Chapter 286. Epilogue, Part XIV

With the death of Francis and Duke Dudley, Killian’s opponents were scattered and trying to read the countenance of the royal family. The remnants had been lying flat for about ten years, but instead of Philip who was nominated as the Crown Prince, they began to aspire to find power by making Luar the Crown Prince, even as he turned seven years old.

The leader of the force was Duke Miguel, the former right-hand man of the Duke of Dudley. He currently only had a title, but had been angered by his failure to set foot in politics at all.

But Luar had no desire for the emperor’s seat. He was to inherit the Archduke of Bertino and the Bertino Business Group, and was satisfied with the position. He thought he was a businessman. It was more fun to walk around freely and grow the Bertino Business Group than to wrestle with the talkative nobles in the Imperial Castle.

Luar still despised those who wanted to use him to build power. To secure his future, he asked the outside world to call him Sir Bertino and tried to block out the remnants of the ambitious completely.

Perhaps because he had properly confronted psychopathic nobles since he was a child, Luar was thorough and cool, even if he was only fifteen. Some of it was because of his parents, but it was mostly due to Maribel’s thorough education.

But now it was hard to stay calm. Alexander’s agony was very unpleasant to him.

Luar guided Alexander to Raefany’s VIP room. He picked up cookies from a plate of refreshments and fired off at the grumbling Alexander, "Isn’t it a good thing, since you have been complaining so much about Charlotte?"

Alexander had treated the cute Charlotte that way, but now he felt sorry. Luar was displeased, but tried not to show it and pretended to be indifferent.

Alexander was troubled by Charlotte’s cold reaction after her birthday party last year, and complained at once, "She was upset that I didn’t go to her birthday party, so she doesn’t even want to talk to me. It’s not good, but it’s weird. Charlotte’s personality is weird."

Luar’s forehead was severely furrowed when someone said that the character of his precious sister was strange. He thought he was done listening to a twelve-year-old boy with a delicate personality for the moment. Luar replied coolly, "Alexander, I’m telling you, Princess Charlotte wasn’t upset that you didn’t come to her birthday party. She’s just losing interest in you. Why are you accusing Charlotte of being weird when she’s just treating you like any other aristocratic child? Are you something to Charlotte?"

Alexander’s eyes grew wide. Luar appeared to be angry, with his silver eyes that so resembled the Emperor’s.

At the sight of the hurt and tearful Alexander, Luar continued soothingly, barely holding back his anger and what he wanted to pour out, "It’s good for you, too. You felt troubled because Charlotte was chasing you. Right?"

Alexander nodded naturally at the fiercely pressing silver gaze, unlike the soft voice.

"Yes, you think so and so you don’t think of Charlotte anymore. I advise you not to go and talk like this to my father and brother, for your future."

After sincerely advising Alexander Oswald on his political life, even though he was now only twelve years old, Luar turned to head for the second floor.

-----------------

"I didn’t even think it was a floral fabric. It’s sunny without any special decorations," Julietta exclaimed as she visited Vicern for the first time since the Feliadel Department Store had opened and had tea with the Duchess Elias.

When a department store opened in Austern, she was not sure about things, thinking that it might be possible. People’s ideas were nearly all the same, so there could be department stores, cars, and even airplanes on this world someday.

However, when Julietta saw the high-heeled shoes that the Duchess of Elias had come up with, she started to make sure, and this face-to-face meeting cemented her suspicions.

"It was a very difficult task with the current weaving techniques. I’m happy to see the good results of my years of research."

Fresh green eyes met clear blue eyes with all the splendor.

’Do you know what I am thinking?’ Her blistering blue eyes winked at the Duchess, as if they were saying the Empress knew everything.

"Can’t this bird speak?" Now that it had barely thrown off its puppy’s appearance and become an adult dog, Manny looked at Mary solemnly, dressed in a Sherlock Holmes-style hat and cape.

Manny’s growth was slow, perhaps because of the blood of a divine animal. When Lilly gave birth to lovely kittens and grew old and parted with them, Manny was still just like a puppy.

"It knows how to say simple words. Seeing Manny, I think Mary might have the blood of a divine animal."

"Mary, a divine animal? A divine animal?" Mary flew to Adelaide after a short flight, sat on her shoulder, and cocked her head. Adele patted Mary and looked closely at Manny’s clothes, and she smiled softly.

"Its outfit is very familiar."

Julietta only smiled meaningfully at Adelaide’s question. "Is that so?"

Their eyes met again. Both pairs of eyes twinkled with certainty.

"I think we’ll be good friends."

"Yes, that’s right."

Julietta and Adelaide looked at each other and laughed loudly. It was a refreshing laugh, blowing away everything that had been before.

------

As soon as the urgent meeting was over, and the thread was going where the needle was going, Killian hurried to Vicern. He frowned at the entrance to Chartreu, there on the second floor of the Feliadell Department Store.

"Who the hell is she feeling so good with?"

The middle of the forehead of his first son, Philip, was equally furrowed. "That way... I’ve never heard my mother laugh like a child..."

Maribel came out of the shop and stopped them as the father and son rushed into Chartreu.

"I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Her Majesty said she did not want to be disturbed during her meeting with the Duchess of Elias." Maribel’s gaze was as serious as if she could not let anyone come in.

"The Duchess of Elias?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I think the two of them have a lot in common. His Excellency Duke Elias and Prince Luar are here on the fifth floor, so why don’t you wait there with them?"

Her recommendation implied that they had all come, and were all kicked out. Maribel added as Killian’s expression was about to become more violent, "Her Majesty was in a bad mood after meeting with the former Marquis Anais and Miss Christine, but fortunately they seem to be forgotten now."

It meant that they should not disturb her fun time.

"... how are they?"

Despite showing disapproval, Killian changed the subject. He wished she could stop paying attention, but Julietta had regularly visited their place once a year and watched from afar.

"The scar on Miss Christine’s face is getting worse and worse, and now they can’t recognize her at all. Because Your Majesty didn’t approve a priest’s treatment, Doctor Paulo has delivered pain-control drugs and provided her with treatment to prevent the spreading of the wounds."

At Maribel’s report, Killian nodded. ’The healing of a priest? No way!’ Taking into account Sir Anais’s performance, he meant to never allow it.

========

magic The ex-Duke of Dudley, who had been imprisoned since Julietta’s Proof of Blood, went mad when he heard of Francis’ death. When a man who was once a great nobleman and a leader of power became like that, public sympathy rose sharply and they could not execute him immediately. With a later pledge, the Emperor finished the cases for Christine and the ex-Duke of Dudley by exiling them.

The ex-Duke of Dudley, Christine, and the ex-Marquis Anais, who wanted to take care of his daughter, were sent abroad together.

And soon after, information came from the ex-Marquis that the Duke of Dudley was trying to sell several secrets of Austern to another country. The Duke of Dudley had pretended to be crazy to escape from prison and tried to avenge himself with the Empire’s secrets he knew. He was executed immediately.

After his report, the ex-Marquis Anais, was returned his Marquis title. However, he left the Marquis title to his son and chose to stay with Christine.

Unlike Christine, who was unable to set foot in the Empire, the Marquis Anais could always return. However, he could not give up his original sin, Christine, even after hearing news of his grandchildren.

For him, Julietta went to visit a small house in a nameless land in the south once a year.

======

Killian sighed at Maribel’s report. He thought it was time to end the tenacious life that endured without dying.

The sound of laughter seeped into his complicated thoughts. Killian turned to the fifth floor and said, "Mrs. Grayson, I think it’s time to return her father to Julietta."

Watching the back of the Emperor walking up the stairs, Maribel recalled what had happened in the morning. Julietta had said, while looking at Marquis Anais, who was receiving the nervous Christine, her entire face tied in bandages, "Mrs. Grayson, this is the last time I will visit this place. I’ve been here every year in a mandatory mood, but now I think I can truly sever ties with them. Tell His Majesty he doesn’t have to do that if he gives you another order. I’m truly happy."

Julietta said so and then turned away from the small, shabby house. Maribel thought she should convey the Emperor’s intentions.

------

That evening, though she was already eleven years old, he still sang lullabies until the baby Charlotte fell asleep, and then he went into the bedroom. Killian, who had to wait for his wife with the Duke of Elias and finish dinner alone, was in a very low mood.

Killian, who went all the way to Vicern and eventually returned alone, grumbled, "I can finally see your face again."

"I had a long talk with the Duchess of Elias. It was very pleasant and she has a lot of things in common with me. We’ve also agreed to meet tomorrow."

Whether it was really fun, Julietta’s voice was so excited that it was giddy.

"Tomorrow again?"

The time for them both was reduced because of the children, but now he had another strong rival for her time, the Duchess of Elias!

Julietta quickly kissed him on the chin, as he was trying to tell her no more. "I’m meeting her early tomorrow morning, so I think you should have breakfast with the kids."

Killian’s expression, which had been briefly loosened by Julietta’s act of charm, turned ugly again. "No. You know we have to eat breakfast together. If I can’t see your face in the morning, I don’t have much of an appetite and I can’t digest it."

Julietta hugged him gently at Killian’s protest. "I said my last goodbye to my father today, so I was a little depressed, but then I met the Duchess of Elias. She filled the emptiness that you and our children couldn’t fill. Are you going to feel sorry for that?"

Killian’s mouth shut as she leaned her head over his chest. Friend. He had Marquis Rhodius, Count Adam, Duke Oswald, and Marquis Valerian. However, Julietta, who had no social contacts since her childhood, did not have what she could call a friend in her heart. There was Madame Raban, Maribel, Vera, Amelie, and Sophie, but they were her family, and not her friends.

Killian patted Julietta on the head and said, "I’d like to say it’s sad, but I can’t say that. Instead, you have to finish quickly."

Julietta agonized for a moment at his still impure voice. "I’ll try, but don’t get angry at me even if I am late!"

At Julieta’s cute act, Killian paused and hit back. "If you are late, I will visit you, but you won’t get angry!"

Julietta burst into laughter. "Yes, let’s not get angry. Now, I promise."

When Julietta held out her lips and demanded a promise, Killian lowered his head right away. Amid the deepening kiss, a word mixed with the worries of Killian, who had been scheduled for a meeting the next morning, came out...

"Do you want me to stay up until morning?..."

-End-