IDIBC Chapter 59

A Good Person

Judith Fan Monzania was the culmination of Ricardo’s oracle and the beginning of all tragedy.

Rochester’s companion and the saintess who failed to achieve his awakening.

A saintess of Resotia who would ultimately become the Empress of Dermeier.

Not long ago, the Grand Priest left the imperial palace with only the words that the saintess’s appearance had been moved up. Even breaking his promise to Ricardo.

The reason the Grand Temple, which had agreed to protect the Fennel family all this time, suddenly changed its stance was because they learned that Lienne was not only a manifester but had also achieved Ricardo’s awakening.

An act against the will of God.

The Grand Priest spoke thus, trembling with fear.

“Yes, that must be it.”

The moment the prophecy declaring her as the saintess appeared in the empire, the world would be thrown into chaos.

The imperial family would surely try to seize her by any means, as she possessed the oracle that she would become empress. Now Ricardo had to begin preparing for an unwanted fight to protect her.

To become emperor, and thus to keep his promise to Stuart.

Stuart gazed silently at Ricardo, who stood quietly by his side.

What Stuart considered unchangeable even if time were turned back wasn’t limited to the saintess’s existence alone.

For instance… the fact that even returning to life, Ricardo only awakened his power through Lady Fennel, and where such a man’s gaze lingered.

“The emotion you’re feeling now… is it love?”

So he had to ask.

Though he wished for Ricardo’s happiness with his heart, he feared the answer that would come. What if something happened that Stuart, who had to be selfish for his child and wife, couldn’t bear?

‘Is your love still valid? Have you truly forgotten the devastating heartbreak of having to watch that woman burn?’

“No.”

Just then, all the women who had gathered on the balcony receded like an ebbing tide. In their place, two people remained—a man and a woman.

Walter slowly closing the distance, and the woman who had been retreating warily from him stopped in place.

And the two faced each other.

The sight of them facing each other and smiling in the place where moonlight shone brightly was peaceful.

Into that peaceful scene, Ricardo’s voice penetrated.

“Have you heard such a term?”

“What term…?”

“Happy ending.”

At these words that didn’t fit the situation at all, Stuart’s face crumpled slightly.

“An ending where everyone is comfortable and safe, that kind of conclusion—that’s sufficient.”

The voice of the man saying it wasn’t love filled the night garden. Unable to gauge his emotion from his voice alone, Stuart looked up at Ricardo. His eyes were gently closed.

“As long as I don’t let it into my heart, it will be fine.”

Stuart finally heard the answer to the question he hadn’t properly asked.

Ricardo had decided to protect her this time as well.

Just from watching her stand facing another and smile shyly, he squeezed his eyes shut like someone whose vision had shattered.

****

The banquet that followed was chaos itself.

When even Walter had left and only the moonlight and I remained, Ricardo appeared on the balcony as promised to fetch me.

Perhaps all the dance sequences had ended, as gentle music flowed through the hall, and people gathered in small groups, conversing.

Then the Emperor rose with a clamorous sound. Drawing everyone’s attention, he recited a toast and raised his glass high.

That first toast surprisingly went not to his eldest son Stuart but to the Second Prince.

The nobles murmured, but that was only the beginning.

Next, the Crown Prince was also given the opportunity to raise his glass.

“There was a small wager recently, Your Majesty.”

It was a voice that didn’t sound like someone who had just officially been stripped of the Crown Prince position. People’s faces grew even more bewildered seeing his bright expression.

“I cannot tell you what the wager was about, but I can tell you the outcome.”

I reflexively examined Ricardo’s complexion. Somehow, all of this didn’t seem unrelated to him. His face showed no sign of confusion whatsoever.

“I lost spectacularly.”

When the Crown Prince raised his hand, an attendant standing behind with a large box stepped forward. Though I couldn’t guess what it was, the people in the banquet hall seemed to recognize the item in that case immediately.

The venue fell as silent as if cold water had been poured over it, but soon irrepressible gasps flowed from people’s mouths. Shortly after, the murmuring of those standing nearby could be heard.

“It’s the Schneider sword. Is he going to give it to the Second Prince?”

People’s voices were tinged with excitement at the thought that he too might have accepted the Emperor’s will. Through that commotion, the Crown Prince’s firm voice continued.

“Therefore, I intend to give this Schneider sword, which I wagered as a condition of the bet, to that day’s victor.”

At the word “victor,” Ricardo moved. It was natural that everyone’s gaze turned to him.

“Young Duke Rochester.”

When he called him familiarly, Ricardo answered loudly as if reciting lines in a predetermined play.

“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.” The answering voice echoed throughout the hall like a victory announcement in a war whose outcome was already decided.

‘It’s a declaration of war.’

Even though I was born and raised in Resotia, I wasn’t ignorant of the Schneider sword. Nor of what it signified.

Ricardo had ultimately decided to follow the oracle.

Ricardo, who would kill his father and become the sun in the sky. That pitiful yet noble Ricardo slowly walked up to the platform where the Crown Prince stood.

“I gladly give it to you. This trophy of victory.”

The vague fear joined the faces of those who until just moments ago had been filled with interest.

“Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Emperor had essentially declared he would give the throne to his second son, and the Crown Prince had declared he would give it to Ricardo. There was one throne, but two who would inherit it.

The Emperor rose from his seat without hiding his displeasure.

Staring intently at that sight, Stuart continued.

“In any case, Schneider has always hidden behind Rochester’s shield, so it won’t make a difference if you hold it. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

No answer came to the Crown Prince’s provocative gaze and question.

I closed my eyes briefly and tried to assess the situation.

The heir of Rochester, having completed his awakening, had decided to become emperor with the oracle at his back. The Temple of Hadeima, which only followed the will of God, would surely support Ricardo.

And soon when even the saintess who would complete his position appeared, it would only be a matter of time before the oracle became reality.

For the high nobles deeply entrenched in the Dermeier Empire, it wasn’t difficult to face the current situation. It didn’t take long for the eyes of those wavering with various calculations to grow calm.

****

Time passed so hectically that I couldn’t even remember how the banquet ended and how we got into the carriage. Only after entering the dark forest path did my dazed mind return somewhat.

Sabrina had already returned in the family’s carriage, so I headed to the mansion with Ricardo.

The rattling sound of the carriage was the only noise inside.

I glanced at Ricardo’s face. He had been saying nothing since earlier, keeping his gaze only out the window.

The man who had kindly extended his hand to me with the garden lights as a backdrop was not here.

Only the person who would soon become emperor, and thus grow more distant from me, remained. And I possessed not a single way to bridge that vast gap.

“I heard the saintess may come to the duchy sooner than expected.”

At the silence I had barely broken, Ricardo gave a bitter laugh.

“So they say.”

Watching his face sink coldly, I couldn’t continue with any more words.

The questions I actually wanted to ask circled in my mouth.

Do you perhaps know when that might be?

After I leave, will you take the hand of her who has been your companion since birth and become emperor? And then what? After that, will you be safe? Will you no longer need to wear such painful expressions?

Will you… be happy?

I swallowed the questions that would sound foolish and slowly regulated my breathing. I had resolved to fully express my love for as long as I could face him, but before that cold gaze, it was a useless resolution.

Such meaningless questions wouldn’t help him at all.

Like seven years ago when I waved both hands watching him leave Resotia, I could only wish for his well-being…

Powerless and incompetent, but with all my heart.

“What did you talk about with Walter?”

“Pardon?”

The words that came from Ricardo, who had been silent until now, completely missed my expectations. His gaze was still on the window.

Was he asking about what happened in the lounge? What did we talk about? Hadn’t I already told him everything about that?

After parting with Walter on the balcony, I had completely reversed all my previous assessments of Young Duke Chaplin. He was truly a gentleman sent from heaven. A warm person who would share in the discomfort of others who had little to do with him.

Yes, a good person. Walter had been imprinted on me as such.

While I was thinking about him for a moment, Ricardo’s gaze turned toward me.

“A good… person?”

“Oh.”