Episode 130
Jenais’s heart sank, but she did as Ernst instructed and smiled.
“……What are you talking about?”
Then she asked urgently in a small voice, but she couldn’t create even a single crack in Ernst’s picture-perfect smile.
“Such an amusing thing happened, in Flavi Edessa.”
It truly was an event entirely unconnected to Jenais or the Pereira Marquis, something both Ernst and the Emperor could well guess. But Jenais grew intensely anxious and had to spend the rest of the banquet trying to stay on Ernst’s good side.
All while smiling brightly.
While waiting for news of Moghold, I activated one of the communication orbs Callisteon had pressed upon me.
―Rue.
Callisteon responded as if he had been waiting, and Frilis was nestled quite naturally in his broad embrace.
I burst out laughing and asked.
“Why are you holding her again? Where’s the nanny?”
―I was just holding her for a moment and she fell asleep. I was worried she’d wake if I moved her, so I’ve just been watching her.
“Watching? Watching what?”
My voice was tinged with unmistakeable laughter, but Callisteon was serious.
―Watching frilly.
Pfft. I burst out laughing again, loudly.
Callisteon looked at me and smiled wryly.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile. Has the former Tower Master shown any improvement?”
Truly, you can fool ghosts, but you can’t fool Callisteon.
I beamed and nodded.
“Yes, a little. Ren went to have a meeting with the healing wizards, so I just gave up my seat.”
―That’s a relief.
Callisteon replied and then added with a sigh.
―I hear the Tatta Viscountess is receiving guests in your stead at the palace celebration.
“Genais is?”
Callisteon nodded and continued.
―It must be by His Majesty’s order, but her kindness is too excessive to be purely out of goodwill. I’m afraid of what she might demand in return later.
I laughed brightly and replied.
“She probably just wants to look good in front of my brother.”
Just then, the sleeping Frilly stirred slightly.
Callisteon, with now-practiced skill, patted and soothed the baby.
―Shhh…….
I watched in admiration as our daughter quickly fell back into a deep, even sleep in his arms.
“Wow, you’ve gotten really good at that.”
Callisteon looked at me with proud eyes.
―I’m about on par with Phoebe Nilo.
“You don’t mean…….”
After the incident in Edessa, Phoebe had remained unconscious for a full day. We had almost left her behind in Edessa, but the moment the temporary gate opened, she shot up and ran out. She reportedly knelt before Callisteon and cried ‘Please kill me,’ before spotting the gate and changing her plea to ‘Please take me with you.’
Callisteon, of course, brought her back to Babenberg.
“Is Phoebe doing better now?”
―She still wears a bonnet indoors because of the head wound, but she seems mostly fine.
Callisteon gave a small laugh.
―She hovers around Frilly so excessively that the Holland sisters haven’t even managed to touch the baby once because of her.
The Holland sisters referred to Chacha and Collie, who had attended to me during the previous trip to Babenberg. Callisteon intended to assign the role of assisting the nanny to whichever of the two was better with the baby, but Phoebe seemed displeased with that.
‘Given the events of the past few days, it’s no wonder Phoebe might be traumatized too.’
After all, Cyril had stolen the clothes of a briefly absent maid, infiltrated the hotel, and detonated a magic bullet.
Thinking this, I still couldn’t take my eyes off the soundly sleeping Frilly in the image.
“I miss her so much, our baby.”
―Tell her you miss me too.
Callisteon complained in a manner unbefitting him, but instead of laughing it off, I answered dutifully.
“I miss you, Carl.”
―Mm. You have exactly three days left of the time I gave you.
The image began to flicker.
I kissed my palm for him, who would soon disappear.
Seeing him kiss the back of his hand in response made my throat feel tight for no reason.
I smiled even more brightly to hide that fact.
I could only hope that the one who gave me all this happiness would wake up soon.
After Louise’s image vanished, Callisteon looked at Prilis for a long time.
Though he had insisted countless times that she resembled him in many ways, Frilis was the spitting image of Louise.
That made him all the more satisfied and she was even more lovable for it.
―Knock knock.
It seemed someone was about to interrupt his happy moment.
When Callisteon looked up, the Head Steward entered the room with the expression of a kind grandfather.
“An imperial decree has arrived, Your Grace.”
Behind him, Phoebe Nilo scurried in and, perceptively, took the baby from him.
Callisteon opened the letter right in front of the Head Steward.
He had been forced to return hastily to Babenberg without finalizing the punishment for the 2nd Princess and the former Duke Damiani, leaving them imprisoned in the dungeons, their lives temporarily spared.
He had since sought the Emperor’s counsel on their punishment, so this was undoubtedly the reply.
As he read the letter, Callisteon’s face relaxed into a satisfied expression.
My dear Callisteon,
The Emperor had never once addressed Callisteon by name alone before; this was surely an expression of utmost familiarity towards his sister’s husband-to-be.
That alone was immensely pleasing, but the content of the letter that followed exceeded his expectations.
That you did not execute them summarily, solely because they are Imperial citizens, speaks volumes of your remarkable mercy. It seems my sister’s judgment, who praised you endlessly as a good man, was indeed correct.
However, you saw what response my consideration—feeling pity for the 2nd Princess because she shares half my blood—yielded? As Louise’s brother and Prilis’s uncle, I regret and apologize for my lenient choice then, and I wish to state clearly that I have no objections whatsoever to the execution of the criminals.
If you can bear the hassle of extraditing the criminals back to their home country, they will be strictly charged with the crime of harming the royal family and will surely pay with their lives. I understand you might hesitate somewhat with your auspicious wedding approaching, but must there not be an end for another beginning to occur?
—With respect, Rurik.
In a word, the Emperor meant he would have no regrets even if the two were to be executed this very day.
―Knock knock.
Another knock came, and this time, Knight Commander Leander entered.
“I beg your pardon for reporting this, but it seems Gideon Damiani in the dungeons tried to kill himself by biting his tongue, but failed.”
“Hm.”
Leander was startled to detect a faint hint of a smile on his lord’s face. He had thought a reprimand was certain, given they had found poison on Gideon during the search in Edessa and had failed in their duty to prevent his suicide attempt, despite the order to be vigilant.
Callisteon replied after a deliberate pause.
“Ensure he receives treatment so he does not die. The Grand Duchess-to-be is not of a cruel nature that enjoys killing, but since the Emperor has permitted the execution, I intend to discuss and decide on a suitable conclusion with her.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Leander bowed respectfully and exited, feeling grateful but also secretly puzzled.
In his eyes, the prospective Grand Duchess was someone who wouldn’t even harm an ant, so he couldn’t understand why his lord was hesitating over the execution, seemingly for her sake.
It would be better to carry out the execution before the Grand Duchess arrived.
It was around the following evening when Len finally came to find me and said,
“The Master has regained full consciousness.”
“Really?”
He nodded, his face unable to hide his joy.
“He knows you’re here, and he wants to see you.”
“Is it really true……?”
I went to Moghold immediately and found the old wizard still lying in bed.
“Lord Moghold……?”
But when I approached and called out cautiously, the eyelids that had been still and closed slowly began to lift.
Mysterious grey eyes finally looked directly at me.
Despite his long illness, the light in his eyes was no different from when he was the Tower Master.
“Lord Moghold……!”
I grabbed his hand and knelt by the bedside.
Moghold spoke in a voice as soft as the wind.
“Please rise, Your Highness.”
