Preparations for the Founding Festival (5)
“Nanny?”
I snapped out of my reverie at the sound of Catherine’s voice.
“It’s neither good nor bad.”
The words slipped out before I could think better of them.
“After all, I’m not their real daughter.”
Since being reborn in this body, I had never once met the Count and Countess of Brown. I couldn’t know what their relationship with the original Rachel had been like, but I was certain it hadn’t been close.
If they had been close, they would have sent at least one letter. Yet I’ve never received a single one.
Rachel’s room had contained no clues about her family whatsoever.
“I’m truly sorry, Nanny. It wasn’t on purpose—I really just forgot.”
Catherine’s face crumpled with distress, convinced she had blundered.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
I sometimes forgot myself that I had been adopted into the Brown household, so we were even.
“I’m sooo sorry……”
I stared at the thoroughly wilted Catherine for a moment, then turned my head away.
“…Still, there was one person I treasured as much as family.”
Catherine’s head shot up like a startled rabbit.
The naked expectation in her eyes felt slightly overwhelming.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because this is the first time Nanny has ever volunteered something personal to me!”
Catherine’s large eyes sparkled with delight.
“So who was this person Nanny cherished so much?”
I hesitated for a long time before finally spitting out a single phrase.
“…Someone I loved.”
“S-someone you loved?”
I glanced at the overexcited Catherine and swallowed a sigh.
I never imagined I would speak those words in my own voice.
They said time healed all wounds. Perhaps I had finally grown a little immune to thoughts of Ian.
“Oh my goodness, so it was a lover?”
Meanwhile Catherine had both hands clamped over her mouth and was literally bouncing in place.
“Kyaaaaah! Nanny’s love story! I’m dying of curiosity! Please, can’t you tell me? I have to know!”
Listening to her boundless cheer somehow made my own heart feel lighter.
I let out a soft chuckle and picked up Edwin’s trousers.
“He betrayed me and left. If we ever meet again, I intend to kill him with my own hands.”
“Pardon?”
Catherine’s expression shifted into fresh confusion as her eyes darted about. Then, as if picturing something specific, her eyebrows shot upward.
“Don’t tell me that man—no, that bastard—cheated on you, Nanny?”
If only it had been that simple, I might have understood.
I shrugged at the highly agitated Catherine.
“Who knows.”
“Oh my god, where is that wretch right now? I’ll carry out your revenge for you, Nanny! Just let me meet him—I’ll rip every last hair from his head!”
“Revenge won’t be necessary, so you should be careful too, Catherine.”
The sudden warning made Catherine’s eyes round with surprise.
“What exactly should I be careful of all of a sudden?”
“It means don’t make the same mistake I did.”
“What mistake?”
I gripped the doorknob and answered firmly.
“The mistake of giving away everything you possess simply because you love someone.”
Catherine, still standing behind me, stared in a daze.
I left her with one final remark.
“In the end, the one who loved more is the one who gets hurt more.”
The Central Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Cabelius III of the Ventrum Empire sat upon the throne with an expressionless face. To his immediate left stood Empress Melanie, and to his right, the second consort Helena. Both women wore smiles as perfectly painted as porcelain dolls.
“The last guest is late.”
At the Emperor’s words, Duke Jerome Crown—who stood guard directly below the dais—gave a small bow. He remained in full armor, prepared for any unforeseen incident.
“He will arrive shortly, Your Majesty.”
To think someone would dare keep the Emperor of Ventrum waiting.
Edwin clutched Emilia’s hand tightly while watching the Emperor’s mood. His Majesty appeared deeply displeased by the absent guest.
“The King of Adamanth must be truly busy with affairs of state.”
It was an elegantly cutting piece of sarcasm.
Edwin blinked at the Emperor’s remark and tilted his head slightly. To his left, Lloyd was muttering under his breath.
“Such insolence toward Father, the ruler of the western continent. I suppose lowly blood cannot be helped.”
“Be silent, Lloyd.”
Adrian, standing to Lloyd’s left, spoke in a detached tone.
“Do you not realize that uttering such words in a place like this is the true act of rudeness?”
“But honestly, don’t you feel the same, Brother Adrian? What kind of king makes the Emperor wait?”
Adrian remained silent. Though he had rebuked Lloyd’s attitude, he seemed to partially agree with the sentiment.
“Your Majesty!”
At that moment, the herald outside called out in a resonant voice.
The King of the Adamanth Kingdom, Kaiden Ram, requests an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Ventrum Empire!
It was the moment the final guest’s name was announced.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed into thin slits.
“Let him enter.”
At the indifferent command, the massive marble doors opened with a heavy groan.
Brilliant backlight poured into the hall the instant they parted. The imperial family and nobles gathered inside began to murmur.
“So that’s the King of Adamanth……”
“The God of War himself is that man……”
The King of Adamanth had visited the palace once before under the pretext of a monster subjugation, but that had been an unofficial visit. Those who had not been present then had set aside everything to rush to the audience chamber and catch a glimpse of the rumored young king.
“Hoh.”
“…Good heavens.”
The moment King Kaiden Ram of Adamanth stepped into the audience hall, awed gasps rose from every corner.
“Whoa, he’s so dark! And cool!”
“Shh, Ria. Quiet.”
Edwin pressed a finger to his excited younger sister’s lips. Yet his own gaze remained fixed on the King of Adamanth as if spellbound.
I only caught a glimpse last time, so I didn’t realize……
Jet-black hair, healthily tanned skin, and golden eyes reminiscent of a beast. His sharp yet refined features were devastatingly beautiful.
He really is incredible.
Edwin watched Kaiden with open admiration. A deep indigo formal coat draped over a frame that easily surpassed six feet. A black fur cloak that swayed lightly with each movement, gleaming with a smooth luster. Everything suited Kaiden almost excessively well.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed solemnly through the hall.
Kaiden Ram, King of Adamanth, walked along the red carpet toward the Emperor. The knights of Adamanth who had been waiting outside followed their king into the hall with perfectly synchronized steps and lined up neatly behind him.
“The King of Adamanth, Kaiden Ram, greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Ventrum Empire.”
It was an utterly formal greeting—neither excessively polite nor rude. Yet Kaiden’s voice carried the relaxed confidence of one accustomed to power. It was hard to believe it belonged to a man who had only recently entered his twenties.
“It is an immense pleasure to see you again, King of Adamanth.”
“I encountered a horde of monsters on the way and had to deal with them, which delayed my arrival. My apologies, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor raised a single eyebrow at Kaiden. The earlier displeasure had vanished from his face, replaced by a benevolent smile as he welcomed the king.
“Such matters are understandable. You must have had a long journey.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The Emperor offered a perfunctory smile as he watched Kaiden bow.
“I must say, I didn’t expect you to lead the delegation personally.”
“Did I not promise? I said I would stay longer during the Founding Festival.”
“I thought it was mere courtesy.”
“Oh? I would never do that.”
Kaiden’s lips curved upward. The moment he smiled, the noblewomen throughout the hall hid their flushed cheeks behind their fans.
“I am a man who keeps every promise he makes, Your Majesty.”
His courteous tone and respectful bearing were at odds with his fearsome reputation. The nobles of the empire gathered in the hall felt secretly disconcerted.
The Emperor merely offered an unreadable smile in return.
“This is quite the honor.”
At that moment, Marquis Redcliffe—who was essentially the leader of the imperial nobles—spoke up. He glanced at Duke Jerome Crown standing opposite him.
“I never imagined I would see both the Empire’s Sword and the King of Knights in one place.”
The Marquis wore an amiable expression, as if he knew nothing.
“This old man who has yet to learn wisdom despite his years has one question. May I ask it here?”
“Marquis, what are you—”
It was already absurd to address the representative of a foreign delegation without the Emperor’s permission, but the representative in question was none other than the King of Adamanth. Even as the Empire’s second-most powerful figure, to question a foreign monarch in such a formal setting was unthinkable.
Just as Jerome frowned and moved to stop the Marquis—
“Go ahead and speak.”
Kaiden turned toward the Marquis with a smile.
“I, too, am curious what the Marquis wishes to know.”