Chapter 39: The Fake Princess’s Resolve part 1
Meeting high-ranking and new individuals at the imperial palace or small gatherings was not something she avoided, yet she deliberately turned away from ties to her dark past. It was truly unfortunate.
Of course, he would love and cherish his daughter no matter what she became, but…
She was now a lady of a family known as the Empire’s Left Heart. Considering the character expected of someone in such an esteemed position, it was a bit disappointing. But what could he do?
Tiana had endured too many hardships in life. It wouldn’t be right to force her to extend love and mercy to others. Perhaps with time, as she grew to understand people and gained wisdom, her perspective would change.
‘Tsk, with my wife making such a fuss, I suppose I’ll have to settle for exchanging letters with the monastery for the time being. At least we bought plenty of wine in the autumn, so winter should be manageable.’
“Father?”
Duke Klein’s thoughts were interrupted by Kassel’s call, and he smiled pleasantly.
“Yes, Kassel. I thought you’d have some time to rest after returning to the capital for the summer, but one major event after another keeps coming your way. I worry about you becoming exhausted.”
“It is something I can certainly endure.”
When Kassel had been stationed at the border, the Duke worried every day that his son might be recalled to battle. Yet, at least then, he saw his son more often. Now, as the Knight Commander of the Imperial Order, Kassel was harder to meet.
Even so, the Duke couldn’t be prouder of his son, who had risen to a prominent position in the imperial palace. One day, Maurice would surely follow in his brother’s footsteps and grow into a fine man as well.
“…Watching you, I can’t help but be reminded of our ancestor, Lord Kaidoff. You look more and more like his portrait with each passing day. Your renown will surely reach the heights he once achieved.”
The Duke himself barely managed to ride a horse and had no talent for swordplay or martial arts. Although his second son, Maurice, was far less skilled than Kassel, he still surpassed their father by a considerable margin.
The Duke had no talent for physical pursuits whatsoever. The heads of the two ducal houses, known as the Empire’s Left Heart and Right Heart, were both administrators who only held pens rather than swords.
“You flatter me, Father.”
“Flatter you? Nonsense! Your grandfather sighed the moment he saw my pale hair at birth, lamenting that I was doomed never to become a knight since I wasn’t born with black hair.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Haha, just look at Maurice. He didn’t inherit my traits, yet he turned out much better than I did. You, too, will continue to grow even stronger.”
“Father…”
Was the Duke perhaps missing his second son, whom he always scolded at home? Kassel could understand his father’s mixed feelings. He, too, might reprimand Maurice, but he had never once considered abandoning his younger brother.
“I want to believe everything is finally falling into place. We have found Tiana again after much hardship. Maurice will become a knight next year or the year after. And your marriage must soon be arranged.”
“…”
“Hah… At last, this house is beginning to feel like a proper home.”
“I am not…”
Kassel had been about to say he had no such thoughts, but then he recalled that Tiana’s debutante ball was already set for spring.
Even if he did not rush into marriage, his younger sister, though the title still felt unfamiliar, would likely be married within two years. That would be best for everyone, especially for Tiana, who dreamed of a glamorous life.
Perhaps it was time for him to make up his mind.
Upon returning to the Ducal estate that day, Kassel resolved himself and visited the Selphia House. He had come to atone, in part, for his prolonged distance after dealing with the suspicious Undine.
However, Undine was nowhere to be found. The pond had dried up and was frozen solid.
‘Whoever sent it must have either retrieved it or left it to disappear on its own. I was mistaken, and whoever was behind it must not have achieved their goal either.’
It felt like only yesterday when he had found Undine here and struggled with his thoughts. Yet, time had flown by. Kassel’s contemplation was broken by the Duke’s voice.
“Once I’ve taught you everything you need as my successor, I’d like to step back and enjoy a quiet life of reading. Perhaps I’ll even tour the territory a little.”
“Father.”
“If your mother insists on being lonely, perhaps we could consider having another child. Hahaha!”
“…”
Even though it was the second time hearing the joke, Kassel still had no skill in responding to such remarks. No matter how many times his father repeated it, he doubted he would ever get used to it.
With a deeply conflicted expression, he desperately tried to think of something else. Perhaps the sight of Fay gracefully soaring above on Drakan today. That thought calmed him.
Was it strange? I always felt at ease when he thought about Fay.
When he was alone, Kassel let out an awkward chuckle. Whenever he felt stifled or melancholic, the thought of Fay brought him a measure of happiness.
* * *
Hours later.
Most of the lights in Duke Klein’s mansion had been extinguished, save for a single flickering candle in the lady’s chamber. The light cast shadows over a face twisted in rage.
‘D**n it!!’
Why did Morgana change her name to Fay? Becoming a mage at the Tower? What nonsense was that? If she had such talent, she should have gone to the Tower from the start, not the monastery.
The thought of Morgana, who should have been insignificant, becoming an entirely different person filled Dott with unease.
Morgana, what are you? Are you really Morgana? Or did some demon steal Morgana’s body after time rewound?
Dott bit her lip, gripping the edge of her pillow as she schemed.
‘Should I claim Morgana tormented me? That everything she says is a lie, and that she bewitched Mother Superior and the other girls, leaving me no room to even breathe?’
Since rewinding time, Dott had never felt such a crisis, not even when interrogated about the silk robe.
