A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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86.
The Hunting Festival has been presided over by the women of the Imperial Court for generations.
Moreover, Milena’s husband carried Redford blood—though from a distant branch. It was reason enough to present a gift.
“…Are you trying to curry favor with me now? Even if you offer me a gift, victory at the Hunting Festival belongs to whoever captures the prey that pleases the Emperor.”
“It pains me that you would interpret my sincerity so harshly.”
“Well, it’s not difficult to accept. But tell me—from whom did you receive this gift, and how?”
She was perceptive, wasn’t she?
I clicked my tongue inwardly but continued with a smile.
“The 1st Prince gave it to me. And the reason is what happened at the Empress’s tea party.”
“…A tea party.”
Milena tilted her head with a meaningful smile.
“You mean the one where His Highness’s maidservant spilled a drink on the young lady of the Marquess, and His Highness shouted that the Empress was being disrespectful?”
“…It seems the Former Crown Princess believes I was at fault, judging by how you phrase it.”
“Shouting at the Empress wasn’t the right thing to do.”
I’d heard that Milena wasn’t close to the Empress.
Since her dismissive attitude toward me was unmistakable, I gently stroked the gift on the table.
“But the Emperor summoned me privately and apologized on my behalf.”
“…!”
“It seems the Former Crown Princess’s thoughts differ from His Majesty’s.”
At my smile, Milena’s eyes narrowed. After studying me for a moment, she offered a gentle smile.
“…What does my opinion matter? His Majesty the Emperor’s thoughts are what truly matter.”
“…”
“I’ll take the gift.”
As expected, the moment I invoked the Emperor, her attitude shifted completely.
Even if Emperor Yukal had become a recluse in his chambers, he remained a figure of terror to Milena.
“Though won’t the 1st Prince be displeased?”
“That’s possible. But as you well know, keeping it won’t improve relations between the 1st Prince and my husband either.”
“…How direct.”
Milena didn’t even unwrap the package. She placed a cigarette between her lips and spoke indifferently.
“I’ll take it gladly.”
* * *
After handing the gift to Milena, I went to Leonard Blake’s office.
“Did she accept it?”
“Yes, though she seemed to test the waters a few times. Nothing more.”
Milena values precious gifts. No matter how much we frame it as Demian’s gift being distasteful, if it’s worth something, she’ll accept it.
I shrugged and sat on the sofa.
“By the way, has the Sixth Prince found the Hades informant?”
“…He’s failed, apparently.”
Leonard Blake brushed aside the hair that had fallen across his forehead.
“I thought he’d be able to find someone operating in the shadows, but it seems difficult.”
“In the original work, Hades seemed to appear alongside me, but there’s no other information?”
“Hades came to find James directly. James didn’t seek him out.”
“Should we just extract information from that Marquis Gardin?”
“Let’s wait a little longer. Besides that.”
Silence settled over the room for a moment. Then he lifted his gaze.
“Will you go tomorrow…?”
“Go where?”
“The 3rd Empress’s execution.”
“!!”
Now that I thought about it, I realized what he’d been looking at so intently—my clothes.
The cloak and formal uniform I’d need to wear, gloves and shoes. Even a sword. My heart sank in an instant.
“…What about Benjamin and the Princesses?”
“Rosalian Cleur is keeping them from witnessing it. But I must attend. You are free to choose.”
-A hothouse flower….
As Count Pixis’s words came to mind, my fists clenched tightly.
“…I’ll go.”
The 3rd Empress’s choice was not wrong.
She simply became a loser in this succession struggle. It could have been Leonard and me just as easily.
So I had to face the terrifying reality that one wrong step away from the correct answer leads to the guillotine.
This is no comfortable hothouse, after all.
“Leonard, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
I anticipated that asking this question might damage our peaceful atmosphere somewhat.
But it was something I had to ask before going to Blackwood.
“About your past…”
* * *
The 3rd Empress’s execution was conducted solemnly and darkly among the imperial family alone, hidden from the eyes of the Empire’s citizens.
When asked if she had any last words, she said she did not, and vanished like morning dew on the execution grounds.
The citizens whispered that it was a cruel treatment for an Empress Consort.
But they fell silent upon hearing it was the conclusion reached between the 1st Prince and the Sixth Prince.
Some of the territorial people in Silverstone who retained their loyalty rose up in indignation, but were cleanly suppressed by the newly appointed nobility.
It was a possible outcome—history repeating itself in Blake.
The Aristocratic Elder of Silverstone still requested that, having borne imperial children, her remains be preserved.
The 3rd Empress’s body was burned, placed in a small box, and given into Benjamin’s hands.
Leonard and I departed for Blackwood several days later.
* * *
Contrary to my imagination, Blackwood was ordinary.
I had expected forests teeming with monsters, thinking the territorial people would either hide away or be on edge, but it was no different from the Capital.
However, when we arrived at Iaphe Castle, I couldn’t help but gasp slightly.
The dark gray stone walls stretched upward as if they had stood there since ancient times, and the soaring spires seemed to send some kind of warning toward the heavens.
Wolf statues carved at intervals along the city walls and the rough, billowing flags of Blackwood.
The very castle seemed to emanate an atmosphere of defiance against monsters.
“It’s rather… heavy, isn’t it?”
If Silverstone’s Teia Castle was resplendent, then Blackwood’s Iaphe Castle was taciturn.
When I paused for a moment, overwhelmed by the atmosphere, I spotted several figures at the end of the meticulously maintained path, attended by servants.
Leonard spoke to me quietly.
“The Second Empress—that is, my mother Katrina, my uncle Maddox, my cousin Gardin, and lastly my sister Princess Lilith.”
The entire family had turned out.
Though I hadn’t expected my uncle and cousin to live in this castle.
‘Well, the castle is quite vast, and he did mention needing someone to manage the estate in his absence.’
I sighed and adjusted my attire properly.
As I stepped forward slowly, the Second Empress approached me first.
Like Princess Lilith, she had warm chestnut hair and beautifully curved eyes that were quite lovely.
Since she wasn’t using the magic of youth, I was spared the worry of having to distinguish whether she and Princess Lilith beside her were sisters.
“Welcome, Charlotte.”
She smiled warmly and grasped my hand readily.
Maddox, Gardin, and Lilith greeted me in turn.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Welcome, sister-in-law.”
Princess Lilith’s gaze left me in barely 0.1 seconds before she rushed toward Leonard.
“Brother, I missed you so much!!”
She tried to embrace Leonard, but Katrina firmly stopped her.
“Lilith, your sister-in-law is here now. Don’t behave like a child.”
“…”
“You must be tired, Charlotte?”
The Empress who had called my name suddenly gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.
“I’m sorry. I spoke your name too casually.”
“Not at all. You’re Leonard’s… mother, after all.”
“Is that so? Then I can speak informally with you?”
“Well, that…”
It doesn’t seem quite right just yet.
Isn’t it customary for the imperial family to decline three times as a matter of propriety?
—I wanted to say, but Katrina had already turned away.
“My mind, really. I’ve prepared some light refreshments. Let’s go inside.”
Her speech had become more casual in the blink of an eye.
And before I knew it, I was being led into the castle with my arm linked through Katrina’s.
She wasn’t as aggressive toward me as the Empress had been, but this sudden unease must just be my imagination, right?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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