47.
‘What is this?’
Ekian narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Judith.
Judith, dressed by Isabella with such painstaking care, was, quite literally, breathtaking. Her red hair was elegantly pinned up, and the emerald ornaments matching her green eyes shimmered with every movement. From the gown that hugged her frame to the precise, artful application of her makeup, she was flawless.
“Ah.”
Alteion, having turned toward the direction of Ekian’s gaze, widened his eyes.
“Do you recognize Judith Mayous?”
Alteion looked back and forth between Judith and Ekian, his tone turning grave.
“She is a beauty, indeed. Is that why you toyed with her for a single night and cast her aside?”
“That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Ekian recoiled, shaking his head vehemently. His head throbbed; he had no idea how he was supposed to resolve this tangled misunderstanding. He couldn’t exactly announce that this was a fraud orchestrated by the Duke and Duchess Mayous—he could not report a crime against the Imperial Family.
“There are circumstances… I am not such a scoundrel.”
In the end, it was all Ekian could manage.
“Spending a night together and then feigning ignorance? Your Imperial Highness knows better than anyone that I am not that kind of man, don’t you?”
“Hmm.”
“Think about it. I didn’t even come here to borrow money.”
“Well, that much is true.”
Alteion nodded, though his expression didn’t soften. He lowered his voice, asking, “Then, what of the rumors? Is it true that the woman drugged you, held you captive, and took advantage of you for several days just to conceive a child?”
“Eeeeeeh?”
“I didn’t believe it myself, but there are whispers to that effect.”
Seeing the sheer astonishment on Ekian’s face, Alteion waved his hands.
“Everyone was talking about Judith Mayous today. She is far more beautiful than people imagined, and the Duchess Mayous dotes on her so much that the gossip just keeps proliferating.”
“…….”
Ekian rubbed his temples, his headache worsening.
He had anticipated this from the very beginning—the moment she decided to play the role of a daughter-in-law who had appeared out of thin air carrying his child. He knew she would be caught in the crossfire of malicious rumors. Now, if they were to announce a miscarriage and follow it with a divorce, the gossip would only grow more distorted.
“It cannot feel pleasant. Even to me, it seems a bit harsh,” Alteion said quietly. “Since they were chattering about her up until the moment I arrived, the intensity of the gossip must only be worsening.”
Ekian remained silent, his gaze fixed on Judith.
She wore a despondent expression. Her profile, as she gazed into the distance, looked profoundly lonely. She had always acted with spirit, but the sensation of being a target in this lavish hall could not possibly be easy to bear.
Ekian’s hand reached out toward her, unbidden.
Watching her, he felt something strange—a bizarre, visceral sensation. A premonition that she might suddenly vanish, far, far away. He squinted, his mind reeling.
“Judith, Judith… where on earth did you go?”
Suddenly, a phantom image flickered across his vision.
“She is the woman who carries my child. Find her. Find her no matter what. Even if you have to scour the entire continent, find her!”
It was a symptom he had never experienced. For a moment, Ekian felt as if he could not breathe. He would learn much later that this was his first glimpse into the future—a manifestation of the faint spiritual power inherited from his biological mother. But because the Ekian of this moment did not know, he could only stagger, his face draining of all color.
“……kian? Ekian!”
Alteion’s voice snapped him back to reality.
“What is the matter?”
Blinking, he felt the cool night breeze and met Alteion’s worried eyes. Alteion sighed.
“Is it because she carries your child that you are so troubled?”
Having regained his composure, Ekian nodded slowly.
“Who was it?”
He meant to speak calmly, but his voice emerged chilling and sharp.
“If you tell me who led that gossip, I will… somehow….”
He was sincere. Ekian led the Gray Information Guild; he had the power to make those who tormented Judith pay many times over. If his network didn’t suffice, he would not hesitate to use force. He would not let anyone who made Judith look that way off the hook.
As he radiated such killing intent, Alteion spoke calmly.
“No matter who led it, if you do not appear and protect her yourself, the gossip will continue.”
“Ekian, I have lived a few years longer than you, so allow me some unsolicited advice. It is the price for your warning.”
The advice came in a voice of genuine care.
“I do not know your circumstances, but I know you are separated from someone you truly cherish. I know you want to watch over them from afar.”
“…….”
“But there are things that cannot be seen from a distance. Just as you could not hear the whispers directed at Judith Mayous inside that hall.”
Alteion smiled softly, tapping his shoulder.
“Whatever you fear, it will be nothing compared to the loss of not having her by your side.”
“…….”
“I am turning away from the father who intends to kill me. I will even accept the disgrace of patricide. It is not that I am not afraid, but I have no choice. I, too, have a wife and child who are precious to me.”
A powerful resolve hardened in Alteion’s eyes.
“I knew the Emperor could harm me, but I was running away because I didn’t want to face it. But rather than standing idly by and letting my precious ones slip away, isn’t it better to face the fire head-on?”
Ekian stared at him in silence.
“Protect her yourself, Ekian.”
“…….”
“Do not run away. If you do, those truly precious to you might just run away as well.”
Alteion smiled brightly, silhouetted against the moonlight.
“In my eyes, it seems you want that, too.”
Then, his tone turned regretful.
“I would like to stay longer with an old friend, but I must go. It is my birthday banquet, after all.”
Ekian knew he could not stall any longer. He grasped Alteion’s hand and nodded.
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
“I’m the one who should thank you. I’ll be sure to call a physician other than the Imperial one in secret, and I’ll be wearing my armor.”
“Please, stay safe.”
“I will.”
Alteion grinned.
“Pray for my continued safety, as well.”
He hugged Ekian tightly one last time and departed for the banquet hall. Even after he was gone, Ekian remained on the roof. He watched Judith, who stared into the distance, as if entranced.
How much time passed? Hyude, a handsome man with brown hair, climbed to the balcony, searching for her. When Judith saw him, she burst into laughter. Her expression was clear and lovely—beautiful from afar, and beautiful up close. Hyude smiled back.
Suddenly, Ekian realized that he and she had never once faced each other and shared a laugh. He had always worn a mask when dealing with her.
Hyude exchanged a few words with Judith and led her back into the banquet hall. They would likely be dancing their first dance.
“Protect her yourself, Ekian.”
The advice echoed in his mind.
“In my eyes, it seems you want that, too.”
Alteion was right.
Ekian turned and left the rooftop. He glanced at the mask he had taken off earlier, but he did not pick it up.
Tonight, he intended to stand before Judith without his mask.
Now that’s what u call determination