17
17
Ttogak-ttogak-
'Prince⋯ what on earth does he see in a woman like that⋯⋯?'
Walking down the imperial palace corridor irritably, Isabel could not help feeling her stomach burn with frustration.
— Omma! I think I've finally met the partner of my destiny today!
When she first heard those words from Leon, she felt as if the sky was falling down.
For she had never imagined that her son, the most noble person in the world, would harbor affection for a lowborn wench.
Even though she had been adopted into the Sirius Grand Duchy, the fact that inferior blood flowed through that lowborn body remained unchanged.
As the Empress, Isabel could not possibly accept it.
Still, at the very least.
Because the Grand Duke of Sirius and his sons cherished and doted on her, she tried to somehow be understanding.
'But understanding was difficult⋯ no, impossible⋯⋯.'
Having lived almost her entire life in a low status, learning etiquette took a long time, and acquiring elegance as well.
'I knew it wouldn't be easy, but⋯⋯'
It was far beyond merely not easy.
— Hello, Empress-nim! I'm Bathory Sirius!
What young lady in the world would make her first greeting in such a manner?
And to the mother of the Empire, no less!
As the Empress, feeling that the young lady of the grand ducal house didn't even know basic etiquette, she said a word indirectly.
— ⋯⋯Has the Sirius Grand Duchy recently fired its tutors?
However, Isabel regretted it immediately.
Because thinking that Bathory would understand was foolish in the first place.
— No! Fired? No way! Everyone is doing very well.
— I-I see⋯⋯.
— Why are you asking? Aha! Empress-nim, you're asking because you want to learn from our teachers too, right!
Since it was an openly spiteful remark, was she actually understanding it?
Such suspicion arose, but.
— Omma! Do not speak recklessly to Young Lady Bathory!!!
Because her son, who had never raised his voice at his mother in his entire life, lost his temper, she couldn't say anything further.
Anyway.
Isabel stopped recalling the past.
Because whenever she recalled the day she first met that thing, a headache came over her.
'More importantly, he is no ordinary madman⋯⋯.'
Isabel next thought about Roy, whom she had just seen.
At first, because she thought he was Sion's person, she unceremoniously found fault with him to Empel.
'But it was a mistake.'
She should have ended it with that first time.
She shouldn't have raised objections to Empel or kept arguing just to assert her useless pride.
Wasn't he a madman who brutally killed the third son of Sirius?
Although Isabel was not trained in sword or magic, as the Empress she had a minimum level of discernment.
'He is not someone with ordinary power. Where on earth did such a person come from?'
Dangerous.
He must not be rashly provoked.
That was why she turned a blind eye and ignored it when Roy threw a rampage at the knights.
'There is nothing good to gain by needlessly provoking him.'
Even though he dared to inflict a wound on her son's neck.
'⋯⋯Because it's true that the Prince was in the wrong.'
She couldn't understand at all why he would sacrifice his precious self just to protect such an idiot.
'Once or twice should have been enough.'
Michael Cromwell.
Although he was her nephew, she didn't particularly hold any affection for him.
Her own family, the Cromwell Ducal House.
He was merely the son of her older brother, the head of the house.
Exactly up to that point.
He wasn't her own child, after all.
She had only covered for him a few times out of minimal politeness; she had no intention of going that far to protect him.
Above all else.
Kki-ik-
"Empress Majesty, have you arrived?"
"You did well. Nothing good comes from causing unnecessary conflict with Count Einschwert."
Because even his father, Duke Gerard Cromwell, didn't particularly care.
No, rather.
"I apologize. Michael, that pathetic son of mine, will be expelled from the family in due time."
He was concerned about it in a different sense.
"Because he was useful as a Swordmaster, I tolerated him harboring feelings for that girl to some extent, but this time he crossed the line by far too much. He ended up causing a wound to none other than His Imperial Highness the Prince's august body."
Gerard also disliked how Michael wagged his tail like a dog at the young lady of Sirius.
"⋯⋯Well, do as you see fit, Oraboni. Anyway, so what do you think we should do going forward?"
"What do you mean 'what should we do'? We just sit back and watch quietly."
"Pardon? Just sit back quietly⋯⋯?"
"Yes, that's right. Did not the Emperor obtain a new sword yesterday? And a very sharp and dangerous sword at that. Therefore, there is no need for us to voluntarily go out of our way to get cut by that sword."
Having said so, Gerard took a sip of tea and looked out the window.
There, the knights whom they had planted in the knight order after receiving bribes could be seen being dragged away by soldiers.
Isabel and Gerard naturally had zero intention of saving them, and all related evidence had long since been destroyed.
"⋯⋯Right now, we must not upset the Emperor's mood. Not only did you leave the banquet hall without even greeting him, but going to find him separately last night to vent your anger was also something you shouldn't have done."
"But that's because he placed the Prince under house arrest⋯⋯!"
"Did he not bring it upon himself? You should consider it fortunate that it ended at just that level."
"Fortunate?! It's not just one or two months, he has to live confined to his palace for a whole three months!"
"⋯⋯Empress Majesty, that is precisely why you must consider it fortunate. Do you not see even from today's incident alone?"
"Ah⋯⋯."
Understanding Gerard's words, Isabel placed her hand on her forehead.
Because her head throbbed with pain.
It hadn't even been 24 hours since he received the order of house arrest.
Yet, to think he would instead use that as an excuse to call and try to meet that girl!
She couldn't comprehend where on earth such thoughts came from.
"Haa⋯⋯ Oraboni is right. In this current situation, it seems better for him to just remain confined in his palace."
"That's right. So when the Emperor wakes up, go apologize right away."
"⋯⋯Understood. I will offer my apology and refrain from raising objections to His Majesty or anything of the sort, staying quiet for the time being."
"Yes, wise choice. For the time being, bow your head and cater to the Emperor's whims. As I mentioned earlier, sooner or later the Emperor will try to swing his newly acquired sword."
The targets of that would likely be the Sirius Grand Duchy and the Cromwell Ducal House.
It was certain to be the two most bothersome families.
And that sword, Roy Einschwert, desperately desires to slash the Sirius Grand Duchy.
"From what I see, Count Einschwert is at a level similar to the Grand Duke. Let the two fight and self-destruct. Then, the Emperor will ultimately have no choice but to rely on us once again."
"Yes, I know. And if that happens, the Cromwell Ducal House will become a Grand Duchy, and the Emperor's throne will belong to our Prince."
"Yes, that's right. Using this opportunity, we will clear out those Sirius bastards too, and our Cromwell will become the number one family in the Empire. Well, and⋯ just in case, I plan to buy an insurance policy as well."
"Insurance⋯⋯?"
In that instant, Isabel realized what Gerard was thinking.
"Don't tell me you intend to use Vivian?"
Vivian Cromwell.
If she had been born a son instead of a daughter, he would have handed over the family leadership right away.
Her abilities were outstanding enough for Gerard to say such a thing.
However, there was a very fatal problem.
"⋯⋯Does that child not refuse to listen to Oraboni's words?"
Just as Isabel said now, Vivian, even if she were to be expelled from the family...
...would never listen to Gerard's words.
There was no way Gerard would be ignorant of such an obvious fact.
However, his expression was filled with composure.
"Actually, I said I would get insurance, but it's not like I ordered anything in particular. Isn't she a child who will do it no matter what, even if I tell her not to?"
"Don't tell me⋯ Vivian, that child⋯⋯!"
"Yes, it seems she has an interest. In Count Einschwert, that is."
"But even if it's Vivian, can she succeed? He's a lunatic who even ignores the words of that wench whom all men fawn over."
"Isn't that because of revenge? I couldn't care less about the personal circumstances of that lowborn bastard, but because of that, he even used the Princess and went under the Emperor."
Gerard took another sip of tea and continued speaking.
"If Vivian succeeds and can bring the Count over to our side, that's great; if not, that's fine in its own way. Regardless, his sword is pointed at the Sirius Grand Duchy."
"Is that so⋯⋯."
Isabel found it difficult to readily agree with Gerard's thinking.
Because somehow, she felt that she had to stop Vivian.
However, she decided not to bother saying it out loud.
'Because up until now, Oraboni has never been wrong even once⋯⋯.'
Thanks to listening to his words, had she not risen to the most noble position?
Even though she had contracted an unwanted marriage in the process.
Therefore, suddenly.
The face of the man who had needlessly stepped forward for her sake at the banquet hall yesterday briefly floated into her mind, but⋯⋯.
'Stop.'
She immediately brushed it off.
Because it was an unnecessary thought.
'Yes, such things⋯ are feelings that were washed away long ago⋯⋯.'
###
Pendragon Ducal House.
"You rascal! Did I not clearly order you to self-reflect under house arrest?!!!"
Duke Arthur Pendragon roared the moment his son returned.
"Accepting the request of the Prince who received house arrest from His Majesty, and visiting the imperial palace along with the Sirius young lady? Do you really have any sense at all?!!!"
However, his son, Lancelot.
"⋯⋯⋯."
Ignored his father's scolding and tried to return to his room.
"Are you not even going to reply to your father's words now?!"
"⋯⋯Even if I answer, you'll only get angry anyway, won't you."
"Of course I would! Because you didn't even keep what I said yesterday in the first place! Did I not clearly tell you to attend the banquet together with Priscilla-yang?!"
Kwang—!
Arthur slammed the wall hard and shouted.
"Yet far from taking her with you, you dared to even talk back to His Imperial Majesty at the banquet hall just to look good in front of that young lady? Are you planning to turn our family into traitors?!"
"⋯⋯I merely added a word for Bathory's sake."
"That is precisely the problem! Because of that young lady, even though your father imposed house arrest on you for self-reflection, did you not ignore it?!"
"My sword is only⋯⋯."
"Shut your mouth! Have you forgotten the reason why you became able to use that sword so well?!"
"⋯⋯Well, naturally it is the result of training hard—⋯⋯."
"Ha! Training hard? Right, you must have thought you trained hard in your own way. But have you forgotten who helped you with that training?!"
"⋯⋯⋯."
"Right, even a bastard like you must have a minimum amount of conscience. Wasn't it thanks to the Sword Saint-nim that you were able to become the youngest Swordmaster?! Yet you toss aside his granddaughter and gaze at the Sirius young lady?"
"⋯⋯I made it clear. No matter if she is Master's granddaughter, I have no intention of marrying a commoner like Priscilla."
"What nonsense are you spewing, you rascal! Didn't you become the Sword Saint-nim's disciple under that condition in the first place?!"
Ten years ago, due to a connection with the previous Duke Pendragon, the Sword Saint visited the family once.
At that time, he brought along a granddaughter named Priscilla, and that granddaughter fell in love with Lancelot at first sight.
To fulfill his only granddaughter's love.
The Sword Saint stayed at the Pendragon house and even became Lancelot's master.
However, three years ago, Lancelot, whose heart was stolen by Bathory, began to openly treat Priscilla coldly.
Enraged by this, the Sword Saint tried to take his granddaughter and leave Pendragon, but Priscilla, who loved Lancelot, remained alone at the duke's residence.
Because there was a promise the Sword Saint had made with the Pendragon family.
However.
Lancelot was trying to openly break that promise.
Therefore.
Arthur contorted his face viciously and shouted out loud again.
"You rascal! If you keep acting shamelessly like this, the position of successor will belong to Gawain, not you!"
"⋯⋯It doesn't matter."
"Ha!? Are you really acting up just trusting in that single sword of yours?!"
"⋯⋯I am stronger than Father, though."
"Hoho⋯ Not only did you forget thanks to whom you became strong, now you're committing unfilial conduct as well. Fine, then are you stronger than the Count?"
"That is⋯⋯."
"Since you too are a Swordmaster, you can't say that you are. Even to the eyes of your father, who is an Expert, it is clearly visible."
"With what intention are you saying that⋯⋯?"
"What intention? You aren't even as strong as the Count, so do you really think you, who failed to become the family head, can take the young lady of Sirius? Don't make me laugh."
"⋯⋯Bathory does not care about things like family status. Do not insult her. Even if it is Father, I cannot forgive you."
"Ha⋯⋯! Is that so? Truly amazing. Unlike someone else, she doesn't look at status or family. Right, let's see you do well then. As of today, the successor of Pendragon will be your younger brother Gawain."
Hwik—!
Disappointed in his child, Arthur turned away and left after saying those final words.
He felt an overwhelming urge to expel him from the family, but even so, driving out a son who was a Swordmaster...
...was not a choice a duke who valued honor could easily make.
It was merely a father's heart wishing that his child would snap out of it through this opportunity.
However, Lancelot had zero intention of considering such thoughts of Arthur.
Rather.
'⋯⋯This is all because of that madman.'
He only harbored growing anger toward Roy.
If only that guy hadn't been there, there would have been no reason to have such a huge argument with his father.
Was that all?
The look Bathory gave that guy at the imperial palace was no ordinary gaze.
'⋯⋯Don't tell me, Bathory⋯⋯!'
Lancelot suddenly had an ominous premonition, but⋯⋯
'No, that couldn't be⋯⋯⋯.'
He desperately denied it.
Because that was something that must absolutely never happen.
'It's just because Bathory has a kind heart⋯⋯.'
Despite him being the enemy who killed her family, it was her heart trying to guide him onto the right path.
There could never be any thought or emotion beyond that.
Just as he was reaching that conclusion.
"Lancelot!"
A woman approached Lancelot.
"Um⋯ are you okay⋯⋯?"
The one who carefully spoke to him now was⋯⋯
"⋯⋯⋯Priscilla."
It was none other than the granddaughter of the Sword Saint, Priscilla.