Chapter 100
“It seems the shaman has left.”
They searched the surrounding area, but no significant traces were found. Still, since no unusual damage had occurred within the estate, the shaman’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
“Either he’s in hiding, or he’s left for good… but the former seems more likely. And even if it’s the latter, the fact that he’s stayed out of sight suggests the time isn’t right yet.”
“In any case, keep a close watch on the perimeter near the walls.”
With the Emperor poised to invade at any moment, the addition of a shaman to the equation could be disastrous. A powerful enough shaman could stand against an entire army alone. To underestimate such a being would be courting catastrophe.
“Also… a messenger has arrived. The sender is the Emperor.”
“…An invitation to Founding Day.”
Since it arrived every year around this time, Edmund could guess the contents without even opening the letter.
“A Founding Day celebration in times like these…”
Johann muttered with a grimace, clearly unable to make sense of it.
Just as he said, the nation teetered on the brink of being handed over to a single man, and yet the Emperor insisted on celebrating Founding Day. Was that boldness or sheer foolishness?
“It could be part of Marquis Bled’s plan.”
Founding Day, an event where every noble and even the High Priest was summoned. Edmund was convinced that the celebration was part of Sergei’s larger scheme.
The Emperor, whose judgment was faltering and grip on power weakening, wouldn’t have pushed forward with Founding Day on his own. Sergei was undoubtedly behind it.
“Have they invited Your Excellency?”
“As before.”
It reminded him of the hunting competition. When Winter had sent word for the entire household to attend, Edmund’s furrowed brow had remained stubbornly creased.
“…And Daphne?”
Once Johann’s report ended, Edmund asked quietly.
“…She’s the same as yesterday.”
I see, Edmund murmured, lowering his gaze. Then, he raised his head.
“You may go.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Once Johann left, Edmund reached instinctively for his inner coat pocket as a slow, creeping headache began to surface.
[“You should stop smoking. It’s bad for your health.”]
His hand had just brushed the cigarette case when the Archmage’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, causing him to hesitate. The moment of indecision was brief. He pulled out a cigarette and brought it to his lips.
“Your Excellency, may I come in?”
Benjamin entered, carrying a tray of tea. Upon seeing the cigarette between Edmund’s lips, he commented while pouring the tea.
“Your headaches seem to have worsened lately. You’ve been turning to cigarettes more often.”
Edmund looked at the lingering smoke in the room before plucking the cigarette from his mouth.
“Please, drink this. It should help ease the pain.”
He downed the tea in one gulp, then picked up the cigarette again and rose to his feet. As he opened the window, a biting gust of wind swept through the room.
Standing at the window, Edmund lit the cigarette.
“Your Excellency.”
“Speak.”
“Your approach… is wrong.”
Edmund froze, the cigarette just shy of his lips.
“If you heard Johann’s report, then you should know. Madam tried to leave the house again today, and there was quite a scuffle.”
It had been two days since Edmund last visited Daphne’s room. She no longer sought him out. Instead, she tried to escape the mansion only to be caught and returned to her quarters each time.
“…This is all for Daphne’s sake.”
“No, it’s not.”
Benjamin’s voice held a desperate edge. And he truly was desperate. His master had always been the kind of child who did everything alone.
Even his emotions, he had processed them in solitude. Which is to say, he never showed them. No one is without emotion. It’s just that Edmund’s had long since been eroded by his father, worn down until there was almost nothing left.
That’s why Edmund appeared so flawless.
But Benjamin, who had served him since childhood, couldn’t help but worry. There was something inherently dangerous about Edmund, something subtle but persistent.
Edmund had never revealed it. Benjamin had never seen it outright. That was the only reason he hadn’t raised it as an issue. But he had always sensed it.
Edmund had grown up unable to feel. Which meant that love, so simple yet complex, so difficult yet effortless, must have hit him like a tidal wave. No other emotion brings such a profound upheaval as love.
People kill for love. They save for love. But for Edmund, who had never known what it was to feel deeply, to fall in love was perilous. He lacked both knowledge and experience.
Edmund was solid. He had been made that way. And because of that, he was unstable.
Benjamin had known this for a long time, yet never dared to speak it aloud. And now, he realized he had waited far too long to say what needed to be said.
“Your Excellency’s way… only drains her dry.”
To confine her and keep her close, Edmund had made a grave mistake.
“…”
At some point, Edmund had removed the cigarette from his lips. He looked down at the burning tip in silence.
“Benjamin, I…”
I’m a coward.
The words hovered on his tongue, never fully spoken.
“I believe, Your Excellency, that you’ll find the right answer in the end.”
Benjamin let out a faint sigh. This wasn’t what he had come to say. But upon seeing his master, he couldn’t help but recall the image of the Madam being dragged away by the knights, screaming. He had to speak.
“That’s not the real reason I came. I have something to tell you.”
“…Go ahead.”
“I hold some responsibility for the Young Lord’s departure to the capital.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Just as Edmund turned toward him, the door burst open without warning.
“Your Excellency!”
Baroness Nouvelle staggered in, pale and breathless.
“Ma… Madam, she…!”
Edmund’s eyes widened.
— — —
The wind blew, so cold it stung like a blade.
Daphne stood still, staring vacantly at the snowy northern landscape, gathering her tousled hair. But the wind was too strong, and her hair kept slipping through her fingers.
“Daphne!”
A voice she’d been waiting for called out. She turned her head. Edmund was pushing his way through the gathered crowd.
“Don’t come any closer.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but Edmund froze on the spot as if under a spell.
“Daphne, what are you doing… what is this…?”
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
She tilted her head slightly as she spoke. Edmund stammered.
“W-what are you saying? When have I ever… ever wanted something like this…?”
His voice trembled.
“You made it so hard to breathe, I thought maybe you wanted me dead.”
Daphne blinked slowly. Her words weren’t wrong and because of that, Edmund had nothing to say.
“If I fall from here, maybe I’ll just end up a vegetable if I’m lucky.”
She was perched on the edge of a terrace railing, the one outside Edmund’s fourth-floor room.
“Send them away. The knights below, too.”
She glanced down at the soldiers stationed beneath her, there in case she jumped.
“…Clear them out. All of them.”
“Your Excellency, that’s…”
“Now!”
Edmund shouted.
Once everyone had cleared out, silence fell over the room. Only the whistling wind swirled noisily between them.
“…If there’s something you want…”
“You said you loved me.”
Daphne cut him off.
“I’ll believe you.”
“…Daphne.”
Edmund blinked.
“What? Did you think I’d cry tears of joy?”
She let out a dry laugh. It was so cold, Edmund forgot all about the wind that sliced past him.
“Tears of joy… Five years ago, maybe.”
She spoke calmly. Yes, maybe five years ago. Even just a year ago, things might have been different.
But she didn’t bother to add that. Even a year ago, Edmund would have been the same.
“But Edmund, it’s too late.”
“…Daphne.”
“You’re the one who threw my heart away. For five years.”
She didn’t hold it against him.
It wasn’t really anyone’s fault. Their timing had simply missed each other, passing by on separate tracks. That was all.
“I don’t know why you suddenly started loving me, but what I want to say is…”
Daphne looked at him. Edmund’s face was tight, as if someone were choking the life out of him.
A cold gust brushed past her and swept toward Edmund. Her loose hair blew into her eyes, obscuring her view.
There were many things she wanted to say. She had rehearsed them all in her head while sitting on the railing, surrounded by anxious onlookers.
When did it start? Why? Did he still hurt her with cruel words even after he began to love her?
But when she finally looked him in the eye, only one thing came to her.
“It’s too late.”
“…”
“I don’t love you anymore.”