PLQYM | Chapter 40

It was Heraith.

“Your Majesty.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

Everyone in the room immediately bowed their heads.

Heraith glanced briefly at Franz, who was bowing and trembling, then turned to Cliff, the head attendant.

“What’s with all this commotion?”

“We were checking the situation before starting today’s agenda.”

“…Is that so?”

At Cliff’s response, Heraith casually scanned the surroundings. Seeing Franz standing there, pale-faced and stiff, he had a good idea of what was going on.

“It’s obvious when one person’s missing. Tsk.”

“…!”

At the Emperor’s comment, Franz’s face stiffened. Everyone understood right away who Heraith was talking about. It was impossible not to. Even they could feel how poorly things were going without that person around.

Clicking his tongue softly, Heraith walked straight into his office. Cliff followed without saying a word, not even sparing Franz a glance.

Once the door shut, Franz finally straightened his back, his face flushing red.

“Why the hell did Lucian go on vacation now?”

“He applied for it six months ago. He said he’d go no matter what, even if the sky fell down.”

“Ah, that was before the visit from the kingdom’s delegation was decided.”

“Well, nothing we can do. He threatened to quit if we stopped him again this time.”

“Let’s just get back to work.”

Whispers filled the room briefly before the gathered people dispersed. But Franz couldn’t move. His face flushed with humiliation.

“Dammit!”

Through gritted teeth, a growl of anger escaped him.

“How dare they look down on me? Do they even know who I am? I’m Franz Clan of the Marquisate of Clan!”

It was unclear whether his anger was directed at his colleagues or someone absent from the scene. One thing was certain—he didn’t dare resent the Emperor. His fear overshadowed his rage.

“Just wait. I’ll make sure to repay this humiliation.”

Clenching his fists, Franz spat out those words before turning and storming out.

“You seem to be in better spirits.”

Cliff cautiously addressed the Emperor, who was seated at his desk and picking up neatly arranged documents.

“Do I?”

Heraith flipped through the papers at an impressive speed. Watching him, Cliff allowed a small smile to creep onto his lips. Indeed, compared to two days ago, the Emperor seemed to have fully regained his vigor.

It seemed that night when Heraith had suddenly left the Imperial Palace on horseback had gone well. Perhaps he’d managed to vent whatever was bothering him.

“Lucian must be doing well.”

At Cliff’s tender comment, Heraith paused for a moment. But he quickly resumed his work as if nothing had happened.

“He looked radiant after going home. He’s practically glowing.”

The Emperor’s grumbling only deepened the smile on Cliff’s face. His words were sarcastic, but the fondness behind them was unmistakable, spilling out bit by bit.

“What?”

Noticing Cliff’s suspicious smile, Heraith raised his head.

“Nothing, Your Majesty.”

Cliff lowered his head, but the smile lingering on his lips was unshakable. Feeling as though his innermost thoughts had been exposed, Heraith clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. You and that guy, honestly.”

“…”

“Stop grinning and get back to work.”

“I’ll bring some tea, Your Majesty. Take your time.”

With the Emperor’s permission, Cliff left the room. Once he was gone, Heraith stopped his hands and leaned back to stretch his stiff neck.

He hated to admit it, but meeting Lucian had cleared the fog in his mind. Likely, Cliff, who had been by his side for so many years, had figured out his feelings without needing an explanation.

“Ha, what a sly fox.”

Heraith let out a small chuckle before picking up the next document.

“Come back soon, Luce.”

The words escaped him unconsciously, their meaning eluding even himself as he buried himself back in work.

With the Emperor regaining his vigor, the pace at the palace quickened. Naturally, this meant more work for those serving him—except for Franz Clan.

“Dammit!”

With a furious shout, Franz kicked over the table in front of him. A priceless vase that adorned the Clan Marquisate’s reception room crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

Franz had taken sick leave and skipped work, fuming since morning. When the Marquis of Clan entered the reception room at that moment, Franz flinched and froze.

“Father!”

“You fool.”

“…!”

Franz bowed his head to suppress his anger. But his body betrayed him, trembling with rage. Seeing his son’s shaking hands, the Marquis clicked his tongue.

Though Franz was the second son, the Marquis had raised him with utmost care. Yet here he was, blinded by ambition and squandering his chances.

“At a time when you should be working your hardest, you’re here throwing tantrums at furniture.”

The Emperor had already made it clear that he didn’t favor Franz. There wouldn’t be a second chance. The Marquis knew this all too well.

“Father, it’s not—”

“Not what? They say even the position of the Emperor’s Chief Aide Substitute was taken from you. And now they say Cliff, the head attendant, is following him around. Does that even make sense?”

“…”

The Marquis made no effort to hide his irritation as he continued.

“Don’t expose your incompetence in such a disgraceful way.”

“I’m not incompetent!”

“If you’re not incompetent, then what? Would the Astro family’s son have ceded his position to the head attendant?”

“…”

Franz gritted his teeth but said nothing.

“If the Astro family were even a bit more ambitious, they’d have already established themselves in the capital. If that had happened, you wouldn’t even have the chance to act as the Emperor’s aide.”

“But I became the aide first. Not him.”

“And what does that matter? An aide without the Emperor’s trust is worse than a stable hand.”

“Father!”

“At least a stable hand can converse with His Majesty. Can you even get close enough to see the soles of his shoes?”

Franz’s fists trembled with suppressed rage at the Marquis’s contemptuous words.

“If you gain the Emperor’s trust, you’ll rise higher than anyone in this family—even your elder brother. But.”

The Marquis’s tone turned cold.

“If you can’t, then there’s no reason for me to keep you in this family.”

“…”

“Earn his trust, Franz. Without it, you’re worthless.”

“But Father, the Emperor only favors those with good looks and charm. Someone as shallow as him—”

The Marquis sneered before Franz could finish.

“Is that how you see the Emperor?”

“…”

“You truly are hopeless. You couldn’t even recognize what the Astro family’s son saw so clearly.”

When Franz couldn’t answer, the Marquis rose from his seat as if he had nothing more to say.

“I won’t keep an incompetent second son in this house. Your elder brother, Seymour, isn’t lacking in talent. There’s no need for me to waste my time on someone who can’t find his place.”

“But Father, I’ve been trying my best!”

“Your best?”

The Marquis looked Franz over coldly. He recalled seeing Lucian Astro at the palace not long ago—a poised and composed figure, effortlessly dealing with high-ranking nobles without faltering.

It was clear Franz couldn’t hold a candle to him. The Marquis now understood why the Emperor favored Lucian over his son. He would’ve made the same choice.

“If you can’t earn the Emperor’s trust, you’d be better off in some remote temple as a monk.”

“Father!”

“At least try to be half as competent as that Astro boy. …Pathetic fool.”

Without sparing another glance at his son, the Marquis left the room. Even as Franz desperately called out for him, the Marquis didn’t look back.

Through the closing door, Franz caught a glimpse of his father speaking with his aide, the image painfully reminiscent of the Emperor ignoring him.

“At least try to be half as competent…”

Lucian Astro.

Grinding his teeth, Franz seethed. That position had been his. He had believed that his family’s power and his abilities would be enough to earn the Emperor’s favor.

And yet, someone else had snatched it away.

“Just you wait. I’ll return all the humiliation I’ve suffered.”

Franz vowed with a burning glare. Lucian Astro would not be forgiven.