Chapter 45
Fernandes faltered. He never imagined such words would come out of the Empress’s elegant mouth. And now, suddenly calling him impotent?
With an incredulous face, Fernandes spoke.
“I think I need you to explain what kind of basis you have for spouting such nonsense, Christine.”
Fernandes clenched his teeth and glared at Christine. But Christine laughed heartily, as if not the least bit intimidated by his anger.
“You claim nothing ever happened with the Duchess? The experienced ladies say that’s absolutely impossible. Unless, of course, you’re cheating on your adorable duchess with someone else.”
Fernandes gritted his teeth. He was once again reminded of the bombshell Titania had dropped on him in the carriage not long ago. The awkwardness of that day came rushing back.
“Everyone seems to have an awful lot of interest in other people’s private lives. Just let them know I’ll handle things myself and there’s no need to worry!”
“Just tell me one thing. Are you really impotent?”
Christine drove the nail in again. In their shamelessness, Carpus and Christine were two of a kind.
Fernandes tapped the teacup sharply. The spilled liquid spread across the table.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop talking nonsense?”
He snapped, then stormed out of the greenhouse. The thought of idle noblewomen staining Titania’s reputation filled him with dread.
“Next time, I’ll invite Titania too!”
Christine called after him in a voice brimming with laughter. Grinding curses under his breath, Fernandes left the greenhouse. Truly, this couple never ceased to cause trouble.
The first calamity in this world was Carpus becoming Emperor, and the second calamity was Christine becoming Empress. Fernandes rubbed his forehead.
He couldn’t possibly muzzle the useless gossip spilling from noblewomen’s mouths. Damn Christine. He had known from childhood that they would never get along! This was the tragic fate of a man whose cousin’s wife turned out to be an old enemy.
***
Karyen raised his tense face toward the Emperor.
“Seeing you now jogs my memory. You were one of the mages who worked on developing the airship, weren’t you?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
“And you’re saying you’ve only just finished it now?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I fear I may have taken too long.”
Karyen spoke with a poise completely unlike his usual reclusive, feeble demeanor. He showed no flaws in court etiquette. Carpus smiled faintly.
“Not at all. What matters is that you completed it. Do you remember why I was so fixated on the airship?”
Carpus rose from his seat and approached the window. His gaze was caught by the birds soaring freely through the sky. Desire burned in his eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Karyen bowed his head even lower.
“It was to check the power of the Serhos Empire, was it not?”
After taking away the Director of the Fortress of Providence, Serhos had spent the past ten years industriously pursuing the fusion of science and magic. They had nearly caught up to the Arnfried Empire’s level.
Having stolen everything the fortress had contained, it was only natural. What Serhos desired was Arnfried’s vast plains. Their own lands were mountainous and rocky—difficult to live in.
So they had always set covetous eyes on Arnfried.
One thing neither Arnfried nor Serhos possessed was the airship. If Arnfried could fly one into the sky armed with cannons, it would be a tremendous threat to Serhos.
That was what Carpus wanted. He had never announced it openly, lest rumors reach Serhos. But those who had once participated in the airship project knew well enough.
“You’re right. And now, at last, I can realize that desire. Thanks to you.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. It’s thanks entirely to the Duchess.”
Carpus turned back toward Karyen. Most people in such moments would scramble to claim the credit for themselves. Yet Karyen naturally spoke Titania’s name instead.
“Without her, I wouldn’t be here.”
“…It seems every clever person I speak to says the same thing about Titania. Is she truly so extraordinary?”
“You’ll understand if you experience it yourself. The Duchess is without a doubt the goddess of wisdom sent by the heavens for the sake of Arnfried.”
“That goddess of wisdom could also become a threat to Arnfried.”
With conflict against Serhos looming, Titania was a double-edged sword. In their hands, she was a weapon. But in enemy hands, she would be a danger.
Karyen looked puzzled.
“She would never do such a thing.”
“And why not? Anyone can change.”
“But… the Duchess is simply satisfied with reality as it is. She doesn’t even like leaving her home. She’s the very image of a researcher. Besides, her family is well established here in the Empire. And she is a daughter of House Venezia, is she not?”
Carpus caught the hidden meaning. Titania had no reason to defect—she had everything she needed here. That only deepened his curiosity.
It seemed he would have to meet her himself.
“I’ll keep your words in mind. I’ll approve your request. The Fortress of Providence will soon reopen. I intend to place a reliable person in the director’s seat. You shall go there with the Duchess and work, just as you wished.”
Karyen’s face lit up with joy.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
He looked as though he had gained the whole world.
***
Since their candid talk that day, Fernandes and Titania had been keeping regular times for conversation. Titania found herself approaching them with curious feelings.
Today was another such day. With each passing meeting, Titania grew more convinced that accepting Fernandes’s suggestion had been the right choice.
“Titania.”
“I heard you went to the Imperial Palace today. Did something happen?”
“Ah.”
Fernandes sat across from her, looking troubled. Dressed casually, he appeared younger than usual. Titania tilted her head.
“Just from your face, I can tell something happened.”
On the way back to the mansion, Fernandes had wrestled with himself. Titania was a rational, independent woman. If she learned what he and Carpus had discussed, she was capable of thinking it through and making her own decision.
So it seemed only right to tell her and discuss it together. And yet, he hesitated. He feared she might develop resentment toward the Emperor—who, unfortunately, was Fernandes’s only cousin. That hatred might well extend to him.
“Fernandes?”
Titania prodded when he remained silent. Fernandes stood up abruptly, then sat back down again, unable to find the words to begin.
“…The Emperor…”
“Yes, the Emperor?”
Titania cocked her head.
“He’s wary of you.”
Fernandes finally dropped the heavy truth.
“Wary?”
“More precisely, he’s afraid you might defect to Serhos or some other nation.”
“Hah?”
“He’s learned that you once participated in weapons development, and that frightens him.”
“Ugh, pathetic.”
The words slipped from Titania’s lips before she could stop herself. She quickly clamped her hand over her mouth. Such a remark could easily earn her charges of treason for insulting the royal family.
But Fernandes only smiled, as if she had said exactly what he wanted to hear.
“You’re right. Carpus has always had a petty streak.”
At that, Titania let her shoulders drop. No matter what anyone said, she had no intention of retracting her comment.
“If I went to Serhos, would that make me a spy?”
The thought made Titania chuckle softly.
Still, Fernandes’s expression remained troubled.
“So, Titania…”
“Yes?”
“What do you say to making use of the access pass I gave you before?”
