Kallian traced the window frame with his fingertips, muttering to himself.
"He went to Silverstel…?"
He thought of Lloyd, who had always stood by Yuliana's side as if it was his rightful place. The second son of Silverstel, Lloyd, must have known that Kallian was the rightful heir of Valdormer and her husband. His suspicious gaze, knowing that, bothered Kallian. It seemed like Lloyd had already figured out the relationship between Yuliana and Kallian.
'Why didn't he report it directly to me?'
Kallian's cold question made Jared flinch and stiffen.
Before Kallian lost his memory, he had ordered Jared not to report Yuliana's location, as long as she was safe, and to protect her at all costs. Jared, who knew how much Yuliana wanted to escape Valdormer, was one of the few who understood her wish. He had helped her escape.
Looking at Jared without an answer, Kallian asked coldly, "Are you not my man?"
Jared hesitated before lowering his head, continuing.
"Technically, I'm Yuliana's man. She's like a benefactor to me."
"Benefactor…" Kallian murmured, recalling the stories he didn't know about Yuliana, the wife of Valdormer.
Every time his memory wall was blocked, Kallian grew restless.
He tightened his grip on the window frame.
Jared, who had been staring at him, spoke cautiously.
"It seems your memory hasn't fully returned yet."
"As you can see," Kallian answered dryly, and Jared continued.
"One thing I must mention… Before you lost your memory, you were trying to keep a distance from Yuliana."
"I heard I searched for her for a year."
"Yes, of course. But after you found her, you only told me to confirm her safety and never attempted to meet her."
Kallian frowned, confused.
Jared hesitated and added, "In fact, you told me not to report her location, no matter where she stayed."
Kallian, not understanding, rubbed his forehead and sank into the chair.
He had once been treated and shared meals with her here, but now he had found her and avoided meeting her? What was he thinking before losing his memory? Was it suspicion towards Lloyd? Had he given up on her for some reason? Had he been too soft-hearted to let go of his wife and child because of Lloyd? Or was there another reason he couldn't bring her with him?
Confused, Kallian rubbed his face.
The missing memories made him feel suffocated and uneasy. Something huge, something he couldn't even fathom, seemed to exist between him and her.
After sitting in the empty cabin for a while, Kallian returned to the carriage.
Jared, out of loyalty to Yuliana, didn't mention her plan to escape Silverstel. He also didn't talk about the place she had prepared for them.
Jared, as always, was Yuliana's man more than Kallian's.
Inside the carriage heading toward Silverstel.
I was patting Denian's sulking head while glancing at Lloyd sitting across from us.
"Is there a reason we're leaving earlier than planned?"
We were supposed to spend the last night at the cabin, but with Lloyd arriving with the carriage, we had to leave earlier than expected.
Denian had recognized Lloyd, and though there was a little commotion where he hid in the room, we eventually managed to get him into the carriage. Denian still looked unhappy.
I sighed, noticing his upset expression. Just as I was about to say something, Lloyd, who had been quietly sitting, answered my question.
"There's a schedule change."
"A schedule?"
I looked at him, confused.
"It's related to you."
"What…?"
Lloyd hesitated before continuing cautiously.
"The Emperor sent an invitation for a royal banquet."
Why would he send me an invitation?
I had never had any connection with the royal family. While the Heister family was close to the emperor, it was mainly about my father, the head of the family, or my older brother, Cesar. I had never met the emperor personally.
How did the emperor know me?
"The Emperor knows that I stayed at Vent Castle to protect you and Denian. He must be curious about you."
Why was the emperor curious about me? I'd never been involved with the royal family, and now, as a runaway, it felt strange to receive this invitation.
Even when I was the mistress of Silverstel, I had never received an invitation like this. Back then, Lloyd wasn't as close to the emperor as he was now.
Lloyd carefully placed his hand over mine and continued, "It's not mandatory to attend, but it wouldn't hurt to build a relationship with the emperor."
For me, the emperor's invitation didn't matter. But until Jared completed the escape plan, I needed to stay in Lloyd's good graces.
I nodded slowly, understanding his point.
"Alright."
Lloyd seemed to interpret my agreement positively and smiled gently.
"Well thought out."
After Kallian returned to Valdormer, the vassal meeting and the lordship succession ceremony went smoothly.
Though some vassals opposed the succession, saying it was too early, most were families who had resisted Kallian's orders during the war with Heister. Disobeying orders during a war was a serious offense, and Kallian had almost lost his life because of it. This allowed him to take control over Highland's lord and some vassals.
Now, as the lord of Valdormer, Kallian continued his conversation with Darkin, the former lord.
"I'm thinking of resuming the war with Heister."
"So soon?"
Though expected, Darkin looked concerned at Kallian's urgency.
Seeing this, Kallian firmly continued, "But first, I plan to visit Silverstel."
"What for?"
"I have a conversation to have with Lloyd, the second son of Silverstel."
Darkin furrowed his brows, knowing that Yuliana, who had once been his daughter-in-law, had a scandalous relationship with Lloyd. He wished Kallian would avoid involving himself with them, but as the new lord, he couldn't interfere.
Sighing, Darkin pulled something out from his coat and handed it to Kallian.
"Then you won't need to go to Silverstel."
Kallian looked at the invitation with a puzzled expression.
"What's this?"
"It's an invitation to a royal banquet sent to Valdormer."
Darkin added, "Lloyd will represent Silverstel at the banquet."
Kallian read the invitation, his face showing discomfort.
"Why is the emperor inviting me? I've never even met him."
Darkin replied, "It's customary for new lords to greet the emperor, especially now that you're the head of Valdormer."
Kallian wasn't particularly interested in banquets or parties, but as the new lord, he couldn't ignore the emperor's invitation. Since Lloyd would be attending the banquet, Kallian didn't have to go to Silverstel personally.
He slipped the invitation into his pocket and responded indifferently.
"I understand."
Perhaps Lloyd would bring Yuliana to the banquet, Kallian thought. Clenching his fists, Kallian's eyes sharpened.
"I'll attend the royal banquet."