125: Her uncle's offer

Her uncle's offer

Lady de Lanark made her way to her father's quarters, unsure of the reason behind the summons yet left with no choice but to comply.0

Count Sirius, with his tall and imposing figure, escorted Adela through the corridors of the Archduke's manor. Hushed whispers filled the air as the Lanarkians discussed the eventful two days they had experienced.

Don't they know better than to act normally while the royal guards are everywhere? Adela thought to herself, frustrated by the lack of caution displayed.

Count Sirius, who heard all the murmurs just as clearly as she did, maintained a dignified composure as he led Adela up the elegant spiral staircase toward the upper floors. The atmosphere grew more subdued, with only quiet whispers emanating from the guards stationed at various intervals along the corridor.

Stay strong... Hold your head up high...

Two guards in polished golden armor saluted Count Sirius before opening the door to her father's private chambers.

"I will be waiting to escort you back down, My Lady," Count Sirius informed her.

She nodded in acknowledgment, taking a deep breath to summon her courage before stepping inside. She braced herself for whatever awaited her within those walls, whether it was a reprimand for her knighting ceremony or something entirely different. Adela knew she would have to navigate the delicate situation and meet her uncle's expectations.

Her eyes fell upon the King lying on the bed in the middle of the chamber.

"Come closer, Adelaide,"

She approached cautiously, her concern growing with each step. She could sense an inner struggle radiating from him, a desperation that went beyond mere physical ailments.

"Your Majesty," she addressed him respectfully.

"No... For the duration of this audience, you shall call me Uncle," he corrected her.

"Uncle," she replied obediently, adapting to the change in address.

"Much better." He gestured for her to come closer. "I don't have the energy for pleasantries. Tell me, are you not interested in my son?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.

It was as if her entire body was infused with the energy of mana stones, but she quickly regained her composure, knowing that the subject could not bear any misinterpretation.

"He is like a brother to me," she said, her voice strained.

"...Is it my fault for orchestrating his frequent visits? My intentions were for you two to bond," he mused aloud.

"Your Ma-... Uncle... Claude is my cousin..." 

He looked up at her with sudden intensity. "That boy is not my biological son."

Adela bit her lip, her eyes widening with surprise. It was one thing for Claude to imply it, but a direct confession by the King was something she never saw coming.

"Come, sit by my side," he requested.

She obediently sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him as if seeing him for the first time.

"I am unable to father a child, Adelaide," he confessed.

She swallowed hard, her heart aching for him as she tried her best not to show any wrong response.

"I married a princess of Kolhis, even if she was sickly and an illegitimate child of the Emperor when my marriage to another woman was interrupted..." he revealed, a bitter smile playing on his lips as he caressed her cheek. "Good thing they interrupted it."

Adela tried to follow his words, but something bothered her on a much deeper level. It was as if the life in him was faint, like a flickering candle next to an open window, ready to be extinguished.

He noticed her pale expression and misinterpreted it. "Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to force him upon you. I had many disagreements with that boy, but this is what I will never forgive him for..."

"Uncle..." she began, unsure of how to continue, how to politely explain that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Claude and that her heart already belonged to another man.

"...Yes, I'm your uncle, and I know your secret," he said, his gaze piercing.

Her heart pounded, wondering which of her secrets he was referring to.

"When you started showing your talents, I began grooming Claude for you. It took him years to be worthy of standing by your side... And now he really is! He has the royal Kolhisian blood and can claim the throne of that Empire if he puts his mind to it, with you as Empress... Don't you want that?" he proposed.

Adela's blood ran cold as she realized her uncle knew she was a Healer. From the perspective of nobility, the choices her uncle presented to her seemed more than reasonable.

"...I know what this is all about. You don't wish to leave Lanark, do you?" he inquired.

She swallowed hard and gave him a careful nod, unwilling to refuse an opportunity out of his offer when he generously offered one.

"It is a shame how attached you are to these lands, and how detached I am from them..." His face turned a shade of green. "I loathe it... The soil that drank so much Emorian blood... I wish I could float above it so my feet wouldn't touch that ground," he confessed.

She held his hand, sensing this was the root of the struggle within him. "You are our King, you govern this land... It is true... But this land is nothing without us. Aren't you attached to us as well?"

He smiled, his gaze filled with affection. "To you, I am... To that no-good younger brother of mine too. Wanting to prove him wrong all those years certainly made this life tolerable." He let out a long sigh. "Leave Lanark and come with me. Your family will follow you to Destan."

"...Claude and I..."

"If Claude failed to win your heart, I will banish him to Kolhis where he can stake a claim to the throne," he interrupted.

Adela's eyes widened with fear.

The King's smile widened. "My dearest Adelaide... The banishment is that fox's idea to begin with... I have spoken to him for hours about it... He just wants a fair chance at winning your heart... The dramatic banishing is just a side thought in case our main plan fails."

"Our main plan..." she placed a hand on her chest, "Being me?"

"Yes. I want you to become a Queen or even an Empress, but Kaiser disagrees with me," he explained.

Though she did not desire to be a queen or an Empress, the words still managed to hurt her.

"Never mind him. Think about it. I will be leaving tomorrow, but my palace in Destan will be waiting for you," he said, his tone gentle.

The thought of that cold palace where her uncle and cousin endure their struggles filled Adela with a deep sadness.

A dangerous expression suddenly took over Emanuel's face. "It has come to my knowledge that the better part of Lanark is in that bastard's possession,"

Arkin...

Adela knew better than to feign ignorance when it was so evident that the King knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Yes," she breathed out the word.

"...Save your father the heartache, Adelaide. Come to Destan and forget all about Lanark," he urged. "I will expect a definite answer from you in ten days after my departure, and I shall leave tomorrow."

Adela considered his words feeling the weight of the decision pressing upon her. Was this the choice that Egon already implied she was unable to make? 

Was it truly a decision between her heart and her family?

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