<b>72.</b>


    At the message that his father was calling, Vicente changed his clothes and left his room.


    On his way to the study, Vicente saw someone and became convinced of what the situation was about. It was the attendant who apanied him to Lady Garten’s Coming-of-Age party. Vicente wasn’t even bothered. Considering how big the issue was, it was a matter of time before his father knew.


    Soon he reached the study. The servant who was waiting announced Vicente’s arrival and opened the door.


    “Did you call for me?”


    “Sit down,” Harsen motioned to Vicente to sit across from the study table.


    Vicenteplied as soon as he entered. He sat down straight in a neat posture and lowered his gaze.


    Leaning in his chair, Harsen studied Vicente. “You did something that was unlike you.”


    A low voice was heard by Vicente.


    It was not to me him, but a tone you’d hear in daily life.


    “I’m ashamed.”


    “The reason?”


    <i>The first reason is that Duke Garten’s eyes bothered me.</i> It was a very personal criterion.


    Vicente knew very well that he had no excuse for his actions. Since their side was the one who made excuses, they couldn’t officially hold House Garten ountable.


    “There’s none. I just didn’t think things through.”


    Vicente did not pose anyme excuses. He simply admitted that he was responsible for everything. That’s how he was taught, that’s how he was raised.


    “You must know very well how much that carelessness had hurt your mother’s pride.”


    “…I apologize for being inadequate.”


    Harsen also gave Vicente no chance to make excuses. He pushed a ss to him, cutting through Vicente’s apology. At that Vicente noticed the rum and wine sses prepared on the table.


    “I’m fin—”


    “Have a drink.”


    “…Yes.”


    He didn’t enjoy drinking. Especially getting drunk in front of his father. He hated even imagining it and so tried to refuse, but it was hard for Vicente to refuse Harsen’s imposing order to drink.


    A translucent brown liquid flowed into the ss that Vicente politely received. The strong alcoholic smell was quite intense; Vicente just sighed quietly.


    “Did the Gartens’ daughter offend you?”


    Harsen emptied his ss.


    “No.” Vicente also emptied his ss after answering. His eyebrows frowned from the burning sensation in his throat beyond the bitter taste. In the midst of his pain, his ss was refilled.


    “I…”


    Vicente thought of stopping Harsen who was about to pour himself another drink.


    “If so, do you dislike her appearance to the point of acting so inappropriately?”


    Vicente looked at Harsen in surprise. It was an uncharacteristically crafted question.


    “…I don’t judge people by that.”


    “It seemed important to your mother.” Harsen smiled softly and tilted his ss.


    “That’s true, but…” Vicente couldn’t deny it. Rather, it was amazing that Erce could confide such things to Harsen without reserve.


    <i>Was it not hard for Mother with his temperament?</i> Vicente couldn’t tell even though he was his father.


    “To me, a person’s appearance doesn’t hold much importance.”


    Vicente did not expect to have such a conversation with his father and drank alcohol out of awkwardness. The bitterness disturbed his mouth.


    “Then what do you value?”


    He was in a bind this time. Harsen was never curious about Vicente’s thoughts. Their conversation was as simple as giving and receiving orders. This kind of discussion was a first.


    So Vicente felt hesitant to answer questions that could have been answered immediately had someone else asked.


    “Winning people’s hearts.”


    Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, Harsen stopped pouring alcohol and stared at Vicente.


    Vicente said without averting his eyes, “I know the weight of being Father’s sessor who will rule over Bernhardt. A lord is responsible for everything that goes on in his estate.”


    “…”


    “Not only should he enrich thend, but also make sure that the young people do not starve from poverty and freeze to death in the cold, that the sses with lower authority do not feel wronged as a result of unfair rulings and must not be sacrificed for personal greed. If I can save a life from unnecessary death by bending my back to the king, I will do so.”


    In truth, it did not befit a ruler to say that he would bow to his superiors for his subordinates. You could show kindness, but it must notpromise your authority. It probably wasn’t the answer his father wanted. Nevertheless, for the first time, Vicente had revealed his thoughts without making any kind of adjustments.


    “When power corrupts, its stenches up through the crack, no matter how hard you try to hide it. If you forsake morality, you will never be able to walk on the right path again. Anyone who doesn’t value his people will pay the price sooner orter. He’ll always be drunk on power. He’ll hold onto fake allegiances for the sake of benefits. Such a powerful man will take his power for granted.”


    “…”


    “So even though I’m strong now, someday I might spill the wrong blood with my sword, and I think I already see signs of it. I know I’ll be an imperfect ruler. I may fall for temptation, I may listen only to sweet-talk, or I may lose my judgment.”


    “…”


    “That is why I need people. I need people to protect Bernhardt so that I can not be shaken, so that I can not be unjust, and so that I can be perfect. And I will do my best to win their hearts.”


    “How?”


    “It’s so easy to abandon a person, like the wine that will spill if the ss was flipped right now, but winning a person is as difficult as filling the ss with spilled wine.”


    He stared at the eyes of the boy who looked like him. As if not looking at his eyes, but within.


    “So, are you chasing after your mother to win her heart?”


    “No. I swear that isn’t…” His answer faded halfway through.<i> I can’t exin my own actions to myself. What should I say to him?</i>


    Erce had no use for Vicente other than her mere existence. Vicente was someone who didn’t even have to try the slightest bit to win her heart. Yet why did he do so? Several doubts arose inside him.


    “Are you afraid?”


    “…”


    “You never know when she’ll have a change of heart.”


    They seemed like words thrown aimlessly, but Vicente realized that they had prated him. As his father said, Vicente did not believe in Erce who had changed overnight as if she just turned her palm upside down. It was a hand held out in an instant, and it might be retracted in a moment.


    Vicente barely managed to hold it in, “No.”


    <i>No, I’m not really afraid. I know in fact, that she is endlessly…</i>


    “I was afraid.”


    Those words knocked out his thoughts. Vicente’s blue eyes were fixed on the man who looked like the night sky.


    Harsen smiled dimly, turned his head and emptied his ss. “I am afraid.”


    His father was saying he was afraid with a look that did not show any fear. The contrasting words and actions felt very unfamiliar and alien to Vicente.


    “Her capricious nature…”


    “…”


    “Shrivel me up from inside to the point that I’m going to die.”


    <i>Do you love Mother?</i>


    For some reason, Vicente couldn’t say that. That precarious smile seemed to not mean only that. There was a mixture of myriad emotions that he dared not judge.


    Harsen’s ss hit the wooden table with a ng. The empty ss was not filled again.


    “What do you think of Bernhardt right now? Isn’t it a rotting, stinky ce with no morals that has be the hotbed of power?”


    “How can I—”


    “No lives were wasted on the battlefield, but do you know how many innocent victims I’ve made when I destroyed a family smaller than ours?”


    “…”


    “Or the number of allies I’ve dealt with to cover up one incident.”


    “…”


    Vaden in Damonshire, Tessran in Chestein and Aldor in Luders, are just a few that have disappeared from the map now.


    In Vaden, the territory itself wasn’t rotten but since there was a rebellion, it is safe to say that the people of Baden were annihted.


    “As you say, it’s so easy to abandon people…”


    The dark shadow of the moon fell over his raven hair. The sun always seemed to shine on his mother’s blonde hair… It was a sad thing.


    “…yet I can’t get what I yearn for no matter how much I sacrifice.”


    To be so different, as if they were standing at opposite poles.


    * * *


    <i>Knock, knock-</i>


    A knock on the door broke the silence.


    “Enter.”


    Caron sucked the cigar in his hand and blew it anywhere on the window frame and turned around as Count nover entered and bowed politely.


    “Did you call for me? Is everything all—”


    Before Count nover could finish his sentence, Caron spoke, “We need to revise the n a bit.”


    “n… Did the talk not go well with Lady Erce?”


    “Apparently.”


    The Count swept his hand across his face.


    “I’ve got a headache.”


    As Caron shook his head, the Count asked sensing an ominous feeling, “Your Grace, do you need my help?”


    Caron shrugged as if he were right. “Anything in mind?”


    “Nothing. Instead, try to persuade Lady Erce,” said the Count with a serious look.


    “Bernhardt is no longer needed as Her Highness has passed away. Furthermore, the king has caught his tail, so if we stay in this for long, chances are high that Visaride will get implicated in between both sides. It’s best to cut Bernhardt off and find a new marriage for Lady Erce. If she doesn’t want to get married again, we could make her the future Marquis.”


    “Yes, that’s the best option,” Caron grumbled bitterly. Had his dead sister heard him, she would have been outraged. She was always like that.


    “As you’re aware His Majesty will be making his move soon. His ultimate goal is not Bernhardt, but Visaride. If you stay on Bernhardt’s side and things get messed up…”


    “Their corruption was because of us to begin with.”


    “…Your Grace, are you worried about that now?”


    “Just ten years.” Caron tapped his chin as if to gauge the future.


    “Let’s just hang in there for ten more years.”


    “…”


    “The prince will be grown by then.”


    The Count was silent at the solemn implication.


    Caron loosened his cor and ruffled his hair, “He’s all that she has left behind.”


    “….”


    “I can’t turn my back on him because of that, damn it!” Unlike the gentle smile on Caron’s face, his voice was filled with uncontroble anger. The room became solemn. The Count, a close confidant of the Marquis, couldn’t have not known how the queen was treated in the pce.


    The king would often insult the queen because he was unable to forget his past lover.


    It was said that the queen’s favoritedy-in-waiting was taken away in front of her eyes and made to serve the king at night.


    When the queen miscarried, the king would ridicule her by calling her sterile and even humiliate her in front of the maids.


    With how terrible the king treated the queen, it was fortunate that not much of it leaked outside the pce walls.


    In order to protect Eshahilde, Caron did everything to rise in power, even if it meant using his younger sister’s marriage to rise to his current position despite the heavy scorn he received from the veteran politicians in the political arena. But now that the queen was dead, his lord might find it all for naught.


    “But still, it’s dangerous to carry Bernhardt in this situation. It won’t copse easily because of its extensive history, but if you cut off early anything that’ll harm us…”


    “Let’s wait and see for now. After all, a person’s heart can change at any moment.”


    Caron hoped that Erce would have a change of heart. It was easier that way, no doubt.


    “But, do you have a way of divorcing them? If Bernhardt doesn’t let her go, that will be the end of it.”


    There was no proper reason for the divorce; he couldn’t simply go and get it approved by the court. Furthermore, the opposite party was Bernhardt. It was a difficult family for Visaride to deal with. But Caron was rxed without a sign of concern.


    “Don’t worry about that. It may be difficult, but it’s not impossible,” Caron somewhat mocked himself.


    After using Bernhardt the way it was used, the thought of throwing them away now seemedical to him. But he didn’t want to be bitten. It was still the best choice.


    * * *


    Long ago Caron said this:


    <i>‘Oh, that old man? He has a knack for getting on people’s nerves. He’s rash but quite crafty, so he’s terribly annoying. I hope we never bump into each other in the next life.’</i>


    At this moment, Erce couldn’t help but deeply agree with that statement. She looked up at the ‘things’ in front of her. Before even the dew on the grass melted and vanished into the sun, a letter and a gift were sent from Garten, iming that they were heartfelt sentiments of the Duchess. Erce opened the letter and read it.


    [To Duchess Bernhardt,


    As I reflect on my behavior the other night, I believe I overdid it out of love for my daughter. I regret not being able to deal with it maturely. I’m deeply sorry for my unreasonable and shameless demand. I am sending you a small gift as a token of my sincerity.


    -Remia Garten.]


    Erce put the letter on the table and looked at the brilliant silver cor next to it. She could not hide her reluctance when she found out that the cor¹ belonged to Queen Isabe Garten.


    <i>‘Why this…’</i>


    <i>No, I think I kind of get the point. It would be a token of apology for her hasty request for Edelian’s ne that day. Payback for the disrespect of asking for a family treasure with a family treasure.</i>


    <i>‘Was it the Duke?’</i>


    Erce guessed who was behind this. Duchess Garten wasn’t so bright to do this. Aside from that, considering that the Duchess wasn’t in a position to send the treasure of Garten without permission, it was highly likely that Duke Garten intervened.


    “Tell him I received it well and thank him,” hiding her anger, Erce spoke to the servant from Garten who had been waiting.


    “I’m d you like it, Duchess. I’ll let my Lord know that you received it, then.”


    When the servant left, Lianne and Adora got close to Erce. Looking at the cor withrge and small jewels, Lianne asked Adora, “Lady Adora, is itmon for nobles to send each other such valuable gifts?” Lianne was surprised by the sheer size of the gift.


    “N-not at all, Lianne. I’ve never seen a queen’s cor before.”


    However, Adora was no different.


    “Madam, are you displeased?” Adora nced at Erce’s mood. “Why?”


    Although she said that she was happy, Erce’s lips were clearly crooked. Her mood wasn’t as refreshing as she looked. Inwardly, Erce hoped that Duchess Garten’s rage would take over and make it as if the engagement never happened, but it seems she couldn’t be that lucky.


    <i>He even sent a queen’s cor.</i> Erce was speechless by the Duke’s shrewdness. <i>It was not just a treasure, it was the </i>queen’s <i>treasure. Since when did the exchanges between dukes be so grandiose?</i>


    <i>‘But I can’t just cancel the engagement from this side…’</i>


    She had no proper justification. While it was true that Duchess Garten was excessive, public opinion would develop against Erce because of the previous nature of her rtionship with Vicente. If the engagement got canceled due to such reasons, they would be a stumbling block in Vicente’s search for another marriage partner.


    There was no family that could refuse Bernhardt, but Erce did not want to give Vicente any more ws. Furthermore, Garten sent such a huge gift, so she could not use what happened at the Coming-of-Age party as an excuse.


    <i>‘It’s not easy.’</i>


    Moreover, Harsen did not seem to want to break up the engagement, so she had no reason to. Erce felt that there was something moreplex between Duke Garten and Harsen than she assumed.


    <i>What is it?</i> Erce wanted to ask but she could only sigh because if he wanted to tell her he would’ve on the day of the fight.


    “Lianne, tell Clifton to put it in the storage.”


    “You won’t try it? It would look good on you.”


    As Lianne muttered in disappointment, Erce shrugged yfully.


    “Yes, it’ll rot in the basement for the rest of its life.”


    Adora let out a chuckle, knowing it was Erce’s petty way of revenge. “Can’t be helped if Her Grace says so.”


    Unaware of the situation, Lianne went out with the jewel box, wondering what Adora was talking about.


    Adora expressed concern about Erce’s low spirits, “Are you worried?”


    “Just…wondering if I’m being too stubborn.”


    Even though she said she would respect Vicente’s decision, she wasn’t so sure. She wondered if Vicente would be happy if he married Olivia.


    <i>‘Fortunately, it’s just an engagement.’</i>


    “Since it’s an engagement, they’ll have time to get to know each other.”


    “Right,” Adora replied, recalling Kayron Dartner. Although he was a gentleman, she didn’t have a spoonful of sugar’s worth of affection for him.


    “They say if you see someone often, you’ll develop affection for them. Don’t worry too much, Your Grace.” But of course Adora thought inwardly that the longer she spent time with Kayron Dartner, the more she’d lose affection for him, but it was not difficult for her to hide her inner feelings.


    Erce smiled and thanked Adora for herforting words.


    “I should get up now.”


    She stretched herself up straight. It was going to be a long day.


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