MVH 127

-127-

“Determination… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Lucius, wearing a bewildered expression, watched as Rael gave a firm nod. While Lucius hesitated, unsure how to respond, the envelope he had been holding floated upward at Rael’s gesture.

With a light flick of his fingers, the envelope drifted slowly toward him and settled neatly into his hand.

“Until you show me your resolve, I won’t give this back. If you can’t, then I’ll burn it right here.”

Fwoosh—

“…! Your Majesty…”

Flames suddenly flared to life in Rael’s other hand. Lucius’s face betrayed his alarm as he stared at the envelope that had so easily slipped from his grasp.

“If you want to know what’s inside, then prove your resolve.”

“…”

It was too sharp, too heavy to be dismissed as a mere prank. Rael’s eyes were as steady and weighty as always, but now an even greater pressure radiated from them.

If Lucius failed to provide an answer Rael found satisfactory, he truly would not hesitate to burn the envelope. That was troubling. He didn’t know exactly what was inside, but judging from Rael’s attitude, it had to be something important.

If he didn’t read it now, he might regret it later. But how was he supposed to “show” his resolve? The uncertainty weighed on him.

As Lucius remained silent, Rael once again sent the envelope floating into the air. Smiling faintly, he spoke:

“What’s the matter? Afraid you can’t face the truth?”

“That’s not it. Whatever the truth may be, if it concerns her, I will accept it. I just don’t understand why you’re suddenly doing this…”

“Suddenly? To me, it’s not sudden at all. But I suppose for you, it may feel that way. I haven’t given you much of a hint until now, after all.”

“…Yes.”

Lucius gave a small nod, acknowledging the truth in Rael’s words. Even so, he was bewildered, questions crowding his mind.

Rael had sent him that letter only two days ago. Before then, he had given no indication of knowing or concerning himself with Tiana. Even right after the marriage, when they had met in private, he hadn’t mentioned anything.

And yet, Rael seemed to treat Tiana not only with ease but also with a peculiar trust, as though she were someone close to him. An unexpected turn of events indeed.

Yes, it was unexpected. Their relationship had grown warmer than I ever thought it would.

The bond between Tiana and Rael didn’t seem like that of a brother-in-law and sister-in-law. There was something else, something different. Their thoughts and opinions aligned more often than not, and Tiana seemed adept at reading Rael’s intentions.

Of course, Lucius harbored no suspicious thoughts about the two of them. It wasn’t in his nature to doubt Rael and Tiana, nor had there ever been any strange air between them. Even their glances held nothing improper.

That’s impossible to imagine. If anything, before our marriage…

Hadn’t their relationship actually been poor? Or perhaps one-sided? No—now that he thought about it, maybe it had been better than he remembered.

Wait… why are my memories such a mess?

One moment it seemed this way, the next it seemed another. Nothing felt certain. Lucius’s head throbbed as the disjointed memories refused to settle.

“Lucius?”

“…Yes?”

Rael’s voice broke through his pained expression. Lucius answered with a frown, pressing his brow as if to ease the ache. Rael’s tone carried worry.

“Are you well? You don’t look it. Are you ill?”

“…I’m fine. It’s just a brief headache.”

“A headache? Should I call a physician, or a priest?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. It was only momentary.”

Rael seemed ready to ring the bell on the table for the chamberlain, but Lucius quickly shook his head to stop him. It really had been nothing more than a passing pain. Smiling gently to ease Rael’s concern, Lucius continued:

“More importantly, let’s return to our discussion. I understand Your Majesty wishes me to show resolve concerning her. But first, I want to know why. Why send me that letter, and why press this matter so suddenly? Only if I understand the reason can I decide what resolve to show.”

“…Fair enough. I’ll tell you from the beginning. Why I’m acting this way, and why I sent you that letter.”

“Yes.”

“Though it won’t change much. Even if you first showed your resolve and read the letter, I would have explained the same.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The only difference is whether the explanation comes before or after.”

Rael placed the envelope on the table. After staring at it briefly, he leaned back in his chair and turned his gaze on Lucius.

“As I said earlier, the contents inside concern your wife. And me as well.”

“…You too, Your Majesty? What connection could possibly exist between you and her…?”

“Not the kind of connection you’re imagining, so set your mind at ease. Let’s just say it’s… complicated. Strange, even. Deep and heavy.”

“…What exactly do you mean?”

If Rael said it wasn’t anything improper, then Lucius trusted that. He didn’t want to suspect otherwise, and he knew it wasn’t possible. Still, the words “complicated, strange, deep, and heavy” unsettled him.

“Before that, let me ask you something. Answer honestly, as you see it.”

“Yes.”

“What kind of person is your wife?”

“…Why would you ask that?”

“Just answer.”

Though puzzled, Lucius couldn’t ignore Rael’s firm tone.

“She’s bright and warm. She’s easily moved by others’ emotions, quick to tears, and has a delicate side. But she’s also stronger than anyone I know.”

“…To speak of her so openly before me—should I be surprised, or say it’s just like you?”

Rael gave a small laugh and shook his head. To his ears, Lucius’s words sounded like nothing less than bragging. For Rael, to speak so proudly of one’s wife was no simple thing.

Lucius flushed slightly at Rael’s reaction.

“…Your Majesty asked me first.”

“True. But I’ve learned more than enough about how you see her. I suppose I needn’t have asked at all.”

“Then why ask?”

“Because it had to be asked, Lucius.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why did you marry your wife?”

“…What?”

The question struck deeper than before. Rael’s eyes, dark red and heavy, seemed to pierce through Lucius’s golden ones.

Steadying his voice, Lucius answered:

“If you ask why I married her, there is only one answer. Because I lo—”

“Because you love her? Truly?”

“…Of course I—”

“You and your wife separated once before, did you not? There was even talk of breaking the engagement.”

“…!”

Lucius sucked in a sharp breath. How could he know that? No one should have known—except for himself and the former “Tiana.”

Back then, their fragile relationship had shattered after a fierce quarrel, just before her riding accident. It had been her declaration that ended things, and though Lucius never outright rejected her, he also failed to mend the bond.

From there, their relationship only deteriorated until the engagement was broken. Lucius had been too shocked, too frozen to act.

It was the truth he had never confessed—not even to the present Tiana, who had lost her memories after the accident. He had intended to keep it hidden forever.

And yet Rael knew.

“How… how do you know this, Your Majesty?”

“It just happened. Or rather, it was inevitable—I was always watching the two of you.”

“…You mean, me and Tiana? But why…?”

“Let’s just say I had reason enough.”

“…If Your Majesty says so, I’ll believe it—whatever the reason.”

“Even if that reason involves your wife?”

“…”

Lucius clenched his jaw, his expression torn with pain, unable to respond. Rael chuckled faintly, as though expecting this.

“If you had to choose between me and your wife, I already know who you would pick. Without hesitation, you’d choose her.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“That’s why I ask you. Because I know how deeply you love her. Twisted things must be set right—that is the way it should be.”