Chapter 115
The enormous fountain in the garden was extremely neat and clean, and above all, it radiated an imposing presence.
What made the otherwise ordinary fountain look so majestic was the gigantic stone statue placed at its center.
[Praise to those who have stood together with 400 years of history]
Beneath the statue was an inscription carved into the base. It was a tribute honoring the Hyderick family, who had supported the nation with loyalty for centuries.
The reason this statue had been erected here dated back seven years.
It commemorated the time when the Hyderick family had stopped an attack by the Purious Church during the Founding Day Festival.
There had been many organizations entangled with the Purious Church: the Delision Church, the Imperial family, the Hamilton family, and even their vassals.
While many were purged one after another, the Hyderick family remained unshaken. Of course, there had been vassals like Count Paul Gerold who had secretly collaborated with them, but since his true goal had been to overthrow Hyderick and swallow the ducal family for himself, the Hyderick household was able to avoid being implicated.
Perhaps because of that—
Now that Duke Hamilton had fallen from power and many key figures had been purged, most of the major political positions were occupied by factions connected to Hyderick.
However, the young master, who had never held much ambition for politics, was not particularly pleased about this.
After all, it meant he had to spend more time away from the ducal residence—and he disliked troublesome matters.
In any case, a lot had changed over the past seven years, and as I grew older, I gradually found a bit of peace.
Enough to forget the nights when I used to clutch Father’s pendant and cry myself to sleep.
“Dad…!”
Back then, I had been unable to stop crying.
“I heard Father say that it took five years to make the statue in this fountain.”
While I was staring at the fountain, Edric, who had approached and stood beside me, spoke casually.
I glanced up at him with only my eyes. Edric had grown much taller than me.
Though traces of his youthful face still remained, he had matured enough to be called a proper adult.
It doesn’t feel like the height difference used to be this big.
We had spent the same seven years, yet it felt as if time had flowed slower for me alone.
Why wasn’t I growing taller?
Of course, I was still only sixteen, so there was room to grow. But it still bothered me that I was shorter than Rubia, who was the same gender as me.
Is there really no medicine that can make you taller?
Suppressing a small sigh, I looked forward again.
“The Emperor personally carved it, right? I heard he made it by squeezing time out of his busy schedule.”
“That’s right. Father learned sculpting. Of course, from a son’s perspective his skill isn’t that great, but he worked very hard.”
“Hmph. He should spend that time handling state affairs instead. I’ve heard he’s practically withdrawn from work these days.”
When I turned my body to the side while speaking, Edric also turned to face me. He brushed his hair back as the wind blew, smiling refreshingly.
“Everyone keeps quiet about it, but you already know, right? When my twentieth birthday and coming-of-age ceremony arrive, Father plans to abdicate the throne. That’s why I’ve been so busy lately.”
The Emperor had reflected deeply on the years he had spent being manipulated by the Hamilton family and was trying to atone for it.
If the successor had already been chosen and was an adult, he would have abdicated immediately.
But at the time, Edric had been a thirteen-year-old boy who had just been appointed Crown Prince.
For Edric’s sake, the Emperor endured the throne for about seven more years—to ensure his son’s perfect succession.
“So that’s why you came, right?”
“Hm?”
“The engagement ceremony.”
At my words, Edric tilted his head slightly before his eyes widened.
Back when Edric had been appointed Crown Prince—
After I barely managed to return to normal life following my grief, Edric and my family had made me a proposal.
They asked me to become the future Crown Princess.
The young Crown Prince had no partner, and many nobles sought that position. Likewise, I had no partner either.
Since the Hyderick family had become the center of political power, countless marriage proposals and matchmakers flocked to me. Even as a child, it felt excessive.
At one point, a man over forty had even proposed engagement to me when I wasn’t even ten years old.
My popularity in high society was overwhelming.
So to resolve the situation, Grandfather and Anise devised a plan.
That plan was the engagement between Edric and me.
A Hyderick descendant with no partner and the Crown Prince—young and unmarried.
It had impeccable justification and status, and above all, it fulfilled what both sides needed.
When I first heard the proposal, I was honestly surprised.
But suspicious people kept approaching me wherever I went. Sometimes they even barged into the mansion claiming to be visitors while I was trying to focus on research.
Since such troublesome situations kept happening, I accepted the proposal.
And so, I became the future Crown Princess.
But that would probably end here.
“You’ll need to take an Empress once you become Emperor. Our engagement would become an obstacle then. Didn’t you come here to settle it in advance?”
“…Huh?”
Edric blinked in surprise at the conclusion I had quickly reached.
He laughed awkwardly and began to speak.
“Well… that is…”
“If you send the documents, I’ll sign them and proceed with the formal annulment. It might cause a brief controversy, but nobody took our engagement seriously anyway, so it won’t be a big problem. And…”
“W-Wait. That’s not why I came.”
“Not?”
When I asked, blinking, Edric hurriedly shook his head.
He shook it so strongly that his hair flew around.
I stared at him in surprise.
If that wasn’t the reason, then what was?
Maybe the answer lies in the reasons he came before…
Two months ago he visited to bring cookies.
He stayed quite a long time then.
Six months ago he came to celebrate my birthday.
He said he would stay briefly but ended up staying a week until the Imperial Guards came personally to escort him back.
Ten months ago he came to invite me to see flowers.
A year ago he came asking me to go to the sea.
Hmm…
After thinking for a long time, I still couldn’t find any clue about why he would come to see me.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind.
My eyes widened.
Edric’s expression brightened strangely at my reaction.
“You finally figured it out? The real reason I came today is actually—”
“You need medicine!”
Clap!
I clapped my hands in triumph after finding the answer.
“…Me…dicine?”
“Right? You came because you need medicine. Now that I think about it, it should be about time you ran out.”
Although Edric no longer suffered from insomnia like before, he still periodically received medicine from me.
Specifically, fatigue recovery tonics and nutritional supplements.
I had told him to just get them from the palace pharmacists, but Edric said he couldn’t trust them completely.
Besides, he praised my medicine endlessly right in front of me.
Back then, I had been young and proud, so I couldn’t help promising to give it to him.
Since then, I had been solely responsible for preparing his medicine.
“Hoho. If that’s the case, you should have just said so. From now on, I’ll send it regularly so you won’t have to come all the way here. Alright?”
“Wait—”
“Stay here. I’ll bring the medicine right away.”
Smiling, I turned around to go fetch it from my room.
“Ilenia!”
Edric’s urgent voice stopped me.
I turned back to look at him.
His face was bright red.
Why was he like that? Did he have a fever?
While I tilted my head in confusion—
“I… I have something to tell you.”
“Something to tell me?”
Edric nodded, his face still crimson.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to say for a long time. I want to say it before it’s too late.”
“What is it?”
“…”
Edric bit his lip and stepped closer.
As the distance shortened, I tilted my head up to look at him.
But then his body slowly lowered.
And he reached into his coat.
“Ilenia. Please, will you—”
“KYAAAAA!”
Just as Edric was about to pull something out—
A familiar scream rang out.
I reflexively turned my head.
From the opposite direction, a golden blur was rushing toward me at full speed.
“Ghk!”
The golden figure instantly leaped forward, wrapped me in a hug, and began rubbing her cheek against mine like crazy.
“It’s been so long, Great-Grandmother! Oh my gosh, you’re so pretty! No, cute! No—adorable! No, no! All of it! The best!!”
“…Long time no see, Rubia.”
Even though she had grown older, Rubia hadn’t changed at all.
She hugged me tightly while rubbing her cheek against mine.
Now used to this collision, I simply gave a small greeting in resignation.
“Hmm?”
After kissing my cheeks repeatedly, Rubia finally looked at Edric, who was standing awkwardly with his hand still inside his coat.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you standing there like a puppy that needs to poop, Edric?”
“…”
At the blunt description, Edric finally squeezed his eyes shut.
“…It’s been a while, Sister.”
