Redemption of the Blue Rose Princess - Chapter 9.3
Chapter 9-3
Father is meeting someone from Ealdar secretly.
This fact made shocked Riddhe.
It was a fact that some Ealdar merchants would occasionally visit the Sutherland’s estate. After all, Viola was the center of the trade, a lot of merchants from neighboring countries would visit the city to do business. Naturally, those merchants would visit the Duke to show their respects to him.
However, Riddhe knew that his father never tried to get closer than necessary with those merchants. In the first place, to be invited to his study was a privilege that most of the people that worked with him couldn’t even get, let alone some random merchant from Ealdar.
Riddhe shook his head, trying to shake off the unpleasant thought that suddenly popped out of his mind.
Lloyd, his father, was a man who respected tradition and order. He kept a close eye on the Privy Council to ensure that the Kingdom wouldn’t stray off the correct path. Riddhe admired his father greatly and he always dreamed that one day he would be able to follow in his father’s footsteps and bring order and peace to the Kingdom when he finally succeeded the dukedom.
Even if father and the Eardal had a secret connection, it should be something that would benefit the Kingdom, there’s no need to doubt him.
While Riddhe was struggling to keep his thoughts in check, the conversation between Lloyd and his visitor continued unhindered.
“I’m relieved to confirm the Duke’s firm stance. I’m sure that person will be very pleased with you.”
“Please tell that person that the Sutherland will not back down on their promises. We will certainly bury that proposal for the trading company to the ground with our own hands. That person only needs to fulfill their promises to us.”
Lloyd’s gaze sharpened as he said this. The visitor who met this gaze laughed in amusement in response.
Then, the man said something that gave Riddhe the biggest shock yet.
“Don’t worry, my lord always keeps his promises. When His Highness Fritz’s reign comes, he will surely welcome the Privy Council to his side with open arms.”
* * *
“Excuse me, young master. The maid told me that you wanted to see me, is that true?”
Albert entered the room with his usual cheerful smile. However, his young master’s face was gloomy, he only took a glance at the young servant who was standing in front of the door.
The clever servant immediately noticed that something was wrong with his young master. Riddhe was a man whose emotions easily showed on his face. You could tell at a glance if he was angry, irritated, or happy just by looking at his face.
And Riddhe’s current state was… complicated… He looked exhausted as he sank down on the sofa, his four limbs looked abnormally weak. What surprised Albert was the normally arrogant man seemed to be deeply hurt by something.
“What’s wrong, young master? Did something happen?”
Albert called him out with the title he had been using since their childhood, this only made the young noble more uncomfortable than he already felt. He then looked up at the worried-looking servant with his dark and stagnant eyes.
“That man… You know who he is, don’t you?”
“Wha…?”
The servant was at a loss, trying to rack his brain for a reply. When Riddhe saw this, his face was twisted in anger as he stood up from the sofa and grabbed the young servant’s collar.
“Answer me, Al! I know you’ve been lying to me! Even though we’ve been together since we were children, you still deceived me like this!!”
Albert’s face turned pale after hearing his young master’s angry voice. That was when he realized that the latter had visited Lloyd’s room without him knowing. He was thinking about escaping, but Riddhe wasn’t lenient enough to let him off easily.
“Now, answer me! Who is that Ealdar guy that visited my father?! My father… father…!”
“Let go him go, son. It was me who ordered him to hide this matter from you.”
Lloyd’s deep voice made Riddhe reflexively release Albert, though that was not because he actually wanted to obey his father, but because he didn’t expect that he would be meeting his father this soon.
“Father…”
Before he knew it, his father was standing by the open door. In contrast to his son, who was clearly upset, Lloyd had a calm and composed look on his face.
“I saw someone sneaking around, so it was you after all. I thought you said you were able to keep him in his room without arousing his suspicions, Albert.”
“…Please forgive me, Master.”
In front of such exchanges, even the talented Riddhe was dumbstruck by his father’s behavior.
In the meantime, Lloyd ordered Albert to leave the room. The servant wanted to stay inside, but Lloyd didn’t allow it. After one last look at Riddhe, the young servant eventually left the room.
Once they were alone and after carefully checking that no one was eavesdropping on them, Lloyd finally spoke up.
“You are not good at hiding things, that’s why I’ve never told you this. But, I think it’s about time that I do…”
With that, Lloyd opened his heavy mouth and told Riddhe about the truth that he was not aware of.
TL: Iyo