Does she think a sudden change in her personality would interest me?
I headed straight to the training ground, mildly frustrated. I should have known not to expect any better from a Wyndham. On our wedding day, she had acted nervous and barely met my gaze. But now, she was showing herself for who she truly was.
Arriving at the training ground, I immediately picked up a sword, drawing a few shocked glances from my subordinates. They were mid-training, and my presence at this hour was unexpected. Normally, I would be in my office reviewing documents while my brother oversaw their practice. But today, I just needed to clear my mind.
"Young lord, what are you doing here at this hour?"
I glared at him, frustration simmering, as I unbuttoned my cuffs to roll up my sleeves. I handed them to a nearby soldier, removed my vest, and did the same. "Everyone, charge at me."
"But my lord—"
"Charge! This is an order!" I barked. Immediately, the most skilled members of my squadron stepped forward, swords in hand. Though they had not yet reached my level, their defense was solid. The others followed, and we sparred for two hours straight.
My brother watched from afar, braced against the wall. He was never as invested in swordsmanship as I was. I approached him, drenched in sweat, and he handed me a towel.
"What has you so frustrated?" he inquired, casually eating an apple.
"Who said I was frustrated?"
"Well, for one, it isn't time for your training. And two, you would normally be cooped up in your office at this hour."
Grumbling, I combed my wet hair back as it dangled in my face. "Evangeline had an issue with Eloise."
"Oh, really?" Lucien's tone was bland. He wasn't fond of Evangeline and tolerated her only because we grew up together. Once, when he fell into the river, he accused Evangeline of pushing him. She insisted she had not, and he fell in despite her warning. It was never properly investigated—he wasn't the kind of child who listened, so her story seemed believable. I sighed, recalling all the trouble he had caused us growing up.
We walked down the corridor, Lucien still eating his apple, my mind now clearer. It was the third hour of the evening (3 p.m.), and the sun blazed through the windows. I remembered Evangeline entering my office, her lavender eyes brimming with tears. She was the one I should have married, yet to her, I was no more than a friend.
Lucien and I parted ways, and I headed to my room to wash away sweat and the lingering frustration. My valets immediately undressed me and wrapped me in a robe. I stepped into the bath, soaping my hair with my eyes closed to avoid getting soap in them, while Eloise's face flashed in my mind.
She then aged decades in an instant; her porcelain skin became dry, wrinkled, and lifeless. Her hair now reached only her shoulders, her outfit as dreary as her appearance, and the fire in her eyes was gone.
I finished my bath, ignoring the thought, and dried myself before dressing. My valets helped me into a fitted white linen shirt with a crisp collar, a dark waistcoat tapered at the sides and fastened with brass buttons, charcoal trousers, and a muted wine tie neatly around my neck.
I went straight to my office to continue work. My secretary stood at my desk, adding another pile of papers. I groaned internally.
"What are those?" I asked.
"Assistance requests from neighboring territories, my lord."
I picked up a document. "What issues are they having?"
"Orc invasions, my lord. Two villages were decimated in a recent raid."
"And the border patrol? Are the soldiers there for decoration?"
He handed me another report. "According to these complaints, the soldiers have been loafing on duty, my lord."
Monsters had always plagued the Vallerian Empire. The Valemont Duchy guarded the eastern border, Rosewynn the west, Greystone the south, and Ardenfel the north. Yet, some territories lacked sufficient manpower to defend themselves.
"Which villages were decimated, and which territories are requesting assistance?"
"Dunmere and Oakrest, under the Brindlewood Barony. They've sheltered refugees but are running low on rations. Eldermere County, neighboring the barony, has also requested aid."
"And how many orcs are there?"
"About thirteen, my lord. One orc can take on at least ten men."
I dipped my feathered pen into ink and began writing orders. "Send twenty soldiers from our special forces to subdue the orcs. Have five from the regular forces accompany them for ration distribution."
"Yes, my lord."
"Do we have enough supplies in the warehouse?"
"Yes, my lord. I've tallied the rations; please review them."
"No need. I trust you."
"And Eldermere County?"
"How dire is their situation?"
"They haven't been invaded, my lord. Count Hale, however, requests protection in case of an orc attack."
"So they've suffered no damage?"
"No, my lord. An envoy recently confirmed they live peacefully, separated from the barony by a gap of land."
"That pig," I muttered. "Send five regular forces there to ease their worries."
"As you say, my lord."
I spent the rest of the evening buried in paperwork until dinner at the seventh hour of the night (7 p.m.). My family sat in the dining room—no Eloise in sight.
"Hurry and sit, older brother," my sister said.
Where is she? Does she think she's too important to arrive on time? I sat to the right of my father, who was buried in documents.
"No work at the table, dear," my mother scolded. Shortly after, Eloise arrived, bowing politely. Her hair flowed behind her, a shawl draped over her arm. The servants placed meals before us: roasted pheasant glazed with herbs, buttered green beans, roasted root vegetables, barley and mushroom stew, freshly baked rolls, and a selection of cheeses. Wine was poured for Father.
We waited for Father to start before eating and conversing. Through my peripheral vision, I saw Eloise enjoying her meal with a gentle expression I rarely saw. She conversed with Mother occasionally, while Father sneaked glances at his documents, and Lucien tormented Marienne as usual. Thoughts of Eloise flashed through my mind again, causing a sudden ring in my head. I took a deep breath, finished my meal, and excused myself to my office. Other matters demanded my attention.
---
Who would have thought, after all these years, I'd end up in a carriage with HIM—and not just any carriage, but the imperial carriage. In the past, we had ridden in separate carriages. At the second hour of the morning (2 a.m.), Cedric himself delivered the news that His Imperial Majesty—his uncle—requested our audience. Something he never did in my past life.
I rang for Bess immediately to help me prepare. I also tried to recall what exactly had happened during that time. Thankfully, aside from minor etiquette mistakes, I hadn't embarrassed myself too badly. We were to stay in the royal capital for three days, but Cedric had requested to leave a day early.
Feeling tired, I rested my head against the window, attempting to enjoy the scenery. Bess, if she had been assigned as my handmaiden, might have entertained me—but she was still too young. Travel to the capital usually took several hours. We departed at the fifth hour (5 a.m.), likely arriving around the second or fourth hour (4 p.m.) of the evening. Cedric sat across from me, quietly reviewing documents from what I glimpsed were regarding orc invasions in nearby territories.
I finally closed my eyes, allowing myself a much-needed rest.
"My lady."
"Return in an hour, Bess," I mumbled.
"My lady, we've arrived at the Imperial Palace."
I opened my eyes slowly to see a knight standing by the carriage with the door open, Cedric at his side. As predicted, it was nearing the third hour of the evening (3 p.m.). I quickly composed myself, exiting the carriage with the knight's help.
Ahead stood the palace, made of ivory stone with gilded rooftops, its towers and domes glinting in the sun. Broad marble steps led to the main entrance, flanked by statues of Solanthar, God of the Sun, and two guards. Tall windows, draped with heavy silks, reflected manicured gardens where fountains danced and hedges formed intricate patterns.
Cedric walked ahead, and I followed. Inside, the grand hall stretched nearly the length of a city block, its polished floors echoing our steps. At the end, a large door opened to reveal the emperor atop his throne, grinning at Cedric.
"May the light of Solanthar shine upon His Imperial Majesty forever," we both greeted with a bow.
"My nephew," he said. "Why so formal?"
"How could I dare be informal with the emperor?"
"You may both rise," he commanded, descending the stairs before his throne. "Remember, I am your mother's brother before being emperor, which also makes me your uncle. I see no need for excessive formality."
Cedric ignored him, so the emperor turned to me. "My, what a beauty."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I curtsied.
"If you weren't wed to my nephew, I would have taken you for my son," he said, glancing at Cedric. I chuckled at the remark, averting my gaze.
"Seeing that I missed your wedding, I shall hold a small banquet in your honor tomorrow. I will also be bestowing the Silverwood Estate in the capital to you," he said, returning to his throne.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Cedric said, bowing.
"I dismiss you, Lady Valemont. I have matters to discuss with your husband. I shall return him to you shortly," he joked.
"Take all the time you need, Your Majesty," I replied with a smile.
I exited the throne room and toured the castle, guided by a maid to our quarters. Eventually, I found the corridor leading to the garden. I stepped out, took a deep breath, and stretched my legs. The imperial garden was peaceful: birds chirping in nearby trees and a small pond teeming with fish. I sat on a bench under an apple tree.
A noise above caught my attention. A young prince clung to a branch, tears streaming down his cheeks. I rushed forward, opening my arms.
"Oh my, how did you end up there?" I asked.
Pouting, he shook his head. I reassured him until he calmed down.
"Can you climb down on your own?"
He shook his head.
"Okay, no worries." I removed my shawl and shoe, placing them on the bench, and positioned myself under him.
"3… 2… 1… JUMP!" He leapt into my arms, causing me to fall back. We both landed safely, and I reassured him, "I'm okay, so you don't have to worry."
I stood with him still in my arms, grabbed my shawl and shoe, and returned to the bench.
"Thank you," he mumbled softly.
"You're welcome," I smiled warmly. "But if you don't mind me asking, why were you in a tree?"
"I wanted an apple," he replied.
"You could have asked a maid."
He shook his head. "They're all mean."
I sighed. "Are you that hungry?"
He nodded. His striking resemblance to the emperor—bright red hair and golden eyes—made it clear he was a prince.
"Then let's get you something to eat." I returned to my room, placing him on the large couch and ringing for a maid to prepare two meals. A tray soon arrived at the door with roasted chicken for me and breast for the prince, mashed sweet potatoes with butter, steamed green peas and baby carrots on small plates, a dish of stewed berries sweetened with honey, and a warm cup of milk.
I placed a napkin around his neck, set the meal before him, and broke apart the chicken to make it easier for him to eat. I sat and ate, occasionally glancing at him to ensure he was doing fine. The thought of not having a child of my own began weighing on me. To cope, I had sponsored an orphanage and spent time caring for the children, giving me extensive knowledge of childcare—but it still would have been nice to have my own.