“What do you mean, dragged away?”
Angela’s face paled as she echoed the words. Jane had just recounted exactly what she had seen and heard, without changing a single detail.
“They say he’s being interrogated for defying an imperial order and leaving his assigned post. I just saw the imperial guards hauling him off on my way here.”
“When did Kalian…”
Angela couldn’t believe it, but one possibility flickered in her mind. It was around the time she had been kidnapped. Kalian had been out on reconnaissance in the western regions of the Phaelon Empire.
If he had heard about her abduction midway through and turned his horse around, then yes, he would have violated the imperial command. But claiming it was unavoidable wouldn’t hold water—there was no personal matter that took precedence over an imperial decree.
Even the kidnapping of his fiancée fell into that category. It was a private emergency, nothing more.
Still, Emperor Truga of the Phaelon Empire had always regarded Kalian with a certain fondness. He had even called him the empire’s greatest knight, guardian of the imperial lands. So how could he be so harsh now…
“It seems there were civilian casualties in the area while the count was away from his post.”
Ah, of course. Angela swallowed a hot, rising sigh.
“This doesn’t seem like something I can help with, does it?”
Anette said with a regretful expression. Angela didn’t respond, but she inwardly agreed with Anette’s words.
If Truga at least loved his empress, there might have been some hope she could lean on, but between them, there was nothing—no sliver of possibility for Angela to cling to.
Then who… who could step in to resolve this?
“I have to go. Please take good care of Mary.”
“Don’t worry about that—just focus on Count Florence’s situation.”
Leaving the comforting Anette behind, Angela limped toward the spot where the carriage awaited. Only one face filled her mind.
A man in the Phaelon Empire whose power rivaled the emperor’s. Her one remaining lifeline, yet a man who felt not the slightest affection for her.
The only thing she was truly grateful to him for was introducing her to Kalian. His face rose vividly in her thoughts. If he was on the battlefield, she was prepared to follow him there.
They called it interrogation, but it was torture, plain and simple. Not just the emperor—the imperial guards showed no mercy when it came to matters involving imperial commands. There was no leniency.
They might as well pull out her own fingernails instead. Angela couldn’t bear to watch Kalian endure that.
How long had it been since she’d seen Mary locked in a cell, and now it was Kalian? She felt like she might burst into tears the moment she saw him, unable to hold back.
‘While searching for you, Angela, I thought how fortunate it was that our last moments weren’t spent yelling and turning away from each other in misunderstanding. So now, I’m not going to hide it anymore. I’ll express it a lot.’
‘I… will too.’
It ached even more because Kalian had only recently confessed his love to her. She didn’t want to hurt him.
He was someone she’d pained for so long with her words and actions. Now, she wanted only tenderness between them. Not even the emperor could stand in the way of that.
Even if people pointed fingers and called her pathetic, Angela pressed on with determined steps. She had crossed the entire corridor and reached the entrance where the carriage stood when it happened.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck. Angela stared at the earth, which seemed to tremble up and down.
Then, with a flutter! she looked straight ahead again. An army marched into the palace, their ranks impeccably straight without a single edge out of place, the Phaelon Empire’s banner flapping proudly overhead.
Their march was like that of a single person—utterly disciplined, without a hint of disarray. These were clearly soldiers returning from war, yet their faces held no joy of victory, no elation. They simply strode forward with resolute calm, as if claiming what was rightfully theirs.
And at the center of that army stood the very person Angela longed to see in that moment. He had served as the emperor’s sword for ages, safeguarding the empire.
His face, lightly etched with wrinkles, exuded a vitality no less than that of a young man. His crimson-tinged eyes blazed like the midday sun embedded within. The cloak billowing in the cold wind made as powerful an impression as the empire’s flapping banner.
Dominic Bilton.
The head of the Bilton family, and Angela’s father.
The one person she needed most had appeared right before her eyes, and Angela held her breath, watching Dominic’s advance.
For a fleeting instant, their gazes met in the air. Angela froze, unable to move, and Dominic, as always, looked away from her.
As if she were a stranger, or a weed by the roadside. Or as if nothing existed there at all. With that, Dominic passed her by and entered the palace.
Angela stood rooted to the spot for a very long time. Her hand went to her chest again, where the bruise had turned blue and upset Kalian so. She wanted to tear her heart out.
* * *
When Angela entered the Bilton estate after such a long absence, the servants reacted with horror, as if they’d seen a ghost.
Angela didn’t like their responses, but she lacked the energy to point them out or scold them one by one as she once might have. She passed the awkwardly greeting servants and headed to her room.
She limped up the stairs. She hadn’t realized it because Kalian always carried her, but navigating stairs with an injured leg was unexpectedly difficult. If Mary had seen, she probably would have cheekily offered a piggyback ride, heedless of her station.
She was lost in such thoughts when it happened.
“Um…”
One of the maids approached hesitantly and spoke up.
“Shall I help you, miss?”
Wondering who had the nerve for this, Angela looked at her face—it was Rita.
“Would you?”
Why was the one who tormented Mary acting like this? Was it because she’d received treatment money for her father? Angela couldn’t tell, but climbing without help seemed too hard, so she accepted.
Rita, who had offered the help, looked surprised herself and stammered foolishly, “Y-yes, yes!”
Still, the assistance made a difference. Angela borrowed Rita’s shoulder and ascended the stairs carefully, avoiding strain on her leg.
She refused the offer to be escorted all the way to her room. Then, as if some whim had struck her, Rita called out to Angela’s back, saying to find her if she needed anything.
Angela didn’t reply and simply continued to her room. But then.
“What are you doing in a room without its owner?”
Someone who shouldn’t have been there was in Angela’s room. Her mother—to emphasize—Yvonne, who had been sitting at the foot of the bed, stiffened her expression in surprise and jumped to her feet.
Angela limped toward her. Yvonne’s face crumpled along the lines of her wrinkles.
“I asked what you’re doing here.”
“…I was just straightening the bedding.”
“Why the bedding for someone who’s not here?”
“In case you come back someday.”
Yvonne spoke as if she’d been changing Angela’s bedding to fresh ones every day. It didn’t ring true at all.
“I didn’t know you were someone who lied so effortlessly, anytime and anywhere.”
Angela said firmly. Yvonne opened her mouth as if she had much to say, but then closed it again.
That was the right attitude. After trying to drive a wedge between her and Kalian with lies, she had no right to react sharply to being called a liar.
“Get out.”
Angela said coldly, moving toward the sofa. Yvonne, who had been watching her anxiously, reached out a hand only to withdraw it, fidgeting restlessly.
Angela turned back to the incomprehensible Yvonne, unsure what she was trying to do.
“Why are you acting like this? Are you suddenly glad because you thought I was dead, but here I am alive?”
Yvonne’s face flushed red, as if Angela had struck a nerve. At that reaction, Angela startled herself with a flinch. It felt ridiculous to act this way after firmly deciding there could be nothing more between her and Yvonne.
“Get out. I want to be alone.”
Angela said it deliberately coldly. Yvonne could do no more and left the room. Only then could Angela sit on the sofa.
However, a pleasant fragrance wafted gently from the sofa, refusing to let Angela rest in peace. It had to be Yvonne’s doing. What on earth was she trying to accomplish? Tsk, Angela clicked her tongue and finally turned her thoughts elsewhere.
Kalian was in prison. Someone like Yvonne… was none of her concern.
Angela intended to wait just like this for Dominic to return. Once he did, she planned to bring up the matter of Kalian.
Even though Dominic treated her like an invisible ghost, he still held a certain fondness for Kalian, whom he had personally brought into the fold.
She knew that Dominic had occasionally thought how wonderful it would be if Kalian were his heir. Given that it involved such a cherished figure, surely he wouldn’t refuse to help. Perhaps he’d already heard the news at the palace and taken action.
Hoping fervently that this was the case, Angela waited for time to pass more quickly. All her nerves were focused on the window outside.
It was past midnight when Dominic returned to the Bilton estate, perhaps after a banquet at the palace.
The servants, startled by their master’s sudden return, hurried to prepare a welcome. But Dominic waved them off, saying there was no need, and that they must be tired, so they should go back and rest.
Seeing him like that, he didn’t seem entirely heartless. But toward her alone…
Angela swallowed hard and greeted Dominic as he ascended the stairs. Once again, Dominic passed by as if he hadn’t seen her at all.
“Father.”
In her urgency, Angela called out to Dominic. Only then did he stop and look at her.
Was this how one gazed at an enemy?
Dominic regarded Angela with a sharpness akin to thrusting a blade into a foe just before the strike. Angela endured that gaze in silence and opened her mouth.
“I have something I’d like to say to you.”
“I’m tired.”
It meant he didn’t want to hear it. But Angela didn’t give up; she limped forward a step toward Dominic.
Dominic glanced at her awkward gait and let out an imperceptible sneer. She wouldn’t mind even if he mocked her openly. As long as he granted her request.
“It has to be now. It’s important.”
Dominic sighed as he looked at Angela’s stubbornness. A thick scent of alcohol spread from him. He turned away and said,
“Follow me.”
Angela trailed after Dominic’s inconsiderate stride. It was nothing unfamiliar.
When she used to flee to Dominic out of fear of Grace, he would halt her approach with a cold glare and walk away at a pace no child could possibly match.
Angela barely managed to keep up with Dominic as he headed to the third floor. Her leg trembled slightly from the strain, but somehow, she didn’t lose him and made it into his study.
Dominic, who was rarely at home, had little use for the study, making it one of the lesser-utilized spaces. Still, the maids swept and polished it daily, so today it remained impeccably tidy, as if human hands had just tended to it.
Dominic went straight to the desk in the study and sat down. Since he didn’t offer Angela, with her limping leg, a seat, it meant she was to stand before the desk and speak.
Angela approached his front, accustomed to Dominic’s coldness. As she stood still, the trembling in her leg grew a bit worse.
“Well then. Let’s hear what story is so pressing that you’re keeping a man fresh from the battlefield from his rest.”
To Dominic’s words, Angela responded with a question instead.
“Haven’t you heard anything about Kalian at the palace?”
“I heard he was imprisoned for disobeying an imperial command.”
His tone was indifferent, as if it were no big deal. Angela, who had pinned her hopes on Dominic’s affection for Kalian, couldn’t hide her impatience and asked again.
“Are you just going to leave him like that?”
“If he’s committed a crime, he must face the punishment. For a knight entrusted with a duty to leave his assigned area without permission is a grave offense. Is this trivial matter why you’ve detained a weary man?”
Trivial. Trivial, he said?
“You care for Kalian.”
Dominic let out a deflating laugh, like air escaping. To Angela, it sounded like the shattering of hope.
“The Kalian I care for is the one who brings victory reports to the empire, not some fool who gets entangled with a woman and can’t even uphold an imperial command.”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
