Chapter 27
Xenobius Impetraz.
The nephew of a former imperial princess. In truth, a distant collateral so far removed from the line of succession it was laughable to even count, but a man who had risen to his current position on skill alone.
A war noble who wielded such immense power it was hard to find a reason why he hadn’t simply made himself Emperor.
‘…Indeed, the Grand Duke and the Siollier family’s golden hair and golden eyes do suit each other rather well.’
‘Your Majesty, Viscount Derise is listening.’
‘Ah, Viscount. I didn’t mean it that way. The Grand Duke is an Esper, after all…’
‘Not at all, not at all. Your Majesty, my wife is a pureblood of the Siollier family. It is only natural for you to say so.’
The Viscount beamed from ear to ear.
It was probably the first time he had drawn the attention of both the Emperor and the Grand Duke.
‘I’ll visit soon.’
The Grand Duke let go of Evina.
But only she knew how his large hand had lingered, stroking her waist with deliberate slowness.
He would visit soon.
Evina swallowed the warm tea.
She stared blankly at her reflection in the large mirror placed at one side of the drawing room.
Her unbrushed hair was a mess, her shoulders and chest were gaunt, and her eyes were eerily translucent.
There was no way her looks alone had drawn his attention.
She picked up the brush on the table and began combing her hair. A dull, repetitive motion.
The Grand Duke had said he would come. She would learn the whole truth soon enough.
But when exactly was he coming?
It would be best if he visited when the Viscount was away. Not that the Grand Duke would ever schedule his movements around a mere viscount.
And even if luck was on her side and he visited while the Viscount was out, what would she tell the butler? If the Viscount found out about the Grand Duke’s visit, what would he do to her then?
A deep sigh escaped her.
That was when someone took the brush from her hand and began brushing her hair with smooth, steady strokes.
“Therese, with the Viscount away, I’d like to wash with some hot water. It’s so cold…”
She pulled the thick gown over her chemise tighter and hunched her shoulders.
“I want to wash right away. Could you prepare some water?”
But there was no answer from Therese.
Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t heard Therese’s light, scurrying footsteps.
A sudden realization flashed through her mind, and she turned around.
“Hello.”
Xenobius, who had appeared without a sound or a trace, waved the hand holding the brush lightly.
“G-Grand Duke…!”
“Scream any louder and you’ll probably be caught.”
Startled and about to cry out, Evina glanced around and shut her mouth.
Only Xenobius and Evina were in the drawing room.
The butler would be handling business on the Viscount’s behalf.
“Therese…”
“Ah, I put her to sleep.”
“To sleep?”
“I didn’t hurt her. I just put her to sleep.”
“How on earth did you get in…”
She couldn’t finish her sentence and glanced around again.
She definitely hadn’t heard any footsteps. And of all the doors leading into the drawing room, the only one open was the one directly in front of her.
“I didn’t see you enter, Your Grace.”
“Well… is there a rule that says one must only come and go through doors?”
She had nothing to say to that. She had forgotten he was the most powerful Esper in the Empire.
An ordinary human like Evina could never have such an extraordinary person standing beside her. She simply wasn’t used to things that were strange and unnatural.
The man began brushing her hair again.
“Face forward.”
As if under a spell, she turned her head back to the front.
In the mirror, where just moments ago only Evina had been, there was now a large man as well.
It was a surreal sight.
Just yesterday, that man had stood on the dais alongside the Emperor, looking down upon countless nobles. And now he was standing behind her, brushing her hair.
She couldn’t believe it.
Evina tried to turn around to check again, but the man’s hand caught her shoulder.
“…Ah.”
It was a powerful grip.
The moment he held her, she couldn’t move at all.
Xenobius set the brush down on the table with a quiet clack.
Her shoulders flinched.
In the mirror, the man met Evina’s eyes, slowly bent down, and pressed his lips to her ear.
“Surprised?”
“…Yes.”
“I told you I’d visit.”
An arrogant statement befitting the strongest Esper in the world.
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