Chapter 45
Knock, knock.
Esslin knocked on the Grand Duke's heir's door several times, but only silence answered him.
An instinct he didn't want to believe kept ringing alarms in his head.
Still, he shook it off and cautiously called out.
"Um... Young Lord Melance?"
His voice scattered uselessly through the air.
Knock, knock.
The Melance Esslin served was far more rational than emotional.
During all the years he'd attended him, the young lord had almost never acted impulsively, no matter how young he was.
Well....
Recently, there had been a few exceptions.
I really never expected him to send letters all the way to His Highness Grand Duke Jeremier.
Esslin briefly drifted into thought, then cleared his throat and knocked again.
Still, there was no sign of anyone inside.
Don't tell me... he went out using a magic circle?
It was the kind of instinct that naturally formed after serving the same master for a long time.
Besides, there was no other reason Melance would ignore his knocking this completely.
"Young Lord Melance? Um... I'm coming in?"
Esslin's voice trembled faintly.
What if he entered and Melance was actually inside?
Then those terrifying violet eyes would tear him apart.
Ugh, even imagining it hurts....
Still, if Esslin clung to his master's trouser leg and insisted he had only checked because he was worried as an aide, surely it would be all right.
Melance might look cold, but he was kind-hearted.
He probably wouldn't punish him too severely.
Making up his mind, Esslin pulled the door open in one motion.
Click.
Bright moonlight poured through the window and filled the room.
It was empty.
The moment Esslin stepped inside, he hurried toward the desk.
memo1
A clean white sheet of paper rested beneath the moonlight.
"Y-you could've at least told me before leaving...."
Esslin let out a long sigh and stared blankly at the note.
"It feels unusually quiet today!"
Romi smiled as she poured herbal tea into an empty cup.
"Hmm... It feels like something huge is missing."
Riena balanced her feather-tipped fountain pen between her nose and upper lip as she stared at the ceiling.
Had the Imperial Palace always been this quiet?
She was bored.
Far too bored.
Looking at the raised carvings framing the ceiling, she frowned.
"Do you think Young Lord Melance won't be coming today either?"
"He left yesterday, so shouldn't he return today?"
Romi pulled a plate of golden cookies closer to Riena.
"By the way, is Young Lord Kanter not coming today either?"
"Ah!"
The loud exclamation rang through the room.
Romi jumped and clutched her chest.
Had Riena always had such a strong voice?
After catching her breath, she looked at her.
"Kanter! Where's Kanter?"
"Sh-should I go find out?"
"Haven't you heard that when children are quiet, they're causing trouble? Go find out right now."
"Yes!"
It wasn't exactly something you'd expect from a seven-year-old.
But Romi was too alarmed to question it and immediately sprang to her feet.
"Ruth, once Melance returns to the palace today, leave then."
"Yes, understood."
They couldn't afford to leave even the smallest opening.
No matter how peaceful things looked on the surface, she couldn't trust that peace.
That was the life of royalty.
No matter how much swordsmanship I learn, it's still too much for me right now.
Riena spread both hands and slowly examined them.
Her palms, once soft and flawless, were now covered with tiny wounds and calluses.
The result of practicing swordsmanship every single day.
Even so, this small body wouldn't be able to withstand a proper attack.
I want to grow up quickly. Then I can deal with all this damned black magic, assassination attempts, and everything else.
They said it hurt less if you took the first blow early.
Rather than living while constantly worrying like this, growing up quickly seemed better.
"Your Highness the Crown Princess!"
The anxious shout immediately drew her attention.
"Young Lord Melance and Young Lord Kanter left together!"
"W-what?"
Why?
No, why would those two go anywhere together when they didn't even get along?!
Don't tell me Melance was going to abandon Kanter in the freezing northern territory?!
Riena shook her head and forced herself to ask a more reasonable question.
"When they come back, tell me immediately. And, um... what's his name again?"
"His... name? Who do you mean?"
Romi twitched her brows and stared at Riena's lips.
Who in the world was what's-his-name?
"Melance's aide. His name is... Anyway! Tell the aide."
He had so little presence that remembering his name was honestly difficult.
"...I greet Your Highness the Crown Princess."
The moment the door opened, Esslin stood there awkwardly with a bitter smile.
The instant Riena saw him, she carefully lowered the teacup she'd just raised.
A strange sense of guilt clogged her throat.
"...I'd appreciate it if you called me Esslin."
He heard that...?
"...R-right. Esslin. Come sit."
Esslin straightened and calmly took a seat.
"Tell me comfortably why you're here. Haha...."
"Young Lord Melance was unable to finish his business in the northern territory, so his schedule will be delayed slightly."
The awkward smile disappeared from Riena's face.
Melance almost never delayed or changed a promise.
"You'll have to tell me why if you want me to understand."
"Her Highness the Grand Duchess's health has worsened...."
"Then tell him to stay by the Grand Duchess's side first. Her health is more important."
"!"
Esslin's bowed head shot up.
"R-really... is that all right?"
"Of course it is. Make sure you tell Melance. He can return slowly once the Grand Duchess is feeling better."
"Thank you. Truly... thank you!"
Esslin bowed until his forehead nearly touched the floor.
No matter how critical the Grand Duchess's condition was, there was normally nothing more important than an order from the Crown Princess.
If Riena needed Melance, he might have been forced to return to the Imperial Palace immediately.
So Esslin couldn't help but feel deep reverence toward the Crown Princess for understanding so generously.
"That's enough thanks. Go tell Melance quickly."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Only after bowing for a long time did Esslin leave.
Riena had spoken as if she had plenty of choices.
In reality, she had none.
She knew how important the Grand Duchess was to Melance.
She couldn't pretend otherwise.
"Ruth, double my swordsmanship training today."
Ruth stared at Riena with tightly furrowed brows.
"...Understood."
Riena hopped down from her chair and headed toward the door with a meaningful expression.
If I have time to overthink, I should swing my sword one more time instead.
The fireplace, elaborately carved with the Jeremier family crest, crackled as logs burned and warmed the room.
"......"
A pale forehead covered in cold sweat.
The room was warm enough to be almost hot.
Yet the Grand Duchess's hands and feet were cold as though she no longer belonged to this world.
Melance's violet eyes trembled faintly as he tightly held her hand.
"Madam... Young Lord Melance has returned. Please open your eyes.... Sob...."
The maid's sobbing filled the room.
But the Grand Duchess's sunken eyelids didn't move.
"......"
Melance bit his lower lip and forced back the tears rising in his throat.
He had always felt guilty about leaving his sickly mother alone in this northern land where winter never seemed to end.
"I should have come back sooner...."
He already knew returning earlier wouldn't necessarily have changed anything.
Still, he couldn't stop blaming himself.
"Young Lord, perhaps you should rest for a while first? Now that you've made it here, you need to preserve your strength...."
"Take good care of the young lord who came with me. He has a habit of causing trouble without realizing it."
"...Yes, understood."
Melance neatly removed his outer coat and draped it over a chair.
Then he undid the buttons at his sleeves, rolled them up, and clasped the Grand Duchess's ice-cold hand.
He took several long, deep breaths.
Then, as though steeling himself, he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Mother."
Blue mana erupted at the end of his quiet words and wrapped around both of them.
Gentle waves curved through the air before sinking entirely into the Grand Duchess's body.
Like a dried sponge absorbing water.
Slowly, color began returning to her deathly pale face.
But at the same time, Melance's elegant complexion drained of color.
Beads of sweat gathered across his smooth forehead and rolled down his pale cheeks.
"......"
The tips of Melance's fingers holding his mother's hand began to tremble.
"!"
Suddenly, the Grand Duchess's bony hand fiercely grabbed his wrist.
"Stop!"
Her pink eyes trembled violently as she glared at him.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"...You're awake?"
His once-red lips had turned white and dry.
His normally imposing violet eyes were half unfocused as he looked toward her.
Dark shadows had formed beneath the lively eyes framed by his long lashes.
The Grand Duchess forced herself upright and desperately reached for Melance as he began to collapse.
But she couldn't catch him.
"Is anyone there?!"
The servants immediately rushed into the room.
Melance, who had barely been standing, collapsed toward the floor.
The servants hurried forward and caught him.
"Young Lord Melance!"
Unable to hide their panic, they clung to his unconscious body in confusion.
"What are you all doing?! Take Young Lord Melance to his room immediately!"
At the chief steward's furious command, the chaotic servants finally began moving in an orderly way.
"I'm sorry. I should have stopped the young lord myself...."
The Grand Duchess bit down on her trembling lips and spoke calmly.
"I don't want this blamed on anyone else. It's my fault...."
"Please don't say that. How could this possibly be Madam's fault?"
"...Melance."
The Grand Duchess covered her face with her thin hands.
