I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 213

The place the two found was where they often used to have secret meetings before their marriage.

It was called the Hall of Memories.

Adorned with portraits and statues of past emperors, this place was originally a solemn ground where entrance was forbidden to anyone not of royal blood.

“…It brings back memories.”

“What memories?”

“Before our wedding, you brought me here. I was terrified we’d get caught…”

At that time, Beatria was not yet a member of the royal family.

Thus, entering this place was a definite breach of rules. If caught, it could lead to serious punishment.

However, Bartheus stubbornly insisted on bringing her there, believing it would be fine since they were to marry soon anyway. It was also the best spot to talk discreetly, a sort of promise on its own.

A promise that he would never let her go, no matter what.

“Strangely, ever since we got married, you haven’t brought me here.”

“…That’s true.”

Since she became eligible to step foot in this place, they had never met here again.

This was due to Bartheus’s sense of self-deprecation.

Back when they were young lovers, they had set one rule while meeting here.

To share everything truthfully, whether it was good or bad, so they could hold their heads high in front of the ancestors’ portraits that hung on the walls.

To share all the little and big events that happened while they were apart. They had promised that.

Bartheus still vividly remembered that promise.

So, bringing her here filled him with a strange sense of guilt.

Now, he could no longer fulfill that promise from those days.

However, in a way, it also meant that he could now fully reveal all those facts.

Beatria was vaguely aware of this too.

As they exchanged silent glances, Bartheus pulled out a small pouch he had hidden in his sleeve.

Untying the string, he revealed an object identical to the one Edgar had used the night before.

Its effect would last only an hour or two at best. It was insufficient to fully discuss everything that had happened and sort through the chaotic past.

But he had to convey this one thing to her.

That he still loved her. And that the choice of which hell to choose would rest entirely with her.

After all, this was about all he could offer after not fulfilling his duties as a husband and family leader for nearly half a lifetime.

Other than entrusting all his fate to his wife, who had been patient with him all this time.

“Honey, what is this…?”

As a faint light began to emanate from the scroll sprinkled on the floor, Beatria looked puzzled.

Bartheus wanted to explain every little detail, but there was hardly an hour to avoid Albrecht’s gaze.

So he gave a brief apology to his wife with a wry smile.

“I’m sorry, my dear. There’s not much time left.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Is something wrong with your health…?”

“That’s not what I mean, so don’t worry. More importantly…”

He hesitated, raising and lowering his hand, lips twitching.

He wanted to embrace her with all his might, but he felt he couldn’t do so without first revealing something to her and confessing his sins.

After a while.

Suddenly, something soft enveloped him, and he lifted his head in surprise as his body trembled slightly.

His wife’s face, having drawn closer, was now right in front of him.

“Hehe, why are you being so serious? You were never like this before.”

“……”

How long had it been since he saw his wife’s smiling face up close?

It had been a long time since they had embraced each other warmly and enjoyed the shared warmth.

With just one hug from her, Bartheus felt the dark days of his past wash away in an instant.

But realizing it wasn’t the time for emotions, he quickly shook his head.

Even now, the time they had to converse was slipping away smoothly, and perhaps this was a chance that wouldn’t come again. He had to make the most of this moment.

“Honey.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to tell you. I don’t know how you’ll feel after hearing this and whether you’ll blame me… but I hope you’ll listen.”

Beatria smiled faintly as she met her husband’s gaze for the first time in a while.

The determined glint in his eyes was what had made her fall for him back in the day, but it was something she had rarely seen lately.

Recently, Bartheus’s eyes had been clouded with chaos and sadness.

In other words, it meant he had returned, even if just a little, to the man she once loved.

If that were the case, she believed him. If he had returned to the version of himself from those days.

Even if the sky were to fall tomorrow, and the stars were to collapse, she would still lend him an ear.

“Whatever it is, tell me. Although I’d like to say that I won’t blame you no matter what you say, I can’t promise that because I’m just a foolish woman…”

Beatria had so often blamed him in the past for countless things during those recent days.

If there was a reason, she would ask why he couldn’t tell her.

She would frequently question if it had to be this way or whether he truly didn’t love her.

Therefore, it was impossible not to blame him.

However, if it was something similar to the promise their son had made to her, then it was more than possible.

“…I will believe whatever you say. That’s all I can offer you.”

“That’s enough.”

Nodding with a complex expression that wasn’t quite a smile nor a frown, Bartheus cautiously opened his mouth.

It made his head spin to extract only the facts to convey everything that had happened without any misunderstandings, but he had to pull this off somehow.

“To start this conversation, I must go back to my grandfather’s era. It will take a while, but…”

“That’s fine. It’s nice to have time to cherish old stories together for a change.”

Seeing his wife’s face gently leaning against his arm, Bartheus couldn’t help but smile genuinely.

Perhaps it was because he thought he’d never see her smile again; just looking at it raised something in his chest that was both warm and stinging.

Thus, during that short time given to them, the Helbenior Couple enjoyed a rare intimate meeting.

While they couldn’t share sweet talks like those of the past, nor could they simply face each other with laughter, that alone was enough.

—

Albrecht hurriedly made his way to the Imperial Palace after hearing sudden news.

The Emperor, who had been inactive for some time, was showing signs of movement, and the circumstances seemed quite peculiar.

‘What could it mean to come into contact with the Empress?’

It might just be an overreaction.

He knew better than anyone that the Emperor hadn’t completely turned his back on the Empress, merely forcing himself to distance her.

Thus, it was entirely possible he had approached her out of longing.

The issue, however, was timing.

Albrecht had been on edge recently after losing control of the maid he had been manipulating.

Moreover, the one responsible for it was none other than the Empress.

Therefore, when he heard that they had been in contact during this critical time, a peculiar anxiety rose within him.

On top of that, the baffling thing was he could not even eavesdrop on their conversation.

He dispatched his hidden subordinates to locate the two, but they seemed to be missing as well.

“They say there were no unusual reports since the last contact. However, we received information that both were seen heading near the Hall of Memories…”

“…The Hall of Memories?”

At the report from Shepard beside him, Albrecht’s eyes narrowed.

If it was the Hall of Memories, it was one of the few sacred spaces where only those of the royal family could enter.

But that also meant hiding there indicated some kind of scheme.

‘He doesn’t seem like the type to engage in such risky behavior.’

Albrecht knew better than anyone how much the current Emperor valued his family.

So he realized that Bartheus wouldn’t do something reckless to abandon them without a solid plan.

He also understood that he was aware of the watchful eyes in the palace, and he wouldn’t want to provoke Albrecht by speaking privately with the Empress in this situation.

Yet, why was he acting in such an overt manner? It made no sense.

‘Is he giving up?’

That fleeting thought crossed Albrecht’s mind, but he immediately shook his head dismissively.

For even though Bartheus had been used as a pawn, he was not a man easily given to surrender.

In fact, Bartheus was one of the more difficult emperors to approach among those Albrecht had experienced.

However, the chains binding him were so strong that he could afford to divert his attention.

For those with something more valuable than wealth, fame, or life were likely to be swayed by something.

Bartheus was exactly that example.

“Master, we have arrived. You should go in…”

“Alright. You stay outside, Shepard.”

“As you command.”

Though they had come swiftly by teleportation, the Barrier within the palace prevented them from advancing further.

Ultimately, the two stopped before the main gates of the palace and presented their identities to the approaching guards.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Albrecht’s gaze was drawn to a single red flag raised in the distance.

Various flags were always mounted outside the Imperial Palace to display the family’s prestige, but unless there were special events, they typically held no particular significance.

So, on normal days, he would have turned away without much thought, but today he couldn’t tear his eyes away from that brightly fluttering flag.

Why was that? Even when he asked himself, he received no answer.