NOVEL ONLINE FREE #49
#49
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Beloved Crown Prince, I have waited for a long time, believing in our love.
But I can no longer live with lies, so I confess.
As rumored, my child is another man’s. It was a moment’s mistake, but I know it’s hard to forgive. I’m sorry for betraying your heart.
I apologize for bringing shame to Your Majesty and the royal family. I will accept any punishment.
Loving you forever, Cynthia Gerold.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“…”
Jersian looked up at the dark night sky, recalling in his mind his mother’s letter that he had burned as soon as he saw it.
Whether it was because of its brevity or because it was his mother’s handwriting he hadn’t seen in a long time, the letter was memorized as if imprinted on his brain the moment he saw it.
His mother had never once told him this fact. Instead, she only complained, expressed her anger, and lamented about being wronged. When he read the last words at the end of the letter, he even laughed.
‘Loving you forever…’
Ha, Jersian let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh. No matter how he thought about it, it wasn’t something a woman pregnant with another man’s child should say to her lover.
In the end, his mother hadn’t told him this truth. As if she hadn’t even considered the future of her child who would grow up dismissing as lies what everyone in the world knew to be true.
Crunch, Jersian’s grip on the railing tightened.
‘What have I been living for all this time?’
What overwhelmed Jersian as soon as he saw the letter was an endless sense of futility. Studying hard and training to gain favor in Marchioness Elmerila’s eyes becomes meaningless when the goal disappears.
Hahaha!
The loud laughter of people inside the thick curtains reached the balcony. Jersian envied them. Those who could drink without any worries and enjoy someone else’s birthday party with smiling faces.
That’s when it happened.
“Are you grieving?”
Suddenly, Kain’s voice scattered Jersian’s thoughts.
“…What?”
What nonsense is this all of a sudden. Jersian looked at Kain’s clear face, bright even in the dark night.
“If you were shedding tears, I would have noticed right away, but I can’t quite tell how you’re feeling, Jersian.”
“So what, are you saying I should shed tears now to make it easier for you to understand?”
When Jersian snapped back in an irritated voice, Kain smiled, his eyes curving, and said,
“Well, I’d like that, but I can’t ask for such a thing.”
“…You’re a strange one.”
Honestly, judging by appearances alone, Kain Starchis was harder to read. His cold face usually showed no emotion, and his slightly lowered gaze merely reflected the scenery like glass. It seemed like he might never know what Kain was thinking right now.
…But one thing was certain now. This elf had just let the biggest adultery scandal surrounding the royal family go in one ear and out the other. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for him to be teasing about not shedding tears instead of comforting the other person.
Tch, Jersian clicked his tongue and looked at the round moon hanging in the sky. Inside the curtains, the main ceremony seemed to have started, with birthday-themed music playing. He should go in and greet Hernin. He couldn’t come all this way and leave without greeting.
As Jersian was about to leave the balcony railing and head inside,
“But this is… strange.”
At Kain’s calm voice, Jersian turned his head back.
“What is? I think you’re the strangest.”
His expression was indifferent. Then Kain, still at the balcony railing, tilted his glass-like delicate face and said,
“Why then was ‘Jersian Del Claude’ written on my mark?”
“…!”
Red pupils dilated slightly.
Jersian had been so shocked by the contents of the letter that he hadn’t had time to think about other things. Now, Kain’s curiosity was very valid. Why was ‘Jersian Del Claude’ written on his mark, not ‘Jersian Gerold’? If that mark was really given by the World Tree, then what was that letter? Which one was the truth?
Now, there was only one thing Jersian could be certain of. That even the owner of that name was lost.
“…”
Jersian’s expression hardened as he was about to part the curtains and re-enter the banquet hall.
“…Couldn’t it just be a mistake of the Gallia tree? Even your great World Tree must slip up sometimes.”
“That’s impossible. The Gallia tree has never made a mistake in thousands of years.”
“Thousands of years? Then it’s about time it made a mistake.”
“…That’s absolutely not the case.”
Seeing Kain’s serious expression, Jersian pondered for a moment with a “hmm,” then gestured.
“Let’s continue this conversation later at the mansion. For now, let’s hurry into the banquet hall. If we don’t show our faces after coming all this way, Hernin Gerold will throw a fit.”
“…Yes.”
Kain decided to listen to Jersian for now.
As they parted the thick curtains separating the balcony from the banquet hall, loud music clung to them as if welcoming them. The gazes of others were the same. They had been looking around for Jersian and Kain until now.
At the very front of the banquet hall was a platform, where there were seats and chairs that seemed to belong to Elmerila Gerold. The head seat was currently empty.
As Jersian and Kain stood right in front of the platform, Marchioness Elmerila, who had been absent, walked to her seat.
“…”
“…”
The gazes of Marchioness Elmerila walking onto the platform and Jersian met in the air. Both had much to say but couldn’t talk right away. Elmerila, who first pretended not to notice Jersian’s gaze, sat down gracefully in her seat and said,
“I had to step out for a moment on personal business.”
At this, the faces of Marcus and Hernin Gerold, sitting right next to her, visibly brightened.
“Not at all! We’re even more grateful that you’ve joined the party despite your busy schedule.”
They had been worried that she might leave the party completely after hearing a servant’s whisper earlier and leaving her seat. Marcus Gerold spoke in a loud voice once the Marchioness was fully seated,
“Everyone, please raise your glasses. I want to thank you all for gathering here today to celebrate my son Hernin Gerold’s birthday.”
Ahem, Marcus cleared his throat once with a proud face, then extended the champagne glass in his hand towards the audience and continued,
“There are two years left until my son comes of age. After this birthday party today, it will be reduced to just one year. Now, as a father, I will work harder to ensure that Hernin studies the Gerold family more diligently and finds his role as a member of the family. We need to quickly prepare the next generation to inherit our Gerold family. That way, we can step back and rest comfortably. Don’t you agree, Marchioness Elmerila?”
As he said the last sentence, Marcus Gerold glanced at Marchioness Elmerila sitting behind him. To be honest, the audience was already surprised. To bring up such words so easily in front of the head of the family who hadn’t yet decided on a successor. They couldn’t imagine how Marchioness Elmerila would react.
“…”
Marchioness Elmerila sat in the large chair on the platform, looking ahead with a strange expression. Her gaze fell on Jersian standing with Kain.
“…”
Jersian’s face was also hardened. He couldn’t guess how much influence the Marchioness’s answer to Marcus Gerold’s question would have on himself in the future.
The Marchioness was silent for a moment, knowing that everyone here was waiting for her answer. Then she smiled slightly and opened her mouth.
“Yes, as Marcus says, it’s important to take care of the child who will succeed me and lead the Gerold family in the future.”
She leaned her arm completely on the armrest of the chair, leisurely looking back and forth between Hernin sitting right next to her and Jersian standing below the platform. Then, after taking a light sip of champagne, she called someone’s name.
“Jersian Gerold.”
Jersian, standing below the platform, raised his head. The Marchioness smiled and said to Jersian,
“Come up here for a moment.”
“…!”
The hall stirred at the Marchioness’s words. Everyone knew the name Jersian Gerold.
“…Yes.”
Jersian answered briefly, then walked up next to the chair where the Marchioness was sitting.