Chapter 19
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Unexpected Visitor
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The commotion had erupted the moment Third Prince Joseph appeared, carrying the limp, unconscious Charlotte in his arms from the spot where he'd left the two earlier.
He even looked restless, a far cry from his usual irritating blank expression.
The most ridiculous part was how Jerome and Isaac, who'd just been about to start talking with Ricardo, barely managed a greeting before bolting off toward Charlotte upon hearing the news.
They at least tried to keep up appearances by leaving Byaki Setia and Russell Setia behind, but everyone knew those two were far from the real power players.
'What the hell is going on?'
It felt like watching some backwater village drama.
"What happened?"
"Third Prince Joseph showed up carrying Charlotte, didn't you see?"
"No... Joseph wouldn't even glance at her if she dropped dead."
"Exactly."
"So that little nobody Charlotte faints, and all these big shots lose their minds?"
Ricardo nodded at the murmuring nobles around him.
'That's what I've been saying.'
And then even Lancelot, that side-branch kid from House Setia, came rushing in. All these major figures from the palace gathered around, fawning over one tiny girl no one had ever spared a thought for before.
Girls like that get sick easily anyway.
'Plus, coming to such a grand place like the imperial palace must be nerve-wracking. And meeting someone as high-ranking as me? No wonder she tensed up.'
All for something so trivial.
As Isaac scooped Charlotte up and hurried out of the banquet hall, with Jerome, Lancelot, and even his own brother Joseph trailing behind in that absurd procession, the nobles' voices rose again.
"Looks like this is Charlotte's chance for a full reevaluation."
"Oh my, you're already calling her Lady Charlotte?"
"But from what I see, her standing in the family has completely changed."
"You're right. Isaac giving that public apology... I wonder if something shifted in the succession lineup?"
"Goodness, no."
"Anyway, look at Jerome, who's ignored her all this time, now panicking like that. There's definitely something going on. Something."
Ricardo gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, dazedly listening to the rising murmurs.
From what he could tell just from the talk, it wasn't him but Charlotte who seemed to be the star of this massive imperial banquet.
It should've been something to just brush off, but with "Charlotte" on everyone's lips here and there, irritation boiled up instantly.
'Isn't there some way to shake this off? Something to vent this mood.'
Ricardo's eyes caught the hem of that red dress vanishing into the inner part of the banquet hall, no longer visible.
And trailing behind her, uncharacteristically, was Joseph.
'What? Did he suddenly fall for Charlotte just because he had to protect her today or something?'
He lazily recalled the Charlotte he'd seen today.
A girl with red hair whose red dress actually suited her quite cutely.
He'd glimpsed her a few times before, but back then, she'd just seemed annoying.
But knowing Joseph was interested sparked curiosity instead of annoyance. Especially seeing him so fidgety.
'What if I stole Charlotte away from her?'
Look at that sword-obsessed little brother of his, who never changed expression, trotting after her like a puppy.
No matter that Charlotte was just some castoff from House Setia—the ducal house and Joseph were like water and oil, never meant to mix.
Yet seeing that dopey, affectionate look on his face was pretty amusing.
He wondered what face Joseph would make if he snatched Charlotte away too, on top of everything else. That sounded fun.
Ricardo nodded in satisfaction at his own idea.
Betty jumped in surprise as the carriage arrived.
Imperial banquets usually started around lunch and didn't peak until deep into the night.
She'd figured one might return early since young Charlotte was attending, but she hadn't expected both carriages back at this hour.
Betty and the other servants hurriedly lined up at the entrance to greet the Minor House Lord, the young masters, and the lady.
Two carriages pulled up sharply in front of them.
"Welcome back?"
As the servants bowed politely, the carriage door opened, and Jerome hurried out.
"Yes. Charlotte's not feeling well—prepare her bed and call Ben for an examination. The palace physician said it was just fatigue..."
Jerome spilled the words urgently before even fully stepping down.
As Betty rushed forward to check on Lady Charlotte, Jerome added,
"Oh, and Charlotte has a guest."
"A guest...?"
She didn't even need to hear the answer.
Following Jerome out was a black-haired boy in fine clothes. His exquisitely doll-like face, clearly of noble blood, flickered with something like displeasure.
'...The banquet's still going on. Why would the Third Prince come all the way here?'
Betty tried to hide her shock and stepped back.
Even assuming he'd left midway, it was still odd. Third Prince Joseph, who had his own separate quarters, never emerged from his isolated annex.
And what the Minor House Lord had said to her might've been a slip.
Whatever business the prince had, it probably had nothing to do with Lady Charlotte.
'I don't know what's going on, but the prince isn't my responsibility. Let's just hurry and tend to the lady. Where does it hurt?'
As Betty peered around for Lady Charlotte, Isaac descended from the other carriage, cradling her in his arms.
'...Lord Isaac?'
Truth be told, nothing was stranger than Isaac carrying Charlotte, but since he'd been acting a bit off from his usual self over the past week, Betty managed to suppress her surprise.
Charlotte looked just as Jerome said—deeply asleep.
"I'll take her up."
"No, I'll carry her myself."
Betty nodded, trying not to show her bewilderment, and followed behind Isaac.
Just as they were leaving, she overheard the butler speaking to Jerome.
"What brings the Third Prince to the main house...? If it's for talks, shall we prepare a reception?"
Jerome, staring blankly at his tiny daughter being carried up by Isaac, shook his head as if wondering what the man was on about.
"No, he's here to see Charlotte."
"...Pardon?"
It was probably a first. The Setia house butler losing his composure and questioning the Minor House Lord's words like that.
Even Betty, who'd been following Isaac while checking the lady's color—she looked peacefully asleep—halted for a moment.
'The Third Prince... for Lady Charlotte?'
As Betty instinctively turned back at the bizarre pairing, the source of the fuss, Third Prince Joseph, strolled past them without a care and headed up to the attic as if it were nothing.
Jerome, Isaac, Third Prince Joseph, and Betty clustered in Charlotte's room as her personal physician Ben examined her at length.
For someone who'd collapsed suddenly and been carried in, she didn't seem to have any major issues.
After observing her pulse, lip color, pupil movement, and more for a good while, Ben looked up with a dubious expression.
"...It seems like she collapsed from overwork."
"Overwork...? Charlotte?"
"Overwork...? Ha... so there was something after all."
Jerome and Isaac's retorts burst out simultaneously.
Jerome glanced at Isaac, then at Charlotte lying on the bed.
She looked smaller than usual today.
Lying there in the white lace nightgown Betty had hastily changed her into, she seemed strangely unfamiliar.
Charlotte was such a troublemaker in every way that he'd deliberately paid her no extra mind...
'...Lately she's been meditating, and acting oddly mature.'
Without thinking, Jerome reached out and grasped Charlotte's hand.
To check if it really was overwork—her hand was ice-cold, devoid of any energy.
'She just lounges and eats all day, hasn't even left her room lately, just holed up... overwork? Did she torment herself over Shadow Blade Day all alone?'
Well, that made sense.
She hadn't shown it outwardly, staying cheerful for days... but Charlotte must've had a lot on her mind too.
'But overwork? What on earth could she have been doing?'
Isaac's knowing tone nagged at him, so he looked over again, but Isaac just grinned ear-to-ear, staring right back at Jerome as if amused.
'...What?'
It was the kind of look that said he knew Jerome was plotting something.