CHAPTER 39………………………….
“Naz, I asked you about my daughter marrying Grand Duke Kyle.”
Irritation seeped into Countess Bryn’s voice.
The desperate tone she had just moments ago had completely vanished.
Everett deliberately shuffled the tarot cards with crisp tack tack sounds.
“Countess, you of all people know how unrealistic a marriage with the Grand Duke is.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
Everett spread out the tarot cards again, then selected two herself and flipped them over.
“This symbolizes endless worries—meaning you’re hesitating to make a decision.”
The second card was the Four of Swords: a man sleeping deeply while four swords hang above him.
“If you keep hesitating, your daughter will eventually close her heart. Isn’t that already happening?”
The Countess’s tightly shut lips trembled, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“I just… I just wanted her to live a more comfortable, more abundant life. A mother wants nothing more than that. Is that so wrong?”
Countess Bryn finally let out the sob she had been holding back.
“A mere baronet. And he barely has any money. It’s obvious she’ll live in hardship. Naz… should I really let her marry such a man?”
The man was represented by the Knight of Pentacles.
To the Queen of Cups, he might seem frustratingly slow or indecisive—but once he set his goal, he was more determined and courageous than anyone.
“You’re not trying to force an immediate marriage, are you?”
Everett asked after the Countess had cried for a while.
“…No.”
“He may seem too calm and slow for your liking. But you already know he’s dependable, don’t you?”
Everett’s voice softened gently—like calming an upset child, she spoke slowly and warmly.
“Well… I suppose he is dependable in some ways.”
“Don’t try to force a conclusion right away. Young lovers often burn hotter when someone tries to separate them.”
“…Do you think so?”
“Of course. The more you try to stop them, the more ‘fated’ it feels. And look—this is exactly what the cards say, isn’t it?”
The Countess’s expression finally loosened, a faint smile forming.
“Speaking with you always calms me. I don’t even know what I was thinking rushing here from the temple….”
“I’m glad you feel better. By the way… were there many people visiting the saintess at the temple today?”
Countess Bryn shook her head.
“No. Just me and maybe one other person? Hardly anyone. All those people were lined up outside the temple instead.”
“I noticed that.”
“So I donated more than usual because I thought I’d have to wait long. I was shocked when I saw how empty it was inside.”
“If there were no other visitors, I’m sure you had time to speak with the saintess at length.”
“Oh, don’t even start. She called it a prophecy, but she only said a few vague lines. No matter how many times I asked again, she kept repeating that that was all from Lady Anishu.”
Listening to her, Everett grew increasingly annoyed.
So she uses tarot cards like that? Throwing out ominous nonsense and making people anxious?
Countess Bryn took out her purse.
“Naz, I’m so sorry for dragging you out on your day off. Here, your consultation fee—”
Everett extended her hand to cover the jar’s opening before the fee could be dropped in.
“No. Please just go home today. If you’re feeling better, that’s enough for me.”
“Naz, but still…”
This wasn’t truly a free consultation.
Everett had gained information she wouldn’t have known otherwise—about the saintess Angelus and her so-called prophecy.
And she had finally earned the trust of the sharp-tongued Countess Bryn.
That alone made it worthwhile.
“Countess, how much did you donate at the temple?”
The Countess leaned in, whispering the amount quietly.
Everett’s mouth curved slightly upward when she heard it.
The Same Morning
As soon as Kyle opened his eyes, he headed straight to Alfred’s mansion.
“Where’s Alph?”
“Lord Kiyor is still asleep.”
“He’s still sleeping?”
Just then, Harpa hurried down the stairs.
“You’re here, Lord Kyle.”
The attendant who opened the door bowed and withdrew.
“How did it go yesterday?”
Harpa’s face was still puffy from sleep, but he smiled brightly.
“Looks like it went well.”
Thinking he might get to see Everett more often, Kyle smiled in satisfaction.
“I’m not sure yet. But I made an appointment to see her at the shop this afternoon.”
“Already? That fast? The Kuna shop owner didn’t seem easy to persuade.”
Harpa scratched the back of his head.
“I know. I thought it would take much longer… honestly, I don’t know why she agreed.”
“If she said yes, she said yes. You’ll find out why when you get there. But why isn’t Alph waking up?”
“He drank a lot of Ice Kuna. I believe that may be why.”
Kyle snorted.
“Alph? From a few cups of Ice Kuna?”
“It wasn’t just a few cups. He drank more than I could count.”
“Still, Alph? No way. He must be getting old.”
The attendant finished preparing breakfast and came to escort them to the dining room.
“Tell your master I’m here.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Moments later, the door burst open.
Alfred ran in, clothes hastily thrown on.
“M-my apologies, Lord Kyle.”
“Alph, I heard you passed out from Ice Kuna?”
“…….”
“That hurts me, you know.”
“…What?”
“Back in the day, you could stay up drinking the strongest liquor for days without issue. Ah… is this the sorrow of old age setting in?”
He knew Kyle was teasing, but Alfred’s temple throbbed visibly.
“It’s just that the travel fatigue caught up with me. Arriving safely… relaxing a bit… that’s all.”
“Sure, sure. It happens.”
Kyle’s dismissive reply only bruised Alfred’s pride further.
Passing out drunk was something that simply shouldn’t happen to him.
Seeing Alfred’s furrowed brow, Kyle chuckled.
“So, Harpa is going to meet the Kuna owner today. You good to come?”
“What? Going to Kuna again? Why?”
Harpa choked on his water.
“We arranged to speak with the owner. With Lord Kyle.”
“I see. I think I remember hearing that…”
Alfred downed a bowl of hot soup in one go.
“We may not settle things today, but it’s a good start.”
“I agree. Do well. I’ll go with you, but I have my own business there.”
Kyle imagined Everett’s startled rabbit-like expression when she’d see him—and grinned.
“Lord Kyle, did something good happen?”
Harpa had never seen that kind of smile on him.
“What makes you think that?”
“Your expression is… different today.”
Instead of answering, Kyle merely let out a quiet laugh, then turned to Alfred.
“Alph, we have people planted in the emperor’s palace, right?”
Alfred’s sleepy eyes sharpened instantly.
“Yes. A footman and a maid. Should I send word?”
“Find out if the emperor has changed recently. New behaviors, new acquaintances—everything.”
“Did something happen when you met His Majesty yesterday?”
Kyle bit off a chunk of bread.
“I went to the emperor’s private study.”
“…What? The private study?”
Alfred’s eyes widened, though Harpa, not understanding the implications, remained silent.
“Something was definitely different.”
“Did His Majesty say anything unusual?”
“No. That’s the weird part. His tone, his atmosphere… it wasn’t the emperor I remember.”
“Perhaps his attitude toward you changed? Age softens people.”
“No. That’s not it. Just report anything—anything at all—that’s different from a year ago.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and there will be a ball soon—so nobles can choose a lady for me to marry.”
Kyle spoke like announcing a fun event.
“His Majesty said so himself?”
“Surprising, right? I thought he’d call me in to tell me he didn’t care if I never married.”
Alfred’s expression stiffened further.
As Kyle’s self-appointed guardian, he was more sensitive than anyone to changes in the emperor.
Even with so little information, he could tell something was off.
“We don’t have time to waste.”
Alfred stood up abruptly, called a knight waiting outside, and went directly to his study.
The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy, so Harpa silently focused on eating.
“Well… I don’t know what’s going on, but… it sounds like Lord Kyle is getting married.”
“Married? Absolutely not.”
“But if there’s a whole ball for it, won’t all the noble families be excited?”
Kyle clicked his tongue.
“My standards are extremely high. Most noble ladies don’t even come close.”
“What’s your ideal type, Lord Kyle?”
Harpa asked teasingly—yet Kyle unexpectedly fell into serious thought.
“I… seem to like someone unusual.”
“…We’re talking about an ideal type, right?”
“Someone who seems clumsy but is surprisingly sharp. Someone whose tiny head is always thinking something… rolling those pitch-black eyes around….”
Kyle looked like he was picturing someone very specific.
“…Is there already someone like that in your life?”
Kyle snapped out of it and cleared his throat loudly.
“What time would I have for that? I’ve always been at the borders or hunting monsters.”
“That’s true. You never had time to meet anyone. Then I hope you meet your ideal lady at this ball.”
Kyle smirked crookedly.
“We’ll see. Doubt any lady attending will fit.”
