MFHSL 11

Chapter 11

Ericsen waited for me for a full four hours. It wasn’t intentional on my part, but I knew he’d think I’d made him wait on purpose—headache-inducing.

“Sir Ericsen.”

“Regent.”

He hadn’t even touched the refreshments prepared for him, nor had he taken a seat.

“Apologies for making you wait so long.”

“On the contrary, thank you for arriving earlier than I expected.”

The sarcasm was as sharp as ever. I maintained a calm facade and gestured to the seat.

“Why did you summon me again?”

Would it kill him to at least soften his tone a little? But subtlety was never Ericsen’s strong suit.

In the past, that straightforwardness was convenient. Now, it was a pain.

“Because of Lexin.”

“You mean after exiling him for a ridiculous reason, and now suddenly this?”

“Better late than never, don’t you think?”

I took a sip of tea. I needed it to deal with him.

“What have you done to His Majesty?”

“What do you mean by ‘done’?”

“I heard you told him he could call you aunt.”

“Well, I am his aunt.”

“And is that how an aunt treats her nephew?”

“……”

It was true that Lexin was smaller than most kids his age. And I was part of the reason. A large part, really. I had no defense. That’s why I was trying to take responsibility now.

“That’s why I need you.”

“……”

“Because it’s clear I’ve been a terrible guardian.”

“That’s the first true thing you’ve said.”

That mouth of his…

I suppressed the urge to snap back. Pushing his buttons now would serve no purpose.

“I’m glad you came running like this. It means you truly care about Lexin.”

“No matter what you do from now on, I’m staying by His Majesty’s side.”

“That’s what I was hoping for.”

My agreeable answer made him scowl, as if it annoyed him.

I never expected to persuade him with words. Expecting him to believe me right away would be like wishing for two suns in the sky.

“Of course you were,” he scoffed.

“At the upcoming Hecate Festival, I’ll swear an oath before the High Priest to safeguard Lexin’s claim to the throne.”

At that, his expression changed—surprise broke through his usual stern face.

A vow before the High Priest wasn’t just empty words. It was bound by divine force. Breaking such an oath meant divine punishment and an unavoidable obligation to fulfill it. So most people avoided invoking Hecate’s vow lightly. It was a binding contract, deadly serious.

“If you still don’t believe me after that… then there’s nothing I can do.”

“……”

“I’m just telling you how it is.”

As he stood in stunned silence, I took another sip of tea. My words had clearly rattled him.

“Then keep your word.”

“Of course.”

He looked ready to draw his sword if I didn’t.

Without even waiting for me to dismiss him, Ericsen stormed out.

Just dealing with him this morning had drained me.

‘At least he’ll stay quiet for a few days now.’

But my plans to rest before the festival were soon crushed.

A rumor had spread in the capital—that I went on dates with Duke Dierik during the day and took Maxim to bed at night.

There were too many eyes in the palace during the day. But night was different. No one could say who came and went under cover of darkness. So… there was no one who could disprove the ridiculous rumor either. Maxim had exploited that.

‘Damn that cotton-candy menace.’

Just imagining Axsion hearing that rumor made my head throb.

‘Should I just say I’m sick today?’

I was currently waiting for Axsion.

We were supposed to pick out outfits for the upcoming Hecate Festival together.

In the past, I’d simply called a tailor to me rather than going with him, but this time was different.

‘Actually, we didn’t even wear matching outfits last time, even though we planned to.’

Why was my karma endless?

I sighed like I was trying to expel all the air inside me.

I’d come up with dozens of excuses to back out—but in the end, I decided not to run.

Later, I found out Axsion thought I was avoiding him while planning his birthday party. He assumed I was locking him in a dungeon or something.

Just a few days of absence, and he thought my feelings had changed again.

I couldn’t take that risk.

‘Better to confront it head-on.’

I would tell him myself that the rumors were false.

Things had been going well between us lately. Maybe he’d believe me if I told him plainly. That thought eased my nerves a bit.

While I was lost in thought, the carriage pulled up in front of me.

“You didn’t wait inside?”

“I just came out.”

As soon as I boarded, the carriage set off.

Axsion, sitting across from me, wore his usual calm expression.

‘Maybe he hasn’t heard the rumor?’

I entertained the idea—but shook my head internally. No way. His talkative vice-captain, Douglas Mateo, was always by his side. He had to have heard.

That man was probably praying for a broken engagement.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”

“Huh?”

Only then did I realize I had been staring at him intensely.

“Or… is there something on my face?”

At his follow-up question, I quickly shook my head.

Maybe he was waiting for me to bring it up first.

“Did you… hear the rumor?”

“You mean the one where you supposedly sleep with Maxim Dolan every night…”

“Stop! That’s enough!”

I hadn’t expected him to say it so bluntly, and I cut him off in a panic.

“Yes, that rumor.”

“I heard it.”

“And… are you okay with it?”

That rumor wasn’t so much a threat to my reputation—there wasn’t much further down for me to fall—but it was definitely damaging to Axsion’s.

After all, a grand duke being tossed aside for some nobody’s son? That was humiliating.

“I’m fine.”

He answered without hesitation, but I felt unsettled. I pressed him again.

“Really? Why?”

“Because I am fine.”

“So, you mean…”

What part of it was fine? That it was just a rumor? Or that it’d be fine even if it were true?

“You’re fine with me being with Maxim Dolan at night?”

“Yes.”

Why are bad premonitions never wrong?

His answer left me stunned.

Why was he okay with it? Had he stopped liking me? Then why was he still being so kind?

My mind was a mess. I kept opening and closing my mouth, unable to form words. It was like something was caught in my throat.

“No matter what you do… I’m fine with it.”

“…What?”

The conversation was going off the rails. Unlike my confusion, Axsion continued calmly.

“If that’s what Jen wants, then I understand.”

So… he never even considered that it might be just a rumor?

It felt like someone had smacked me across the back of the head. My whole body went numb.

I clenched my trembling hands tightly. I had to, or I’d lose control.

My plan to apologize for the false rumor and comfort him—shattered completely.

“Are you an idiot?”

“……”

“You’re okay with this? You’re okay with me being with Maxim Dolan?”

“……”

I knew how awful this sounded to him. But I didn’t care anymore. Even though it was my fault the rumor had spread, I still had to say this.

“Tell me, Sion. Would you be fine if I kissed Maxim Dolan?”

At that, Axsion’s eyes darkened.

“If… that’s what you want.”

He still wouldn’t change his answer.

He looked just like he had the day he said he’d die for me. The same expression he wore back then.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed my fist against the carriage door.

“Stop the carriage!”

“…Jen.”

Only then did his green eyes seem to waver, ever so slightly. The carriage stopped on a quiet roadside. Before the door even opened, I shoved it aside and jumped out. I didn’t know where I was going—just that I had to get away.

I could hear him following behind me.

“Jen! Where are you going?”

“Don’t follow me!”

I yelled without looking back, but he kept coming.

The knights and attendants tried to follow too, but Axsion held them off. I stormed into a forest thick with trees.

“Jen, it’s dangerous that way.”

“I don’t care.”

“Jeneia.”

He finally caught up and grabbed my wrist.

Though his grip was gentle, I yanked my arm away fiercely.

“…Why are you so angry?”

He genuinely looked confused. Seeing that face crushed me inside.

‘Who do I think I am… What right do I even have…’

“Why am I angry?”

“…Please tell me.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I bit down hard on my lip.