Scandalous Wedding Chapter 10.2

“I may be a bit clueless and slow, but give me information, and I can interpret it well.”

Thinking about the timing of his demotions, the broken engagement, and the sudden reinstatement, that was the only conclusion. From the start, Kiel demoting him was just too odd.

Honestly, even if Kiel had done it out of boredom, it wouldn’t matter much, but knowing the reason made sense.

Still, thanks to it, he’d seen parts of the empire he’d never have otherwise, learning and experiencing so much. Without those demotions, he wouldn’t have spent so long by the coast or borders.

Those were experiences and memories money couldn’t buy. Thinking about marrying Kiel, wandering the empire for four years felt worthwhile, and as he smiled, Kiel pressed his cheek firmly.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just.”

“Just what?”

“Everything’s good.”

“Really? I think everything’s good too.”

Laughing that their hearts were in sync again, Kiel kissed Asha’s cheek just as a knock came, right on cue.

The moon was already up. At this hour, visits or messages were rude.

Kiel himself often called people at dawn, but he didn’t enjoy receiving them, so he turned to the door with a scowl.

“Who is it?”

“Your Majesty, Auditor Hemington from the special auditors has urgent news.”

Hemington meant MacGain.

It was about time for news that Allen and Esael crossed the border, so Kiel, holding Asha, replied curtly,

“Come in.”

Kneading Asha’s plump cheek, he waited. Soon, the door opened, and MacGain stepped in, his face oddly tense.

Seeing Kiel with Asha on his lap, MacGain’s face twisted briefly before he forced it neutral and approached.

“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. I came despite the hour with urgent news.”

“You know that, huh?”

Meaning if the news wasn’t big, he wouldn’t let it slide. MacGain, catching it, hurried on.

“Two pieces of news. One’s good, the other seems bad at first but might be good or bad depending—hard to say.”

The unspoken which first? hung in the air, and Kiel waved a hand, signaling to just say it. Used to Kiel’s style after years by his side, MacGain nodded and spoke slowly.

“First, Allen and Esael just crossed the border. They made it before midnight, as ordered, and asked me to confirm they kept your command.”

Asha let out a short “Wow.” He’d given them a shortcut, but a first-timer breaking the border in a day and a half was near impossible. A wrong turn or getting stuck in a valley at night could ruin it, so even he’d doubted it’d work, but Allen and Esael’s grit pulled it off.

Unlike Asha, Kiel looked unimpressed, like it was expected.

“That’s obvious. Next?”

Urging the ambiguous good-or-bad news, MacGain glanced at Asha on Kiel’s lap. Kiel quickly pulled Asha’s face into his chest, gesturing don’t even look, and MacGain’s face soured.

Your steamed bun’s your thing, not mine, his look said, and Kiel pressed again.

“Next!”

What’re you waiting for? MacGain answered short and sharp.

“A fire broke out at the Chester Marquisate.”

At the unexpected report, Asha, startled, pulled free from Kiel’s arms, lifting his head. Kiel, equally shocked, stared at MacGain.

“Fire?”

“Yes. Luckily, it was in an empty annex, spotted by a passing servant and quickly put out. The issue was after.”

MacGain glanced at Asha, nearly bare on Kiel’s lap, eyes full of worry and curiosity. Does he even know his place caught fire? MacGain wondered, unsure if Asha’s luck was good or bad.

Realizing which annex, Kiel prodded MacGain.

“After?”

“First, an underground passage in the annex was found, and the Chester Marquis fell ill from rage, saying Your Majesty surely used it.”

Kiel snorted dryly. Just now figuring out their own estate? They should’ve suspected when he never tripped their traps.

“And?”

“The culprit was caught on-site but denies it.”

Soot-covered, holding a can of oil and matches, MacGain added, and Kiel instantly pictured the culprit’s face, name, age—clear as day.

Still, just in case, he asked,

“Who’s the culprit?”

“Miss Alicia Paddington.”

At the expected name, Kiel sighed shortly.

No wonder she’d been too quiet since returning to the capital. He’d worried she’d actually improved, but that sickness wasn’t easily cured.

He’d predicted Alicia would cause trouble eventually, so it wasn’t surprising, just annoying.

Still, getting caught so clumsily was pathetic. If you’re causing trouble, do it slyly, not screaming it’s me.

“So, where’s Alicia now?”

“She just arrived at the palace. She’s a caught red-handed culprit, but… with her leaving for another empire soon, I came to ask how to handle her courtesy.”

Meaning, with two days until her state marriage departure to Felip III in Valpen, could they interrogate her as a criminal?

It was tricky. Kiel had let Rubin slide for trying to kidnap Asha, sending him to Mason, and punishing Alicia, soon Valpen’s empress, was tough.

Kiel calculated fast.

Locking Alicia in a sanatorium forever for her crimes—safe? Or sending her to Valpen as empress—safer?

The former was simpler, but she could escape again, like now. With Rubin gone to Mason, she’d inherit the Paddington fortune, and money-crazed folks might enable her.

Valpen was the same risk, but it’d take time to return, and he could bar her at the border…

That settled it.

“Drop this matter and bring Alicia to the inner palace reception room. Prepare a mirror, the portrait of Aira with her newborn, and the Valpen emperor’s portrait. Also, the Kapin imperial genealogy.”

The seemingly random list made MacGain look puzzled.

“Portraits?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

The Valpen emperor’s portrait made sense, but Aira’s? MacGain was baffled, but Kiel had no intent to explain.

“Just do it.”

You’ll see, his look said, and MacGain left, nodding. Alone again, Asha turned to Kiel, realizing.

“The steamed-bun-hunting witch was Alicia?”

“Yup. She’s… sick.”

In the head, he meant, and Asha got serious.

“More than you?”

“…That’s pretty rude, you know.”

Why compare to her? Kiel flicked Asha’s forehead, and Asha grinned cheekily.

“You’re not exactly normal either.”

At Asha’s bold jab, Kiel’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

Asha had grown up a lot.

“My steamed bun’s getting too smart.”

If he gets smarter than me, we’re in trouble, Kiel teased, kissing Asha’s cheek before patting his butt to get up, standing slowly.

“I’m off to deal with the arsonist, so stay put. Don’t wander off and vanish.”

“Can’t I come?”

“No. Alicia’ll try to roast you alive if she sees you.”

It’s her hobby, Kiel muttered, stepping out, and Asha hurried to his side.

“Why burn me?”

“She loves roasts. Especially steamed bun roasts.”

“Is roasted steamed bun tasty?”

Asha’s eyes sparkled at the new recipe, and Kiel gave a wry smile. With no greed except for food, always shoving things in his mouth since childhood, he was hooked by the absurd idea of roasting a steamed bun.

“Steamed buns are best steamed. Stay here.”

And don’t leave, just in case, he added, and Asha nodded.

“Okay. I’ll finish the wish application.”

With a reluctant glance back, Kiel ruffled Asha’s hair roughly and dragged his feet away.

He’d cured Rubin’s diarrhea to convince Alicia, but she’d caused trouble first.

Maybe this was better. He’d doubted Rubin’s ability and felt uneasy entrusting it, so laying the groundwork himself to hand off was good.

Rubin could handle the rest, right?

“Such a handful…”

Muttering that his uncle, cousins, all needed so much work, Kiel quickened his pace, vowing to ship Alicia off today.

* * *

The moon was tilting west. Entering the inner palace reception room late, Kiel shielded his eyes as if seeing something horrific.

The room, decorated lavishly to his taste, framed Alicia in a ghastly state. Her long, lush black hair was singed and curled, her face and clothes smeared with soot. The stench of oil around her was nauseating.

Whether she meant to start the fire or immolate herself, the oil smell was so strong it turned his stomach.

Caught like that in front of a burning building, yet denying it…

Come to think of it, three years ago was similar. Caught by the capital guard with an oil can outside a burning steamed bun shop, she’d claimed she was strolling. At dawn. With an oil can.

If she were a stranger, fine, but as his cousin, it was mortifying. Couldn’t she at least not get caught?

The Paddington line didn’t seem too stable either, Kiel mused, when Alicia spotted him, leaping up to curtsy.

“Your Majesty, you’re here?”

Like a refined duke’s daughter, she gracefully lifted her skirt to greet him, despite her state. She hadn’t seen a mirror, or didn’t see the issue.

Either way, didn’t matter.

“Sit.”

Approaching slowly, Kiel took a seat, gesturing for her to do the same. Alicia, her grimy face beaming, sat opposite, twirling her scorched hair shyly, smiling in a way that was more creepy than sweet.

Unsettled by her eerie vibe, Kiel cut to the chase.

“Why’d you set fire to the Chester Marquisate?”

“Me, start a fire? That’s a misunderstanding. I was just passing by.”

With her bomb-blasted hair, she lied smoothly.

In that moment, Kiel felt their shared blood. Briefly.

“At midnight, with an oil can?”

“I ran out of lamp oil and was getting more.”

“That’s not lamp oil.”

Noble houses used clear oil from flowers or fruits, not black sludge, Kiel pointed out, and Alicia laughed awkwardly.

“Oh, my mistake. I’ve never dealt with such lowly tasks.”

“Then why’d you do it today?”

“For a change of pace.”

“A change of pace, with matches and an oil can, standing by the southern annex, the deepest part of the Chester Marquisate?”

“Yes.”

“How’d you get in?”

With last night’s chaos boosting security, how’d she breach their fortress? Alicia smiled.

“I was just buying oil.”

“So why the marquisate?”

“It’s a shortcut.”

At her cheeky reply, Kiel decided to give her this one. Crossing the marquisate to buy oil was a fresh lie. A lie so absurd it almost felt true.

“Alicia, let’s be clear. You’re mistaken. I’m not your husband.”

With a dead-serious face, Kiel repeated the line he’d said countless times, and a murderous glint crossed her eyes. Not for Asha, but like she’d burn him alive. Kiel gave a bitter smile.

Alicia was oddly chilling.

Honestly, she scared him a bit.

He just acted crazy to keep people in line.

But she was the real deal.

Her eyes held the true madness.

“Still saying that? Admit it, Your Majesty. I’m your empress. You loved me. You’re just bewitched by that vile steamed bun.”

Steamed bun’s charm… not entirely wrong, but the premise was off.

He’d never loved her, nor married her.

He’d planned to talk to gauge her state, but there was no need.

She hadn’t improved at all. But leaving a record of her instability now was impossible.

She had a state marriage soon.

So Kiel wisely moved to the next step. Quick and clean was best.

Deciding not to drag it out, he rang the bell on the table. The door opened, and MacGain and attendants filed in.

Two held paintings, one a thick leather book.

Confirming his requested items, Kiel gestured to the book-bearer. The attendant set it before Alicia, opening the last page.

“You can read, right? Look by my name.”

“…”

“Kiel Elrond Leone Rochester Clarren El Kapin—see the blank beside it? Means I’m still a bachelor.”

Pointing to his name and the empty space, Kiel spoke, and Alicia, staring at the book, trembled like she was seizing.

“No way! It’s forged! Or you erased my name!”

“Forged? You think I, an emperor, would fake the imperial genealogy? That’s pretty bold.”

Her frantic reaction told Kiel she’d taken the bait perfectly.

When she was this unhinged, you acted. She couldn’t tell truth from lie.

“This is wrong! I’ll have the temple verify the genealogy!”

“No point. Your husband’s not me—it’s the Valpen emperor. Got it? You’re Valpen’s empress. Married long ago.”

At the bizarre claim, MacGain shot Kiel a what’s this scheme? look. But Kiel stayed calm, gazing coldly at Alicia.

MacGain knew Alicia was headed to Valpen, but already married?

What scam was this guy pulling? MacGain tensed as Kiel signaled the portrait-bearers.

At his cue to approach, the quick attendants flanked Kiel, raising their paintings.

The left was a crowned man staring sternly ahead. The right was a handsome couple with a child, seated for a family portrait.

As planned, Kiel extended his right hand to MacGain, who handed over a slender rod. Taking it, Kiel pointed to the left man.

“This is your husband. Married four years ago, with a three-year-old kid.”

What now? MacGain swallowed a scream. The state marriage was in talks, but the Valpen emperor hadn’t even heard the word yet. They’d never met.

Even if Alicia was out of it, was this scam okay? MacGain glared accusingly as Alicia, staring at the portrait, shook her head in disbelief.

“…No. Impossible.”

“Yes, it’s true. Look closely. It’ll come back. Familiar, right? The man you loved.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t this face familiar? Look at the eyes, the features. Very familiar.”

Not letting her argue, insisting he was right, Kiel’s confident push shook her eyes. She was hooked.

He was exploiting her suggestibility perfectly.

“…Now that you mention it, it feels… familiar…”

“Look closely. The face of the man you loved. This jawline, nose, lips. The horse-faced man you adored.”

At Kiel’s description, Alicia tilted her head, studying the Valpen emperor’s portrait.

“Really?”

“Yes. You loved the Valpen emperor, he loved you, you married him. So, you’re Valpen’s empress. Now, this picture—see this woman?”

Kiel pointed to the blonde holding a child in the family portrait.

MacGain nearly shouted internally.

How was that Alicia?

“…That’s me?”

“Yes.”

“That’s weird…”

“No, it’s right.”

“She’s blonde.”

Alicia’s head might hurt, but her eyes worked. That woman wasn’t her.

It was a portrait of Princess Aira, painted three years ago with Esael and their newborn. Both being cousins, their features were similar, and it was just a painting.

But her black hair as blonde? And the youthful Esael versus the horse-faced man on the left—totally different.

How do you scam like this? MacGain, stunned, waited for Kiel’s excuse as he tapped the painting’s top with the rod, spouting nonsense.

“Light’s angle.”

“What?”

“The artist’s interpretation and light’s angle. To the painter, you looked blonde. The sun was strong that day.”

“…Really?”

“Yup.”

“…The man’s face is different too.”

Fine, maybe the woman, but the man’s features were way off, Alicia noted, and Kiel pointed between the paintings, explaining.

“This is three years ago; this is recent. You stressed him out, so he aged like this in three years. Got horse-faced.”

“…Really?”

“Yup.”

“…Still weird…”

“If you don’t believe me, ask the Paddington Duke. He knows the details. I’ll leave the portraits so you can memorize the face. Just remember your kid’s desperate for their mom.”

“Kid?”

“Yeah. You and the Valpen emperor have a kid. While you were sick and visiting home, Felip III’s been raising them. Waiting for you to return.”

“…For real?”

“Yup. You and I are cousins, nothing more, nothing less. You insisted on marrying the Valpen emperor, so I sent you off. You had a kid, came home briefly with a headache, but now you’re better, so time to go back, right?”

Finishing his glossy, outrageous lies boldly, Kiel smiled at her half-convinced demeanor. Then, with utmost kindness, he spoke.

“Alicia, I genuinely want you to be happy. This fire’s a big issue. Against the Chester Marquisate, I can’t guarantee your safety. But no one can punish a nation’s empress for this, so you’d better return to Valpen. I’ll handle the rest, so go back to the kid waiting for their mom.”

The fire was absurd but a good excuse. He’d planned to send her to Valpen in three days, no matter what, and she’d given him the perfect reason.

Thankfully, even.

“…Is that really my kid?”

MacGain, skeptical, felt his neck stiffen at her words. He knew Alicia wasn’t right and was prone to suggestion, but believing this nonsense? Unthinkable.

He loathed Alicia, but seeing her fall to a villain like Kiel made him want to yell it was all lies.

He hated it, really hated it, but the Paddington Duke, Alicia, and other nobles were so pitiable. The most pitiable was himself, serving this emperor.

“Alicia, your kid’s desperate for their mom. Looks just like their dad, so you’ll know them instantly.”

A little horse-face, Kiel added, and Alicia asked blankly,

“Then why don’t I remember?”

Of course she wouldn’t. She’d never seen them.

If she did, that’d be the issue.

At her obvious question, MacGain watched Kiel, wondering what excuse he’d spin as the farce grew wilder. Feeling like a front-row theatergoer, he saw Kiel dive into more nonsense.

“You ate a steamed bun after childbirth and got indigestion.”

What garbage was this? MacGain screamed internally, but Alicia was deep in thought, then nodded gravely.

“Maybe… that’s why I hate steamed buns?”

Don’t buy it, MacGain yelled in his mind, wanting to tear his hair out.

But Alicia was over seventy percent convinced. Kiel sensed it instinctively.

“Yup. Also, Asha’s not a steamed bun. He’s mine. The steamed bun’s just what you choked on.”

“Oh my, then I’ve been rude…”

She was fully hooked.

Completely under Kiel’s spell, her attitude thrilled him.

Even he didn’t expect a brief suggestion to overwrite twenty years of obsession so easily. She might grab an oil can tomorrow, shouting about steamed buns again.

But that was Rubin’s problem. Kiel had laid the foundation; Rubin could paint the details.

“Right. I’ll release you, so go with the Paddington Duke. He’s in the inner palace too. That’s all.”

Lying was fun, but it got old, so Kiel wrapped up fast, standing and ordering an attendant to give Alicia the Valpen emperor’s portrait.

“Study it all night. The more you look, the more love’ll spark.”

At his final words, Alicia clutched the portrait, staring intently.

For once, her eyes held life, not madness, glimmering.

Watching her, seemingly in love, with satisfaction, Kiel headed for the door, MacGain hurrying behind.

Crossing the room quickly, they reached the door, where attendants rushed to open it.

Stepping into the corridor, Kiel spotted Rubin standing stiffly outside, grinning warmly.

Whether exhausted from all-day diarrhea or shocked by the room’s talk, Rubin’s face was pale, almost black. Approaching, Kiel grabbed his shoulder, whispering in his ear.

“Repetition’s the key to learning. Three days—no, two now. Handle it.”

At the one-sided order, Rubin bowed quickly. Seeing him suddenly docile, MacGain sank into complex emotions.

He didn’t know anymore. Who was the villain, who the victim?

He’d started helping Kiel for progressive change, a better empire, but lately, he wondered if he was aiding a tyrant to rule.

Kiel’s politics were solid, he admitted. Politically, he was a wise, even great emperor. At this rate, history might call him a grand ruler.

Personally, though… well, a bit… a lot…

“You clean up your own mess. Tell him to do it. If not…”

Kiel pointed inside, then at Rubin’s neck, slicing his hand across.

At the chilling gesture and overwhelming look, Rubin’s face blanched, and MacGain swore again.

Never cross Kiel.