As Darkness Falls
The shadows are lengthening. Joy is nowhere to be seen. I make my way to the garden where she usually takes her walks.
In the distance, I spot my younger sister, Joy, and... Deviang? I watch the two of them from afar.
I grit my teeth at the sight of his effortless, easy smile...
The memory of Deviang casually confessing to his crimes flashes through my mind. And then...
The Grand Duke's words. He is out of his mind. Absolutely insane.
Outside, the massive army of the Emperor's Faction is marching toward us. Yet Deviang confidently declares he can defeat them. I despise the fact that my lovely little sister is speaking with such a madman.
After exchanging a few words, Joy spots me and hurries over.
"What were you two doing?"
My voice is so cold it sends a shiver down my own spine. To think I would speak so harshly to my only remaining sibling, now that my father, my older brother, and my younger brother are dead...
At my tone, Joy's eyes drop to the ground.
"Um... I was just walking... and I ran into the Grand Duke..."
I let out a heavy sigh.
"Sigh... You should have just walked away. You have no idea what kind of man he really is..."
My sweet little sister thinks well of Deviang. As the late Emperor's youngest daughter, born late in his life, she was raised like a precious gem. We shielded her, showing her only the good and beautiful things in the world. Is that why? I cannot believe she views that insidious Grand Duke in a positive light.
Granted, he avenged our family... and he did retrieve our family's bodies, which had been brutally put on display in the city square, to give them a proper funeral.
Well... I admit Deviang did the right thing there. But his motives feel entirely calculated to usurp the empire. That must be why he is forcing this marriage upon me.
I had never once imagined a political marriage in my life. Father had promised that he would wait to marry us off until Joy and I found men we truly loved...
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Joy speaks up in a timid voice.
"Still... he doesn't seem like a bad person..."
My innocent sister. She has absolutely no idea what that scheming Deviang is plotting.
"Deviang... the Grand Duke is only using us to usurp the empire."
Joy thinks Deviang is a kind, simple man, but I felt it clearly during our conversations. His intense lust for power...
My face contorts in disgust as I recall the day I went to confront him about the Supreme Court's ruling. He had just smiled innocently, acting as if he knew nothing about it.
"Sister, have you heard that song?"
I respond listlessly.
"What song?"
Joy's eyes sparkle as she speaks.
"I heard it from Ipa the other day. Apparently, there's a song about Grand Duke Deviang that's trending all over Roman right now."
This is news to me. Curiosity piqued, I ask,
"What kind of song?"
"Well, I only heard it once, so it's hard to sing. But it says Grand Duke Deviang fell so deeply in love with you that he killed Valorang..."
My brow furrows at the sheer absurdity of it.
"Who... who dares sing such rubbish?!"
"*Hiccup!*"
Startled by my sharp tone, Joy lets out a sudden hiccup.
"S-Sister... what's wrong? You're scaring me..."
I glare at her for a moment before letting out another long sigh.
"Sigh..."
Right... what does she know? The citizens of the empire are probably just romanticizing Deviang because he killed the tyrant Valorang. Once time passes, his true colors will be laid bare for everyone to see.
"Joy, my sweet sister... could you please refrain from repeating such creepy nonsense in the future?"
Joy nods her head vigorously, promising instantly.
"Mhm... I promise..."
If... if that song were actually true, it would make my skin crawl. To think that a man worse than a dog could be in love with me... how utterly repulsive.
With that, I lead Joy toward the dining hall.
A few days after that walk with Joy.
Agrippa hands me a few sheets of paper.
"This is the final peace treaty with the Emperor's Faction."
I take the papers and read through them one by one.
"Well... we did pretty well, all things considered."
Given our clear disadvantage, securing all of our essential conditions is undoubtedly a victory.
Since they demanded Princess Joy, I was anxious they might ask for more, but fortunately, the rest of the agreement aligned with our expectations.
For now, Princess Joy is only betrothed to King Yohanes's son. The wedding will take place in two years, once she comes of age.
They had initially demanded to take her immediately, but we managed to delay it as much as possible under the pretext that the Empress Dowager would be too heartbroken. Fortunately, we bought ourselves two years.
Phew... I am truly glad to have someone as competent as Agrippa on my side. Seriously. If he weren't here and I had to handle the negotiations myself, I probably would have collapsed from overwork. I'm not even joking...
Thanks to him, I can finally map out our post-war plans in detail.
"Don't even get me started. You have no idea how exhausting it was to reject their demand for the right to appoint the Minister of Roman, Your Grace."
I chuckle.
"What? They went that far? That's an exclusive imperial prerogative, yet they dared to encroach upon it?"
How ironic that the Emperor's Faction is the one encroaching on the Emperor's authority... though perhaps I, who have openly trampled over it, am in no position to talk.
"And the signing ceremony... they want me to attend in person, right?"
Agrippa shakes his head.
"If I may advise you once more... there is no need for you to go. It is highly likely to be a trap—"
I cut him off. "No, I'm going."
"Your Grace..."
Agrippa looks deeply concerned. His worry stems from the location of the signing ceremony. Normally, a subordinate of mine could just go and sign the treaty, but the Emperor's Faction has requested that I personally visit their camp for the ceremony.
If I step into their territory and they harbor ulterior motives, my chances of survival will be slim.
I could refuse, of course. But a refusal would only prompt them to demand something else, so I readily agreed. Besides, I don't find their request entirely unreasonable. Once Theodora and I marry, the Emperor's Faction will have to enter Roman unarmed to celebrate our wedding anyway. The tables will be turned then. So, I made up my mind to go.
"If a man in his early twenties acts like he cares about nothing but love, maybe they'll let their guard down a bit?"
Agrippa shakes his head in disbelief.
"This is hardly the time for such nonchalance, Your Grace. If something were to happen to you..."
Knowing exactly what he is going to say, I interrupt him.
"If anything happens to me... support Mary well as the new Grand Duchess. And take this."
I hand Agrippa an envelope.
"This is..."
A seal, depicting the crossed flags of the Lyon family and the Grand Duchy of Francesco, is stamped on the red wax. It is a seal only the Grand Duke can use. In other words, it is my last will and testament.
"Inside, I've written that if I die, you are to marry into the Lyon family as a matrilocal husband, and I am granting you full command over all our forces in Roman."
I prepared this letter beforehand because I know that if I die, everyone will fight to take my place. Agrippa, being a commoner, would undoubtedly be looked down upon by the nobility. Nobles despise sharing power with commoners. I made these arrangements to ensure he wouldn't be left vulnerable due to his birth.
But Agrippa merely takes the envelope, gives a wry smirk, and...
*Rip! Tear!* He shreds the envelope and tosses the pieces aside.
"Instead of preparing things like this, focus on coming back alive. If you die, Your Grace, I might actually die of overwork."
I let out a soft chuckle.
"Alright. I'll do my best to return in one piece."
*Knock, knock.*
It is time to head to the Emperor's Faction's camp.
"I'm off, then. If... things go south... take care of Mary."
Agrippa gives a barely perceptible nod. With that, I step out of my room.
I walk down the long corridor toward the main gate. Before me stand the mounted knights, alongside a riderless white stallion. I approach the magnificent beast.
"Well, Basileus, shall we go for a run? It's been a while."
I mount Basileus and ride toward the signing ceremony.
"Is that so? Deviang has left the Imperial Palace?"
Ipa nods.
"Yes... I do not know the details, but he reportedly left the palace in a hurry, accompanied by ten knights."
It bothers me that Deviang, who usually buries himself in his office and never leaves, has suddenly ridden out with his knights. Why did he leave?
"The reason?"
"I am not entirely sure... but they say he will return in a few days."
I recall Speaker Charles reporting that the Emperor's Faction's army is stationed just a few days' ride from Roman. Surely... he hasn't fled? But where would he go?
I received intelligence that the Emperor's Faction's forces are marching toward the Grand Duchy. There is nowhere for him to run.
Once my thoughts reach that point, I am certain he hasn't fled. What on earth is he doing? Where is he heading?
War is imminent. Once it begins, returning to Roman will not be easy. So why...? Why would he risk leaving his post for days under these circumstances?
"Then... who is acting as the regent in his absence?"
At my question, Ipa taps her chin thoughtfully before speaking.
"I believe it is a man named Agrippa."
"Agrippa?" I remember him. He is Deviang's right-hand man and the second-in-command of the Grand Duchy.
"Hmm..."
It is strange... leaving at such a critical juncture. It is undoubtedly suspicious. There is something going on... something big... but I cannot fathom what it is. For now... I must wait and see. There is nothing I can do immediately anyway.
"Ipa... I know it is difficult, but could you look into this a bit more?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Highness," Ipa replies, bowing as she leaves the room.
Something is definitely happening.