EOSL CH 26

Chapter 26

“…Excuse me?”

“I proposed. To her. Seriously. On one knee. I asked her to become the mother of this nation and my one and only wife.”

“…Excuse me?”

“…And then she just… collapsed right there.”

“…”

How was anyone supposed to recover from this atmosphere?

The Duchess and the Duke stared at Rubellus, completely speechless. Rubellus tried desperately to keep his expression under control, but it was useless. His ears were already burning red.

“A proposal…”

The duchess covered her mouth in shock. The Duke, however, looked even more stunned.

In his gaze there was less surprise and more worry—concern, and even a faint sense of betrayal.

Rubellus had expected that look. He forced himself not to avoid it.

This was a heart he had hidden from everyone.

There had been reasons—circumstances—that forced him to hide it.

The Duke might be furious. No—he must be furious.

By proper etiquette, he should have approached the Duke first about marriage talks.

Rubellus swallowed again.

“I would like to speak with the Duke alone. Your Grace, I ask for your understanding.”

“I obey.”

The Duchess, who had already stopped crying, rose and curtsied deeply before leaving. The door closed, leaving only the two men.

Facing the Duke alone.

Was this what last night’s dream had been foreshadowing?

A strange sense of déjà vu passed through Rubellus as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Duke spoke first.

“Your Majesty.”

“Duke.”

“Since when?”

He didn’t even specify the subject. The urgency in his tone revealed how agitated—and angry—he was.

But Rubellus knew too well that the Duke’s apparent openings were never true weaknesses.

The Duke’s elegant hunting style was to pretend to leave himself open, lure his opponent in, and then devour them in an instant.

Rubellus had been his only direct disciple in mastering that method.

The first answer must be honest. Unexpected. Direct. That was the only way to survive a verbal battle with the Duke.

Rubellus answered slowly.

“Since I was eight. Since Aira first entered the palace.”

The Duke’s eyes widened.

Ah. That expression was genuine.

Rubellus couldn’t help giving an awkward smile.

It seemed the Duke truly hadn’t noticed.

“…Truly?”

“Of course. And… it was I who requested Her Majesty the Dowager allow Aira to enter the palace freely.”

Another bombshell.

This time the Duke’s mouth fell open.

Strangely, this confession was easier than the last.

After a moment of processing, the Duke’s eyes turned cold.

Rubellus waited tensely for the next question.

“Then why did you not tell me?”

“Because until I became Emperor, I could promise nothing.”

“…”

The Duke’s face darkened instantly.

Rubellus smiled faintly.

“If I failed to become emperor, everything I loved would be destroyed as well. Until then, I had no choice but to distance Aira. You of all people should understand. I suggested you appear to side with my uncle for that very reason. You were a veteran I trusted… and if my uncle became emperor, at least you would survive.”

“Your Majesty.”

Rubellus smiled gently again.

“It was my design, and I thought it rather clever. But I overlooked one thing—human hearts are neither inorganic nor limitless. I believed that if I hid her like a treasured object and simply didn’t look back, she would remain safe. But she was someone who thinks freely and acts boldly… and so she was hurt.”

He sighed and shook his head.

“I no longer know how to approach her properly. For three years, I believed I had laid careful plans… yet it seems none of them worked. So in my haste, I disrupted her blind date and proposed outright. And seeing how things turned out, this disciple is still lacking, Duke. …No, Teacher.”

His tone had changed.

It was more respectful now—softer—and he addressed him as “Teacher.”

The Duke’s expression softened slightly.

Memories surfaced—of the days he had mentored Rubellus in politics. Without doubt, Rubellus had been his most brilliant and rewarding student.

After a long silence, the Duke finally spoke.

“…Did she answer you?”

Rubellus’s eyes widened slightly. He could feel it—the Duke’s anger had cooled considerably.

He shook his head.

“No. I have not heard her answer yet.”

“That is fortunate.”

“…What?”

“As her father, I still have questions to ask before she wakes.”

Rubellus’s eyes widened further.

The Duke had used the word father.

He was speaking as if already acknowledging Rubellus as a potential suitor.

Rubellus looked at him carefully.

“I thought you would refuse outright.”

“Even when putting down a lame horse, one must think three times. First, tell me what measures you have taken regarding the man in the North.”

Their gazes met, heavy with meaning.

Tail Quilton of the North.

Formerly Tail Zahard.

Half-brother of the late Emperor Johan Zahard.

Granted a ducal title, he had been sent to the harsh northern territory beyond the Quilton Mountain Range.

Officially, he was there stabilizing the difficult region.

In truth, everyone knew it was exile.

Quilton was one of the most barren lands in the empire. Crops would not grow. Trees withered. Even forestry was impossible. The land carried unstable magical veins.

Before exile, Tail had held significant military power in the capital. Many key military figures had once served both the late Emperor and Tail.

And because Tail had concealed the identities of his loyalists, Rubellus had never known exactly who belonged to him.

At one point, people had even whispered that Rubellus would fail to inherit the throne.

But in the end, Rubellus stripped Tail of the Zahard name and sent him north in disgrace, dismantling his military faction.

“My concern,” the Duke said gravely, “is that the Duke of Quilton is still alive.”

He continued,

“For the safety of my family, I was prepared to announce my retirement and leave the capital. With Aira. Had Your Majesty not accused Count Walden, I would likely have departed by now.”

“Do not misunderstand my accusation of Count Walden. I discovered he was still in contact with Quilton. And leaving the capital would be dangerous for you as well. Outside the capital, there are too many variables. If I am to protect you immediately, you must remain here until Quilton dies. … It is not because of Aira.”

That last line was unnecessary.

The Duke suppressed his irritation and continued calmly.

“But Your Majesty, I cannot remain in the capital indefinitely. I have lands entrusted to me. They are part of Zahard. I have a duty to govern them faithfully.”

“It will not take long.”

“…What?”

The Duke narrowed his eyes slightly.

“How can you state that with certainty?”

“That…”

Rubellus hesitated.

Should he reveal his power?

The secret no one knew.

The Duke likely knew only that Rubellus had once had red eyes and was exceptionally talented.

He could not know about Rubellus’s supernatural ability—nor about the inherited imperial power passed down only to emperors.

For a moment, Rubellus considered it—then shook his head inwardly.

No. Not yet.