Chapter 17

The report reading ended only when Neyron’s voice had grown hoarse and the bells struck six. At that moment, the chief steward entered the office and bowed.

“Your Majesty. The young lady of the House of Duke Vellua has requested an audience.”

Rezion rose from his seat with some reluctance. The chief steward stepped forward to neaten his clothes, smoothing out creases and adjusting his collar. Once Rezion looked presentable enough to receive a lady, he turned to Neyron.

“Well done. Go and rest for today.”

“Boundless glory to the Sun of Catalos.”

Neyron offered a deep bow and vanished like the wind. His wife had recently given birth to a daughter. It still felt strange to Rezion that a man his own age had become a father.

In truth, most of the boys he’d once played with had long since married and started families. No wonder Ravellan clicked his tongue with disapproval.

‘What am I supposed to do, when I have no desire for it?’

It wasn’t fair to blame Elphenlira. Rezion himself hadn’t fulfilled his duties either. He entered the drawing room with a tangle of thoughts weighing heavy on his mind.

Young Lady Adelaisa, the Duke of Vellua’s daughter, was seated on the guest sofa, gazing out the window. She rose as he entered, and Rezion kissed the back of her hand.

“It’s been a while, Miss Adelaisa.”

“I hope I haven’t disturbed you, Your Majesty. I know how terribly busy you are.”

Rezion shook his head.

“I was just about to take a moment’s rest.”

The chief steward arrived shortly after with tea and sweets. As the tea table was arranged, Adelaisa studied Rezion’s face and spoke gently.

“You seem tired, Your Majesty.”

“And you, Miss Adelaisa? I’ve heard you haven’t been leaving the house much.”

“It can’t be helped. My health has never been strong.”

Adelaisa spoke calmly as she took a sip of tea. From beneath her sleeve, a wrist so thin it was almost pitiful peeked out. She had been frail since birth and still suffered frequent bouts of illness even into adulthood.

Every time Rezion saw her, he was reminded of how much of a blessing Elphenlira’s robust health truly was. And how heartless the Duke of Vellua must be, to desperately push a daughter like this toward the throne.

Rezion sometimes imagined what life would look like if the duke’s wish were granted. He and Adelaisa could have been a good match. A respectable marriage built not on passion, but on mutual respect and care, with every condition neatly aligned.

But her body would never survive childbirth. He would not, could not, push one of the few people he genuinely respected and cared for to the edge of death.

He knew it. Adelaisa knew it. Only the Duke of Vellua continued to deny it with all his might.

Lowering her gaze, Adelaisa said with a hint of sadness,

“The truth is, I came hoping to see Her Highness today. I wrote several letters, but never received a reply, and so, at the risk of overstepping, I called upon Oakhall Palace.”

Rezion rubbed at his eyelid with a weary finger. Adelaisa continued gently.

“But I was met instead by the Countess Ornin. She said… Her Highness hasn’t been feeling well?”

“…That’s how it is.”

Adelaisa had been one of the few people Elphenlira had kept in contact with. There was no way she truly believed that excuse. Rezion felt it was almost a relief not to have to lie to her.

She studied him in silence, then asked carefully, “I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re going through, but is there anything I can do to help?”

Rezion shook his head. He knew she meant it. Her sincerity had never been in doubt. But as the daughter of the Duke of Vellua, there was only one thing she could do for him. Play the spy.

And the Duke of Vellua had to be removed, one way or another. That was why Rezion had no desire to use Adelaisa for anything.

“At least come to the Founding Day ball. If I must dance, I’d rather it be with you.”

Adelaisa gave a faint smile.

“My father will have unrealistic hopes.”

“That’s better than the other ladies. At least I can scold the duke.”

Adelaisa readily promised that she would.

Rezion personally escorted her to the entrance of the Imperial Palace. Just before saying goodbye, she seemed to recall something she had forgotten.

“Come to think of it, has Her Highness taken on a new lady-in-waiting?”

“Pardon?”

“I passed by a lady I didn’t recognize on my way out of Oakhall Palace.”

A face he’d forgotten amid his relentless schedules surfaced in his mind. A small smile tugged at Rezion’s lips before he realized it.

“What was she doing?”

“Sorry?”

“When you saw her, what was she doing?”

He simply wondered what a governess did without a student to teach.

Adelaisa looked at him as though he’d asked the most bizarre question.

“…She was braiding her hair.”

“Braiding her hair?”

“Yes. I suppose it had come loose during her walk. She was doing it like this.”

Adelaisa gathered her thick hair to one side and demonstrated a loose braid with a flick of her fingers.

Rezion fell quiet, thoughtful. He’d received a gift from Dianne Ortenza once. She hadn’t known it was him she was giving it to, but that hardly mattered. He’d considered telling her they had met before, but in the end, he had chosen to keep that memory for himself.

The rose she’d left in Erin’s place had long since withered away, but the ribbon still lay in the drawer of his study desk. Every now and then, he would take it out and look at it without reason.

Adelaisa still wore a slightly puzzled expression as Rezion stated,

“Adelaisa. I’ve just thought of a way you can help me.”

He simply wanted to return the favor for a gift that had come one spring day. Unexpected, and perhaps for that very reason, all the more welcome. That’s all there was to it.