Misfortune 124

Chapter 124

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"The Colonel should wait here for a moment."

Without further explanation, the princess uttered only those words before abruptly leaving the reception room.

Left alone, Roan waited silently for her like a loyal dog.

How much time had passed? When the princess reappeared, an enigmatic smile played on her lips.

"It seems I wasn't the one who needed the Colonel after all. It was the Colonel who needed me."

With this baffling remark, the princess flicked her fingers, holding something between them.

"Do you know what this is?"

He could tell at a glance it was an envelope, but the distance made the writing unreadable.

When Roan silently shook his head, the princess revealed the answer with apparent delight.

"It's Count Eperne's will."

"………………A will?"

Roan repeated the word in a hesitant tone. It was the very will Count Eperne had written before taking his own life, one that had been delivered directly to the Emperor without Roan ever seeing it.

"Yes. To be precise, it's a confession letter detailing every single one of his crimes, written just before his death."

The princess continued her explanation in a tone that had grown remarkably magnanimous.

"He wrote at great length that everything was his own arbitrary decision and had nothing to do with his family. Of course, it didn't sway His Majesty one bit, since he was intent on destroying the entire Eperne family."

The princess shrugged her shoulders. Even then, Roan still couldn't fully grasp her meaning and wore a bewildered expression.

"Don't you understand? What it means for the Count to separate himself from his family."

For Roan, somewhat removed from the ecosystem of the nobility, it might have been a difficult question. That's why the princess even offered an unusual kindness.

"Think carefully. The Count is a son-in-law by marriage. And in typical family engagements, a contract is always drawn up before the wedding."

Then, the puzzled haze slowly lifted from Roan's blue eyes.

"You can't be serious………………”

Seeing he seemed to grasp it somewhat, the princess continued excitedly.

"It's clearly stated in the marriage contract between the two of them. If the Count commits any act that brings dishonor to the family, the contract can be nullified."

Roan couldn't even open his mouth; he just blinked his eyes. Even as he listened, he couldn't believe it.

The annulment of the marriage contract meant placing all blame squarely on the Count of Eperne—no, on Evan Ark alone.

Which meant…………….

"If that happens, Eperne could be reinstated."

Of course, this was purely theoretical. The marriage between the Count and Countess wasn't something that happened overnight, and moreover, both parties were already deceased.

But no matter how impossible something seemed in reality, the Emperor's power could push it through if it had a plausible justification.

"Since we're restoring it anyway, wouldn't the original surname be better? Of course, if you wish, I could grant a new family name."

"No, Eperne... I request the restoration of the Eperne name."

Roan bowed his head, his reply hasty. To raise up with his own hands the very family that had taken his parents, torn him from his sister, and ruined his entire life.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind that his parents might be pounding the ground in frustration from beyond the grave at their son's shameless act.

But it didn't matter. He could hear their resentment after death. It was only a matter of time anyway.

"Then it's settled."

The princess replied coolly, as if she had already anticipated his answer.

"When I heard His Majesty had kept the Count's will separately, I never imagined it could be true. He'll be quite pleased to know."

Watching the princess, delighted to find fresh gossip to share with the Emperor who remained ill, Roan suddenly looked puzzled.

"But why would His Majesty keep the Count's will….?"

"Why indeed?"

The princess cut off his question as if no further explanation were needed, fixing him with a lingering gaze.

That alone made it clear. The reason he had kept that seemingly useless will all this time was precisely for that reason.

So, had the Emperor already seen through Roan’s own heart back then, even before he himself realized it?

No, perhaps it was obvious to anyone who looked. Only he had blinded himself, denying his own feelings.

"However, I need the Count and Countess's marriage contract. It's probably in Belfort..."

"I'll retrieve it."

Roan dared to interrupt her and stepped forward.

The princess did not reprimand his rudeness. She merely looked down at the man who seemed quite impatient and suppressed a chuckle.

"Then the justification is more or less settled. What remains is the practical matter, I suppose."

The discussion about the fiefdom, which had been expected to be the greatest obstacle, was surprisingly easily resolved.

"Belfort can be returned."

"Truly?"

"Yes. It's a barren wasteland, hardly worth coveting. To His Majesty, it was merely a symbol of conquering Eperne."

Indeed, Belfort could hardly be called prosperous, even by generous standards. It was simply a place where people who had settled long ago could continue to eke out a meager existence, much as they always had.

Perhaps Belfort could have remained peaceful forever.

Only now did this meaningless assumption tear his insides apart.

"It wouldn't hurt to show some goodwill now. Unlike His Majesty, I'm willing to embrace the old nobility. However, since the castle belongs to you………………”

"I shall align myself with Your Highness's will."

Roan relinquished Belfort Castle without hesitation. Since he had intended to return it anyway, he felt no qualms.

"How refreshing."

The princess remarked with satisfaction. After enduring endless, drawn-out arguments with the administrators, dealing with a soldier who carried out orders without complaint was deeply gratifying.

Roan added several minor requests as well. Among them was a plea to expel one resident from the domain.

Though the reason was unclear, it wasn't a particularly difficult matter, so the princess readily nodded her consent.

"I am truly grateful. I shall never forget the kindness Your Highness has shown me today."

As the discussion drew to a close, Roan bowed once more to express his gratitude.

"Surely that can't be all?"

The princess asked playfully, gesturing again to the scribe.

Everything that would happen from this moment onward would be meticulously recorded in the annals of history.

But that was fine. There was not a shred of falsehood in his devotion. Even if it stemmed from a deeply personal reason.

Roan approached her without a moment's hesitation. He knelt on one knee before her.

"Roan Barthez swears before Jeanne Lejeune de Brunois."

His low, firm voice resonated with deep reverberation.

"I shall be a sword wielded solely for my sovereign's will, and a shield that does not hesitate to shatter for my sovereign. This oath is written in blood, etched in wounds, and shall ultimately be proven with my life."

"This is quite a deadly loyalty."

Even as she spoke, the princess couldn't hide her pleased smile.

After completing the vow, Roan grasped the hem of the princess's robe and kissed it.

It was the moment a man's private loyalty, his conviction broken before love, finally fell into the princess's hands.

***

The shocking news that the Emperor had designated Princess Jeanne as his successor rocked the entire Brunois region.

This unprecedented situation stirred the world as much as war itself. News reports erupted like celebratory fireworks, pouring fuel on the flames.

Rumors spread like wildfire: that a renowned noble house had declared support for the princess, that foreign envoys had canceled meetings with the Crown Prince and rescheduled appointments with the princess.

But the news that shook the empire most was undoubtedly the actions of Roan Barthez, who had sworn allegiance to the princess.

"Who would have thought Colonel Barthez would step forward to serve Her Highness!"

"Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed. I thought the Colonel was different from other nobles."

"Still, hearing that the Colonel even swore an oath makes the Princess seem different somehow. There must be something different about her compared to the First Prince for the Colonel to have chosen her."

"That's true."

While anticipation for the Princess rapidly spread, the First Prince's camp fell into a state of literal panic from an unexpected ambush.

The Commander-in-Chief, who had placed absolute faith in Roan's word that he would visit Belfort, was beyond furious.

"Roan Barthez! How dare you mock me!"

Cuern bellowed, hurling documents at the brazen face that had walked through the door.

Roan did not dodge the fluttering papers, silently enduring Cuern's fury. Yet it was insufficient to quell the commander's rage.

"I must look utterly ridiculous to you now. Do you think you're something special just because you've got the princess's backing? Do you think you can sell the Navy's name without a word to me and expect forgiveness?!"

Strictly speaking, it was a false accusation. Roan's loyalty was a personal oath, not one representing the Navy.

But instead of refuting it, he maintained his silence.

"This is insubordination! I'll order your immediate imprisonment. Know this: you'll never see the light of day again!"

"...."

"If you have a mouth, answer me! Do you understand?!"

"Yes, I understand."

Even under the menacing threat, Roan didn't flinch. That calm, composed demeanor only further churned the already-flipped-out Cuern's insides.

"Fine, let's see you do it!"

It was the very moment the furious Cuern turned to call the sentry outside.