Chapter 87

* * *

The capital of the great Valdin Empire, Belenois.

As grand and dazzling as its appearance was, it was a city where gossip lovers’ eyes and ears never rested.

And among the countless rumors, one in particular had recently captured everyone’s attention.

“Did you hear? The Duke and Duchess of Lombard arrived yesterday.”

“Oh my, they really came?”

“His Majesty graciously extended the invitation, but to think they’d accept without a shred of shame…”

The noblewomen gathered at the salon subtly shifted their gazes in one direction.

Toward Princess Rosalind, who had been conversing with a group of literary figures.

She was a patron of the arts in every sense, spanning painting, music, literature, and architecture. She invited the era’s luminaries to the imperial palace, held discussions, built connections, and set the trends of the Capital.

Everyone wanted to attend her salons. And that required an invitation from Rosalind herself.

So it was only natural that the attendees watched her closely and tried to please her.

“Your Highness, are you all right?”

“Now that you mention it, you don’t look well.”

“It’s just that the weather’s been warm and I didn’t sleep very well…”

Rosalind gave a faint smile under everyone’s attention. Seeing that, the whispers grew.

“As expected, she must be having a hard time hearing that woman is coming back.”

“How could she not?”

The incident that occurred at the Founding Festival years ago was deeply etched into people’s memories.

The small bird that returned with its wings torn and neck twisted, and Rosalind fainting upon seeing it.

Elicia had already been known as the Capital’s problem child, but that incident pushed people to distance themselves from her even more.

“Lady Rosalind is just too soft hearted for her own good.”

“Exactly.”

“Still, things won’t be boring for a while. Ever since Lady Elicia left for the north, hasn’t the Capital’s social scene felt empty?”

“This social season might finally be full of interesting events, hoho.”

If Elicia had heard this conversation, she would’ve immediately picked up on the hidden meanings and flown into a rage.

Even after being pushed to a collateral line, she couldn’t stand being looked down on even slightly by Rosalind, a direct line imperial princess, because of her pride as the late crown prince’s only legitimate daughter.

It was the moment when gossip lovers, long bored and restless, finally had something to feast on.

* * *

It was broad daylight, with the sun high overhead.

Outside the townhouse, the sounds of people coming and going filled the air, but regardless of all that, I was wrapped up in blankets and lying there like a corpse.

“My back feels completely wrecked…”

I thought I was going to die.

I’d never left the north my entire life, so this was the first time I’d ever endured such a long journey.

Of course, the carriage ride itself had been excellent, and the roads were so well paved that compared to Lombard’s mountain terrain, they felt like silk.

But the sheer length of the travel wiped out all those advantages.

Luckily, Lombard owned a proper townhouse in the Capital, so the moment we arrived last night, I dove straight into bed without even looking around.

And I’d been like this ever since.

I didn’t want to do anything. Emperor or whatever, I just wanted to lie in bed.

“Madam, are you awake?”

“No.”

“Then how are you talking?”

“Even corpses feel like talking sometimes.”

“Honestly, Madam.”

By now, Berry had mastered the art of coaxing me up when I tried to cling to the bed.

She drew back the curtains and opened the window, letting the warm southern sunlight pour in.

Then she lightly scooped me up, blankets and all, gently rocking me before seating me on the sofa.

She wiped my face and body with a warm cloth to wake me up, then held honeyed fruit to my lips as if to snap me out of it.

“Sweet…”

“Feeling a bit better?”

I nodded silently and looked down at the tray Berry had brought.

Dozens of letters were piled up. Anyone could tell they were invitations for me.

“Wow, news travels fast.”

Edwin and I had arrived just last night.

And yet not even a full day had passed before rumors spread this quickly.

Feeling almost impressed by the gossip lovers’ information network, I skimmed through the letters on the tray.

Nearly every notable figure in the Capital seemed to have sent an invitation.

They ranged from great nobles to minor border lords, but among them, Princess Rosalind’s invitation stood out the most.

‘That princess really lives a tiring life.’

Everyone on the continent knew our relationship had soured, yet she still sent an invitation.

It even claimed that everyone missed me and longed to see me again. Something no one would believe.

Whether she was genuinely kind or just pretending, getting involved with this type only exhausted me further.

“Decline all the invitations.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Just as Berry was about to clear the tray, an envelope lying at the very bottom caught my eye.

I reflexively snatched it up.

“Isabella La Ferrand?”

My sleepy eyes flew wide open.

The Marchioness of Ferrand. She was considered one of the greatest intellects in the Capital, and the author of my favorite book, The Mirror of Humanity.

I opened the envelope and found a concise message inviting me to her literary gathering.

I couldn’t believe it.

Isabella La Ferrand had invited me. I’d get to see the writer I admired in person.

“I’m losing my mind.”

Was this a dream or reality? It wasn’t a dream, right?

My soul had already arrived at the marchioness’s estate.

My love and admiration for her works were so deep that I could talk about them nonstop for three days and nights and still not run out of words.

But the problem was that there was absolutely no reason for the Capital’s greatest intellect to invite the worst fool, Elicia.

And considering Elicia’s personality, she shouldn’t even set foot in a place like that.

‘Please, my brilliant brain. Think. Are you really going to throw away a once in a lifetime chance to meet Isabella La Ferrand?’

I didn’t even need to speak to her.

Just watching her from afar would make me happy.

Even sitting quietly in the chair she once used, or eating the same food she ate, would become a lifelong memory I’d cherish until my dying breath.

But no matter how hard I thought, no matter how frantically I racked my brain, I couldn’t come up with a way to accept her invitation.

And I didn’t want to put on the greatest fool act of all time in front of the woman I admired.

‘Life…’

It was all meaningless.

Having lost even the strength to sit, I flopped back onto the sofa and brooded over the absurdity of human history when I heard a knock from the bedroom on the opposite side.

This townhouse, like the Bellamare estate, had the husband and wife’s bedrooms connected by a single door.

In other words, it was Edwin.

“Come in.”

I answered without hiding my sulky mood.

“Eli, good afternoon.”

“It’s morning.”

“…Eli?”

Seeing the deep, dark walnut smeared around my mouth, Edwin turned to Berry.

But Berry had no way of knowing what I was thinking, so she just tilted her head in confusion.

After sending Berry out, Edwin carefully sat down beside my head.

“Did something happen?”

“No.”

It sounded exactly like something had happened.

But right now, I wasn’t generous enough to worry about Edwin’s confusion.

Who could understand the frustration of having to ignore an invitation from Isabella La Ferrand, the greatest intellect I’d admired since childhood?

I had no choice but to swallow it alone.

“The weather’s quite nice today.”

“…”

“As you know, Eli, the Capital in spring, when the social season begins, is crowded with people and goods.”

How would I know? I’d lived my whole life stuck in Lombard.

Grumbling internally, I closed my eyes completely. That was when a hint of playfulness crept into Edwin’s voice.

“Have you ever walked through Belenois’s streets? Blending in with the people, freely and ordinarily.”

“…?”

“If you’re all right with it, would you like to go out together?”

Startled, I opened my eyes and met Edwin’s gaze.

The look in his eyes as he looked down at me softened into a gentle curve.