Chapter 27 - A Proper Partner (1)

Chapter 27: A Proper Partner (1)

Enoch naturally led Aran to the center of the hall. The musicians played an elegant song and soon, the dance began accordingly.

“This reminds me of your debut ball. I danced with you for the first time that day,” Enoch laughed, recalling those happy memories.

Aran’s face paled. She, too, clearly remembered that day.

Her fourteen-year-old self wore a white dress she long prepared months ago. She was happy and eager to hold her fiancee’s hand tightly. Until then, she didn’t have the slightest idea what would happen to her and Enoch in the future.

When the young lover finished dancing, the knights suddenly rushed into the banquet hall. The knight, who looked to be the highest-ranked, ordered his men to bring down Enoch and his family down with a cold face Aran had never seen before.

The House of Roark was a noted house of warriors, but it was not enough for the Grand Duke to deal with the fully armed knights without weapons. The once-elegant Grand Duke rolled onto the floor in a disarray. Their son, Enoch, was also overpowered by the knights.

“What are you doing? Stop! Stop!”

Aran tried to stop the knights, but all was futile.

“Father!”

Aran looked at the emperor with hopes that her father would intervene. Staring at his daughter’s face for a moment, the emperor shook his head coolly.

“Take the princess to the bedroom.”

“Wait a minute…! Father! No, Enoch…!”

A knight dragged her back as she clung to Enoch.

When their eyes met, Enoch said calmly, “Nothing will happen, Your Highness. Don’t worry.”

Those words were the first lie Enoch had ever told Aran.

The Grand Duke and his wife were executed the next morning. News of Enoch’s execution date was set a week later.

When the shocked Aran refused to eat, eyes devoid of life, the emperor showed mercy to Enoch and demoted his status to a common servant.

Aran, who recalled those old memories, shivered.

She was sure that day was a terrible memory for Enoch.

Enoch laughed, finding her expression amusing.

“Why are you so nervous? Are you afraid I’ll commit a crime here?” he whispered in a small voice, lips pressed close to her ear.

Aran couldn’t face him and turned her head.

She couldn’t remember how the dance ended. In a few minutes, her fatigue grew and Aran went back to her seat with a dazed mind.

Meanwhile, a duke followed her and sat on the table next to her.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you dance, Your Majesty. You haven’t grown rusty.”

Aran turned her head towards the man speaking to her.

It was Duke Heston.

“Of course. It was a pleasure to dance with the Grand Duke,” she said, smiling.

“Thank you,” Enoch answered absentmindedly.

Duke Heston frowned faintly. His purpose was the empress, not the Grand Duke. Putting his composure together, he said, “ It would have been better if your partner is your husband.”

“What are you talking about?” Aran expressed a face of embarrassment at his abrupt remark.

“You’ve passed eighty seasons, Your Majesty, making you twenty this year. It doesn’t make sense that you’ve no emperor next to your side yet.”

“I haven’t thought of getting married,” Aran answered sincerely.

She wasn’t in a proper place to properly love someone.

Duke Heston clicked his tongue.

“That can’t be, Your Majesty. It’s important to have someone by your side to strongly rule over the empire. And who will succeed after you?”

Succession.

Aran’s face hardened. She knew this. However, she doubted whether she’d be able to fulfill her duty well.

Years had passed since she last had her menstruation. Originally, her monthly cycle was irregular, but it hadn’t arrived after ascending the throne. The thought of it embarrassed her and she wasn’t willing to relay the information to the duke.

“Your Majesty’s position will be enhanced with a proper partner of strong background and a successor.”

“It’s not easy to decide on a national marriage, right? But I’ll sincerely consider your suggestion.”

“You’re still young, but you might miss the door of opportunity after a year or two. You’re not a man, so you don’t have much time left.”

The longer the duke spoke, the more flushed Aran became.

When Duke Heston tried to speak more, Enoch, who was listening, intervened.

“Didn’t Her Majesty say she hasn’t considered it yet? She’s still young. It’s not too late to wait and see,” said Enoch.

Duke Heston furrowed his brows. “Pardon my words, but it’s not strange for Her Majesty to have two children at her age. The issue of succession isn’t something of a problem, it’s the when. If you, the Grand Duke, are a proper candidate, why not propose yourself?”