WHM | Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Eileen was anxious.

“Please pity Zeon.”

She had promised the Marchioness she would.

But she wasn’t confident about dragging the huge problem called “Ribbonsher” into the Lowell household.

It might sound selfish, but…

The truth was simple: Eileen felt closer to Cedric and the Lowell family than to Zeon or Ribbonsher. Because of everything they had gone through together.

If she could protect only one side, she would always choose Lowell.

“Lowell is better for him than the capital anyway.”

Eileen looked into Cedric’s blue eyes that refused to leave her face.

He had such firm confidence where she had none.

“You don’t even know Zeon.”

“I can tell just by looking. He wouldn’t survive in the palace. Kids like him can’t.”

“…That’s true.”

She exhaled slowly, reluctantly agreeing.

Cedric had never wanted so badly to know what she was thinking. He had even considered telling the Ribbonsher messenger right away that Lowell would take Zeon—before asking Eileen.

He imagined explaining afterward that there was “no other option.”

He had thought about it many times. But in the end, he couldn’t do it because…

“I know I’m not fully trustworthy.”

He took a step closer, speaking carefully—because his words had a purpose.

He wanted her to say, No, that’s not true. I trust you.

He wanted to hear it from her own mouth.

Yet inside, a small fear lingered—maybe he really wasn’t enough for her.

“I told you. That’s not the problem.”

Cedric automatically checked her expression.

Her calm green eyes were fully focused on him.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m just…”

Eileen looked out at the snowy landscape. Since they had walked to a quiet part of the grounds, tombstones could be seen in the distance—the resting place of Lowell’s direct ancestors.

The previous Duke and Duchess must be buried there too.

Cedric was their only child, the one meant to lead Lowell into the future. If he fell, the house would crumble or lose its long peace.

“I’m scared, Cedric.”

Her voice was so soft it almost disappeared into the falling snow.

“I’m scared this might not be the right choice for you or for the Lowell family.”

“…For me?”

“Yes. You, Diana… Bringing Ribbonsher’s internal problems here means dragging all of that into your home.”

Eileen was serious, but Cedric spoke lightly:

“We can deal with anything. I said I’d handle it.”

“Why you?”

“Because if you think of me as family, then I think of you that way too.”

Eileen fell silent. Cedric meant every word.

That was what made him different from everyone else.

Even if Eileen disappeared tomorrow, Cedric would still protect Zeon. He would take responsibility from beginning to end.

Everyone else might betray her—but Cedric wouldn’t.

“And besides, I have you. ‘We’ can deal with it together.”

He was saying, If you’re with me, I can do anything.

“As long as you don’t go to the capital.”

“Going to the capital is…”

The capital wasn’t only about Lennard. It was also about the Cassier household.

The Cassier problem followed Eileen here. Diana’s poisoning wouldn’t have happened if Eileen weren’t involved. So she believed she needed to separate herself from Lowell’s troubles.

Maybe facing Count Cassier directly in the capital will be easier, she had thought. Gathering evidence might be faster there. And Eileen was always the type to handle things personally.

Cedric seemed to read her thoughts.

“It’s dangerous.”

He definitely meant Count Cassier. Cedric’s hand had unconsciously rested on his sword hilt. He always did that when he sensed danger.

“I should’ve just cut him down then. Right?”

His grip tightened, like he was about to actually draw his sword.

“When I took you out of the Cassier house.”

“…If you had, that would’ve been a disaster.”

But if Cedric had truly needed to, he would have swung without hesitation. From the beginning, he had shielded her with his own body—and she had let him.

“That time…”

Eileen gently placed her hand over Cedric’s tense one. He immediately relaxed.

“Thank you.”

His eyes shook for a moment at the sudden closeness.

“I told you—it wasn’t something to thank me for.”

“I just… I can’t remember if I ever said it.”

She felt she needed to say it properly.

Her breath drifted into the cold air. She reached up and brushed the snow from his hair.

“It’ll pile up again anyway. And your hands are freezing.”

Cedric obediently bowed his head so she could brush off the snow.

Her fingers brushed his forehead and hair gently. When she pulled back, he grabbed her hand.

“If you’re thankful… don’t go.”

He pulled off his glove and tossed it aside, muttering something like, “Your hands are ice,” as he held her hands tightly.

Then he lifted them toward his face and breathed warm air onto them.

“…Okay. I won’t go.”

If Cedric wanted this, she felt she had no choice. Eileen knew she couldn’t win against him.

Did he know that?

That she honestly couldn’t refuse him?

“Really?”

His lips brushed the tips of her frozen fingers, making her flinch. She wanted to pull away, but he held her tighter.

“You’re really not going to the capital?”

“You told me not to.”

The truth was—Eileen also wanted to stay.

She could finally admit it.

“I want to stay here too.”

If she could. If she was allowed.

Even if the winter cold froze her hands, there was someone who would hold them and warm them.

***

“I’m sorry. The Ribbonsher house is important to me. And I made a promise to the Marchioness.”

Eileen explained why she could no longer travel to the capital. She needed to settle things properly, so she met Prince Lennard’s aide.

“It’s fine. His Highness will understand.”

Kess Dorian replied in a polite, formal tone.

“He only asked me to check that you were doing well.”

But his expression clearly showed disappointment.

Eileen wasn’t unconcerned about Lennard either.

She wanted him to settle firmly as Crown Prince—the future of the Empire depended on him.

Why is everything happening all at once…?

If the problems came one at a time, she would deal with them one by one.

Instead, she felt a dark storm approaching from every direction—Lennard, Ribbonsher, Lowell. Any of them could erupt into disaster.

After much hesitation, she made her decision.

“Tell him… ‘Don’t let Dahlia stay in the Empire.’”

“…Pardon?”

“He’ll understand. Tell him to get Dahlia out of the Empire. Hide her somewhere far away. In another country. Anywhere.”

Silence fell between them.

Just the name alone would tell Lennard the truth.

Still, Kess Dorian asked to confirm:

“…Who is Dahlia?”

“The woman my brother Lennard loves.”

This was the secret that tied them together.

“You know she can’t become Crown Princess.”

“Feelings don’t follow rules, little sister. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“Age has nothing to do with it. That can never be approved.”

Eileen had scolded him while pretending not to know anything—even when the emperor and empress asked about the rumor.

That was the least she could do.

“The emperor probably thought a few years abroad would cool his feelings… but that didn’t happen.”

The “original story” information came rushing back.

“So eventually they’ll try to find out who she is and get rid of her.”

In the original story, Dahlia disappeared. Later, her body was found dead by the river—an unclear, suspicious death.

It was the event that pushed Lennard halfway into madness.

And he blamed the Emperor.

And… he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“She might die.”

The original timeline was already collapsing. Events were happening out of order. Anything could happen now.

If Eileen had gone to the capital, she could’ve helped hide Dahlia better. But now she couldn’t—so she needed Dahlia far away.

“But Their Majesties don’t seem cruel enough to do something like that.”

“You never know with people.”

That was the strange part.

Eileen knew the Emperor and Empress weren’t the type to kill an innocent girl. They wouldn’t want to become enemies with their own son.

So why did Dahlia still die in the original timeline?

Anyway…

If she protected Dahlia now, Lennard wouldn’t have a reason to resent his parents.

“And His Highness is… that serious?”

“Serious enough that I could negotiate with the Emperor to give Dahlia noble status.”

The Crown Prince and Emperor were already on terrible terms. But even the Emperor should be ready to compromise by now.

Maybe there was still room for peace.

“I might not be able to mediate. So I’m giving you a very important mission.”

He should figure the rest out on his own.

“…That truly is a heavy responsibility.”

Kess collapsed into a chair like he no longer wanted to return to the capital. Eileen sympathized deeply.

“My brother isn’t dumb. Just help him stop panicking and hiding her. Make him think more clearly.”

“…All right. I understand.”

At least that part would go smoothly.

Lennard might be irritated she told his aide everything, but a good outcome would fix that.

“But even if that works…”

Eileen’s own future was painfully unclear.

Her ability to “know the future,” to know people’s “fates,” helped everyone—helped save lives.

She could save Dahlia’s life.

She could stop Lennard from falling into despair.

So why couldn’t she see anything about her own fate?

“…Maybe I can.”

She was about to sigh when her gaze landed on something—a wooden bird figurine she had received from Prince Arwin of Theorn.

It was sitting on a shelf, untouched since the day she got it.

“He said it was a communication tool. Right?”

Eileen slowly stood up, took the wooden bird, and whispered:

“Whican, deliver a message.”

Nothing happened. As expected.

It felt silly talking into the air. She put it back down and turned around—

And then a familiar voice spoke behind her.

“…So you’re finally contacting me.”