Dennis' office witnessed a rare sight that day.
Therese and Denise were sitting around doing nothing.
No one opened their mouths, but tension filled the room.
Knock knock
There was a knock on the door.
“Allow me, Madam Danielle is here.”
Tehys immediately got up and answered:
“Come in.”
“It is said that Duke Priem is suffering during the investigation, and it has been found that he gathered secret soldiers in his house, so the crime of treason was also added to him, whether it was the temple or the royal family, so there is no reason now to spare his life...”
“It seems that the gathering of secret soldiers made him fall from the eyes of the king.”
Danielle responded to Therese's words:
“Yes.
That is clear evidence of treason.
Even if he managed to get out of the temple unscathed in any case, the king would not leave him to die in peace.”
The meaning of the speech is that the Duke of Priem is doomed to death in both cases, whether by the hand of the temple or by the hand of the king.
“As for Sarah Mastieh, she will be released from detention after the investigation is completed, as we agreed with the temple previously.”
"good."
Therese breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her chest.
“And...”
Danielle tried to say something else.
“The king has escaped the trap.
The temple is looking for the priestess of the Haz tribe, Sarah Mesteh.
It is a minor matter.
They will release her.
As for the priestess, it is a major matter and they will definitely try to catch her.”
Therese turned to Daniel.
“Where is Scheherazade now?”
“Because of the inspection, she has not been able to leave the capital yet.”
She remembered the day she first met her.
After asking Jack to look for a suitable person, and after a long thought, she was the chosen one.
Scheherazade did not promise to guarantee her life when she brought her.
I warned her in advance that it would be dangerous.
But she didn't seem to care, her vision narrowed due to revenge.
However, she was aiming to return her safely.
She should have pulled it out more quickly.
Therese Daniel ordered:
“Help Sheherazade to hide well for a while.”
“As you order, Madam, I apologize for my negligence in arranging this matter...
We should have monitored the king more carefully.”
“Punishment is on me.”
Then Ellie, who was standing next to Daniel, interrupted:
“No, this is my responsibility, the punishment is mine.”
Daniel and Ellie bowed their heads silently.
“You both get out now, I need time to think.”
“At your command.”
It was an opportunity to get rid of the King and Duke of Priem together.
She thought she might be able to harm them even if she couldn't keep them away.
Therese looked at Denise's face constantly.
Is it a feeling of missing out, or regret?
His face did not change even after hearing the king's news.
When Therese frowned as if she had a headache, Dennis got up and began massaging her shoulders.
“Aren't you tired?”
"… a little."
“How about we take a little rest?”
Therese looked out the window.
Dawn had broken.
“Instead...”
Therese arranged the tasks in her head.
“I see you have a lot of ideas in your head.”
"maybe."
Therese answered simply.
Dennis got up from his chair and opened the window.
A wind blew, pushing the stifling air into the room and bringing in fresh air.
The air was cold on her cheeks.
Autumn was coming to an end.
“I know you have a lot of work.”
Therese raised her head and looked at him when she heard Denise's words.
“It's okay to slow down a little.”
Those words made her feel a strange feeling of emotion.
“No one is after you.”
"Good."
“How about we start breakfast?
I heard a rumor that my wife doesn’t eat well.”
Dennis carefully closed the window and extended his hand toward her.
“Should we verify this rumor or not?”
Therese held his warm hand.
Once I held that hand, I felt like everything would be resolved.
Dennis started playing with Therese's fingers.
I felt tickled.
Therese opened her mouth laughing without realizing it.
His words were true.
Most likely, after eating I will have good thoughts.
Just as Therese got up, she heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
“Sir, His Majesty the King requests your presence for a legitimate lunch.”
He was the king's servant.
He saluted Dennis and then spoke.
Denise narrated for a moment, then spoke:
“…today?”
“Yes and...”
The servant looked at Thérèse furtively and added:
“Your Honor is also requested to attend.”
“You mean me?”
Therese was surprised, as this was the first time the king had invited her to a meal.
“Yes, His Majesty said: ‘I haven’t seen her face for a while.
I’ve longed to see her.’”
Therese and Denise exchanged surprised looks.
But they only exchanged glances while the servant waited for a response in front of them.
"Good."
“Yes, sir.”
The servant left walking at a fast pace.
When the door closed, Dennis called to her:
“Therese.”
“Yes, my prince.”
“Maybe they called us because they sensed something.”
Dennis's face as he said this looked somehow serious.
“I will remember that.”
Dennis looked at Therese silently.
Then he pushed her loose hair back.
“I'm going to change my dress.”
"Good."
Despite the accumulation of things in front of her, Thérèse postponed thinking and focused on the king's lunch.
Early in the morning, Denis and Thérèse were invited to the state dining hall and paid their respects to the King.
“I haven't seen your face for a while.”
When Elliot addressed Therese directly, she responded politely:
“I apologize for my shortsightedness and for not having visited you for a while.
Your Majesty punished me for my shortcomings.”
The king nodded with his hand as if he did not care.
“Punishment?
It seems that you were busy.
Aren’t I an old man who has a lot of time?
Sit down.”
Therese was unable to respond and was at a loss after receiving a reprimand from Elliot before she even sat down.
It seems that he wants to deal with us like this today.
In usual time, the king was uninterested in where you go or what you do.
Therefore, Thérèse kept a reasonable distance and only offered her greetings from time to time.
In the suddenly cold atmosphere, Elliot returned to guiding them to the council as if he knew nothing.
“Hurry up, I'm hungry.”
“Okay, Your Majesty.”
As Dennis and Therese sat down, one fine dining meal after another entered.
Soup with cooked beef, grilled fish in butter, risotto with cheese and cream... these are all very heavy meals for breakfast.
Therese, who is accustomed to eating light meals, hesitated for a moment at the sight of the greasy food, then gave a calm smile.
Elliot picked up his dinnerware first and began eating what was brought before him.
Dennis and Therese ate in silence what was placed in front of them.
Food was brought in and out several times.
Elliot continued to quietly chew the food in front of him.
Therese glanced at Elliot.
It's time to talk.
Finally, Elliot put down the eating utensils, carefully wiped his mouth and spoke:
“That Fabrice doesn’t even respond to messages.
When will he grow up?”
Previously, Fabrice would stay at casinos or social clubs for days without being plugged in.
Dennis replied with a dead face:
“It seems that he is tired from holding his engagement party.
He will return after he has had a good rest.
Don’t worry too much.”
“Julian was recovering to the point where he could ride a horse a while ago, but his illness has gotten worse these days.”
“It's all because of my lack of virtue, so one of them does what he wants, and the other gets sick...”
Elliot said bitterly.
But his concern did not include any concern for Dennis.
Therese was quick to speak:
“Don’t say that, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty’s reign will remain in the history of Valois as one of prosperity and peace.”
“No.
I cannot face the face of His Former Majesty.
The life of a commoner keeps getting more difficult.”
Therese answered quickly:
“Many people were affected by Your Majesty’s speech at the International Exhibition.
Do not weaken and hold strong, Your Majesty.”
Of course Elliott's complaint was close to the truth.
Public complaints escalated due to the sudden increase in taxes.
Anyone who expressed discontent was arrested and labeled as rebels against the royal family.
Thus complaints were suppressed.
“Also, I have not seen an heir to the royal family for years, so this is just a deficiency in my virtue.”
Therese suddenly stumbled, after answering easily.
Dennis calmly responded to Elliott's words:
“…This is due to my deficiency, not the lady’s fault.”
"Is that so?
What's wrong with you?"
Elliot looked at Dennis, his eyes shining.
Dennis put down the eating utensils, wiped his mouth.
Then he looked at Elliot and said:
“…my deficiency in everything, including my blood.”
He finally got those words out of his mouth.
It was a bad hobby.
Did he call people since the morning to demand self-criticism?
Therese lost her appetite and kept staring at her unchanged plate.
Fat was leaching from the untouched food.
Therese rinsed her mouth with water and glanced at the king out of the corner of her eye.
Elliot, who had finished his meal, looked relieved now.
He looked at Dennis, who had been swirling his whiskey glass since the morning.
“Ah, isn’t my blood running through your veins?
It’s not right to say that.”
But his light tone was not reassuring at all.
"I apologize."
Dennis bowed his head.
"You have a lot to apologize for!
It's all because of my lack of virtue!"
Elliot took a sip of his whiskey.
“So I made an offering to the temple recently.”
It was a sudden change in topic.
But Dennis was not startled, and answered calmly:
“Did you do that?”
“Yes, and I also prayed.”
“What is the content of the supplication you offered?”
“An offering and prayer for the health and safety of the royal family was generously offered.”
Elliot smiled satisfied.
“Actually, I don't believe much.”
Denise and Therese raised their heads upon hearing Elliot's sudden confession.
“I had a dream since childhood.”
Elliot spoke as if to himself.
Is he drunk on some whiskey?
Therese looked at Elliot.
“I dreamed of becoming king, but I was the fifth prince.
My ascent to the throne was as difficult and arduous as picking stars from the sky, so I prayed to become king, but...”
Elliot looked off into the distance as if reminiscing about the past.
“But who made me the king of money?
Most people, when they have enormous wealth, give up many things they hold in their hearts.
Isn’t that exciting?”
“I believe that visible things - faith, dogma and truth - can disappear without a trace at any time.”
“Is that so?”
Dennis replied.
“Of course, knowing that… I also had stupid thoughts with false faith.”
There was a hint of remorse on Elliot's face as he spoke.
"Betrayed again!
Betrayed again!
And this time by a woman!"
When Therese saw Elliot grip the mug as if he was going to smash it, she knew he meant Scheherazade.
Elliot's anger ran deep.
“True love, eternity...things unseen.”
Thérèse was inwardly surprised.
She knew that Scheherazade had done her job well, but she did not know that Elliot sincerely believed in immortality.
Also, how could he reveal his feelings so openly?
That was amazing.
As Elliot was saying this, he was looking at Denise and her as if watching their reaction.
As if he was testing their reaction to his words.
Therese made a wary expression on her face.
Elliot knew she couldn't accuse him of infidelity in front of the temple.
It appears that negotiations with the temple have been completed.
Seeing Elliot's face, Therese realized this.
A face so full of confidence and certainty that even if you accused him of disbelief, he would not be affected.
“I am old now.
I have been manipulated by such speeches.”
Elliot said bitterly and drank his whiskey.
“The most important thing in life is money.”
“If I eventually leave the throne.”
“Don't say that, Father, you will always remain firmly in your place.”
Dennis tried to stop him.
It was bad nature.
This is how he continued to subjugate and control Dennis.
How does he treat Fabrice and Denis, his two sons, so differently?
Thérèse sighed secretly.
She felt it as she saw Denis and the king's conversation in front of her.
I realized that Dennis lived a dangerous life like this every day.
"No.
There's not much left that I can know.
If I leave the throne...
I have a wish.
Will you grant it to me?"
Elliot looked at Dennis with sharp eyes.
“It won't happen, but if it is your wish, I will fulfill it even with my limited efforts.”
“If that happens...
I'm considering living in Herzan.”
“…Why do you say that?”
asked Dennis.
“Isn’t it a country thriving with music, art and literature?
We haven’t had many experiences with Valois yet.
I want to live a second life close to art.”
Herzan.
Thérèse drew the name of the country suddenly mentioned by the king in her mind.
He didn't mention it without reason.
She thought they were statements with a reason.
“Return, these words will remain until the descendants of the royal family play in the palace gardens.”
“…yes boys.”
Elliot looked at Dennis for a moment.
“You're right, I was thinking stupidly for a moment.”
“Yes, father.”
“It seems like everyone has finished their meal.
Shall we head for tea in the tea room?”
At that moment, the king's servant came and told him that he had an upcoming session soon.
“Oh.
Looks like I forgot again to tell him I'll be there soon.”
“Okay, Your Majesty.”
The king spoke with a regretful voice.
“To spend time like this so much I've been so far away.”
"yes i will."
When the king got up from his chair, his little maid behind him helped him put on his coat.
Denis and Therese also rose and saluted.
Elliot didn't look at them and walked quickly towards the tea room.