Chapter 32
“…You.”
Kendrick fell silent for a moment, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. He opened his mouth, then closed it, frowned, and slowly withdrew his oppressive aura.
As the pressure faded, I exhaled and looked at him.
‘That warning was enough.’
Kendrick—who never stays quiet even in front of his father and Beyran—had lost his words. The warning had worked. Now it was time to de-escalate; if this lunatic felt too insulted, he might rebel.
“I know you’ve been quiet until now. But wandering around the palace alone with suspicious behavior is embarrassing.”
“…”
“You know that, don’t you? The palace is in chaos right now.”
“…How could I not know?”
After a long silence, he finally spoke. I smiled gently and shrugged.
“Let’s cooperate for what we both want. That’s enough.”
“…That’s no different from keeping me locked in my room.”
“Well, if that’s how you feel, I have nothing to say.”
“…”
Kendrick let out a sigh, ran a hand through his disheveled bangs. His face was still sullen, but the air around him was much calmer than before. The de-escalation had worked.
“Is rudeness inherited in this family?”
“Maybe.”
“…”
“So, what’s your business?”
“…Nothing right now. I don’t feel anything.”
“Did you sense some kind of aura?”
“I don’t have to explain that to you.”
Fair enough.
I nodded in agreement instead of replying. Getting Kendrick to voluntarily tell me anything was already a huge win.
‘I need to find out what kind of aura Kendrick sensed.’
Something strange enough to catch his attention. His presence in the palace wasn’t good news.
‘Perhaps Father prepared it.’
My thoughts dragged on, so Kendrick spoke in a bored tone.
“It’s not that serious. No need to think so deeply.”
“We’ll see.”
“…Hah, I told you and you still don’t believe me.”
He slowly released a hostile aura and stared at me. I avoided provoking him further and signaled with my eyes in acknowledgment.
“Go back now.”
“You looked free earlier, and now you’re pretending to be busy?”
“Unlike you, I’m not a guest.”
“Right, busy monitoring the guests. I’ve taken up too much of a busy lady’s time.”
“If you understand, return to your room. Haven’t you finished your business?”
“I was going to leave without you telling me. Talking to you might infect me with your rudeness.”
“And I’m afraid I’ll be infected by your loose tongue.”
“…Hah.”
Kendrick let out a short sigh, shook his head, and turned away. I made sure he was heading toward the guest wing, then quickened my pace.
I had been gone too long. The maids were carefully decorating the hall, but my prolonged absence as overseer wasn’t a good look.
‘The elders and the Regulus family are watching me closely right now.’
In other words, there were many eyes.
I avoided giving them any reason to criticize. Even the smallest mistake would be exploited by more than one person.
So a short absence was already enough to raise suspicion. Fortunately, my conversation with Kendrick could serve as a plausible excuse.
The best thing was to avoid any mistake at all, but if one happened…
‘I should thank Kendrick.’
I let out a deep sigh and headed toward the meeting hall. But Antinas, the head maid, stopped me.
“Where have you been, my lady?”
“…I had something to take care of. What is it?”
“The family head is requesting you.”
“…Father?”
I almost frowned but held it back and looked at Antinas. She bowed and waited for my response.
“Did something happen?”
“No, but the family head wants to speak with you.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, my lady. To his bedroom now.”
“His bedroom?”
I doubted my ears. I had never entered Father’s bedroom. He hated anyone invading his privacy, so we always spoke in his office.
His bedroom?
Was it really Father? I looked at Antinas suspiciously, but she spoke with sincere eyes.
“I know it’s surprising, but the family head requested your presence in his bedroom.”
She sensed my doubt and repeated the order. I couldn’t shake my suspicion, so I tapped my thigh with my fingers and glanced toward the hall.
“…I have work right now.”
“The family head entrusted me with this. Don’t worry.”
“…”
“He didn’t seem to be in a good mood.”
“…Alright.”
…There was no escape.
Antinas left me no room to refuse, choosing words that urged me to move. No wonder she had earned Father’s trust as head maid. Continuing the conversation might reveal my intentions.
I nodded in agreement and headed toward Father’s bedroom. I felt Antinas returning to the hall and frowned.
‘…Why is he calling me?’
I had received Kob’s signal today about Father acting strangely, but I hadn’t expected something immediate. I thought he would resolve it after the meeting.
‘Does it have to be now?’
Then this would be a meaningless conversation later.
‘What could it be?’
I found no answer. My expectation: tomorrow was the meeting and the announcement of the political marriage, so he would ask me to be careful.
But there was no need for such a conversation in his bedroom.
Tap, tap.
My fingers, now moving to my side, grew more restless. I arrived at the door to Father’s bedroom.
‘…No matter how much I think, I don’t understand. Why the bedroom? And what conversation?’
I let out a short sigh and straightened my clothes. If I couldn’t find an answer, facing it was the only way. I took a breath to calm myself.
I raised my hand and knocked softly.
Tap, tap.
“Father, I’m here.”
A momentary silence, then the reply came.
“Come in.”
His usual indifferent tone, but slightly trembling—as Antinas had said about his bad mood.
I smoothed my frown, carefully opened the door, and stepped inside.
I saw Father standing in front of a frame covered with cloth. He didn’t turn even after I entered, so I slowly approached and looked around.
Then…
“…”
…Ah.
I began to understand a little why he had called me to his bedroom.
The items scattered around the room were familiar.
‘…Mother’s things.’
Most of them were now in my room, but the rest had been brought here.
And there was something I remembered but had never seen before.
The covered frame Father was staring at.
‘…A painting Mother made.’
She wasn’t particularly skilled, but she loved painting. She would draw the moon at night, and I remembered watching her from her side.
Despite the passage of time, the painting was worn but still retained its beauty.
‘He’s going to use my weakness for Mother to bind me even more.’
He knew I would submit no matter what the conversation was.
I gritted my teeth.
I already knew he saw me as a tool. But using Mother to control me ignited my anger. I thought I wouldn’t be shocked again, but I was wrong.
I clenched my fist tightly and stood behind him.
“…Father.”
You really are the worst.
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