Chapter 210: Flawed Options
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 210: Flawed Options
Going to rescue the Saintess?
“Is it because of the newspaper article?”
Had he gone to comfort the Saintess after her public humiliation?
“He left long before the article even came out,” Cadellina said, shaking her head. “The Saintess dragged about fifty people with her to the North, didn’t she? It seems Blenheim wouldn’t even let half of them through the gates.”
Cadellina clicked her tongue as she mentioned that a priest, unable to enter the city walls, had sent a letter of complaint to Duke Kyle.
“If there’s a problem like that, they should contact the Grand Temple. Why seek out the Commander of the Imperial Knights?”
Ferdin remained silent, listening to the Crown Princess while he turned the matter over in his mind.
The priest must have used his head.
The Grand Temple might hold power in the capital, but they were nothing in Blenheim. They likely thought it better to ask for help from Duke Kyle, who could actually stand on equal footing with the Grand Duke of Blenheim.
And they probably wanted to exploit Duke Kyle’s interest in the Saintess.
“Well, it’s not a bad opportunity for Adrian,” Cadellina said, waving her hand dismissively as she referred to Duke Kyle by his first name. “The Saintess was humiliated and is now stranded alone in the North. Isn’t this the perfect chance to score points with the woman he likes?”
While Cadellina prattled on about when she first noticed the subtle spark between the Saintess and Duke Kyle, Ferdin’s thoughts drifted to Annette.
What on earth is she doing in the North?
He couldn't quite wrap his head around the news of Annette that reached him through newspapers and rumors. Did that girl really possess such extraordinary talent?
She didn't even receive half the education Ladriel did.
How did a girl who had spent her entire life confined to the Marquis’s estate manage to establish a shopping district and a hotel?
“Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now.”
Noticing that Ferdin’s mind was elsewhere, Cadellina urgently adjusted her posture.
“The Empress dumped the Expo on me!”
Watching Cadellina wail, Ferdin struggled to hide his exhaustion. Not long ago, the Emperor had entrusted the Crown Princess with the heavy responsibility of organizing the Imperial Expo.
The Imperial Expo was an event the Imperial Family had been pushing for three years. Entrusting such a significant event to the Crown Princess seemed, at first glance, like a gesture of consideration from the Emperor to solidify her position.
However, the Expo was an event destined for failure.
The Empire doesn't have the surplus budget to host an Expo right now.
Because the potential for profit was too low compared to the risks, the families and merchant guilds that had promised to invest were pulling out one by one. Normally, the Imperial Expo should have been canceled or postponed, but the Empress had been clever.
She had coaxed the Emperor into dumping the Expo onto the Crown Princess. And the Crown Princess, swept up in the moment, had mindlessly accepted the Emperor’s command.
She jumped right in, not realizing she was digging her own grave.
Those who understood the situation even slightly clicked their tongues at the Crown Princess’s lack of judgment. Given her current precarious position, the failure of the Imperial Expo was highly likely to bring about catastrophic results.
“I wondered why the Empress wasn't interfering for once!”
Cadellina clutched her forehead in frustration. Suddenly, the lady-in-waiting standing behind her looked at Ferdin with an anxious gaze. Recognizing the meaning behind that look, Ferdin spoke up, partly as a way to end this tiring meeting.
“You know I just came from the Empress’s palace, don't you?”
“What about it?”
What about it? How could she trust him enough to pour her heart out like this?
Cadellina pouted, as if she had already been lectured by her lady-in-waiting.
“Ferdin, you were my classmate at the Academy.”
“What a grand connection that is.”
“Don't be sarcastic. And I know you better than you think.” Cadellina raised her chin slightly. “Ferdin, you’re surprisingly soft-hearted.”
“That’s the first time in my life I’ve heard that.”
“And you’re upright. Like a true noble, you value honor and loyalty.”
“So you can never do anything that goes against your conscience.”
Ferdin narrowed his eyes at her definitive assessment of him.
“Besides, you’re tight-lipped enough not to go around blabbing the grievances of a pitiful Crown Princess…”
“And I hate interfering in other people’s business.”
“Ferdin!” Cadellina cried out, sounding hurt.
Ferdin suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape in front of the Crown Princess.
“Just tell me what you want.”
“Get me some investment from the Grand Duchess of Blenheim.”
As if she had been waiting for that very moment, Cadellina spoke without hesitation.
“The Blenheim family is the wealthiest in the Empire right now.”
The weather would be turning chilly soon. The Imperial Expo had to be held before winter arrived, yet they didn't even have a site prepared, let alone buildings. There was only about a month left. It was a practically impossible schedule for hosting an Imperial Expo.
Of course, if one had an astronomical amount of money, they might be able to make up for the lack of time.
“Can’t you try contacting your sister?” Cadellina asked with pleading eyes.
Ferdin’s last contact with Annette had been when he received her thank-you letter for the necklace.
Though it seemed she was exchanging letters with the youngest, Raphael.
“It would be faster for you, the Crown Princess, to contact her.”
At those words, Cadellina brought up Countess Asellino, who was currently in the North.
“I clearly sent a letter asking her to request an investment from the Grand Duchess, but her reply was nothing but talk about operas!”
Cadellina shuddered with a sense of betrayal, wondering how such a thing could happen.
“You should just tell His Majesty right now that you can’t do it.”
At his realistic advice, the Crown Princess’s face contorted.
“I absolutely can’t do that! The Empress is already just waiting for me to fail!”
Her desperate gaze turned toward Ferdin.
“Ferdin, don't be like that. Stand by my side.”
She wasn't just talking about this one incident. The Crown Princess was telling him to abandon his father, who stood with the Empress, and join her side.
“I know I have many shortcomings.” Cadellina met Ferdin’s eyes. “But at least I have the legitimacy of being the rightful successor.”
Ferdin’s expression hardened. He was amazed she could say so proudly that legitimacy was the only thing she had to offer. Perhaps he should at least give her credit for having accurate self-awareness.
The Empress or the Crown Princess—two flawed options.
Setting aside the issue with his father, Ferdin felt that neither side would be particularly helpful for the future of the Empire. He quietly averted his gaze from Cadellina.
*
I was galloping across a wide field. My white horse’s soft mane fluttered as he cut through the wind. My face grew cold and flushed from the now-chilly breeze.
As the large tree standing tall in the middle of the field drew closer, I lightly pulled on the reins.
“Snow, stop.”
The clever horse slowed down on his own and came to a halt in front of the tree. Loik, who had been riding behind me, soon brought Pyros to a stop as well.
Loik hopped down from his horse, approached me, and lifted me down.
“Your riding skills have really improved,” Loik said with a proud face, brushing my bangs aside.
Ever since the first time he took me riding, Loik had taught me whenever he had a spare moment. Thanks to him, I could now ride quite well on my own.
“You’re so good at it now that I’m actually a little disappointed.”
“Disappointed?”
“If you couldn't ride, I could keep having you ride in front of me.”
With a complaint that didn't sound like a complaint at all, Loik gave me a quick peck on the lips.
“Silly.”
Letting out a laugh, Loik expertly spread out a picnic mat. I lay down in his arms as he reclined and tapped his arm for me. It had already become a natural habit to take a short nap under the tree in the field during our rides before heading back.
Loik’s hand, which had been idling in my hair, somehow began to wander downward. While his hot lips pressed small kisses against my forehead, his long fingers subtly slid inside the waist of my riding habit.
Slap!
I caught Loik’s hand to stop him.
“You’re trying to do something naughty again.”
“Is it not allowed?”
Loik, who had been pressing kisses around my eyes, put on a mock-pitiful expression.
“No. What if someone sees?”
No matter what, we had to maintain the dignity of the Grand Ducal couple.
“It’s fine. There’s no one around,” Loik said quickly.
“Still, not outside.”
In the past, he at least used to pretend to care about the time and place.
“Then let’s go back to the castle quickly.”
I pulled back on Loik as he playfully tried to get up.
“Just lie down quietly.”
Swoosh—
The sound of branches rustling in the wind reached my ears. My body shivered slightly in the cool breeze. Loik meticulously pulled the blanket he had brought up to my neck and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“It seems the weather is getting colder.”
“That’s a shame. We won’t be able to come out like this for a while.”
“The weather in the North is a lost cause,” Loik muttered with an apologetic look.
“I actually like it when it gets colder. The hot springs will become even more popular.”
As if he hadn't expected that, Loik let out a soft chuckle.
“Actually, I like the cold too,” he said, tightening his arms around me. “Because when the weather gets cold, Annette hugs me more often.”