TRETTHD 86

Chapter 86. Duke Tessa’s Purpose

From the dais, the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Consort who had been watching had already left, and the atmosphere of the banquet was ripening with merriment.

To avoid drawing too much attention, Velia and Khalid slipped away to a quiet place. Once they reached a small lounge, Duke Tessa was the first to speak.

“Since you deliberately created this occasion, I assume there’s something you wish to say to me.”

In Velia’s previous life, the House of Tessa had already been in decline. Overwhelmed by the rising power of the First Prince, their influence had waned.

When the Empress died and Raul was appointed Crown Prince, the balance of power in the Empire tilted completely toward the First Prince’s side.

After that, Duke Tessa, who had rarely left his territory even before, withdrew almost entirely into his domain and scarcely appeared in the capital.

Though Velia hadn’t seen him often, whenever she did, she remembered him as always unfailingly courteous.

“Still, you are my husband’s maternal grandfather. I feel I haven’t had the chance to pay my respects properly until now.”

Before entering into discussion, Velia emphasized the closeness of their ties.

“Haha. There’s no need to trouble yourself on my account.”

But Duke Tessa kept his politeness carefully distanced.

Watching this, Khalid sighed and spoke up.

“Does acting so prickly make you feel any better?”

“Prickly, you say?”

“Why bother probing when you already know the truth?”

Khalid’s tone carried open displeasure, and the Duke in turn asked him:

“Your Highness, how much do you actually know?”

“Most of it.”

At that answer, Duke Tessa’s expression subtly shifted.

“These two are the people I trust most. Don’t draw your blade against them unnecessarily.”

Yet even as Khalid vouched for him, Velia’s expression remained doubtful.

Why had he done nothing in her past life? Was it because Khalid had not sought the throne?

Her doubts began there. Because Khalid had conceded without a fight, she could not trust those around him.

So what had Duke Tessa been doing at that time?

And what had Duke Errington of the North been thinking?

Why had Marquis Caprié taken no action?

As more and more of Khalid’s circle revealed themselves, Velia’s heart only grew more tangled.

“Too much has changed from before. Now, there are so many things I can no longer predict.”

Khalid trusted Duke Tessa.

But had the Duke truly remained loyal to him until the end?

Not knowing that answer frustrated her.

“And what angers me most is…”

She knew almost nothing about the Khalid of that time.

Velia exhaled softly.

Just what had Khalid been preparing then?

There had certainly been suspicious movements. She had even warned Raul to be cautious of Khalid. And yet, Khalid had taken no action, remaining quietly in his eastern lands…

“Khalid. The Duke may not treat me as a prince, but he’s not someone who would betray me.”

At last Velia sighed and went straight to the point.

“…I want to know what it is that you truly seek, Duke.”

She wanted to see through to the motive behind his purpose.

At her cold tone, Duke Tessa gave a faint smile and nodded.

“I understand Your Highness’s doubts. I too have shared them.”

Trust was not yet assured between them. Khalid’s words carried weight, but in this merciless battlefield where even a single misstep could be fatal, they needed certainty.

The Duke dropped the smile from his face.

“There is but one thing I desire.”

His eyes gleamed as he looked at Velia.

“That the Emperor does not meet a peaceful death.”

“…That’s a dangerous statement.”

Velia’s brow furrowed slightly.

It wasn’t something to speak aloud lightly.

“But in a way, it aligns with what I wish as well.”

After all, Velia too longed to see Raul’s desperate downfall.

Acting for the sake of destroying someone might appear negative. Yet such fury could also serve as the fuel that drove one forward.

“I intend to restore everything that should rightfully have belonged to Prince Khalid.”

At her words, Khalid grinned and agreed.

“Well, if that’s what my wife says, I have no choice but to cooperate.”

“You two look quite well together,” Duke Tessa remarked with a soft smile. Then he turned a wistful gaze to the window and spoke slowly.

“My daughter entered the palace as Empress, only to live like a discarded doll. And the Emperor feels not an ounce of guilt for it. As her father, I cannot look upon her suffering and simply let it pass.”

Though he loved his grandson, his greater burden was guilt for sending his daughter into the palace with his own hands.

When he saw the face of his daughter, who had confined herself in the Empress’s quarters for decades, Duke Tessa found it hard to restrain the murderous rage within him.

Meanwhile, the Emperor shamelessly spent his time laughing and whispering with his mistress, forgetting entirely that the Duke was in the palace watching everything.

Was it because the Emperor no longer needed House Tessa? Or was he simply too foolish to care?

Even the pretense of decency he once maintained had now vanished completely.

“I regret, again and again, that I didn’t visit the capital more often.”

Had he done so, perhaps the Emperor might have at least feigned concern for the Empress.

For over twenty years, he had lived with the thought of someday exacting retribution on the Emperor.

And then, he realized—making Khalid Emperor, not Raul, the son the Emperor loved, but the son of his own forsaken daughter, would be the greatest revenge he could deliver.

“That could never be.”

Velia scoffed.

“If he had that much sense, he never would have abandoned Her Majesty the Empress in the first place.”

At this, Duke Tessa closed his eyes and fell silent for a moment.

When he looked up again, his gaze was much harder.

“…What is it you want of me?”

Velia smiled faintly.

“In truth, that is why we arranged to meet you today, Duke.”

Khalid picked up where she left off.

“We want you to cooperate with Duke Errington in establishing a defensive line aimed at the Imperial Palace.”

With that, if the day came when they had to march forces into the palace, they would have a secure base for support.

Of course, the troops would have to be moved carefully, little by little, to avoid discovery by the First Prince’s faction. Still, it was a necessary step for what lay ahead.

“They will not fail to notice soldiers moving,” the Duke objected, shaking his head. To move without being seen would be nearly impossible. They needed a pretext.

Then Velia smiled knowingly.

“Have you perhaps heard of the infirmaries I established last year, Duke?”

“Now that you mention it, I did hear that such facilities were built in the northeast.”

“Correct. They provide free medical services and store supplies to prepare for the winter.”

Hearing this much, the Duke quickly grasped her meaning.

“…Do you intend to build more infirmaries? It would be wonderful if they were established in the west as well. Free medical service—such a worthy cause. I would be glad to sponsor it.”

Because the infirmaries had first been built in snowbound and frigid regions, the western territories had very few so far.

Among the people, the reception had been excellent. Those without infirmaries hoped for one to be built in their own hometowns.

Thus, building additional infirmaries in the west, with the Duke’s support, would raise no suspicion.

And under the guise of construction, they could discreetly move the Duke’s soldiers and even store weapons and supplies in the infirmaries’ underground storehouses. It was too good an opportunity to miss.

“With your house’s support, we would be truly grateful. As for the timing…”

The sooner, the better.

Velia smiled.

“We’ll need to refine it further so they won’t grow suspicious, but the plan itself is sound.”

Duke Tessa nodded in agreement.

Then he fixed his gaze steadily on Velia and asked:

“Then is that all you wish of me?”

Faced with his repeated question, Velia hesitated.

What she wanted of him was not something grand. Simply—

“…No matter what happens, never betray Khalid.”

That was all she asked.

The banquet grew ever livelier.

After sending Duke Tessa away, Velia and Khalid leaned against the second-floor railing, gazing down at the hall. Everyone’s faces were bright with cheer.

Raul and Elin had long since disappeared, and most of the nobles allied with the First Prince had left as well.

The ones remaining were those who stayed neutral, or those who favored Velia. Exactly as expected.

“How does it look to you?”

“Thinking that I have to win all of them over to my side feels daunting.”

Khalid feigned a groan.

Velia chuckled, taking a sip of champagne.

“Your voice gives you away, Khalid. You don’t mean that.”

“Do I?”

The corners of his mouth curled upward.

Sweet music mingled with the laughter of the crowd. Khalid wondered if there had ever been such a warm, joyful mood at any event where he was the central figure.

…Not once.

He had hardly ever been the guest of honor, and on the rare occasions he was, the nobles spent all their effort trying to curry favor with Raul instead.

“Is it really just Velia’s presence that has changed everything so much?”

Though he had sensed it for a long time, seeing it clearly now struck him anew.

“Shall we make a wager?” Khalid suddenly asked, looking at Velia.

“A wager?”

She looked at him quizzically, and he turned his eyes back to the crowd.

“How long it will take before they all stand on our side.”

His smile was almost villainous.

Velia stepped closer, meeting his gaze squarely, and smiled with unshakable confidence.

“Mm. Then I’ll be the one to win.”

“Will you, now?”

They both grinned, sharp and knowing, their expressions so alike.

Khalid set down his glass on the table beside him, freeing one hand to slip around Velia’s waist.

“Huh?”

Startled, Velia looked up at him, but Khalid only laughed softly and pulled her close.

“More importantly, Velia…”

His low voice resonated at her ear.

“Tonight is our wedding night.”