion nodded silently, acknowledging the reasonable assumption.

“Regardless, with all the evidence, even the Emperor won’t be able to hold out much longer.”

The Duke’s words were laden with meaning. Callion sipped his tea quietly. The tea tasted extremely astringent. Lowering his voice, the Duke whispered.

“Your Grace, don’t you think it’s time to prepare?”

Callion set his cup down and chuckled. Having lived over a decade as the Crown Prince, the word “prepare” felt rather foreign to him.

“I’m not sure what kind of preparation you mean.”

“Of course, it starts with organizing your surroundings.”

The Duke’s response was quick and prepared. Understanding the implication behind “organizing surroundings,” Callion’s expression darkened. The Duke coughed awkwardly and looked away.

“What I mean is…”

“Your Grace, may I enter?”

A familiar voice interrupted. Lucid’s entrance caused the Duke to frown, and Lucid mirrored the expression.

“What brings you here, Father?”

“I, I have matters to discuss with His Grace. It doesn’t concern you, so don’t interfere and leave.”

“I’m here because His Grace summoned me. Why should I leave at your behest? May I sit, Your Grace?”

“Sit.”

With Callion’s permission, Lucid promptly took a seat.

The Duke’s face showed clear displeasure. He did not appreciate his son, who, despite being with Callion for years, had done nothing for the family’s benefit.

Ignoring his son, the Duke began to speak.

“My daughter is very concerned about you, Your Grace.”

‘…So that’s what this is about.’

Callion had suspected as much when the Duke mentioned “organizing surroundings.”

While he pondered the brazen ambition in the Duke’s words, Lucid interrupted.

“Shayla tends to worry needlessly. She should concern herself with her brother instead of fussing over His Grace, who has plenty of people to look after him.”

“Lucid, don’t interfere.”

“I don’t want to get involved either, but Shayla keeps putting me in the middle of things. Father, you should tell her to stop using me as a go-between.”

Duke Lephisto’s hand shot up, ready to strike his son, but was halted by the crash of a shattered teacup.

“The teacup fell,” Callion remarked calmly.

“I’ll clean it up,” Lucid offered.

“No need, let the maid handle it.”

With attention diverted, Callion stared impassively at the Duke. He had known of the Duke’s arrogance, but this level of disrespect was intolerable.

‘Perhaps Shayla’s persistence is fueled by her father.’

Callion smoothly shifted the topic.

“By the way, I heard the new Pope’s inauguration is next week. Have you received an invitation?”

“Not yet, but it should arrive soon.”

“They plan to keep it modest due to recent events.”

“If His Majesty attends, they’ll have to expand the event.”

Though it was unlikely the Emperor would attend, it would be an opportunity to humiliate him publicly if he did. Callion, familiar with the Duke’s hasty tendencies, raised an eyebrow.

“The Duchess of Howard has close ties with the church, so I assume she and Shayla will attend.”

Ignoring the Callion’s discomfort, the Duke mentioned Shayla again, causing Lucid’s expression to turn sour. Callion, signaling Lucid to stay calm, asked naturally.

“Will you not attend, Duke?”

“If I receive an invitation, I must go.”

“Excellent.”

Callion smiled.

“I’ve asked Cardinal Dorfman to officiate my marriage ceremony after the inauguration. It would be a great honor for the new pope to conduct his first ceremony.”

“Pardon?”

“I was looking for someone to be a witness, and since you’ll be attending, it would ease my worries. Will you be my witness?”

The Duke was too stunned to speak, and Lucid seized the moment.

“That’s an incredible honor. What are you waiting for, Father? Accept it.”

“….”

“Is it difficult for you?”

Callion asked softly. The Duke swallowed hard, his voice rough.

“I’ve always thought of you as a son, Your Grace.”

“Thank you. I’ve always thought of Shayla as a sister.”

“Are you still upset about the broken engagement?”

“I hardly remember it.”

Callion’s indifferent tone showed no emotion. The Duke bit his tongue.

He had believed Shayla’s timid nature was why she hadn’t secured Callion’s affection. Knowing she wasn’t bold enough to pursue a married man, he intervened himself. Now, he realizes he might have been mistaken.

“Is Shayla not good enough?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then…”

“I have someone else in my heart, that’s all.”

“…”

The Duke felt as if the ground had crumbled beneath him.

If Callion had rejected Shayla out of pride over the broken engagement, there would still be hope. But knowing Callion’s steadfast nature, the Duke understood there was no chance to change his mind once he loved another woman.

He clenched his fists, incredulous that a mere merchant’s daughter had usurped the place of a duke’s daughter. Unable to fathom that such a woman could ever enter the palace, he resolved to view it as a youthful indiscretion.

“Your Grace, in the future…”

“Let’s go, Father.”

Lucid interrupted his last attempt. The Duke glared resentfully at his son for constantly thwarting him.

Callion did not reprimand Lucid or inquire about the interrupted statement. The Duke, unable to achieve his goal, stood reluctantly.

“…I’ll take my leave, Your Grace.”

“Travel safely. Lucid, see the Duke out.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Lucid rose and, with a quick glance at his father, led him out of the room.