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Chapter – 13
The office of Count Decar, the treasurer of the Administrative Palace.
As usual, Count Decar, the master of the seat, stood before his desk with a serious expression. Sitting in Decar’s chair was his superior, Crown Prince Edgar, writing with his usual cheerful smile.
“Your Highness, going to Riotium yourself… that’s—”
“There’s no one there to welcome me. If Count Gerard of Riotium or Baron Fior were present, it would be lucky enough just not to be thrown out. Isn’t that right?”
“How can you say that knowing the circumstances…?”
Instead of answering his shocked subordinate, Edgar merely placed his signature on the letter he had been writing and handed it to the count.
It began with:
“To the Honorable Gerard, Count of Riotium, and Baron Fior”
And ended with:
“Diphine, Count Decar”
It expressed his wish to visit the Riotium residence as early as the next day.
“Send it after signing, Diphine. Count Riotium is away in his domain. If you visit tomorrow, there’s little chance the count will be in the capital.”
“Baron Fior will not allow Your Highness in.”
“What if the baron cannot even keep the appointment at the residence tomorrow?”
“Excuse me?”
“At tomorrow’s breakfast, I’ll tell His Majesty about Baron Ganier. Riotium wouldn’t want to miss being summoned, so Gerard Riotium will come to the palace. By then, it’ll be too late to cancel the appointment, leaving only the Riotium young lady at the residence to welcome the guest.”
“…This could cause serious friction with Riotium, Your Highness. If His Majesty finds out you are exerting influence over Riotium, he will be furious.”
“I’ll only go in after confirming that Gerard Riotium has headed to the palace, so stop worrying, Diphine.”
“Why do you not seem concerned about the young lady?”
“I’m counting on the old bonds. She may not remember much, but that’s precisely why she won’t want to escalate matters. Especially if her family told her nothing, even more so.”
“Even if the young lady does not reveal anything, what about the many servants in the Riotium residence? News of Your Highness’ visit will spread through the capital within a day.”
“Ah, that reminds me, Diphine. Can you get me some hair dye?”
“Excuse me…?”
“Make it brown, the same color as yours.”
Unable to refuse the prince’s wish, the count’s worried face deepened, and Edgar chuckled as he shook his head.
“The Riotium staff won’t know what you look like. If a brown-haired man arrives in a carriage bearing Decar’s crest, they’ll think it’s you.”
“Even going this far, Your Highness, what is the reason for visiting Riotium?”
“Doesn’t it seem strange?”
“Excuse me?”
“Baron Fior would never ask his sister to appraise a painting. Even if the young lady wished for it, considering the baron’s overprotectiveness, he would never allow it. Yet, the young lady is supposed to meet you…”
“Do you suspect another reason?”
“Well… I have no concrete idea, which makes it even stranger.”
A feeling that had long been buried stirred again the moment he saw her. He swallowed the feelings he didn’t want to surface, hiding behind a mask of calm.
His only concern was to bring Riotium over to his side, so he told Diphine not to worry too much.
“Would I dare worry over Your Highness’ intentions?”
Count Decar hesitated briefly, then lowered his head with a sigh.
“Then I shall prepare as you commanded.”
Edgar rose from his seat. Instead of returning immediately to the palace, he took the path beside the Administrative Palace and entered the Greenery Garden, letting out a soft sigh.
‘I’ve never seen the Greenery Garden before, but I’ve always wanted to…’
“Never seen it?”
Rosemary Riotium had never seen the Greenery Garden? Impossible. The first time he met her as a child was precisely in this garden.
This whole endeavor might be a reckless decision prompted by her lack of memory. His concern was natural.
Visiting the Riotium residence and meeting the young lady alone was enough to cause worry. There was a deep rift between the royal family and Riotium.
“….”
He regretted his immature actions in childhood. He shouldn’t have revealed everything. That mistake forced him to hide his true feelings behind a mask ever since.
Who truly knew the real him? Everyone had only ever wanted the future emperor’s expected image.
“Rosemary… Riotium.”
Edgar smiled like a mask as he turned his steps.
The Crown Prince pretending to be Count Decar at the Riotium residence. Surely he didn’t think I wouldn’t recognize him. Then this charade must be to deceive everyone else.
“Amy.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“No need to serve refreshments.”
“Excuse me? Ah… yes, Miss.”
Amy, startled, repeated the words and quickly lowered her head again.
“Rodel.”
“Yes.”
“Bring the painting for the Count to the second-floor gallery. I’ll take him there now.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The household was clearly anxious, unsettled by her refusal to serve tea or explain Gerard’s absence.
“Housekeeper.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“You don’t need to follow.”
Even dismissing the staff seemed to confuse them further. But it was necessary.
If she called him Your Highness here, the house would be thrown into chaos, and the relationship between the crown and Riotium would only worsen.
Only after entering the large room used as a gallery on the second floor did she turn to face the prince.
“Your Highness.”
“Miss, I apologize if I startled you.”
Seeing him smile so brightly despite secretly entering under Decar’s guise drew a small laugh from her.
If Gerard were present, he wouldn’t have come. This was part of the plan: with Gerard away, only she could attend to the Count.
“I came, taking the risk of being rude, because I wanted another chance to speak with you. This was the only way.”
Had she been an ordinary young lady, her heart might have skipped at these words, like a heroine in a romance novel.
But for her, it was only flattering words that heightened her vigilance.
“You came in the guise of Count Decar knowing that you cannot be welcomed at Riotium, correct?”
His mask-like smile cracked slightly at her words, revealing a trace of bitterness. It unsettled her further.
“Of course, Miss.”
“Even so, I doubt you came here simply to see me.”
“Should I tell you that it truly is only to see you?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She did not shy away from his scrutinizing gaze.
“You said you’ve never seen the Greenery Garden.”
“Yes?”
“So I came, Miss.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t you remember? There was a time when Riotium was still a strong supporter of the crown. I met you then.”
“….”
“In the Greenery Garden.”
She pressed her lips together. He was not lying. She could even guess the approximate timing.
Although she had mostly retained memories from her previous life, there was a period missing, like a film cut short.
At eight, after a serious illness, certain memories were naturally absent. Riotium had distanced itself from the crown since then. It fit the timeline. And now, the crown prince…
“We were friends, you and I.”
“Excuse me?”
“You even reached out your hand first… and you’ve forgotten it all.”
It was impossible to hide her astonishment.
She wasn’t even a character in the original story, yet she had such a past with the protagonist? That should belong in an Iclett storyline.
“I’m here partly so that you remember those times. But…”
The crown prince stepped closer.
“Even if you don’t remember, I want you to be on my side.”
“…Riotium has long turned its back on the crown, Your Highness.”
“I’m not asking you to side with the crown or the emperor.”
Not the crown, but the crown prince—his words carried a clear meaning.
The emperor and the crown prince had entirely different political alignments.
The crown prince, who had always pretended to obediently follow the emperor, would eventually turn against him near the end, gaining support from progressive factions and Duke Kaisus, overthrowing the emperor with Iclett’s influence.
But that’s not this story’s timeline. And Riotium wasn’t involved in any of that yet.
“My father and brother chose neutrality to avoid being dragged into politics. Even if His Majesty tried every method to persuade my father, it wouldn’t work. And under these circumstances, you could not possibly gain my support this way.”
The crown prince smiled, shaking his head.
“Choosing neutrality to avoid political sway… Is that what the Count said?”
Her words caught in her throat.
Even though she thought she knew most things, there were stories she didn’t know.
“Riotium turned its back on the crown because of you, Miss.”
“Pardon?”
“If you’re curious, come see me next time. You can meet me without using these measures.”
“How could I possibly visit Your Highness at my own discretion?”
“Always.”
“Yes?”
“My palace has always been open to you. Ever since… whenever it was that you lost the memory, always.”
