TOPWL 182

“His Majesty says he cannot spare time today.”

At the steward’s words, Yudit looked troubled. No sooner had he arrived in the capital than he headed straight for the imperial palace to request an audience with the emperor. But after waiting two hours, the only answer he received was a rejection.

“Is His Majesty unwell?”

“We are not obligated to answer such questions.”

The steward replied coldly. He clearly had no intention of giving anything away. Since the steward was the emperor’s hand and foot, such a blunt refusal likely came from the emperor himself. Yudit rose without further argument.

“I wish His Majesty good fortune.”

The steward offered only a silent bow in response. On the way back, Yudit considered stopping by Princess Lilia’s grave but decided against it. If he were to run into Isiah now, she would be the first person he encountered since returning to the palace. With all eyes and ears of the palace on high alert, it was better to avoid meeting anyone at all.

As he made his way back, Yudit ran into an unexpected guest, the Marquis of Kinezia. He thought about pretending not to notice, but the marquis greeted him with a bright smile, leaving him no choice.

“Your Highness.”

“It’s been a while, Marquis Kinezia.”

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, yes. And how have you been, Marquis?”

It must’ve been the question he wanted to hear, as the marquis spoke up with unhidden delight.

“My second child was born not long ago. The whole estate has been full of joy since then.”

Yudit recalled that when he’d saved the Marchioness from the fire, she had been pregnant. So the child had been born.

“Congratulations. A boy or a girl?”

“A daughter. She’s the spitting image of Raphine.”

Considering both the marquis and marchioness were famously good-looking, the child was sure to grow into a beauty regardless of whom she resembled.

“She’s still too young, so we’re being careful for now, but I hope you’ll visit sometime. Even Fiora still brings you up now and then.”

“She talks about me?”

“Yes. She still hasn’t given up on marrying Your Highness.”

The marquis said this with a somewhat glum expression. Yudit recalled the bold and adorable child he’d met at a charity event. They’d only met once, but she hadn’t forgotten him. That alone made Yudit feel he ought to visit at least once.

Yudit glanced around belatedly. Fortunately, no attendants were in sight, but the palace’s eyes and ears could be anywhere, so he couldn’t relax. At least the Kinezia family held considerable power and wealth, and the marquis had openly declared Yudit a friend before anyone could intervene, which allowed for conversations like this. Still, it was best not to draw attention, so he tried to wrap up the talk. But then the marquis spoke again.

“Were you on your way from meeting His Majesty?”

“No. He was too busy with state affairs, so I wasn’t able to see him.”

The Marquis of Kinezia was not someone who’d fail to grasp the meaning behind that. Yet he only smiled pleasantly and said,

“His Majesty is a fair man.”

Yudit tilted his head at the ambiguous remark. The marquis leaned in and added in a whisper,

“Two princes have visited already, but none of them have been granted an audience. That includes Prince Azil.”

So even Azil hadn’t been able to meet the emperor. What could that mean? Surely the emperor hadn’t switched his support to another prince. That left two possibilities.

First, he was using illness as an excuse to avoid all the princes.

Second, the emperor truly was unwell.

The emperor was the sole lion reigning over the imperial jungle. If word got out that his fangs had dulled, the princes would likely not waste troops on the Fourth Contest but march straight into the palace to take his head. Everyone was walking a razor’s edge.

“I see. Thank you for the information.”

“Still, it might be good to pay him a visit under the pretense of concern. There’s nothing more comforting to a sick father than a visit from his child.”

At that, Yudit became certain, the emperor really was sick. No cosmetic could hide it anymore. While he was grateful for the insight, he also wondered why the marquis was going this far. Was it really just because Yudit had saved his wife and child?

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Yudit asked,

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

Instead of answering, the Marquis of Kinezia gave him a cryptic smile.

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

Yudit turned to face him, surprised. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t recall. With an apologetic look, he said,

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”

“That’s quite all right. It was a long time ago, and a memory I’ve held onto alone.”

The marquis paused in thought, then began his story.

“There was a boy who believed that studying hard would only ever bring good things. Unlike his delinquent older brother, the boy was praised by his parents, and delighted by that praise, he worked through the nights to earn their favor. When he passed the academy entrance exam at a young age, his parents began to consider him as their new heir.”

“……”

“But word of that reached his brother. Instead of confronting the boy, the older brother was sweet and kind. The boy, who secretly admired his brother, couldn’t see through it. In the end, the brother managed to lure him into the back alleys. There, the boy desperately called out to his brother, but the ones who answered were nothing but scum. The kind who kidnapped the weak or sold them into slavery without a shred of guilt.”

“……”

“He was sure he’d be sold off, until someone came to save him. That savior was younger than the boy, yet instead of crying or begging, calmly reasoned with the scum, saying the boy was of noble blood and the city guard was searching for him, so risking their lives wasn’t worth it.”

“……”

“Persuaded, the scum let him go. The savior escorted him back to the main street and handed him off to the guards. After that, the boy returned, this time with men of his own, to find and thank his rescuer. But when his parents learned who it was, they forbade him from approaching. They said he must not get involved. So the boy swore to become strong enough that it would be safe to get involved.”

“……”

“But time has a way of making even the deepest debts fade. So when Your Highness saved my wife, it was like being struck with a hammer. It felt like the heavens were telling me not to forget the debt. Now that both my wife and child owe their lives to you, I felt it only right to repay it while I have the power to do so.”

As the long story ended, fragments of memory stirred in Yudit’s mind. A young Marquis of Kinezia, back when he was still a grubby little heir, dirty and tear-streaked, lost in a grimy alley.

The contrast between that pitiful boy and the elegant trendsetter he’d become was so stark, it was still hard to believe even after hearing it all.

“Did you use the gold coin?”

Yudit shook his head.

“No. I still have it.”

He was referring to the gold coin stamped with the Kinezia seal, a gift from the marquis’s household. It granted its bearer authority equivalent to the family’s heir, usable once. Yudit had kept it carefully all this time.

“If you ever need it, please don’t hesitate to use it. I’ll be waiting.”

“…Thank you.”

The marquis smiled and added softly,

“If you don’t mind, would you consider visiting our estate during your stay in the capital?”

“Would that really be all right?”

“It would be a great honor. But I must warn you, Raphine wants you to be the child’s godfather.”

“Me? The godfather…?”

Yudit blinked in surprise. Normally, a godparent was chosen from close friends or elders of the family. Seeing his reaction, the marquis chuckled with his eyes.

“You saved her life. Who could be more suitable?”

He quickly followed up.

“I’ll send a formal invitation by courier tomorrow.”

There had to be a reason he was pushing this so firmly. What more could he want to say, after revealing so much already? Sensing it was something important, Yudit nodded.

“I’d be happy to visit.”

The marquis smiled warmly, gave a courteous bow, and departed. Yudit stared blankly at the spot where he’d stood, feeling as if a storm had just swept through.