Purple Heart (4)

“Not that busy. I just have a few appointments. Is something wrong at home?”

In contrast, the man’s reply was so brisk it felt insincere.

From the sound of it, the woman seemed to be the Countess of Istevna, and the man was likely the Count of Istevna.

Reichardt’s elder brother, the Count of Istevna, was known for being a bit of an airhead.

Born into nobility, he was naturally easygoing and got along well with his sensitive and fastidious royal siblings.

Seriously, what’s with this guy?

Though she had no right to comment as an eavesdropper, Alicia found it absurd.

A husband telling his wife he wouldn’t be home for three days?

Even the overworked Emperor didn’t go that far.

But one should not dismiss the Count of Istevna as just some idle, carefree royal.

Currently, the Count of Istevna looked like nothing more than a sycophant clapping and marveling at the Emperor’s side with their third brother, the Marquis of Lennox.

It might seem like the Marquis of Lennox earned the Emperor’s trust and carried out his secret orders, but even he struggled just to maintain his current power.

It was the Count of Istevna who would one day become the Emperor’s political partner.

He sometimes opposed the Emperor appropriately and pointed out his mistakes, unlike the Marquis of Lennox, who only flattered him.

The Emperor bestowed upon the Count of Istevna the favor of inheriting a dukedom for becoming such a good political partner.

However, for now, the Count of Istevna simply looked like a man neglecting his family.

“It’s not that… I was hoping that if you have time, we could… have dinner together.”

At the Countess of Istevna’s weak, halting, and slow voice, Alicia felt an impulse to smack her own chest.

“Dinner? I don’t think I can today. After the hunt, I’m going to hang out with the knights for the first time in a while. I plan to sleep at the knights’ lodging and then go straight into the palace. Tomorrow won’t work either. I already have plans with my friends from the academy. When we meet, we hang out until night, so it’ll be late.”

“Friends from the academy?”

“Yeah, it’d be nice if you came too, but not this time.”

“Yes…”

“I only have a morning schedule the day after tomorrow, so shall we have dinner then?”

Alicia wondered if she had misheard.

Even nobles with very poor marital relationships usually lived under the same roof.

But the more she listened, the more it seemed like the two lived separately.

Or perhaps it was simply normal for the man, presumably the Count of Istevna, not to come home.

“If that time works for Your Highness, then I would like that.”

Her weak and small voice sounded so humble it made the listener even more frustrated.

“Pauline. It’s hard now, but why don’t you invite some friends for tea parties and gatherings? Isn’t it lonely being all alone?”

A royal who didn’t even come home on time spoke nonsense with utter sincerity.

Alicia suddenly recalled someone asking her if she truly had no friends.

“I find it hard to be around friends.”

“What’s so hard about it?”

A royal who had always been fawned over didn’t understand the delicate tensions between people.

“I have more fun reading alone, knitting, and painting.”

“You have to think about your position. Honestly, right? When you consider your position, why are friends difficult? If people are hard, then meet them more often and get used to it. Maybe they’re harder because you don’t see them often. If friends are difficult, then invite your family instead. Why stay alone every day?”

At the large voice pushing her, the small voice answered cautiously.

“I write letters with my family every day.”

“Meeting face-to-face is better, isn’t it?”

“I’m not sure…”

He let out a deep sigh, unable to understand her reserved attitude.

“……”

Alicia nodded every time she heard the small whispering voice, but she couldn’t hide her pity.

She could also somewhat understand the frustration of the sighing man.

But could this be solved by forcing her?

The clear voice that held no ill will made a firm promise.

“Anyway, the day after tomorrow, let’s have dinner together. I’ll be back.”

“Please take care.”

Footsteps that sounded like they were leaving came back.

“Make one friend while I’m away hunting. That’s your homework. Don’t hide here—go out somewhere and meet someone. Got it? Friends are made just by taking a walk.”

At the forceful suggestion, Alicia was dumbfounded.

Hearing him say friends could be made just by walking around confirmed that the man speaking was definitely the Count of Istevna, famous for his sunny personality.

“Yes…”

The answering voice had no energy at all.

The hurried footsteps grew distant, and silence returned.

Alicia pondered for a moment.

It felt wrong to secretly eavesdrop on someone’s personal conversation without revealing herself.

But would it be okay to approach someone who had difficulty dealing with others?

Not just acknowledging her presence, but she’d also have to reveal she overheard something the other wanted to keep private.

After hesitating briefly, Alicia exaggeratedly cleared her throat.

“Ahem.”

There was a flustered sound from the other side.

As Alicia stepped out from between the tents, she saw a woman flapping her hands slightly in panic.

Her demure apricot-colored dress looked simple at first glance, but as Alicia approached, the dense embroidery drew the eye.

The embroidered bodice matched the skirt’s color, with multiple layers of sheer muslin over a glossy lining.

The dress’s hem was only full enough not to hinder movement.

The apricot dress swayed softly as its wearer turned toward Alicia’s direction.

“…Lady Alicia…”

At the Countess’s address, Alicia gave a polite curtsey.

“It is an honor to meet the Countess of Istevna.”

“You are… v-very kind, Lady Consort-to-be.”

Watching her accept the greeting and reply made anyone feel nervous on her behalf.

Alicia neither grew impatient nor pitied her.

It was hard to suppress all her sympathy, but she tried not to let it show.

After all, in moments like this, the one suffering most was the person herself.

“You flatter me. My apologies, Countess. As you may have noticed, I happened to overhear your private conversation while passing by. It is shameless of me, but please forgive me.”

The Countess of Istevna, who had been motionless as if her breath had stopped, suddenly blurted out a strained sound.

“It’s… f-fine!”

Her voice rang an octave higher than usual with great effort.

It wasn’t intentional.

After speaking like that, the flood of regret usually came crashing down—thinking she’d just made a fool of herself and the world spun.

Nerves. Nerves. Nerves. Shameless. Shameless. Shameless.

Alicia lowered her head and chanted inwardly.

At this moment, she envied her second brother Harry.

She needed that shamelessness that could babble nonsense smoothly.

It was time she learned Roderick’s over-the-top politeness.

She even wanted to imitate the Count of Istevna’s easygoing chatter.

“Um, then may I stand up now?”

Alicia cheerfully raised her gaze as she spoke.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Forgive me. Please stand, Lady.”

The Countess of Istevna, now pale, poured out words to Alicia.

Alicia smiled warmly, trying to show friendliness.

She wanted to sweep away the awkwardness with a confident smile, but it wasn’t easy.

Her smile felt empty as her eyes fixed squarely on Pauline’s stomach.

She knew it was rude, but her gaze was drawn there unconsciously.

“……”

Kain Istevna, who would become the Duke of Istevna and the Emperor’s political partner.

Pauline Istevna, who would one day become the Duchess of Istevna.

Kain and Pauline, duke and duchess, would have no children for at least the next nine years.

After Kain inherited the dukedom, many whispered about the couple’s lack of children.

They even speculated that the duke would eventually father a child outside and force the duchess to adopt the child as an heir.

The Duchess of Istevna was known publicly as cold and aloof because there were no people around her.

In reality, it seemed more like she was shy and timid.

Rumors about royals or nobles were hardly trustworthy.

But talk of children was different.

Especially imagining someone lying about a royal descendant’s existence was unthinkable.

That was why Alicia’s gaze stayed on Pauline’s modestly rounded belly.

What was that?

She almost pointed at the elegant dress’s bulge without realizing it.

Pauline’s face, already flushed, turned even redder.

“Ah, Lady Alicia must not know. Recently there have been many issues in the imperial family, so I haven’t been able to announce it publicly. I’m only five months along, but I don’t know why my belly is so big. It’s too obvious, isn’t it?”

Alicia blinked blankly.

No matter how thoroughly she searched her memory, she had no recollection of the couple having a child.

Which meant…

Alicia’s dazed expression crumbled into shock.

Pauline was too embarrassed to notice her surprise.

Later, when Kain became the Duke, he doted fiercely on his wife, who was described as reserved and aloof in social circles.

Today, an accident would occur at the imperial spring hunt.

Because most participants were royals, the accident would be downplayed as nothing more than a brief commotion.

Alicia had not witnessed the incident firsthand, so her information was fragmentary.

She knew the outcome roughly, but not the exact cause of the accident.

Now she learned one certain thing.

Because of today’s accident, the Istevna couple would lose their child.

It would be an accident preventing them from ever having children again.

“Countess, congratulations on your pregnancy.”

Alicia offered her congratulations reflexively, even as her mind felt numb.

Pauline’s face turned scarlet.

“Th-thank you. This is the first time I’ve been congratulated by someone other than His Highness and my family. Ah, though Lady Alicia will soon be imperial family as well. So my words…”

Pauline’s joyful chatter trailed off into mumbling.

She fretted over whether her words of gratitude might have unintentionally offended Alicia.

“I understand what you mean.”

Alicia struggled to gather her thoughts.

She needed to think.

Even while doing so, she didn’t forget to give the proper response to the woman before her.

“Thank you for being so gracious with my words.”

Pauline smiled, her dimples deeply indented.

“Would you like to take a walk, so we can become friends?”

Alicia, forcing a smile on her stiffening face, asked.

Pauline realized Alicia was quoting someone’s earlier words and burst into laughter.

“Shall we?”

Pauline nodded, her face easing slightly.

The two left the cluster of tents and headed toward the walking path.

As Alicia walked, she fell deep into thought.

What should she do?

The information Alicia had was far too limited.

There would be an accident at the imperial spring hunt.

It was known there would be no deaths or severe injuries.

But a few years later, rumors would circulate that the accident caused lasting aftereffects.