The Grand Duke meant to only have one child, Enoch. Out of his concern that the body of the Great Duchess might be damaged, he took Enoch as his successor as soon as he was born and never had another child. To him Enoch was not a child but a successor. He didn’t know when the two planned the treason, but Enoch thought they must have been happy to die at one stroke of the sword as they always wanted.
“Your Highness.”
“Huh?” Aran raised her head. Her eyes were still wet with tears.
Since when? Enoch wondered for how long Aran had liked him. He wanted to ask if her affection was just a child’s play, or if it was an endless and blind love, as his parents had. But bringing such a stupid question up out of the mouth was never acceptable.
“I like you. I love you,” as if she read his mind, Aran whispered, kissing his forehead, crumpled with hesitation.
Enoch was anxious to hear Aran’s erratically beating heart. But the most disturbing thing was the confidence to believe in it.
***
“It’s raining a lot…”
Aran murmured anxiously as she looked out the window of the carriage.
To avoid the heat, the imperial family was on their way to the summer retreat. The sky, which had been clear up until their departure, suddenly became cloudy, and heavy rain began to pour unannounced.
“It’ll stop soon,” Enoch replied.
Originally, he was not in a position to climb the wagon with the princess, but when the rain became thick, Aran, who was worried, became stubborn and forced him into the carriage. He knew well that even if he wanted to refuse, it would attract more attention if he had a scuffle.
It was quite embarrassing to sit like the rain-soaked mouse between the well-dressed imperial princess and ladies-in-waiting. The latters, who had noticed the relationship between the princess and Enoch, smiled alternately at Enoch and the princess with a strange look. Tragedy in the grand palace and the circ*mstances of its successor were not of their concern. It was just fun and lovely to see a pair of young lovers who had just begun to fall in love.
“Can we get there by the end of the day?”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. Summer showers are a common occurrence,” A lady-in-waiting answered kindly.
At that moment, suddenly the feeling of the atmosphere surrounding them changed. She could not help but wonder, and a thunderbolt fell on a nearby tree.
“What is it?”
Cried one of the ladies-in-waiting. Then a few seconds later, there was a rumbling roar in the sky. The horses were startled, and suddenly the carriage shook violently. Several of the ladies-in-waiting fell from their chairs and even rolled on the floor of the carriage. She heard the coachman shouting something to the horses.
Aran was frightened that the carriage would flip over. Enoch gave her a tight hug as she stumbled dangerously.
Fortunately, the shaking soon subsided. Aran breathed a sigh of relief. But a series of screams and shouts came from outside.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll go out.”
Enoch opened the carriage door and looked outside. After a while, his face hardened with shock.
“What’s wrong?”
When Aran asked, someone shouted like a scream.
“Your Majesty…”
As soon as she heard the sound, Aran pushed Enoch straight out of the carriage. And was confronted with an incredible sight. The carriage on which the emperor and empress were riding was overturned, and blood leaked from it coupled with rainwater. The coachman, who was driving the emperor’s carriage, fell just as he crawled from under the wreckage.