* * *
“What… you mean when Your Grace abandoned me alone in the room and disappeared?”
“No, not that.”
When Ashard asked as if to imply there should be more, Eren gently shook his head.
Seeing that, Ashard’s brow furrowed slightly, as if something about it annoyed him.
“You’re quite skilled at making people anxious.”
It was a quiet mutter.
Eren, not catching it clearly, asked again, but Ashard simply shook his head like it was nothing.
“What did you mean in front of His Majesty?”
“…?”
“When you said you didn’t rely on just one strategy. Was there something you didn’t tell me?”
Eren tilted his head, then suddenly looked up as if it had just occurred to him.
He quickly scanned Ashard’s expression and realized he was genuinely curious.
“Of course not. I didn’t even have time to think about a way to escape from Epentel.”
“Then…”
“Obviously, it was a lie.”
Ashard was a little dumbfounded by how confidently Eren admitted to lying in front of the Emperor.
Really, what an oddball.
“Why would I go out of my way to plan multiple strategies for Epentel?”
With a snort and a shrug, Ashard quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
For some reason, he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from lifting at Eren’s small actions and words.
He had thought Eren might be regretting following him, but that seemed to be an unnecessary worry.
“But… Your Grace, you’re not planning to enter the palace looking like that, are you?”
“What’s wrong with how I look?”
“Are you seriously asking that?”
Eren openly glanced at Ashard’s appearance.
As usual, his shirt was half-unbuttoned, and his red hair was tousled across his forehead, with no sign of effort to tidy it up.
Whether it was because he had gotten used to noble life since his possession, or due to the memories of the body’s original owner, Eren didn’t know—but showing up at the imperial palace like that was absolutely unacceptable.
Shaking his head disapprovingly, Eren held out his hand as if asking for something.
When Ashard just blinked in confusion, Eren quickly snatched a small box from inside his jacket.
“I saw the butler hand this to you earlier.”
When he opened the box, a pair of gold cufflinks, the same color as Ashard’s eyes, were inside.
Without hesitation, Eren reached to fasten them on his sleeves, but a large hand stopped him.
“If you’re going to do it, use these instead.”
Ashard pulled out another box from inside his coat and handed it to Eren.
This time, the cufflinks were adorned with blue sapphires, not gold.
‘So he likes sapphires.’
Before he could change his mind, Eren quickly took the cufflinks.
Unlike his usual self, who often rolled up his sleeves out of irritation, Ashard quietly accepted Eren’s touch.
“May I button your shirt, then?”
“For someone who lied to the Emperor’s face, you sure care a lot about propriety.”
He said it that way, but Eren could tell it was permission.
Without hesitation, he started buttoning the shirt, smoothing the collar before stepping back.
The next thing that caught his eye was the messy hair.
Naturally, Eren reached out to smooth back Ashard’s hair.
With his forehead now half-exposed, Ashard’s sharp features stood out even more.
“As expected, this style suits Your Grace much better.”
“…”
Eren smiled in satisfaction.
As he stepped back, thinking the job was done, he suddenly felt a firm grip on his wrist.
The touch was careful, as if not to hurt him, but firm enough that he couldn’t pull away.
“…I don’t think I’m quite ready to enter the palace yet.”
#Chapter 13. The Reason Trovien’s Future is Worrisome
Eren quickly fixed Ashard’s hair again and stepped away, flustered by his strange gaze.
Even though Ashard had let go, the warmth lingering on his wrist made it feel like he was still holding on.
When are we arriving at the palace anyway…?
It didn’t take this long last time, did it?
Eren awkwardly turned to look out the window.
Perhaps because he had visited once before, the luxurious garden came into view more clearly.
“…Huh?”
That face looks familiar.
Someone stood motionless in the center of the sun-drenched garden.
Ashard’s expression shifted subtly, as if he too recognized the person.
Not long after they arrived at the palace, the carriage came to a stop.
Unlike the lush greenery of the Emperor’s garden, this garden was filled with vibrant flowers in full bloom, clearly well-maintained and beautiful.
When the carriage door opened, a dignified figure stood out starkly against the floral backdrop.
Eren, aided by Ashard, stepped down safely from the carriage and blinked, forgetting to bow out of sheer surprise.
Seeing Eren frozen in place, a lady-in-waiting quietly whispered:
“That is Her Majesty, the Empress. Show your respect.”
Realizing the situation, Eren hurriedly bowed his head.
After a quick glance to gauge the surroundings, he deemed it safe enough to lift his head—only to hear a gentle, benevolent laugh.
Do all the people of the Trovien Empire just happen to look alike?
A random thought passed through Eren’s mind.
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“You’re still as stiff as ever, Ashard.”
Eren’s eyes widened at the Empress’s familiar tone toward Ashard.
Though he tried not to make it obvious, his blue eyes darted back and forth between the Empress and Ashard.
‘No way…’
A suspicion crept into his mind.
And what confirmed it was the appearance of a girl he had met once before—Melody.
With striking features that resembled Ashard, the kindly-looking Empress, and the timing of Melody’s arrival at the palace—it all came together.
He recalled something Ashard had once said:
“Melody is my brother’s child. That makes her my niece.”
As the puzzle pieces of their relationship clicked into place, Eren finally understood the full picture.
Ashard had taken over the title of duke in his brother’s stead due to circumstances… and if that brother became the Empress, then everything lined up perfectly.
“Well, maybe not everything. Something has changed.”
The Empress examined Ashard with mild surprise, noting his clean and tidy appearance—so different from how he used to dress, even on formal occasions.
When she glanced briefly at Eren, Ashard gave a light cough and cleared his throat.
“First, why don’t we go inside? The weather seems a bit chilly.”
It was a warm spring day without a single breeze.
Far from being cold, the sun was bright enough to make one feel hot.
Still, the Empress willingly played along with her younger brother’s awkward excuse.
“I’ve had some tea prepared. I hope it suits your taste.”
“…It’s an honor, Your Majesty.”
The Empress took the lead, heading into the palace.
Unlike the three with their long strides walking confidently ahead, Eren struggled to keep up and had to scurry behind them in short, hurried steps.
Ashard, noticing this, began to slow his pace.
The Empress, walking ahead, realized Ashard was no longer by her side.
As she turned slightly to look back, a soft smile appeared on her lips.
“To think Ashard had that side to him…”
She had always believed she knew Ashard better than anyone.
But clearly, she had been mistaken.
Though he tried not to show it, every action of his was laced with quiet affection toward Eren—little acts of care that only someone paying full attention would notice.
It was because Luan had watched over Ashard since childhood that she noticed it.
But what truly confirmed Ashard’s feelings for Eren was something else entirely: the pure white ceremonial robe Eren was wearing.
“I never imagined he’d give that robe to someone.”
He hadn’t even taken it out once since that day.
Eren likely didn’t know what that robe meant to Ashard, but Luan didn’t mind.
After all, it finally gave her an excuse to hold onto her brother, who had been drifting aimlessly from battlefield to battlefield.
Unaware that he was unknowingly winning the Empress’s favor, Eren was too busy just trying to keep up.
* * *
