Episode 28
The next day, we returned to the imperial palace using Ren’s magic, bypassing Heim to use a gate. It was thanks to Rurik and Ren uniting in their opinion that I should be moved to a safe and comfortable place quickly.
“I can see His Majesty alone. You should go to your room and rest.”
Thanks to Rurik’s consideration, I was able to return to the detached palace quickly, but even upon arrival, there was no time to rest.
“Rue.”
Crown Prince Ernst of Flavi had arrived at the corridor in front of my room before me.
“Erni…”
Even though it had only been about a week, he hugged me with a face as moved as if reuniting with a long-lost family member.
“Are you okay? You have no idea how worried I was when I heard you were sick…”
A familiar, sweet scent enveloped me cozily. Then, unexpectedly, a sense of relief, as if I had truly come home, sprouted.
‘That’s right, I saw it in the diary too.’
Ernst was someone Louise relied on more than her own flesh and blood. As his large hand patted my back and smoothed my hair, the tension I had to maintain constantly around Rurik finally melted away.
However, the hug, which felt like a brief respite, didn’t last long.
“Oh, right. Thank you for taking care of Rue all this time?”
Soon, Ren appeared, growling as if he had found prey.
“If you’re thankful, then back off a little?”
I thought he had gone to report his return to the Emperor, but it seemed he hadn’t. After Ernst’s palm slowly left me, Ren opened my door as if it were his own. Then he said irritably.
“I’ve been patient long enough. I can’t concede any more. Rue needs to see a physician immediately.”
Ernst asked worriedly.
“Is her condition bad?”
Ren shook his head.
“We need to ask a physician if it’s good or bad.”
“That’s a fair point.”
When Phoebe answered for me, Ernst flinched. It was an attitude as if he had only just noticed her presence. Unperturbed, Phoebe continued.
“But carelessly seeing an outside physician is dangerous. Your Highness’s appearance is especially far too easy to recognize.”
Ernst quickly grasped that Phoebe had discovered our secret and replied.
“But we also can’t take Rue to a physician so incompetent they wouldn’t recognize her.”
I had already been examined by a random physician in the city before, but I kept my mouth shut, pretending otherwise. Phoebe interjected again.
“I overheard noble ladies talking at the last banquet; they said there’s a physician in the city who specializes in house calls. He’s tight-lipped and apparently knows how to use some magic tools.”
“I’ll take care of inquiring about him.”
As Ernst answered, Ren let out a sigh.
“Then I guess I need to go to the Magic Tower.”
“Why the Magic Tower?”
When I asked, Ren explained.
“How can we trust some ‘tight-lipped’ physician? Hair can be hidden with a wig for a while, but eyes are impossible. If he’s a physician who handles magic tools, simple tricks won’t work.”
Phoebe was the first to nod.
“Then we leave it to you, Lord Ren.”
Ren knelt on one knee before me in a somewhat stiff and formal manner and held out his hand. But when I actually gave him my hand, his lips on my knuckles didn’t leave until Ernst cleared his throat.
“Promise me you’ll wait quietly without overexerting yourself, Rue.”
This time too, Phoebe answered for me.
“I’ll keep a close watch, so don’t worry.”
A large palm briefly brushed my cheek, then he pulled two small beads from his pocket and offered them.
“The red one is a summoning bead, so only use it in a real emergency. My teacher made them long ago, so I don’t have many left.”
A summoning bead? I blankly took them and tucked them into my bosom. The blue bead with no explanation seemed to be a standard communication bead.
“Come back safely, Ren.”
He walked a few steps towards the fireplace and then vanished. I turned to look at Ernst.
“I’m sorry, Erni.”
He smiled as if drawn.
“I know. You need to rest, Rue. I was just too worried not to come.”
Then he started to kneel on one knee but hesitated.
“But I don’t want an indirect kiss.”
Laughing, I grabbed his hand and kissed it myself.
“See you later.”
Sweet affection pooled like honey in his artful golden eyes. After he left, Phoebe shook her head side to side.
“So, all of them… wish they were the baby’s father.”
“…Tell me about it.”
I had to avoid Phoebe’s heated gaze, answering as if it were someone else’s business.
“Can you be alone for a moment? If it’s alright, I’d like to go meet Countess Sellar, pretending to run into her casually.”
The thing I most looked forward to upon returning to the imperial palace was, of course, the diary. While I had been waiting for some time alone, I became curious when Phoebe suddenly mentioned visiting an unexpected person.
“Why Viscountess Sellar?”
Phoebe explained.
“I recently heard that Countess Zadick, the older sister of Countess Sellar, is pregnant with her second child. It seems Countess Sellar helped a lot during the first pregnancy too.”
Then she winked and added.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Even if I show interest in Countess Zadick’s pregnancy, no one will think it’s because of you.”
“W-well, that’s true…”
When I reluctantly agreed, Phoebe said.
“After all, I have a sister-in-law too, right? Even if she’s not pregnant yet, I can say I’m asking in advance for her sake.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Phoebe.”
“Leave it to me.”
Phoebe saluted spiritedly and left the room. I smoothed my chest and went to sit at the desk.
‘It’s been a week, so new diary entries should have appeared, right?’
If several pages were revealed, given the time passed, that would be even better. Thinking that, I placed my finger on the embossed pattern on the blank page. My thoughts hit the mark perfectly, as writing soon began to appear.
Year of Charles 16, Month 9, Day 6.
Today was the third day of Callisteon senior showing me around the Academy.
Our final destination was the library. In the reading room, he showed me his enormous assigned seat and said I could use the seat next to him.
Feeling burdened, I wanted to refuse, but he placed a fountain pen on the desk as if I had already accepted, saying it was something he didn’t need and I could have it.
I followed four-year-old Louise’s academy life with expectant eyes, but the diary ended abruptly.
‘Is this the Imperial version of “I found this, you can have it”?’
I wonder how long Callisteon’s clumsy attempts will continue. Sighing, I turned the page of the diary. Half in doubt, I placed my finger on the embossed pattern of the next page. Surprisingly, the next diary entry was revealed.
‘What’s this?!’
Callisteon’s name appeared again.
I had to go to the library today and stopped by the seat Callisteon senior offered. I was startled.
I didn’t notice yesterday, but the pen holder of the fountain pen he gave me was embedded with five magic stones.
In the Empire, magic stones are too expensive to use as gems…
I heard they dig magic stones out of the ground like potatoes in Babenberg, but for even a second son without inheritance rights to be this extravagant…
It makes me unbearably depressed, comparing it to my own useless position as the youngest in the imperial palace.
So that’s why it felt intense…
Yes, the next failed relationship…
Meanwhile, Rurik was having an audience with the Emperor.
“So, you’re saying the youngest’s health was poor, so you couldn’t stop by Babenberg?”
“It’s not to the extent for you to worry.”
Rurik added, concerned the Emperor might find fault with Louise using her health as a reason.
“It seems she had some aftereffects from experiencing the Magic Tower Lord’s teleportation magic just one day after using the gate.”
However, the Emperor’s interest lay not in his daughter’s health, but elsewhere.
“Hmm. A pity. The Grand Duke finally expressed his interest, only for this to happen.”
