Residence

Edward's gifts and letters were dispatched without delay, setting off the very next day—the snow season was imminent. Once winter arrived, most people rarely ventured out for travel. No matter how urgent the matter, everything had to be postponed around Christmas.

This was a profoundly significant holiday, as it had been since ancient times. While this era lacked the concept of Chinese New Year, Christmas and New Year's held equal solemnity—both symbolizing farewell to the old and welcome to the new. For over a decade, Edward had spent this season within the palace walls. He wasn't alone; all titled nobles traveled by carriage from their estates to attend the King's annual banquet.

Attendance at these banquets was mandatory for nobility. These were no cozy family gatherings. Whether driven by simple social obligation or political necessity, attending the King's ball each year and presenting gifts was a crucial act of loyalty. Failure to attend raised suspicions about one's allegiance to the Emperor—and fueled questions about why they hid away in their estates all year!

In truth, nobles not only attended to pledge allegiance but typically brought their entire families—since most had to remain at court for over three months. Moreover, the royal banquet served as a prime venue for matchmaking, drawing nobles like moths to a flame.

Which family's daughter had come of age, which young master was ready for betrothal... Entering the social season was crucial for the next generation. At fifteen or sixteen, they would don their finest attire to dance with peers of equal standing, meet those in power, and begin cultivating their own circle of friends... This was a lifelong lesson nobles had to master.

This made the palace exceptionally bustling, yet also chaotic. For whatever reason, Edward didn't want to bring his most precious angel here.

To Edward, the palace offered little beyond superficial beauty. Though Lance was well-nourished, he wasn't robust compared to his peers. Edward refused to subject him to exhausting travel just to attend some silly ball.

Moreover, Edward knew Lance disliked such crowded, chaotic gatherings. So when Josephine suggested he might bring "that fair-haired, pretty child" to the palace ball, Edward's expression darkened. Setting down his coffee cup, he addressed Queen Josephine: Aunt, you may continue to test me and provoke me, but allow me to remind you: you should resolve your own affairs first."

With that, he rose and left.

Empress Josephine, however, felt not the slightest bit of transgression. Instead, she laughed heartily, her voice ringing out brightly, "Oh dear, oh dear, Edward, why are you getting angry again..."

Edward ignored her, waved his hand dismissively, and walked out.

Outsiders claimed the Black Duke cherished only one family member in this world: Queen Josephine. And the rose-like Queen Josephine, with her tender heart, treated her nephew, the Black Duke, as if he were her own flesh and blood—perhaps even more attentively than her own children. Their bond grew ever closer.

Even Prince Charles once threw a tantrum as a child, demanding to know why his mother seemed closer to Edward than to him.

What was the truth?

Even Josephine and Edward themselves likely couldn't define the blurred line between their relationship.

As the sky darkened with heavy clouds before the snow fell, the entire imperial city came alive. Both the inner city where the nobility resided and the outer city where commoners lived were immersed in extravagant revelry, filled with song and dance.

The first ball had already begun. Queen Josephine wore her peacock-embroidered gown studded with jewels, half her face veiled by an ornate feather fan. her queen's crown adorned with beautiful colored gems complementing her gown. Beside her, Edward was the sole noble in the hall wearing a new-style suit. The Black Duke, his hair slicked back, clad entirely in black, stood out like a raven among parrots amidst the colorfully dressed nobility.

With the Emperor gravely ill and unable to rise, the opening dance fell to Empress Josephine and His Grace the Black Duke—a turn that left all nobles astonished and uneasy.

Word had spread beforehand of the Emperor's critical condition, rendering him incapable of leading the dance. Rumors circulated that physicians had long declared him beyond cure, and that his young mistress—said to be carrying the Emperor's illegitimate child—had been banished from the palace by Empress Josephine. Yet the Empress cared not a whit; she refused to acknowledge the child, condemning it to a life as an illegitimate offspring.

Such affairs were not uncommon among the nobility. The mistress received a modest sum upon her departure. As a mere maid, she possessed neither the means nor the standing to rival the entrenched Empress Josephine. She could only lament the suddenness of the Emperor's illness, for whatever future she had imagined... it ended in disarray.

...Regardless, everyone knew this opening dance wouldn't be with the Emperor. Yet most tacitly assumed it would be with Prince Charles—the future heir.

Yet Madame Joséphine chose the Black Duke. This was no mere coincidence; for nobility, it carried profound political significance.

Especially when Prince Charles stood silently nearby, his expression decidedly displeased.

"You look stunning today, Aunt," Edward murmured to Empress Josephine as they danced.

"...Not quite. This crown lacks sufficient splendor," Josephine replied with a smile. "Charles is so immature. At an occasion like this, he still behaves like a child... If he were more like you, I might have reconsidered."

"...He is the child you deliberately raised to be this way." Edward glanced at Charles, whose expression was indeed stiff. For a noble skilled in disguise, he remained a child—impulsive, rash, quick to anger, and wearing his emotions on his sleeve... In short, he had never been suited to be king.

"You're right, I deliberately raised him this way..." Queen Josephine laughed, a sudden faint weariness crossing her face. "But I never intended to kill him. Do you believe me?"

Amidst the music, Edward remained silent for a long while before murmuring softly, "I have no such concern. You always know how to read the situation."

Hearing Edward's reply, Josephine suddenly smiled after a moment. As the music faded to its final note, she murmured, "...See? I told you—Mary and I truly bore the wrong children." She was referring to Edward's biological mother, her own sister. Smiling as she faced the applause, she whispered to Edward beside her, "...I hope I didn't choose wrong."

After that, they said nothing, but walked proudly into the crowd. Soon, a dense throng gathered around them, everyone subtly inquiring about the opening dance. Only a few fallen minor nobles lingered near Prince Charles, utterly clueless about the situation, stammering compliments to the heir apparent in their eyes. The other great nobles and the shrewd ones had gathered around Queen Josephine and Edward.

Charles's face darkened. He watched his mother and Edward, downing the wine in his glass in one gulp. Ignoring the minor nobles around him, he smiled and made his way toward his mother.

Another storm was brewing within the palace walls. The bloody tales of power, passed down through generations, continued their relentless cycle. Some might laugh all their lives, while others would meet their end in the prime of youth... But none of this concerned Tang Feiliu. He had returned to the castle before the first winter snow. His brother, Alexander Doug, had leaped from the carriage and immediately began vomiting violently at the castle gates, leaving the servants lined up to welcome Mr. Lance staring in shocked disbelief.

"Quickly fetch some warm water and handkerchiefs," Ivanis instructed the servants with a smile. Tang Feiliu, worried, patted his brother's back. He only managed to call out "Grandpa Dave" before having to repeatedly comfort his motion-sick brother.

"Didn't you never get carsick when you were little?" Tang Feiliu couldn't help asking once Alexander finally finished vomiting and rinsed his mouth. When they were children, their father had loved taking them out. Besides the regular noble banquets, the family would often have picnics in the mountains—they were constantly on the go.

"Ever since we returned from that castle, I've vomited every time I ride in a carriage," Alexander said slowly, wiping his mouth with a warm towel. He felt slightly better.

Tang Feiliu had a rough idea why. It was probably because he’d woken up in the carriage to find himself transformed into someone else, leaving Alexander with a deep psychological scar. Ever since, the mere act of riding in a carriage triggered intense anxiety, making him prone to vomiting.

Tang Feiliu felt a pang of sadness, but his joy outweighed it—truthfully, he dreaded returning to the castle, yet he longed to see Edward, especially fearing he might be overthinking things... But he also couldn't bear to leave his brother behind. Fortunately, Alexander had no attachments. Before Tang Feiliu could speak, he volunteered that he would come to Black Swan City to explore potential opportunities.

Truthfully, it was mainly because he had finally found his brother—his only blood relative in this life—after so many twists and turns. Such reunions were rare. Alexander had resolved at the banquet to accompany his brother.

Moreover, there was a duke residing within these castle walls... Though Alexander was merely a minor squire, a figure as insignificant as could be compared to a duke, he believed he must at least provide his brother with a fallback—

a retreat he hoped would never be needed, but one that absolutely had to exist.

Alexander's thoughts were complex, but Tang Feiliu had little to ponder. He returned to the castle cheerfully, happily asking Ivana to arrange a room for his brother... only to realize he seemed to have forgotten to tell his dear brother something.

Alexander said sheepishly, "No need to trouble yourself. I'll just stay next to my brother."

Then, filled with curiosity, he asked, "I wonder where Lance is staying?"

...The atmosphere instantly grew silent and awkward. Ivana looked at Tang Feiliu, who glanced around uncertainly before finally asking in surprise, "Brother, didn't I tell you?"

Alexander tilted his head, a sense of foreboding creeping over him. He narrowed his eyes in confusion and asked, "...Is there something I should know?"

"Bro, seeing you like this, your eyes really do resemble mine! We truly are brothers... right, Ivans?!" Tang Feiliu frantically jabbed his personal valet.

"Yes, except for the color, they're practically identical!" Ivanis hurried forward to help Tang Feiliu out of his predicament, smiling at Alexander as he said, "Sir, how about I arrange for you to stay on the third floor? The view is splendid—it overlooks Swan City down below. At night, you can see the lights at the foot of the mountain, and in the morning, the rising smoke from the kitchens. It's truly breathtaking..."

"No need. I'll stay with my brother." Alexander glanced at Tang Feiliu, who was hanging his head, and asked, "So... where exactly do you live, Lance?"

"...I, I..." Tang Feiliu felt like a teenager caught by his parents in a hotel room with his girlfriend. His emotions were incredibly complicated. Staring at his own toes, he paused for a long moment before softly replying, "I live on the fifth floor..."

"And?" Alexander pressed relentlessly.

"...With Edward." Tang Feiliu's voice was barely above a whisper, but Alexander understood perfectly.

Alexander took a deep breath. He even smiled at the deferential Ivans beside him and said, "Could you please leave me alone with my brother for a moment?"

Ivans looked at Tang Feiliu. Though she appeared utterly defeated, she nodded. Only then did Ivans step out.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Alexander bellowed the moment Ivans closed the heavy door, leaving only the two brothers in the room. He glared at his younger sibling with disappointment, "You... you're just going to live with him?!"

"...Well, what else could I do?" Tang Feiliu stared blankly at his brother. "...We can't get married here..."

"True, but even as lovers, there are ranks!" Alexander's eyes flashed red as he slammed his fist on the table. "How dare he treat my brother like this? How dare he treat you like this?!"

Clearly, Alexander was now seething with hatred toward Edward.

Tang Feiliu stared blankly at her furious brother, momentarily unable to follow Alexander's train of thought.

Author's Note:

Thanks to Jary and Cactus Dumpling for the donations.

Also, yesterday's nutrient injections saw another huge leap forward—deeply grateful... (When I saw someone mention injecting nutrients into the author's anus, my butt clenched tight! So tense!)

Also, thank you to the little angels who chip in points chapter by chapter.

After heavy snow came freezing rain... My hands are cold, my feet are cold, but with your comments, I've bravely crawled back to keep writing!