WRG 20

chapter 20

Due to the emperor’s sudden invitation, Uriella had to rise early in the morning to prepare herself.

Why would he suddenly summon me?

Before her regression, the emperor had never once called her alone, yet now he had invited her to a private breakfast. From the moment Uriella heard this, her heart had been beating irregularly with unease.

And then, she remembered what the crown prince had said to her last time.

“That’s true. But, Riel, I told His Majesty everything yesterday.”

There could be no other reason for the emperor to summon me.

“Milady, you don’t look well. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m just a little nervous.”
“Well, of course you are. Who wouldn’t be, meeting His Majesty alone?”

The last time, she had Duke Baraota by her side, someone to lean on, but this time she had no one. Uriella busied herself trying to calm her trembling heart.

“Yes.”

Madel wanted to reassure her mistress not to worry so much, but it felt like empty words, so she kept silent.

“Ah, milady. He asked me to pass on that he has something to tell you.”
“Really? That’s good timing. I had something I wanted to say to him as well. Could you ask him to come there?”
“Understood.”

As they conversed, Uriella’s preparations were completed.

“I dressed you neatly, just in case.”
“Thank you.”

If Uriella were to go meet the emperor in overly elaborate attire, the empress would certainly not sit idly by. The empress, knowing full well that her husband still had not forgotten his first love, lived in fear that he might take interest in another woman.

If the emperor were to father a child with another woman, even by the smallest chance, everything the empress had built up until now could collapse. That faint possibility alone was enough to keep her trembling.

“We cannot keep His Majesty waiting. Let’s go.”

As Uriella stepped forward carefully, she could not hide her smile when she saw Duke Baraota waiting to see her off.

“Rei.”

Uriella called out to him and rushed toward him.

“No matter what the emperor says, just feign ignorance. That’ll be best in the long run.”
“All right.”
“And try not to run into the crown prince or the empress if you can avoid it.”
“I’ll be careful.”

The duke reached out and gently straightened Uriella’s slightly disheveled hair. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy about sending her alone into the imperial palace.

“Then, I’ll see you after you return.”
“Oh, after the palace, I was thinking of visiting my sisters and Daisy. I’ll be back before dinner.”
“As you like.”
“Yes, then I’ll be off.”

With Duke Baraota’s escort, Uriella boarded the carriage.

“Your Grace, and yet you still think the lady doesn’t care for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You saw it yourself—she smiled so brightly the moment she saw you and ran straight to you.”

The duke listened to Victor’s words with a faint, complicated expression, his gaze fixed on the carriage departing from the estate.

“Even if that were true, nothing changes.”
“How could nothing change? Everything would change!”

If Uriella and the duke came to genuinely care for each other, it would be a cause for celebration. Their marriage was a contract without an end date—if it became real between them, there would be nothing wrong with that.

But then Victor realized something odd.

Wait a minute. Why is it a contract without an end date? Normally, wouldn’t there be terms about annulment or dissolution?

If there were no terms for dissolving the contract, then it would last until one of them was on the verge of death. But Duke Baraota surely wouldn’t have overlooked such a detail. Victor tilted his head, puzzled.

What is it? Is there something I don’t know?

Otherwise, this whole situation couldn’t be explained. Even if it were to keep the imperial family in check, choosing to spend his whole life with someone he barely knew was contrary to the duke’s long-held stance that he would rather live alone than enter a political marriage.

“Let’s go inside.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”

Victor answered, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

So that’s why he never listened to me, no matter how much I spoke. What am I missing here…?

“Glory to the Sun of the Empire.”

Expecting the usual suffocating atmosphere, the crown prince was startled when Uriella suddenly entered during his private audience with the emperor.

Uriella, too, was equally surprised.

“It would be better to sit and speak.”

Uriella’s seat was set opposite the crown prince.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

At her polite greeting, the emperor said nothing, merely casting a brief glance at the crown prince.

“I was unaware that the Duchess of Baraota would be joining us.”

If he had known, the crown prince thought, he would have composed himself more properly.

“And I did not expect to find Your Highness here either.”

The already uncomfortable setting grew even more tense for Uriella.

I never imagined the crown prince would be here…

Once the meal began, the only sounds were the faint clinking of silverware. Compared to the last time she had dined in the palace with Duke Baraota, this atmosphere felt even more bleak, making it hard for her to swallow.

“As I grow older, I find I have no appetite in the mornings. I’ll take my leave first. Crown Prince, see to the Duchess of Baraota.”
“Yes, Father.”

With that, the emperor immediately left the room.

No attendants remained either—only Uriella and the crown prince were left at the table.

“Riel.”
“Your Highness, I would be grateful if you would call me Duchess of Baraota.”
“It seems His Majesty wishes to support me.”

Uriella’s expression hardened at his words.

“I told His Majesty, didn’t I? That my heart belongs to another.”
“Your Highness!”

Uriella raised her voice in alarm, desperate to stop him.

“What if someone hears you?”
“It’s just the two of us here. Who could hear? And honestly, I don’t care if people find out.”
“Everything you’ve built until now could collapse! What about your engagement to Erica Medina?”
“Didn’t I say it already? I don’t care. In fact, I’d prefer if everyone knew.”

Uriella deliberately fell silent.

“When you’re anxious, you always keep quiet. Riel, if only you’d come to me, I could bear anything.”

Knock, knock.

“Your Highness!”

Interrupted, the crown prince let out a low sigh.

“Enter.”

A knight soon stepped inside and bowed.

“What is it, this early in the morning?”
“Lady Bliss Longo is in danger.”

At the mention of her sister’s name, Uriella’s face paled with shock.

“Your Highness, what do you mean? My sister is in danger?”
“Do you remember the letter I sent, saying I had something to tell you about your sisters?”

Uriella nodded faintly.

“I happened to learn that a noble had designs against Lady Bliss Longo. That’s what I wanted to speak of. But no matter how long I waited, you never came.”
“What…? Someone is targeting us…?”

Uriella felt as though she had been struck hard at the back of her head. Her fingertips trembled.

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. Just in case, I stationed guards around the mansion. There should be no problem. But come, let’s go quickly.”

Tears welled in Uriella’s eyes as she nodded.

News soon reached Duke Baraota’s estate: Bliss Longo’s ex-husband had appeared at her mansion and caused a scene.

The duke immediately set out for the Longo sisters’ residence.

“Has the palace received the letter?”
“By now, I believe so.”
“Tch, troublesome. He must have had someone backing him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared show up in the capital.”
“I’ll investigate.”

At Chaisson’s words, the duke nodded.

“Still, we were fortunate. The city guards arrived quickly.”

The duke resolved to station extra guards at the mansion from now on, to prevent another such incident.

“It seems we’ve arrived.”

As the duke stepped down from his carriage, Daisy greeted him with a polite bow.

“Your Grace, you’re here.”
“Was anyone harmed?”
“Thankfully, no. But Bliss seems quite shaken.”

Bliss sat outside the mansion on a chair provided by the city guard, staring blankly ahead.

“Bliss! Sister, are you all right?”

At Uriella’s voice, Bliss turned her head. The duke’s expression stiffened when he saw Uriella arriving together with the crown prince. He wondered why she was with him, and how they had managed to arrive so quickly—but for now, all he could do was watch her.

“Riel, I’m all right.”

Bliss tried to reassure her.

“All right? Your hands are freezing cold!”

The duke approached the sisters.

“Your Grace.”
“Are you well?”
“Yes, fortunately. Just a little startled.”
“Riel, you should go inside.”
“Rei, you were already here…”
“I’ll take care of things out here. Go in and put your mind at ease. Everyone must be shaken.”
“Very well.”

Uriella gathered her sisters and went inside.

“Your Highness.”
“Duke Baraota. I didn’t expect this. I thought you’d send a knight, not come yourself.”
“And I didn’t expect to see Your Highness here.”
“I happened to hear about it. And the duchess was so shocked by the news that she collapsed on the spot.”

The crown prince considered telling the truth of it, but refrained—for Uriella’s sake.

She’s already shaken enough. I can’t add more to her burdens.

“So, don’t be too wary. I acted only out of kindness. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Thank you for helping my wife. But next time, either one of my knights or I will handle it.”

It was a warning: Do not come closer.

“If you’re by her side, then I’ll leave it to you. But I’m not the sort to ignore someone in distress. If it happens again, I’ll likely act the same.”