Misfortune 129

Chapter 129

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"His Majesty had kept the late Count Eperne's will. The Count had filled it with reflections on how grave and severe the sins he had committed on his own were."

Delnia instantly grasped the context of what the princess was trying to say from that alone.

Realizing no further explanation was needed, the princess once again wore a satisfied smile.

True to her noble upbringing, she was quick to grasp meaning. The princess found it quite agreeable not to have to add tedious explanations.

Each side inevitably had its own strengths and weaknesses. That was precisely the empire she must govern.

Feeling quite content, the princess willingly showed her magnanimity.

"The process to expel Evan Ark from Eperne is already largely complete. Thanks to the marriage contract of the previous Eperne couple that Colonel Barthez brought, it proceeded smoothly."

The moment Roan's name was mentioned, Delnia’s pale-green eyes flashed violently. Even though she had expected it, she couldn't help but be startled.

Eperne's reinstatement.

It was something she should have been grateful for. Knowing this, Marian could finally rest in peace. Even if belatedly, the fact that she could now ease her mother's grievance should have lightened her heart considerably.

Yet for some reason, Delnia couldn't simply rejoice. It was as if something was choking off every emotion threatening to surge forth.

"Now then."

Instead of waiting for Delnia, the princess calmly continued her words.

"The restored title of Count of Eperne must be inherited by you."

"The title... me?"

Delnia barely swallowed the question of whether that was even possible. After all, she stood before the supreme woman who would soon seize the throne.

"As far as I know, you're the only heir to Eperne. You have no close relatives. Surely you don't want to pass it on to some distant collateral line?"

"No, no."

Delnia, denying it repeatedly, hurriedly lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed deeply toward the princess.

"I shall consider it the honor of my life."

She cleared her throat, barely managing to offer her gratitude. Then, waiting for the surging emotions to subside, she straightened her back once more.

The princess glanced at the dry corners of Delnia's eyes and spoke indifferently.

"Unlike your words, you seem rather unimpressed."

"I simply..."

Delnia, called out for her lackluster reaction, only moved her lips.

She didn't want to look foolish by revealing her emotions before the princess. She didn't know how to convey this feeling that threatened to spill out the moment she let her guard down.

"Why... do you go to such lengths..."

Unable to untangle the complex knot in her mind, her mouth blurted out her true thoughts.

It was a question she'd once asked a man who always seemed to choose inexplicable actions. Perhaps the person she truly wanted to ask that question now wasn't the princess, but that man.

Though she couldn't possibly know the real reason, the princess didn't seize on it or sneer. Instead, she willingly answered in a voice that had grown even more subdued.

"That was the extent of the promise."

Delnia held her breath for a moment. Because those words alone made certain things clear.

Yet, uncharacteristically, the princess added a kind explanation. Whether it was truly kindness toward Delnia was unclear.

"That he wanted to give everything back to you."

"..."

"I couldn't make head nor tail of it, but it probably wasn't something he wanted to say to me anyway."

The princess's steady gaze fell upon Delnia. It was a merciful look she had never seen before.

Only now did Delnia grasp the princess's intent in summoning her here during such turbulent times.

Probably to deliver that message in Roan's stead.

Thinking of the man somewhere here, bowing his head in hope of Eperne's restoration, felt like a stone pressing down on her chest, choking her breath.

Simultaneously, she wanted to kick off this spot and run away. It wasn't that she had anywhere to go. She just wanted to move her legs and dash off recklessly, anywhere.

Whether the princess didn't notice Delnia like this, or pretended not to notice even if she did, she continued with her business.

"In any case, there will be a conferment of titles at my coronation ceremony, so until then, you shall remain in the imperial palace..."

"Your Highness!"

At that moment, the door burst open. A maid dared interrupt the princess, rushing in breathlessly. She then whispered something into the princess's ear.

The moment the whisper, inaudible to Delnia, ended, the princess's expression changed completely. With a face set in grave resolve, she abruptly rose from her seat.

"You may leave now."

The princess, who had changed her tone in an instant, hurriedly departed the audience chamber.

"I will see you out. Please follow me."

The maid discreetly led Delnia, left alone and forlorn.

Unlike the princess's unusual demeanor, the palace scenery differed little from when Delnia had first entered. This only deepened her puzzlement.

But she knew she wouldn't get any answers anyway.

Delnia neatly tucked away her curiosity and boarded the carriage bound for Blois. Then, as if turning away from all the commotion, she closed her eyes tightly.

***

Margaret, who had lain awake worrying about Delnia being summoned unexpectedly to the palace, couldn't hide her astonishment at the news she brought.

"Really? You're becoming a noble again?"

"Yes. That's how it turned out."

"Good heavens, that's wonderful! Congratulations!"

Instead of Delnia, who had calmly delivered the news, Margaret cheered and jumped up and down. Watching her, Delnia finally felt a little more real about what had happened to her.

"Wait, hold on."

As if suddenly remembering something, Margaret stopped her jumping and glanced sideways at Delnia.

"So does that mean I have to call you 'Lady' now...?"

Delnia couldn't help but chuckle softly at Margaret's awkward hesitation. The heavy thoughts that had been weighing on her mind also floated away lightly.

"You don't have to force it. Margaret is my friend, after all."

"Friend?"

The title seemed to please her immensely, for Margaret's smile blossomed even brighter than before.

Perhaps thinking she was being a bit too giddy, Margaret managed her expression and cleared her throat unnecessarily.

"Ahem, ahem. Still, you are a noble lady. You can't act like this, you know. Even if it feels awkward at first, you'll adjust quickly."

"I'm not even formally a noble yet. Take it slow."

"Right, I mean yes. Miss, you can speak freely to me too."

For a while, their conversation kept stumbling and breaking off as they struggled to change their habitual speech patterns.

After that, this same awkward situation repeated itself several times during meetings with others, including Leticia, who had rushed over upon hearing Delnia had returned.

But there was one person who never found herself in this perplexing situation—Lena.

"Once a lady, always a lady, I suppose."

Lena, who hadn't been seen for a while due to busyness but rushed over upon hearing the news, shrugged her shoulders. She seemed oddly pleased that her stubbornness had paid off in this way.

"Anyway, that's great news, Miss."

A refreshing smile spread across Lena's face, but unlike others, no words of congratulations came out.

Still, Delnia felt no disappointment at all. She herself hadn't quite grasped the reality of it either.

Besides, if Lena had congratulated her, it would have felt strange. Lena was, after all, a victim of Eperne.

Even so, she couldn't help but be grateful for Lena's heartfelt wish that things turned out well, thinking only of Delnia.

"I'm always grateful to you, Lena. And I’m sorry."

"I didn't do anything, really. It's all..."

Lena abruptly cut herself off. But Delnia's heart had already sunk heavily.

Because all this arrangement was that man's doing.

Thinking of that man who’d vanished without a word after all that, a corner of her heart always creaked like this.

Just as he’d wished to return everything, Delnia got back Eperne—her entire world. She didn’t even need to wonder why he’d done it. He’d given her the answer long ago.

“Say it’s not ! Say it’s not………………!”

That taciturn man who, no matter how much she hit or pushed him, never denied it, choosing instead to keep his mouth shut.

Thinking only of that moment made her stomach churn as if something heavy lay on it, yet the cause and effect felt oddly smooth. There was simply no room for doubt.

'But why.'

Why did this feeling keep surfacing?

As if something was terribly wrong…………….

'Was I still in a daze?'

Or was it because the man, trying to rebuild what he’d destroyed with his own hands, seemed utterly ridiculous?

No, it wasn’t that.

How should she put it? It felt like the most important thing was missing, yet she had forgotten what it actually was. Like standing on a straight road, unable to move forward, constantly looking back.

This persistent sense of unease, this emptiness—where on earth was it coming from?

"Oh, right. By the way, something strange happened yesterday."