TLDWAE 19

Chapter 19

“Karia… no, my sister is getting a divorce?”

“Getting a divorce, my foot! Who said I’d ever allow such a thing? Absolutely not! Never!”

At Princess Serivis’s question, the Emperor exploded in anger. He could not possibly allow Karia to return to the Grand Duke’s household and plunge the entire family back into walking on thin ice.

His younger brother had already suffered greatly because of Karia. Relations with the Grand Duchess had only just begun to improve—how could he allow those fragile bonds to be broken again?

“Why all of a sudden? She seemed to be getting by fine until now, what’s the problem?”

“They say she nearly died after falling down the stairs, and when she came to, she claimed she wanted to start living her own life. Can you believe it? She’s long since reached adulthood, yet she’s spouting rebellious nonsense like some teenager!”

“She… nearly died? Then how come no one ever heard about it?”

At Crown Prince Robert’s sharp remark, silence fell over the table. In truth, not only outsiders but even her own royal relatives knew almost nothing about Karia’s married life.

“I knew their relationship wasn’t exactly warm, but Duke Pandeon has gone too far. His wife was critically injured, and he still went around partying and laughing?”

“T-that’s only because His Grace is busy! No matter how hard he manages the fief, the situation won’t improve, so what else could he do?”

“How can things improve when a thief lives in his very house? No matter how he whines, unless that thief is driven out, I won’t give him any support. Isn’t it just pouring water into a broken jar?”

The Emperor clicked his tongue, recalling Duke Pandeon, who despite his youth always wore a worried expression. He was, in many ways, a capable man. Intelligent, willing to bow his head for the sake of his goals.

And yet, as if the lamp’s base were always in darkness, he was constantly betrayed by the same person. Was it because he didn’t know, or because he knew but chose to ignore it?

Since the Duchy of Pandeon was an important territory of the Castaros Empire, the Emperor gave minimal support, but he had no intention of wasting money on a hopeless cause—not even for his nephew-in-law.

“Your Majesty, the High Priest of the Temple requests an audience.”

“The High Priest? At this hour, why?”

“Well… he said it concerns the ‘Scales’…”

At that moment, the chamberlain entered to report the priest’s visit. At the word “Scales,” the Emperor’s expression hardened instantly.

“My appetite’s gone. I’ll go see him. You finish your meal.”

The Emperor rose from his seat. Serivis tilted her head as she watched her father’s back receding.

“What’s this ‘Scales’? Every time it comes up, Father gets all tense. Brother, do you know anything?”

“Who knows.”

Robert shrugged with a faint, knowing smile. He resumed his meal, while Serivis watched him closely, then pouted and tried fishing for answers.

“Father’s being unfair. My sister isn’t the sort to stir up trouble without reason. If she’s asking for divorce, there must be something behind it, but he just yells at her.”

“Well, well. Is the sun going to rise in the west tomorrow? Since when did you ever take Karia’s side?”

“Oh, come on. I’m not a child anymore.”

It was true. In her childhood, Serivis had constantly tormented Karia. Born late into the imperial family, she was always doted on by her older brothers. When Karia appeared and stole some of that attention, she resented her bitterly.

Karia, far more timid than the little princess, was always on the receiving end. But eventually Serivis grew bored and left her alone. Since then, she had acted as though Karia were invisible.

“You know as well as I do—even if Duke Pandeon divorces her, Father will never let you go to him. Give it up.”

Robert knew his little sister too well. She had been infatuated with Duke Pandeon for years now, trailing after him.

Everyone who mattered knew about it. Even the Emperor had scolded her for it, which was rare. And yet Serivis still refused to let go of her feelings.

Robert sighed heavily and set down his utensils—his plate was already empty.

“You’re hardly eating these days. If you’re not well, don’t endure it. Let the palace physician see you.”

“Yes, Brother.”

With concern for his sister, who hadn’t touched her food, Robert left early for work. Serivis, however, remained lost in thought, sitting until her food grew cold.

“Urgh!”

Suddenly, she clapped a hand over her mouth, gagging.

“Ugh… what am I going to do?”

It was becoming harder and harder to eat anything. With no real meals, her health was worsening. Soon, her vision dimmed and the world spun around her. Still, she did not summon the royal physician. No one could know about her condition.

Sweating and trembling, Serivis slowly laid a hand on her belly.

“What am I going to do with you, my baby?”

Biting down hard on her lip, she drew blood, which only brought another wave of nausea. She had to act—she could no longer put this off.

“Are you going out, my lady?”

“…And what if I am?”

After a warm morning bath and a change into fresh clothes, Karia packed a small bundle of belongings and headed for the entrance.

And there, as if waiting for her, stood Jurrin Valtos. Somehow, he always seemed to know. He had surely heard from the Duke not only about her dealings with the Grand Madam, but also about her strange behavior. Yet he greeted her with the same stiff manner as ever.

“It’s unsafe alone. Please take Sir Ansen with you.”

“Duchess, allow me to escort you.”

“…No need. I’ll be fine by myself.”

And then she was confronted by her tiresome escort—the one always paired with her and her rickety carriage.

Ansen Miller. A young knight, barely come of age last year. In truth, he was no real escort at all—he had never once carried her burdens, merely stood nearby in name only.

“I’ll order the carriage prepared. Where are we headed today?”

“…”

“The weather is fine. The sky’s clear and blue—unlike yesterday’s clouds.”

“…Sir.”

Something about him today was strange. Normally sullen and silent, he now smiled brightly, even chatted amiably.

Karia found it deeply unpleasant.

“Were you always this talkative?”

“Well, I—”

He wasn’t really an escort, but a spy. Obviously the Duke had stationed him to report on where she went and whom she met.

Still—after nearly three years of openly ignoring her, did he really think she would welcome his sudden friendliness? Then again, with a master like that, what could be expected of his underlings?

“…Apologies.”

“You’ll ignore my orders anyway, but at least keep quiet about it.”

Karia climbed into the small carriage Ansen had prepared, shutting the window so she wouldn’t have to see his face.

She hadn’t yet found her own carriage, so for today she would endure this.

She told the driver her destination.

“Take me behind the marketplace.”

“That’s not the usual orphanage today.”

After that, she ignored all of Ansen’s questions.

“Uh… Duchess? What exactly is this—?”

Only when they reached her destination, a shabby tavern, did Ansen finally realize that she was truly angry.

“I’m putting in a request with the Black Night. Two gold coins to whoever can kick that bastard’s ass and keep him away from me.”

“Duchess!”

The truth was, Ansen had always resented this duty of being her escort.

Me? Her bodyguard?

He had been born and raised in Pandeon territory, spending his life helping neighbors survive the winters and hunting down bandits. That was all he knew. A commoner, raised among street thugs—he had never imagined, nor desired, the refined task of guarding a noblewoman.

Come on, you know I can’t do this sort of thing. Just let me hunt bandits.

You’re no longer a delinquent. You’re a soldier. Why do you think we made you a knight? Orders are absolute.

But still—!

But wishes didn’t matter in the army. Ansen was strong enough to wrestle a bear alone. After being taught the sword properly, he became a knight in just three years.

What he thought was a blessing turned out to be a debt. He spat on the ground, cursing the damn “duties of a knight.”

Ugh, should I just quit and throw off this uniform?

He said it, but he couldn’t. His grandmother and little sister relied on his wages to survive each winter. No matter how degrading, he had no way to abandon this gloomy job of escorting the Duchess.

So she can smile, after all?

Over time, the role became routine. She was meek, never throwing her weight around as nobles often did. Watching her roll up her sleeves at the orphanage, he saw her humanity.

What was it about this fragile woman that made everyone in the mansion despise her so? But he had no right to ask. He was only a low-ranking knight on the Pandeon payroll.

And yet…

I am the Emperor’s niece, the Grand Duke’s daughter. Sixth in line to the throne, a royal with my name in the imperial registry. And yet in this household, why does everyone act like I don’t exist?

When she threatened the Grand Madam with, “Do you want your wrist chopped off?” Ansen finally realized—something here was very, very wrong.