Three hours later, Adelaide was in the Grand Castle’s fancy reception room, asking for the umpteenth time, “Still no news on them?”
When Adelaide picked up the teacup—for the umpteenth time—and asked, a delegate accompanying her did not know what to do and repeatedly replied, “They only said that they’re getting ready, Your Highness.”
The delegate’s face while answering apologetically had a hint of joy on it. They were all trying their best to relieve Adelaide of her awkwardness.
That was because Adelaide, the new envoy, was their hope.
They’d all expected to protect her life when she came to Hessenguard. Otherwise, there was no reason to leave her home country and come to an unfamiliar place, where unpleasant things, such as assassination and plague, had taken place in the past.
While Marquess Canavan worked hard to keep a stronghold on this place, they had also planned to take care of him from time to time, but they all had to stay away because he had collapsed over something ridiculous.
No matter much they said they were delegates, they couldn’t come out to Hessenguard and sniff around, which was why Erna had hoped the new envoy was someone influential.
Erna hadn’t expected the royal princess to come, of all people. On top of that, Adelaide was the most cherished princess in the Kingdom of Haband. She was the daughter of the third queen who had fallen in love with the king at first glance, and her hair and eyes looked just like her father’s.
Famous for her beauty since childhood, she was skilled at winning her father’s heart. Even the king of Haband, who was very serious, made Adelaide attend dinner only with his sons, and always took her wherever he went.
Adelaide was a beautiful flower cherished by the Kingdom of Haband.
That Adelaide had come to this place. Saying that was just like saying Haband was strongly intervening in Hessenguard’s affairs.
On top of that…
The delegates recalled questions Adelaide had asked them after arriving, to learn more about Hessenguard’s situation.
They had explained in detail to her what they felt while spending time here. Adelaide had asked questions after listening to them with interest. About a specific target, to be exact.
“So, how many knights do you think there are in all, led by Lord Kalion?”
“Does Lord Kalion seem to be involved in state affairs to a certain extent?”
“From what you’ve seen, how is his relationship with Erna?”
Adelaide wanted information on Kalion as if there were nothing to hide about him. Even the delegates couldn’t know unless they were fools. Princess Adelaide was here to seek out Kalion.
Well, it was given since there still wasn’t a single piece of news about Princess Erna’s baby.
It had been Haband’s idea to send a new princess to have a child with Kalion and to literally retrieve the magician, Erna.
It was a good plan, they thought, but…
“…Lord Kalion and Erna’s relationship looks very easygoing.”
At that, there was a look of wonder on Adelaide’s face.
“From what Marquess Canavan said, Erna tends to cling to his every move.”
Adelaide had thought that was obvious from the letter she’d seen. Was it right to say that Erna was loved by someone?
Adelaide had a recollection of Erna’s smart appearance as a child. A royal daughter who had walked around in a gloomy mood with no maids in a separate building away from the main palace.
She also remembered how Erna’s brothers had often visited and poked at her, laughed at her. Adelaide didn’t feel sorry about that. She thought it was natural to be treated like that because she was ugly.
There were words Adelaide had heard countless times from her parents while growing up: My beautiful daughter.
Beauty was the most important reason why Adelaide was loved by the kingdom. That’s why it was natural that the unbeautiful sister deserved not to be loved and should be ashamed of herself beyond that.
Her teacher sometimes said in class that you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. Adelaide was not oblivious of that; it was common sense and morality. It was not the truth, however.
On top of that, she and Erna were nothing else but royal princesses.
In Haband, women could not succeed on the throne. Therefore, since she had been born as a princess, her most valuable life was to marry into a noble family or a neighboring royal family and become a stake to keep their property and troops tied to royal power.
Of course, people would call her “the messenger of peace” or “the bridge of peace” in a more pleasant way.
However, unlike other princesses, Erna, who’d had no support, had never once had a man suck up to marry her. So Adelaide had thought: “My sister really is worthless trash to the kingdom. She’s a leech worth no more than a commoner and enjoys a comfortable life in royalty.”
So, Adelaide had watched insensitively when their siblings bullied Erna. No, sometimes she’d cheered for them, cursing Erna’s name, thinking, if you’re like me you’ll leave the palace.
There had been times when Erna was shoved to the ground by her brothers or even kicked.
It was suitable to run away from the palace if she’d been confident in herself, but even after the bullying, she remained there. On top of that, she had eaten more and more.
She never cried after being tormented by her siblings. Instead, she had shoved the pieces of sweet bread that’d fallen to the floor as if those pieces were consoling her.
Then, one time while eating she locked gazes with Adelaide. Not saying a word, Erna stared blankly at her with envy. Then she picked something from her pocket and put it in her mouth.
Adelaide truly felt hatred from that action. Having returned to her room, Adelaide had told Mother what she’d seen without Erna’s knowledge. The third queen then approached Adelaide and rubbed her eyes and lips with a clean cloth as though she’d been touched by something filthy.
“Oh, Adelaide. My beautiful daughter. Don’t look at such a hideous thing; don’t even speak of her.”
The third queen hugged her lovely daughter as she continued, “But always remember. Without the king’s love and the power of your mother—even if I had birthed you with not a coin to my name, you’d be a shabby royal princess.”
But then one day, Erna suddenly left the palace. To become the Grand Duchess of Hessenguard.
When Adelaide, who’d received the promise that she’d never be sent to Hessenguard, heard the news she thought: “At last Erna is going to end her disgraceful life.”
However, Erna was still alive after a decade. Surprisingly, she was performing her role as the grand duchess quite well. Even worse, her magic talent which hadn’t appeared that much in Haband had burst into bloom and now she was on guard at the Wizards’ Tower.
Among the comments and news that flowed in, what attracted Adelaide the most were comments about her appearance.
‘Though I did hear that she has changed a lot.’
She wondered if she indeed had changed. Adelaide thought that Hessenguard had fabricated some lie to erase the shortcomings of their grand duke.
And now, Adelaide was convinced at her disposal—even though the delegates had said that Erna was completely different—because she did not even show up despite Adelaide’s arrival. As expected, that was a lie.
No way Kalion would cherish such a person. On top of that, wasn’t she still childless ever after ten years?
I heard that Lord Kalion was in bad shape before…
Adelaide didn’t have the right to choose whether he looked good. If he led the knight order and the other royals, she was supposed to cling to him unconditionally.
That time, there was a commotion outside, and a servant of Hessenguard entered.
“Lord Kalion has arrived.”
At that message, Adelaide stood up from her seat and patted down her clothes. Then, she took it strange that the servant had mentioned Kalion’s name.
“What about Erna?”
The servant replied with a nod. She couldn’t see it because of the tiny gesture, but the servant’s face was as stiff as a wall.
Erna was now the Grand Duchess of Hessenguard. That was a position higher than the Princess of Haband. However, the princess from Haband regularly called Erna by her first name with no title.
She didn’t want to call her ‘Your Grace Grand Duchess’ or ‘Lady Erna’.
“Her Grace said that it will take some time for her to arrive.”
“…oh, yeah? Well, that’s understandable.”
Adelaide remembered Erna’s stare from when they were children; that look like she was extremely jealous. When she thought of that time, she came to understand why Erna did not want to meet her. She turned out rather well.
It was comfortable to have a private conversation with the king of Haband.
Adelaide knew that she had the right tools to attract the opposite s*x. If she made contact with him while pretending to make a mistake, they’d all be enjoying her physical touch, not knowing what to do next. But even that was something a refined princess should not do.
It’s more comfortable if I don’t have to worry so much about the eyes around me. She was curious how aggressive this person named Grand Duke Kalion would turn out in that situation. I hope he isn’t so gross that I can’t stand him.
Then, the door opened wide and someone came inside.
Taller stature and broader shoulders beyond the usual knights; a body impossible to hide even in a traditional Hessenguard outfit. Under his short black hair was the beautiful appearance of a war god carved out of marble. The glaring, deep-blue eyes, however, were telling her that he was everything but a statue.
Having forgotten that she was supposed to greet him, Adelaide stared at the man who’d entered.
That grand duke outfit she’d seen clearly in a book about Hessenguard. That’s why she knew this man was Kalion Hessenguard.
“Princess Adelaide?”
She hastily greeted him with courtesy when she heard a delegate call her name from the side.
“It is an honor to meet you, My Lord. I am Adelaide, of Haband.” She smiled and extended a hand after that.
People always wanted to kiss the back of her hand. Because of that, it’d become a habit of hers to hold out her hand after meeting somebody. But Kalion, after only staring at her hand, said without even asking her to sit down, “You arrived quicker than I expected, Princess. You must be tired from your quick journey.”
His voice was shrill in praise of her hard work. Adelaide was embarrassed by Kalion’s voice which clearly showed his uncomfortableness; his overtly annoyed voice; his callous stare that barely showed any kindness. It was a look she’d never once encountered in her life. But despite that, she could tell that those eyes held some kind of emotion.