Chapter 17
Yan’s words could have been interpreted in many ways.
But to Elthia…
They sounded like nothing more than the familiar sarcasm she had grown accustomed to hearing.
There was nothing glorious about someone as gloomy and pitiful as herself.
Still…
She appreciated that he had at least chosen kind words.
Edwin merely smiled faintly without offering any response.
Keeping her head lowered, Elthia carefully avoided meeting his eyes.
She only wished for this moment to end as quickly as possible.
“You must be exhausted after such a long journey.”
“Please, allow us to begin with dinner.”
Yan led them into the dining hall, explaining that every dish had been prepared using ingredients unique to the Ferry Empire.
Just as he had promised…
An extravagant feast covered the great round table.
“You’ve certainly prepared a magnificent banquet.”
Edwin looked rather pleased at first.
Then his gaze swept around the table, and his brow furrowed.
“Though…”
“I see quite a few unfamiliar faces here.”
Besides Yan and his wife, Empress Bella of the Ferry Empire…
Several people Edwin had never met were also seated at the table.
“I am Hochi Vin Benares, His Majesty Yan’s chief advisor.”
After Hochi introduced himself…
Yan spoke in a serious tone.
“There is something I wished to discuss with Your Majesty today.”
Edwin, whose interest rarely extended beyond women, simply nodded absentmindedly throughout.
“I’ve reached an age where I should have long since secured an heir.”
“Unfortunately…”
“I have not.”
“It has weighed heavily on my mind for many years.”
Edwin lazily stirred his soup with his fork as he rested his chin on one hand.
“So…”
“After much consideration…”
“I have decided to adopt a son.”
Even Edwin couldn’t hide his surprise.
His eyes widened slightly.
Has the old fool finally gone senile?
If you’re ready to die, then die quietly.
Why insist on making things troublesome?
The Ferry Empire’s national strength had weakened considerably.
Much of that was due to Yan’s advancing age.
To Edwin…
That had always been an opportunity.
He stared at Yan with chilling eyes as he slowly raised his wineglass.
Elthia blinked several times, trying to understand what was happening.
Adopting an heir was far from common.
Especially when Yan already had children of his own.
Ignoring everyone’s reactions…
Yan calmly called someone’s name.
“Kyle.”
“Come in.”
With a deep rumble…
The massive golden doors engraved with azure dragons slowly swung open.
The instant Kyle stepped inside…
The expressionless Elthia, who until now had listened without emotion…
Opened her eyes wide.
“I greet the Sun of the Laurel Empire.”
“My name is Kyle Lewis.”
As Kyle bowed politely toward them…
Elthia’s fingertips began trembling uncontrollably.
His shimmering silver hair…
His captivating eyes…
They instantly reminded her of the first time she had met Heinz.
He was much taller…
Nearly two hand spans taller than the boy she remembered.
His features had matured into those of a handsome young man.
Even so…
She couldn’t stop herself from thinking of Heinz.
Yet…
Beyond the resemblance…
There were just as many differences.
Most importantly…
The real Heinz had already been brutally murdered because of her.
By the tyrant standing beside her.
Edwin.
Completely unaware that Edwin had turned his gaze toward her…
Elthia continued staring blankly at the familiar yet unfamiliar face.
Edwin eventually looked away from Elthia.
Instead…
He carefully examined the young man called Kyle.
Anyone else might have felt uncomfortable beneath such a scrutinizing stare.
Kyle remained perfectly upright without the slightest sign of unease.
Clink.
Edwin deliberately set down his fork before smiling faintly.
“You have quite an unusual appearance.”
The Ferry Empire had never been known for producing exceptionally beautiful people.
Among everyone Edwin had ever seen…
Kyle ranked near the very top.
Edwin hated admitting it…
But he had rarely encountered someone so strikingly handsome.
The rhythmic tapping continued around the dining table.
Drumming his fingers against the tabletop…
Edwin alternated his gaze between Kyle and Elthia.
An inexplicable sense of familiarity crept over him.
Something about the situation bothered him.
He couldn’t identify why.
He swore to heaven…
It had nothing to do with feelings for Elthia.
What he felt toward her was nothing more than possessiveness.
She was his property.
Nothing more valuable than a pet kept inside one’s home.
Perhaps…
Kyle merely reminded him of someone.
But Edwin quickly dismissed the thought as absurd.
Silver hair tinged with gray…
Green eyes…
Those traits were uncommon.
Aside from that…
Very little resembled the silver-haired boy he had seen years ago.
Satisfied with that conclusion…
Edwin let his suspicion fade.
He picked up the wine bottle.
“A toast.”
“To the continued prosperity of the Laurel Empire and the Ferry Empire.”
“Thank you.”
Kyle’s voice was deeper than that of a youth…
Yet still soft, carrying a calm baritone.
Watching him proudly…
Yan spoke again.
“I intend to send my son to study at the Laurel Imperial Palace.”
The smile that had been lingering on Edwin’s lips disappeared instantly.
“I’m getting old.”
“I think it would benefit him to learn from people around his own age.”
Yan continued smiling.
“You needn’t worry.”
“He’s quite an intelligent child.”
Never imagining that the aging, toothless tiger before him could possibly harbor hidden intentions…
Edwin clenched his jaw.
“I’m certain he would never dare offend the Emperor of the Laurel Empire.”
He could have refused the proposal.
Instead…
His pride was provoked.
“Very well.”
“But…”
“…”
“Once he sets foot in Laurel…”
“He will be subject to Laurel’s laws.”
“There will be no exceptions.”
Even if I kill your adopted son…
You’re the one who threw him into the flames.
Yan nodded, his face growing noticeably paler.
Oddly enough…
Seeing that reaction only improved Edwin’s mood.
Grinning broadly…
He drove his knife deep into a piece of meat.
Throughout it all…
Kyle remained perfectly composed.
His gaze shifted from Yan and Edwin…
Then quietly settled upon Elthia.
“…”
She hadn’t changed.
If anything…
It was a relief that she at least appeared physically healthy.
Yet…
She still looked fragile.
Still unhappy.
Her beauty wasn’t especially extraordinary.
So why…
Whenever he closed his eyes…
Was she the face he remembered?
Was it sympathy?
Pity?
Or…
Could it even be love?
No.
It couldn’t be that.
Even if only in name…
He already had a fiancƩe chosen by Yan.
And love had no place in his pursuit of revenge.
“I hope you’ll learn a great deal.”
Edwin’s voice pulled Kyle back to reality.
Kyle slowly turned toward him.
As Edwin raised his wineglass…
Kyle quietly emptied his own.
***
As always…
Elthia did not share a bed with Edwin.
Being in a distant foreign land was already difficult enough.
Knowing there wasn’t a single person she could truly rely upon made the loneliness even harder to bear.
Leaving the luxurious guest chamber Yan had prepared for her…
Elthia quietly wandered into the palace gardens.
“It seems you can’t sleep.”
She froze.
The unexpected voice left her speechless.
It was Kyle.
The young man she had met at dinner.
His tone sounded rather cold.
Yet his expression suggested he meant nothing by it.
A bitter smile escaped Elthia.
When did I begin judging people by their expressions before anything else…?
“…I just wanted to take a short walk before going to bed.”
She gave him a polite bow.
Then turned to leave.
There was no reason to continue speaking with him.
Anyone who became involved with her eventually met misfortune.
Just as she started to walk away…
Kyle called after her.
His voice remained rough…
But there was no coldness in it.
“There are many guards posted in that direction.”
“It’ll only make your walk uncomfortable.”
“You’d be better off going the other way.”
“Oh…”
“I see.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
Kyle silently watched Elthia as she thanked him over something so trivial and slowly walked away.
He kept watching until her figure disappeared into the distance.
Only then did he turn toward the path she had originally intended to take.
His voice rang out.
“It would be appreciated if you refrained from such indecent behavior.”
A woman hurriedly pulled her half-slipped clothes back into place before stepping away from Edwin.
Kyle had known all along that Edwin had been entertaining another woman even before he encountered Elthia.
That was why he had deliberately sent her in the opposite direction.
What an insolent brat.
Though Edwin’s face remained expressionless…
His eyes grew icy as he strode toward Kyle.
“It seems you don’t know much about me.”
“I’m not particularly interested.”
Kyle stood slightly taller than Edwin.
The fact that he was forced to look upward irritated Edwin immensely.
Those serpent-like eyes…
They almost seemed to be looking down on him.
There was something impossible to describe about Kyle’s gaze.
Whenever he looked at Edwin…
His eyes seemed openly hostile.
As the tense silence dragged on…
The woman standing beside Edwin cautiously tried to slip away.
She never made it.
Edwin suddenly grabbed her by the hair.
She froze, trembling violently, unable to escape.
“You’ve ruined what was shaping up to be a pleasant evening.”
“…”
“I believe…”
“You owe me compensation.”
A murderous light filled Edwin’s eyes.
