The citizens of Riester, Corleone, and even the small ethnic tribes of the neutral region would know about the two greatest powers in the Venetiaan Holy Kingdom. Even if they didn’t know the details, once they heard the names, they would go, ‘ah!’ And slap their knees in recognition.

Both families had deep religious roots.

The first of those families is the Count’s House of Roosegaarde, which had four Popes in its history, along with numerous high-ranking priests sent to the Vatican. They were part of the faction that was loyal to the Royal family for generations, caring more about the prosperity of the Holy Kingdom and the Pope rather than power. The family’s upright personalities had been well-documented, with over a dozen of the patriarchs serving as the Count Palatine in the past. In addition to the long line of Pope’s, they were famous for the large rose garden in the Count’s Estate, with the family being called the great priests of the rose garden.

The second family was the Duke’s House of Sneijder, the family of the first Pope as well as two other Popes and numerous Holy Knights, a family that, to this day, maintained a firm grasp of the Vatican until today. They were known for their wealth and power that rivaled the Royal family in the Holy Kingdom. The last Pope, Elene Sneijder, was from the House of Sneijder, and her good nature during her time as Pope helped the family maintain its status. Their political influence also got stronger as the family of the Prince Consort once the Queen started to become physically weak.

Basically, the House of Roosegaarde generally gave off holy vibes while the House of Sneijder gave off worldly materialistic vibes in comparison. The personalities of the family members led to these different vibes despite both families being the household of religious figures. While the former did not care much for success, the latter showed no disdain for chasing after wealth and honor.

Duchess Wilhelmina Sneijder was someone who did not stray far from this mindset.

“……Please have a seat. I have prepared your favorite tea for you, sister.” Werner received his sister’s gaze without turning away as he spoke.

She flicked her chin. The Chief Attendant who came in with her tried to take her fur coat and gloves, but the woman motioned for him to go away. She sat down, looking like she would leave as soon as she said what she needed to say. It was difficult to ask her for more as she was the one who requested this meeting.

“You must have some urgent business after this, sister.”

“It is even more so on a day like today, your Royal Highness. How could I have free time as the older sister of the great Prince Consort?” Wilhelmina smiled gently as she added on. The scorn that she showed just moments ago had disappeared almost instantly.

The Prince Consort successfully smiled picturesquely as if he heard a funny joke.

His sister was born with natural charisma, the power to draw attention to herself from everybody in a room. She easily became a politician despite her extremely common color of hair and average appearance. Wilhelmina would have probably succeeded even if she had a physical disability or lacked political sense. She was such a person. She was used to being loved and had no problem speaking her mind.

Werner Venetiaan felt small whenever he stood in front of her. He didn’t want to feel this way, but it was something that was ingrained in his body for decades. He knew he was much more beautiful than his sister, but nothing changed despite becoming the subject of some persistent greed and praise.

She was someone who didn’t care about things like that.

“But please enjoy the refreshments, sister. This is a fresh-baked Tompouce.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the rumors floating around the Royal Capital, your Royal Highness.” Wilhelmina immediately got down to business. The siblings’ gazes intermixed in a complicated way in the air.

The Chief Attendant silently stood there as if he was an ancient statue in the desert.

Werner stopped smiling but did his best to sound calm. “Rumors are always out and about, sister. Which of them brings you all the way here?”

“I see that you used Sarnez,” The woman boldly commented.

Saying something so sharp while maintaining a benign voice was one of the many skills Werner had learned from her. He slowly raised his gaze to look at his sister. Her face was full of wrinkles rather than makeup. Her hair was gracefully twisted up. Although her dress had no special decorations, it was made with the highest-grade cloth and dyes. She only had the modest accessories handed down to her from their father. She was someone who had no need for beautiful outfits as armor like he did. In fact, the more modest her outfits, the more praise she received for being a noble who knew humility.

“You did so to get rid of a thorn in your eyes.”

“……”

‘How?’

How had his sister confirmed that? What did it mean that she knew about the truth? Werner bit down on the inside of his mouth. He needed to focus.

Wilhelmina was someone who was basically invincible throughout the entire Holy Kingdom. It was only natural that she had more informants than he did, as he stayed in the Royal Castle. He made sure to quickly look as if nothing was wrong. He had failed once again to get rid of that lowly bastard child, but his sister was not the right person to share that despair with.

“If even you are speaking like that, I guess the gossip about the fall of Duke Sarnez is real.” That was why he worked harder than usual to curl his eyes up. He wanted it to seem like it was no big deal. To make it seem like oh yes, there was a plan like that. “I did so because I could do so. Nothing is impossible for the Agent of the Queen. It is the fault of the one who messed up.”

“……”

The Duchess sipped her tea without responding. Unlike Werner, who was clenching both fists under the table, she did not look tense at all. Her voice was calm as well.

“You are no longer the agent of the Queen, your Royal Highness. You’ve handed it off to her Royal Highness, the crown princess.”

“Yes, sister. It was because I fell very ill…… Elise has been looking over the Kingdom’s affairs for the past few weeks.”

“I heard about that, your Royal Highness.”

There wasn’t even a polite question of how he was doing. Wilhelmina continued without any emotion visible on her face.

“Your Royal Highness, I recall that I insisted for you to maintain a tight grip on the position of the Agent of the Queen.”

The meaning was clear. The Prince Consort immediately went on the defense.

“I raised my eldest child myself. I was always by her side even when her Majesty was busy with the Kingdom’s affairs. She will not betray us.”

“My younger brother.”

‘My younger brother.’ That was the phrase Wilhelmina usually said when she was about to scold her brother. Werner subconsciously sat up straight. His sister’s warm eyes filled with frost for a moment.

“It is not the same for a child to cast aside her father compared to excluding her father for political reasons.”

“……”

“You need to think deeply about it. My eldest niece may be filial to you, brother, but she will not support you.”

She was clearly scolding him. Werner clenched his teeth but made sure it did not show. Elise was his daughter with Christanne. Even if Wilhelmina was someone who effortlessly flew around the political world, it was uncomfortable hearing her go off about his relationship with his daughter. He was the person who knew the crown princess the best in this world.

“She will return it to me at any point if I ask for it. Elise, that child, she is busy looking after the military.”

“Since you handed it to her so easily this time, it will not be difficult for her to take it over a second time.” Wilhelmina gave a short response back. Her gaze looked as if she thought he was a fool for not knowing that.

Werner felt upset as he responded. “Even if I handed it over a second time, I will receive it back three times, so it is nothing for you to worry about, my dear sister. Didn’t you agree not to meddle in the affairs that take place within the castle?”

“How great would it be if you made it so that I do not have to worry about it, your Royal Highness?” She leaned her head and glared. Her snake-like gaze glared at Werner. Wilhelmina was known for being pleasant and generous, but she had never been magnanimous to her one and only younger brother.

He did his best to suppress the chills he was getting around his body. He thought that it was smart of him not to drink the tea as he would have choked on it anyway.

“Your Royal Highness, I informed you about it the day before your royal marriage. You may live as you wish and do as you please, but…… You need to know your place.”

His chocolate-colored eyes glared at his sister.His lips started shaking with shame.

The Duchess continued without being affected. “I did not say anything when you brutally murdered mother’s cat, your Royal Highness. I didn’t blame you or hold a grudge even when mother fainted from shock and never opened her eyes again.”

“……”

Wilhelmina was someone who had clearly seen the process of this man’s growth. She could not love her brother at all. Their mother became significantly weak right after giving birth to Werner, spending more days in bed rather than with her children. It was useless even when they called the best doctors and healing priests in the kingdom. Her father, the late Duke, loved his wife and children dearly, but it was rare for him to return to the Lord’s Castle because he was busy fixing the damages from the war.

The second child grew as he pleased in such a situation. Regardless of the wet nurse and home instructors continuing to teach him, Werner’s cruelty never subsided. Tears and consolations were useless.

‘The order of the utensils is wrong!’

– Clang! Thump!

‘Ahh, young master! Please forgive her, young master Werner. This is that child’s first day so she made a mistake!’

He frequently hit or screamed at those under him. The violence was more frequent the weaker the opponent. He killed their mother’s cat when he was seven, and broke the leg of their father’s cherished horse when he was ten.

It was as if she was looking at the devil. He was so awful and terrible that she didn’t want to be close to him. In addition, the way he smiled like an angel in front of their parents was loathsome and despicable. When their mother finally passed away, the sixteen years old Wilhelmina wailed loudly as she thought to herself.

‘That child might be the devil born in human skin. The devil probably picked such a beautiful human skin to bewitch and destroy people.’

She also thought that her brother had done this to their mother.

“I quietly helped you when you threw a tantrum about killing a priest whose origins were unknown. It was because I thought that it would be helpful to the family in the long run.”

“……”

Becoming the Prince Consort of the Venetiaan Holy Kingdom was the only thing that Werner had contributed to the family.

“I also aided you when you tried to kill that priest’s son. It was because the existence of the first prince was not useful for us.”

“……”

“Wasn’t it enough to send him away as a diplomatic hostage?”

“My dearest sister.” Werner cut her off as if he was warning her. His voice became much lower. The light purple hair that was once praised as the most precious in the Holy Kingdom was shaking in anger. “I cannot become complete as long as that shit is continuing to breathe somewhere.”

“……”

“Sister, I’m sure you don’t get it. There is no way that you would understand. But that damn coagulation of blood that she named Jesse is a stain on my life that stinks and makes me want to vomit!”

His pale beautiful face turned red with shame. The Prince Consort’s voice slowly started to get louder.

The Chief Attendant peeked at him.

“I am the Queen’s husband! I am the partner of the highest figure in the Holy Kingdom! Isn’t this a position where having the noblest of things and perfect things would still not be enough? Why is using the Duke of a foreign nation that big of a deal that you came all the way here?!”

“You stupid thing!”

– Slap!

The Prince Consort’s face turned. The man dropped his jaw as his cheek felt numb. The shock took a few extra moments to settle in. His left cheek turned red and swollen and then he felt a hot pain as if his face had fallen into flames.

Wilhelmina had jumped up and her hand was still in the air. The tea that spilled dripped down to the carpet. The colorful cake fell and became crushed.

“Haaaaaaaaaa…… Ah……”

He could not express himself very quickly.

“Do you know what you have done?!”

“Why, why.”

This was the first time someone had assaulted him. Why?

“What were you thinking, urging the spy of a hostile nation to cause a rebellion?! Do you want to start a war? Hmm?”

“You dare. You dare to put your hand on the Prince Consort of a kingdom……”

“How will you take responsibility if your blunder leads to a declaration of war?! Forget your position as Prince Consort, the very existence of the entire family will be in danger! You stupid fool!”

“Duchess Sneijder!”

“Shut up!”

‘Clang!’ The Duchess chucked a clay kettle at the Chief Attendant. The old servant bowed and urgently moved back.

Werner had his hand on his cheek and was almost convulsing as he looked back at her.

“Why, are you doing this to me…… What did I do wrong?!”

“Her Majesty is the one you should be complaining to!”

Tang! She stomped her foot. The man flinched. The woman’s eyes were burning with anger.

“Her Majesty is the one who does not show you affection, she is the one who betrayed you. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for being so focused on some lowly figure for thirty years?!”

“……”

“Never again.”

Wilhelmina pointed at him. Werner instinctively held his breath.

“Do not ever think about messing with the Empress’s land ever again. Your position will no longer be safe if I hear about you doing something like this one more time.”

His pupils started to shake. His sister was talking about the possibility of a second Prince Consort. She was saying that she would take his title away at any moment and bring a skinny young boy to push into Christanne’s bedroom.

The Duchess did not care that Werner was in shock. She fixed her hair that was no longer tightly twirled up, checked her coat and sleeves before elegantly walking out of the room. She looked like the flawless matriarch once again.

– Click, creeeeeak!

– Click, click, click……

The sound of the women’s footsteps became distant. Red tea dripped down from the cracked teacup. Werner opened and closed his now blue lips without being able to say anything.

His family just proclaimed that they would throw him out next time. Something like this had never happened before.

“……”

It hurt. He felt hurt. He felt wronged, angry, and wanted to cry.

—
Translator’s Comments

You don’t deserve to feel sad.

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