[CHAPTER 88]
Roderic Belua was playing chess with his daughter.
The only daughter he had obtained late in life, Adelaisa Belua, was frail in body.
When she was young, she had escaped death several times.
Even with the devoted care of the finest physicians in the Catalos Empire and the people of the ducal household, her illness was never fully cured.
Adelaisa tired easily at all times, and she frequently ended up confined to her bed.
And when the weather grew cold, her condition worsened even further.
That was why she bundled herself in shawls and scarves even indoors where the air was warm.
Because of this, Roderic usually sent his daughter ahead to the warm southern territory before winter arrived.
While Roderic himself had to keep the Emperor in check, there was no reason for Adelaisa to remain in the capital after the social season had ended.
However, this year was different.
Adelaisa did not return to the ducal territory first.
Roderic was ultimately unable to break the stubbornness of his daughter, who had always been obedient.
On days this cold, the only pastimes Adelaisa could enjoy were embroidery or reading.
That day as well, Roderic summoned Adelaisa to the study after seeing her seated by the window, gazing outside.
Of course, Adelaisa was no real opponent for him, so the true purpose was to converse with a chessboard set between them.
From the time Adelaisa became old enough to sit before a chessboard, Roderic taught her many things.
He poured into her all the wisdom of life he had intended to pass on to the son he never obtained.
That day was one of those days.
As Roderic brushed aside the bishop Adelaisa had carelessly offered, he spoke.
“Ravelan Arasas visited the Arasas Ambassador’s residence with the Princess.”
Looking fondly at his daughter, who did not reply, Roderic continued.
“They appeared without any prior notice and introduced the Princess as the woman who will soon become his fiancée.”
Adelaisa slowly lifted her gaze to meet Roderic’s.
Her faded blue eyes held a sorrowful air, but Roderic knew well how brilliantly intelligent those eyes could shine.
“Unless something unusual happens, they will likely hold the engagement ceremony next year.”
“And the year after that, they will marry.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“What do you think should be done?”
The answer was already decided.
This national marriage must never be allowed to take place.
If Catalos and Arasas reconciled through a national marriage and opened their borders, all the interests the southern nobles had enjoyed until now would be handed over to the pro-Emperor faction.
At present, all goods entering Catalos from abroad passed through the southern trade routes.
But if the western border adjoining Arasas were opened, there would be no reason to trade through the south, which was infested with pirates and corrupt officials.
The moment the two empires joined hands, the value of the south and the nobles who controlled it would plummet endlessly.
It would also mean that the Belua Duke’s family, which commanded them, could no longer wield authority as the greatest noble house in the empire.
That was unacceptable.
It was no exaggeration to say that Roderic had devoted his entire life to preventing reconciliation between the two nations.
Stirring up large and small conflicts while ensuring that war did not break out required an extremely delicate and meticulous skill.
Only Roderic was capable of maintaining that precarious balance.
During the reign of the previous Emperor, that had been sufficient.
Backed by the Emperor’s indulgence and neglect, Roderic could obtain what he wanted without resorting to particularly dirty methods.
But Rision Catalos e Catalos was different.
Roderic was only now beginning to realize that fact.
“When Ravelan Arasas and the Princess visited the Ambassador’s residence, that woman accompanied them as well.”
Adelaisa quietly moved a piece.
It was a self-defeating move, but Roderic did not point it out.
“Not only that, but they say His Majesty showered that woman with all sorts of gifts, and even handed her a check for a considerable sum.”
“I see.”
“If it were you, how would you interpret this situation?”
Her pale face did not readily reveal any change in expression.
Roderic patiently waited for his daughter’s response.
In the silence, pieces were moved two or three times.
When her turn finally came, Adelaisa spoke instead of lifting a piece.
“Miss Dianu Ortensa has earned enough trust to persuade the Princess……”
Her gaze, sunk in thought, wandered across the chessboard.
“…and it would be correct to assume she has an intimate relationship with His Majesty.”
Roderic smiled in satisfaction.
“Then what must be done now?”
Adelaisa did not answer.
Instead, she pushed a single pawn on the board where victory and defeat were already clear.
The pawn toppled with a soft thud, rolled across the board, and fell to the floor.
Roderic spoke.
“Yes.”
“That is what must be done.”
Perhaps it was something that should have been done long ago.
Roderic made his decision.
* * *
It was a day so cold that the chill outside could be felt even indoors.
In the capital, which prided itself on relatively mild winters, this was rare.
The few people passing by outside the window all exhaled visible clouds of breath.
“It seems it will snow.”
“Yes.”
“It is time for the first snow.”
He had merely muttered to himself while looking outside, yet a reply came from behind him.
It was Neyron Berdian.
Rision Catalos e Catalos was about to scold the secretary for entering the Emperor’s office without permission, but he closed his mouth, thinking that perhaps he had simply failed to hear the knock.
Lately, he often found himself lost in thought or unable to properly grasp his surroundings.
A few days ago, he had even summoned Anteo and left him standing before the desk for quite some time.
He had forgotten both that he had called him and why he had done so, having sunk into contemplation.
The poor lawyer could not bring himself to announce his presence to the Emperor and stood rigidly at attention for a full half hour.
At such a critical time, it would not do to lose focus like this.
Rision weakly reproached himself.
Fortunately, what Neyron brought was news that eased his heavy mood somewhat.
“The Belua ducal residence has finally been vacated.”
The capital’s social season had ended long ago.
Most great nobles had already returned to their regional territories with their families.
The last ones remaining were a handful of high officials invited to the Emperor’s round table, and among them, the Belua Duke had held out the longest.
‘At least until spring comes, I will have a little more freedom to move.’
Even just a few months would provide an opportunity to prepare for the grand trial while avoiding the surveillance of the anti-Arasas faction led by the Belua Duke.
This winter would be the busiest of Rision’s life.
“What about my aunt’s side?”
“Count Demion Erbinjel and the Archduke will depart for the grand ducal territory tomorrow.”
In other words, Ellaris would remain in the capital throughout the winter.
It would raise some suspicion if word reached the Belua Duke, but it could not be helped.
“Miss Dianu will be disappointed.”
“The Archduke visited Oak Palace two days ago to bid farewell.”
Since declaring his intentions to Dianu, Rision had not sought her out deliberately.
Instead, he received regular reports on her condition.
The news delivered in turn by Viscountess Ornin, Neyron Berdian, and Sir Marek Loisen was all ordinary.
‘Today she read in the library and then played the piano.’
‘She went for a short walk, but came back inside quickly because of the cold.’
‘Miss Contar visited, and they had tea and conversation together.’
There were no reports of her falling ill from distress or packing her belongings in the middle of the night and fleeing the palace.
That, at least, was a relief.
He thought that Obina might know what Dianu was thinking, but Rision abandoned the idea of probing her.
He did not want to place a young lady in conflict between loyalty to the Emperor and faithfulness to a friend.
What could be happening inside that lovely mind right now?
Which way was the scale in Dianu’s heart tilting?
He could only hope that her deliberation would not drag on too long.
He had no intention of letting her go anymore.
“Neyron.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have you looked into Miss Dianu’s family?”
“Yes.”
“But there were no unusual details beyond what you already know.”
“As Miss Ortensa herself has said repeatedly, it truly is an ordinary family.”
Neyron took out the leather-bound notebook he always carried on his person.
Flipping through a few pages with an unexpressive face, he paused at one point and spoke as if recalling it belatedly.
“Ah.”
“There is one rumor regarding Miss Ortensa’s younger brother, Beric Ortensa, but it is not certain.”
“A rumor?”
Any rumor about a boy still attending school would surely be trivial.
Still, thinking of him as a future brother-in-law made Rision curious.
“What kind of rumor is it?”
