Chapter 29
The Fool
“My cheek…”
“Ah… that’s…”
When Teishar said she was going to get a scroll containing a healing spell, he thought maybe she’d fallen again and bruised herself—her body was so frail, after all.
But her left cheek was red and swollen.
It was clearly the mark of someone’s hand.
“Who did this to you, my lady?”
“There’s… a reason. I was alone with Illina for a short while.”
“And who is this Lady Illina? I’ll report her to Princess Charlotte—she won’t get away with this.”
“Illina is… my half-sister.”
Suppressing the ache in her heart, Susanna quietly began brushing Lorenxia’s red hair, making it neat and pretty. Then she brought a soft beige dress—something light enough to wear even indoors—and helped her change.
“Is it comfortable?”
“Yes, it is.”
Back at the count’s estate, she’d only worn stiff, scratchy dresses that made her skin itch constantly.
But since coming to the Imperial Palace, she’d been able to wear cute, comfortable dresses.
Because she’d never worn anything so lovely before, Lorenxia moved carefully, worried she might wrinkle it. To her amazement, no creases formed even when she moved.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
Standing before the large mirror, Lorenxia spun twice in a circle, smiling without realizing it.
— Meow!
“Leo.”
“I gave him a bowl of fish porridge made from well-boiled tuna. He ate and fell asleep right after.”
“Thank you for taking care of him, Susanna.”
“I told you not to say it like that, my lady.”
“You worked hard taking care of him, Susanna.”
“You should get used to speaking casually to your servants, remember?”
Lorenxia nodded obediently.
Leaving the room, Teishar hurried toward Charlotte’s reception chamber.
He needed to report quickly and return to Lorenxia with her meal.
When he entered, Adrian had already arrived and was seated beside Charlotte.
“Your Highness Adrian, you’ve returned already?”
“Teleportation halls make the trip quick.”
“Did you recover the letters?”
Adrian took two envelopes from his coat and handed them to Teishar.
“As Lady Lorenxia said, there were indeed two letters from Lady Illina to Young Lord Lorilols.”
“Did the young lord hand them over willingly?”
“When I told him Lady Lorenxia would part with him if he did, he gave them up immediately.”
“What a fool.”
Teishar began reading the letters Adrian handed him.
The further he read, the tighter his grip grew until, unable to contain his anger, he crumpled them in his hand.
“Marquis Teishar, don’t damage the evidence.”
“My apologies… I lost my temper.”
He carefully smoothed out the letters and handed them back.
“I’ve heard from Charlotte—Lady Lorenxia is someone the Polloyd Empire lost long ago, correct?”
“Yes. And there’s more to discuss regarding that. I also heard something interesting from Lady Lorenxia’s conversation with Prince Luans.”
“Interesting?”
Adrian’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“The prince had her drink a potion every day.”
“A potion?”
“She asked him where in the palace she could get more of it.”
Adrian frowned slightly.
“And how did he respond?”
“He told her she didn’t need to drink it anymore—and quickly left.”
Adrian gave a dry laugh.
“So Luans lied, claiming it was a fine potion from the Imperial Palace, and made her drink it daily?”
“Exactly. I think we should investigate. The Marquisate of Spencer’s shadow group, Red Moon, will arrive tomorrow.”
“Good. Then we can start immediately.”
A faint smile curved Adrian’s lips. It seemed they might catch Luans sooner than expected.
After his brief meeting with Charlotte and Adrian, Teishar went to the kitchen and ordered a special meal made just for Lorenxia.
“Minced beef… finely chopped vegetables… not too greasy—add a touch of lemon…”
The chef, a bit overwhelmed by Teishar’s detailed instructions, still took pride in his Imperial post and prepared the dish with utmost care.
When the meal was beautifully plated, Teishar set it on a serving trolley. The attendant beside him jumped in alarm.
“I’ll take it from here, my lord.”
“I’ll do it.”
The attendant, looking near tears, watched as Teishar himself carefully loaded the plates onto the trolley. When it was ready, the attendant reached to wheel it out—but Teishar blocked him.
“I’ll push it.”
“My lord, that’s the servant’s job—”
“I won’t repeat myself.”
Unable to protest further, the attendant sighed deeply as Teishar left with the trolley.
He couldn’t understand why the marquis insisted on doing this himself.
Teishar, however, could think of nothing but Lorenxia—how to care for her, how to make her smile.
Maybe when they returned to the Polloyd Empire, he’d learn to cook for her himself.
The thought of her small lips tasting the food he made made the corners of his mouth twitch upward.
Like a gardener tending a cherished flower, he wanted to personally provide everything she needed.
Teishar returned to his chambers with the trolley.
Susanna supported Lorenxia’s back with cushions so she could lean comfortably against the bed’s headboard. Then she unfolded a tray table and began setting out the dishes.
“About your studies, my lady.”
“Yes, Marquis Spencer.”
“Her Highness and I discussed several options. You may choose whichever you prefer.”
“Options?”
“First, you study with me all day.
Second, only in the morning.
Third, only in the afternoon.
Fourth, morning with me and afternoon with Princess Charlotte.
Four choices—but I recommend the first.”
Lorenxia looked awkwardly at Teishar, realizing how eager he was to stay with her.
Why did the supposed “child of the goddess Ella” mean so much to him?
She was grateful for his kindness, but his crimson eyes watching her so intently made her uneasy.
“There’s no fifth option—like studying with Her Highness in the afternoon only?”
“No, there isn’t.”
Charlotte had offered to assign her a good tutor, but Lorenxia refused. She’d rather study with Teishar than with a stranger.
“In that case, I choose the fourth option.”
Teishar’s disappointment was clear, though he tried to hide it.
Lorenxia, meanwhile, felt her heart flutter at the thought of learning to read and study.
“To think I’ll finally learn to read…”
It felt like a dream. Yet she feared this twisted version of her future might change for the worse.
She wanted to use her amethyst necklace’s power to glimpse what lay ahead, but Susanna or Teishar were always by her side, making it impossible.
Without her ability to see the future, every decision felt frighteningly uncertain.
Still, she resolved to take careful steps on her own.
“If there’s anything else you’d like to learn, please tell me.”
“Something I’d like to learn?”
“If you wish it, you can go anywhere, see anything, eat anything, and learn anything.”
Her heart began to race.
“That would be wonderful.”
“I intend to make it so.”
Lorenxia looked up at Teishar’s gentle smile—his thick double eyelids, large round eyes, and sharp, elegant nose made him almost too handsome.
When their eyes met, a faint blush spread across his cheeks.
She tilted her head in confusion, not knowing why.
“But first, let’s fill that hungry stomach of yours.”
She looked down at the meal he pointed to, and her mouth watered.
“This is beef tomato stew—it’s tangy and appetizing. And this dish…”
She swallowed again as he described it.
There were so many dishes she didn’t know where to start.
“After eating, you must also drink a cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream.”
“Whipped cream? Does that taste different from regular cocoa?”
“It’s much sweeter and more delicious.”
“I’ll make sure to drink it all, then.”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. She remembered the taste of cocoa she’d once had—smooth and warm, unlike the dry chocolate bread Luans had given her before.
“But… can I eat all this?”
“If you’re full, you can leave some.”
“That feels wasteful.”
“Don’t worry. The leftovers will be eaten by others—it won’t go to waste.”
“Alright.”
Teishar cut the steak into small pieces and placed them on her plate.
Lorenxia alternated her gaze between the food and him before finally taking a piece with her fork. She chewed slowly.
“I’ve never tasted anything like this—it’s so good!”
“I’ll be sure to tell the chef.”
“Yes, please do!”
He continued cutting and serving, smiling as her thin cheeks puffed with each bite.
It felt like a mother bird feeding her chick—a strangely joyful and tender feeling.
“Here, honey milk. Drink some too, Lady Lorenxia.”
“Thank you, Marquis Spencer.”
“You’ve spilled a bit—let me wipe it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I spill when I drink milk too.”
His touch was gentle as he dabbed at her lips with a handkerchief.
“I’m full now.”
Though she wasn’t hungry to begin with, she couldn’t resist the delicious food and ended up eating until her small stomach was completely full.
“You barely ate anything…”
Just as he murmured, Susanna appeared behind him.
“Step aside, my lord.”
Reluctantly, Teishar moved. His face was full of regret.
Susanna removed the cushion behind Lorenxia’s back and began rubbing her gently.
“This helps with digestion, my lady.”
While Susanna tended to her, Teishar quietly began clearing the dishes onto the trolley again.
— Meow!
Leo meowed softly, jumping into Lorenxia’s arms now that her meal was done.
