Ch#113
"No, have a safe trip!"
Evi waved her hand once more.
The faces of the people around her softened into smiles at the sight.
It had only been five days since Evi arrived.
In that short time, the atmosphere in Duke Kailun's Mansion had changed dramatically.
The biggest change was at the breakfast table, where laughter now rang out nonstop.
Previously, the duke's family breakfasts had always been quiet and serene.
Of the duke couple's three children, two were already adults living elsewhere, and the remaining Arsel was extremely reserved.
They weren't on bad terms. The duke and duchess were still a loving couple, and Arsel, though not overly affectionate, always respected his parents, with their conversations never ceasing.
The problem was that it ended there.
Even the occasional visiting distant relatives were all quiet and composed people.
From the servants' perspective, it was a good thing, but sometimes when village children passed by noisily, the mansion felt especially silent.
But no longer.
"So we went to cut roses together in the morning. These roses on the table were cut by Arsel and me!"
Evi proudly pointed to the vase full of pink roses on the table.
The flowers, still dotted with morning dew, bloomed vibrantly, releasing a rich fragrance.
"Oh my, what if our Evi hurt her little hands?"
The duchess looked pityingly at Evi's small hand holding a fork.
"It's okay. The gardener gave me gloves, and when I wear them, the thorns don't hurt at all! Right, Arsel?"
"Yeah. They didn't hurt even when I gripped really hard."
Arsel, sitting beside Evi, chimed in agreement as he picked up a grape from the table and popped the ripest one into Evi's mouth.
After chewing and swallowing a few times, Evi recounted yesterday's events.
"And we went to the stream and caught fish too—there was this amazing blue-glowing fish in their bellies..."
Though it wasn't anything extraordinary, everyone's faces in the duke's family softened as they listened to Evi.
Laughter burst out occasionally during the conversation, and Evi's excited voice filled the air as she explained enthusiastically.
No one found the noise bothersome, despite how different it was from their usual quiet mealtimes.
The mansion itself had changed just as much as breakfast time.
The maids now carried colorful rubber bands and small combs in their pockets.
Whenever they ran into Evi, they approached her as if it were the luckiest day, asking if they could re-braid her hair since it was a bit messy.
Because of that, Evi's hairstyle changed several times a day.
The music room, closed for vacation, now had its windows wide open every morning, revealing Evi and Arsel diligently sorting sheet music and books.
Afterward, various instrument sounds would drift out.
The duke's family members hummed along to the melodies created by the harmonizing instruments.
They started with very simple pieces, but within days, they progressed to more challenging ones.
Thanks to that, everyone could see how quickly Evi was learning.
Moreover, even the duke, who usually headed to the Imperial Palace early each morning, had taken a few days of vacation and stayed at the mansion.
He wandered the grounds all day, seemingly searching for where Evi and Arsel might be.
But among all these changes, the most transformed was Arsel.
"Evi! Let's go play!"
The always reserved, composed, and neat young master was gone, replaced by a playful boy excited about what to do today.
Arsel, who used to dress impeccably without a single wrinkle or undone button, now had his clothes covered in dirt, dust, and grass stains as he climbed trees with Evi.
Watching Arsel finally doing boyish things for the first time since they started working at the mansion, the servants felt an inexplicable surge of emotion.
Yes, our young master is human after all.
After such joyful times, it was no wonder Duke Kailun dragged his feet heading back to the Imperial Palace.
"I'm off."
"Have a safe trip!"
Receiving Evi's send-off, he headed to the palace.
How many times he turned back to look.
Even as the carriage grew distant, seeing Evi still waving her hand, the duke thought,
'If my suspicions are wrong.'
In truth, that was overwhelmingly likely.
The chance that a child from a distant city's poorhouse was Princess Evebien was minuscule.
All he had to go on was that Evi was seven years old, had Clois and Lilian's hair and eye colors, and kept reminding him of Lilian.
'First, she might not actually be seven.'
The age of seven was merely the poorhouse's claim.
Though better fed now and plumper, Evi was still smaller than most seven-year-olds.
Even a year's difference would disqualify her as Princess Evebien.
'Moreover, Lilian definitely jumped from the castle wall holding Princess Evebien.'
The commander besieging the castle at the time was deeply superstitious about killing a mother and newborn, believing it brought curses.
He also feared Clois pursuing revenge.
So, vilely, he demanded Lilian jump herself.
By not killing her directly, he thought to avoid those qualms.
'It was pointless in the end.'
The army besieging the castle where Lilian was had been annihilated by Clois, not leaving a single soul—by his own hand, no less.
As the Imperial Palace drew nearer, the duke's mansion laughter faded from memory, and worry clouded his face.
'The problem is that only His Majesty confirmed the princess's body.'
He had personally held and buried his rotting wife and child's corpses.
No one else could even approach them, leaving Duke Kailun to only watch from afar.
'So to hear the details, I must ask His Majesty directly.'
Even as Clois's longtime friend, he lacked the courage for that.
'If I'm making groundless assumptions... it would only stir up His Majesty's pain needlessly.'
Since ascending the throne, Clois's condition had only worsened.
Yet this year, miraculously, he began improving, even smiling occasionally in meetings.
How long had it been since he'd seen the emperor like that?
Not only did he lack the courage to ask, but if he did and Clois relived those memories...
Wouldn't he darken again?
Even walking the palace corridors upon arrival, the duke couldn't resolve himself.
Then he heard a commotion from the outer building's hallway.
"No, I'm just taking the horse I left here!"
"Even so, what if you take Elishia? Without her, the other horses won't listen!"
Turning, he saw Marquis Ragselb arguing with a palace staff member.
"Hey, Curtis. Long time no see."
Duke Kailun greeted his friend and Ruska's father, Marquis Ragselb, by name.
"Oh? What? Edgar? Why are you so late? Hiding something good at home?"
Marquis Ragselb waved back, calling Duke Kailun by name.
"Something good... well, there is a cute kid."
At Duke Kailun's words, Marquis Ragselb narrowed his eyes.
"Did you eat something bad? You're talking strangely."
"You'll see soon enough. Arsel told me she'll visit your house in two days. Ah, if she's not a welcome guest, let me know. I'll keep her."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Marquis Ragselb clicked his tongue.
"Why do you think I'm taking Elishia? Ruska rolled down the stairs from the third floor to the first yesterday, insisting only on her. Who the heck is this Evi anyway..."
Grumbling, but urging the staff to fetch Elishia quickly, he seemed prepared to host the guest well.
"Curtis."
"What?"
"You still remember Lilian's appearance well, right?"
At Lilian's name, Marquis Ragselb's face hardened.
Confirming the staff he'd ordered to fetch his horse was gone, he spoke softly.
"Of course. How could I forget her."
He had once been gravely injured and saved by Lilian's healing.
Even when she insisted he call her by name, he always addressed her with respect.
"Then, when Ruska's friend comes, take a good look."
"What? What's that suddenly?"
"Too soon to explain, but you'll understand when you see. If not, no need to worry."
"Mumbling nonsense. Anyway, where are you headed?"
"Where else? To see His Majesty."
"That's rare. You don't usually meet often."
The two had contributed the most to helping Clois ascend the throne.
But unlike others' assumptions, they rarely met him.
To avoid rumors of meritorious retainers wielding power through the emperor's favor.
"Something important?"
"Yes. I have to deliver very important documents personally."
"Hm. Then I'll come too. I've heard His Majesty has been much brighter lately, and I'm curious... It's been ages since I last saw him. But what are these important documents?"
"Something huge. He'll jump up when he sees it."
At Duke Kailun's words, Marquis Ragselb grew more puzzled.
"Documents to cut off Siren's head?"
Recalling the sole traitor they hadn't caught, he walked alongside.
"Not that."
"Then what?"
"Something very cute."
"...?"
Marquis Ragselb gave up asking further.
Instead, he clicked his tongue and chided the duke.
"As if His Majesty would jump up for that."
And shortly after, Marquis Ragselb witnessed it.
"Your Majesty, I brought Evi Alden's letter."
"What!"
The moment the duke pulled out an adorable envelope illustrated with a somewhat deflated squirrel from his bosom, Clois shot up from his seat like lightning, despite his expressionless face moments before.
