Chapter 208

 

* * *

 

The Emperor couldn’t control his trembling body after reading all the letters.

Out of habit, negative thoughts arose in his confused mind.

‘This is a lie fabricated by Owen. The two people who hate me have finally joined hands…’

He hurriedly looked around. He saw Magician Miguel, who had gotten the orb back from Jeremiah.

That orb was the only thing that would tell him the truth.

“The orb…”

“Brother!”

Owen called out to him again. Trying hard to raise his head high and meet his gaze.

It seemed like he could transparently see his brother’s emotions in those eyes.

Regret for hiding the letters for a long time, anger at himself, and even an apology.

He could surprisingly understand it all.

Now the Emperor turned his gaze to stare into Samuel’s eyes.

At that moment, the Emperor realized one fact.

He had only been shouting that Samuel was lying, but he had never properly looked at his youngest brother’s eyes.

‘I was… afraid.’

Afraid that there might really be hatred or resentment mixed in Samuel’s eyes. After confirming that, it felt like he would truly go mad…

But in Samuel’s eyes that he faced again like this, no hatred was felt.

There was no doubt in that realization.

He could be more certain of it than when he saw Miguel’s orb.

“No way…”

Although the Emperor said that, he knew that the terrible thorn that had pierced his heart for a long time had been instantly pulled out.

“This is.”

As he dropped the letters in confusion, Samuel raised his arm and gently grasped his empty hand.

“…Brother?”

At the word he cautiously called out, the Emperor’s body slowly collapsed downward.

The Emperor and his brothers, holding onto each other, wept for a long time.

Unlike the high places, a warm and leisurely wind of the field brushed against the shoulders of the three.

 

* * *

 

The first thing the Emperor did after clearing his mind and resolving the misunderstanding about Samuel was to apologize.

Of course to Samuel, but he also bowed his head in front of the Records Archive that had preserved the records of that year’s events.

However, people who are already dead cannot come back.

The Emperor declared that he would abdicate immediately in the year the Crown Prince became an adult, enter a temple, and become a monk helping the lowest people.

Of course, even so, he could not be completely forgiven for the atrocious acts he had committed.

So the Emperor decided to do his best to repay this sin as much as possible for the rest of his life.

Magic Tower Master Owen received forgiveness from his brothers, and as he gradually grew closer to them, his health also recovered.

Samuel was able to return to the palace where he had spent his childhood.

The Emperor visited him almost every day, trying to improve their relationship that had not been good for a long time.

As a sign of that trust, he bestowed Earl Grimes’ territory, which the imperial family had held for a long time, to Samuel.

In addition, he left a request for Samuel to continue leading the Crown Prince as an elder of the imperial family in the future.

Even at a time when everything was flowing so smoothly that it was surprising, Samuel still had a concern.

“Well.”

He opened his mouth with difficulty to the Emperor, who had come to talk with him again today.

“I know. Now the time has come to talk about my only nephew.”

At the words ‘only nephew’, Samuel faintly smiled.

It must be a word the Emperor chose to reassure him.

“If that child comes to live here, my son will be happy. He has wanted a younger sibling for a long time.”

“Are you giving permission?”

“That’s for you and your child to decide. I’m not a very good… uncle.”

The Emperor sighed, wiping his dry face.

Considering what he had done, the young nephew might want to refuse entering the imperial palace.

“Anyway, that child is a precious member of the imperial family. Wherever he lives, he should hold a ceremony at the temple and have his name entered in the genealogy at least once.”

Samuel had been worrying about how to answer if the Emperor asked about the child’s whereabouts, but fortunately, the Emperor didn’t mention it.

“I will… bring him to the capital.”

“Yes, tell me if you need anything. If I’m not around, tell the Duke of Baldwin. He may look scary, but you’ll soon find out he’s not when you actually talk to him.”

Samuel wanted to answer, ‘I already know,’ but for now, he just smiled and nodded.

 

* * *

 

After August’s name was added as a member of the imperial family through the temple ceremony, a very peaceful daily life continued in the imperial family and the capital.

But there was still someone who couldn’t enjoy peace, and that was Isaiah Mullern.

“I’ve been curious for a long time.”

In the shopping district.

Isaiah was carrying precariously stacked boxes that easily exceeded 1m above his head, wobbling and following behind Claude.

“Why do you buy the same items in different colors, Young Master?”

At his question, Claude turned around with a pleasant smile.

“It’s simple, think about it, Sir Mullern.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the sight of Miss Melody wearing a blue hat and Miss Melody wearing a white hat. How about it?”

“Well…”

Isaiah was lost in deep thought for a moment, miraculously holding the balance of the shaking boxes.

“Well, Mel is cute no matter what color.”

“Then think a little more now. Is the cuteness of Miss Melody wearing a blue hat the same as the cuteness of Miss Melody wearing a white hat?”

As Isaiah followed Claude into the hat store, he tried to imagine Melody’s face wearing hats of various colors.

“…Well, since the colors are different, the feeling is a bit different.”

“Right? Among them, can you choose which hat Miss Melody looks cuter in?”

“Eek!”

Isaiah shook his head repeatedly as he carefully put down the boxes in the hat store.

“You see.”

Claude clapped his hands. Soon the hat store owner brought out hats of the same shape in different colors and laid them out.

“Sir Mullern, can you choose a color?”

“Th-that would be too cruel! We must buy them all by color, shape, and material!”

“Indeed, right? Then, give me all of them, please.”

Claude finished today’s shopping with a bright smile.

The boxes Isaiah had to carry increased even more, but he no longer complained at all.

 

On the way back after finishing shopping in a good mood, Claude leaned against the backrest of the carriage and was lost in thought for a moment.

‘Slowly… wouldn’t it be okay to go see her now?’

Even if the issue with Melody’s shoes was revealed now, it wouldn’t affect the ducal family.

Above all, there were circumstances where other expensive lost items were found along with the shoes, so the Emperor would just consider them as a collection of servants or something.

With his head leaning against the window, he closed his eyes.

‘…I miss you, Miss Melody.’

It had always been like that, but now that he thought the time had actually come when he could go, it was difficult to suppress that feeling.

“Oh, come to think of it.”

Isaiah, who was sitting across from him, brought up something as if he had just remembered.

“I heard the flu epidemic in Belhold is over now.”

“What? How do you know that, Sir…?”

When Claude asked in surprise, Isaiah took out a letter from his pocket.

“I became pen pals with Wiley Neal. I receive periodic updates on the village’s situation. Sometimes there are stories about ‘Miss May’ too.”

“Wiley Neal, you mean that nosy… no, the man working at the temple in Belhold?”

“Yes.”

“When on earth did you and he become friends?”

“When I infiltrated the village to escort you, Young Master, I had a chance to talk with him briefly. He seemed like a good person, right?”

Good, indeed.

Claude suppressed his desire to refute and first confirmed the important thing.

“Is she doing well and healthy?”

“Yes, Mr. Neal is healthy.”

“…”

The corners of Claude’s mouth twitched as if he was about to scream right away, and Isaiah laughed playfully.

“I’m joking. It seems Mel is doing well. Thanks to that, the village youth who want to help with temple work are coming nonstop.”

“…My goodness.”

“Of course, Mindy is thoroughly driving them away, saying, ‘I can’t let them steal my teacher!'”

Hearing the story, it somehow seemed to come to life.

Mindy putting her hands on her waist and shouting, the village youth looking troubled. The warm villagers watching this scene with interest…

“I’m glad Miss Melody is living a lovely life.”

“Are you sincere?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

He answered with a smile, but inevitably, a corner of his heart ached vaguely.

It must be because of the anxiety he had dimly felt since he last met her.

Perhaps Melody had been completely captivated by life in Belhold.

Unlike the capital where etiquette was scrutinized one by one to the point of suffocation, the village that communicated with smiles and warmth suited her much better.

‘…I didn’t know I would come to understand His Majesty the Emperor’s heart.’

That he was afraid to confirm the truth, so he couldn’t properly face Prince Samuel for a long time.

Before long, the carriage was almost near the ducal residence.

Claude thought he should tell the Duke and Higgins that he would go to bring Melody back soon.

So that Mrs. Higgins, who was struggling with deepening longing, could cheer up a little.

‘If I go find her… what kind of expression will Miss Melody make?’

As Claude was thinking that and resting his chin, a tremendous explosion rang in his ears.

“…?!”

Startled, he quickly looked out the window and saw that not only the second-floor window of the ducal residence but also the surrounding walls had collapsed, and the debris was falling down below the building.

“Kyaaa!”

He heard the scream of a maid who was below, hurriedly avoiding the falling debris.

Claude raised his head.

That huge explosion had occurred in Loretta’s room.