108. Came Empty-Handed, So I Couldn’t Come

2024.01.16.

It was sheer luck that Yuan Pelliese had been positioned in the farthest corner at the back of the podium.

After all, if a member of the royal family vomited blood on stage during an important ceremony like a title bestowal, everyone would have regarded it as an ill omen.

Tasha Kimfri had been keeping a close eye on Yuan, so she immediately rushed to assist.

She swiftly pulled out a green handkerchief from her sleeve and covered the blood trickling between Yuan’s pale fingers.

Tasha was also greatly shocked, as she had never believed the rumors that Yuan was merely weak and recuperating in the palace.

Tasha was awkward when it came to comforting or caring for others affectionately.

The Count Kimfri family had served as border lords for generations, guarding the eastern region, and its heads were mostly military men from the Army Academy who emphasized discipline and fortitude—Tasha had grown up under such influence.

Even when she fell or got injured, Tasha was someone accustomed to quickly getting back up, straightening her clothes, and standing tall rather than collapsing into tears.

But seeing someone vomit blood right before her eyes was different.

If a soldier were wounded by a sword or arrow, she might click her tongue a few times and casually tell them to wrap it with a bandage. But what should one do when a young woman of similar age coughed up blood due to a chronic illness?

Tasha momentarily set aside the negative emotions swirling because of Noel and focused instead on Yuan’s deathly pale condition.

She wasn’t the kind to pick on someone who was ill.

“Shouldn’t you go rest in the lounge?”

She tried to speak gently, but her words came out stiff, just like her brother’s.

Yet even that seemed surprising—Yuan, who had been covering her mouth and coughing a few times, widened her eyes slightly and faintly smiled.

“It’s fine. This is nothing at all.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Yes. My body is weak, so I sometimes cough up blood when I’m tired… It’s not contagious, so don’t worry.”

Yuan neatly folded Tasha’s green handkerchief and wiped the bloodstains from her lips with the clean side, then smiled brightly.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Kimfri. I almost misunderstood and thought you disliked me.”

When the red lipstick faded, revealing Yuan’s painfully pale face, Tasha flinched as if struck by a whip and blushed.

***

Lancelot’s gaze kept shifting between Yuan at the corner of the podium and Clade Euphris, who had descended to the first floor and was now surrounded by people.

Unlike Eddie, who upon arriving at Glory Hall had immediately turned his head away with a low curse upon seeing Bollonico and Yuan, Lancelot had been obsessively observing both Yuan and Clade for a long time.

“Stop wasting time and focus on Clade, Lancelot.”

“From what I’ve been hearing around Glory Hall today, Eddie, the Empress claimed the Crown Princess was ill and recuperating.”

“You saw it in the newspaper. You believe that? No, I mean, we of all people believe that?”

“I didn’t. But it might actually be true.”

Eddie, frowning deeply, glanced toward the podium where Yuan stood. He snorted and turned his head dismissively toward Clade.

“So what if it is? What difference does it make now?”

“I’ve been visiting the Black Mansion more often than you. I’ve seen the lady frequently. Now that I think about it, her complexion does look worse. Could that be coincidence?”

“Any of that could be faked. Can’t you see beyond her pale face—the flashy things she’s wearing?”

Eddie gestured with his chin toward Yuan, as if she were someone he couldn’t bear to look at.

He meant the lustrous taffeta silk dress that tightly followed her figure and the extravagant necklace.

“Anyone wearing that would look pale.”

“……”

“Lancelot. You can gawk all you want, but don’t try to justify a traitor’s actions with some pitiful excuse. Keep firmly in your head who you’re truly serving. Clade doesn’t do illogical things anymore.”

“I am paying proper attention to Clade. And I’m not fabricating baseless justifications.”

“Justified or not, just don’t go spouting nonsense to Clade.”

The Rev brothers’ gazes passed over the Emperor, who was mechanically bestowing titles upon the remaining people, and settled on Clade.

Clade was leaning casually against one of the massive pillars in Glory Hall, half-heartedly accepting the blessings of those eager to speak to him.

Beside him stood Ariesta, the Grand Duchess.

Ariesta, with eyes even more swollen than before, clutched her hands tightly to her chest and hovered around Clade.

Lancelot’s eyes narrowed instantly.

“Why does that damp pigeon keep circling Clade? Earlier she suddenly hugged him and made a scene. Does she still think she’s his ten-year-old fiancée or something?”

“Leave her be.”

“What?”

This time, Lancelot flared up and glared.

Eddie adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses slightly while watching Clade and Ariesta with a subtle expression.

“The Grand Duchess might actually be a key factor. The Drietter family has grounds to protest against Bollonico or even the Emperor—specifically regarding the marriage between the Grand Duchess and Bollonico. Even if the Grand Duchess returns to Clade and they reconcile, the Emperor wouldn’t hesitate to interfere. But if the fault lies with Bollonico, then it’s a different story.”

“What are you saying?”

Eddie completely ignored Lancelot’s disbelief and seriously stroked his chin.

Now that he thought about it, it actually made sense.

Back when he was younger, the thought of the Grand Duchess betraying Clade made his teeth grind. But as an adult, he could see it might have been unavoidable.

To a young girl, her monstrous fiancé must have seemed utterly hideous, and her family, aiming to make their daughter Empress one day, likely felt they had no choice but to back out when the Crown Princess position was at risk.

But the variable was Bollonico.

Had Bollonico gone on to marry Grand Duchess Ariesta and become Crown Prince, then Ariesta and Clade would have been absolutely forbidden from growing close. But now, things were different.

Bollonico had abandoned Grand Duchess Ariesta at some point.

Regardless of the private circumstances, Ariesta was now the closest person to Bollonico’s partner, yet the Imperial family had not sent her a marriage proposal.

They hadn’t even summoned a member of the Grand Ducal family to discuss marriage matters.

The Grand Duchess had long since passed the typical marrying age.

The famously doting Duke Drietter would naturally accumulate resentment toward the Imperial family because of Ariesta.

And since he was one of the most important loyalists in the Emperor’s faction, that sense of betrayal would be even greater.

Though he couldn’t openly protest, bringing the Grand Duchess to Clade’s title ceremony was a clear, unmistakable statement.

And judging by the fact that Bollonico hadn’t shown his face since, the message had landed perfectly.

With guilt on his conscience, Bollonico likely didn’t dare face Duke Drietter or the Grand Duchess.

“Do you really forgive the Grand Duchess?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s absurd that the Grand Duchess and Clade might reconcile! She abandoned Clade when he was at his weakest and ran away. And you’re saying it’s fine to forgive her and let them get close again?”

“Who said it’s fine? I’m just saying that if they can grow close without worrying about the Imperial family’s reaction, and if Clade could even marry her, then at the very least, he’d gain Duke Drietter’s support.”

“Absurd. I’m against it.”

“At least better than Yuan Pelliese.”

“Are you serious?”

Lancelot’s face flushed bright red.

“The lady didn’t run away even after seeing Clade’s face. She was the one who finally brought Clade out from his room, where he’d stayed even after becoming a Swordmaster, and made him handle affairs. Yet you say the lady, despite her poor health, is a traitor who should be torn apart, while that pigeon is someone to consider marrying?”

“Who said to tear Yuan Pelliese apart?”

Eddie replied coldly, watching Lancelot’s low, heated outburst.

“Why is it so hard to just leave each other alone and go your separate ways? Just stop caring about Yuan Pelliese. Should I spell it out for you? Do you want me to ignore her even if one day she’s abandoned by Bollonico, wanders the streets, and gets stoned to death?”

Lancelot stared, mouth agape, shaking his head at Eddie’s cruel words.

He, too, had been disappointed by Yuan Pelliese’s betrayal.

He had no intention of swaying Clade’s heart by sympathizing with Yuan based solely on newspaper gossip.

But no matter how he thought about it, Grand Duchess Ariesta was utterly unworthy of being Clade’s partner.

Even if she were the only beauty in the entire continent, not just the Empire.

Clade would surely think the same.

Lancelot abruptly turned his bloodshot eyes toward Clade.

But good heavens!

“See? Clade is far more rational than you.”

Lancelot’s caramel-colored eyes trembled violently.

He had just witnessed Clade, who had been leaning against the pillar, finally speak first to Grand Duchess Ariesta—and kiss the back of her hand.

***

Duke Drietter’s troubled gaze remained fixed on his daughter, who kept circling around Clade.

Empress Marilyn had been nervously rubbing her indigestion-plagued stomach while watching the Emperor and Duke Drietter’s expressions.

Her golden eyes darted around searching for Bollonico, the one who caused this mess, but the quick-witted Bollonico had already slipped away.

Feeling as if she were carrying a ticking bomb on her shoulders, Empress Marilyn thought she must quickly return to the Imperial Palace as soon as the Emperor finished bestowing titles on the remaining people, and she quietly began to rise from her seat.

But as if sensing her like a ghost, Duke Drietter’s head turned toward the Emperor and Empress standing side by side.

Emperor Igor was calmly sliding his black sword back into its sheath, then casually securing it at his waist with a relaxed smile. Duke Drietter waited patiently until the black blade disappeared completely before speaking.

“It’s been quite some time since I last visited the Imperial Palace. I couldn’t come empty-handed, so I brought something.”

While the Emperor raised one eyebrow slightly, showing mild curiosity, Empress Marilyn’s face gradually filled with growing unease.

The Empress suddenly recalled how the Drietter family had aggressively flooded her with gifts and letters the moment the handmaiden selection was announced.

And the sharp gaze of Duke Drietter, which had briefly carried resentment, now curved unpleasantly.

Empress Marilyn shivered involuntarily.

“Ariesta isn’t the only one who came to Glory Hall today.”

“Who else came?”

In response to the Emperor’s calm voice, Duke Drietter gestured toward the space behind him.

At the sight of the figure that emerged, Empress Marilyn gasped sharply and staggered.