Emperor's Alternate - Chapter 22
“Interesting,” the librarian observed discreetly.
There were many nobles pressuring Lecan into marriage, but it always ended with a suggestion to wed someone from their own family. As Lecan consistently and firmly refused each time, the librarian felt like they were walking on thin ice.
“It’s only been a few years since the suicide of the Chancellor’s granddaughter, a former Crown Princess,” said Lecan. “There were plenty of harsh words directed at your father, accusing him of causing her death through a strategic marriage. Whoever marries me will end up no differently.”
It was a piercing statement.
Benedict remained silent, offering no immediate response. It was true; when the Crown Princess committed suicide, he had been the one to vehemently criticize his father. He denounced him louder than anyone ever had, demanding that he stop selling out his children for personal gain.
Before Benedict could broach the subject properly, Lecan casually extinguished the end of his cigarette. At that moment, an awkward-looking servant entered the study and whispered something to the librarian.
The librarian looked at Benedict and Lecan, then said, “Um, I apologize for the interruption, but there’s been a delay in the announcement of the new political appointments.”
“…As expected,” said Lecan.
There was a peculiar expression on his face. Rising from his seat, he glanced at Benedict. “Well then, I have training to attend to. I’ll take my leave for now.”
Without another word, Lecan left the study. Benedict, well aware of Lecan’s disciplined lifestyle, harbored no discontent. His purpose for visiting had been to discuss the upcoming political appointments, and now that it had been postponed, he had no remaining business with him.
Still, he felt a sense of lingering disappointment. Wasn’t there a chance he could have persuaded Lecan to attend the upcoming ball, even if just for appearances?
Benedict was lost in thought. The librarian on the couch across from him watched him curiously.
After a moment of silence, Benedict finally spoke up. “By any chance… is the rumor true?”
“Rumor? …What rumor are you referring to?”
“You know. Considering your lordship, there wouldn’t be much that you don’t know about.”
The librarian noticed and composed his expression. Benedict’s inquiry related to rumors surrounding Lecan’s private life. Despite understanding Lecan’s unique asceticism in contrast to other nobles indulging in promiscuity, there had been much gossip as he passed the age of thirty.
For instance, it was widely known that Lecan had been engaged to the Rotea Ducal family. The House of Rotea, in order to fulfill the promise of betrothal, bore two legitimate sons until finally giving birth to their youngest daughter, Winter. Had the Archduchess Rotea kept giving birth to sons, she would have continued until she had a daughter.
The engagement was naturally annulled upon the demise of the Rotea Grand Duchy. Winter would have been merely seven years old at the time, leading nobles to assume there was no emotional connection between Lecan and Winter. However, the curious aspect was the disappearance of Winter and the third son, Lucian, from the extinct Ducal family.
The nobles gossiped and speculated.
“Is it not possible that Lecan is secretly protecting the missing lady and her brother, the Ducal heir?”
“Is it possible that he has already married the young lady who is now secretly his consort?”
“It’s quite peculiar when you think about it. The famously thorough Royal Guard has not found a single trace of the lady or the heir’s remains. There’s talk that they’re alive somewhere, yet the Commander, who is known for being strict, has never shown even a hint of being in the company of a woman since the engagement ended.”
“I don’t see how he’s never laid eyes on a woman, let alone talked to one… It doesn’t make sense for such a virile man. But if we suppose the Commander, who protected his fiancée and indeed married her, it somewhat fits.”
The librarian objected with a somewhat stern expression. “No. I’ve been by our lordship’s side for over a decade, and there are numerous baseless rumors associated with him. Whether it’s about marrying his former fiancée or engaging in same-s*x relationships, some even try to associate me with him. They are all falsehoods. My lord is simply and truly engrossed in his work.”
“…The last part was almost vomit-inducing.”
“I apologize. To explain just how absurd these rumors are, I needed a vivid description.”
Benedict’s gaze drifted to Lecan’s table, where he had already left. …In truth, he wasn’t too keen on believing those baseless rumors either. He just needed more grounds to rationalize to his sister how she was rejected before she even confessed.
The mountain of documents seemed to surpass the workload handled by most noble households by at least threefold. For a moment, he wondered what kind of woman a man with such extreme self-discipline would choose.
