“You’re rather thick when it comes to what rumors are circulating and when people have ulterior motives. I’m sure Therese hasn’t mentioned this to you either, so I suppose I’ll inform you myself,” he said, prefacing what would be his explanation of his failed engagement. “Ralshen Region has been abandoned not once but twice in our history by the royal family. I assume you know what I’m speaking of?”

  A bit perplexed as to why he was bringing that up, I gave a hesitant nod.

  The first incident he was referring to stemmed from when Ryzanity proliferated within the old empire’s borders. As other religions dispersed along the continent’s main highway and pushed Ryzanity back, an extremist denomination sensed their religion being threatened. They had established themselves in Norn where Ryzanity was the state religion, and due to their close proximity, Ralshen was swallowed up in this as well. There were many within the region who, through the influence of neighboring countries, became believers of Ryzanity.

  The extremists identified the highway coming out of Sauslind as the “root of all evil” and demanded it be sealed off. Ralshen’s regional lord was the first to step forward, followed by the other nobles, and said he’d comply with their demands. However, Sauslind couldn’t possibly entertain such a one-sided request. After all, the royal family had defied the Hero King. Monotheistic beliefs were also prominent here, and the people enjoyed the religious freedom that provided. The royal family was thus concerned that Ralshen might be in danger of starting a rebellion. Even as the extremists provoked violence there, the capital left the region to fend for itself and it became a wasteland.

  The next incident happened forty years ago. Norn was in its prime, and with backing from some of the empire’s territories, they began invading us from the east in what was a Continental Highway War. The highway on Ars Continent used to be split into two. There was the northern highway which ran through the former Kai Arg Empire’s territories, and there was the southern highway which ran through Sauslind. However, by the time the war started, the northern route had long since faded into obscurity due to the conflict in the old empire’s territories, and Sauslind’s southern highway was the prime method of travel and trade now. A faction of the fallen Kai Arg Empire had sought to reclaim their former glory by having Norn invade us, which led to the aforementioned war.

  It was later theorized that Maldura had fueled this, seeking to restore the northern highway because it led directly into their own country and had once been a source of economic power for them. It made sense; that faction from the fallen empire was locked in constant internal conflict. They couldn’t have afforded to financially support another country on their own.

  Some also suspected that Maldura was behind the incident eighty years ago with the Ryzanity faction occupying the Ralshen Region. It wasn’t farfetched to believe that the regional lord had been enticed to cooperate with them, given that a resurgence of the northern highway would also benefit the Ralshen Region because it was closer to them than the southern highway. In the case of Maldura, the southern highway never reached them; its western entrance was located in Kelk Harbor, leading out to the western countries and archipelagos.

  When Sauslind was attacked from the east, they were forced into a defensive position. The highway led straight to the capital, and in order to protect it, they thought their only option was to block the encroaching army.

  This was the answer I thought Lord Alexei wanted from me, at least.

  I gazed into his icy blue eyes as I confirmed what I knew, though I wasn’t sure how this history related to what he wanted to discuss with me.

  “At the time,” Lord Alexei said, “Bakula was leading our central troops. Through an outlandish scheme, he managed to break our enemy’s ranks. He’s the one who led Sauslind to victory. However, that victory was not without hidden sacrifices.”

  Not only did we have an army closing in from the east, there was also a detachment invading from the northeast. They were trying to pincer Sauslind’s forces as we tried to counter the enemy’s main line.

  Lord Alexei nodded to himself as he said, “After the incident with Ryzanity in Ralshen, a member of the royal family was appointed as the regional lord. The one present at the time was Lord Bernard. He, of course, led his own forces in response to the invasion, but Sauslind’s army did not come to their aid. Instead, they encircled the region so they could stop the enemy’s main troops from merging with the detachments that were already inside our borders. As a result, the royal family once again abandoned the region to their fate.”

  Feeling mournful, I cast my eyes down at my lap.

  The person leading our armies at the time had been a man of great power within the military. He’d turned his eyes away from the casualties that resulted in the Ralshen Region. Back then, the Black Wing Knights had yet to be established. Having no official army in the region was part of what resulted in so many losses as well.

  If Sauslind had sent their troops to reinforce the Ralshen Region, the enemy might have broken through their ranks and invaded the capital. They’d weighed that possibility and chosen instead to sacrifice the Ralshen Region.

  After learning that their main forces had been repelled, the enemy deployment within the region sounded the retreat, but they left a number of casualties in their wake. The memorial service I was set to attend was something that had been performed yearly since. Grandpa Teddy had attended each one, so escorting me there wasn’t particularly out of his way.

  When Prince Christopher mentioned that the people of the region might not treat me well because of my connection to the royal family, this was what he’d meant. Still, I had to wonder if the place had some kind of deep connection for Lord Alexei as well.

  I peered over at him.

  He had an annoyed look on his face as he sighed once more. “Ten years ago, the earl family Lord Bernard had married into came to me about a marriage proposal with the daughter of their house. As should be obvious from the historical context, he wanted to increase the royal family’s influence in the region.”

  I remained silent, though I was both surprised and confused by this revelation.

  I understood the political motivations at play here. The region was seen as a liability, but the royal family also felt apologetic over their past mistakes. In order to maintain a connection to the region and hold influence there, one option was a political marriage. Lord Alexei was no doubt their best option for this. Presently, he was only third in line for the throne.

  However, what bothered me was how he spoke so dispassionately, as if the matter didn’t concern him. Granted, ten years had passed since then, but I couldn’t shake the unease I felt.

  “I never heard about this in high society,” I said. Then, unable to quell my curiosity, I asked, “Um...how did your engagement turn out?”

  “She died,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Pardon...?”

  “Lady Lindsey Ralshen was her name. At the time, we were both fifteen. Engagement talk was proceeding smoothly, and we were going to publicly announce it. Before we could, an unforeseen incident resulted in her premature death. My engagement was dropped and never made official. However, there’s a distinct chance the topic will come up when we go there. Please keep in mind what I’ve told you.”

  My confusion only mounted as I sat there, speechless.

  “Any other questions?” he asked.

  The words left my mouth before I could think them over. “What did you think about the engagement, Lord Alexei?”

  “What?”

  “She was to become your life partner, correct? Were you...accepting of the arrangement?”

  For the briefest moment he scoffed, a cold smile on his face. It disappeared almost as quickly and he regarded me with a chilly expression.

  “It was a political marriage between nobility. What emotion do women expect a man like me to show? Should I be plagued with memories of her tragic passing even though there was no love in our union? Women often dream about being the only one capable of saving a man in that position, don’t they? It’s a common trope in stories and dramas.” His voice was frigid as he spoke, and it was clear I’d treaded where I wasn’t welcome.

  Lord Alexei had most likely been caught up in such rumors during the time of his fiancée’s passing, and other women had approached him out of sympathy and curiosity, aiming to snag the now open spot at his side.

  Having stepped into forbidden territory, I felt awkward and apologized to him for the insensitive question.

  “I don’t mind,” he said flatly. “I know women are all alike. They have a predisposition for becoming obsessed with stories, which blinds them to reality. Weren’t you scolded for something similar recently?”

  “Well, I... Yes, I suppose so.” Although his words were accurate, I felt compelled to protest them. “But, um, not all women are like that.” The words felt familiar. I was pretty sure I had said them before.

  As I lost myself in thought, he sighed for the umpteenth time. “Certainly, there are women out there who are not like that. I have seen them myself. However, at the moment, I have no need for a partner. Do you mind if we drop the subject of my engagement now?”

  “Oh...certainly, that’s fine.” Unable to argue with him, I simply nodded.

  With that, our meeting about the Ralshen Region ended, and Lord Alexei continued talking in his usual monotone voice as he shuffled through other paperwork.

  “At the beginning of this summer, you started a policy to allow female doctors,” Lord Alexei said, as if he were planning to lead into a new topic. He was cut off by the sound of a voice booming through the room as someone struggled past the chamberlain and other assistants outside of Lord Alexei’s office.

  “Lady Elianna! Can a pregnant woman safely consume a laxative while pregnant?!”

  Excuse me?

  “No, that’s not it,” the man continued. He was flustered as he put his hand to his head. Normally the man’s hair was perfectly combed back, but it looked disheveled now. He was far from the composed noble I knew. “Her bowels are loose, so I need the opposite medicine. Is there something that can...‘tighten’ her bowels?” he asked, unsure. “I don’t know how best to phrase it, but at any rate, I need something to relieve Therese’s stomach pain! I read that book you lent me, A Mother’s First Time Giving Birth, cover to cover. You’re well versed on those types of books, so that must mean you and the prince...no! I’ll keep that suspicion to myself. At any rate, this is a dire emergency and I need some way to help her!”

  Seeing Earl Ardolino at his wits’ end left me staring wide-eyed in surprise. From the edge of my vision, I could see Lord Alexei scrunch his handsome face as if he were dealing with another migraine. His assistants seemed to sense what was coming because they fled immediately.

  “Brother-in-law...” He wore a chilly smile as he stood and began conversing with Lady Therese’s husband.

  Doubt and suspicion arose in me as I watched him. He was already treating the situation with irritation and exasperation, but when he’d spoken about his engagement before, he had seemed strangely detached. I figured that was largely because he was trying to relay the information objectively. Nonetheless, it seemed like to me he’d merely done a perfect job of hiding how he really felt about his late fiancée.

  Even if he couldn’t talk to me about it, there was still something that struck me as odd about Lord Alexei’s engagement.

  ~.~.~.~

  We were two more days from our destination, and it was lunch time. We’d stopped at a small inn town along the highway to have our meal. I was currently caught up in conversation with the establishment’s proprietress.

  “According to author Dan Edold’s Following Sean’s Footsteps,” I began, “the literary master, Sean Markeld, stayed at this very inn. That must mean he ate the same food we enjoyed moments ago.” I was so moved by the thought that my body trembled.

  The slender and upbeat proprietress casually replied, “That’s right. Master Sean’s favorite was our specialty—a fluffy egg dish. Having eaten it yourself, I’m sure you can understand. You haven’t had anything like it anywhere else, have you?”

  I quickly shook my head.

  She grinned and puffed up her chest. “It’s a Ralshen local specialty, but ours is a step above the rest. Master Sean took a liking to it and stayed here for a long time. Unfortunately, the regional lord summoned Master Sean after catching wind about him.” As she murmured this, her face fell in disappointment.

  The man in question was a famous literary master who was native to Sauslind. He’d passed away during the Ashen Nightmare sixteen years ago, but he’d left behind many philosophical stories about life and death. A distant, scholarly city had lauded his efforts, and his popularity had boomed domestically as well. His work was also beloved by commoners, given that he was of humble birth himself.

  Confused by the conflicted look on the proprietress’s face, I tilted my head. She forced herself to smile back at me. “Master Sean hated formality above all else. He turned down plenty of invitations from nobility. But the regional lord had a famous lake at his mansion, so Master Sean’s curiosity got the best of him and he accepted the invitation. If you follow his path, you might find his footsteps lead other places as well.”

  “Truly?” Although my heart was leaden with anxiety about my impending duties, hearing that made my pulse jump.

  When she nodded, I tried to question her further, but Lord Alexei and Grandpa Teddy interrupted us. They had gone to check the snow’s depth on the road and had now come back to announce our departure. It was with great reluctance I peeled myself away, thanking the woman for her time.

  “Come and eat here again,” she called behind us as we left.

  My interest remained piqued, and author Sean Markeld’s writings were all I could think about as I slid into the carriage. It took me a while to even notice that the only people inside were Duchess Rosalia and myself. Lilia and the other maids were nowhere to be seen. Panicked, I quickly straightened myself, which only prompted Duchess Rosalia to chuckle.

  “Lady Elianna, you truly are oblivious when it comes to anything outside of books.”

  “My apologies.” I hung my head. I was supposed to be in the middle of an official visit, and I’d let my hobbies get the best of me.

  She smiled, amused. “Thanks to you bringing all of that up, the proprietress’s attitude toward us softened. She’d been wary of us up until that point, since she knew we’d been sent here on behalf of the royal family.”

  “Oh,” I blurted, feeling a bit awkward. Since we entered the region, I had noticed people giving us looks as chilly as the mounting snow. Our carriages did carry the crest of the royal family, after all. That should have been enough to remind me to keep my guard up, but alas... “I’ll be more careful from now on.”

  Even though it had worked out for me this time, there was no guarantee it would the next. I needed to be more prudent. At least, that was what I told myself.

  The duchess giggled. “You’re fine the way you are.”

  Startled, I glanced up at her. Her eyes were like a frozen lake in winter, subtle and subdued, as if other worries were preoccupying her right now.

  “I think I understand now why Chris loves you,” she said. “You’re not weighed down by preconceptions and mistrust. In fact, you’re the type to break through other people’s walls, though you wouldn’t seem it from the outside.”

  I stared blankly back at her, and the duchess’s smile stretched wider.

  “You must not have heard what the proprietress was mumbling to herself. ‘The prince’s betrothed is an odd one. But...maybe our kingdom is in good hands with her.’ That author was of humble origin, and yet you were genuinely enthusiastic about following the path he’d taken. Anyone who saw such unbridled passion would be taken aback.”

  Now I felt even more ashamed.

  As I averted my eyes, the duchess continued, “I would like to talk to you a bit about the past, Lady Elianna.”

  “What?” I jumped a little, caught off guard by the sudden change of topic and how serious her expression had turned.

  During the course of our trip, she had taught me much about the proper frame of mind for royalty and how to cope with various situations, using her lived experience as an example. Although at times, she had gone off on some tangents as well. Whatever this was had to be serious for her to shoo everyone else off so she could speak with me alone. My back went rigid as I sat there, anticipating what was to come.

  The duchess sensed how nervous I was and smiled at me, but that didn’t stop her from getting straight to the point.

  “Theodore is an illegitimate child.”

  Chapter 7: The Royal Family’s Secret

  The palace was less vibrant in Eli’s absence. Lack of sunlight left it suffocatingly dour. Normally, there was an air of excitement here as people anticipated the warmth and fragrance of spring, but instead an oppressive atmosphere had settled over us.

  There wasn’t any enthusiasm to be found around me. In fact, the air only grew more frigid and unforgiving.

  “I received a report about the shipping delays from the western countries and the archipelagos. The number of cases are within acceptable limits for the average year. There’s no reason to cherry pick this incident and cause a stir, as far as I’m concerned,” I said.

  Earl Brandt had marched into my office directly to launch his complaints. I had merely smiled at him as he haughtily relayed the numbers to me, as if he genuinely thought I hadn’t read the official reports myself.

  The visit from Maldura’s delegation had driven the bay’s operation to a standstill. Maritime merchants were watching with bated breath to see how things would turn out. This had impeded some of the deals we had with western merchants, among other things. As the earl emphasized the significance of the western entrance, he made distasteful allusions to the important figure supporting him as he tried to pressure me to acquiesce to his demands. It was almost as if he thought it only natural for me to relent.

 

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