Chapter 12 – Part 10

The footsteps in the dark, damp cell sounded muffled and eerie.

Isaac opened his eyes and slowly pushed himself up.

He’d been in prison for days, but sleeping on the cold floor hadn’t gotten any easier.

He frowned and turned his stiff body this way and that.

“My Lord, a visitor.”

The voice was polite, and Isaac nodded.

“I want to take a bath.”

His unwashed face was grimy, and his red hair was greasy and unruly.

He had to make do with what he had, but it was hard not to be cowardly when he enjoyed a plush bed and warm bath every day.

“I apologize. Instead, I will prepare a towel for you.”

Still, as an aristocrat of the empire, the attitude of the guard was not so bad.

He often turned a blind eye to the occasional luxury meals that were brought in.

Isaac took the warm, soaked washcloth from the guard and dabbed at his face and neck.

He was bothered by the unpleasant odor emanating from his body, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“……Your Majesty does not intend to let me live.”

“…….”

“Isn’t that right? So you’re treating me as a criminal even before the trial.”

Isaac murmured sorrowfully, as if trying to elicit sympathy, but the guard had nothing more to say. He hesitated for a moment before replying.

“Treason and attempted treason are serious charges in themselves.”

“Unless the charges are untrue.”

“…….”

“What kind of son treats his father like this.”

Isaac sighed softly, slid a used wipe onto a tray and pushed it toward the mess hall.

“Is it Callian who has come to see me?”

“He’s the butler of the Marquis.”

“Let him in.”

Even though he was now wearing shabby prisoner’s clothes and confined to a prison cell, there was no change in the way Isaac commanded people. And the guard, as if it were natural, bowed his head without a word.

Even in prison, Isaac still acted like he was in control. The guard, while not supposed to follow the orders of a prisoner, understood that the man in front of him was no ordinary noble.

Soon after, the butler of the Marquis entered the underground dungeon.

He glanced at Isaac, who was leaning against the wall, and bowed respectfully.

“I have brought clothes and food for you, my lord. You can receive them as soon as the inspection is over.”

“Very well. How is the manor?”

“With the young Viscount there, there are no major issues.”

Isaac nodded in silence.

Although he had been excluded from the line of succession due to being the second son, he had still managed his own territory well. There probably wouldn’t be any major problems.

“Take good care of him. Report any problems to me.”

“Yes, my lord, but…”

The butler lowered his voice, glancing at the guard cautiously.

“Recently, Lord Callian has been spending a lot of time with the young lady.”

It wasn’t strange for the daughter, left alone after her father’s imprisonment, to rely on her uncle.

But the old butler was not one to say anything unnecessary.

It must mean something was up between them.

Isaac raised one eyebrow but said nothing.

“I see.”

“Yes. It seems that after spending time with her uncle, the young lady feels comforted.”

“I see. Callian cared for Alaina, so he has every right to be concerned.”

“Moreover, it seems that the young lady is quite worried about her upcoming birthday. She spends a lot of time in her late mother’s room.”

“In Isabelle’s room?”

Isaac looked puzzled at the butler’s report. Alaina rarely visited Isabelle’s room.

“…It seems I haven’t understood that child’s feelings.”

Isaac sighed like a concerned father, but his true feelings were different.

No matter how well Callian complied with him, the longer he was detained, the more anxious he became.

It would be a disaster if he were to fall into the hands of Alaina.

‘I shouldn’t trust Callian completely, either.’

“Does Alaina still take night walks?”

The butler shook his head.

“Ever since she began spending more time with the Viscount, she’s been mostly housebound.”

He wondered if she was up to something else.

But he hadn’t visited since his imprisonment. There was no way she would turn against him now.

“It must be appropriate.”

“You don’t have to worry because Lady Duferac and Lady Oberon, her close friends, visit from time to time.”

Isaac nodded casually at the butler’s words.

But the butler, who had known him since he was a child, quickly realized that he was not at ease.

“I will see to it that the young lady is comfortable until your return.”

“Yes, please. Is there any other news?”

“Yes. If anything else happens, I will report it immediately.”

With the three spies who had been planted in the imperial palace removed, it was difficult to figure out what the emperor was up to.

The fact that he’d sent them away at the same time he’d detained them suggests that he’d been tolerating them all this time with the intention of planting new ones.

There were still a few who hadn’t been caught, but they were all useless.

‘What a shame.’

Isaac gritted his teeth again. ‘As soon as I get out of here, I will summon the nobles.’

The noble faction would support him in any way they could to gain influence in the imperial court, and if they did, he would be no more than a mere duke but an imperial family member.

‘I’m finally getting my place back.’

If the emperor’s illegitimate son was crowned the next emperor, his mother would be treated as if she were the empress, regardless of her origins.

Isn’t it only natural, then, that the emperor’s father should receive the same treatment?

He can’t thank him enough for keeping his mouth shut so far.

“Alaina is still young, and Callian is inexperienced. I need you to look after them both.”

“With pleasure, my lord.”

The butler bowed respectfully.

* * *

Lord Evan’s servants returned, and the renovation of the old mansion was almost complete.

Eric’s wounds were nearly healed, and he was now able to get around with crutches.

It was time to return to the manor, but Tenere’s face was not cheerful.

“What should we do? They say scars remain.”

“Hey, I need to keep some of these things so I can show off. I’m going to wear clothes with open sides on purpose. Take a look.”

Eric patted his side and chuckled, calling it a scar of honor.

The child, who did not know anything, was eating cookies in the arms of his nanny.

Tenere looked at her brother with a worried face.

“You know you shouldn’t push yourself…… just yet, right?”

“I’m all better, really.”

“But why don’t you stay a while longer…….”

“I need to stay at the mansion so you can come and get the marriage proposal. Isn’t that right?”

Eric said, ruffling his sister’s hair on purpose. Tenere still looked a little wistful.

Eric glanced back at Joshua, who was engrossed in his sweets. He looked at his nephew, who wasn’t even making eye contact with him, and asked grumpily.

“Hey, Josie. Do you like your uncle or do you like sweets?”

Joshua blinks at his uncle’s question, clutching the candy tightly. Eric asked again.

“Huh? Do you like Uncle or snacks?”

“…Snacks.”

“What?”

Eric looked shocked, as if he hadn’t expected his nephew’s answer.

“Hey, you…… What did I do to you…….”

“…….”

“I’ve changed your diapers, haven’t I? How much…”

“So, Your Highness, do you like snacks or Uncle?”

Laura, who had been watching, quickly asked again. Joshua rolled his eyes again.

“Snacks or Uncle?”

“…Uncle.”

Eric patted his chest as if relieved by the answer.

“Oh, really… I almost felt hurt there.”

“Maybe he’s answering what you said later.”

“Oh, is that so? Then, Joshua, do you like your mom or your uncle?”

“Uncle.”

As Tenere opened her mouth to scold, Eric chuckled and playfully tapped Joshua’s cheek.

Tenere still looked sullen.

“……Josie will probably miss his uncle a lot.”

“Of course he will. Where’s he going to find the best uncle like me?”

“And I’ll miss you, too.”

“Are you a kid?”

Even as he said that, Eric stroked his sister’s head again.

It was impressive how his sister no longer flinched when he raised his hand.

“Well…… call me if you have any problems.”

“Yes.”

“And write often.”

“I will.”

“Hey, saying this makes it sound like I’m going far away, but our mansion and the palace aren’t that far. It’s less than thirty minutes by carriage.”

“I know.”

“No, but…… if you know that, why are you crying?”

Eric blushed in confusion. Tenere let out a small sob and wiped at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief.

“It’s just…… the mood, you know.”

“Hey, I’m just going to my house, and I’ll be back tomorrow and the day after.”

Eric tried to calm her down, but Tenere couldn’t stop crying.

She was sad that her brother, who had been by her side the whole time, was going back to the mansion.

Joshua, seeing his mother crying, began to sob along with her, and Laura, watching, snorted softly.

Eric looked back at her in disbelief.

“And why are you crying as well? ”

“……I won’t ask you to comfort me, so don’t worry. You can think of it as just a background.”

“Oh, no matter what you say…”

Eric muttered, and Tenere covered her face and started sobbing.

Eric scratched his head in annoyance and fumbled for a hug.

“Hey. How am I supposed to leave comfortably if you’re crying, huh?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“No, who said anything about apologizing? You’re the real…”

“…….”

“If one day I explode from all this, it’s your fault. I better write a will in advance.”

He joked, but Tenere couldn’t stop crying.

Watching her like that, Eric couldn’t help but feel his eyes sting.