Josephine

Tang Feiliu knew Edward had always been resistant to her leaving his protective sphere, and she herself had no desire to venture out and see the world.

After all, this era, though beautiful, is also cruel. Never mind someone in poor health—even the robust among us, trekking through mountains and rivers, could easily find themselves in trouble with a simple stumble, a misstep, or an encounter with wild beasts... It's enough to give anyone a run for their money. While life isn't just about the mundane struggles before us, but also poetry and distant horizons, that kind of romance is only truly attainable in an era with advanced transportation and a sufficiently developed economy.

As a homebody, Tang Feiliu felt perfectly content just getting dressed each day and taking a horse-drawn cart into town for a stroll. He hadn't even considered returning to York; his apartment there sat empty. Grandpa Dave had brought back all his little belongings, and Tang Feiliu hadn't bothered with them since.

But this time was different. Tang Feiliu was determined to go to that so-called imperial city. No matter what secrets it held, no matter how much Edward resisted taking him along, Tang Feiliu had made up his mind—he would follow.

His brother was still there. Though Wright had written that taking Alexander was merely to ensure Edward would go to the Imperial City and help fulfill his wish, even without mortal danger, Alexander must be suffering terribly now.

After all, he’d been forcibly abducted. Simply waking up and grasping his situation would be enough to send Alexander into a panic. And Alexander was a grown man—the methods used to keep him compliant couldn’t have been pleasant. Tang Feiliu couldn’t dwell on it. Thinking about it further would only make him cry again. He wiped his eyes and stared stubbornly at Edward.

Edward ruffled his hair and murmured, "The journey will be arduous."

"I can endure it," Tang Feiliu declared earnestly, sensing Edward wasn't outright refusing. "I can endure anything. Let's leave now—the sooner we start, the sooner we can resolve this!"

Edward sighed softly, tacitly agreeing to Tang Feiliu's words. He murmured, "I'm sorry... Lance. I should have noticed this. I was too careless."

"No, you couldn't have predicted that Wright would repay kindness with betrayal like this." Seeing his distress, Tang Feiliu said softly, "Don't dwell on it here. Let's resolve this matter first, then think about other things!"

With that, he turned and left the room, intending to gather the essentials for their journey.

On the road at this time, if there were no cities, there would be no food—even if there were settlements or villages, if no gentlemen resided there, one couldn't expect decent, satisfying meals—let alone comfortable inns. In this era, when traveling, everything had to be carried along.

Clothing, provisions, even ample clean water.

Tang Feiliu was relatively clueless about these practicalities. His farthest journey had been a day's travel, whereas reaching the imperial capital would take over half a month. There were only three or four supply points along the route. Fortunately, Ivans and Dave were seasoned travelers. They swiftly organized servants to pack everything. Edward assembled a squad of knights, and the group set off immediately.

Tang Feiliu, clueless, could only fret helplessly. Edward shoved him into a carriage. After gazing outside for a while, he felt dizzy. Seeing his pale face, Edward could only hold him close, gently patting his back, urging Tang Feiliu to sleep and rest.

Within York's domain, the journey was tolerable. But once they left Edward's lands, the road visibly deteriorated into a rough, bumpy track. Tang Feiliu was jolted so violently he vomited several times. Eventually, he had no choice but to ride alongside Edward on horseback. Traveling day and night without rest, they finally arrived at the imperial capital, dusty and weary.

Truly befitting an imperial capital and the extravagant tastes of royalty, it stood in stark contrast to the Duke of Edward's castle, where quality of life was clearly of little concern.

From afar, clusters of people were visible. The outer city bustled with prosperity, teeming with activity. Entering the inner city revealed a cleaner, more orderly environment. Most residents were well-dressed and well-fed, with occasional ladies accompanied by young maids stepping out of shops and into their family carriages... As the capital of the dynasty, it felt like a well-fed noblewoman—rich in heritage and confidence—compared to Black Swan City, which resembled a young upstart brimming with boundless energy and limitless potential.

Each city possessed its own unique charm. Yet as they walked further, the streets grew quieter and sparser with people until they finally arrived at the palace gates.

Yet Edward's carriage passed straight through the entrance, following the palace's massive walls for some distance. After navigating the crowds, it arrived before a beautiful building beside a small blue lake.

This building exuded a sense of history. Unlike the palace's spired architecture, it featured smooth, curved tile roofs. The entire structure was painted in a time-worn brick red. A vast garden and hedges flanked the entrance. Upon entering, they saw the house steward standing formally at the doorway with all the servants, ready to welcome their masters back for a short stay.

The climate in the Imperial City was considerably colder than in Black Swan City. Combined with the exhaustion from the long journey, Tang Feiliu felt weary and weak all over. Edward carried him inside wrapped in a blanket.

Once inside, the warmth enveloped him. After drinking some hot water, Tang Feiliu slowly began to recover.

"Any letters for me?" After tending to Tang Feiliu, Edward inquired of the butler. This steward bore a striking resemblance to Dave in temperament—both stern and upright—though he was a full generation younger. Hearing Edward's question, he bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency. I shall have them brought immediately."

Shortly after, the head butler arrived bearing all the letters.

Most were banquet invitations sent unaware of Edward’s early return to his estate, along with some polite correspondence. Edward skimmed through them before spotting the royal correspondence. He tore it open, studied it for a moment, then whispered to Tang Feiliu, who was watching him with concern, "He says there’s a small ball at the palace later this week. He wants me to send him two invitations. He’ll meet us there."

"Could this be risky?" Mentioning the royal family made Tang Feiliu's stomach knot with anxiety. That Prince Wright himself would need Edward to secure invitations suggested complicated, convoluted matters. If something went wrong, the newly enthroned Empress Josephine didn't seem like someone easily fooled.

"It's fine. I'll inform Her Majesty Josephine about this," Edward murmured softly, patting Tang Feiliu's head. "Go rest now. This isn't as serious as you think."

Despite Edward's reassurance, Tang Feiliu couldn't shake his worry. He tossed and turned, feeling this was utterly undeserved. He gritted his teeth, cursing Prince Wright over and over again. For the first time in his life, he felt such hatred toward someone. Little did he know that on the day of the ball, it would be precisely this person who would cause him immense suffering for a very long time.

The ball wasn't exceptionally grand, yet its old-fashioned opulence was enough to leave anyone speechless. Noblewomen and aristocratic maidens vying for attention in exquisite lace gowns mingled with men clad in vintage aristocratic attire—some even sporting high heels and stockings, others draped in jewel-encrusted capes...

Had the timing been right, Tang Feiliu would have been in the mood to admire the gold- and silver-embroidered noble gowns. But now, he and Edward had no time to linger at the banquet. They hurried through the adjacent corridor. At first, they could still glimpse the nobles attending the feast from afar and hear some sounds drifting over. Then they grew farther and farther away. After ascending the stairs and entering the second-floor garden, they saw a woman with pale golden hair, dressed in simple loungewear.

Tang Feiliu was instantly transfixed.

It wasn't because of her beauty, but rather the way she sat there lazily sipping coffee. Her pale golden hair fell in fine, tight curls, suggesting a gentle disposition. Yet Tang Feiliu felt a strange fear toward her, sensing the same uneasy, shrinking sensation he'd felt upon first meeting Edward.

Edward clearly noticed Tang Feiliu's unease. He stepped forward and greeted her first: "Good afternoon, Your Majesty."

"Just call me Aunt Josephine," Her Majesty Josephine smiled, setting down her coffee cup. Her pale silver eyes turned toward Tang Feiliu as she asked with curiosity, "So this is the child you've hidden away for years? Not bad—she is quite beautiful."

"..." Tang Feiliu couldn't avoid it. Steeling herself, she offered a faint greeting, "Good day, Your Majesty."

Josephine smiled faintly. Tang Feiliu noticed her aquiline nose lift with the smile, her iron-gray eyes gleaming with a deep intensity. Her scrutinizing gaze was commanding and dignified—Tang Feiliu felt uneasy around someone who radiated such predatory presence. Edward patted him reassuringly before changing the subject: "Has Wright arrived yet?"

"That boy..." Josephine rose, leading them indoors as she murmured softly, her tone tinged with faint regret, "Did he say he wished to see me?"

"Yes." Edward lowered his head, replying softly to Josephine.

"...Do you think I should see him?" Josephine suddenly halted, turning her head to look at Edward.

Before Edward could answer, the corridor erupted with clamor and the sound of running feet. They all turned to see— At the far end of the hallway, Wright was running toward them, disheveled and in distress. His formal attire bore traces of blood. with pursuers hot on his heels. Behind Wright, a faltering knight desperately tried to block the advancing figures. One leg was clearly crippled, leaving him unable to keep pace. Yet like a cornered beast, he gritted his teeth, roared, and swung his sword wildly as he charged toward the approaching guards.

Prince Wright wanted to rush over, but he hesitated, glancing back at his knight. For a moment, he was both panicked and caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Halt, all of you!" Edward bellowed. "A mob can't overpower a single man? Reflect on your daily training regimen! Every last one of you, get out there now and train—run three laps around the Imperial Palace, then report for punishment!"

"Yes, sir!" All the guards surrounding Prince Wright's chief knight snapped to attention in unison. They then dejectedly sheathed their swords and turned to leave. Tang Feiliu stood bewildered, unable to comprehend why these men obeyed Edward's command. Suddenly, the tottering knight stumbled forward a few steps from afar, then dropped to his knees. In a faint voice, he murmured, "Your Highness..."

Before he could finish, Edward cut him off with a low reprimand: "Shut your mouth for now. I'll deal with you later. Where's Alexander?"

"That gentleman has been placed in an inn outside the city. He is being cared for and is now free," the chief knight replied, his body swaying unsteadily. Josephine spoke up softly, "He is a loyal and upright knight. You have not betrayed the oath you swore. Someone, take this knight away to rest and receive treatment."

As the knight was led away, Prince Wright, who had been wavering, finally relaxed. He stared wide-eyed at Her Majesty Josephine as he approached her, his voice trembling softly. "...Mother, did you truly intend to kill me?"

"Did you offend your cousin Edward just to return and ask me this?" Her Majesty Josephine stared at Wright, her voice suddenly icy. "You truly disappoint me!"

Author's Note:

Thank you all for your feedback—it has strengthened my resolve to keep writing for the love of it.