Chapter 34
Was there anyone among the families currently allied with the ducal house who perfectly met all five of these conditions? No matter how thoroughly Michael rummaged through his vast mental directory of people, there was… no one who satisfied them. Whenever he thought, “Oh, that person?”—they were married, and whenever he thought, “Oh, that person?”—they were almost always the eldest son. No matter what, it simply wouldn’t do to recommend the heir of a noble house as a candidate for the Empress’s aide.
So who on earth was he supposed to recommend? Yet it felt like a shame to just let the matter drop. More than anything, this vague but nagging discomfort—the feeling of almost knowing—was proof that his subconscious was shouting, “There’s an answer! There is an answer!”
While scratching the back of his head and letting out a long breath, he absentmindedly lifted his gaze. The brothers were sitting face to face, each lost in his own thoughts.
“…….”
The late Duchess truly bore her sons well. My goodness, just looking at them would’ve been enough to make one feel full. Meanwhile, the kids in my family are no better than wild colts running loose around the village. God really is unfair. Or wait—did He pour all the good stuff into one place by mistake?
Even to another man, their beauty was enough to stir the heart: refined faces, deep and profound eyes, well-built physiques, outstanding abilities, and an unassailable background. The brothers looked like a painting. Michael glanced at the Duke, then at the young lord. At that moment, his subconscious began thrashing about.
Think! Just think!
Michael’s gaze grew sly. Narrowing his eyes, he slowly scanned Lionel from head to toe, then tilted his head and murmured, “Huh?”
Wasn’t there someone right here who perfectly fulfilled the first through fourth conditions? The only sticking point was the fifth. He wasn’t the eldest son, true, but…
Before his death, the late Duke of Valdir had bequeathed the Marquessate of Herbert and its lands—titles he himself held—to his second son, Lionel.
However, at the time of the Duke’s death, Lionel had still been a minor, so under imperial law the succession was postponed, a situation that had continued up to the present day. With the Duke of Despogne’s faction, led by the Emperor, locked in a sharp struggle against House Valdir, the moment Lionel officially received Herbert Castle, the situation could change drastically. The Duke of Valdir merely holding the marquessate and Lionel becoming a marquess and gaining independence from Valdir were entirely different matters.
For these reasons, Lionel was currently maintaining the status of Lord Valdir’s second son.
It’s ambiguous….
Meanwhile, Lionel himself was just as lost in thought.
He hadn’t been able to sleep the previous night. Vivid golden eyes and a cool, cutting voice kept stirring his mind. Along with them came the image of her disheveled face as she fled in haste, that perilous 모습.
And when morning came and he heard the news that the Empress was recruiting aides, he felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. Something fierce and instinctive—like the reflex that makes one ring a bell wildly at the sight of a predator in a dark forest—took hold of him.
“The Empress gave Count Calvain gold ingots, didn’t she? Her Majesty must have been quite displeased.”
At Lionel’s seemingly out-of-context remark, both Michael and Theseus tilted their heads and looked at him.
“I thought… perhaps Her Majesty’s view of the Tower differs somewhat from that of the current Mage Corps.”
Lionel fixed his dark blue eyes on his brother.
“What are you trying to say, Lionel?”
“The notice for aides that Her Majesty issued.”
“Yes. Have you thought of someone worth recommending?”
“I will apply.”
For a moment, Theseus was at a loss for words. He stared blankly at his younger brother, then let out a long breath and shook his head.
“Think again.”
At his brother’s firm refusal, Lionel turned his gaze to Michael and asked,
“Michael, is there anyone suitable to send as a candidate? I don’t think there is.”
Michael muttered, feigning a troubled expression as he pondered.
“Well… the third son of Count Verdi’s house is the closest fit, but—”
“He hasn’t even reached twenty.”
“Exactly. Seventeen this year, or sixteen—I’m not sure which. And then there’s the second son of Count Loromang. But I don’t know if it’s acceptable that he lost his wife. I believe it was last year. He has three children, too.”
At that, Theseus spoke in a tone that suggested it wasn’t even worth hearing more.
“Then that’s that. We can pretend this never came up. It’s not a sure method anyway.”
“Why am I unacceptable?”
“Lionel!”
“You consider second and third sons of other houses, yet I’m unacceptable—why is that, Brother?”
At Lionel’s question, Theseus blinked, looking momentarily at a loss for words. The brothers stared at each other in silence.
After a while, Theseus let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
“Lionel.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“There’s nothing for you to gain by going. Her Majesty is taking in aides partly as a demonstration toward His Majesty, and partly as a warning to Diane Poitiers.”
“In other words, the loss of dignity and honor outweighs any benefit I might gain—is that what you mean?”
“Yes. Do you even need to ask? If you become her aide, everyone will mock you behind your back as the Empress’s lover. You know that perfectly well—so why are you insisting on this?!”
At that point, Michael, who had been beside them, cautiously interjected.
“Aren’t you overlooking one thing?”
Theseus shot his secretary a sharp look, but Michael merely shrugged with an awkward expression.
Lionel understood his brother’s feelings. And yet—
“What dignity is there left for us to lose?”
“…….”
“Brother. Where exactly can we retreat to from here? Why have we been driven into such a corner? Just yesterday, Lennox Poitiers deliberately dragged his feet even after receiving my order for support. And yet I couldn’t lodge a proper protest with the Mage Corps—even though I am the Minister of Defense.”
“…….”
“Mages, the Tower, and magical beasts. What do we actually know about these three things that are shaking Ehmont? We made countless attempts to extract information, even from foreign nations, but didn’t they all end in failure because it was classified as state secrets? Do you remember how we even lost the agent we sent to Gotthorp?”
Theseus stared at Lionel. His dark blue eyes did not waver.
“At the very least, Her Majesty knows more about these three matters than we do. If I become her aide and obtain even that information, we can take one step forward from where we are now.”
It was a painstakingly logical argument. Theseus drained the cold tea in one gulp. Even so, his mouth tasted bitter, as if he’d swallowed gall. Frowning, he cooled his boiling thoughts and calculated calmly.
House Valdir, of all things—an aide, no less?!
But still… Theseus could not deny Lionel’s words. When his brother remained silent for a long while, Lionel drove the final nail in with a firm tone.
“I will take that as permission granted.”
“…….”
“Brother.”
At his younger brother’s demeanor—clearly having already made up his mind—Theseus loosened his cravat. His throat felt tight.
“If Mother were still alive, she would have come charging in with her eyes blazing and struck me across the back. To think I’d make you do something like this….”
Just then, Michael, who had been listening to the brothers’ exchange, cautiously spoke up.
“But what if Her Majesty doesn’t choose Lord Valdir?”
“…….”
“…….”
Only then did Theseus and Lionel look at Michael, as if the thought had just occurred to them. Michael alternated his gaze between the two, muttering in disbelief,
“Where does this groundless confidence come from?”
At his irritating remark, the brothers’ sharp glares flew at him. Michael promptly tucked his head in like a turtle and mumbled,
“Ah, come on, as if that would happen. I mean—it’s Lionel Valdir. Just make sure you dress impressively when you go.”
Diane looked at Karl. He was completely absorbed in processing documents, and perhaps because of that, he hadn’t said a single word to her since exchanging greetings. It was the first time she’d seen him since the day they met at the Empress’s palace, yet still.
Of course, he must have been busy. Right after the incident at the Empress’s palace, the Tower had descended—and the Empress had destroyed it. And just this morning, the Empress had issued a notice recruiting aides. But still…
Diane’s blue eyes wavered anxiously. Her breath caught in her chest, and cold sweat trickled down her spine. Overcome by a chilling sense of unease, she drew in a deep breath. Sensing her condition immediately, Lorraine, who was right beside her, hurriedly handed her some water.
“Your Grace, are you all right?”
At Lorraine’s voice, the Emperor’s gaze turned toward Diane.
“Mmm… I’m fine.”
Diane whispered very softly to Lorraine and took a sip of water.
“If you’re feeling unwell, go back to the palace and rest. You don’t have to stay here.”
“…….”
At his businesslike tone, Diane bit down hard on her lip and squeezed her eyes shut
