Chapter 27
The busiest place in the palace, inside Emperor Carlos’s audience chamber.
The young emperor, Carlos, was sitting across from the royal guard captain, Oliver Marlborough.
Colonel Oliver was a veteran who had fought alongside Carlos.
“Your Majesty, it has been nearly a month since the Imperial Guard Commander has been absent. It is a matter of guarding the palace and ensuring Your Majesty’s safety. Please give that position to someone else.”
“Is it that sound again? Last time, Jim must have made that clear. Eric is currently carrying out a mission assigned by Jim, and he will return once he finishes that task.
“The Commander of the Imperial Guard holds a position of great responsibility. At a time when we should be strengthening the vigilance of the palace guards, how can you even think of leaving the position of the unit commander? It would be better to entrust it to someone else…
“It seems that without Eric, guarding the palace is difficult. Doesn’t he realize that this is a statement that lowers the stature of the captain of the guard himself?
Oliver had no choice but to close his mouth immediately at Carlos’s abrupt manner of cutting him off.
Seeing Oliver’s face turn red, Carlos leaned back on the sofa with a languid expression, crossing his arms.
“I don’t understand why the captain of the guards, who is so wary of Eric, keeps making me feel Eric’s necessity. It’s just a petty jealousy towards his subordinate.”
“Your Majesty, that is an insult to me! I’ve never had such a thought!
“Isn’t it actually a good thing for you? He must have been overshadowed by Eric all this time, unable to earn the loyalty of his subordinates properly. Why not take this opportunity to convey your sincere feelings to them?”
Carlos’s voice was mixed with worry and mockery.
Oliver already felt that no matter what words or actions he took, he couldn’t shake Eric’s solid position.
Although it took quite a bit of time, I accepted that I couldn’t command the guardsmen as well as Eric.
However, he too fiercely fought in the frontier to expand his territory.
Of course, it was to catch the eye of the young emperor.
For him, who had not achieved any notable accomplishments during the reign of the late emperor, the Hestus War, personally commanded by the new emperor, was the last opportunity to elevate his family’s status.
Finally, he achieved remarkable feats in the fierce battle, but even those accomplishments were overshadowed by someone else.
It is Eric Bailey, the current commander of the Imperial Guard.
Since the day Eric saved the emperor from the ambushed barbarians, he has received great attention.
He should have been there. Oliver had to regret the choice of not listening to Eric’s advice before the battle until now.
“This is a shortcut to the north, but the canyon is steep, and the forest is dense, making it easy for enemies to ambush. They probably knew we would choose this path and have set up traps.
As Oliver was lost in thought reminiscing about Eric, he locked eyes with Emperor Carlos.
Although his beautiful and youthful face did not match the authority of an emperor, his high nose, sharp jawline, and broad shoulders made the golden medal he wore shine even brighter.
Oliver, pricked by Carlos’s cold gaze, stammered and broke into a cold sweat.
“Your Majesty, I fully understand your affection for Captain Eric. Ha, but. It’s not a problem that can be solved by surrounding him with a strong fence. For now… the royal guards will follow Eric, but as his absence continues, the atmosphere will become unsettled.
At Oliver’s words, Carlos’s previously smooth forehead slightly furrowed.
It was an annoying remark, but the captain’s words had a point.
Moreover, since the arrow was aimed entirely at Eric, worry set in.
Carlos, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon spoke up.
“So, what you’re saying is that Eric can return to the palace.”
Carlos gazed at Oliver with sparkling eyes. Oliver’s pupils began to shake in confusion at the emperor’s unexpected reaction.
Carlos said to the aide standing next to him with a showy tone.
“Send a letter to Eric right now. Return to the palace immediately.”
A sharp and clear voice with a cutting edge. At Carlos’s firm attitude, Oliver could no longer continue speaking and merely bit his lower lip.
Eric’s return to the palace. This was not the answer he wanted.
“Did His Majesty the Emperor order the return to the palace immediately?
Eric, who was reading the letter, looked up and asked. The palace guard who brought the letter nodded in response.
“Yes, Commander! His order is to return to the palace immediately.”
It was an unexpected sound. I was planning to go up to the palace soon, but somehow everything felt like an urgent development uncharacteristic of a thorough emperor.
Soon, only one person came to Eric’s mind. He nodded as if he had somewhat expected it.
“I’ll get ready. Wait outside.”
“Yes, Deputy Commander.”
As the article went outside, a short sigh escaped Eric’s lips.
“Well, that’s true. That great person wouldn’t just sit still, would they?
Eric recalled the letter Henry had sent a few days ago.
As Eric’s absence continued, Captain Oliver seemed to be waiting for the opportunity to recommend his nephew to the nobles.
Eric’s eyes narrowed as he changed into his uniform.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. It was Aria who had brought the car.
Aria, having set down the teacup on the table, looked at Eric’s sudden preparations with a puzzled expression.
At the sound of the footsteps, Eric’s gaze turned towards Aria reflected in the mirror.
“I need to go to the palace. It seems like something happened while I was away.
Aria nodded. Eric was not only a member of the Bailey family, but also the commander of the Imperial Guard. It was perhaps only natural that things would happen in his absence.
But…In his absence, Aria was overwhelmed by an inexplicable emptiness.
Is it because the only person I relied on has disappeared? The reason was utterly incomprehensible.
At that moment, Eric, who had been adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves, found himself standing in front of Aria.
“Could you help me with this?”
At Eric’s indifferent words, Aria’s eyes widened in surprise. Even though I always helped with the master’s attire, I felt strangely tense.
Aria naturally finished buttoning his sleeve.
Eric’s lips curled slightly as he looked down at her.
“I want to take you with me, but it seems like now isn’t a good time, so it would be better to take you next time.”
At those words, Aria looked up with a surprised expression. To think they would take her to the palace. It was a place I had never been to in my life, so I couldn’t help but be surprised.
However, Eric showed no sign of being shaken by Aria’s surprised reaction. Without even averting his gaze, Eric spoke.
“If the lady looks for you while I’m away, deny it as much as possible. Anyway, she won’t be able to just dismiss you. You are probably very useful to her right now.
“It will be tough, but just hang in there a little longer.”
A very small smile appeared on Eric’s face as he looked down at her with his hands clasped behind his back.
Even when he was dressed in a light white shirt, he looked handsome, but Eric in uniform shone as if he had truly found his place.
At his appearance, Aria’s pupils momentarily flickered. They were indifferent words, but Aria nodded as if she understood the hidden meaning behind them.
Even while leaving for the palace, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for her master’s concern for her.
After finishing his speech, Eric gathered some documents and headed outside.
Eric, who had mounted his horse, paused for a moment to look at Aria, then pulled the reins of the horse.
Black hair fluttering in the wind. A splendid black uniform with an insignia on the shoulder. Aria, who was watching that figure from behind, stood still for a long time, wondering what was going on.
I didn’t take my eyes off that place until Eric completely disappeared from my sight.
“May you return safely from the palace without any trouble.”
Aria, who was full of worries about Eric, hurriedly shook her head.
What on earth am I thinking? The owner I was afraid of is away, but instead of being happy, why am I just worried about him? It’s a long vacation for the first time in a while. I’ll read books and get a good night’s sleep for the first time in ages! I should read a book and get a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while!
At that moment, when Aria was shaking her head with a resolute expression, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind.
“Long time no see, Aria.”
Since when had Edward, dressed in a black suit and a gray frock coat, been standing across from me?
Judging by their attire, it seemed they were on their way back from an outing.
Edward, who always wore a gentle smile, now had eyes filled only with coldness and betrayal.
“I guess you’ve gotten closer to Eric during that time. Seeing you come all the way here to see me off.
Edward’s words were laced with thorns. Noticing that, Aria looked at him with a bewildered expression.
His cold gaze quietly settled on Aria.
“Is that rumor really true…? No, right? You and Eric…
Even Edward thought it was a pathetic question, and he couldn’t finish his sentence, just biting his lower lip.
Even though she couldn’t hear the rest of the words, Aria felt she knew what the question was.
It seemed that the rumors about Eric and himself had also reached Edward’s ears.
Or, the countess might have said it.
What should I say? Will Edward really believe that I treated Eric’s wound? I couldn’t be sure.
Aria simply stood awkwardly with her mouth shut. At the reproachful gaze directed at her, Aria’s hand instinctively recoiled.
A weary sigh escaped Edward’s lips as he quietly watched her.
“No, it’s fine. It must be a misunderstanding. I don’t want to hear any more. I don’t want to say anything harsh to you either.
Edward, whose gaze had been momentarily caught, left the frozen Aria behind and turned towards the main building.
Aria just stood there, staring at him as he walked away.
