CHAPTER 34
“No matter how much His Majesty cherishes and favors Roziane, he’s still a man. Let’s just pretend we didn’t hear what you just said.”
At Duke Alexis’ words, Roziane froze and glanced at me.
“Yes, that being the case, it would be difficult to show my body. I appreciate your concern, but I am fine.”
I clicked my tongue quietly, thinking the cleric had come all that way for nothing.
The duke rose from his seat as if there was nothing more to say and continued,
“You may not know well since you’ve only been in the palace.”
At the mention of ignorance, Roziane’s expression visibly stiffened. Kneeling in the oppressive space, Tamitarte, the cleric, was watching carefully.
If he was the only one with sacred power, there shouldn’t have been any need to watch so closely.
Yet Roziane, who possessed sacred power himself, was acting strangely, issuing commands back and forth.
It wouldn’t have been odd if Tamitarte acted arrogantly toward Roziane under these circumstances.
There were so many things that felt strange and troubling…
For now, I pushed those thoughts aside and glanced at the duke, who was dealing with Roziane.
“I am the same. The only people who should know the health of the head of the ducal family are the steward and the heir.”
Roziane could not hide his displeasure at this blunt refusal and stood frozen.
“Even though I brought the cleric to persuade you, I don’t think I can show my body.”
Of course, Roziane wouldn’t understand. He had no place in the palace hierarchy.
Had he been female, he might have studied household management, etiquette, and social customs, but as a man, how could he possibly know?
Roziane was a floating presence in the palace. At best, he wasted the royal budget on luxury.
“Rise.”
When the duke told me as if there was no further need to converse with Roziane, I nodded and stood.
Roziane looked utterly affronted by the duke’s attitude.
It was fortunate that Roziane didn’t try to forcibly detain me.
After all, it would have been strange to talk about the carriage accident again, especially since I had emerged from it with no injuries at all.
Everyone had expected scars from the leopard bite, yet my shoulder remained completely unmarked.
“You came for nothing.”
“Are you unwell?”
I asked as we walked down the long corridor of the palace, leaving Roziane’s room.
The duke ahead of me stopped abruptly and slowly turned toward me.
Unlike Roziane, his face was unreadable.
I realized the comment about “coming for nothing” referred to Roziane’s concern over the duke’s collapse. He clearly didn’t want me to notice.
“This is something you don’t need to know.”
I smiled faintly and continued.
“After all, only the steward and heir are supposed to know the duke’s condition.”
I had asked out of curiosity, not expecting him to answer. And I didn’t truly wish to know.
“Before returning to the ducal family, I’ll meet someone briefly.”
“Here in the palace?”
“Yes. Is that not allowed?”
He tilted his head, swallowed dryly, and shook it lightly.
“Of course it’s allowed.”
“……”
“You may move freely whenever you wish.”
I turned my body toward the royal palace, where Persephone was.
“Damn it!”
Roziane cursed loudly, ignoring Tamitarte and the other palace staff.
The sharp crashing sound was now so familiar that Tamitarte closed his eyes calmly.
“You fools, even if you despise someone, there’s a limit…!”
Most of the men dismissed her simply because she had become the emperor’s mistress.
Being unable to bear heirs made it even worse. Damned children.
They surely imagined—simultaneously—what they wanted me to do.
They likely assumed I would fall beneath the emperor and cry out in submission.
“Fools.”
When would they understand reality was the exact opposite?
One word from the Crown Prince or Persephone could put them in their place.
Though even a living corpse might not want to insult their father.
“Come here.”
At Roziane’s gesture, Tamitarte stepped closer.
He carefully took Roziane’s hand as he slumped onto the sofa.
I felt my body settle as his sacred power flowed into me.
“Wrinkles have started to appear on this body.”
Roziane spoke slowly. Tamitarte said nothing.
It was natural for humans to wrinkle as they aged. In fact, it was Roziane’s artificially preserved youthful appearance that seemed strange.
“I’ll bring some medicine next time you come to the palace.”
“More importantly…”
“……”
“Have you still not found that brat who ran away?”
There was no doubt that the “brat” he meant was Daniel.
Tamitarte remained silent, and Roziane raised one eye, as if taking the silence as confirmation.
“If you can’t find that brat, at least bring his child before my eyes.”
After a long pause, Tamitarte quietly replied,
“…Yes.”
It was all he could say.
“Princess April?”
Adonis, stationed outside Persephone’s office, greeted me in a noticeably surprised tone.
“Hello, Sir.”
“What brings you to the palace… Ah, you’ve come to see His Majesty?”
“Yes. I just plan to go in briefly…”
Perhaps because of the broken engagement, Adonis seemed slightly uneasy. Did he think I would cause a scene?
I assured myself I wouldn’t make any trouble and prepared to open the door.
Adonis spoke in a gentler tone than before,
“There is currently a guest inside the office…”
Before he finished, the door swung open, and I hesitated, stepping back at the sight of Lerbian.
“What brings the princess here?”
“I’ve come to see His Majesty. After all, I am his fiancée.”
“Now may not be the best time.”
Was there really a guest inside? I glanced past him.
Whoever was there wasn’t as important a guest as I was.
I grasped my cloak briefly as a thought struck me.
Persephone already had someone in mind—someone more important than me.
“I’m here to convey my answer regarding the broken engagement, Sir Lerbian.”
“……”
“I’m also curious whether His Majesty will even see me.”
Incidentally, it would be good to see who Persephone had feelings for.
It was easy to imagine noble ladies pining for Persephone, but Persephone herself? That was unimaginable, and I could not guess who it was. My inner Persephone was still the clumsy, tearful girl she had been.
Lerbian hesitated briefly at my words, then nodded and re-entered the office.
Since there was no need for a long conversation, he gestured me in as the door opened.
Inside, Persephone was the only person present.
The office was exactly as I remembered, with large bookshelves and curtains blocking the sunlight.
“Sit.”
Persephone invited me to a nearby sofa, but she first took the seat opposite me.
When I sat, her eyes locked on mine. They were a mix of curiosity and expectation, waiting for my answer regarding the broken engagement.
“So… Princess, what decision have you made?”
“Before answering, I met with Roziane today. He was concerned about the carriage accident and even brought a cleric.”
Even at the mention of Roziane, she didn’t look particularly surprised. She must have already heard about my meeting with Roziane and Duke Alexis.
“I believe Roziane is desperate to have His Majesty break our engagement.”
“……”
“And I think His Majesty will need the ducal family’s support to succeed to the throne.”
“Then your answer regarding the broken engagement… is it a refusal?
