(1)">Chapter 55 [part 1] - (1) (1/2)
Chapter 55 [part 1] (1)
Spring passed and summer arrived. It was the second summer to greet Lucia in her stay at Roam.
Day to day was peaceful and calm. Yesterday was like today, and today led to a tomorrow-like-today.
In this summer, the heat was in full swing and while they were having dinner at the end of a peaceful day, Hugo began to speak.
“His Majesty has passed away. Prepare to go up to the Capital.”
Lucia involuntarily dropped the fork in her hand. She had completely forgotten.
‘No. I might have subconsciously wanted to forget.’
Deep inside, she might have desired to shove everything away and live in this bubble, no matter what happened in the world.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yes. I was a little surprised. Since it was so sudden.”
Lucia was not surprised at the death of her father. The paused hand of the clock had begun to rotate again. From now on, the hectic future she saw in her dream would begin to unfold. Lucia didn’t know that she would dread it this much.
The Queen was incapable of having children. In other words, all of the King’s children were illegitimate. Hence, no one could argue legitimacy and anyone could become the Crowned Prince.
The King had as many as twenty sons but when the King passed away, only five of these princes were alive, including the Crown prince. In contrast to this, the King’s twenty-six princesses were mostly alive.
The princesses were able to survive as they had no rights to the throne but on the other hand, the princes had to kill each other to get closer to the throne. While Lucia led a calm life in her small detached palace, a bloody battle raged in the courts.
In the midst of this, the Crowned Prince admirably emerged as victor but even so, he couldn’t completely overpower the other competitors. In order to keep them in check, the Crown Prince needed to strengthen his forces and for that, he needed the Duke of Taran.
The final winner was the Crown Prince. And at his vanguard, the Duke of Taran.
Lucia didn’t know the details of the complicated political struggle but she could guess that Hugo would be getting very busy in the future. He was definitely not idle in the fief but what he had to deal with was relatively simple.
He had meetings, monitored the territory and went on inspections from time to time. The people he met were limited and his actions could be predicted to an extent.
Unlike what Lucia prepared herself for, he had been a faithful husband. Perhaps the northern customs and manners had influenced him. The customs of the northern people differed from that of the Capital’s in many ways.
The liberal tendencies of unmarried men and women were the same but in the north, one was mostly faithful to one’s spouse after marriage. However, there were many things that would tempt him if he went up to the Capital.
Xenon was a country with liberal sexual customs. In particular, the Capital was the most open. Even after one was married, there was no obstruction.
Regardless of the fact that he was a married man, the capital was overflowing with girls ready to throw themselves at him. Lucia felt uneasy. There were too many variables in the Capital.
‘He might grow cold if we go up to the Capital. There are so many beautiful women…’
“…it. Are you listening?”
“Huh?”
Lucia was startled out of her wits and dropped the knife in her hand this time.
“Are you really okay?”
“Ah…yes. I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else…”
“Something else?”
“Ah…the suddenness. I was wondering if Majesty’s health was not as good as it used to be.”
“I heard it was not usually good. Against the advice of the court, he didn’t refrain from excessive carnal pleasures and alcoholism.”
This was her first time getting an insight into the personality of the King. She felt embarrassed, as if her dirty linen was being exposed to her husband. Her father brought death upon himself with his debauchery.
Just like in the dream, Lucia’s relationship with her father did not improve at all but she felt no regret.
“When will you be going?” (Lucia)
“I plan to leave first thing at dawn. I have to hurry, so I cannot go with you. Be careful on the way, my wife.”
“Alright. I will leave as soon as I’m ready.”
When they finished dinner, Hugo took her hand and they walked out of the dining room. The servants were momentarily dazed because their eyes were trained on their masters but afterwards they outright ignored it. The servants had grown accustomed to the generous skinship of the ducal couple so, if it was to this extent they didn’t give it another glance.
Lucia suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. She thought they were going to the garden but he took her to the terrace and hugged her tightly. She returned the hug, wrapping her arms around his back.
“Hugh? Why all of a sudden…”
“You don’t like this in front of the servants.”