The Weight of Forbidden Promises
Cecil de Malong - 6
Richard’s skin, which had always been clear, looked especially soft and radiant that day. Rio remarked,
“Your complexion looks far better than usual today, brother.”
“Does it?”
Richard tried to keep his expression composed, but the smile refused to leave the corners of his mouth. Cecil, too, appeared remarkably healthy and bright on the surface, yet her mood told an entirely different story. Noticing that peculiar contrast, Rio asked Richard a question in a voice low enough that Cecil could not overhear.
“By the way… who is that woman?”
“My lover.”
“Pffft!”
Rio spat out the wine he had been drinking. His face flushed crimson. He knew full well that Richard already had many unofficial lovers. He also knew that if Richard had not become a woman, many of them would likely have become the king’s official concubines. But even in this situation, a lover? He could not believe it. And Richard knew exactly what he was thinking.
Richard burst into loud laughter at the sight. He spoke to Rio in the Eranian tongue.
“What’s the matter, Rio? Don’t look so shocked. And isn’t it rather rude to ask such a question in such a tiny voice?”
He called out to Cecil. “Come here, Cecilia.”
Cecil answered politely and approached the two men.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I have not yet introduced you to my family. Greet him. This is my brother, Leo. Leo, this is Cecilia of Malonia, whom I have newly taken in as my lady-in-waiting and personal guard.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness Prince Leo. I am Cecilia of Malonia. I came to Venterum Castle as the betrothed of His Majesty King Philippus of Derim, but by the Lord’s guidance I now serve Her Majesty Queen Ricarda as her lady-in-waiting. Please treat me well.”
At Cecilia’s words, Rio forgot his manners and spoke in the Zylan tongue.
“Cecilia of Malonia? You mean the younger sister of the Count of Malong?”
“Speak in Eranian, Leo. Is that not rude?”
Richard did not hide his displeasure. Yet even while irritating his brother, Rio refused to retract his words.
“This is absurd. Is Malong not currently our greatest enemy?”
Now that things had come this far, Richard could no longer continue in Eranian. He set down the lamb chop he had been eating and wiped his hands.
“I had no desire to speak of the kingdom’s enemies in front of both you and Cecil—especially not at the dinner table.”
So saying, he picked up a piece of dried plum and ate it.
Cecil did not understand the Zylan language. But she could read the atmosphere, and she knew a few simple words. She could tell that she was not welcome in Prince Rio’s eyes. With an anxious expression, she took a step back. The heel of her shoe struck the marble floor of the dining hall with a sharp click, loud enough to draw both Richard’s and Rio’s attention.
“I-I’m sorry. Please ignore me and continue your conversation.”
She bowed her head politely. Richard shook his head.
“No. You are my lady-in-waiting for state affairs and my personal guard. I intend to keep you by my side at all times, so do not try to run away from me just because of something like this.”
“……Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cecil’s face turned bright red. When Rio saw that not only her face but even her neck and ears had flushed scarlet, his jaw dropped. With an incredulous expression, he asked Richard,
“B-brother. You couldn’t possibly… have you… done it?”
“Hmm?”
Richard neither confirmed nor denied the question. But although Rio was still young, he was not so young that he failed to understand what that reaction meant. Rio’s expression changed slightly. Richard noticed the shift. He tilted his head. A suspicion bloomed in his mind.
Come to think of it, Rio’s behavior had been rather suspicious. From the victory parade, to the day after the coronation—the day he had turned into a woman—the reactions Rio had shown, the incident inside the carriage on the day of their return from Polbury, and the night he had been rescued from Daniel… none of it could simply be called brotherly affection. But if one asked whether that was the only feeling involved… until yesterday, Richard might have believed so. Now, he could not.
Richard turned to Cecil with a faintly flushed face. Cecil avoided his gaze.
“Brother. Please reconsider. Send her back to Malonia with all due courtesy. There are countless reasons why she should not be here, and not a single reason why she should.”
“What exactly are these reasons she should not be here?”
Rio’s fingertips were trembling. He had been about to drink his wine, but instead set the glass down and diluted it with water. It was still too strong for him. After taking a deep breath, he sipped the watered wine and continued. He spoke in Eranian.
“Cecilia Maloni is notorious even in Zylan as a tomboy.”
“Oh? So you were already that famous. I had no idea.”
Cecil answered in a tiny, shrinking voice.
“……I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“It’s all right, Cecilia. I don’t mind such things.”
At his relaxed reply, Rio asked again, his tone clearly frustrated.
“Please don’t say that. What I mean is that she is unfit to serve as the queen’s lady-in-waiting. She lacks dignity.”
“I can teach her myself.”
Rio tried to say something more, but when he saw the flash of irritation in Richard’s eyes, he decided to drop the subject. He felt as if he now understood how Herbert must feel. With a sigh, he moved on to the next point.
“Is she even skilled enough to serve as a guard? Bro—Your Majesty is already more than strong enough.”
“Even if I am strong, I cannot remain vigilant at all times. Cecilia is strong enough to handle surprise attacks.”
“Then what about King Philippus? Is she not his betrothed?”
At Rio’s words, Cecil tilted her head with an expression that seemed to ask what the problem was when they were both women. Richard voiced what she wanted to say.
“Would it not be acceptable if I were to give her bridal training under that pretext?”
The sheer absurdity of Richard speaking of bridal training nearly made Rio’s soul leave his body, but he somehow managed to regain his composure. He muttered,
“I… see.”
“In truth, even if it isn’t me, Passi—ah.”
Richard turned to Cecil.
“Her name is Virginia. She is my wet nurse. You may receive your bridal training from her. She cannot speak Eranian, but you can learn the Zylan tongue from her as well. How does that sound?”
Cecil asked anxiously,
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but does bridal training include things like cooking and embroidery?”
“No, it is only nominal bridal training. If you dislike it, I can simply assign you a tutor so you may learn only the Zylan language.”
It was clear that Richard had already decided to keep the woman by his side. Rio let out another sigh. In his heart, he apologized to Cecil for the harsh words he had spoken. She could not have known, but it was a matter of his own conscience. He said to Richard,
“Her family claims the Zylan throne. We cannot allow any of their bloodline into Zylan.”
Cecil drew closer to Richard’s side. Richard took her hand. Her hand, like Rio’s, was trembling. She answered Rio’s accusation.
“You need not worry about that, Your Highness Prince Leo. I have already renounced the rights I possess within the Kingdom of Zylan.”
“There is still more. Even if she has renounced those rights, she remains a member of the Count of Malong’s house. There is no guarantee she will not collude with her family and engage in espionage.”
This time, Cecil’s mouth clamped shut. Richard gave a small laugh. She kept glaring at Rio, then averting her eyes, over and over. She must have known how old Rio was. And she was surely feeling both shame and astonishment that a boy five years her junior had seen through her every thought.
And now it was Richard’s turn—the very man who had been defending Cecil—to shatter her hopes.
“It’s all right, Leo. She cannot do that. She has already betrayed her own family. Raoul will never forgive her.”
“Pardon?”
It was not Rio but Cecil who cried out in shock. Richard explained with a smile.
“Does Raoul and Matilda have a daughter?”
“W-what are you saying? That I betrayed my brother Raoul? That my brother will not forgive me?”
“Ah, I see.”
Cecil shot Rio a sharp glare. “Tell me at once! What on earth is…”
“The Maloni family is one that values its bloodline greatly. Your brother Raoul is more than ten years older than you, and even after ten years of marriage he has only one son. If he were to obtain the Zylan crown, would he truly wish to leave the throne to a younger sister who has already renounced her right of succession?”
“Ah!”
She had forgotten about the matter of succession. Cecil’s shoulders slumped as though she had lost the entire world, while Rio, on the contrary, wore a triumphant expression. Richard chuckled lightly and patted Cecil’s shoulder. He said to Rio,
“Then, Leo, I shall continue to keep Cecilia as my guard.”
At those words, Rio came to his senses. He had just given her a reason to remain in Venterum Castle with his own mouth. Flustered, he said to Richard,
“N-no, you mustn’t!”
“Why not? Is there some other reason she cannot stay here?”
“O-of course there is!”
In his panic, Rio blurted out whatever came to mind. “S-she is a person from an enemy nation. We cannot trust her no matter what.”
“Don’t be unreasonable. She is of noble blood. In Derim’s terms, she is of aristocratic status. Moreover, she has made a promise with me.”
“What kind of promise?”
“A promise she has no choice but to keep.”
So saying, he stroked Cecil’s thigh. Cecil, who had been listlessly slumped, flinched in surprise, but she could neither flee nor even push his hand away. Seeing this, Rio asked,
“No… what kind of promise is it?”
“If you are truly curious, you should ask not ‘what’ kind of promise, but ‘how’ it was made.”
Even as he spoke, Richard continued to stroke Cecil’s thigh, and the more he did so, the wider his smile grew. In contrast, Cecil’s pale face grew as white as a corpse. She could do nothing but pray desperately in her heart that Richard would not speak of the secret that, if revealed, would not end with mere execution.
I’ve caught her weakness.
Rio thought to himself that he did not know exactly what the weakness was, but it was surely some underhanded tactic worthy of Richard. Having roughly grasped the situation, he gave up. Richard had made up his mind so firmly, and had laid every piece of the board perfectly—unlike his usual self, he had put in the effort to weave a thorough scheme. If Rio continued to oppose him to the end, he would lose all justification.
He asked Richard,
“Then allow me to ask. How exactly did you make this promise, Your Majesty?”
Richard answered with a playful expression.
“It’s a secret.”
“Haah… Very well. But you must not倾 the kingdom’s finances by showering her with gifts simply because she is your favored lady-in-waiting, correct?”
“Ah, about that…”
Richard’s expression changed completely in an instant. This time he genuinely looked apologetic. Such a thing was extremely rare. Rio asked, feeling uneasy,
“What is it? You’re making me nervous.”
“Well… yes. Do we have any leeway in the military budget at the moment?”
“No. None at all. If we do not disband at least five of the standing battalions, we may have to beg the parliament for funds.”
“Huu…”
Richard let out a deep sigh that seemed to empty the floor beneath him, then spoke to Rio in the Zylan tongue.
“It seems we will have no choice but to declare war on Malong this winter.”