"Bad news," Duke Colton told him as Chas greeted him home. Chas waited anxiously. "I should have known the reason why the descendants of the Whitleys were placed near the royal frontier and next door to the marquess' territory. It was so that they could easily be monitored," tell Duke Colton sinisterly. "Even though the Rexton Kingdom accepted demon control with open arms, it turns out that they are actually still afraid."
"What do you mean Dad?" Chas asked.
Duke Colton let out a long breath. "The King will marry Marquess Hadrian to Rheannon."
So shocked, Chas was unable to speak. His brain was jammed, and his heart ached. No, not Rheannon. Not the woman he's been looking for all these years.
"If it's to keep an eye on her, we can keep an eye on her!" Chas said. "Access to our duchy is limited and very strict!"
"I already said that. I even offered to let Rheannon marry you. But…" Duke Colton's words floated in the air.
Yes, Chas knew that. Quite often his father had disobeyed King Rexton V's orders. Their loyalty and allegiance had begun to be questioned. It's still lucky they didn't get punished by the Palace–considering that the Coltons hold royal secrets. Well, but actually the Colton family questioned the throne that King Rexton V now occupied. This is fair enough.
"Marquess Hadrian himself… how?" Chas asked hesitantly. He knows what the answer is.
"Immediately agreed, of course," snorted Duke Colton disgusted. "You know what Hadrian is like. With Prince Axelle alone he's lost a lot."
Chas closed his eyes. The foreign aura that clung to Hadrian was indeed very dense. "How can a weak-hearted person like him get the title of marquess," he muttered. "Then, what about Prince Axelle?"
"I think we'll have to take care of him. I'll write to Marioline to get ready. Your sister will be delighted to have a friend."
Chas sat limply. This is the price that Rheannon pays for clear skies, sunshine, and free air; married and imprisoned by her own husband. Give birth to offspring to then become another slave for the false king and is considered a traitor by society. Life is only to be feared and hated.
Is it true that such a life would be better than being imprisoned in the Tower of Shadows?
"Strengthen your heart, Chas," said Duke Colton firmly. "Prince Axelle's supporters won't stand still after this, and neither will we. If the opportunity arises, we will truly free Rhea." He patted his son's shoulder. "Remember that our struggle is not only to save Rhea. We have to do something before the throne is passed down to the next traitor and the Beulah Temple is losing its sanctity even more."
"Luciell Rexton..."
Chas should have killed that woman every chance he got.
***
Hadrian remembered the figure of a young man who hosted an important guest for the first time at his new residence. Axelle greeted him warmly at that time and said that he had just finished taking care of the small garden in his castle. Afterwards Axelle invites him to take a look at his new garden, which Hadrian refuses. Meanwhile Axelle's men were watching Hadrian with full vigilance, suspicious, and frightened by every move of the prince's first guest.
Axelle didn't show the slightest negative attitude at that time. He looks happy to welcome the beheading of his parents.
Axelle was a good person, too good to be afraid of stepping on an ant.
However, as we all know, being too kind is a crime. People will instinctively take advantage of that kindness, so that kindness then becomes a disaster.
"It is not like that." Rheannon greeted Hadrian as soon as her cell door opened. "This place is… too cruel."
"Prince Axelle just lives in the wrong place, huh?" Hadrian glanced at Axelle's holding cell. "Please stop reading my mind. I have something important to tell you."
"Fine. Please."
"If the decision in the meeting says if you are allowed to live, you will be under my control," Hadrian said. He took a deep breath. "Then, we will get married."
"This is a proposal, isn't it?"
Hadrian ignored the question and continued, "I'm the Melchoirs and you're the Whitleys. Even though we live well as neighbors, we know why we stay on the kingdom's edge."
Rheannon nodded. [It is an open secret between the two families. So that the Whitleys are easy to keep an eye on and difficult to attack the Palace.] She snorted with amusement. [So funny, huh? Whereas the Whitley family lives controlling the demons in Pyrs and reigns there. There's no need to bother fighting here.]
"Is that what the late Earl Dryas Whitley once thought?"
"No," Rheannon said lightly. "That was… my thoughts."
Hadrian had to be wary if they got married later. "That's all I wanted to tell you. I hope you don't mind."
"Your Grace himself?" Rheannon looked him straight in the eye. "How?"
"I'm just doing my job properly."
[I can already imagine how our life together will be.]
"Don't worry about it. I will continue to do my duty as a good husband."
"Then… me too."
Rheannon's overly calm expression actually made Hadrian doubt it. However Hadrian still suspected that all of this was already in her plans and calculations. Rheannon turned herself in. And while even Duke Colton looked taken aback by the sudden appearance of his nephew, Hadrian was sure that Rheannon and Duke Colton (and at least, Chas) had met before.
The problem is Hadrian has no proof. After all, as he already knew from the Palace, it wasn't Duke Colton who freed Rheannon, but Axelle.
If Axelle hadn't made such a fuss, he wouldn't be who he is today.
No, no. It's my fault for neglecting to keep an eye on Prince Axelle, Hadrian thought.
"Hold on, Your Highness," Hadrian whispered against Axelle's tightly closed cell door.
***
A week later, Axelle and his detained men were released on parole.
Hadrian just watched from a distance as Axelle and Elias hugged each other while holding back tears.
After this, Hadrian would never be able to see him again. Axelle is going to self-isolate.