Chapter 007
Sioden was dressed in northern-style black attire.
Seeing him approach with a surprised expression, I couldn’t help but smile. “How have you been? I thought you had returned to the North, but you’re still here in the palace. I’m sorry I couldn’t return the brooch properly last time.”
A few words crossed my mind, but I didn’t know which to bring up.
At that moment, the palace attendant approached.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived in the audience chamber.”
This meant we shouldn’t delay and should go in.
I was about to tell Sioden to find time later, but thoughts of Demian, who had been so upset about our brief conversation, made me close my mouth.
As I racked my brain for a suitable way to address him, the attendant urged us again.
“Your Grace, Milady. His Majesty is waiting for you both.”
Only then did I realize that we were both summoned by the emperor. Flustered, I looked at Sioden, who seemed to have something to say, his lips moving slightly.
However, there was no time for conversation. If we delayed any longer, it would appear disrespectful to the emperor.
The current emperor hated it when his authority was even slightly undermined. Yet he acted as if he were magnanimous, making those who were mistaken feel embarrassed.
The audience chamber was not only occupied by the emperor.
My father was already seated in the seat just below the head of the long oval table, looking our way. Then, as always when others were watching, he smiled kindly.
His gentle smile made him look like a father who cherished his daughter, and I flinched involuntarily. Sioden also hesitated slightly.
Recalling what my father had done to his father made my face flush with embarrassment. Even if it wasn’t my fault, I felt ashamed and sorry.
The emperor, with bright blonde hair and light blue eyes like Aiden’s, spoke with a friendly expression.
“Everyone is here. Please take your seats.”
I was assigned a seat just below my father, while Sioden had a place directly opposite him.
As soon as we were seated, the emperor cast his gaze toward me.
“Lady Rowen. You know that your father is a close friend of mine, don’t you?”
“I consider it an honor for my family.”
“Indeed, although I have not shown it much, I regard you like a daughter. I do have a daughter, but she doesn’t feel much like one, so seeing you eases that feeling.”
That said, the emperor had never shown much interest in me personally. He seemed far more enthusiastic about the transactions that revolved around me than about me as an individual.
“Sometimes, I think about how your joy as a lady could bring joy to the royal family as well.”
Joy, huh?
I almost lost the smile I had been wearing at that absurd statement.
In my life, I had never been anyone’s joy.
Only one person, Apple, had always welcomed me, but even with her, I often brought more sorrow than joy.
She loved me, but I was constantly dragged around by my family, which made her upset.
The more Apple loved me, the more distressed she became.
“However, while I have much joy, there are those who do not.”
With those words, which garnered no sympathy, the emperor turned his head toward Sioden, who was sitting opposite me.
“Duke of the North.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You recently lost your father.”
At those words, the man’s straight lips twitched. Sioden responded with a brief nod, clearly not wanting to discuss the topic further.
The emperor continued with a completely different demeanor than when he spoke to me.
“Your father was once a close friend of mine.”
“Once” implied the origin of the rift between the royal family and the Raslets.
When the current emperor was still the crown prince, the royal family and the Raslets had a very close relationship.
Their bond began to unravel when Sioden’s father, the former Duke of Raslet, fell in love with the crown prince’s fiancée.
The crown prince cursed his fiancée, who betrayed their long-standing promise, and the friend who betrayed their friendship.
Even after ascending the throne, this continued.
“Although our relationship soured due to unfortunate events, a new generation has emerged, and it’s time to let go of past feelings.”
The Emperor mumbled that it wasn’t good for a man to be alone for so long, and he stretched out his hand in the air. It was a gesture he usually made when proclaiming a decree.
“Thus, today, I bestow upon you a new joy.”
He spoke solemnly.
“In the name of Litherin, I declare the union of Iella Rowen and Sioden Raslet.”
As those words hung in the air, silence descended.
I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. It seemed Sioden felt the same disbelief; a similar look of shock crossed his face.
My father finally spoke.
“Your Majesty.”
“Capren, I apologize to you. It’s akin to stealing the joy of your family.”
Then the emperor smiled slightly.
“But didn’t you say that the lady was very fond of the new Duke of the North?”
I had never said such a thing to my father.
At that moment, I realized this was a trap my father had set up in advance with the emperor. The target he intended to ensnare was likely Sioden, or more precisely, the Raslet family.
I began to understand why my father had said nothing while I stayed in my room throughout the banquet.
My cunning father, the architect of this entire trap, feigned innocence.
“I did not intend for things to turn out this way.”
“Of course, I understand your feelings. I know how much you cherish the young lady. However, considering our old friendship, I thought it was time to see the son of Lerox find a good match.”
If he truly thought about friendship, he wouldn’t so freely speak of such actions. The emperor lifted his chin, looking down with a satisfied expression.
“From up here, they really do look good together.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
As expected, my father revealed his true feelings as soon as we returned to the Rowen estate in the capital.
“It’s a shame to give up on a marriage with the royal family, but Raslet is decent prey.”
At a gathering for dinner, my father looked around at his children seated below him and asked,
“How long do you think the young Raslet will last?”
The first to answer was Iswen.
“He won’t last more than three years.”
“Does that mean you’ll be doing something about it, brother?”
Demian interjected with a provocative tone.
“To think you’d actually lay hands on someone several years younger than you, brother. Should I call that ruthless? Either way, it’s impressive.”
The atmosphere at the table grew chilly in an instant.
My father narrowed his eyes as if assessing something, and Iswen furrowed his brow.
I looked at Demian in surprise for speaking the truth for once.
Now that I thought about it, his face seemed a bit flushed. He must have had a drink before sitting down at the table.
That explained why Demian was acting the way he was.
To me, they both seemed similar, but Demian occasionally lost his temper and challenged Iswen.
It was common for him to make snide remarks about the food served at the table or how it suited his tastes, and he would make comments that disregarded Iswen’s opinions.
Iswen usually remained indifferent, but when he felt his personal boundaries were crossed, he would severely crush Demian.
He mostly took him to the training grounds and beat him mercilessly under the guise of a sparring match.
“If you act so spitefully, who will give you a reward? Sometimes when I see you, brother, you seem less than human…”
As Demian continued to taunt him, Iswen, who had been silently glaring at him, stood up.
“Demian Rowen, come out.”
“Seriously, do you think anyone would be scared by that?”
However, everyone in Rowen knew that Demian was actually afraid of Iswen. Sometimes he would even try to avoid him.
Yet there were times when he couldn’t hold back any longer and would challenge him.
My father glanced at the empty space left by his two sons standing up and said to me,
“Behave yourself. Since you’ve acted as if you’re giving yourself up reluctantly for a marriage you don’t want, you need to move accordingly.”
In simpler terms, it meant to act expensive.
My father added,
“Act as if everything hinges on your fleeting emotions.”
It was as if he believed that Sioden would be concerned about my feelings.
‘If Raslet has shown you any interest, it’s just a shallow infatuation for a night. Under the name Rowen, it won’t leave a trace.’
After all, what Iswen said was likely true.
As the silence stretched on, my father nodded with one eye closed. Before that could turn into a punishment, I responded.
“I will heed your words.”
“Your brothers will extract what is needed from Raslet. As long as you don’t do anything foolish in the meantime, you’ll be fine.”
Then my father looked me up and down as if I were pathetic.
“Just managing your appearance well will take you halfway there. He’s just a young man, after all.”
Who knows? That guy might even become infatuated with you.
But my father wouldn’t wait for such a moment to come.
He wouldn’t invest in uncertainties.
“You know what I need from you, right? If you truly are my daughter, then you should know what to strive for.”
He mentioned the bloodline that should embody the strongest love, yet could never understand compassion or love for others.
The more ridiculous part was that I couldn’t disagree with him.
“Yes, Father.”
Only then did my contradictory father smile with satisfaction.
