Eldest SS2

Side Story 2.

In any case, Duke Fredo never had a fervent desire to outpace others.

But he was a man who simply could not abide falling behind.

Mostyn, his son, was well aware of this temperament—just as I was.

“If an article comes out about the South surging ahead while the West dithers, my father will leap right out of his chair.”

Mostyn grinned mischievously, resting an arm lightly on Sion’s shoulder.

“While we’re at it, I’ll give your southern rebuilding efforts a thorough bit of publicity. Even if the railway ties the nation together, that doesn’t make trade any less important.”

“Well, that works for me. Just refrain from saying the South’s fallen too far behind.”

Sion pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

“My father, myself, and everyone in the South—we’re all doing our utmost to set right our past faults and patch the holes that were torn open.”

“Stagnant waters are bound to fester,” I remarked, picking up a fresh glass from a passing servant’s tray.

“This hardship will be a chance for the South to leap into a brighter future.”

Roughly a month ago, Kasper Agla and the Crown Prince had finally escaped from the mirror.

By then, both had lost half their sanity, and they were executed in utmost secrecy.

Sion’s family, putting aside the Emperor’s leniency, bore witness to Kasper Agla’s final moments.

I cannot say what they felt at the time.

But of this I was certain: no trial would ever be too great for my friend to overcome again.

At my attempt at comfort—if it could be called that—Sion smiled brightly.

“Yes! Before long, the South will reclaim its position as the foremost in the Empire!”

In her gentle smile, I could sense both my and Mostyn’s lurking mischief.

“Just hold onto that seat for a bit longer, Belladi.”

Her unexpected challenge made my eyes go wide.

Mostyn, beside me, looked equally surprised.

“Well, well.”

“Our Sion, huh…”

Watching our reactions, Sion replied guilelessly.

“Now that I’m the heir, I can’t just sit quietly by.”

Her bold answer made me slowly tilt my head and raise an eyebrow.

“No matter how close we are, I don’t go easy on those who lay down a challenge.”

“Ahem! Then you should know I’m like a wild hyena who never lets an opening slip by! You’d best be careful!”

“I’m already looking forward to discovering these new sides of you both. Let’s make this a friendly rivalry that pushes us all to be better!”

Whatever dignity Mostyn and I had managed before evaporated under Sion’s beaming response, and we ended up tousling her hair in affection.

The three of us continued chatting and laughing, when Mostyn suddenly remembered something.

“Come to think of it, Prince Killian is rather late, isn’t he?”

“That’s true. Even for a royal, he should be appearing by now.”

I answered with an air of unconcern.

“He’s not coming today.”

“What?”

“He’s not coming?”

They both looked at me at once.

I nodded lightly, sipping my wine.

“Of everyone in the Empire, there is no one busier right now than Prince Killian.”

Sion had been spending entire days calming the South to fill the void left by Kasper Agla.

And the vacant role of Crown Prince, who oversaw the North, South, East, and West—who was filling that?

Naturally, that burden had fallen to Killian.

“How could I possibly send him an invitation? I was content that he attended the capital’s investiture.”

I, too, had known what it meant to be so busy you barely had time to breathe. I didn’t want to weigh him down.

Sion adjusted her slipping glasses and asked,

“Belladi, then you didn’t even send Prince Killian an invitation?”

“That’s right.”

“Seriously?!”

This time, Mostyn gaped and snatched away my wineglass.

“You’re drinking wine at a time like this?!”

“What are you doing?”

“Belladi, you…”

She lowered her voice to a whisper.

“Weren’t you and Prince Killian something… special?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

Sion echoed, nodding quickly and staring at me.

I blinked, then shrugged.

“Was it that obvious?”

“Of course!”

“Obviously!”

They chorused, then both grimaced and rubbed their foreheads with heavy sighs.

“The succession ceremony I can understand—it’s a northern event. But you should have sent an invitation to the banquet.”

“She’s right, Belladi. I heard Prince Killian was working with you even before we were! Imagine how much he must have wanted to congratulate you today.”

“He had ample chance to celebrate with me in the capital. There’s no reason to make a busy man drop everything twice in one day.”

“All the same, you should have at least sent an invitation.”

“Belladi Alton! How can you be so cold? Even if he couldn’t have come, don’t you know how much it means just to receive one?”

Their scolding continued on and on.

After letting them vent, I finally arched an eyebrow and caught both their ears at once.

“Well, if you want, I’ll just have to smother you two with affection.”

“Ow, ow—Belladi, that kind of smothering hurts a bit!”

“Oh mercy! More than a bit, Sion! My adorable ears are going to fall off!”

We ended the conversation in good humor, but Sion and Mostyn’s words continued to linger oddly in my chest.

After all, Killian had seemed genuinely upset about not being able to see me at the succession.

In such circumstances, I’d worried sending him an invitation to an event he could not attend might come across as teasing—so I’d withheld it…

Had I misjudged?

‘Enough. Once the banquet ends, I’ll send a letter through Taoudin.’

Surely he could spare time to read a single letter.

Resolved, I went on to welcome the next guests.

The banquet night wore on.

---

Late into the night.

At last, the banquet was over. Sion departed South, and Mostyn took a guest chamber in the northern keep.

Not until I’d seen Sion off and returned did I finally get to climb to my own chambers.

There, I found Stia waiting to greet me.

“Lady Belladi, you have a visitor.”

I looked at her in surprise.

“At this hour? In my room?”

Stia merely inclined her head.

I gazed at her a moment, then continued on.

‘Normally, Stia would have shown any visitor to the main house’s receiving room.’

That she hadn’t could only mean she knew this was the one sort of guest I’d permit such informality.

‘For example…’

As I opened the door, I saw someone lounging on my sofa, reading a report, who spoke up.

“You’re rather late.”

“Killian.”

Just as I’d suspected.

If it was Killian, he’d have popped straight in via diamond, and Stia would have had no chance at sending him away.

‘And she knows perfectly well the nature of our relationship.’

So thinking, I stepped closer—but his voice was unexpectedly sharp.

“It certainly seems you enjoyed the banquet well enough without me.”

“Killian.”

“I hear everyone but me received an invitation—right down to Hera.”

That was Nesia’s doing, not mine.

In any case, Princess Hera had not attended, tied up in belated heir training.

…Not that such details seemed to matter to him.

“Since I didn’t even receive an invitation, all I could do was quietly tend to paperwork alone.”

“…”

“This actually works out for the best. Between the investiture and now, your consideration has allowed me to focus solely on my work.”

Killian’s words tumbled out, brimming with dissatisfaction, until he fell silent.

Because I’d settled beside him and laid my head on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Killian. I really only meant to spare you. Are you very upset with me?”

I whispered, sneaking a look at him from beneath my lashes.

He glanced back, then averted his face, equally cold.

“Of course I am.”

“I was thoughtless. If anything like this happens again, I promise I’ll tell you first.”

Honestly, I thought this would be enough to break the ice.

But it was my foolish mistake.

Killian shut his mouth and stared only at his documents.

His response was more resolute than I expected, and I was—for once—at a loss.

‘Was it truly a mistake not to send even an invitation without a word?’

What would mend Killian’s mood now?

As I hesitated, Mostyn’s advice suddenly came to mind.

—Belladi, if Prince Killian gets sulky over this, try doing this.

At the time, I’d dismissed the idea out of hand… but perhaps it was worth a try.

Besides, the wine I’d drunk all night had left my inhibitions comfortably dulled.

Making up my mind, I slowly plucked the papers from Killian’s grasp.

Immediately, his eyes turned to me.

“Please give those back.”

“Killian.”

I smiled sweetly as I spoke.

Killian’s movements paused, and I seized my chance.

I drew close—close enough our faces almost touched.

“I realized there’s something important I’ve been meaning to say.”

Killian, gaze fixed helplessly on my lips, forced himself to glance away.

“And what is that?”

“I love you, Killian.”

It was a truth I’d neglected for too long, hidden behind busyness.

At my confession, his long lashes trembled; his gaze locked with mine.

I set a hand on his shoulder and whispered,

“Will you keep coming to find me like this—every night, like tonight?”

It was the boldest, sweetest seduction I could muster, emboldened by wine.

There was no question whether Killian’s resolve would melt in an instant.

“I—”

He began, but at that very moment—pop!—Aining appeared from thin air.

“Yippee—!”

Shouting, Aining darted in frenzied glee about my chambers.

“Wooow! I feel amazing! What’s happening to me?! I could soar through the sky! The world’s so beautiful! Hup-ha! Hup-ha! Even the air tastes sweet! I’ve never felt like this! Kyaa!”

She rolled and kicked atop the carpet in wild delight.

‘If Aining’s acting like that…’

I sneaked a glance at Killian.

His face was more flushed than I had ever seen it.