Springtime in the royal capital was much warmer than in the frigid northern expanses of Mohnton.
They arrived just as the waning weeks of spring arrived, with the flowers truly in full bloom. Under that deep blue sky, as singing birds sung with spirit on flowering trees, only a month ago everyone would have anticipated such a festive atmosphere to accompany the celebrations of Prince Julianâs wedding.
But, it wasnât as if the capital was in a gloomy mood now. People had reacted well to the news of the capture of the ringleaders of the traitorous plot to take over the kingdom.
An investigation was still ongoing to see just who had been assisting both the traitors in the capital and their allied rebels in Mohnton, but that was something that would take years to fully wrap up.
In the meantime, however, the most popular figure of discussion was none other than Alois Montchat, who was being hailed as one of the key people credited with putting down the plot. Now that the fraudulent man posing as Prince Julian had been locked away to await his fate, Duke Alois who had been revealed to be the real Julian now found himself being pulled in two directions.
Alois himself had stated that he only ever wants to remain âAloisâ and continue living in Mohnton, but there are a sizeable number of people who wish for him to once again be âJulianâ. Whilst the First Prince Eckhart respects Alois will to remain himself, he still steadfastly maintains that he would like Alois to become a sort of âJulianâ when it comes to providing assistance in matters of state. People seemed impatient for a decision to be made, with many people still trying to jostle for influence over the argument one way or another.
â But, well, I suppose thereâs no helping talking it over until a compromise can be made?
Camilla looked around at the unfamiliar parlour as she let out a small sigh.
With a view towards the south, this guestroom that oversaw the courtyard was the finest one the Royal Palace had to offer. Of course, the Montchat mansion back in Mohnton wasnât shabby, but it paled in comparison to the splendour on show here. From the size of the room, to the intricately made furniture, all the way down to the fluffy softness of the seats. But, despite being surrounded by such finery, Camilla couldnât quite feel at ease.
âSorry about all this, Camilla. For you having to come along with me, I mean.â
âWe barely had time to settle back down in Mohnton before⌠you must be tired, right?â
âThere was no helping it, after all. It was at the request of His Highness, Prince Eckhart.â
As she looked back at him, Camilla remembered just how it was that they came to be here in the first place.
It was about a month after Camilla had returned to Mohnton after all the turmoil in the royal capital.
Although they had rushed back as fast as they could because of the rebellion still ongoing in Mohnton, they found that things had almost been completely settled by the time they got there. Many people had taken up arms for Aloisâ cause or switched to his side, with the now isolated Falsch soldiers surrendering. Not long after, Vilmer who had been leading the rebellion, was captured.
The soldiers that Eckhart had sent along with Alois ended up being completely unnecessary and were eventually sent home. Everything seemed like it was going swimmingly.
Everyone who had performed meritorious deeds were rewarded and investigations launched into bringing to light the truth of the rebellion. Of course, Alois also began to make a tour of inspection of the duchy, assessing just how much damage had been done. When his soldiers had returned back and Eckhart learned that the rebellion in Mohnton had been put down without further incident, he sent word for Alois to return to the royal capital.
As for Camilla, she understood Eckhartâs intentions. The royal capital was the most important place in the country and Alois was quickly becoming one of the countryâs foremost figures. It was absolutely necessary for him to come and discuss crucial matters of state in person.
Whatâs more, the emergency in Mohnton had ended. Wrapping up the rest of the matters there could be done without Aloisâ direct involvement. Besides, it wasnât as if Alois was being ordered to return immediately. Perhaps as a sign of good faith as well as his own feelings, Eckhart had given them a grace period of about a month to return.
But, still, they really hadnât had time to settle back down. It took that long for Alois to assess the events and damages of the rebellion through reports, set out a framework for what needed to be done in his absence and prepare for the journey⌠with Camilla in tow.
âAfter everything thatâs happened, my brother was concerned about how you were doing as well, Camilla, so he asked me to bring you along. You were the one who suffered the most from all this, after all.â
âI think that particular honour should go to you, Lord Alois.â
Though as she said that, Camilla thought to herself that maybe this wasnât the sort of thing to compete over. Especially since now, after the dust had settled, Alois and Camillaâs reputations had been completely flipped on their heads
Camilla, who just over a month ago was probably the most detested person in the country, had become a tragic heroine overnight. Every time she saw her name printed as part of an attention-grabbing headline in a newspaper, Camilla thunderously glared in disgust. It was as if she and Liselotte had swapped places from where they had been a little over a year ago.
Much the same was true for Alois. Although he was once reviled as the âToad of the Swampâ, a man no one would come near even on the rare occasions he did leave his boggy lair, now there were so many people clamouring for his attention that he couldnât deal with them all. Of course, now that the fat had been burned away and those royal features were on full display, the girls flocked in droves as well. When it came to light that Alois and Camilla were not yet married, some noblemen even came to offer him their very willing daughtersâ hands in marriage.
â Everyone is all too eager to make hay now!
Camilla herself had been repulsed by Alois in the past, never truly wanting to marry him. But, that was then, this was now. In a burst of anger, she suddenly stood up.
â Well, I suppose I canât deny that heâs definitely become handsome.
Alois, who had lost enough weight that he wouldnât look too out of place with other young noblemen, had become quite fetching, even in Camillaâs eyes. Along with those royal features, his face was neat and handsome, whilst also looking much healthier than before. There was no puffy skin hiding away those mystical red eyes anymore.
He still stood very tall but was much leaner than he once was. Camilla oftentimes found herself craning her neck to look at him. But, she never felt intimidated by that height of his. Those soft and warm red eyes always helped to give him a gentle impression. Even after coming to the capital city, they hadnât needed to bring any of the ointment with them since his skin had already become smooth⌠howeverâŚ
ââŚLord Alois.â
Camilla stared at him. Alois fell captive to her stern look.
âLord Alois, are you sure that youâre not the one who is exhausted? You really donât look too good.â
Despite his skin looking healthier, she could see the shadows beginning to form under his eyes. Despite Camillaâs stare, he didnât break his smile, although he averted his gaze ever so slightly.
However, Alois shook his head.
âIâm fine.â
âDo you even know what âfineâ means?â
Camilla frowned at his response. Despite everything that happened, Alois was still Alois, after all. He cared deeply about others, but seemed to care little for his own health.
âAre you sleeping properly? Are you eating enough? Or, rather, are you eating too much?â
âAh, no, no.â
As Camilla began questioning him, Alois quickly shook his head even more.
âIâm eating and sleeping normally, there are no problems. My brother has been taking care of everything for us, after all.â
âHmph,â Camillaâs frown only deepened. Just as Alois said, Eckhart had looked after both of them incredibly well. No, rather, instead of Camilla and the others, it should be said that Alois had been given especially intent care.
Perhaps this was the way the older brother wanted to express his feelings to his younger, who had gone through so much hardship. Eckhart paid extreme attention to every minute detail of Aloisâ stay in the capital, making sure he would never want for anything. Camilla, of course, was treated well, but there was definitely a difference in the sense of gravitas afforded to Alois.
Itâs no wonder, after all. Camilla herself fully understood why. But, with how little she saw of him between all the meetings Alois attended with Eckhart and other high ranking noblemen and ministers, she felt herself getting more and more frustrated. Often times, when Eckhart wished to talk to his brother alone, Camilla was left to her own devices.
Camilla, who had never had a brother, couldnât even imagine what the two of them were getting up to. Sheâd never gotten along with Therese like that once theyâd grown older, after all.
Since it was Eckhart, surely his time with Alois would be nothing like how Therese and Camilla constantly butted heads. Eckhart was a caring person, behind that stern face of his. Their talks were probably kind, if a little stuffy and boring.
â But, maybeâŚ
âLord Alois, are you not getting worn out?â
When Camilla asked that, Alois shifted in his seat unconsciously. But, Camilla didnât miss that movement. She continued to stare straight at Alois, who looked away uncomfortably.
After a moment of this one-sided staredown, Alois finally relented as he spoke with a sigh.
ââŚA little, but you shouldnât be worried over just this much.â
Alois slowly looked around the room. The beautiful decorations and furnishings that lavished the place stood in stark contrast to the rustic simplicity back home in Mohnton.
âI just really canât get used to this place, after all. That, along with there being so many people who want to talk to me, itâs a little hard to catch my breath.â
âI see.â
âI suppose a change of pace would be nice? But, well, because of everything thatâs happened, it would be hard even just to have a peaceful walk outside.â
Right now, Alois was the biggest celebrity in the royal capital. Any noblemen they meet would try to incessantly rub shoulders with them and any journalists wouldnât let him escape without giving them some fresh materials, and thatâs not even counting the horde of fawning girls that could appear as if out of thin air. If it wasnât properly hidden, that unique royal silver hair of his would always attract attention wherever it went.
Alois himself surely never imagined that days like this would ever come. For most of his life, most of everyone had kept their distance, and if he were to look their way they would very quickly avert their eyes.
ââŚWell, Iâm just a little tired, thatâs all. Iâll get used to it.â
Alois gave Camilla a smile to try and reassure her. But, Camillaâs stern expression didnât change at all. She still looked at Alois bitterly.
â How can I believe you when you look like thatâŚ!?
âLord Alois, what are your plans for today?â
âFor now, Iâm free until dinner, butâŚâ
The way he said âfor nowâ was a problem. What was supposed to be Aloisâ free time very rarely ended up actually being so. Eckhart, as well as the other nobles, often aimed to get a word in with him during this supposed free time of his. If they stayed in that room, just who knows when someone would come asking for an audience.
But, if they went outside, he would undoubtedly attract even more attention. It was fairly safe to trust the nobles and servants in the highly guarded royal palace, but who knows just who you could encounter out on the streets.
â But, the weather really is perfect for a walk.
The warm spring sun sat high in the sky and the softest of breezes tickled the petals of the newly bloomed flowers around town. It couldnât compare to the sea of flowers that covered Blume, but the royal capital was nevertheless awash in them. The fresh air outside was much more refreshing than the air back in Mohnton, in no small part due to the lack of miasma.
â Whatâs moreâŚ
With a clench of her fist, Camilla stamped her foot.
âLord Alois, letâs go and have a âchange of paceâ!â
ââŚIâm sorry?â
âWe need to get ready, so Iâll call Diana right away!â
When she heard that Camilla was going to the royal capital, Diana made sure that she was brought along. Nicole was also determined to go along as well, but Camilla managed to convince her that Diana should go instead since she was familiar with the workings of the royal capital already.
So, although she felt bad for Nicole, Diana really was the best fit for this trip. Part of that was, because whilst Nicole didnât have a mischievous bone in her body, Diana was much more of a âbad girlâ.
âThereâs somewhere I definitely want to show you by all means, so just wait here quietly for a moment!â
As the stunned Alois nodded silently, Camilla left the room in a hurry.
ă
After a while, Camilla returned to the parlour alongside Diana.
As Diana walked in behind her, she carried a large suitcase.
When she popped it open, Alois saw that it was full of clothes. Clothes for both men and women were packed tightly together, without any rhyme or reason.
âIâve heard all the details!â
Diana raised her voice cheerfully. She was always energetic, but Alois saw that she was even more buoyant than usual.
âThe long-awaited âchange of paceâ, huh? Alright, just leave it to me!â
Alois felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
He was like a frog being stared down by a snake.
Just what on earth were they going to do to him�