Chapter 36
…A quick marriage, huh… Even my close friend Branzio had made a strange expression when I told him I would soon be a married man. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but it was difficult for him to put into words. In the end, he fell silent, and I looked at him with a puzzled gaze. Everyone around us said it was a marriage too soon.
…Why? The reactions of those who, instead of congratulating Isilia and me, scolded us to delay the marriage, felt strange. What exactly was “too soon”? I first saw my wife when I was 21, so for Luyan, who had just turned 22, it had already been about a year since Isilia had been following me around. In that time, she must have been hurt by countless rejections. That’s why I—
“Come to think of it, wasn’t it around this time when the Count barged in and had an audience with His Majesty?”
Jordan, walking toward the Crown Prince’s palace, suddenly spoke. Luyan, whose mind was already cluttered, listened attentively to him. But soon he regretted it. The Crown Prince spoke as if he knew exactly what Luyan was thinking, bringing up a past he’d rather keep buried. Jordan’s voice carried a hint of amusement, but Luyan could not share in it.
“It was quite entertaining to see the count, known for his coldness, lose his composure. Your Majesty’s flustered face added to the fun.”
Luyan let Jordan’s words drift past one ear as he sank into thought. He still didn’t understand why others had reacted that way, but he felt he might have been hasty himself. Though it had been years ago and he remembered vaguely, he knew he had been unusually impatient for someone like himself back then. …Why? Surely Isilia must have been hurt by all those rejections. That’s why I wanted her to… no, that’s not it.
Something was bothering him.
“Ah, that guy too. There was one who used to follow our Isilia around everywhere.”
Luyan shook his head, unable to comprehend even now. Watching Jordan walk ahead, he stopped in place. Come to think of it, there had indeed been a boy often near Isilia. He couldn’t recall exactly who, but the boy had annoyed him at the time.
He had interfered with Luyan’s matters as if it were okay for him that Isilia wandered the palace. It had been truly irritating. Perhaps that’s why he had rushed the wedding that he would normally have deliberated over for a long time—so that the boy who had been intruding using Isilia as an excuse would no longer have a reason to come.
Thanks to Jordan’s words, something that had been clouded and blocked in his mind seemed to loosen. He was still confused, but his head felt lighter, and his heart relaxed. When he raised his head to meet the gaze that had been lingering on him, he found Jordan smiling. The frivolous laugh made Luyan frown.
“You still frown whenever that guy’s name comes up. He troubled you, yet your reaction isn’t quite what it normally is.”
“I don’t remember. It just seems there was someone troublesome.”
“…So I was curious why you were upset when normally you would have ignored it. You can be frustrating at times, but you also have a knack for amusing me. Whether you’re innocent or stupid… I think it’s the latter.”
“……”
“That’s a compliment. I called you for a matter, but on the way here, I got distracted and changed my mind. I’ll be going back now.”
Luyan sighed and bowed in farewell. It had been a mistake to follow the Crown Prince, trying to avoid facing Count Agnes. Either way, it was tiring. Shaking his head, Luyan headed toward where the Endrianz family carriage was waiting.
Sunlight streamed through the window, dazzling him. Ruffling his pressed-down hair, Luyan descended the stairs. Last night, on the way back to the mansion in the carriage, Isilia had spoken. She said she would visit the Agnes family due to her father’s summons, and added hesitantly that she would stay overnight. Seeing Johan looking at him with expectant, sparkling eyes, Luyan spoke up: take the children along too. Not just El and Johan, but Zion, who had been following them since leaving the palace. The heir seemed to consider it important that El be present and nodded in response.
Upon waking, El showed an unusual display of affection toward her. Sitting in the carriage with her in the middle, Isilia sighed while watching the children compete for attention. Luyan held the dazed child’s head and descended the stairs. Prepared to go to the Agnes residence, he saw his wife standing with the children.
Seeing the golden eyes narrow, Luyan reached out to El beside Isilia. Feeling her forehead, he noticed a lingering slight fever. Looks like she’ll have a higher temperature on the way to the Agnes residence. Luyan frowned. He could somehow send back the heir following El to the palace. Johan didn’t seem willing to leave her side, so El would…
“…El?”
Calling out the child’s name to the warmth in his hand, she moved her lips, signaling she wanted to go too. Perhaps because of the fever… Seeing her watery eyes looking up at him, he hesitated to tell her to stay.
With work piling up day by day, Luyan rarely stayed long at the mansion. Although the Endrianz family butlers and attendants would look after the child, she would feel lonely. While pondering this, a slender hand rested atop the child’s head.
“El,”
The child looked up at Isilia. El smiled back, and Luyan exhaled. The child would naturally rely more on her, who was always present, than on him, who was often absent. Realizing he was fretting over something obvious, he nodded to her when she said she would go. Watching the carriage fade into the distance, Luyan turned away.
—
Unlike his usual routine of heading straight to the office upon arriving at the palace, Luyan was in a building far from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had business with Duke Branzio. Raymond, who had been delighted at the news that Luyan had come to see him, frowned at Luyan’s serious tone.
“…What?”
“…I said I don’t know His Majesty’s intentions.”
Do you know? The voice directed at his close friend Raymond was full of puzzlement. Branzio wanted to ask why Luyan was asking him, but stopped. Everyone knew that yesterday, both the Endrianz and Agnes families had been invited to the palace by His Majesty. To the nobles, they were already a topic of sufficient interest. Come to think of it, Yuria had mentioned she would summon Isilia to the mansion soon…
Raymond’s pale silver-blue eyes were fixed on him, so he stopped his wandering thoughts. He looked like someone who had just been scolded by His Majesty and was silently wondering why he was called stupid. Raymond had a guess at His Majesty’s intentions but had no intention of revealing it.
“Not many can understand His Majesty’s will. ‘Stupid’… hm.”
Muttering this, Luyan frowned at the steady gaze. Raymond grinned slyly.
“You’ve never reacted to such comments before. Why suddenly curious?”
“…Hmm,”
“Hmph. Outwardly calm, but sensitive inside, I see.”
He muttered about caring too much over trivial things, and Luyan glared. Raymond ran a hand through his well-kept hair. Perhaps he had come because asking the Crown Prince directly would only result in being toyed with without a real answer.
Seeing Raymond’s sly reaction, Luyan’s frown didn’t ease. He guessed Raymond thought it better to stew alone, even if it gave him a headache. After finishing his thought, Raymond looked at Luyan with a smile. Their clapping hands gesture seemed fairly natural.
“So this is… some kind of consultation?”
“……”
“To pour your heart out to the country itself means you trust it as a friend. I’m glad, though I don’t like the topic.”
“So, what’s your opinion?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie. I know you’ve been discussing me with His Majesty whenever you get the chance.”
The calm tone hid a barb. Raymond lowered his gaze, sipping the tea he had prepared for Luyan. It was bitter. He hadn’t realized the tea had gone cold while caught up in conversation. Since he would soon leave, he could just make another cup for himself. Seeing him act, Luyan sighed.
“Alright. As you said, I’m not entirely clueless. I have an idea of His Majesty’s intentions. But why not hear it directly? The servants came this morning; they said to come once your business was finished.”
You’re very capable, but need to understand yourself better. If you’re curious, ask the Vice Captain of the Knights. Ah, I dislike you immensely. Laughing lightly, Luyan rose, as if deeming further conversation pointless.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about me behind my back.”
“Talking behind someone’s back is basic!”
“……”
“…Ahaha, sorry. Anyway, it’s true I don’t know. Better not waste time on things hard to explain, right? I’m not teasing you.”
“I see.”
“You’ve always had difficulty understanding others’ feelings. I think His Majesty mentioned this. How can a child indifferent to their own feelings care for others? It’s strange to meddle when uninterested.”
“……”
“Truly hard to explain. Go meet His Majesty and Sir Arwin and hear it yourself.”
