Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 58.2
“Yes, But, um…”
Tambor looked at me quizzically. She must have found it odd that I seemed to want to add something else after saying I needed nothing more. Yet, there was something I needed to ask.
“Is the Grand Duke… um…”
“His Grace has not yet come out since he left your room at dawn. It’s about time for his breakfast… Would you mind waking him?”
Could he be suffering in some way? As I nodded in concern, Tambor smiled and continued.
“Then, please bring the water to His Grace’s room. You know where it is, right? It’s the third door from Miss’s room.”
“Yes, thank you, Tambor.”
“I haven’t done much, really.”
I left Tambor behind with a smile and stepped back into the corridor. My room was on the second floor, farthest to the right, and from there, it was three doors down. I figured it would be the first room on the left once I climbed the stairs.
…That was Enfrise’s room.
I had been to the study on the first floor but had never been to his private room. It felt strangely nerve-wracking.
Ha.
I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs.
* * *
Enfrise lay in bed, his arm shielding his eyes. He had stayed awake all night. Rather than feeling sleepy, he was overwhelmed by the turmoil within him.
Would Chaperil be alright?
He had suggested she go out to lift her spirits despite not knowing who was behind the Kaun family’s intruders. Could it be the same person sending people after her again?
No, surely not.
Very few people knew Chaperil had lost her memory and were staying here—himself, Tambor the maid, Halowell the physician, Jaha the apothecary.
And Elmare, his younger sibling.
Tambor and Harowell had been with him for a long time since they were very young. He couldn’t think of any reason they would betray him, especially since he had explained everything about Chaperil’s condition and the kidnapping to them.
It didn’t seem likely that they would sell Chaperil for money or fame. As for being coerced, it was hard to say for certain, though only those five knew that Chaperil was here and that Enfrise had been at the scene of the Rivette family tragedy that night.
Since Tambor had always been with them, it was impossible for her to have communicated with the outside.
…Could it then be Elmare or Jaha?
No, that seemed far-fetched too. It was Elmare who had informed him about the Rivette’s family disaster in the first place.
— Brother, there’s trouble.
— What is it, Elmare? You’re not yourself.
— The Rivette family is in danger. Tonight, their mansion will burn, and Lady Rivette…
It was Elmare.
If Elmare hadn’t alerted him, Enfrise wouldn’t have been able to save Chaperil. Why would Elmare betray Chaperil and him?
There was no reason for it.
If Elmare had chosen not to share that information initially, that would have been the end of it. There was also no reason for Elmare to trap Enfrise. He was still a potential heir to the throne should anything happen to the current King Barca, who was still unmarried…
And Enfrise, detached from that power structure, was merely a residual presence.
Thus, Jaha, belonging to Elmare’s people, could also be trusted.
It seemed impossible for the Kaun’s backers to know that Chaperil didn’t want to leave this place. The only intruder was now barely able to speak or stand.
Still alive… but barely.
Judging by the reaction, undoubtedly it was Jerenic de Kaun who first brought up the mention of this mansion to the man named Verdi. It was probably meant to conceal the entity lurking behind him. Therefore, even if he spoke, it wouldn’t reach those truly behind the scenes. There was no need to make him talk.
And there was no intention to kill him quickly.
“…Chaperil.”
If the forces behind the Kaun family acted again, they would likely use the Kaun family again. It seemed they wanted to ‘rescue’ Chaperil, not resort to such violent methods.
Then, who could it be?
The new assailants.
It was unclear how they found out about this mansion, or even this area, since the protective spells here are unique to a certain wizard, making it difficult for others to detect. However, setting all that aside, he should consider the composition of the attackers.
“…It must be the Magic Tower.”
They would be the ones most desiring Chaperil. Before this crisis escalated, he had wanted to quickly contact Barca. If needed, the plan even extended to handing over Chaperil’s custody to him.
The Magic Tower, the Church, and even the rebels.
Countering all these forces seemed beyond Enfrise, even as a Grand Duke.
“If only I could protect you…”
But why was it impossible to make another audience request? While suspecting Barca behind the Kaun family’s attackers, why was there no proper investigation?
Enfrise, as always, already knew the answer.
“I should be able to do anything, but I…”
‘…Selfishly, I want you to stay by my side, smiling. Not by Barca’s side.’
As long as there was suspicion towards Barca, he couldn’t ask for cooperation from him. However, if an investigation clears those suspicions…
Chaperil…
He must let her go.
“… I’m sorry, Chaperil. I’m so sorry.”
He hated to let her go, dragging out his regrets like this.
‘I really am…’
A despicable man.
Thinking this, Enfrise smiled faintly, but it was not the gentle smile that had recently lingered on his face lately….
Rather, it was a self-mocking smile he wore whenever he laughed at himself.
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