“Noah.”
Although his face was no longer visible, the trembling in his voice revealed just how agitated he was. Karia called out to him, reaching out her hand.
For some reason, she felt compelled to hear the story of why he looked so remarkably like Gilford—and why, even more astonishingly, he was also a half-elf like Gilford.
“Wait!”
But he took a step back, avoiding her hand, and before she could grasp him, he ran away. Karia sank onto the floor of the foyer, helplessly watching his retreating figure disappear into the distance.
Even someone as experienced as Karia, skilled in anticipating possibilities, had not foreseen this situation. Trembling, she clenched her fists, realizing a secret far more astonishing than his confession.
“-Gilford… could it really be you? Or is this just an incredible coincidence?”
She did not believe in unprovable fate, yet at that moment, she felt something indescribable. It was as if the entire world was urging her not to let him go.
“Are you alright, Mistress?”
Hearing the commotion, the household staff rushed over. Butler Noah was startled to see her sitting on the floor and quickly supported her. Karia did not appear physically hurt, but she seemed mentally elsewhere.
“-It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
After somehow standing up, Karia waved her hands at the concerned staff, signaling that she was okay.
I’m fine. I will be fine. After all, Noah will return here when the sun rises. I can confirm it then.
Yet, she could not understand why her heart felt so heavy, or why his shocked expression remained burned into her vision.
“Enter.”
“Your Majesty, Cerivis has not arrived yet.”
It was the imperial evening banquet, held once a week. Robert, arriving on time, was puzzled by the empty, cold-looking table.
The Crown Prince already had a busy schedule. With the divorce incident Karia had caused, there was even less time for tea with Cerivis, and at the banquet, he could not even see his beloved younger sibling.
“She said she’s going to the opera today.”
“The opera… you say?”
The Emperor spoke casually and began his meal without hesitation. Robert forced a polite smile, trying to mask his discomfort.
“Cerivis always attended the opera with me. Who do you think she went with today?”
“Who else? The same careless girl who caused all the trouble. Does she have no shame, wandering about like that?”
“-You mean Karia, I assume.”
For some reason, Cerivis had been skipping family gatherings recently, mostly because of Karia. One day she went for tea with her, another day for a meal, and yet another for shopping.
It was as if the sun had risen in the west.
Though they had never genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, since Karia’s divorce, they had been meeting daily, imitating the behavior of affectionate sisters.
“Tsk, it’s outrageous! Why did that girl do such a thing? And she isn’t hiding just one child, but two! Always timid and hesitant, yet bold at the worst moments! What was the Duke of Pandeon doing that he didn’t even know his wife was pregnant or gave birth?!”
“-Indeed. Since the children seem about five years old, they were likely born while she was in the Pandeon estate.”
“Have you investigated who their father is?”
“We tried, but there was no information. It seems she told no one.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue, visibly displeased. If she could not openly speak about it, the father was likely an insignificant man. As a result, illegitimate children had entered the noble imperial lineage, a lasting disgrace for future generations.
Anger boiling within him, the Emperor gulped down a glass of cold water.
“By the way, Your Majesty, have you heard about the transfer of the Marquessate of Balta?”
“Hm?”
“I wanted to ask Cerivis, but I haven’t seen her.”
Robert was not particularly concerned with Karia’s situation, but he asked, curious, while gauging the Emperor’s mood.
Balta was a prestigious imperial territory, directly controlled for a long time. Robert had overseen its administration as Crown Prince. He had long eyed its excellent security and revenue, and had suggested granting it to Cerivis. In other words, Balta was Robert’s gift.
Yet now, this valuable land was in Karia’s hands. Robert felt no personal grudge, but it was frustrating.
The Emperor snorted, displeased, and replied,
“Cerivis voluntarily gave it.”
“Eh? Why would she—?”
“Karia now must raise two children on her own; she needs income. That young girl was considerate enough to think of that.”
Although the Emperor still wanted to summon Karia and scold her, he held back. Every decision he had made, including granting her divorce, had been influenced by Cerivis.
The youngest, whom he had assumed immature, had pleaded for Karia, asking the Emperor to consider her feelings, and persistently defended her. Feeling guilty for not being the supportive family they could rely on, he had even willingly transferred the title.
Out of shame for his daughter, the Emperor could not act harshly toward Karia. He had already half given up, letting her live as she wished.
“Karia is no longer a child. She married at twenty-one, and Cerivis, now twenty-five, still has no fiancé.”
“Cerivis is different. She’s the youngest, still immature.”
“You’re too careless. You will marry this year, and Grenberic and Alcard have long-time fiancés. I think you’ve been too indifferent in finding a match for Cerivis.”
The Emperor set down his fork and knife, stroking his chin in deep thought. Robert clenched his fists anxiously. How had the conversation gone from one thing to another?
“A match for Cerivis? Too early! A million years too early!”
Just imagining his sister in a stranger’s hands filled him with rage.
Fifteen years ago, his mother, on her deathbed, had held his hand tightly and entrusted Cerivis to him.
“Robert, your father is the Emperor. He cares for you but cannot devote himself solely to you. You must protect your young and weak sister. Please, I ask this of you.”
At that time, Cerivis was only ten. She cried for days over the loss of her mother, and with the Emperor busy with state affairs, nineteen-year-old Robert stayed by her side to protect her. Though not yet an adult, he had to act like one to safeguard his sister.
That memory deeply ingrained in him gave him excessive attachment to Cerivis. He knew his feelings were improper, but emotions cannot be reasoned away. As long as he concealed them, there was no need to change.
“But Your Majesty, there is currently no suitable match for Cerivis. The high-ranking nobles are either too old or already married—”
“There’s no reason it must be within our country.”
“Eh?”
“The war has long ended. It’s time to establish proper relations with neighboring countries.”
Robert’s forced smile cracked at the Emperor’s words.
The Castaros Empire had remained united since Emperor Ludvald first unified the continent. About 150 years ago, due to regional disparities and the royal family’s weak governance, a rebellion broke out, leading to a three-way division of the country.
First, the Castaros Empire in the central fertile lands with deep history.
Second, the fortified Edenberg Empire in the south, self-sufficient and warm year-round.
Third, the resource-rich Bismarck Empire in the west.
They had long sought to establish relations with Bismarck, which, unlike Edenberg, had abundant mines, wealth, and superior weapons production, making it necessary to monitor them.
The Emperor’s suggestion clearly concerned Bismarck—a distant land requiring a two-week carriage journey from the capital.
“Actually, a marriage proposal from Bismarck arrived for Cerivis a few months ago. I had intended to decline, but it might not be bad to consider it seriously.”
“Hmm. The Emperor of Bismarck already has a wife, does he not?”
“If the proposal had been from the Emperor himself, I would have refused immediately. You know who actually runs Bismarck, do you not?”
