An Obsessive Man Raised Impurely

Part Two: Permeating(6)

Translated by Gina

Edited by Tea

Busy footsteps echoed across the central hallway of the Imperial Palace of the Oborduz Empire. Archduke Anderson Grey, ruler of the northern region of the country heavily invaded by foreign lands, who led numerous wars to victory and was called the ‘Bloody Slaughterer,’ was heading to the audience chamber at the sudden call of the emperor. His expression was even more menacing than usual.

‘If you get caught by mistake, you won’t be able to keep your neck.’ Everyone who ran into him thought the same and hurriedly got off his way.

In truth, he didn’t care about them at all.

‘Before returning to the territory, I must drag all the famous names in the capital. Anyone that disobeys orders will be cut down.’

A few days ago, he was drenched in worry about Lillian, who collapsed from a high fever. He didn’t want to leave his daughter lying in bed, but he couldn’t find the cause with the medical technology of Grey’s estate. Thus, he headed to the capital. It was coincidental to come to honor the imperial command, his final goal was the medical technology that was more advanced than that of the Grey Grand Duchy.

‘I have to go back as soon as possible.’

Archduke Grey’s steps became faster. Finally, he arrived at the audience chamber.

“You have come.”

Jamie, his exclusive aide who had been waiting for Archduke Grey earlier in front of the audience chamber, approached him.

“What is the matter of this call?”

“I think you need to hear the details yourself… It seems to be something confidential.”

“Confidential?”

Jamie swallowed at the sharp voice. The emperor occasionally pushed Archduke Grey into a dead-end. There wasn’t a person clueless enough to not know the reason.

‘Is to keep in check Archduke Grey’s influence.’

The emperor was conscious of the Grey Grand Duchy’s strong army. To the emperor, Anderson Grey was a ‘huge loss to the empire if thrown away, but leave it as it is, he was a nauseating being that threatened his position.’ That’s why he would entrust him with the tedious tasks of the northern regions with the most frequent hostilities, or survey on the ceasefire every turn.

‘Damn it, I’ll have less time to stay at home.’

His expression hardened, worried about the boy staying next to his daughter recently. Originally, if depended on him, he would have kept him away from Lillian sooner. But he couldn’t do it because she threatened him that if he chased Hadelion out, she wouldn’t take her medicine. Archduke Grey, swallowing cursings, gestured to the maid standing at the door.

“Your Majesty, he has arrived.”

As soon as the maid’s words were spoken, the cold iron door opened.

He went inside without hesitation, immediately making eye contact with a man with black hair dark enough to the point of displeasure. The new, unripe emperor who looked about the same age as Lillian, Wak Oborduz. Archduke Grey bowed slightly towards him, paying his respects.

“I see the Sun of the Empire.”

“Duke Grey, thank you for making such a long journey.”

The emperor’s cool golden eyes turned to him. He seemed to be showing respect on the outside, but Grey knew that the dry gaze was a hoax.

“What did you call me for?”

“For now, please sit down. The tea prepared with utmost care will cool down.”

The emperor gestured towards the sofa opposite him. Despite his suggestion, Grey remained still on his spot. Standing upright, the archduke opened his mouth as he looked at the cold teacup on the table.

“Unfortunately, I have urgent business to do, so I do not have time to enjoy it. Please tell me why you were called.”

“That’s a shame.”

Contrary to his words, his eyes didn’t look disappointed at all. The emperor leisurely lifted the teacup placed in front of him and took a sip. His teacup was steaming.

“I have to find someone.”

“If that’s the case, mobilize the Imperial Knights and issue a wanted order, it’ll take a moment.”

The bridge of Archduke Grey’s nose wrinkled slightly. The emperor, noticing the small twitch, leaned against the backrest and looked at him.

“Do you think that I am entrusting you with this task to annoy you, Archduke?”

“…”

The silence became an affirmation.

Tap, tap, tap~ The emperor’s fingers, which had been tapping the table with a constant beat, paused.

“It has to be someone reliable.” The emperor mumbled, fiddling with the teacup.

“Who is it? The person you want to find.”

“A dog that left the house.”

Archduke Grey frowned. It was because he knew that the ‘dog’ he was talking about was actually the ‘archmage.’

“A well-tamed mutt dared to break its leash and ran away.”

Bang! The emperor set the teacup roughly on the table. His hand gripping the cup tightly lost color.

‘The Archmage disappeared?’ Suddenly, a face flashed through Anderson’s mind. A boy his daughter brought with her a few months ago. He recalled the child who was terrifyingly similar to the archmage.

‘…No way.’ At the time, he just thought it was a similar person and let it pass. It was because he had no time to think about anything else but his daughter.

Anxiety arose. He knew how madly obsessed the emperor was with ‘that archmage.’ He didn’t know why, but… what was certain was that his daughter might be in danger.

‘I’ll have to check it out as soon as I get back to the estate.’

If it was the case, he was thinking of bringing him to the imperial palace right away. To him, who still couldn’t forget the sorrow of losing his wife, Lillian was more precious than anything else in the world. He didn’t want Lillian to become the emperor’s target for no reason.

The emperor, noticing the subtle change in the expression on Grey’s pensive expression, added,

“Lord, you look like you have something to say.”

“…It’s nothing.” Grey quickly erased his expression.

“Because this is an important matter for the empire all the more, I want you to keep it confidential above all else.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Regardless of the order, Gray backed away from his position with a face as straight as possible. The emperor’s eyes were obsessively following his every move. Anderson turned around after a brief bow. Because he wanted to return to the estate as soon as possible and convince himself that the sudden anxiety was just some useless concern. Just as he was about to cross the threshold of the audience chamber,

“Archduke Gray.”

Gray’s footsteps halted at the emperor’s call.

“If, during the search, if anyone is trying to help him or hide him.”

The Emperor continued to speak while glaring at Gray’s back, who didn’t turn back at him. His dry eyes, like the bottom of a parched well, were filled with the archduke’s figure.

“Kill them on the spot without hesitation.”

The voice was as cold as ice.

*     *     *

The second day after Archduke Gray left the estate I started regaining my strength.

Fortunately, Hadel was not driven out of the Gray Territory. He could even stay in the castle. However, he was not able to cross the threshold of my room as often as in the past because before leaving for the capital, the archduke placed a restraining order on him. In the meantime, it seemed that I got used to it too much. Just because Hadel hadn’t been around me for two days so far, my daily life felt boring.

“Milady, is there any news you are waiting for?”

“No, why.”

“Just, the person who always looked out the window is only looking at the door today.”

‘Did I?’ It was only after hearing May’s words that I realized that I was unconsciously staring at the door.

“I went to the market a while ago and thought of you, so I bought it.” She smiled and placed a yellow flower pot on the window sill. It was the best place for the golden sunlight to reach it.

“Flowers?”

“The petals of this pansy flower are the same color as Miss’ eyes.”

As she said, in the yellow flower pot she had placed, purple pansy flowers were in bloom. The soft petals swayed lightly in the gentle breeze.

“If you put a lot of nice things in sight, your body and heart will recover quickly.”

“It’s pretty.”

“Ri- right? As expected, I did well buying it. I was worried that Milady might not like it.”

“No, I like it.”

I liked it very much. Rather than the flower, it was the color of the flowerpot containing the flower. Bright yellow under the sun– it reminded me of Hadel’s hair.

“Say, Milady. Do you know what word the name of this flower is derived from?”

“What is it.”

“Penser.”

“…Penser.”

I softly whispered after her. 〈Penser〉It’s a French word that means ‘to think about.’ I couldn’t help but think of Hadel once more. It was like an inevitable stream.

“Yes. In the capital, an artist confessed by giving a painting of this flower to the woman he loved. I guess it became a popular rumor among the nobles in the vicinity.”

“Yeah, I heard about that too. The letter said ‘I dedicate all my pansies –thoughts– to you.'”

“Oh my, milady also knows about that? Oh my gosh. It’s so romantic!”

Right, I already knew the story after reading the original. The author quoted an anecdote of the French painter Henri Rousseau. 

At the time I read it, I think I read it dryly, but why am I thinking about it again now? I don’t know.

“You are right.”

“Pardon? About what?”

“I think the flower resembles me.”

As I carefully touched the three-colored petals and murmured, May babbled nonstop with a bright face. She seemed very happy that I listened to her words without saying anything. What kind of whim was this? Normally I wouldn’t be interested, but the reason I was quietly listening was…

I honestly don’t know either.

I felt the thin petals that seemed to tear if I held them tightly. I swept the yellow flower pot holding the delicate flowers with my finger.

‘… Please think of me.’

The moment I repeated the flower language in my mind, I recalled a face that had nothing to do with the pansy flower.