Chapter 51
Edward’s lips curled lightly as he spread his arms and strode into the formal dining hall.
“Dearest Prince Christian. Your loyal dog, Edward Windsor, has returned. And I send my deepest regards to His Majesty the King as well.”
As he made an exaggerated gesture of greeting, Christian, who was slicing his lamb, replied in a disinterested tone.
“You’re still as frivolous as ever.”
He didn’t seem at all surprised by Edward’s sudden visit.
“That’s harsh. You used me as a discardable pawn to win over the public in Mussen.”
The King continued eating without acknowledging him, so Edward likewise paid little attention to his father and replied.
“A discardable pawn, you say?”
Christian, feigning a deeply wounded look, spoke in a gentle voice.
“Isn’t that what I was?”
“Of course not. You’re the most important person who should be by my side once I ascend the throne. You’re also my precious little brother. How could I ever use you as a discardable piece?”
Always so righteous. Disgustingly so.
“Really? Then I suppose I should feel deeply honored.”
Edward, inwardly cursing Christian, took a seat. The King let out a displeased sigh.
“You don’t even want to share a table with me anymore?”
Edward sat in a somewhat slouched posture and spoke mockingly.
“I just stopped by because I left quite a bit at Baverin Castle, and while I’m here, I thought I’d bring you some entertaining news. I hope you understand, Your Excellency.”
“Edward, my dear brother. Let’s stop here. Father is not in good health right now… Anyway, what’s this news?”
Christian finally looked up, pointing out Edward’s rudeness. Edward answered.
“It’s about the new duchess.”
“What about her?”
Christian raised an eyebrow.
“Didn’t you already report after attending the wedding? That she’s a commoner with nothing but a pretty face.”
“And you told me to figure out what Johannes’ true intentions were, didn’t you?”
“Ah, right. I did.”
“Well, it seems Johannes is truly smitten with her. I’m not sure whether he’s made a regretful choice blinded by love, or if he’s forsaken noble alliances to show his loyalty to the crown.”
There were too many suspicious elements to count, though Edward didn’t mention them aloud.
‘No need to show all my cards just yet.’
When Johannes Schultz was mentioned, the King finally began to show interest. He stopped his slow movements.
His sagging lips moved gradually.
“Is that so…? If I had known he liked beauties, I would’ve planted someone on our side. What a shame.”
Even though he was his father, Edward thought he looked disgustingly repulsive. He silently thanked the heavens that he and Christian had taken after their late mother, frowning in distaste.
* * *
“You’re back. Sooner than I expected.”
Sir Fret greeted us as we returned from Vollen.
“The royal family has sent a message requesting to meet the duchess.”
A servant handed a summarized document of the call to Johannes. His brows furrowed as he read it.
“When?”
“His Majesty himself has summoned her, and he asked that she come as soon as possible.”
“He also said it would be better if the duchess came alone.”
Johannes murmured with an incredulous look.
“It’s as if he knows exactly what will make me react. Fine, I’ll play along.”
As the one being summoned, I couldn’t bring myself to smile.
Why on earth would the King want to meet me? And with such an ambiguous message—“as soon as possible.”
Isn’t that basically telling me to come to the capital immediately?
Even though I had married Johannes, I honestly never thought I’d ever have a reason to be summoned by the King.
Naturally, why would someone like the King take an interest in a commoner woman like me?
Or perhaps… he’s interested because a duke married a commoner?
Whether I had expected it or not, the feeling of being caught off guard was the same.
I let out a small sigh.
“Is it common for His Majesty to personally summon someone like this?”
“Not usually,” Johannes muttered quietly. He closed his eyes as if in thought, then after a moment, let out a brief, ironic laugh.
“Edward Windsor must’ve thrown in some kind of firestarter.”
* * *
The next morning.
Johannes concluded that it might be best to visit the capital quickly, hoping it would divert the King’s attention.
And so, early that morning, I boarded a first-class train carriage with him bound for the capital.
“I haven’t been to the capital since I was a child.”
Though it wasn’t for a pleasant invitation or a fun visit, I couldn’t help feeling a little excited about the trip.
The train gradually picked up speed, passing through the forests surrounding Mussen and running along the coastline.
At every visible station, the train would stop without fail—until it passed one particular station without stopping.
I asked if it wasn’t supposed to stop there, and Johannes replied,
“It doesn’t stop here. It’s a forsaken place.”
“A forsaken place? But people live there.”
“There’s not much exchange with other cities. People believe stopping here brings a curse.”
“A curse…?” I let out an awkward laugh at the absurdity.
Johannes responded, “It’s ridiculous. And the people who believe it are ridiculous, too.”
“Exactly. We live in an age where massive machines move on their own and people can talk across distances, and yet they still believe in curses. Why do such rumors even spread?”
“Have you heard of the alchemist massacre about twenty years ago?”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded.
It had happened when I was very young.
In an era when nonsense like “turning metals into gold” was accepted, Dochellia went through a scientific transition period where many pursued alchemy.
The Windsor royal family of Dochellia was the first to develop and commercialize smokeless gunpowder.
They heavily supported both chemists and alchemists—tasking the alchemists with creating gold, and the chemists with making lethal substances.
Over time, the alchemists failed to produce gold, while the chemists succeeded with smokeless gunpowder.
The King, who had spent billions of verks funding the alchemists, was enraged when he realized it had all been a fantasy. So he labeled them deceivers who had led people astray—and ordered their execution.
Most agreed that the massacre had more to do with royal pride and saving face than anything else.
The smokeless gunpowder invented by the chemists later led to the invention of machine guns. Windsor’s gunpowder development was both a blessing and a curse.
The royal family abandoned outdated weapons and developed powerful new ones, raking in money.
That was why Dochellia was wealthier than other nations.
In the end, they waged a massive war to further grow the arms industry…
But other nations eventually developed their own smokeless powder, prolonging the war far beyond expectations. People died every day—many of them innocent.
And the result was defeat.
“Until the massacre, that town was home to a community of alchemists. Then the King raised his sword. They say the last alchemist to be killed cast a curse before he died.”
“What kind of curse?”
“The usual. Clichéd but effective.”
“Oh—‘Your bloodline will be cursed for three generations,’ that kind of thing?”
“Exactly,” Johannes said with a laugh.
Whether or not it had any scientific basis, it would certainly leave a bad feeling.
A town once filled with alchemists meant the soil was likely stained with the blood of many.
“They were called scammers who wasted the nation’s money, but when one of them cursed the King before dying, suddenly the fear kicked in. The royal family claimed they were mere charlatans, yet they were afraid of a curse?”
“Exactly. The King’s a coward. I heard those with heavy guilt are the most afraid.”
I mumbled, looking out at the now-distant village.
The train continued for a while longer before arriving at the final stop: Baden Station.
Just before getting off, Johannes offered a playful warning.
“You’ll find it unpleasant to look at the King’s face.”
“Why? Because he looks like a toad?”
I answered without thinking, and Johannes looked startled.
“Did I ever tell you that?”
“Huh?”
Wait—why did I say that?
I’d never even seen the King’s face.
I had no idea why those words had come out, and replied in confusion.
“Just… a feeling, I guess?”
I fumbled for an answer, and Johannes let out a disbelieving chuckle.
It was a softened expression I was seeing from him more and more often these days.
