MFTR 82

Chapter 82

 His Eyes Are Half Rolled Back

Normally, Samuel would have boldly spoken up with a frank admonition like “Your Highness, you’re the strangest one here.”

But this time, he kept his mouth shut.

In fact, when only Kardin and Anette had been left alone in the room, he had been relieved, thinking his lord was finally escaping from brooding all by himself.

But then, out of nowhere—what mistake had been made now?—Kardin suddenly stormed out of the room.

Samuel was dumbfounded for a moment, then tried to follow immediately. But when Kardin’s shadow seemed to vanish from sight, he could only sigh in defeat.

It seemed His Highness had completely forgotten that his one and only aide was a frail civil officer with no stamina whatsoever. Samuel trudged after him, feeling rather aggrieved.

By the time he finally made it to the reception room, an unexpected scene was unfolding.

“Your Grace, please! We must see the Princess!”

“Let go already! Didn’t I tell you to let go? And you—what are you doing just standing there instead of pulling him off me?”

“Since Luke is no longer part of the Royal Knights, he’s outside my jurisdiction. More importantly, where is the Princess? I must meet her myself.”

“There’s no need for that! Weren’t you here to see me?”

“Prince Franz has sent a gift for the Princess.”

“I’ll deliver it to her…”

“No. I’ll give it to her myself.”

“Me too! I’ve decided to devote my life to the Princess from now on!”

“And who are you to make such a decision! Get lost back to Heyworth!”

Samuel had assumed Kardin would easily overwhelm the men from Heyworth and crush their resolve…

But to his shock, the exact opposite had happened.

Zeon, the Commander of the Royal Knights, stood there with a face completely unflustered, speaking his mind without budging an inch. Meanwhile, Luke—who wasn’t even a knight anymore—was clinging to Kardin’s leg, dangling like a child.

“Your Grace, are you treating me this way because I’m from another country? But isn’t the Princess herself also from Heyworth?”

“What did you just say…!”

Kardin, bristling with anger, suddenly faltered, clutching his forehead as if at a loss for words. He looked as though he had lost the will to continue the quarrel.

It was the first time Samuel had ever seen Kardin lose ground in an argument.

Of course, it was only because he was hiding Anette’s true condition from them, covering it up with the excuse that she was recuperating.

“Our princess wouldn’t want to see their faces, but I barely held myself back from spitting that out. How brazen can they be!”

Kardin muttered darkly, before snapping his gaze toward Samuel with fierce eyes.

“You saw Zeon Millard earlier, didn’t you? How he insisted on handing the gift to the princess himself?”

“…Yes, I saw.”

“Didn’t I tell you? That man harbors feelings for our princess. And every time, what did you say? That it was impossible.”

Put on the spot, Samuel looked away, flustered.

Indeed, he himself hadn’t expected it. Zeon, renowned for his upright behavior and sound judgment, was supposed to be above such sentiments.

Samuel had always defended him, insisting to Kardin that Zeon was simply fair-minded toward his subordinates and respectful toward his superior, the princess.

“But after what I saw today, I feel deeply betrayed. I truly believed he was a man of pure reason….”

“Is that what you think you should be saying right now?”

“But Your Grace, you read my report as well!”

Samuel thumped his chest in frustration.

“Besides, how could he? Because of the late queen—the princess’s mother—his family was ruined! How could he possibly…”

Love her? The words nearly slipped out, but Samuel quickly shut his mouth.

Kardin’s glare was murderous, as if promising death if he dared speak the thought aloud. The expression was more demonic than even when he wore his mask. Samuel swallowed hard.

Still, the doubt boiled inside him. By his reasoning, if his own mother had taken her life because of the late queen, even if he bore no direct grudge against Anette, he would never have been able to treat her without discomfort.

That Zeon had seemed free of such personal resentment had impressed Samuel greatly. But now, he felt nothing but disappointment.

“Your Grace was right all along. I blinded myself to the truth.”

“Exactly. His eyes are half rolled back now.”

Samuel nodded sadly.

“Yes. After today, it’s clear he’s not in his right mind.”

But that, too, irked Kardin, who shot him a sharp glare.

Through gritted teeth, he said:

“I’m sure Heyworth petitioned the ducal house for aid, yet he didn’t mention it even once while I was there.”

Kardin had expected Zeon might be forced to confront feelings he’d long denied once he learned Anette had left.

But he hadn’t expected such stubbornness—demanding to see her face, no matter what.

With his mind already half gone, he was this insistent. If he lost it completely, he might tear through the ducal stronghold itself to find her.

“Should I be glad it didn’t come to that…”

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kardin issued an order:

“Send word to the princess immediately. Tell her that the knights from Heyworth will be staying in the annex and to avoid the area. She may live comfortably within the main keep, but if those two are summoned to discuss the kingdom’s request, inform her right away so she can be cautious.”

Seeing Kardin’s scowling face, Samuel asked tentatively:

“Have you still not reconciled with her?”

“What?”

“I mean… despite having the chance to meet her again, Your Grace keeps delaying….”

“Hah.”

Kardin gave a short laugh, incredulous.

“Samuel, reconciliation? Do you think I’ve been quarreling with the princess?”

“Haven’t you?”

“Of course not. I’m the one who wronged her. So it’s not reconciliation—it’s forgiveness I must beg for.”

That wasn’t something to say with such confidence…

Samuel made a sour face but swallowed his urge to ask why he hadn’t begged forgiveness yet.

Perhaps sensing his unspoken thoughts, Kardin frowned.

“I want to beg right this instant, but… what if she asks me to show her that room again?”

This uncharacteristically timid side of his lord was unfamiliar, and yet there was a kind of tragic beauty to it.

Samuel privately mused that, indeed, there was a beauty one could never perceive from afar.

“Why are you just standing there? Go. Make sure the princess doesn’t accidentally run into those men.”

Realistically, Anette would never wander all the way to the annex, but Kardin’s nerves were on edge.

He had originally planned to dismiss the Heyworth delegation after promising to send his reply later through a messenger. But things had already gone awry.

“I should have driven them out on the spot…”

His brows drew tight with regret.

He wanted nothing more than to throw Zeon and Luke out of the duchy. But if they returned home and accused the duke of locking the princess away and refusing to let her be seen, the situation could escalate into a scandal.

Until the royal marriage was complete, Kardin wanted everything to proceed without a single hitch.

Though he had temporarily settled them in the annex, there was no way he’d let them remain indefinitely.

The princess may have no desire to see them now, but what if her mind changes later?

Or worse—what if she felt guilty for causing them trouble?

No. Kardin would find a way to resolve matters without letting Anette face them. He pushed away the uneasy premonition gnawing at him and sank into deep thought.

That same moment.

“Sir Zeon Millard, this will be your room. Sir Luke, the one next to it will be yours.”

Hubert, the chief steward, opened the doors to the annex rooms and bowed.

Luke flailed in protest.

“Sir Luke? Oh, come now, Chief Steward! Please just speak casually with me. And really, I’m no guest here. A servant’s quarters or the knights’ squires’ lodgings would be more than enough for me….”

“My lord instructed me only to escort you both to the annex. I was given no further directions, Sir Luke.”

“Ahaha…”

Luke scratched his head sheepishly. He had hoped to ingratiate himself with his usual cheerfulness, but Hubert’s curt, impassive manner cut him off coldly.

“Meals will be served in the first-floor dining room. You may come down at your convenience. If you prefer, we can bring food to your rooms, provided you notify us in advance.”

Normally, a guest would dine with the master of the house. But since the duke wore a mask, that was hardly feasible.

Understanding, Zeon gave a small nod and asked in a calm voice:

“Does the princess usually dine in the main keep?”

He watched Hubert’s face closely for a reaction.

But the steward neither showed surprise nor betrayed the faintest hint of intent. He simply continued as though he hadn’t heard:

“For your reference, this floor is otherwise unoccupied. However, the upper floor contains a wizard’s research chambers, so please be cautious. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Hubert bowed and left quietly.

Zeon stood there for a moment, then turned away, a heaviness settling over him.

He had asked only to confirm whether Anette was in the main keep—or elsewhere.

But the steward had given him nothing.

Without meaning to, Zeon let out a subdued sigh.

He recalled the moment earlier, when he had stood before Duke Harzent.

That fleeting instant, when he had thought: Until I see the princess, I must keep him off guard.