Chapter 65

As Duke Bellator ascended the grand staircase to contact Conrad, Andrei sank his weary frame into the depths of the plush sofa. Closing his eyes, he embarked on a quest to seek solace within the recesses of his own spirit, a golden radiance enveloping his form.

The sole thread that tethered him to his sister manifested as the lingering imprints on her fragile body, a tenuous lifeline between them. Yet, at times, this connection seemed to vanish into thin air, much like it did now.

Elise had not yet attained mastery over her magical abilities, implying that another, a man who accompanied her, must have orchestrated this disappearance. He had chosen an elusive hideaway where prying eyes would not easily discover them. The thought of him living as her partner was a painful and acrid sensation, akin to salt being rubbed into an open wound.

His poor sister, who had never known true health due to his actions, was tied to this world against her wishes, thwarted from escaping through death. Perhaps it was greed that had driven him. If Elise died, he couldn’t live either. Guilt twisted within him.

“So, I wanted to make her happy,” he reflected.

Andrei yearned to be the one to find Elise, to cherish and love her more than anyone else in the world. Yet, regardless of his qualities, he couldn’t capture her attention, for no one on earth could dare to compare with her.

To surrender his beloved sister to another, and not just any other but a dragon, the antithesis of a Gallian descendant, was unthinkable.

“No, Elise,” Andrei lamented, his face hidden in his hands as he wept.

“If a child is born, you will be forever entwined, never to return to me. Sister, I implore you, answer…”

His lost sister remained silent, leaving him in anguish.

***

Upon waking, Elise was immediately met with a tumultuous argument echoing from an unknown source.

“Do you really want to be dragged out like this?” 

“Is it such a big demand to want to say goodbye?”

The voices were unmistakably familiar, and the two individuals were making no effort to conceal their mutual disdain.

“I personally wrote a letter to His Majesty and conveyed it. Consequently, Lady, your obligations in Rotiara have concluded. Bidding farewell to my wife is not a part of your responsibilities.”

“Have you sought Elise’s perspective?”

“Show her the appropriate respect. She holds the title of the Duchess of Rotiara.”

Elise contemplated summoning Ivetsa by tugging the cord, but she chose not to. Instead, she slowly rose from her slumber.

Today, Andrei had not featured in her dreams. It had been comforting to encounter her brother in her dreams and hold conversations with him. Yet dreams remained just that—mere dreams. Upon awakening, a void and helplessness typically engulfed her.

However, today, she felt an unusual lightness. As she donned her shawl and began to move about leisurely, her stomach emitted a soft, rumbling sound.

Now that I think about it, I did not have a proper meal yesterday.

After a restful night’s sleep, she felt surprisingly famished. This was entirely ordinary.

As Elise made her presence known, the two men and one woman locked in a heated standoff within the living room simultaneously turned their attention to her.

“Elise.” Rezette closed the distance between them in brisk, purposeful steps. “Did the commotion wake you?”

Elise hesitated briefly before nodding, and then she inquired softly, “I suppose you’re preparing to depart, Lady Irrien.”

“Yes, she’ll be leaving shortly. Don’t worry,” Rezette replied on her behalf.

Genovia’s voice erupted, “Elise, aren’t you saddened by parting like this? There are so many things I haven’t had the chance to share with you yet.”

“You don’t need to listen,” Rezette interjected, guiding Elise back into the bedroom. He then cast a glance at Genovia, and Elise distinctly perceived the intensity of his resentment.

It was uncommon to witness such fury on the countenance of someone who seldom betrayed any change in their demeanor. Rezette appeared more emotionally charged than usual.

“Rezette.” Elise seized his hand. The anger that had clouded his face seemed to vanish like a mirage, reverting to his usual stoic countenance. Elise raised an eyebrow. “Are you, by any chance, angry?”

“Am I not allowed?” Rezette responded in disbelief.

“What?”

“You’re running a fever,” Rezette pointed out. “You haven’t been yourself all day.”

A typical day held its own sense of normalcy for Elise. However, Rezette’s standards always seemed to diverge from her own, and the perplexed expression on her face appeared to incite further irritation in him. Rezette clenched his jaw.

“I’ve gone to great lengths to nurse you back to health, and now you’re in such a feeble state, barely hanging on. I shouldn’t be upset… naturally, it’s not Your Highness’s fault. But…”

“Ah…”

“I’ve never coerced you into doing anything against your will. It’s crucial that you grasp just how far removed you are from being an ordinary individual.”

It was a rarity for him to speak at such length, typically occurring when he was either very angry or deeply concerned. Elise, as a precaution, touched her forehead. She didn’t register a high fever, but after a few days of weight loss, she considered it a possible cause for concern.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured.

“I didn’t say that to elicit an apology. I’ve mentioned before that there’s no need for me to apologize for anything.”

This man never ask for her apology, even when he was angry. He was a complex individual.

Elise hesitated and shifted the conversation. “Have they apprehended the culprit who intercepted the tribute intended for the capital?” she inquired.

“We haven’t caught them yet,” Rezette responded. “You need not concern yourself with that either.”

“Is the situation complex?”

“I can’t say if it’s complex or not. We haven’t even initiated the investigation.”

“Why…?”

“Due to Your Highness’s matters, there has been a great deal of commotion. Do you truly need to ask right now?”

Elise felt wronged. She had just awoken from a long nap, and yet Rezette was behaving like a prickly hedgehog, seemingly blaming her for his low spirits.

The man, who had maintained a stern demeanor, closed his eyes for an extended pause. After a deep breath, he spoke in a subdued tone. 

“It’s been resolved. I will handle it from here, so please go inside,” he urged softly.

“Just one more thing. Are you going to send Lady Genovia away?” Elise inquired.

“Yes. Immediately.”

He appeared prepared to expel Genovia from the castle without delay. Reluctantly, Elise found herself compelled to intervene.

“I hope Lady Genovia doesn’t leave. Let her stay a few more days,” Elise proposed.

Rezette’s brow furrowed. “Are you worried?”

Elise was taken aback. “What?”

“Whatever Lady Genovia used as leverage against you, you need not heed it. Furthermore, she won’t be able to divulge what she knows to anyone.”

Elise’s countenance wavered. It appeared that Lady Petisson had disclosed everything. In truth, Elise would have heard the account long ago—how Genovia Irrien had discovered her secret and taken advantage of her vulnerability in Rezette’s absence. The notion of being exposed in such a pitiable state made Elise’s cheeks flush.

Rezette lowered his head, locking eyes with her once more. “Elise, I am here. And as long as you remain in Rotiara, no one can harm you in my presence, no matter how frequently they invoke the Emperor’s name.”

If you are so worried, should I kill her right here and then? Rezette paused briefly, searching for an alternative phrasing.

Simultaneously, Elise was engaged in her own contemplation. The truth was, her desire to meet Lady Genovia once more was not solely driven by anxiety. Elise had refrained from responding to the audacious proposition Lady Genovia had presented.

“Give birth to just one child. Give it to me, and I’ll send you back to Argan.”

She had regarded the proposal as utterly preposterous. However, with Rezette’s return, the tempest that had churned within Elise’s heart appeared to dissipate, as though it had been a mere illusion. It was only now that her rationality returned, clear and focused.

Genovia Irrien belonged to the distinguished Irrien family, and she was the highest-ranking woman in Van Yela, boasting influential connections to the Emperor. Her brilliance eclipsed the news from the southern reaches of Grandel.

Grudgingly, Elise couldn’t completely discount Lady Genovia, and thus, the more contingency plans, the better…

If it wasn’t the direst of circumstances, it would be wise to apprehend the lurking shadow. Achieving this would necessitate a confrontation with Lady Genovia Irrien, the focal point of the discussion.

However, to navigate this path, she first had to soothe the irate man before her. Elise cautiously chose her words, offering an explanation.

“I found Lady Genovia’s stories quite intriguing.”

Rezette’s face tensed.