CHAPTER 62…..
I thought that, instead of allowing Count Epsilard to visit, the Emperor had simply increased the number of meetings I had with young ladies of the court.
Since I was the first to directly say I was lonely, he must have wanted to make me friends so I wouldn’t have time to feel lonely.
That’s all I thought it was.
But five days later, after hearing news from the imperial palace through Illia, I completely abandoned that idea.
“Grandfather is coming to visit my palace?!”
“Yes, and he even declared outright that he’s coming to see the Second Empress and Her Highness the Princess. I wonder what happened between him and the Empress? It’s no secret that she’s been keeping the Earl of Epsilard on a short leash.”
It was the Emperor.
The Emperor intervened.
Maybe some of what I said that day actually got through to him.
Otherwise, Grandfather wouldn’t recklessly declare he was coming to see me without having a perfect hand to play against the Empress.
But… didn’t he seem upset that day?
I didn’t know the reason, but the Emperor had ended our meeting early, apparently displeased by at least some of my words.
And yet suddenly, he was hosting parties three times a week with girls my age, and now he was even making it easier for my grandfather to visit the palace.
I really can’t tell what he’s thinking.
Not that I ever really knew what was going on in his head.
For now, all I can do is hope Grandfather arrives safely.
Thinking that, I opened a book and tried to behave as usual, all the while just waiting for him to come.
An hour later, I realized I’d been holding the book upside down.
It was three in the afternoon.
When I went outside to the First Princess’s palace, I saw a brown carriage approaching. It bore the Epsilard family crest and was waiting right outside.
Several knights guarding the palace bowed as my grandfather stepped out of the carriage. When he spotted me, a bright smile spread across his face.
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to come out and greet me. I could have come to you.”
“How could I not? It’s the first time you’ve come to my palace in person.”
“Haha, so it is, embarrassingly enough. I’ve brought many gifts, carefully chosen by me and my son, for Your Highness.”
When Grandfather smoothly turned around, I suddenly noticed seven more carriages hidden behind his.
As I stared in shock, he stroked his long beard with a satisfied smile.
“Think of it as all the love I couldn’t give you until now, piled together.”
“Even so… this is a bit excessive…”
It would be an ordeal just to bring them all inside.
I glanced at Illia and Mulin, who had hurried out behind me, and gave them an awkward smile.
“Could you call the attendants and have all the gifts brought into the palace…?”
“Huh? Ah—yes, yes, Your Highness.”
“We’ll probably need at least a dozen people for this…”
Even the maids who had come out to watch were widening their eyes and gasping at my grandfather’s generosity.
Feeling embarrassed, I sidled up to him and suggested moving somewhere else.
“Shall we go inside?”
“If it pleases Your Highness, I don’t mind.”
“My palace pâtissier has prepared refreshments for you. Let’s go slowly.”
“It would be my honor.”
He followed me, eyes crinkling in another smile.
Since my mother became Empress, it was the first time the maids and attendants had seen my grandfather, and they couldn’t take their eyes off him.
Noticing this, the staff quickly bowed and pretended to be busy.
Well, I guess their reaction is understandable…
But staring so openly is a bit much.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
“Hmm?”
“I mean, about my staff… they…”
“Ah.”
Grandfather, realizing the attention was on him, gave a rueful smile.
“I’ll have to accept it. It’s been almost ten years since I’ve shown my face. Don’t worry about it.”
“Next time, I’ll make sure they’re more discreet.”
“Haha, I’m just grateful to be back here at all. It’s fine.”
He really did seem fine—whether it was because simply seeing me made him able to endure such treatment, or because he had grown used to it over the years, I couldn’t tell.
With mixed thoughts, I led him to the reception room and sat him on the sofa.
“I heard you don’t like sweets, but you do enjoy desserts with a subtle ginseng flavor, so I had those prepared.”
When I offered him a soft ginseng cake, Grandfather took it with a moved expression, then carefully took a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dabbed at his eyes.
“I feel like I should take this cake, cast a triple-layer protective spell on it, and enshrine it as a family heirloom, Your Highness.”
“Huh? Food is for eating, not for putting on display.”
“It’s just that I’m that touched. It looks truly delicious. My wife would have adored you if she were here.”
“You mean my grandmother?”
“Yes. She passed away from illness when the Second Empress married His Majesty.”
“…I see.”
I nodded, munching on some cookies a maid had prepared.
I haven’t had many chances to hear about my mother’s family…
It felt a bit awkward to hear it so suddenly, and I glanced at him cautiously.
Perhaps sensing this, Grandfather gave a candid smile.
“It doesn’t sadden me so much now.”
I nodded again.
Looking around the reception room, he spoke.
“His Majesty told me he wanted to give you friends your own age. It seems, over time, he’s trying to keep you in his sights.”
“If he’s doing that, it’s probably because I’m useful to him—and because I injured one of his favored children.”
“You mean the wound? Now that you mention it, I noticed a mark on your forehead I hadn’t seen before. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes.”
When I nodded, his expression darkened.
“Was it a serious wound? I heard you refused to take your medicine.”
“I guess they didn’t like me resisting. I’ve always been timid in front of them.”
“…Was there no one to help you?”
“I only started making allies recently. Before that, I managed to endure this vast palace thanks to Emin, the Third Prince—we’ve been each other’s support.”
“I see…”
“You don’t have to hold it in your heart, Grandfather.”
One guilty conscience—the Emperor’s—was enough for me.
When I tried to smile with composure, the Count sighed and pressed his fingers to his brow.
“You don’t have to pretend to be so composed. If it’s upsetting, it’s upsetting. There are plenty of people willing to indulge your softer side.”
“But if I do that, they’ll just see me as easy to push around.”
“That’s why I’m here. From today on, I’ll be seeing you more often—and I’ll send my people to the Second Empress’s palace as well.”
Ah, right—that matter.
I almost forgot I needed to consult him about this.
“There’s something I wanted to discuss with you about that, Grandfather.”
“Do you have instructions for me?”
“Yes. About sending our people to Mother’s palace—what do you think about assigning someone who’s likely to betray us?”
“…What?”
For a moment, the Count blinked at me in confusion.
I gave him a sly smile.
“I don’t mean only that kind of person—just that we should assign both types, the trustworthy and the untrustworthy, at the same time.”
The closer you keep your enemies, the easier they are to control—especially when they have a lot to lose.
Meanwhile, as the Emperor was listening to a report from Renald, his gaze drifted out the window toward the First Princess’s palace.
“What is the First Princess doing right now?”
“She’s… doing accounting work—ah, you mean Her Highness? Didn’t Your Majesty say the Earl of Epsilard was visiting today?”
“Yes. What did you hear?”
“Sir Blonmind just reported that she’s having a pleasant time. The Earl brought seven carriages of gifts for her, and the attendants were in awe while carrying them inside.”
“And was she pleased?”
“Most likely. She’d been looking forward to seeing her grandfather.”
“…I see.”
Renald glanced at the Emperor’s expression and lifted his report again.
If the man across from him weren’t staring dreamily toward the Princess’s palace instead of working, Renald wouldn’t be inwardly groaning at the mountain of documents.
Ever since hearing that the Earl of Epsilard and the Princess are her only family… he’s been like this.
“If only you’d treated her well from the start, Your Majesty…”
“What was that?”
“Ah—nothing. Just saying the weather’s nice today.”
“….”
“Really.”
Renald laughed awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“If you’re that concerned, why not go see her? You could greet the Earl as well.”
“If I do, I might just ruin the good mood.”
…At least he knows.
Apparently aware he hasn’t been much of a good father or husband to either Queen Ayla or Princess Lilien, the Emperor’s grip on his pen tightened.
“Well, I’ll leave you to your work, Your Majesty. If you need me, just call.”
As Renald hurried out, the Emperor clicked his tongue.
“He’s only quick on the uptake at times like this…”
He was about to order someone to check on the First Princess when—
“I suppose I’ll just have to call her in after the Earl leaves.”
Suddenly recalling their recent meeting, Rius’s brow furrowed.
‘It’s fun being with the young lord Elliette.’
“Did that arrogant brat win her over or something?”
From what he’d observed, Lilien was not someone who easily took a liking to others or expressed enjoyment.
When she was with him, she was clearly uncomfortable; with Renald, she wasn’t uneasy, but she didn’t look relaxed either.
Aside from the Third Prince, Emin, she avoided even Dmitry and Iabel.
Yet at a single banquet, she had shown fondness toward that wretched Elliette.
“…Unpleasant.”
It was the first time he’d seen her chatter so happily—
and it hadn’t been with him.
Rius rubbed his face in frustration.
“What a stupid thing this is…”
He had been the one to ignore her from the start.
Even knowing her behavior was an inevitable reaction to him, the surge of displeasure wouldn’t subside.
“Maybe it’s too late to undo my mistakes.”
He gave a humorless laugh and reached for the reports Renald had left.
Grandfather left.
Since I had only returned briefly to my main palace to see him, my residence was moved back to the Emperor’s palace.
But suddenly, as I was walking, I glanced around.
…Weren’t they supposed to be renovating?
When I had gone to the main palace earlier, I hadn’t seen any mages or knights restricting access for construction.
Tilting my head, I spotted Cecil and hurried over to her.
“Sir Cecil, didn’t His Majesty say my palace was being repaired?”
“Hmm? Renovations?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m staying in His Majesty’s palace.”
“Oh… well… I don’t know. Sir Bishop would know better. Oh—he’s right there.”
I turned to see Renald striding quickly along.
“Sir Renald!”
He stopped and turned toward me, smiling and bowing.
“Your Highness, good to see you. Did you have a pleasant time with the Earl?”
“Thanks to His Majesty’s arrangements, I did. But—when will the renovations be finished?”
“Ah, that. They haven’t started yet.”
What? Why?
Renald gave an awkward laugh.
“His Majesty postponed them. It might be a while.”
That meant I’d be staying in the Emperor’s palace even longer.
My face darkened, and Renald quickly tried to cheer me up.
“B-but isn’t that a good thing? You’ll have more chances to grow closer to His Majesty.”
“Not really.”
“Don’t say that. Why not try approaching him first? He’d like it. Wouldn’t he, Sir Blonmind?”
“Hmm? I suppose… but if Her Highness doesn’t want to, there’s no need…”
“See? Even Sir Blonmind thinks it’s a good idea.”
“….”
It sounded more like Cecil was siding with me.
See? She’s even looking at you like she can’t believe you just put words in her mouth.
How bothersome. If I keep staying near the Emperor, I might die of discomfort.
I should go straight to him and tell him to hurry up with the inspection so renovations can start.
As I marched away, Renald muttered under his breath:
“Uh-oh, now we’re in trouble.”
