~Chapter 67~
At Aisha’s question, Valtrich paused. His lips pressed tightly together, and his face seemed filled with regret. Aisha, sensing it, didn’t press further and simply waited for him to speak.
“I once had a daughter. It was long ago now.”
It was only after some silence that Valtrich finally opened his mouth again.
“Back then, the Empress Dowager didn’t have as much power as she does now, and I was keeping political neutrality even at that time. Whatever others may think of these words, to me, the most important thing was not power or honor, but protecting my family.”
“….”
“And Roselia realized that very quickly.”
“…From here, let me explain.”
Killian stepped in, as if to help.
“Roselia put great effort into drawing the Grand Duke to her side. Naturally so—he stayed neutral, but he had many private soldiers and was one of the strongest among the collateral line. But when the Grand Duke wouldn’t move as she wanted, Roselia… made the wrong choice.”
“Wrong choice…?”
“She chose threat over persuasion.”
Ah.
The words “I once had a daughter” echoed in Aisha’s mind. That past tense.
“To be exact, my daughter’s death was an accident. I don’t think Roselia intended from the start to kill her. But in the process, things went wrong, and I lost her.”
“….”
“Roselia is quick-witted. The moment she realized she had crossed the line, she apologized and begged forgiveness. After that, she no longer interfered with my family. And so I stayed neutral. But…”
Valtrich bit his lip.
“Every single day, I waged war in my heart. I should risk my life to drag that woman down. Only then could I avenge my daughter.”
“….”
“But Roselia gained power swiftly. By then, it was too late. And not long after, Duke Killian came to me.”
Valtrich let out a dry laugh.
“When I hesitated, the Duke offered me a deal.”
“A deal…?”
“He said I didn’t need to take his side right away. That it was fine if I remained neutral.”
Valtrich still remembered it vividly.
“But.”
He recalled the bold young Killian, standing before him without hesitation, speaking as though declaring his will.
“‘When you decide that Killian Winters is capable of bringing down the Empress Dowager—then, I hope you will take my hand.’”
“….”
“For me, that day has finally come—today.”
Ah.
Now Aisha understood. Killian had spent years proving himself, showing Valtrich through action that he had the power and qualities worth trusting.
“Baron Hayden here is the same. Roselia pushed him in front of everyone earlier, trying to force him to her side. But in the end, he chose Duke Killian.”
“I have nothing more to add,” Hayden muttered. “To be honest, I nearly wet myself on the spot! If I had known I’d be put on the spot like that, I wouldn’t even have gone. But… but what could I do? The choice was already made.”
“….”
“The Grand Duke is right. I chose Duke Killian. Thanks to that, I’ve now completely broken with the Dowager. Truly, it’s an honor.”
Aisha could now see what had happened.
But then… what was the conclusion?
“Since both of you have spoken honestly, I’ll tell you my own situation.”
Killian’s voice came steady.
“Three years ago, after I returned victorious from the war, Roselia made me an offer.”
Aisha remembered Killian’s earlier words that flashed in her mind:
“To be exact, the reason Roselia is so desperate to kill me is because I rejected her offer.”
“Her… offer?”
“It’s clear that if I had accepted, my treatment today would be completely different. But I refused, and ended up like this.”
“What was her offer?”
“To become her man.”
“….”
“Most likely, it was to keep the newly of-age Emperor in check. To prevent things like what happened today.”
What?
That had never appeared in the novel. The story had begun with the heroine arriving in Draxion as Aldrosia’s prisoner. And by then, Roselia was already dead.
But today’s events…
“Roselia has fallen, but she hasn’t truly fallen.”
“Wh-what do you mean…?”
“His Majesty declared he would investigate the matter personally, together with me. In other words, Roselia has been given a reprieve.”
“The Emperor has finally shown his claws. Hah, to think I’d live to see this day…”
In the novel, Belmore had been described as kind and gentle.
And yet, back then…
“Count Ashton’s family—a noble house that has endured quietly for many years. Though they have no dazzling achievements, sometimes quietness itself is a virtue.”
Even when Aisha had been insulted openly at the Emerald Palace…
“So the Duke keeps such a plain woman by his side? Has he grown delicate after too long on the battlefield?”
Belmore’s eyes had carried an apologetic look then, hadn’t they?
But Belmore was a man of contrasts. While human and warm, he was also a capable Emperor.
Still… to be tangled up like this?
“So.”
Lost in thought, Aisha turned to Killian, her voice serious.
“Duke, will you now join hands with His Majesty?”
“….”
“Is that the conclusion of all this?”
“No.”
Killian answered firmly, without hesitation.
“I will not join hands with the Emperor, either.”
“What? What does that mean…!”
Valtrich and Baron Hayden, who had naturally assumed Killian would become Belmore’s man, were visibly shocked. Aisha, too, was speechless for a moment, staring at Killian.
