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~Chapter 18~
The Duke had only been grumbling for a short while before he asked Gale,
“So, do you know where that younger brother went?”
“That… I do not.”
“What?”
“I heard that Her Majesty spoke with the warden in utmost secrecy. Even the guards do not know his whereabouts.”
‘This is bad. Count Balder, I have a promise with him…’
The Duke’s expression hardened as he spoke next.
“Gale, use the excuse of protecting Izaya to keep an eye on that woman. You’ll find out where her brother is.”
“Yes, Duke.”
Four days had passed since Izaya had been staying in the Imperial Palace with Ern for the purpose of care.
“You’re showing signs of sleep deprivation. The cause is presumed to be overwork, so you must rest and refrain from overexertion for about a week.”
Izaya let out a sigh as she watched Ern eating cookies in front of her.
‘Overwork, huh… just how much have you been pushing yourself…’
Her sympathetic gaze lingered for a moment before she added,
“Ern, don’t drink black tea. You won’t be able to sleep at night.”
Ern frowned, setting down his teacup.
“I heard there’s going to be a banquet soon.”
“Oh, my coming-of-age banquet.”
Izaya spoke, trying to gauge his reaction.
“If you don’t want to attend, you don’t have to. You dislike banquets anyway.”
Izaya meant it kindly, but Ern took offense.
“I don’t know when you’ll start talking about our enemies.”
Ern then stared at Izaya.
“I’ve recently become interested in banquets.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
Izaya was surprised. Even before the regression, Ern had never enjoyed banquets.
The only public events he’d attended were, at most, once every ten years for a founding ceremony.
‘Why would he suddenly say he wants to go to a banquet he has no interest in…’
Then she realized the difference between back then and now.
‘Of course, the circumstances are very different now.’
Before the regression, Ernfreit had lost his captain of the royal guards around this time.
The Duke of Lauchen had placed his loyal man Gale as the next captain, using “protection” as a pretext to oppress the Emperor.
But now, the captain was safe, and the Duke of Lauchen could attempt nothing.
‘And with the overwork, it’s only natural he’d want to enjoy himself.’
Moreover, Ern had never truly had fun since the age of ten.
Izaya’s gaze toward her husband softened with sympathy.
‘While we’re together, I’ll do my best to take care of him. That way, there won’t be regrets when the time comes to part.’
“Ern, is there anything you want to see at the banquet? A play or some sort of performance?”
Ern frowned as he replied,
“I detest anything flashy.”
“Then shall I hire musicians for a quiet recital?”
“You’ll put me to sleep.”
‘Such a picky one.’
Izaya glanced at him for a moment before checking the time.
“Where are you going?”
“To check that the banquet preparations are going well. Only three weeks left now.”
Unexpectedly, Ern spoke.
“Didn’t you say you’d stay by my side?”
“Well… I thought I’d go since you seem better now.”
“I’m still dizzy.”
Ern frowned as he replied, showing a side that betrayed his usual willpower.
‘Do you think I’m a weak child?’
Normally, he would have denied such a thing. He despised looking weak or receiving pity.
Yet now, despite himself, he admitted it.
“Yes, still dizzy.”
Immediately, Ern regretted his words.
‘What have I just said…’
But Izaya’s face showed concern.
“Are you okay? You didn’t skip your medicine, right?”
Seeing her worry, Ern couldn’t help but feel a bit good about it.
“I took it. Still dizzy.”
“Well, then the banquet inspection must be left to Melanie.”
Ern’s reluctant words made him unconsciously curl his lips into a smile.
‘Going to them was the right decision.’
A few days ago, when Izaya had fallen asleep, Ern had hurriedly left to seek advice from those who once gave him guidance on cheering up his wife.
The advice he received was simple:
“When she pretends to be weak and sick, her anger softens. Then, when she’s off-guard, suddenly giving her a gift usually settles her mood.”
As expected, it seemed to be working. He felt the relationship with Izaya improving.
‘At the banquet, I’ll just need to give her a gift.’
Ern then remembered the coming-of-age gift Izaya requested and frowned.
‘I have to pick it myself. What should I even give her?’
“By the way, Ern, how are the banquet preparations going?”
“Preparations?”
“What will you wear? You should think about how to dress that day.”
Ern glanced at Izaya’s excited expression before turning away as if indifferent.
Until now, no one had ever cared what the Emperor wore.
“Clothes? I’ll just wear what I have.”
Of course, even if the Emperor wore casual clothing, it would have been fine.
But Izaya hoped he would mingle with the nobles.
‘Among them, there are surely people who can be swayed by him.’
“Do you know the dress code?”
“Yes, blue, right?”
“Do you have a new blue outfit for the banquet?”
Of course not. They had never held a banquet before under the pretext of stabilizing national affairs.
“Why worry so much about clothing?” Ern said, as expected.
Izaya sighed.
“Banquet outfits must stand out from everyday wear. Especially people our age will dress up a lot, and if the Emperor looks gloomy…”
She stopped mid-sentence. Even in a simple shirt, Ern naturally shone.
‘No matter what I say, some things just won’t matter to him.’
Even if he wore rags, he would still look radiant.
Izaya realized she had to find another example.
Yet Ern seemed disturbed by the thought that others would dress up.
‘Other people will dress up, huh?’
Even if others dressed up, Izaya would remain unbothered.
But what if Izaya noticed someone else, like she did with Sir Ferguson before?
Even imagining it made him feel strangely uneasy.
“Forget it, just leave the banquet prep…”
Before she could finish, Ern left the room.
Izaya stared blankly for a moment, then exhaled quietly.
‘It seems to have worked. Thank goodness.’
Though she worried briefly, she knew Ern’s state very well.
‘But why pretend to be sick?’
“Your Majesty, the Empress, it’s Melanie.”
When Melanie arrived at the palace, Izaya led her to the reception room.
Two knights stood behind partitions, guarding for the Empress’ protection.
One of them was Gale.
‘So openly watching over her?’
Izaya and Melanie carried on their conversation calmly, as expected.
“How is your health?”
“I’m better, thanks to the precious medicine Your Majesty gave me.”
“Then it’s time for you to return as chief maid. It’s been easier with you away.”
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness. I will serve faithfully.”
“Good. Now that you’ve returned, I have a task for you.”
Izaya handed her a piece of paper.
[Write down any important future conversations here. It might be best to deceive him.]
Melanie smiled cunningly and nodded.
Izaya then handed her something else.
“Go outside the palace and deliver these letters to the named noblewomen.”
The envelopes bore the names of well-known ladies in high society.
“Yes, understood.”
“Also, stop by the jeweler and check if my jewelry is finished. The address is here.”
As she wrote quickly, Izaya added:
[Now that you’re recovered, I will let you see your brother as promised.]
‘But if he meets his brother, the hiding place will be discovered…’
While Melanie pondered this, Izaya added a few more instructions.
Melanie swallowed her tears and replied,
“Yes, I will obey your command.”
Meanwhile, Hans was enjoying his rare freedom.
‘It’s so good not to see His Majesty. How wonderful it would be if it were always like this.’
Bang!
“Hans!”
As the thought of something unlucky came to mind, Ern suddenly appeared.
