Chapter 99

99. The Unexpected Proposal (1)

“Adele? What’s wrong?”

Callion tilted his head as he noticed Adelaide pause on the carriage step. She finally climbed aboard and replied.

“Oh, I thought I saw Duke Lephisto’s carriage.”

“Duke Lephisto’s carriage?”

Callion opened the curtain and looked in the direction Adelaide pointed. In the distance, a carriage was speeding away. As she said, it bore the crest of House Lephisto.

“It looks like it’s heading to the palace.”

“Didn’t they say there were no meetings today?”

“That’s what I heard.”

He closed the curtain and nodded.

Perhaps he was meeting with his uncle.

An uneasy feeling settled over him. The conversation with Duke Lephisto a few days ago hadn’t gone smoothly.

After his plan to bring Shayla into the fold had fallen apart, he vented his anger on Lucid and left. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t harbor other intentions.

Even so, it was unlikely that House Lephisto, which had recently opposed Elkius, would suddenly side with the emperor.

‘I guess rejecting Shayla really disappointed him.’

He didn’t want to indulge in unnecessary suspicion, but it seemed prudent to keep an eye on Duke Lephisto’s movements.

“Your Grace, are you listening to me?”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“I asked what you discussed with Duke Lephisto on the day he visited.”

Adelaide’s direct question caught Callion off guard. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

She had been curious ever since that day and had been waiting for an opportunity to ask.

“We didn’t talk about much.”

Her raised eyebrows indicated she didn’t believe his casual lie. Her probing gaze made Callion look away.

He fidgeted with the curtain tassels, evading her eyes, but eventually, her persistence won out.

“I asked the Duke to be a witness at our marriage ceremony.”

“What?”

Adelaide’s eyes widened in shock.

Who did he ask to do what?

She momentarily wondered if she had misheard, but his next words dispelled any doubt.

“He refused. I didn’t ask twice.”

She stared at him, dumbfounded.

Callion could be surprisingly bold at times, but asking Duke Lephisto to witness their marriage was like telling him to his face that he was abandoning Shayla Lephisto.

“Why did you do that? Duke Lephisto is someone incredibly important to you…”

“Because you are more important to me.”

Ah.

Emotion surged within her. Callion continued gently, seeing her struggle to compose herself.

“I thought I had made my intentions clear, but it seems it wasn’t enough for the Duke. So, I made it unequivocally clear this time.”

Adelaide could only move her lips silently.

She worried that Duke Lephisto might turn against him because of this, but surely Callion had considered that.

He wasn’t the type to act recklessly. Knowing this, she chose not to argue further. He spoke kindly, seeing her complicated expression.

“If he would turn his back on me for this, then he would leave me for any reason eventually. So don’t think it’s your fault.”

“…Yes.”

Adelaide could only nod.

Callion always looked out for her, anticipating her needs. This time was no different.

As Elkius’s reputation worsened, Callion’s grew. The Imperial Council, commoners, and minor nobles began to see him as the next emperor.

Naturally, more people approached him, and some were displeased with his commoner-born bride.

This urgency for the marriage was partly why.

Before the struggle for the throne intensified, Callion wanted to secure Adelaide’s position and silence any further gossip by following proper protocol.

“Your Grace, we have arrived.”

The carriage stopped before a modest residence. As usual, Callion was the first to alight, extending his hand to her.

“Careful as you step down.”

As soon as she took his hand and stepped down, a familiar man rushed out.

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

“How have you been, Earl Changeling?”

Earl Changeling warmly greeted them. Dressed in light indoor clothing, he led them inside.

“Forgive us for arriving unannounced.”

“Think nothing of it. I was feeling quite lonely, and your visit is a welcome distraction.”

The Earl chuckled, his relaxed attire making him seem more like a kind elder than a commanding general.

“I hope we haven’t inconvenienced you.”

“Not at all. There’s no Imperial Council meeting today, nor any other engagements, so you needn’t worry.”

“I’m glad if that’s the case. I thought you had a meeting because Duke Lephisto was in a hurry to go to the imperial palace.”

“Has Duke Lephisto entered the palace?”

Earl Changeling tilted his head at Callion’s question.

“I’m not certain, but I saw his carriage on the way here, and it seemed to be heading towards the palace.”

“Hmm, I haven’t received any notifications.”

“I see.”

So it wasn’t an official visit.

Callion’s brow furrowed slightly. The earl spoke cautiously.

“I heard Duke Tulonel had an audience with His Majesty last night.”

“Isn’t His Majesty supposed to be bedridden?”

“Whether he was truly ill or using it as an excuse, only His Majesty would know.”

Earl Changeling replied cynically.

“The Imperial Council has given him until the day after tomorrow to respond. If he doesn’t, they’ll force open the treasury to inspect the regalia. So, he will likely make an appearance.”

“That makes sense.”

Callion agreed softly. Though his doubts weren’t entirely dispelled, their meeting wasn’t meant to discuss palace politics. He decided to put thoughts of Duke Lephisto aside.

Straightening his posture, Callion got to the point.

“I came to ask a favor of you, Earl.”

“Anything, Your Grace.”

“Following Cardinal Dorfman’s inauguration, I plan to hold a wedding ceremony with the Duchess. Would you be willing to be our witness?”

Adelaide instinctively clutched her dress. She guessed the Earl might not welcome the request.

As expected, the Earl did not answer immediately.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask a higher-ranking noble?”

“What matters is not the status, but that you are someone who would genuinely bless our union.”

The Earl looked between them and then smiled.

And regardless of his title, it was clear that Haywards Changeling was the one who would best understand Callion’s heart. He, too, had to overcome many obstacles to find his wife.

“Such an honorable request cannot be refused. It’s a role I will gladly accept.”

“Thank you, Lord Changeling.”

Callion smiled brightly at the willing acceptance. The Earl spoke kindly.

“If my wife were here, she would help with the preparations, but I’m afraid I’m not much use in that regard.”

“Given the timing, we plan to hold a quiet ceremony among ourselves. So, there’s no need to worry about that.”

“I understand. Congratulations, Your Grace.”

“Thank you.”

Adelaide, who had been quietly listening, responded with an awkward smile. If Callion couldn’t be swayed, there was no point in adding more.

Having achieved his goal, Callion stood up.

“We have a lot to prepare, so we must take our leave.”

“Go ahead. I’ll contact you if there’s urgent news.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Summoned to the palace by the Emperor, Duke Lephisto paced nervously in the empty audience hall.

‘Why did he call me?’

It was the first time the Emperor had requested a private audience.

Duke Lephisto was among the most antagonistic towards the Emperor in the anti-royalist faction. When Elkius ascended to the throne, he stripped the Duke of his position as head of the Imperial Council, giving it to Marquis Flanders instead.

To survive, he had endured humiliation, believing that once Callion reclaimed the throne and Shayla became Empress, his family’s lost prestige would be restored.

Even when most nobles bowed to the new emperor, he stood firm. With Lucid risking everything to follow Callion to Tiflis, he expected Callion to repay the favor.

But realizing that Callion did not share his view left him isolated.

“Duke Lephisto.”

“Your Majesty.”

The Duke bowed as Emperor Elkius entered the audience hall alone, without attendants.

“Sit down.”

Duke Lephisto sat with a rigid expression.

‘So, the illness was a ruse.’

He scrutinized the healthy-looking Emperor, trying to guess his intentions.

He suspected the Emperor wanted to persuade him to prevent the Imperial Council from inspecting the regalia. Just as he thought that, Elkius handed him a golden envelope.

“Please open it.”

“What is this?”

“A proposal from Elkius Isulandt to Shayla Lephisto.”