Chapter 43
Between Long Fingers
The answer to Cedric’s question was, of course, yes. But I couldn’t discuss matters of the Kingdom of Rundra with him.
When I didn’t respond, Cedric spoke.
“If they trouble you, I can find out who they are.”
He said it as though it were a simple matter. Yet Cedric hadn’t seen the faces of those who had passed by even once.
“Even though you didn’t see their faces, Duke?”
“If I contact the people inside the ballroom and narrow down the five who headed to the garden at this hour, it wouldn’t be difficult.”
“And how would you contact them?”
I asked genuinely, unsure whether such a thing was really possible. Cedric turned to face me directly. The magical garden lamplight illuminated only one side of his face.
“That’s not a ‘kind’ method I should explain to a princess raised with care.”
“And the young lord of the Deyerton family grew up roughly?”
“I manage my family and its lands, so I’ve acquired various means I can use.”
“Have you ever actually used those not-so-kind methods?”
I had assumed Cedric merely knew about such methods without ever using them. In truth, I thought he only knew of them as abstract information—methods that existed in theory.
Cedric smiled. It wasn’t his usual neat, composed expression. The corners of his lips lifted at slightly different angles, making his mouth look sharp.
My thoughts flipped instantly, like turning over a palm. The idea rose that perhaps Cedric didn’t merely know about those methods. My imagination threatened to take flight.
“There has never been a situation where I needed to use them.”
“Why not?”
I swallowed carefully, a little tense, thinking I might hear behind-the-scenes stories of Owen’s noble society.
“When running a noble house, matters are rarely resolved with such shallow tricks.”
“Huh?”
“I regret not being able to further fuel Your Highness’s imagination.”
Only then did I realize Cedric had been teasing me.
“Ah, so you’re saying you were putting on airs just now, Duke?”
“If you’ll forgive me for teasing you, then yes—I’ll admit it was bravado.”
“So you’re admitting you teased me?”
Cedric covered his face with one hand. Through his long fingers, I could see him laughing silently.
“You’re like a villain, Duke.”
“I’ll accept that as well. Villainous thoughts did briefly cross my mind.”
“Since you’ve admitted it, I’ll forgive you. Everything from before, too. A princess should be generous, after all.”
“I am grateful for Your Highness’s mercy.”
When Cedric lowered his hand, he was still smiling. I smiled too.
What started as a quiet laugh gradually grew louder, until I was laughing openly. Still, it wasn’t loud enough to carry over the hydrangea bushes.
I set aside my thoughts about imperial supremacists for the moment. Speaking to a few people or warning them wouldn’t solve anything. I hadn’t witnessed harassment—only overheard words—which made it all the more futile.
Still, I had learned something new today. Imperial supremacy existed even among nobles, and it seemed to influence nobles not only from Rundra, but from other countries as well.
After a while, Yuri appeared, hooking her arms through a completely drained Deimond and Nanesha. Yuri said it was time to go.
When I rejoined Deimond’s group after dancing with Cedric in the ballroom, Rachel was nowhere to be seen. None of the three mentioned her.
But Deimond laughed more exaggeratedly than usual and danced with many more ladies. Nanesha and Yuri sat silently on chairs inside the ballroom.
Not wanting to add to the exhaustion of the three of them, I didn’t ask anything.
All official schedules of the Rundra Kingdom’s delegation came to an end.
The day before the delegation’s departure, the Emperor of Owen invited them to a luncheon. Since it wasn’t an official diplomatic engagement, I—who was studying abroad in Owen—was invited as well.
When we visited the imperial palace, we were guided to a place called the “Emperor’s Dining Room.” A chamberlain explained that this was a space the Emperor used for informal meals or when dining alone.
After guiding each guest to their seat and briefly explaining the room’s features, the chamberlain stepped back to the wall.
“The Emperor enters.”
The chamberlain’s voice sounded from outside, and the dining room doors opened with a heavy sound.
The Emperor entered dressed comfortably, appropriate for an informal meal.
He told us to sit as we rose to greet him, then took the central seat at the table.
“Prince Deimond, I hear you return to the Kingdom of Rundra tomorrow. I hope you gained much during your time in our Empire.”
“Thanks to the opportunities provided in Owen, I was able to tour thoroughly and hear detailed explanations from the researchers. I thank Your Majesty.”
“That is good.”
The Emperor said it in a very dry tone.
He maintained that dryness throughout the meal. Though it was said to be informal, his manner was like a formal audience, complete with an unspoken order and restrained exchanges.
He paid little attention to me as well. It felt as though he had gathered the key figures from Rundra currently in Owen and was responding to them out of obligation.
Even considering the presence of Nanesha and Yuri—who were unaware of the agreement between Rachel and Rundra—the Emperor appeared to truly know nothing about it.
He never once mentioned anything related to the agreement. He didn’t even bring up the fact that the Owen princess had studied at Rundra’s academy, or that the delegation was close to the princess.
Perhaps the Emperor truly knew nothing.
But how could it be possible that, during the time Rachel attended the middle division of the Rundra Royal Academy, the Emperor didn’t know where his niece was?
Or perhaps Rachel, the Emperor’s niece, was simply far from the center of his concern.
It was also possible that Rachel had lied when she said the Emperor didn’t know about the agreement—and that the Emperor himself was acting. Whether he was seasoned enough for such deception, I couldn’t tell.
Despite my tangled thoughts, the luncheon concluded outwardly without flaw. The Emperor said he had another engagement and left immediately after the meal.
Escorted by the greetings of chamberlains and knights, our carriage passed through the final gate of the imperial palace.
At the palace, I thought of Rachel. I wondered if, knowing we were there, she might coincidentally pass by and run into us.
But nothing—neither coincidence nor intention—occurred.
The next day came time to part with Deimond, Nanesha, and Yuri. I went directly to the hotel where the Rundra delegation was staying to say goodbye.
We didn’t linger long.
One month by carriage, one week by teleportation. Rundra and Owen were far, yet close. If we wished, we could meet again.
“It was fun, after such a long time.”
Yuri smiled. She had been strange, then herself again, throughout her stay in Owen. Finding things fun wasn’t a bad thing. I decided it was fine.
“Princess, you still managed to take care of what mattered. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.”
Yuri said something cryptic. As I was about to ask what she meant, Nanesha stepped in front of me.
“Princess, I hope we’ll see each other again soon. Please stay healthy in Owen.”
Nanesha said brightly. I nodded at her a couple of times.
“Daisy, I wish you’d come back with us, even now.”
“I’m fine. I know you have things to do. Travel safely, Brother Deimond. You’ll stay in touch, right?”
“Of course.”
“I know you came all this way to Owen for me. Thank you. I was happy spending time with you.”
Deimond tilted his head back toward the sky, then looked at me again.
“Still, that Duke Deyerton… When I saw him in the Kingdom, he seemed distant and stiff. But this time, I saw a gentler side.”
For some reason, it felt like I had been complimented. I smiled.
“That’s reassuring, in its own way.”
“I hope I’m not making you too uncomfortable by staying in Owen.”
Deimond sighed, then quickly changed his expression and let out a short laugh.
He clasped both of my hands in his, opening his mouth several times as if he wanted to say more. Only after Nanesha told him not to trouble the princess too much did Deimond finally step away heavily.
I understood his wish for me to return to Rundra with them, but I had to remain in Owen. So that his heart might feel even a little lighter, I waved vigorously toward the carriage.
