Lucas made a fed-up face.
Ever since hearing about Varkas's marriage, his sister seemed to have completely lost her mind.
Raina, who had secretly harbored a sort of admiration for the relationship between Aila and Varkas, had concocted some clumsy romance in her head. And in that story, Talia Roem Gwirta appeared to be a villainess for the ages, one who had torn apart two devoted lovers.
Raina's eyes burned with fighting spirit, just like the first time she had chased after the mounted warriors to hunt a manticore.
“Just wait and see. I'll make that woman leave this place of her own accord. We're going to save Brother from the witch of House Taren!”
Just what had possessed her eyes that she saw Varkas Laedgo Siorcan as someone in need of rescuing?
Sometimes, Lucas wanted to pry open her head and take a look inside.
Swallowing a sigh, he picked up the coat hanging over the back of his chair.
“Well, do your best.”
“You're shamelessly running away on your own?”
“Didn't you see Brother carrying that woman away wrapped up like a cocoon? I have no desire to fall out of favor with the future Grand Duke over something pointless.”
“That's all because of that woman's cunning tricks! Haven't you heard the rumors? The women of House Taren use wicked magic to steal men's souls!”
Raina practically foamed at the mouth.
“She must have pretended to be weak to gain his sympathy! Brother simply couldn't bear to ignore such a pitiful sight!”
Lucas shook his head.
There was no point talking to Raina when she was like this.
As he let out a long sigh and headed for the door, Raina's shrill voice rang out.
“Where are you going?!”
“To ride. I'm suffocating, so I need some fresh air.”
“You can't! Don't you know Brother's welcome banquet is soon?”
Pretending not to hear her, he left the room.
The central hall was crowded with servants carrying luggage.
Pale-faced workers who looked to be from the central region piled huge chests like mountains in one corner of the spacious hall, while the servants of Laedgo Castle opened them and recorded their contents.
Even at a glance, the treasures inside were enough to make one's eyes widen.
'So the rumors about her extravagance are true.'
He swept his gaze over the clothes and countless ornaments packed inside the chests before heading out through the back door.
He was about to make his way to the stables when he noticed that the training grounds in the rear courtyard were filled with warriors from the Wolfram Spear Cavalry, who had departed to assist Varkas.
Spotting a familiar face among them, Lucas immediately changed direction.
“Tyron!”
The man, who was leisurely drinking wine while wearing only a loose Tunka draped over his body, looked back over his shoulder.
“Ah, Second Young Master.”
Wiping his wet lips, he spoke in his characteristic lazy drawl.
“Have you been well?”
“So well it's become boring.”
Dropping down onto the steps surrounding the training grounds, Lucas snatched the wine bottle from his hand and drained it in one gulp.
“How's the capital?”
“As chaotic as expected.”
Seemingly unbothered by his rude behavior, Tyron merely shrugged and continued calmly.
“With this marriage, not only Marquis Oristein but most of the conservative nobles have become unsettled. Lord Siorcan had quite a difficult time keeping them under control.”
“And the First Imperial Princess and the Crown Prince?”
“I never even had the chance to meet the First Imperial Princess. I heard she has secluded herself in her room. Which is understandable. To have her engagement broken right before the wedding... I imagine she won't appear in public until another match has been arranged.”
“And His Highness the Crown Prince...”
Tyron folded his arms and furrowed his brow as though choosing his words carefully.
“He was certainly furious, but surprisingly, he accepted the situation calmly. I imagine he decided it would benefit him more to strengthen his ties with Lord Siorcan by pretending to agree with the marriage than to become complete enemies.”
Lucas tilted his head in surprise.
“That's unexpected. I thought he'd start a war with the East to make Brother pay for betraying his sister. Everyone says he'd do anything for the First Imperial Princess.”
Remembering the rough impression the Crown Prince had left when he visited the capital years ago, Lucas frowned.
Tyron burst into laughter.
“In front of power, even pigs learn to count beads on an abacus. The Crown Prince truly treasures his sister, but surely not more than the throne. In fact, he seemed more worried about his support base being shaken than about the humiliation suffered by the First Imperial Princess.”
Lucas frowned.