Chapter 7
“Yes. I am trying to raise them into loyal subjects who can help Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
“You really seem to have succeeded in educating your children.”
There was hidden envy and concern in the Emperor’s voice. The Duke of Weekend knew that the Emperor’s worry came from the Crown Prince.
“The Crown Prince is almost an adult now, but there is no sign of maturity.”
The Crown Prince was the Emperor’s only concern.
He had a violent personality and no interest in studies or politics. He often played with Ellen, who strangely got along well with him.
The Duke of Weekend had warned Ellen several times not to associate with the Crown Prince. It was obvious that the Weekend family would be the one to suffer consequences.
“Recently, he even went to a hunting ground without telling me.”
The Duke of Weekend immediately bowed.
“It is my fault for not raising my child properly. Ellen insisted on hunting a white deer as a birthday gift, and because of that, I caused trouble for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“It is not your fault. How could it be your child’s fault? Raise your head.”
Fortunately, the Emperor did not seem angry, so the Duke slowly raised his head.
“Is your youngest daughter growing well?”
Even though she had not yet debuted in society, the Emperor knew Orte was the child of the Saint.
In fact, the Emperor was the one who actively helped bring Orte into the Weekend household. Because of that, the Duke always felt uneasy whenever the Emperor showed interest in her.
“What age is she this year?”
“She is thirteen.”
“Hmm, she will soon be of debut age.”
“She still has two years. She is still lacking and is working hard.”
The Emperor waved his hand with a smile.
“If she is your child, she will grow up properly. Why worry so much?”
The Duke only gave a small smile.
“Now that I think about it, the Third Prince is about the same age as your youngest daughter.”
“Are you referring to the Third Prince?”
The Duke could not answer immediately. The Third Prince was eighteen, the same age as the Crown Prince and Ellen. Five years difference was not small, but they were not the same age.
“Do you remember the promise we made long ago? To marry our children.”
“…I remember.”
He did not remember such a promise, but he could not deny the Emperor.
The Duke nodded stiffly, and the Emperor’s smile deepened.
“I have not forgotten.”
Luckily, the Emperor did not push for a reply.
After the short conversation ended, the Duke got into his carriage. Once the carriage left the palace, he picked up the purification water beside him and threw it.
CRASH—!
The bottle shattered into pieces.
Despite the violent action, his expression remained calm. He wiped the water that splashed onto his hand as if it were dirt.
He picked up another bottle, then put it down again roughly.
“Ha…”
He exhaled deeply.
The Emperor’s words meant he should understand that he intended to connect the Third Prince and Orte.
“How dare they pair her with a bastard…”
He muttered lowly.
The Third Prince’s mother was a slave-born dancer who became pregnant after a single night. The Emperor quickly lost interest, and she died from illness.
Left alone, the Third Prince survived in the abandoned cold palace, surviving by digging roots. Around the age of ten, he was discovered by the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince took him in and made him his subordinate.
The Emperor, who always distrusted his children, was now trying to pressure them through marriage. But the Empress position was too powerful, so he instead aimed to connect Orte with the Third Prince, who was like the Crown Prince’s dog.
The Duke thought about the Third Prince.
In his memory, the Third Prince—Casey—was quiet. Not weak, but everything he achieved would be credited to the Crown Prince. He would own nothing.
Fortunately, Orte was still young, so there was no immediate sign of engagement or marriage pressure.
The Duke thought of Orte.
To him, Orte was not favorable. Every time he saw her, she reminded him of his dead lover, and her lack of talent made him doubt her bloodline.
He sighed.
As the estate came into view, things looked unusually chaotic.
“Tell me. What is going on?”
“I will find out.”
A servant approached a maid and quickly returned.
“Duke, it is urgent.”
“What is it?”
“The young lady has disappeared.”
Again.
Again, Orte.
She always disturbed his peace.
The Duke closed his eyes and opened them again.
“…If Clef or Ellen are in the mansion, bring them to me.”
Soon after he arrived in his office, the door opened. It was Clef.
“Explain.”
Clef gave a simple report.
After the Duke left for the palace, Ellen said Orte had disappeared. Clef searched the mansion with knights and checked the garden with Ellen, but they could not find her.
Clef questioned the servants, and the assistant cook said Orte had come to the kitchen that morning.
That was her last known location.
“Ellen is still searching the garden.”
“Have knights searched the surrounding mountains?”
“Not yet.”
The Duke sighed.
“I will search as well. Prepare the horses.”
“Yes, Father.”
He stood up again, barely having sat down.
Rubbing his temples, he walked down the stairs.
“Hey!”
Suddenly, Ellen shouted. The Duke and Clef stopped.
Ellen was confronting someone in the hallway.
“Where were you?! Where have you been all this time?!”
It was Orte.
“You made the whole mansion go crazy for hours! Do you even understand?!”
Ellen shouted at her, but Orte looked at him calmly, almost bored.
The Duke immediately approached her. Seeing him, Ellen spoke.
“Father? When did you arrive? This parasite suddenly disappeared and now she—”
SLAP—!
Orte’s small body lost balance and fell.
She held her cheek and slowly raised her head. The Duke looked down at her.
Ellen and Clef were also shocked.
“Do you understand your mistake?”
Orte’s hand slowly dropped from her cheek, which was already red.
“Do you understand your mistake, I asked!”
The Duke did not realize he had raised his voice. He was always calm no matter what.
“…I don’t understand.”
Orte stood up.
“What did I do wrong?”
“Hey, what is wrong with you?!”
Ellen interrupted angrily.
“Didn’t you hear me? The servants searched for hours because you disappeared! Me and my brother too!”
“You searched for me?”
Orte tilted her head.
Then she blinked her large eyes and asked in a pure voice:
“Why?”
Ellen was shocked.
“Why? What do you mean why?”
“Isn’t it what everyone wants most—that I disappear?”
Orte truly looked confused.
“Isn’t that right?”
