-131-
“Brother?”
“…Ah.”
Lost in thought, Rayel came back to his senses at Lucius’s call. Noticing his dazed expression, Lucius studied him with a worried look.
“Are you all right?”
“…I’m fine.”
“If my question was out of line, I apologize.”
“Not at all. Your question was valid. It’s only natural to be concerned about such matters. Don’t think that it put me in a bad mood.”
No, his sour mood wasn’t because of Lucius’s question. Lucius had simply jumped to the wrong conclusion after seeing his stiff expression. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Then why do you look so troubled?”
Lucius’s worried questioning didn’t end there. Watching his unusually persistent demeanor today, Rayel let out a bitter laugh inwardly.
Normally, Lucius was reserved to the point of frustration, but now he was so persistent—all because of the Grand Duchess, no doubt.
Even knowing he could never be Lucius’s first priority, Rayel couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness. After all, the hardships he bore also included Lucius’s past, present, and future.
He wanted Lucius to realize that, but he couldn’t show it. He himself bore some blame for failing to save Lucius when he had been toyed with by that woman.
Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, he was about to give a light answer when his eyes fell on Rose, who had wandered over and was now playing with the hem of Lucius’s trousers.
Her carefree behavior irked him, and Rayel frowned.
“It’s just… I find it vexing that cat is lazing about all on her own.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Meow!”
Lucius, already slightly tense, was thrown off guard by Rayel’s odd response. Rose, who had been batting at his trouser hem, meowed as if objecting to suddenly being singled out.
Rayel chuckled at the sight of the two and replied.
“The cat acts more like a master than the Emperor himself. I just found it amusing. Ah, don’t mind me—it’s nothing serious.”
“Meeooow!”
“…I see.”
Though he answered awkwardly, the remark carried a hidden weight. Lucius could only watch with a strange expression as the little cat pounced at him, only to be subdued effortlessly by Rayel’s hand.
“Ah, that cat looks just like Rose.”
At the restaurant, while waiting in the VIP room for Elam, I sipped tea and gazed out the window at the street below. Among the passersby, I spotted a small white-furred cat.
It was trotting after a dangling ornament on someone’s trouser hem, completely absorbed. The sight was adorable.
“Rose used to love those little decorations too.”
She especially liked the embellishments on my dresses or Lucius’s trousers. Whenever the two of us visited the Imperial Palace, she would always sit between us, playing with those dangling ornaments.
“Thinking of it makes me miss her. I wonder if I’ll see her later when I meet Alexandra.”
I was due to visit Alexandra at the palace that afternoon. Since Rose roamed the palace as though it were her own home, there was a good chance I’d come across her.
In fact, I couldn’t remember a time I’d gone to the palace and not seen Rose. It gave me something to look forward to.
Picturing her lovely face, I finished the last half of my tea. Setting the cup down, I let my eyes wander quietly around the VIP room.
This is my first time coming here alone.
I had visited several times with Lucius, but never by myself. Perhaps because no one sat in the seat across from me where he usually was, the atmosphere felt strangely different.
I realized then: no matter how fine a place may be, it never feels quite the same unless you’re sharing it with someone dear.
I miss Lucius too.
My beautiful husband. By now, he must be meeting with Rayel. I didn’t know what the matter was, but since it was urgent enough to summon him suddenly, I only hoped it wouldn’t mean another trip away for several days.
Being apart from him was torture. I had grown to need the sight of his face each morning to start my day—it had become both a habit and a necessity.
It hadn’t even been six months since our marriage. I wanted to savor our honeymoon days to the fullest.
Knock, knock—
“Your Grace, the manager has arrived.”
“Please, show him in.”
Just as I was growing bored of staring outside, a knight waiting by the door announced Elam’s arrival. Finally—the one I had been waiting for. My heart lifted as I rose to my feet.
Creak—
The door swung open, and Elam entered. His long gray hair was tied back, and a monocle rested on his face. He approached and greeted me with a polite bow.
“Greetings, Your Grace. Forgive me for keeping you waiting.”
“Not at all. The fault is mine for notifying you so abruptly.”
In my impatience, I had sent him a letter late last night. It was far too late to arrange a proper appointment. That he had made time for me at all was something to be grateful for.
“Let’s sit and talk. We aren’t here to dine today, so please, take the seat across from me.”
“…Very well.”
He hesitated briefly, then nodded and sat. Clearly curious about why I had come without Lucius, he nevertheless remained composed—a quality I admired.
I also sat again and, noticing his slight tension, offered him a gentle smile.
“I’m sorry to drop in so suddenly during what must be a busy weekend.”
“Not at all. I hurriedly prepared after receiving your letter last night, but I regret I wasn’t able to properly review the schedule to welcome you as I should. I beg your pardon.”
“Truly, there’s no need. I’m grateful you made time for me at all. I enjoyed some excellent tea while waiting, so you needn’t worry.”
Under normal circumstances, I should have arranged this meeting days in advance. But I had sent my letter in haste, and he had accepted nonetheless—that alone was enough.
It hadn’t even been a full day since he’d received it. He could have declined or set another date, but instead he had accommodated me.
No doubt because of the contents of that letter. Watching his slightly tense expression, I continued.
“I don’t want to take too much of your precious time, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
“Yes, please.”
“As I mentioned in my letter, I have a request for you, Elam. Depending on how you see it, it could be called both a request and a contract.”
“Would you tell me the details?”
“Of course.”
In my letter, I had been vague—only that I had an urgent request. Matters like this were best discussed in person.
I hoped he would take it well. Suppressing my own nervousness, I spoke carefully.
“As you may have guessed, the foreign investor who backed Baron Evitt is me. I’ve been using the pseudonym Anas Won to invest in noble ventures. You suspected as much, didn’t you?”
“Yes. After speaking with you both yesterday, I began to suspect.”
“I thought so. And frankly, I hoped you would notice.”
“…You mean—”
“Until now, I’ve kept it hidden to avoid needless attention and entanglements with other nobles. But circumstances have changed. Because of Marquis Even and his daughter.”
“Because they’ve slandered Baron Evitt and, in truth, Your Grace?”
“Exactly. They’ve stirred up nobles and spread vile rumors, even obstructing Baron Evitt’s business. Their actions are nothing but open hostility directed at him and at me.”
The Marquis targeted Baron Evitt, while his daughter targeted me. To them, we were clear enemies. Up until now, their actions may have been petty revenge, but now that they’ve opened a café to rival his, they will act in earnest.
“I don’t yet know the precise reason for their hostility, but it’s certain they’ll move more boldly to obstruct us. I can’t simply stand by. So—I’ve decided to reveal my true identity.”
“In that case, they won’t be able to act so freely.”
“Perhaps. But I don’t doubt they’ll find other ways. The Marquis has built himself a faction, and his daughter hardly seems the type to sit quietly.”
“…Yes. Your Grace’s judgment is correct. Those two will stop at nothing to oppose you both. They are the sort who never even consider defeat—only how to win, however reckless it may be.”
“As I thought.”
As expected, Elam knew them well. I had sensed it yesterday, too, when he had shown a surprising amount of insight despite not being particularly close to them.
He might not have been emotionally close, but he had lived near them since childhood—even shared annexes once—and they still visited his restaurant often. He couldn’t help but know them.
He himself clearly wanted no part in their world, yet circumstances made it unavoidable.
And so, the contract I brought today might give him a chance to free himself. For me, it was also a chance to gain a valuable ally. I was determined to secure his cooperation.
“Elam, what I’m about to say may sound sudden, perhaps even burdensome. But I hope you’ll consider it in a favorable light.”
“Understood. Please, speak freely.”
His courteous reply warmed me. To win someone valuable, I needed to show initiative.
Clasping my hands on the table, I looked at him with all the sincerity I could muster.
“I need your strength. Will you be my ally?”
