Chapter : 42
It was a sunny day.
Beneath the flawlessly blue sky, Mehen could feel the many gazes piercing into him.
The same gazes he’d had to endure ever since he first entered the Halbern estate holding hands with the young duke, his peer in age.
“Is that him?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“That commoner boy the young duke picked up.”
The commoner genius of the Halbern Duke.
The Halbern family’s genius retainer.
The right hand of the Duke of Halbern.
The chief aide and representative of the Halbern Duke.
How many trials had there been until a penniless genius boy became someone who could never be excluded from the great Halbern?
“That’s Lord Mehen.”
“It’s Lord Mehen!”
“What’s he doing at the imperial palace?”
“Tch, still just a commoner by birth…”
“Wow, he’s so handsome today too!”
Perhaps it was because the “Halbern Duke’s representative” rarely showed himself in public.
From passersby to maids and attendants, all eyes were drawn to Mehen.
His striking appearance and outstanding ability.
It was no wonder he ranked second in Albrecht Times’ “Top Eligible Bachelors.” The most sought-after man on the marriage market.
Not that Mehen himself cared—his mind was elsewhere.
‘Tired.’
So much to do, so much to accomplish.
A life where he constantly had to prove himself—how could it not be exhausting?
‘Maybe I should leave…’
A thought he often had when pushed to the brink.
Retire, live in seclusion, maybe farm or open a small business…
A gentle breeze ruffled his neatly combed, wheat-colored hair.
His tidy uniform, crisp as always, was slightly tousled by the wind, and those secretly watching Mehen blushed in unison.
Then Mehen smiled.
“Mehen.”
He remembered the warmth of a tiny hand, the bright, earnest eyes that looked only at him.
“…Ha.”
No use.
No retirement. No running away.
“Guess I’m already tied down.”
A realization that came far too late.
“Uhh…”
The moment Mehen smiled unexpectedly, everyone who had been staring froze.
And once Mehen disappeared from view, screams broke out from all sides.
The scenery of the Albrecht imperial palace, built by the continent’s greatest artists and architects, was always breathtaking.
Even within the palace—an artistic masterpiece in itself—the Empress’s Palace was famed as the most beautiful of all.
Mehen arrived at the end of a corridor that looked like a natural canvas.
He had reached the Empress’s drawing room.
“I greet Your Majesty the Empress. May the grace of the divine be with you.”
“And also with you. It’s been a while, Mehen.”
Mehen composed his thoughts as he saw Empress Azeni greet him with a radiant smile.
He had remained relatively calm ever since receiving the summons from the Empress’s Palace.
‘It was bound to happen.’
He had expected it ever since the crown prince started frequenting Halbern House.
“It really has been a long time, Mehen. Have you been well?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, I’ve been doing well.”
“Oh my. I don’t recall bestowing any particular grace upon you.”
“It was a polite expression.”
Mehen’s smile stiffened slightly at Empress Azeni’s playful tone.
“You’re always so rigid, Lord Mehen.”
“Your Majesty is simply too informal.”
“Is that so? I suppose I’ve grown this way after being in this position for so long. Power and glory are very addictive, you know.”
The Empress gave a faintly mysterious smile. Right then, her attendants brought in a simple tea service and refreshments.
“Please, drink. I had them prepare your favorite.”
“My thanks, Your Majesty.”
The sound of teacups clinking and the soft breeze through the windows were the only noises in the drawing room.
The silence stretched.
‘Should I speak first?’
Just as Mehen was agonizing over it, Empress Azeni broke the silence.
“I know Pession has been causing you quite a bit of trouble. He’s been quite the nuisance, hasn’t he?”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. On the contrary, we’re grateful to His Highness.”
“Grateful?”
“Since the Crown Prince started visiting, Lady Arellin has been much more active.”
“Oh my.”
“She’s been getting a lot more exercise.”
Compared to the time she never left her room, it was a huge improvement.
“That’s a relief. I’m glad she hasn’t been too much trouble.”
“We’re only thankful for his presence.”
The Empress’s gaze sparkled mischievously.
“If someone else had said that, I’d have thought it was flattery or insincerity. But coming from you, Lord Mehen, it sounds genuine.”
“Because it is.”
Mehen responded firmly.
“I’ve always known how much you care for Lady Arellin. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s only natural.”
“I also know you’ve cherished her.”
“Well, I can’t help it.”
The Empress smiled softly.
“That child… she really takes after someone.”
Her eyes seemed to drift into the distance.
As if chasing after a memory, Empress Azeni looked out as though searching for something unseen.
“I even called her over recently to get a closer look. She really doesn’t resemble the Duke of Halbern at all.”
“…”
‘Then… who does she resemble?’
He had his suspicions, but Mehen held his tongue.
Empress Azeni watched him closely, then asked,
“Do you know who the child’s mother is?”
“No, he hasn’t told me either.”
“Any guesses?”
“Unfortunately not.”
Mehen offered a faint smile.
“As Your Majesty knows, His Grace was extremely busy with internal matters in Halbern at the time. He had no time to meet anyone.”
“Is it not possible he spent time with a woman during hours you weren’t aware of?”
“Possible, perhaps…”
But that man? A known skeptic and ascetic?
“I see.”
The Empress smiled quietly, as if she had heard the words Mehen didn’t say.
An enigmatic smile.
To Mehen, she looked… sad.
She had always shared a strange bond with the House of Halbern.
“Is the Duke of Halbern still at the northern fortress?”
“Yes.”
“Any idea when he’ll return?”
“I do not know.”
Mehen asked in return,
“Does Your Majesty happen to know?”
Why the Duke had secluded himself at the northern fortress for six years.
“I’m not sure either. Ed says it’s a secret and refuses to tell me anything.”
“I see.”
If even the Empress didn’t know, then perhaps only the Emperor himself was aware.
“Still, if I were to guess…”
The Empress smiled faintly.
“I think it has something to do with Lady Arellin.”
A heavy silence fell.
“By the way, even though you’re a genius, I didn’t expect you to be good at parenting too. She’s adorable.”
“Ah…”
“Cute, lovable, just seeing her warms the heart.”
“Thank you.”
Hearing praise for his young lady, Mehen couldn’t help but feel pleased.
“Even with help from others, raising her must have been difficult. But of course, it’s you we’re talking about.”
“Not at all. It’s thanks to the young lady growing up well.”
A soft smile came to Mehen’s lips.
“I remember you gave the entire compensation payment away as a bonus to the household staff.”
“Oh my.”
The Empress was quietly surprised to see this unfamiliar, doting side of Mehen.
“She’s always so obedient…”
As Mehen earnestly spoke about how sweet and lovely and precious Arellin was, Empress Azeni laughed softly.
‘Who would’ve thought Lord Mehen had this side to him?’
His praise for Arellin showed no signs of stopping.
“Arellin, you don’t like it?”
Pession, holding an exercise chart, had failed to get kicked out again.
He had been persistently trying to convince her for days.
“You said you’d get along with me now.”
“I never said that.”
“You said you’d do what I say.”
“I never promised that either.”
“Tch.”
This brat’s already trying to manipulate the narrative.
When she glared at him with suspicion, Pession quickly changed tactics. He suddenly looked dejected and fluttered his lashes pitifully.
“I made it just for you…”
“…”
“I worked really hard on it…”
“…”
“I stayed up all night, got help, skipped my own training—I seriously poured my heart and soul into it…”
Those teary eyes were a guilt trip.
“…Fine. I got it.”
He was making it impossible to say no.
“Hehe~”
The moment she gave in, Pession beamed.
What was she supposed to do with that smile?
It felt like some kind of demonic possession.
No—had she already been possessed?
“Even if I do this exercise, there’s no guarantee I’ll get better, you know. It’s not that kind of illness. You do know that, right?”
“Yeah! I know.”
No, you clearly don’t.
He said he understood, but the fanatical gleam in Pession’s eyes screamed blind faith in exercise.
She took the exercise plan he handed her.
“You Can Do It Too: Become a Sword Master!”
What the hell kind of title is that?!
