Hellion
* * *
The Southern Archduke was far more sociable and approachable than I had expected.
The Emperor, myself, Illid, and Hellion each occupied one side of the square golden table. Though we sat in different places, all our gazes were fixed on Illid.
He naturally led the conversation. His voice was calm yet carried a power that drew everyone’s attention. He also possessed the ability to make people laugh without resorting to exaggeration.
“The South really is such an entertaining place, haha.”
The Emperor and I burst into loud laughter at the story Illid told about southern high society.
It was a tale of nobles who fashioned headpieces from fruit trees that only grew in the South, and of fruit monkeys that had crashed a jewelry-making contest, turning the entire party into chaos.
“If the opportunity arises, I shall present Lady Winteira with a leaf headpiece and His Majesty with a fruit monkey.”
“Splendid. Ishtel, let us decorate the next imperial ball in the southern style.”
It seemed the Emperor had taken quite a liking to Illid.
Before his nephews arrived, the Emperor had summoned me for a serious discussion on how best to begin the conversation. Fortunately, with Illid taking the lead and the atmosphere warming, the Emperor appeared much more at ease.
“Well then… what about the North?”
As the laughter subsided a little, the Emperor turned his head toward the man seated across from Illid.
“Hellion. Are there no adorable creatures like fruit monkeys in the North?”
“No. There are none…”
In contrast, Hellion never spoke first. And even when he did answer, his replies were curt—limited to a simple “yes” or “no.”
“You know, the really big bison.”
Unable to watch any longer, Illid stepped in to help.
“I’ve heard that in the northern territories, there are bison three times the size of ordinary cattle…”
“Ah, you mean the winter oxen.”
Only then did something seem to occur to Hellion. He slowly opened his mouth.
“Winter oxen are a species of bison that live only in the snow-covered mountains of the North. Their horns are extremely sharp and hard. Because of that, male nobles often cut off the horns and duel one another to prove their bravery.”
“How very northern.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Though dangerous, the duels are incredibly popular. One of my close aides participated in a horn duel not long ago.”
“Oh? And? Did he win?”
Sensing the conversation might revive, Illid urged his cousin on.
“He died.”
“Ah…”
The mood plummeted in an instant.
“Ah, now that I think of it.”
Illid deliberately raised his voice, brighter than before, to recapture everyone’s attention.
“My father, the former Archduke Voltero, asked me to convey his regards to the Duchess of Winteira. He also said that if the opportunity arises, you are welcome to visit the Southern Archduchy anytime to rest and enjoy yourself.”
“Oh, how kind. Please tell him I am truly grateful for his words alone.”
I, too, forced a laugh louder than usual to lift the mood. This time, the Emperor naturally passed the flow of conversation to Hellion.
“Speaking of which, Hellion, did your mother Alensia say nothing when she sent you off? Something like ‘take good care of him while he’s here’?”
“She gave no particular instructions. The night before I left, however, she drank and began recounting her old exploits.”
What kind of exploits could the Archduchess possibly have? I scooted my chair closer to Hellion and focused on him.
“Ten years ago, in front of all the nobles, she punched that old Regentera bastard. She says it’s the proudest moment of her life. It’s a shame the stubborn old fool is dead. If he were still alive, she would have slapped his other cheek too…”
…….
“It’s gotten late. All of you should return and rest.”
Realizing that any further conversation was impossible, the Emperor rose first and left the room.
With one seat now empty, only myself and the two archdukes remained at the table.
“People from the North tend to be blunt and rough after living in such cold lands for so long. My aunt must have simply been reminiscing about the late Duke Regentera with a joke. Please do not take it to heart.”
Illid, who had worn an anxious expression the entire time, spoke to me as if to console me. Hellion tilted his head in confusion.
“Wasn’t it funny?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Illid’s tightly shut eyes spoke volumes about how he felt.
“I told it as a joke…”
Hellion looked at me with a face that seemed to seek agreement. His expression was so purely innocent, without a trace of malice, that it only made the situation more absurd.
“Yes, I suppose it is rather funny. In a hollow sort of way…”
Without saying anything more, I stood up from my seat.
“Archduke Illid. Since you are still unfamiliar with the imperial palace, I shall escort you to your quarters today.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
Illid looked more grateful for the chance to escape this table than for my offer itself.
“What about me?”
Just as we were leaving the dining hall, Hellion’s voice rang out. When I turned around, he was blinking his pale blue eyes.
“If you wait, someone will come to assist you.”
Irritated by him, I deliberately answered more coldly. Then I led Illid toward his quarters in the northern part of the imperial palace.
“That boy takes after my aunt so much—fiery temper and no filter in his speech.”
As we walked down the palace corridor, Illid shook his head. His hair, black as the night sky, swayed from side to side with the motion.
“There was no ill intent. He’s still young, after all…”
“I know. Even when he was much younger, he was always so unpredictable…”
At my words, Illid let out a small chuckle in agreement. As we continued chatting about this and that, we soon arrived at the northern quarters.
“This is where you will be staying from now on, Archduke Illid.”
“Thank you for escorting me, Duchess.”
“Not at all. If you need anything, please have a servant inform me at any time.”
I gave him a brief nod. He returned the gesture.
“By any chance…”
I had turned to leave when his voice stopped me. I glanced back slightly and saw him smiling gently at me.
“Would it be all right if I occasionally visited your residence, Duchess? As you said—if I need something, or… simply when I think of you. At times like that.”
“Anytime at all.”
I answered with a smile as well. I hoped this one looked more natural.
* * *
“Duchess of Winteira!”
I was on my way back to my own quarters after escorting Illid. As I passed the dining hall, a maid came running toward me in a panic.
“My lady, could you come back to the dining hall for a moment?”
“What is it?”
“Well, that is…”
When I gestured for her to speak quickly, the maid leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“Archduke Hellion has not returned to his quarters yet. He says he is waiting for someone, and it seems that someone is you, my lady.”
Did he have something to say to me? Feeling puzzled, I followed the maid back into the dining hall. Hellion was sitting alone at the table, idly fiddling with an empty wine glass.
“Didn’t the maids guide you to your quarters?”
I approached him and asked in a gentle voice.
Though his comment about my grandfather had bothered me, Illid was right—he was still just a boy. I decided not to engage in any pointless battle of pride.
“You said you were coming.”
Hellion muttered in a sullen tone. I shrugged, claiming I had said no such thing.
“Me? When did I say that?”
“You said, ‘If you wait, someone will come to assist you.’”
“I was referring to a maid.”
“Anyway, you’re here now, so guide me.”
Hellion set the wine glass down on the table with a clack. He pushed his chair back and slowly rose to his feet.
“Where is my room?”
* * *
Unlike with Illid, whose light conversation never ceased, every single step with Hellion was steeped in awkwardness.
It was so quiet that I could even hear the breathing of the maids following behind us. In the end, unable to bear the discomfort any longer, I spoke first.
“Archduke Hellion. I heard that the recent northern conquest greatly expanded your archduchy. Could you tell me about the newly acquired lands?”
In truth, I wasn’t particularly interested in northern territory. But if it would break this maddening silence, I was ready to move there myself.
“It’s cold…”
“Yes.”
“Really cold…”
“And?”
“Way too cold…”
“…Is that all?”
“Yeah.”
I was a fool for expecting anything more. A sigh escaped me.
“I wasn’t trying to insult your grandfather.”
When we had almost reached his quarters, Hellion finally spoke first.
“My mother sometimes says she is reminded of your grandfather. She says that although he was stubborn and inflexible, he never spoke falsely. She claims there is no one like him among the central nobles these days.”
“Ah, I see. So that’s what she said.”
“That’s what I was waiting to tell you.”
He had a surprisingly timid side? I had thought he simply spoke without thinking, but it seemed he at least had some awareness.
“Well, my grandfather also often spoke of the former Archduchess Alensia.”
Wishing to ease his discomfort, I brought up a story I had heard long ago.
“Unlike her brothers, she had a fiery temperament, yet her mind was remarkably sharp, making her incredibly difficult to deal with. He said it was fortunate she was not the eldest. If she had inherited the throne, every day would have been a series of fists.”
Hellion let out a short laugh. It seemed he understood his mother’s personality well and deeply sympathized.
“By the way, Archduke Hellion.”
Just before he entered his quarters, I called out to stop him.
“May I ask you one thing?”
Hellion nodded. I stepped closer to him and whispered quietly enough that the maids could not hear.
“Why do you speak to me so casually?”