Chapter 25

In his office, Ver could not concentrate on the documents in front of him. His eyes were on the paperwork, yet his mind was elsewhere.

Sigh.

Eventually, he put down the pen he had been willfully holding and touched the leather strap around his wrist.

It was a token he received for training her. It was one of the first things he had seen around the market since he was young. For commoners, it was natural to make accessories made with expensive leather straps, but not many people bought them.

“It’s not expensive, but it’s the only thing in the world.”

He recalled Prillance’s face, as well as her voice while giving this object. He remembered the happiness he felt at that moment. The one who had hurt him, but also the one who had given this object, it was the same person.

And even though he got hurt because of her, he could not understand why he kept thinking of her.

Everything that came into his sight only reminded him of his memories with her. The tea in front of him reminded him of the time when they drank tea together. As he looked out the window, he could see the garden full of sunshine where they walked together. There was also the road where he could always see her carriage as it was on its way to his residence.

He wasn’t sure whether these things reminded him of Prillance, or if he was truly just thinking of her.

Even as the distance between them was so far away, he constantly thought about her. The memory of how they had first met would play in his mind until it reached the last memory he had together with her. Finally, he unearthed one question.

Which part of her was he so disappointed and angry about?

He had been unable to process the documents for a while.

***

Roman was looking through the documents from the Kingdom of Barua. There was a report that someone wielding a knife had aimlessly harmed people. In addition, the incident took place in broad daylight, at a time when people were active.

“Is this true?”

He couldn’t believe it. A stabbing during broad daylight. Many had become injured, and even some dead. Moreover, despite the suppression of the kingdom’s knights, the man wielding the knife eventually had to be disposed of on the spot.

“Did you say there were no signs nor symbols on the man’s body?”

Though the Kingdom of Barua was a country brimming with commercial activity, trafficking and other crimes were also rampant. Because of this, the Kingdom of Barua could not escape the reputation of being a country bearing both light and darkness.

During Roman’s first ascension to the throne, the first thing he did was to strengthen the punishment for trafficking, along with the purging of criminal organizations. And for a while, it progressed quite well.

“There was not any.”

These incidents were happening again as he was away. However, it felt different from previous crimes. Most of the criminal organizations had not acted erratically so far.

“Strengthen patrols in the kingdom and instruct Brad to investigate the event. First, try to find out the man’s identity and scan the surrounding area so that I can take care of it right away when I go.”

“Yes, your grace.”

“Find people who can drive horses quickly. We will leave in a few days.”

“I will prepare them in advance”

He had to go all the way to the kingdom of Barua and then return to the Arceo Empire before the imperial ball. He was planning to return as soon as possible in order to keep his promise to Prillance.

“Also, Lady Royne sent a letter.”

Fred handed the letter bearing Viscount Royne’s seal. Roman sighed after reading the letter.

“Did you deliver my letter to Viscount Royne?”

“Yes.”

“Then he deliberately sent this.”

Roman stated, putting the letter in a corner of his desk. The Cecia he knew wasn’t one to step in and do something on her own. He had observed her for some time and knew her inclinations. She was the type to acquiesce rather than put up a fuss. The type that tended to go with the flow like water.

So Roman could easily guess that this letter was also sent by Viscount Ben.

Then, Roman thought of Prillance, who was the opposite of Cecia. She was the first woman to ask for an engagement request, a dance request, and even a partner request. A woman who came to himself and gave confident proposals. She was a woman who was willing to learn to dance even as she flinches at a single touch from him.

“I will have to prepare our wardrobe before I go. Contact the wardrobe and jewelry designers.”

“Yes, your grace.”

***

“You must go to meet Baron Jeanette.”

Baron Ralph Jeanette. Cecia knew that he had been working with Ben for a long time. He was also originally a commoner. She had heard that he usually travels to distant places to help with her father’s work. Then, when his father had been given the title of a Viscount, that person had also known he would be given the title of a Baron.

However, she didn’t know exactly what he was helping his father with. This was also the first time she would see his face.

“If it’s father’s old friend, then it is only right that I go.”

At Cecia’s words, Ben frowned. Friend. The term business partner fitted better.

“You just have to come to the mansion in the same carriage.”

It was all for show anyways. As much as he could, he didn’t want to hang around this man, but this time he couldn’t help it because of the imperial ball.

“Alright.”

But Cecia, who could not hear Ben’s thoughts, just figured he was dissatisfied.