Chapter 44
For a while, Angelica sat motionless, her head bowed. It seemed she wouldn’t move until Kalik spoke first.
The silence, which she could not see but could feel, pricked at her. Eventually, she offered another apology.
“I’m sorry.”
This was her third apology. Kalik waited for her to elaborate, thinking her actions must have warranted an apology. Without an explanation, he didn’t know how to respond.
If she had come all this way to apologize, it must have been either more serious than he imagined or something he hadn’t considered.
“I misspoke.”
“Misspoke?”
For a moment, Marie’s face flashed through his mind.
Kalik started to say something but closed his mouth and dismissed Vincent and Dawson.
As soon as Dawson left, Angelica bent over the table, almost pressing her forehead against it. Then she straightened up and wrinkled her nose as she spoke.
“I accidentally told her your memory had returned!”
She said it in the same tone as someone confessing to eating someone else’s snack.
It took Kalik a few seconds to process her words. When Angelica tried to confirm her statement again, he abruptly stood up.
“It was you?”
“She caught on so quickly, you know?”
“…You…”
“I’m sorry!”
If a simple apology would have sufficed, she wouldn’t have come all the way here. Besides, not all apologies resulted in forgiveness—especially not in situations like this.
“But it’s too early to get angry.”
Angelica now subtly moved to hide behind the sofa.
“Don’t tell me you let it slip to someone else too.”
“Uh…?”
Her wavering eyes gave her away. Kalik caught on and was about to demand who else knew when, by some stroke of luck, they were interrupted.
Of course, it wasn’t Kalik Escael who was lucky—it was Angelica Hinsward.
“Captain! There’s an emergency meeting regarding the Orjoua inspection!”
Messengers were going around summoning all the commanders from the training grounds. Angelica, hearing that only commanders were required, quickly stepped back. She didn’t forget to make her excuses as she did.
“For the record, I didn’t tell anyone else besides Lady Odillia!”
Kalik’s grip tightened as he buckled his sword.
“Really! I swear! My slip-up was only in front of Marie!”
“Fine. We’ll talk about this later.”
Angelica felt relieved as she watched Kalik say they’d talk after he returned. No matter how strong-hearted she was, she couldn’t easily say she met Albrecht Odillia.
And since she hadn’t actually told him that Kalik’s memory had returned, she thought it was okay not to mention it.
This meant Albrecht believed Kalik still had amnesia.
“It’s fine. I didn’t tell the most important person.”
So, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
“I don’t need to attend the meeting, do I? I’ll submit my report later.”
When the Emperor said this, all the attendants withdrew. Shortly after, a man with a composed and dignified air entered the Emperor’s private chamber. He was one of the few who could come and go without explicit orders.
“Sit comfortably.”
The Emperor didn’t even look at the man as he gestured toward the sofa. He had only one document left to review. Once finished, he could rest for half a day.
“Finally, I’ll be able to catch my breath.”
Emperor Bernhardt had been feeling happy in many ways over the past few days—work-wise, health-wise, and mentally.
It had been so long since he’d had such a peaceful day.
“You certainly look better.”
“Don’t I? The troublemakers have been quiet.”
“Sorry for contributing to your stress all this time.”
“Well, if you’re aware, behave better in the future. Why do you keep fighting like children? I’m tired of breaking up fights.”
“I have no excuses, even if I had ten mouths.”
He had called an old friend to boast about his newfound peace of mind.
It was peace after 30 years. A resolution after 30 years. Something he had deemed impossible in his lifetime was suddenly being resolved smoothly due to an unexpected accident.
It was like magic. Like trickery. A stroke of luck that felt like divine grace bestowed upon the Emperor out of pity.
“I admit, things have changed.”
“If it’s for the better, there’s nothing more to ask for. Can I stop worrying now?”
“You never should have worried in the first place.”
Peter Escael was quiet and concise. This meant his conversations were free of unnecessary embellishments. No matter who he spoke with, he always tried to convey his thoughts with precise and clear words. His tone was also calm and monotone.
Perhaps because of this, the Emperor sometimes preferred discussing certain topics with Peter and others with Albrecht. It was a way of distinguishing between subjects that required agreement and those that needed advice or counsel.
Today’s visit was for counsel. Albrecht hadn’t been called. It was a matter that needed advice and discussion.
“It’s been out of our hands for a long time. We should let the children handle their own issues. That’s our duty as adults.”
“I like sound arguments.”
Bernhardt smiled contentedly. He hadn’t been this pleased with Peter’s words in a long time. It felt great to finally be on the same page with him. On top of that, the prospect of reconciliation between the Escaels and the Odillias made him feel like he could fly.
For an Emperor ruling over vast territories, his happiness was rather modest.
To an outsider, his joy might seem as intense as if he had conquered a troublesome barbarian tribe.
But their sweet atmosphere didn’t last long.
An uninvited guest barged in.
“Leaving me out again!”
The intruder was none other than Albrecht.
Sweating profusely, he reeked of metal. It seemed he had rushed over after hearing about their meeting while making rounds at the armory.
“I left you out because I could.”
“Well, aren’t you eloquent.”
“Look, I’m the Emperor. Before being your friend, I am the ruler of the Empire…”
“Well then, Your Majesty, stick to ruling the land and stay out of other people’s family affairs.”
“Bring me a rope! I’ll tie him up and feed him to the fish today to calm my nerves!”
Peter separated the two bickering men and gestured toward Albrecht. No matter how much Albrecht was known for his peculiar nickname, “the petty yet dashing man,” he wasn’t so petty as to interfere just because his rival was receiving secret favor.
If he was interfering, it had to be for a reason.
“Fine. Then let’s hear your last words before you become fish food.”
“Last words?”
The Emperor sat Albrecht down, who had been standing in the middle of the room. Finally, the view became less obstructed.
“You’ve lived long enough—three years is plenty. Now let go of my daughter.”
“What are you talking about? What kind of last words are these?”
“Stop forcing them to stay together and let them go their separate ways before they waste more of their youth.”
The one who tied them together should also be the one to untie them. Albrecht spoke with an uncharacteristic amount of civility.
Even so, to Peter, it sounded like calm yet rude nonsense. The content, however, made Bernhardt’s eyes widen in surprise.
“What do you mean by ‘waste’? I heard they were doing well together.”
“Who? Who said that nonsense?”
“Do you think you’re the only parent?”
“Doing well? A man who doesn’t even remember their accidental marriage? Even a passing dog would laugh! So, is he doing so well that he brought in an old flame?”
“An old flame? Where are you getting such absurd ideas?”
“Didn’t your wife personally invite her? If she liked her so much, she should’ve married her off to him instead of ruining my daughter’s life!”
Albrecht crossed his legs arrogantly, even in front of the Emperor, and glared.
Though his words were crude and harsh, his dry lips were evidence that he was nervous.
The Emperor, accustomed to such disputes, tried to sort things out himself but eventually gave up.
“There’s a lot of unexpected information flying around right now. First, explain this memory loss. Is it amnesia, forgetfulness, or insanity?”
Birds of a feather flock together. Like attracts like.
Peter, watching the Emperor’s casual insults, turned his gaze to Albrecht, the instigator.
“What’s the difference between the three? They all mean the same thing. Forgetfulness is bad, insanity is a problem, and amnesia is a complete disaster!”
“What…amnesia?!”
“Don’t ask me. He’s not my son.”
“Is it true?”
Bernhardt turned to Peter for confirmation. While he didn’t distrust Albrecht, this wasn’t just a family matter, so it needed to be verified.
Peter, however, responded with his usual composure, simply blinking once to indicate that Albrecht’s words were true.
“Wait a moment. That changes everything!”
“I could tolerate a political marriage. But as a father, I can’t stand to see my daughter abandoned twice. I won’t allow it!”
Finally, Peter raised his voice in frustration.
“Who’s abandoning who…”
“Then what do you call the last three years?”
“That’s between them. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere.”
“Not all outsiders are the same. As her father, I want my daughter to be loved and live happily. Don’t you feel the same?”
“If that’s how you feel, then you should leave them alone.”
“And if his memory returns? Will everything go back to how it was?”
At this point, Bernhardt raised his hand again to interrupt. He wanted to bring up a sudden question to break the escalating tension.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Gnfjfjfj
Şu adı albert midir nedir ne zıkkım herifle violanın sorunu ne? Nys bir liseli kavgasından dolayı nerdeyse iç savaş çıkaracak iki aileden aklı başında bireyler beklemiyorum ztn. İmparatora sabır diliyorum. Bunlarla uğraşacağı vakitte gider iki ülke daha fethederdi garibim.