Lucia Chapter 66

< — The Capital's High Society[2]– > (2)

TN: Gong is a title .

Kwiz was overflowing with enthusiasm for the upcoming coronation . From the crack of dawn till late at night, he was continuously working on something, painting the image of himself governing the kingdom .

He called his noble supporters, discussed with them, and gathered the opinion of officials . He also did not forget to hold a small banquet to benefit his relationship with the nobles and to strengthen the loyalty of the knights .

Even when he was alone, he was engrossed in thought and unaware of the passage of time . There were a few influential figures that Kwiz payed particular attention to but the representative figure was the Duke of Taran . He held onto Hugo tenaciously and didn't let him go, both publicly and privately .

Hugo had lunch with Kwiz if he had nothing special to do . Within this, it was also included to discuss for a while after the meal .

“I heard the Duchess is in the Capital, when did one arrive?” (Kwiz)

“It has been a while . ” (Hugo)

“Hoh . Why do I keep hearing news about Gong from someone else's mouth? Don't we see often?”

“Do I need to inform Your Majesty with news about my wife?”

Kwiz was currently at the stage of receiving the nobility's request to ascend the throne but refusing according to customs . So, he was not crowned yet, but was treated as a king .

“Although one is Gong's wife, one is also my sister . One should come to the palace sometime . I should at least know the face of my sister . ”

“Since one became my wife before being known by Your Majesty as a sister, one should be treated as the Duchess . ”

It was a roundabout refusal . Hugo had no intention of letting his wife meet the King in a private unofficial meeting . Kwiz was a very experienced politician . He was especially excellent in acting like a honest person that didn't hide their feelings . Rather than being proficient in telling lies, his was a talent that hid little things under a majority of truths . His innocent wife could not deal with a jaded politician .

Hugo was yet to trust Kwiz . He did not believe Kwiz completely . He had taken a step back but he had also made it clear that he would not turn away unless he was stabbed in the back first .

The clever Kwiz could understand Hugo's meaning . Their relationship wasn't that of one-sided obedience but that of an alliance . But Kwiz wanted to draw closer to the distancing mentality of the other . Kwiz was checking to see if he could tackle the Duchess rather than the Duke of Taran that had no gap in his defenses . But Hugo had easily seen through Kwiz's intentions .

When Hugo was asking his wife one thing or the other in order to get her to say her childhood name, he became aware of her loneliness . Her expression when she recollected the memories about her mother was vague as if she was dreaming . Not long ago, she was shocked to hear about her father's death and fell very ill .

She was missing her family . If Kwiz were to assert family affection and claim that he would become a reliable brother, her heart would be swayed . If his wife were to form affection towards her brother, she couldn't help but to be exploited . Just like Hugo was used by the late Duke .

There was no sincere relationship between those that had power in the royal family and even between those outside the royal family . Hugo wished for her not to know anything rather than wake up to the cold reality .

“Gong is too heartless . What does one have planned for the afternoon? There are some issues I would like to exchange views on with Gong . ”

Hugo knew that Kwiz would cleanly withdraw on the matter .

“If it is not urgent, I will hear it next time . I already informed you several times that I will be returning early in the afternoon today . ”

There was a mountain of work that Hugo was unable to finish from the territory . He couldn't ignore other things and stick to matters concerning the throne .

“Is that so . ”

Kwiz smacked his lips, feigning ignorance .

“Then, how about a drink tomorrow night?”

Kwiz first made a proposal that Hugo couldn't help but refuse then finally, he brought out what he really wanted . Although Hugo knew Kwiz's clever trick, he acted like he couldn't resist and gave in . In any case, if one holds hands with the king, it was better to get along .

“Day after tomorrow is okay . ”

“Day after tomorrow, huh . That is good too . But, does Gong have days set for drinking? One doesn't know why one day is good and the other isn't . ”

Well, that was because tomorrow night was the fifth day and next tomorrow was day after the fifth . It was Hugo's standard for setting up his evening schedules, although no one knew .

On the way back, Hugo came across the Queen, Beth . David was together with the Queen . Beth was on the way to send off her visiting brother after a pleasant chat .

Hugo gave his greetings and tried to pass by but Beth spoke to him .

“It has been a long time, Gong . Are you returning from seeing His Majesty?”

“Yes . It has been a long time since I offered my greetings . Your Royal Highness . ” (1)

“I have often heard much about the Duchess . News of the Duchess is talked about more than the Coronation . ”

“It is just an insignificant rumor . ”

“Rumors are not necessarily fruitless . I would like to meet and talk with the Duchess before one starts activities in the social circles . I want to prepare a casual luncheon . I will send an invitation before the day is over, I hope one does not refuse . ”

Although the invitation of the King could be rejected, the invitation of the Queen was difficult to reject . The King's indication to meet her was as a sister but the Queen was asking for her to show her face as the Duchess .

Hugo could not get involved with matters concerning female social activities unless the circumstances were special . For a refusal, his wife had to do it . But, there was no reason to refuse the invitation of the Queen .

“I believe my wife will be willing to answer the invitation . ” (Hugo)

After several exchanges of courteous greetings, the brief meeting was over . Watching the departing back of the Duke of Taran, Beth thought, 'Still as blunt as ever . '

In her days as the Crown Princess, nobles approached Beth without any inhibitions about male and female distance . They wanted to get closer to the Crown Prince with whatever means possible . However, the Duke of Taran had never once spoken privately .

Rather, it was her husband who fretted about getting acquainted with the Duke . The Duke was a very confident and arrogant man .

[Does it not hurt Your Highness's pride? Your Highness will be the future master of this country . ]

Beth was curious so one day, she had said this to Kwiz . She could not understand the arrogance of the Duke of Taran . She thought that no matter what, he was still a lord of a fiefdom that was part of the Kingdom .

[It is not pride that can be brought up at any time . It is reckless bravado . Looking at the future, what is the big deal about lowering one's head now? There is no spite towards Taran Gong . Any man will feel envious of a man like Taran Gong who lives without minding others . Pass this onto father-in-law as well . There is nothing gain from provoking him . ]

After realizing that her husband's will was firm, Beth recognized the Duke of Taran as a strong ally of her husband . Beth did not know about the complicated political battles . Not because she was foolish but because there was no reason to give it her attention .

She was born as an honored lady, grew up without lacking anything and became the Crown Princess . On her maternal side was the authoritative Ducal family, and her father, Duke Ramis was a strong backing . She already had three sons and the seat of heir was firmly in her hands . To Beth, her husband wasn't noble and pure but she respected him .

As a woman married into the royal family, one had to put up with a few matters in the rear palace . As a female of the royal family, Beth lived a smooth life and was successful to this extent .

She didn't have to worry about fighting for a share of her husband and only needed to wait for the day to receive the crown of the Queen smoothly . So for Beth, there was no part that twisted her insides . She didn't have to rack her brains about being caught in a trap nor was she worried .

Nevertheless, her only worry was her younger brother David .

“Why did you behave so impolitely to Taran Gong?”

Beth criticized David . Because of David who didn't say anything after greeting Taran Gong with a nod, Beth's complexion was flushed as she spoke with the Duke .

“That man . ”

“Watch what you say . Taran Gong is a man in the same position as father . Why do you act thoughtlessly?”

Listening to his sister's scolding, David's expression was full of dissatisfaction .

Beth sighed . He was held up too much as the young lord who would inherit the name of the Duke in the future . It was a big fault of their late mother who sided with the eldest son unconditionally . Learning a lesson from her younger brother, Beth was strict with her sons .

“I have tried to get along well in my own away . However, Taran Gong has been rude . ”

“David . Expressing it as rude is not appropriate . Taran Gong can be rude to you as he pleases . ”

“Sister!”

“I do not want to give a lengthy speech . I have repeatedly said to be careful in one's actions and words . You are not a child . I will only see you off to here so be careful on the way . ”

Beth turned around indifferently as he watching Beth's receding figure, David clenched his fists tightly . All over the place, once they opened their mouths, it was 'Taran Gong', 'Taran Gong' . He couldn't understand .

David's father was the closest advisor of the King and his sister was the Queen . His nephew would become King someday .

Naturally, the King should trust David and keep him closer than anyone else . However, Kwiz was irresponsive to David, and when Kwiz was with the Duke of Taran, he treated David like leftovers .

'What is so great about him?'

David felt twisted inside .

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Chapter end