Chapter 32
So this is how empty revenge feels.
Even so, wasn't it fortunate?
Riena tightly clenched her small hand.
Maybe the Goddess really does exist. If they're paying for what they did like this....
Her golden eyes were clear, yet strangely peaceful.
The Emperor's funeral continued for days.
From the palace servants and attendants to the nobles, everyone was busy without rest.
Outside the Imperial Palace, people from all across the Empire gathered to mourn Francio's death.
But rumors spread right alongside the voices of grief.
"Then what happens to Trinia? She may be dead, but she killed the Emperor."
"Exactly. Normally, wouldn't she still receive the harshest punishment even after death?"
"Keep your voice down. I'm scared someone might hear."
"Little late for that. Everyone in the palace saw what happened."
"True. That's why he died without even leaving a final will. And in the Rose Palace, of all places."
The more people tried to keep a rumor quiet, the faster it spread.
At least inside the Imperial Palace, people watched Chernuier's expression and kept their mouths shut.
But there was no one who could stop the rumors outside.
"From here on, you need to be quiet. All right?"
"Yes, Count."
"Good. Our young lord listens so well."
Count Heyrun smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes folding warmly.
Kanter nodded calmly with his green eyes.
Holding Heyrun's hand tightly, he carefully climbed the stairs.
So many people filled his vision that it felt suffocating, yet the place was unnaturally quiet.
As though someone would scold them if they so much as cried, everyone merely let out heavy sighs.
When Count Heyrun paid his respects, Kanter watched closely and slowly copied what he did.
It was awkward, but his expression was completely serious.
Once they had finished, the two turned and headed outside.
"You've arrived."
"The road was difficult, so we were delayed. Have you been well?"
Margrave Sertua slowly nodded, then looked between Count Heyrun and Kanter.
"Hello. I greet Margrave Sertua."
Kanter bowed carefully.
Sertua's rough hand patted him.
"Your expression has brightened quite a bit since I last saw you."
"Thank you, Margrave Sertua."
Kanter answered carefully with his small mouth.
The corner of Sertua's lips lifted faintly.
"You have a gift for making those who look at you smile. I hope the days ahead are filled only with reasons to keep smiling."
After the brief greeting, Sertua leisurely headed out of the building.
Kanter watched him with admiration.
Someday, he vowed, he would become a fine noble just like that.
"I greet Your Highness the Imperial Princess."
At the sound of the nobles greeting someone, Kanter immediately turned his head.
The words Imperial Princess made his body react before he could think.
How long had it been?
She was someone he'd missed even in his dreams.
My angel...!
His clear emerald eyes sparkled.
His tiny lips parted slightly.
"Your Highness...!"
His smile rose uncontrollably.
Then, just as quickly, it disappeared.
I promised I'd become someone useful....
His gaze dropped to the floor.
Living with Count Heyrun, he was only now beginning to understand what happiness felt like.
Yet he was still just a little child with nothing of his own.
"Kanter, you should greet Her Highness. All right?"
"I... don't have the right."
Heyrun frowned and bent down until their eyes met.
"I'm... not someone who can help Her Highness."
"Of course you're not. She's the Imperial Princess of the Empire. Even I haven't managed to become someone truly useful to her."
"......"
"Kanter, at your age, you're not supposed to be helping others. You're at an age when adults are supposed to help you."
"Is it really... okay?"
"Of course!"
Count Heyrun held both of Kanter's hands firmly and nodded.
"Then... I'll go greet her."
"That's right. Go on."
Kanter slowly approached on his short legs, looking hesitant with every step.
Riena, quick as ever, immediately turned away.
"Your Highness, are you returning to your room?"
"Huh? Y-yeah. I just remembered there's a book I didn't finish."
"Pardon? You can read it later...."
"Your Highness, where are you going?"
Riena's shoulders jumped as she turned around.
Her eyes met Melance's.
He wore a neat formal uniform, his black hair smoothly brushed back.
The epaulets resting across his straight shoulders only made him look more dignified.
"To my room...."
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No?"
He frowned and examined Riena's complexion.
"I greet Your Highness the Imperial Princess...!"
At that moment, a clear voice reached Riena's ears.
I'm doomed.
She slowly turned around as though time itself had stopped.
Kanter's impossibly bright smile greeted her.
"Hi...?"
"Your Highness, have you been well?"
"Do you think she has?"
They were in the middle of the Emperor's funeral.
That was Melance's way of pointing out the obvious.
Kanter's curved smile immediately stiffened.
Melance didn't even glance at him.
He simply stepped smoothly to Riena's side.
"Your Highness, I'll escort you back to your room."
Kanter's innocent brows twitched.
Seeing the two standing side by side made his pale forehead crease.
"Y-Your Highness! I have something I want to tell you...!"
Riena's golden eyes turned toward him.
"What is it?"
"H-how I've been... and what I plan to do from now on...."
"Her Highness is hardly free enough to listen to every trivial detail of your daily life."
"But... Her Highness was the one who chose my guardian. So I need to report to her."
So much for being a harmless little lamb.
He really was kind, but he still said exactly what he wanted.
"Then both of you can come with me."
Riena gave up halfway and headed toward her room.
"Romi, three cups of cocoa. No, two."
"I'll have the cocoa as well."
Melance's bold declaration immediately drew Riena's attention.
Wasn't he the one who used to say cocoa was for children?
"Then make it three cups."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The heavy door closed.
Silence followed.
The three of them had never sat around the same table before, so the silence was painfully awkward.
"By the way... did you two fight before?"
"What?!"
"Absolutely not."
Kanter looked startled.
Melance merely let out a dry laugh.
"What? That definitely sounds like you did."
"We're not even close enough to fight."
Melance cut the matter off firmly and looked toward Kanter.
Kanter slowly nodded.
"...That's true. Young Lord Melance doesn't even treat me like a person...."
"What? Is that true?"
Riena's golden eyes widened as she looked at Melance.
He didn't treat Kanter like a person?
"That's a misunderstanding. Young Lord, when exactly did I ever fail to treat you like a person?"
"If that's not the case, then I'm relieved...."
Kanter looked utterly pitiful.
"Kanter, you probably misunderstood. Melance is cold, but he does at least treat people like people."
"So he does treat me like a person...."
Kanter nodded at Riena's words and let out a deep breath of relief.
"What do you mean, at least? I don't look down on people without reason."
"Well, that's true."
They had finally gotten an answer.
The awkward atmosphere, however, remained.
"I've brought the cocoa. Please call me if you need anything else."
Once they each took a sip of the warm cocoa, conversation finally started flowing.
"Kanter, have you been well? I didn't think we'd meet again."
"I've been living very well thanks to Your Highness!"
"What thanks to me? Count Heyrun is simply a very kind person."
"That's true! He lets me eat as much as I want, and he always answers me with a smile. There are so many other things too that I couldn't possibly tell you all of them! Hehe...."
"......"
Riena and Melance both looked at him with quiet sadness.
He was talking about things that should have been ordinary with such happiness.
How could they not feel sorry for him?
Just what kind of life had he endured until now?
"Kanter, you can become even happier from now on. You're someone who deserves that."
Kanter's eyes trembled faintly.
Riena's sincerity made his nose sting.
"Then what will happen to Duke Cartes?"
"I don't know. We haven't heard anything about him since then."
Melance tilted his head and continued.
"Then shouldn't the title of Duke Cartes naturally pass to Young Lord Kanter?"
He was right.
There had simply been too many other things happening to handle it yet.
And it would be unreasonable to expect Kanter, still so young, to personally deal with inheriting the title.
"Since you're already at the palace, talk it over with Count Heyrun and make sure the succession is properly settled before you leave. All right?"
"Pardon? Yes!"
Riena looked at Kanter's innocent smile, which inspired very little confidence.
Then she immediately turned toward Melance.
Feeling the strange gaze on him, Melance narrowed his eyes and twitched one brow.
"Melance, can you help him?"
He tilted his head and pointed one long finger at himself.
"Mm. You."
"......?"
"I can't really move around for a while, so that's why. All right?"
"...Yes."
He groaned inwardly and twitched his brow, but it was useless.
There was no real justification for refusing.
He couldn't exactly use leaving the palace as an excuse while the late Emperor's funeral still wasn't over.
"Um... if I'm unpleasant for you to deal with, you don't have to help me. Young Lord Melance doesn't really like me...."
Melance's brows drew together as a laugh of disbelief rose from him.
"What a strange thing to say. I don't particularly like you, but I also see no reason to dislike you."
"Because I'm frustrating to deal with...."
"It's fine. Melance will take care of it. Right, Melance?"
If it hadn't been Riena asking, Melance would have ignored him immediately.
But facing those troublesome emerald eyes made irritation bubble inside him.
And that damned victorious smile on Kanter's face only made it worse.
