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Chapter 29
The word that burst out so suddenly caught Rosalyn off guard, and she fought to keep her composure.
“Te…?”
Mikhail tilted his head in puzzlement. The duke answered in his stead.
“Tenebé. A kingdom once located in the southwestern isles. Two hundred years ago, it was one of the countless nations subjugated during the great conquest of His Majesty, the First Emperor.”
“….”
Mikhail’s face went blank at the unexpected history lesson. The duke clicked his tongue.
“You clearly haven’t been listening to your history classes.”
Mikhail, struck right where it hurt, pressed his lips tightly together. But the duke’s scolding was only beginning.
“Every citizen of the Empire should know of the First Emperor’s glorious deeds. For a member of the imperial family, it is absolutely essential. I shall have to advise Her Majesty the Empress to pay more attention to Your Highness’s education.”
Erich smoothly interjected.
“There are plenty of nations whose names have faded into oblivion, are there not, Duke?”
It was the lifeline Mikhail needed, and he gazed at Erich as though he were a savior. The duke, unruffled, continued calmly.
“So I thought as well. But it seems there still remain royal heirs, even if their kingdom’s name has vanished.”
The words could only refer to what had happened last night.
And the duke did not stop there.
“I have just returned from petitioning His Majesty the Emperor to extend his benevolence toward the descendants of such fallen thrones. If loyal vassals who once bowed beneath the Empire’s glory are suffering, should we not, by duty, provide for them?”
Mikhail’s expression glazed over with boredom, and he began to lift himself out of his seat.
“Ah— I have lessons. Excuse me.”
The duke stood as well.
“And I must return to my estate. Until next time, Your Highness.”
Mikhail’s face soured at the unwelcome farewell. As he glared at the duke’s retreating back—
“I heard the southern breadbasket has been stricken with drought this year…”
The low murmur made Mikhail pause and turn.
The words had come from Rosalyn.
“Drought…?”
Mikhail didn’t grasp her meaning, but Erich did, and picked up her thread.
“The imperial treasury has nearly run dry. His Majesty has been most troubled.”
“And supporting the heirs of ruined thrones would be… costly?”
“Very costly.”
Understanding finally dawned across Mikhail’s face.
The Emperor often quizzed his heirs about state matters during evening banquets. And this—an official petition from Duke Aynderth, no less—was certain to become tonight’s subject.
“So, the point is… it would cost too much.”
Mikhail nodded sagely, looking satisfied with himself. Rosalyn and Erich shared a fleeting glance.
Like a student delighted to have finished his homework, Mikhail bounded away from the gazebo.
With their task concluded, Rosalyn and Erich returned toward the Silver Knights’ headquarters.
“We make quite the pair, don’t we?”
Walking backward with perfect balance, Erich flashed her an easy grin.
“So tell me, how does it feel? Having me as your partner instead of that dreadfully boring Cassis?”
“….”
“What, are you speechless because it’s just that good?”
Rosalyn mouthed desperately for him to stop—too late.
“And what exactly do you mean by that?”
The voice cut in, cold as a winter gale.
A man in the stark black uniform of the Black Iron Knights, the one splash of darkness amid the dazzling palace halls.
Cassis.
After giving Erich the briefest of formal courtesies, he went straight to the point.
“I’ll be taking back my aide.”
Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
‘He really came all the way to the palace just to fetch me?’
Erich’s lips curled into a crooked smile.
“You might’ve simply sent word, you know. No need to trouble yourself coming in person.”
But of course, had he only sent word, Erich would have ignored it entirely. Both men knew that truth too well.
“I see last night’s company left an impression you couldn’t forget.”
The crude insinuation froze Cassis’s face at once.
Rosalyn leaned subtly toward him, trying to defuse the tension.
“Since the Commander is here for me, I’ll be taking my leave…”
“Trading one man for another the instant he appears? How cold-hearted.”
Erich’s words were designed to provoke misunderstanding. Rosalyn met it with a calm smile.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Commander of the Silver Knights.”
The clean cut of her words wiped the amusement from Erich’s face. He spun on his heel.
“Honestly… my little brother always was high-maintenance.”
His departing mutter carried clearly. Cassis ignored it. For him, the very notion that Erich—estranged from the family—still dared call him “brother” was unacceptable.
Once Erich was gone, Cassis turned to Rosalyn.
“…Nothing happened, did it?”
Rosalyn’s eyes widened slightly.
‘Was that… concern? From the stoic Commander himself?’
His voice carried unmistakable worry. Forcing her surprise down, she answered in her usual tone.
“No, nothing. Sir Erich merely gave me a tour of the palace.”
Best not to mention her encounter with the duke.
Thankfully, Cassis moved on.
“Why would the Commander of the Silver Knights assign you as his aide?”
“Ah, that. A few days ago, when Deputy Commander Dylan was acting as interim commander, there was… a clash with Sir Erich over who should serve as ‘aide to the commander.’”
Cassis frowned.
He had received reports that morning about what transpired during his absence, but this particular detail was missing. Deliberately omitted by Hugh Dylan.
“Explain. Everything.”
Rosalyn hurried to recount the story—though she neatly skipped over the part where she’d initially ignored the summons.
‘Hah, so Dylan left it out of his report out of embarrassment. His loss!’
Her lively, almost theatrical retelling continued even after they’d climbed into the carriage.
When she finally finished, Cassis’s face was set in grim lines.
In his absence, his deputy had clearly overstepped.
Rosalyn studied him closely.
Even though the pallor of illness still lingered, his downward gaze and contemplative expression made his features all the more striking. There was a certain weary beauty to him now—an almost decadent air she had never seen before.
Without realizing it, she stared too intently. And when Cassis finally lifted his head, their eyes met.
“….”
The silence was strangely charged.
Then Cassis spoke.
“I apologize on his behalf.”
Rosalyn blinked, startled.
‘He’s… different today. His mood, his tone—everything feels different…’
