Chapter 29
Chapter 29. The Red Cheeks
The mention of a love affair between cousins by blood. The words from Vinea, revealing both Eurene and her secret, made the Duchess place her untouched teacup back down. The suddenness of the revelation caused a loud clinking sound as the cup hit the saucer. Her fingers trembled slightly.
“Did you already know…?”
“If you mean the fact that you and the late Emperor are half-siblings, yes. So, what do you think about the crime your child has committed?”
“I… I…”
The Duchess couldn’t continue and clasped her trembling hands on her lap. The purpose of her visit was initially to find out if Eurene had made any mistakes in Haksya Village. If she had, she intended to offer a suitable apology and lower herself to hide Eurene from the Empress’s eyes. She never imagined she would be confronted with her secret so abruptly.
‘How does the Empress know about my secret?’
Only two people in the imperial palace knew this secret: the late Emperor and his son, the current Emperor, Tatar. As her thoughts reached this point, the Duchess shook her head inwardly.
‘It can’t be Tatar.’
She had been the one to comfort the child who lost his mother early. Based on that bond, she had received his promise to never harm Eurene and to keep the secret to his dying day. Especially considering he lost his mother due to the war with Veshnu. There was no way he would have told this to a stranger, a woman from Veshnu, whom he had only been married to for a month.
Yet, why did she feel a pang of anxiety?
The next words from Vinea made the Duchess’s heart drop.
“You should have come to me with the truth from the beginning, rather than trying to protect your daughter with lies. Then, at least, I would have considered it the ignorance of an innocent child and not contemplated separating mother and child forever.”
The Duchess’s face turned white. Vinea calmly watched her expression crumble.
It was obvious why she had come to the palace. During the thirty-second return, when Vinea frequently left the palace to meet Balak, Eurene visited Tatar daily.
Rumors about their meetings began to spread, and the first person to contact her was the Duchess of Castallo. In a letter, she apologized on behalf of her child, saying the former Empress had loved Tatar dearly, so Eurene had often visited him as if they were siblings, promising that Eurene would never be seen again if she could be forgiven.
However, whether it was then or now, the Duchess’s heartfelt worries would never reach Eurene. Once children grow up, parents can no longer control them.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It’s not my child’s fault. It’s the fault of her grandmother and mother. The child is innocent…!”
“Ignorance is a crime. If you have committed any wrong, it is in not telling your child anything.”
The Duchess’s shoulders shook violently.
How could she not know? As the child grew, looking more and more like the late Emperor, she agonized over it hundreds, thousands of times.
Should she tell her the truth about her bloodline? And thereby deny the life she had lived as a ‘true’ noble?
‘How could I do such a thing?’
Eurene had grown up sweet and pure, but all of that was underpinned by her noble background. She had been taught to always care for and give to those beneath her. That sweetness stemmed from the belief that she was clean, noble, and pure. Even her blind love contained a desire for a position that matched her high status. Her parents understood this.
So, what would happen if Eurene learned the truth? That her very foundation was tainted with the lowliest of blood…?
The Duchess stood and bowed deeply.
“The truth will be a lifelong weakness for my children. So please, punish me instead and bury this secret.”
Vinea didn’t look at her and sipped the tea from her cup. The reflection of the Duchess, kneeling in her expensive dress, was visible in the blue eyes cast downwards.
What value is there in a desperate plea? She may think that lowering her head at this moment shows immense humility, but to Vinea, it was of little use.
‘If the one kneeling before me were Eurene Castallo, it might be somewhat worthwhile.’
With idle thoughts, Vinea removed her lips from the cup.
“Do I look like I intend to kill your daughter?”
“The position Your Majesty holds has that kind of power.”
“The late Emperor will fiercely protect the Castallo family. How could I dare?”
Without raising her head, the Duchess clasped her hands together. Her clenched fists were white, reflecting her inner turmoil.
“Your Majesty will forever hold your position. Unless Tessibania and Veshnu go to war again.”
“So?”
“Young people’s futures are uncertain, but the futures of the old are more predictable. The time left for the late Emperor and me is shorter than for Your Majesty. I am asking to protect the future after that.”
Future, what a word that doesn’t suit me. Vinea inwardly scoffed.
She felt no sympathy for someone willing to sacrifice herself for her child, but she had no immediate plans to hinder Eurene anyway. Usually, the significant interference only began around four months after the wedding in each return. Until then, it was less troublesome and more convenient to grant a reprieve.
“Hmm…”
After weighing the inconvenience and the danger, Vinea finally made a decision.
“I will give you two options. In the next two months, either reveal the truth to your daughter or leave the capital forever. If you choose the latter, I will not prevent the Castallo family from remaining in the capital, except for your daughter.”
The Duchess closed her eyes, her head still bowed.
She had little attachment to the capital, so her choice was clear. Although two months was a bit tight, she could move herself and her daughter to an estate far from the capital within that time. She would start packing as soon as she returned.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. We will leave the capital within two months. So please…”
At that moment, Vinea noticed someone approaching quickly from afar.
Following the Empress’s gaze, the Duchess turned her head and hurriedly stood up, though she stumbled slightly, making her attempt to compose herself ineffective.
The reaction to the Duchess’s appearance was predictable.
“How dare you!”
The figure standing before Vinea raised their hand without giving her time to react.
Smack!
Vinea covered her stinging cheek and suppressed an annoyed sigh.
‘This always happens. This cursed fate is persistent.’
Out of ten times, this only happened five times. This time, it seemed, she was on the unlucky end of those odds. Because she had sent the servants away to a place where they couldn’t hear her conversation with the Duchess, there was no one to stop this commotion.
“Stop!”
The Duchess hurriedly grabbed the former Emperor’s hand, but it was too late. The slap had already landed.
Vinea calmly tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear and gave a slight bow.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus. I apologize for not having come to greet you sooner due to various circumstances.”
Everyone in the palace knew she hadn’t visited him on purpose. The face of the Emperor Emeritus, who bore little resemblance to Tatar, twisted with anger at Vinea’s shameless greeting.
“Shameless…! How dare you treat the mistress of the Duchy this way!”
Vinea turned to look at the Duchess. Her gaze was so calm it was hard to believe she had just been slapped. The Duchess, flustered, lowered her eyes.
“Did I order you to bow?”
“No.”
The Duchess’s face showed deep embarrassment, but the Emperor Emeritus continued in an angry voice as if he couldn’t see her expression.
“It was a mistake to let someone from the Veshnu Empire into the palace. It was wrong to let that bloodline lead the Empire!”
“Your Majesty, please stop! I beg you!”
“Megina, step back! You don’t need to bow to anyone, especially not to a Veshnu!”
“The reason I had to bow was all because of you, Your Majesty!”
The Emperor Emeritus turned his stern face toward her.
“What do you mean? I came running as soon as I heard you were here…!”
“When will this end?”
“Megina!”
“Stop paying attention to me. I’m tired of adjusting to your whims and enduring scandals my whole life.”
“How, how could you…?”
“So, please stop being rude to Her Majesty the Empress. Before you embarrass our family even more.”
The Duchess bowed once more to Vinea and left. The Emperor Emeritus hurriedly followed her, and silence finally returned.
“She left without apologizing until the end.”
The Duchess would probably think all this happened because of her, but she was merely a convenient excuse for the Emperor Emeritus to strike Vinea. It wouldn’t have mattered; she had been slapped for numerous reasons before.
Sitting down, Vinea picked up her teacup, feeling the coolness of the tea that had gone cold. She poured the tea out onto the ground without hesitation and quietly looked around.
The newly dug pond blended naturally, thanks to a skilled designer, making it seem like it had always been there.
The various flowers planted beautifully around, the marble statues of deer and rabbits, and even a small boat for light water play made the place perfect for a brief respite.
It wouldn’t last long, but it was suitable for a short break.
“Vinea de Tessibania.”
A voice filled with suppressed anger interrupted her thoughts. Vinea turned to see her reflection in a pair of fierce silver-gray eyes.
“You’re a bit late this time, Your Majesty.”
