Chapter 23

Kennard shifted his gaze from Hazel, who met his eyes without hesitation, and his thoughts turned to Elena. Whenever Elena looked at him, her reaction resembled that of a skittish herbivore—quick blinks and a tendency to avert her gaze. Her discomfort manifested in blushing cheeks and a reddening neck, mirroring the shade of her hair. Notably, her style, both in terms of clothing and hairstyle, differed significantly from Hazel’s.

In the beginning, he had gifted Elena an elegant dress and a hair accessory that matched Hazel’s ensemble. However, much to his surprise, she returned them the same day.

“Miss Elena refuses to wear something so extravagant, even if it costs her life,” Cura had remarked.

Kennard vividly recalled the awkward expression on Cura’s face as she returned the dress and accessories to his office. Over time, he gradually transitioned Elena’s wardrobe to simpler, less ostentatious dresses, leading to her current attire. Despite the adjustments, the ornate hair ornament still elicited discomfort from her.

As Kennard reminisced about the past, a chuckle escaped him unintentionally.

“It’s a relief to see you still smiling despite the unexpected visit. I was concerned that upon arrival, you might promptly dismiss us without setting foot inside the castle,” Hazel remarked. Only then did Kennard snap back to reality, straightening his posture. Lost in contemplation about Elena, he hadn’t fully registered Hazel’s initial words.

“Ah, my mind wandered elsewhere. Could you please repeat what you said?” he asked, realizing he had missed part of the conversation.

Hazel’s smiling lips twitched slightly, and her large, bluish-hued eyes betrayed a hint of a similar reaction. It appeared that Kennard’s mental distraction during their discussion had unsettled her. Observing Hazel’s expression tighten as she struggled to conceal her displeasure, Kennard inwardly sighed at the unfortunate turn of events.

Whether it stemmed from her refined upbringing or a lack of worldly awareness, witnessing such a pained expression before him left a sense of pity.

“Ahem! Ahem!” Serin abruptly cleared his throat, drawing attention. As Kennard turned to glare at him, Serin covered his mouth with a clenched fist, raising his eyebrows on both sides in a silent plea that seemed to say, ‘Bear with it, even if you’re angry.’

Kennard suppressed a sigh and redirected his attention to Hazel.

“So, what brings you here…?”

“I’ve come to see you in person, given your absence at the Emperor’s birthday celebration.”

“It’s been years since I last attended the Emperor’s birthday celebration.”

“True. However, this time, our lord intended to announce our engagement at the celebration. But with your absence…”

“Engagement?” Kennard arched an eyebrow, fixing his gaze on Hazel. The notion of engagement wasn’t entirely foreign to him, as he had gleaned it from the Emperor’s invitation, courtesy of his brother Noyer. While he was aware, it was also something he hadn’t agreed upon. She hadn’t sought his consent.

“I never consented to marry Miss Hazel.” His once soft and courteous tone turned cold in an instant. “I didn’t attend the celebration despite receiving the invitation, which means I oppose the engagement.”

“I’m aware. That’s why I’ve come here in person, perhaps rudely,” Hazel admitted.

“Rudeness, you say.”

Hearing Kennard’s words, Hazel’s ears turned red. Though only her ears betrayed her embarrassment, her overall expression remained nearly unchanged, and Kennard chose not to delve into the reason. His sole focus was on concluding this conversation swiftly and escorting the unwelcome guest away.

“It’s quite suspicious for someone to show up with attendants and luggage, seeking someone they’ve never met in person. Especially from the perspective of someone who dislikes guests, like myself,” he remarked, soft-spoken yet each word carrying a subtle edge. Even his usually formal language had transformed, unmistakably conveying his dissatisfaction with the visit.

“Ahem! Ahem!” Serin coughed again from behind, but this time, Kennard paid it no heed.

“If my presence has been displeasing, I apologize. Well, of course, it must be displeasing. However, I had to come,” Hazel spoke, undeterred by Kennard’s chilly tone.

Despite his irritation, Kennard found himself intrigued by what this determined young lady would say next.

“Why? Is your father aspiring to elevate his status by marrying me? He was merely a regional governor until recently, and now, with a ducal title, it seems his ambitions have grown excessive.”

“That’s accurate. However, it’s not my father harboring dreams of status elevation.”

“What?” What is she getting at now? Even Serin, who had been coughing incessantly, abruptly ceased as Hazel’s words took an unexpected turn.

“I sought a marriage proposal from the Emperor for myself.”

Kennard felt a throbbing in his head. It wasn’t the length of the conversation that bothered him; rather, it was the ominous sense that this meeting might mark the beginning of a troublesome matter for him.

“So, you sought a marriage proposal without knowing anything about me? Today marks our first conversation, given that we’ve never met before.”

“It’s been a distant memory, but I met you over a decade ago at the celebration commemorating the Emperor’s return to the Baruchella Empire.”

“Are you suggesting she has harbored feelings for me since then?” Kennard spoke with a touch of mockery. However, the response he received was unexpected.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“This is absurd.”

“I need the Duke, the strongest among the purebloods, even among our kind.”

“What do you need from me as a pureblood? What does my blood have to do with anything?”

“While we share distant blood ties, the Blade family is also of noble and pureblood lineage. However, due to the poverty of the provincial duchy, I couldn’t get close to the imperial palace. I do not wish to live stuck in such a rural place.”

“And so?”

“I plan to raise the child of the Duke and myself as the new Emperor of Baruchella.”

Serin audibly coughed.

As Lassino approached, offering him a cup, Kennard’s brow furrowed even more.

A slight headache throbbed in his temples, and with Serin’s coughing, Kennard’s nerves became more sensitive.

“That’s akin to treason, openly discussing rebellion in front of me. Surely, you haven’t forgotten that I am the brother of the Emperor?”

“I would never forget. While I hope for our child to ascend to the throne, what I desire most is for Your Highness himself to become the new Emperor, even before anyone else.”

“Serin!”

Startled by Kennard’s call, Serin coughed again, “Yes, my lord.”

“How long has it been since I last visited the capital?” Kennard asked.

“It’s been around 6 or 7 years, since before the war, I believe,” Serin replied.

“Has anything significant happened in the capital within the last decade?” Still keeping his gaze on Hazel, Kennard inquired of Serin.

“Well, nothing major comes to mind. Why do you ask?”

“Since when do nobility casually discuss having a child with a man they’ve just met? And on top of that, talking about planning rebellion. Has the world changed without my knowledge?”

Hazel’s ears deepened in hue, an even rosier shade than before. Her blue eyes trembled subtly, and she nibbled on the inside of her lower lip, adeptly concealing her emotions to a degree that would go unnoticed unless one observed closely.

“Surely… Oh, it’s because I coughed, and I couldn’t properly hear your conversation. What were you talking about?” Serin quickly shifted the topic, likely detecting Hazel’s change.

Regardless, it wouldn’t be courteous to offend a potential representative sent by the Emperor of Baruchella. The Emperor probably didn’t even know that the person he sent was plotting to oust him.

“I was trying to confirm if I misheard because this lady was saying something strange.”

“I apologize.” Serin cleared his throat and took a step back, displaying reluctance to be entangled in this awkward conversation.

Muttering to himself, Kennard redirected his focus to Hazel. He wondered about the message she was attempting to convey, but what unfolded was an unexpected revelation that left Kennard pressing his temples in disbelief.

“What exactly are you planning?” he inquired, deciding it was wiser to comprehend her intentions rather than simply dismissing her. Even if it wasn’t a scheme, gaining a clear understanding seemed prudent.

“I’m merely expressing my honest desire for my husband or son to ascend to the highest position in Baruchella.”

“If that’s your goal, why not aim for the position of the Emperor’s consort? That would be quicker.”

“The current Empress was once the First Prince, so she naturally ascended to the throne. However, she believes it is the Emperor’s duty to perpetuate the lineage of a stronger pureblood. This is a well-known fact among the people of Baruchella. Many believe that it should be you, not the Empress, who should ascend to the throne.”

Hazel’s initially calm tone gained assertiveness. Leaning forward, she pursed her thin lips stubbornly. “Doesn’t Your Highness know this, which is why you’re hiding in this desolate land, choosing it over the flourishing Montefiano?”

“Hiding?” Kennard arched his brow. “I simply like it here. That’s why I fought in wars to acquire it.”

“Is it worth having only snow and cold?”

“I like the snow. And it’s not the only thing here.”

“What is it?” Hazel’s eyes widened, displaying genuine curiosity as she leaned in even further.

Kennard, reclining further in his chair, continued to press his temples with his fingertips. “I don’t see a reason to explain all that,” he said. There was no rationale for entertaining such conversations. If, by any chance, this dialogue reached the emperor’s ears, it wouldn’t conclude as a simple farce.

Kennard stood up from his seat.

“Let’s end the conversation here. We’ll pretend I didn’t hear today’s talk, so leave.” 

Hazel rose as well, obstructing Kennard’s path.

“I cannot do that.” 

Serin swiftly approached, extending his arm between Kennard and Hazel.