CHAPTER 15
“Let’s eat.”
Though things had gone a bit off-schedule, I still made it back in time—just enough for a quick bath and a moment’s rest before dinner.
I had left a note for the kids, just in case:
If I don’t return before dinner, go ahead and eat without me.
But deep down, I had no doubt I’d be back in time.
The auction had started early that morning, and even if it dragged out, I was sure it wouldn’t stretch past dinner.
Besides… there was something unspoken between us—a subtle war of nerves, waged quietly across the dinner table ever since the Duke went missing.
A silent standoff.
Who would break this forced dinner routine first?
Whoever slipped up—whoever missed dinner first—would be blamed for breaking the “promise.” And once the promise was broken, the rest could use that as an excuse to end these suffocating dinners for good.
So here we were, clinging to a meal no one actually enjoyed.
And I had no intention of being the first to give in.
“Did everyone have a good day?”
I spoke up without even thinking, probably still giddy from getting Oksana’s ring at the auction.
Oops. Guess I’m the only one in a good mood tonight.
It’s not like I expected an answer anyway.
“Yes.”
“…Huh?”
All of us looked up in surprise. Someone had actually answered.
And when I saw who it was, I blurted out the dumbest sound.
“…What?”
Anna had frozen mid-slice with her knife. Reyna and Haldeir paused, food halfway to their mouths.
The only one who kept eating as if nothing had happened… was Kaelan.
“Oh… Right. Kaelan. Sounds like you had a good day.”
“Yes.”
He replied again—clear and calm.
So we hadn’t misheard after all.
I hadn’t even asked with the expectation of an answer, but now that he was actually engaging, I found myself completely thrown off.
Why Kaelan, of all people?
Before the regression, we’d barely spoken—just enough to count on one hand. And even then, it was usually because the Duke had forced some basic interaction.
The only time Kaelan had ever initiated conversation with me?
It hadn’t even been a real conversation. It was basically an attack.
It had happened during a meeting with the retainers.
One of them—a man named Viscount Kranos—had raised his voice, criticizing the Duke. I had gotten into a heated exchange with him right then and there.
Kranos was the same man named in the Duke’s will as Kaelan’s co-regent, should something happen to me.
After storming out of the meeting, he must have gone straight to Kaelan, because Kaelan came looking for me shortly afterward.
And those were the first words he ever said to me:
“Are you out of your mind?”
“…What?”
I was startled, but invited him into my room, trying to stay calm. I asked the maid to bring tea.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Kaelan dropped all pretense and let loose.
“Is it true you raised your voice at Uncle Kranos during the meeting?”
“Kaelan, that’s—”
“Is it true or not?”
“…It’s true. But it was a disagreement between adults. How do you even know about that meeting? Who told you—”
“There’s a limit to how ignorant you can be.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Did you even know who Uncle Kranos is before you pulled that stunt?”
“He was insulting the Duke—your father—!”
“Today’s meeting was partly about the flood five years ago. Did you know people were hurt because of Father’s poor decision back then?”
“…What?”
“No one died, thankfully, and reparations were made, but the decision itself was wrong. Uncle Kranos simply pointed that out. Is that too hard for you to understand?”
“I didn’t… I wasn’t even part of the duchy back then! No one told me. It’s not like it was written down anywhere—”
“If you’re going to sit in the Duchess’ seat without knowing anything, then at least have the decency to keep your mouth shut and stop poking around.”
[…]
“I trust I’ve made myself clear. Don’t let me hear of anything like this again.”
That was the one and only day Kaelan ever really talked to me. It was also the longest “conversation” we ever had.
Naturally, after that, we hardly spoke.
His cold dismissal afterward made it clear that he hadn’t changed. And frankly, after that harsh confrontation, I was too afraid to approach him again.
So today’s sudden interaction?
It was enough to make anyone wonder if they’d misheard.
What had changed?
Still haunted by the memory of his past scorn, I hesitated—but curiosity won out.
“What did you do today, Kaelan?”
Would he answer again?
“I was in the study all day.”
“I see. Were you reading?”
“Yes.”
The more we spoke, the more I lost my appetite.
Why was he being… normal?
What happened today that made him act so differently?
If I had to guess…
It was the note, wasn’t it?
Could it be that my trail ran cold again?
Kaelan hated unpredictability. If something didn’t go the way he planned—or if he couldn’t dig up the information he wanted—it grated on him.
“What were you reading?”
“A variety of things.”
“Any one book stand out to you?”
If he really couldn’t get the answers he wanted from his usual methods… was this his way of trying something new? Talking to me directly?
He wasn’t being hostile—but his answers were vague. Each reply invited more questions, like he didn’t want to make it easy.
“It wasn’t a book, per se. I was reading the newspaper.”
“Of course. Very like you. Anything interesting?”
I hadn’t had time to check the paper this morning before leaving. Did something noteworthy happen?
“There was an article on ‘The Empire’s Economy and the Auction House’s Unspoken Ties.’ Quite thought-provoking.”
Just as I was about to take a sip of water to calm my parched throat—that phrase hit me like a slap.
So he knew I’d been to the auction today.
He’d set a crow on me.
“My, that sounds a bit heavy.”
“Surprisingly engaging. You should read it.”
“Oh, if you recommend it, I will.”
I didn’t want anyone else knowing I’d been to the auction. The more people who knew, the more likely the secret would slip.
Even the smallest clue could unravel everything.
Eventually, Kaelan would have reason to visit the imperial palace… and there, he might encounter the Grand Duke or the Second Prince.
Thankfully, Kaelan wasn’t the type to gossip.
Still… if he ever found out about Oksana’s ring, he’d probably suspect I had it.
“Any other news of interest?”
“Well, there was something about Countess Theron’s missing necklace turning up at an auction.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
So we’re talking about the auction again.
His intention couldn’t be more obvious.
“I think we should focus on our meal now. The food won’t taste good once it’s cold.”
“Agreed.”
And that was the end of it.
Anna fidgeted, clearly dying to ask Kaelan about his sudden change in behavior. Reyna and Haldeir gave me suspicious side-eyes at first, but soon turned their attention back to their plates.
After that brief burst of conversation, the only sounds left were clinking utensils.
When dinner finally ended, everyone scattered to their rooms.
“Kaelan, what’s going on?”
“What?”
“I mean… at dinner. That wasn’t like you. You usually ignore her completely.”
“…”
“Did she threaten you or something?”
“…What, her?” Kaelan let out a short laugh.
“You’re acting so strange.”
He unbuttoned his collar slowly before speaking again.
“You don’t need to worry. Go back to your room.”
“Something’s definitely up.”
“Aran, bring me some water.”
“Kaelan!”
“I need to rinse my mouth.”
Anna had no choice but to leave.
She walked away slowly, deliberately, hoping he might call her back.
He didn’t.
Click.
“…Haa…”
“Anna!”
Reyna and Haldeir jumped out from behind the hall corner.
“Whoa! You scared me! Why are you two still here?”
“Says the girl sneaking out of his room.”
“Well, I…”
Anna scratched her cheek, smiling sheepishly. She had the same goal they did.
Reyna leaned in close, lowering her voice.
“Is Kaelan… okay?”
Anna could only nod.
“…I think so?”
After returning to her room, Bella called out just as her maid was about to prepare the bathwater.
“Karen.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Have someone else do the bath. Bring me today’s newspaper.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And tell them to add rose oil to the bath.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Karen returned with the paper and helped me undress.
I’d already bathed once after the auction, but the tension from Kaelan’s unexpected questions—and all the sweat from keeping my composure—left me feeling suffocated.
The rose-scented water was exactly what I needed.
“Ha… this is nice.”
The heady fragrance melted the stress from my mind. The warm water untangled the knots in my shoulders.
I cupped some of the water in my hands and splashed it on my face, massaging gently around my eyes.
Then I turned to the newspaper and began reading carefully.
“Oh…”
One article caught my eye—an update on the Kingdom of Britan. It mentioned declining rainfall compared to last year.
“So the drought’s starting soon…”
When the drought officially hits, it’ll be front-page news across the continent.
Other nations will begin water conservation measures immediately—but the Croisen Empire, being far from Britan, would continue wasting water based on the naive belief that the drought wouldn’t reach us.
It did.
At this rate, I’d need to schedule repairs for the duchy’s dam soon.
Well, at least today’s paper wasn’t a waste.
The Britan article was on the very last page.
“I’m done.”
I folded the newspaper and set it aside before rising from the tub.
“Just as I thought.”
There was no article titled ‘The Empire’s Economy and the Auction House’s Unspoken Ties’ anywhere in today’s paper.
