Chapter 4 – Meeting in Atrichen

“Do I resemble my father?”

Kael envisioned the face of his father, Emperor Copper, who was likely impatiently awaiting his return so they could embark on a trip with Empress Selleria.

Empress Selleria, once tough and charismatic in her youth, defied the norms of a typical noblewoman. She was the most elusive figure in the social circles. Yet, it was this very woman who had captured the heart of the current emperor, Copper, at first sight.

“Love…”

The crown prince’s heart, which had remained steadfast for twenty-five years, now throbbed erratically. Despite his efforts to maintain the seriousness expected of a crown prince, he couldn’t suppress the smile that crept onto his face.

* * *

The journey from Theorin Kingdom’s Voltern region to the Perkan Empire was long and grueling, with heavy snowfall slowing their progress. It took nearly two months to reach the imperial province of Renslat, disrupting their plan to arrive before the new year.

To acknowledge their efforts, a week-long break was granted for everyone to recover from the arduous journey once they finally reached the imperial palace. It was a much-needed respite, especially for Kael. Unfortunately, he found it impossible to rest properly as his thoughts were consumed by Irene. Even on the last night of his leave, he couldn’t find a moment’s peace, returning to his duties looking weary.

“It’s serious,” Kael muttered.

“Pardon me? Are you unwell?” Wellen asked, tilting his head.

Wellen, the second son of Marquis Charis and Kael’s trusted aide, entered the crown prince’s office and found Kael sitting at his desk. The crown prince wore a troubled expression and appeared taken aback by the notes he’d scribbled in a luxurious notebook.

“It’s nothing,” Kael replied gently, moving to conceal the notebook, his gestures reflecting an unusual urgency.

Wellen squinted suspiciously at Kael and then at the notebook. Despite Kael’s efforts, it hadn’t been properly hidden. To his surprise, Wellen found a title scrawled in ornate calligraphy at the top, followed by a list of rather sentimental contents.

My Plans When I Have a Wife:

1. Compliment her beauty every day.

2. Declare my love for her daily.

3. Enjoy delicious meals together.

4. Secretly escape the imperial palace for a trip together.

5. Shower her with beautiful and thoughtful gifts.

“A list of things you want to do when you have a wife?” Wellen pondered the sudden change in Kael’s behavior. This wasn’t characteristic of the crown prince, and Wellen began to feel alarmed.

Has Your Highness… lost his composure?

Nevertheless, he restrained his urge to question Kael further. There were more pressing matters at hand.

“Did you bring it?” Kael asked.

“Before that, please look at this.”

Kael ignored the piece of paper Wellen held out and casually replied, “Oh, this?”

“Why is Your Highness reacting like that? Did you just say, ‘Oh, this’? Please, take a closer look. It says, ‘Before I return from this trip, if you do not choose a person to marry…’”

“Oh, that… Isn’t it simply a misunderstanding that we’re in a relationship, and that you’re considered my spouse?”

“Was Your Highness already aware of this and chose to ignore it?”

“Hmm… It does sound like my mother, who supports open relationships. She’s quite liberal in that regard.” Kael responded apathetically, pushing away the empress’s letter with a flick of his finger.

Observing Kael’s reaction, Wellen felt his frustration rising, resisting the urge to thump his chest in frustration. He felt stifled, as if all his outlets had been blocked.

“Please, just accept Della,” Wellen implored with a heavy sigh.

Ever since Della had taken her first steps, Wellen’s younger sister had been fascinated with Kael and boldly declared her intent to become the crown princess. For generations, the Charis family had been highly respected in the empire, producing many past empresses. At one point, marriage talks between Kael and Della had been seriously considered, but Kael had adamantly refused.

“Could you marry my sister, Danielle?”

The imperial couple had two sons and two daughters, with Kael being the second child. His elder sister had married the archduke a few years ago, and he had a younger brother and sister.

After envisioning Princess Danielle, Wellen replied, “How could I marry a princess I consider my own sister?”

“Both your sister and mine are just sixteen-year-old girls.”

“Women typically marry around the age of eighteen, so they’re not that young.”

“Did Della send a threatening letter or something? You seem oddly enthusiastic about this today,” Kael grumbled, his widened eyes betraying his displeasure.

Wellen pouted and cautiously presented the empress’s letter to Kael once more. “I believe it’s more appropriate to say that I’m overwhelmed by a higher power than a brother tormented by his younger sister.”

In frustration, Kael forcefully grabbed the letter from Wellen, crumpled it, and discarded it. “I won’t allow any further interference in this matter, not even from you. How about giving me what you brought?”

“Very well. Here it is.” Wellen contemplated their close relationship, which was precisely why he felt compelled to intervene in Kael’s life. Suppressing a sigh, he handed over the scroll he had brought.

Kael swiftly unrolled the scroll, revealing a checklist of tribute offerings. The first item listed was Irene’s name. It struck Kael as surreal to see a person’s name at the top of a list labeled “Tribute items.” In the blink of an eye, a distinguished commander had been reduced to an entry on a list. Although it was an inevitable consequence of the kingdom’s defeat, Kael couldn’t help but feel empathy for Irene’s unfortunate fate.

Unable to suppress a wry smile, Kael raised his head, which had been hovering close to the scroll, and gazed out the window. Adopting a casual tone, he asked, “Hmm… Who is this?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“Right here.”

Kael delicately pointed his finger at the first entry on the list, as though afraid the parchment might wear down with careless handling.

“Oh, you mean Irene M. Voltern. She declined admission to the academy, even when we offered to arrange a professorship if she didn’t want to be a student, and chose to remain in Atrichen instead.”

“So, she even turned down the offer to become a professor?” Kael inquired, leaning back with crossed arms.

“According to the person who dealt with her, she seemed utterly disheartened, as if the world had come to an end.”

Kael’s thoughts turned to Irene and their recent encounter at the wall. The impression she had left on him was indelible. She appeared virtuous yet as fragile as glass.

“I’ve heard that almost all families, except for a few, including the Volterns, were thoroughly corrupt. Despicable scoundrels,” he sneered.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have let her go,” Wellen agreed. “However, considering that she could be viewed as a legitimate threat from our perspective, it’s best that she is under the Empire’s control…”

As he contemplated Irene, Kael raised a hand to rub his chin, a puzzled expression clouding his green eyes. After a brief pause, he confessed, “I want her. My heart keeps yearning for her.”

“That’s entirely possible. She would be a valuable asset for the Empire.”

“I want to see her.”

“That’s a straightforward matter. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

“Yes. Huh? About what?” Kael asked, uncrossing his arms. He had been lost in his thoughts and had missed the words that Wellen had casually spoken.

“About what you just mentioned,” Wellen reiterated.

He wasn’t bothered by Kael’s unusual behavior, as he had seen it before. Although it was rare, the crown prince would occasionally mutter fragments of his thoughts when deeply pondering matters. It was a behavior reserved for those he deeply trusted, which made Wellen content, though he didn’t show it.

“What did I say?”

“You mentioned wanting to see her, and I will take care of it.”

“Did I say that out loud?” Kael remarked, surprised.

“If I ever had a significant secret, I wouldn’t share it with Your Highness! I wouldn’t be able to.”

“Well, a secret is meant to be kept to oneself anyway. The moment you share it with others, it’s no longer a secret. That’s foolish.”

Wellen bristled at the harsh truth Kael bluntly expressed. He sifted through the stack of papers in his hand, contemplating whether he could get away with smacking the prince’s flawless face with his trembling fists.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Wellen said, “Here are the priorities…”

“I don’t want to keep her waiting,” Kael interjected.

“I wish you had mentioned this earlier during your break. I’ll schedule a meeting as soon as you have some free time. But can you at least start addressing the piled-up work?” Wellen sighed.

Oddly amused by how Wellen carelessly spread the paperwork on the desk, a faint smile graced Kael’s lips. Wellen ignored the crown prince’s amusement and focused on the task at hand. Despite a packed agenda and a fast-paced workload, Wellen once again demonstrated his excellence by handling his responsibilities without missing a single detail.

Once they finally had a moment to catch their breath, Wellen stepped outside to enjoy the cool air. Addressing one of the attendants, Wellen inquired, “Where is Mrs. Grendel? I heard she returned from her visit to her hometown.”

“Oh, the head maid? She was here not long ago. Do you need her?”

“I have some business in Atrichen. Since men are not allowed entry, it’s quicker to have her assist.”

“A-Atrichen?”

“His Highness expressed an interest in meeting Irene M. Voltern, who currently resides in Atrichen. Oh, should I mention that he specifically requested her? Whenever he has some free time… Huh? Where did you go?”

While Wellen was lost in thought, trying to recall the next opening in the crown prince’s schedule, he failed to notice the wide-eyed servant running off excitedly in search of the head maid.

“Is that servant new? How unprofessional,” Wellen muttered, shaking his head and clicking his tongue in disapproval. He couldn’t have possibly foreseen that this brief interaction with the attendant would lead to a significant misunderstanding.

At the same time this misunderstanding took root, Irene sat forlornly by the window in her room. Since their arrival at the imperial palace a week earlier, she hadn’t left her room. When she noticed the snowfall, she extended her hand out through the window.

“Lady, please try to eat something,” Marie pleaded.

“I’m not hungry.”

Irene had been eating very little lately, and she felt no hunger at all. She imagined her body, once in constant motion, was struggling to adapt to this new sedentary life, so she didn’t force herself to eat.

“But…” Marie sighed, concerned that her lady might faint and at a loss for what to do. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask the kitchen staff to prepare some Theorin dishes…”

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a persistent knock on the door. Irene breathed a sigh of relief. Though she felt a bit guilty for the interruption to Marie, she couldn’t help but think that it had come at the right time.