Chapter 5
The enchanting and splendid wedding earlier turned into a tense atmosphere with the arrival of the Imperial Guard. Silver armor and helmet that don’t match among the splendid and beautiful dresses. The inability to blend in with everyone still clearly revealed Eric’s position.
However, if there is one thing that has changed from before, it is that the protagonist of this place is gradually shifting from Edward to him. The noblewomen next to him were busy whispering and covering their mouths with their fans at the sight of the gallant Eric.
Count Dennis showed Eric his eyes, which had never been seen so wide before.
The father’s voice was filled with emotion at the reunion with his son, whom he thought was dead.
“Alive, were you alive…?”
Did he really hope I was alive? A small inquiry scratched at his nerves, but Eric answered as calmly as possible.
“If you were hoping I would return as a vengeful spirit, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
You rascal. Why, why haven’t you contacted me even once during all this time?
“It was a fierce battle.
“There was no time to send, nor any reason to do so.
“Where are you hurt?
“How have you been all this time?
The count’s questions came relentlessly.
Even though there was a slight tremor of concern for himself, Eric’s response was nothing but cold. That coldness contained Eric’s determination not to break down the solid wall he had built over the years.
“There are many eyes watching.
“Today, I have come to this place to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s congratulatory letter. I will discuss personal matters separately later.
The count, with a face clouded by a mix of apology and guilt, pressed his forehead and let out a loud sigh. The countess sitting next to him cautiously spoke up, observing the chaotic atmosphere. She couldn’t help but wear an awkward expression.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Eric.
“Becoming the commander of the royal guard…It’s an honorable thing. Yes, I brought the congratulatory letter from His Majesty the Emperor, didn’t I?
“It’s been a while, Mother.”
“Uh, Mother…?
Eric approached the countess, making a rough sound with his boots. He stared at the Countess’s trembling pupils with a murderous gaze. Eric delivered the emperor’s congratulatory letter with a sly smile.
“Your complexion is pale, which doesn’t suit such a nice day, Mother.”
The countess couldn’t take her eyes off Eric’s changed appearance and demeanor. Has that child ever dared to speak of her as a mother?
A lowly bastard like you can’t even open your tightly shut mouth properly. When our eyes met, you were terrified of me and couldn’t move an inch.
What on earth has changed that child over the course of these five years?
Eric Bailey. The taciturn boy, who had a stubborn personality and didn’t easily show his emotions, often became the target of the Countess’s venting.
One day, after many years had passed since Eric arrived, Edward, the eldest son of the Bailey family, fell seriously ill and eventually lost consciousness, never to wake up again.
The Countess’s reproaches and lamentations, as she sought someone to blame, were directed straight at Eric. The seeds of sorrow, in the form of accusations, clawed and tore at him every day.
Count Denis abandoned and ignored his wife’s wails for their child. For a while, only the sharp cries swept through the Count’s estate.
A year later, inexplicably, when Edward regained consciousness, the count, who had been lifelessly dying, was once again bathed in sunlight, but this too was only for a moment.
At the emperor’s command to send the family’s heir to war, the wife fainted.
The household, which I believed would be okay again, was once again beset by troubles.
And a few days later, Bailey followed the emperor’s orders.
Instead of the eldest son of the family, Edward, the illegitimate child, Eric Bailey, who had been the target of all kinds of scorn and criticism, is joining the fight. Eric, who participated in the war, disappeared without a trace and has not been heard from since.
The family, who hadn’t even waited for news and thus hadn’t worried, tacitly accepted it as fact. Eric must have certainly died in the war. He has returned, just like that. And he returned, transformed into the deputy commander of the royal guard. Daringly, he has risen to a solid position where the Countess cannot treat him carelessly.
Not only the count and countess, but even Edward, the protagonist of the day, piqued everyone’s curiosity here, and the servants began to gather in small groups and whisper.
“Oh my. “Eric, is that you?
“Young master, what are you saying?
“If the lady hears it, she might get angry.
“Why aren’t you a young master?
“In name only, you are now a respectable second son of the Bailey family.
“Ugh. “Even if you tell me not to say useless things! I don’t want to get scolded too.
As the head maid, who had been watching them, signaled, they all fell into silence at once.
Aria, from a distance, was also unable to close her mouth as she stared at Eric.
The young master, whom we thought was dead, has returned as a strong young man.
“Why haven’t you contacted me even once all this time?
“No, more than that, the atmosphere has changed a lot compared to before. That attitude, those eyes…
One day, the illegitimate child was brought in by the count’s hand. The poor young master who had to spend all day locked in an empty room, waiting for just a ray of sunshine. The poor boy dragged into the war. That was the image of Eric that Aria remembered.
At that moment, Eric’s gaze turned towards the surroundings. The gaze that slowly scanned the surroundings as if looking for someone made the hearts of the nearby young ladies race.
The moment Eric turned his head towards her, Aria found herself staring into those blue pupils.
A piercing gaze that freezes me. A cold gaze that seems to scan indifferently.
I doubted whether the young man in front of me was really the boy who once had no spark in his eyes, to the point where I couldn’t find any will to live.
Aria quickly lowered her eyes. My unattractive face started to feel hot with embarrassment.
It seems you don’t remember me at all. Well, I’ve changed a lot over the years too…
When the blue eyes of Edward began to drift away from her, Aria subtly lifted her head and observed him.
I could instantly sense that Edward’s expression, which always wore a friendly smile, had slightly darkened.
“Are you unnecessarily worrying about your past mistakes…?”
Aria’s mouth went dry with worry about Edward.
Fortunately, Edward barely managed to avert his gaze from Eric and signaled to the villains.
The musicians hurriedly changed the music according to the next procedure.
As the sweet and gentle waltz melody flowed, the audience finally tore their gaze away from Eric and looked at the protagonists of the day.
It seemed like the joyful atmosphere of the engagement party was barely holding on, but despite the grand engagement day and the presence of everyone’s blessings, curiosity about Eric only grew as the afternoon went on.
Dinner after the engagement ceremony.
It should have been a delightful dinner where the party’s excitement still lingered, but everyone attending the dinner was unusually on edge.
Aria, who was serving on the side, glanced at Eric, who was sitting across and tilting his glass.
Eric, despite his light shirt attire, was exuding his presence and enjoying the prickly atmosphere.
It was none other than Count Dennis who broke the awkward silence. He raised his glass proudly, praising Eric’s efforts.
“To have saved His Majesty the Emperor from a trap.
“You have truly done a wonderful job for the family.
The count smiled gently, drawing a soft arc. The countess beside him, perhaps disturbed by the scene, narrowed her sharp eyes even more.
Edward, who had not yet changed into his tuxedo, extended his hand to Eric with a friendly smile.
“I didn’t have time to greet you earlier.
“Is this really the Eric I know? He looks completely different now.
Eric glanced at him and then turned his head.
Edward’s tightly drawn-up lips trembled slightly. He immediately lowered his empty hand, feeling embarrassed.
After the awkward greeting, the meal continued with only glances exchanged for a while. Only the sound of clinking could be heard, but no one spoke first.
As the meal was coming to an end, the Countess forced herself to make eye contact with Eric and asked.
“You’ll have to return to the palace tomorrow, right?
“If I had known this would happen, I should have at least cleaned up your room. I had been using it as a storage room because I was going to be away for a long time. There is a guest room prepared in the annex, so stay there for today. Send the maids to quickly start a fire.”
This was the Countess’s blatant lie.
Not long after Eric went to war, his wife immediately turned the place into a food storage. To even erase Eric’s small traces in the room where not a single ray of sunlight could properly enter.
The wife only wished that Eric, who had gone to war, would never come back.
However, on a day when peace had settled after Eric’s disappearance, the thorn in my side returned alive and well, making my blood boil.
The words the wife handed over implicitly contained a meaning. Just get through tonight, and don’t even think about showing up here.
No matter how much the emperor trusts you, I wanted to make it clear that your position within the family is just that.
The woman slightly raised the corners of her mouth, picked up the glass of water in front of her, and took a sip. It felt like the tightly blocked feeling inside was finally being released.
Until the unexpected answer came out of Eric’s mouth.
Eric, who had been quietly slicing the meat, looked up and replied with an indifferent expression.
“I plan to stay at home for the time being.
“Your Majesty’s permission was granted, wasn’t it?
“Wh-what is that…?”
Seeing the countess’s eyes widen in surprise, Eric calmly set down his fork.
“Then, please give me the annex for the time being.”
“No! Even if it’s just for a day, the annex is for the guests…!
“Would you really only give me a single room after I fought a deadly battle in place of my brother?
“Th-that…!
The faces of the Countess and Edward turned pale simultaneously.
For a moment, a heavy silence lingered among the family. A shadow fell over Eric’s eyes as he looked at the Countess. It was a brief remark, but it was so poignant that it pierced the listener’s heart.
Hearing this from the side, Edward bit his lip as the past he wanted to hide was revealed. It’s a past I don’t want to acknowledge, but it’s already happened.
However, his patience did not last long.
It was because of the suddenly heard cold voice.
“Please assign me a maid as well.
“A quiet maid who doesn’t complain much, if possible. How about that maid over there?
At the tip of Eric’s pointing finger was Aria, Edward’s close maid.
