Chapter 58
“…Are you worried because of the Crown Prince?”
“Well… should I be worrying about the Crown Prince when even His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t?”
There was a sharpness in the Duchess’s words. Yet she pretended not to mind, swirling her wine glass and taking a sip.
She could not entirely understand the Emperor’s feelings, being his contemporary and sharing the same blood.
But driving Louihart to the brink of death in order to create an Emperor recognized by everyone was the act of a fool.
It was clear that the Emperor wanted to pass his karmic burdens onto his son.
The Duchess believed in one of the teachings of the Sun Church: karma.
The Emperor was the youngest of five sons.
The late Grand Duke—her husband and the Emperor’s elder—had voluntarily stepped down from the throne to pursue adventures, leaving the Emperor to ascend the throne after crushing his brothers and bathing in blood.
Like any member of the royal family, the Duchess preferred not to speak of that process.
She had thought she would become Empress, but instead became Grand Duchess, and she bore no complaints or doubts about it.
The man she loved simply was not destined to be Emperor.
And now, the current Emperor had proven himself worthy of the throne, yet he demanded that the Crown Prince prove himself as well, tightening the noose around Louihart’s neck.
The Duchess looked at her son before her.
With his jet-black hair and red eyes, he bore the appearance of an Emperor handed down through generations.
At just seventeen, he had become a Sword Master, had experienced numerous battlefields, and had defeated monsters—a hero of the Empire.
The Duchess was well aware of the factions supporting Sieghart’s rise to the throne.
But she gave them no answer.
The Duchess was not one to act rashly.
Though she did not crave power blindly, ambition did exist in her.
If her son were meant to become Emperor, she would do anything to ensure it.
Yet the Emperor was a matter decided by the divine.
The Duchess concluded that now was not the time to act.
“You need not worry about His Highness. He will surely return after cutting down the giant beast.”
Sieghart spoke with conviction, his face serious.
Her son was extremely loyal, like a vassal to the Emperor.
And to Crown Prince Louihart, he was like a brother.
Convincing him to take the throne would be no easy task.
If, by chance, his mother plotted rebellion to place him on the throne, how would he react?
A Grand Duke who loved his mother might obey her, but he would undoubtedly live a lifetime of torment.
“The Emperor is chosen by the divine.”
The Duchess once again reached this conclusion and let go of further thoughts.
“…I suppose that is so.”
She turned her attention to the main course.
“And as you mentioned, when I spoke to Countess Emeldia about Liliana’s debutante ball, she was very pleased,” she added, shifting the conversation.
After the temple incident, the Duchess had been considering how to properly apologize to Helene, who had truly reformed.
When she realized that her son and her eldest daughter Liliana were friends, she asked Sieghart if Emeldia might need anything.
As if waiting for the question, her son informed her that Liliana had not yet had her debutante ball.
The Duchess was surprised.
She had heard that Liliana was twenty-two, and it was indeed unfortunate that such a proper young lady had not yet made her formal debut.
Upon hearing the Duchess’s words, Sieghart’s face instantly brightened.
“That’s wonderful!!”
The Duchess was taken aback by her usually stoic and indifferent son’s unusually enthusiastic reaction.
It had likely been the first time since the death of the late Grand Duke.
“…Yes, that is true. Yet I worry that her preparations are behind other young ladies. Above all, I wonder if she will find a suitable partner…”
A partner was essential for a debutante ball.
It was how a young lady announced her position in society, a label she would carry for life.
Moreover, marrying one’s debutante ball partner was the dream of many young ladies, just as the Duchess had married the late Empress.
Thus, noble young ladies were fervent in seeking the best partner.
The finest men had likely already been chosen by others.
“Then… if only…”
“It would be ideal if the Duke, being a close friend, could become Liliana’s partner, but you are already committed to Princess Angelina, so that is not possible,” the Duchess said.
She spoke out of pity for Liliana, not genuine intent.
Sieghart would be paired with Angelina.
Though it seemed Angelina had not yet decided between the Crown Prince and the Duke as her dance partner, there was no knowing when the Crown Prince would return from his mission to slay the giant monster.
If it remained as such, the Duke Sieghart would inevitably become Princess Angelina’s partner.
Marriage to Angelina of Herbient, the empire’s second-largest duchy after Rebladian, would provide great influence to the Duke in the future.
Enough influence for Sieghart to potentially become Emperor.
As the Duchess saw events unfolding this way, her own ambition began to stir.
She could not blame the Emperor.
Expectations and desires for her children were as strong as the Emperor’s.
Shoving aside these fleeting thoughts, she focused on her meal.
The fourth annex of Lepia Palace was the knight training hall.
Dressed in training attire, Sieghart swung his sword to warm up before class began.
A familiar face appeared before him.
It was Andre.
As captain of the 1st Royal Knight Squadron and head of the Imperial Inspection Corps, Andre’s swordsmanship was remarkable, making him one of the knights Sieghart most admired.
Also, being a close friend of the Crown Prince, Sieghart—though normally shy around strangers—treated him without reserve.
Andre lingered nearby, seemingly wanting to speak.
Pausing his swings, Sieghart approached.
“…Do you need something?”
“Ah, no…”
Andre shook his hands, denying it, but his hesitation suggested he was struggling to speak.
“Listen, I’m busy, and I know you are too. If you have something to say, say it now,” Sieghart prompted.
Only then did Andre open his mouth.
“I-I heard… that Your Grace, the Duke, is acquainted with Lady Liliana of the Emeldia Counts.”
This was not the confident Andre he knew.
He hesitated multiple times before saying it.
‘Liliana.’ He had heard her name twice today.
Each time it struck Sieghart’s heart with unease, but hearing it from another man’s mouth was infuriating.
“…Indeed, she and I have known each other since childhood and share a close friendship.”
Sieghart was surprised at the lie that slipped from his mouth.
He had always been scolded twice as harshly by the Duchess for even poorly-made excuses, yet now he told a lie so naturally.
It was true he had known Liliana since childhood, but “close friends” was a far stretch—she was the most difficult person for him in the world.
Even more so than the Emperor or monsters.
“She… she… Indeed! It was brave of me to approach Your Grace despite the risk of rudeness!”
Yet Andre’s reaction was not what Sieghart had expected.
Despite his large frame, Andre looked at Sieghart with eyes seeking salvation.
“I heard that Lady Liliana will make her debut at the upcoming debutante ball.”
Sieghart had not thought the news he heard this morning would already be circulating in the royal household.
His face immediately stiffened.
“…If it’s not rude, may I ask if Lady Liliana’s debutante ball partner has already been decided?”
