Final Chapter: The Way to a Witch’s Heart
ALL of the newspapers jumped on the arrest of Count Groves and the illegal gambling incident at once. It was a rarity for every paper, from the most trusted news source to the sleaziest tabloid, to report relatively the same thing on the same topic:
“The Fall of a Noble Dynasty. Was it All in the Art?”
“The Underbelly of an Exhausted Hylantian Gentleman. Marquis Groves Arrested for Illegal Gambling!”
Surely, Yuuri had read the papers and learned that Ernest’s classified mission was over. He was making his way through his mountain of paperwork as fast as possible so he could finish his work at the palace and go see her.
Though he was being used for odd jobs lately, his original job had been to serve at the King’s side and help him process approvals on various documents.
“Ernest, you seem distracted…” King Rodrick II said to his subordinate with a subdued expression from across the room, where he sat pressing his seal to a mountain of documents.
“You must be imagining things, Your Highness. There isn’t a purer soul among the nobility than I.”
“How impudent to misrepresent yourself so. Aren’t you going to see the young lady of the Watoh family?”
“Once I’ve cleared this mountain of paperwork. I would hate for anyone to accuse me of being lax in my duties.”
Ernest had been trying to hide the fact that he was anxious to see her, as the King had suspected. If he were being true to his heart, he might have said, “please let me leave on time today. Please don’t ask why and please don’t interfere.”
But the intuitive, honest king had rightly guessed what was on Ernest’s mind and called him on it.
“I need your help with a certain matter.”
“Anything you desire, Your Highness.”
“It’s about the new roadway and the construction on that bridge over Rhinwest River.”
He was referring to a multiyear initiative to build a bridge over the river that formed the western border between Hylant and their neighbor, Fosdan. Rhinwest River was wide, and the cost of building a bridge over it was enormous. In the interim, there was much debate over whether people should use the existing bridge or travel by boat to get across. They were trying to figure out which option would best allow trade to continue between their most prominent cities.
There were many things to consider. With the bridge benefiting both nations, how should the costs and labor be divided? Should any changes be made to the current tariffs in place? There was also the matter of small agrarian communities near the bridge and how they should be restructured to best benefit from the bridge.
“Would you be willing to travel to Fosdan as our plenipotentiary ambassador?”
A normal ambassador was dispatched to an allied nation to serve as a government liaison and advocate for citizens from his or her home country. But a plenipotentiary was expected to carry out negotiations and even sign off on policies on behalf of the king, essentially acting as his proxy.
Thus, King Rodrick intended to place the full burden of negotiations for the bridge over Rhinwest River on Ernest’s shoulders.
“Your Highness, don’t you think you’re working me a little too hard these days? I really could use a vacation…”
“I certainly do, but there’s a shortage of men of your caliber, my friend.”
Several prominent government officials had been arrested in the illegal gambling shakedown. It wasn’t enough of a scandal to shake the foundations of a nation with as rich a history as Hylant’s, but it did mean that some of its civil servants would be tied up for some time.
“…This really does pose a problem.”
Ernest’s hesitance wasn’t merely because he was in wont of a vacation. If he took the position and relocated to Fosdan, he could be gone for months or even years.
What would happen to Yuuri if he were gone for that long?
“Well, you won’t have to leave today. I can grant you three months to put your affairs in order.”
“Three months…? I see. Would you permit me to bring my bride with me then?”
If he couldn’t be sure when, if ever, he was to return, then obviously his only option was to bring Yuuri with him.
Rodrick was so shocked by the suggestion that the document he had been reading over fell to the floor. He furrowed his brow. “If memory serves, Count Selden, you are still single, yes?”
“I was hoping to wait a little longer, but I suppose if it’s in service to my most esteemed King, who am I to refuse? I will just have to move “happily ever after” up a bit on my calendar!”
“Most esteemed, huh? And do whatever you like! As long as the ‘bride’ in question is amenable.”
Ernest thought of the moody, raven-haired witch. He suspected the reason she kept her heart closed was because of their difference in status and her shame over her vampiric characteristics.
Even if he asked her to come along and told her he would be away for a long while, he doubted she’d agree. He could try to persuade her to come along as an employee, such as a servant or a private doctor, but that was a last resort. If he gave her the choice of being his employee, she would likely settle for that as the final destination for their relationship. He’d already tried to ease the awkwardness of her sucking his blood by saying it was a reward or compensation.
This was his chance. He couldn’t let it slip away.
“I don’t know if she’ll actually accept. That’s my concern. …This all really is too sudden.”
“She isn’t willing to marry you?! Then why not just free the poor girl of your advances?”
“As if I could, Sire! I’ll bring her with me.”
His mind made up, Ernest wanted more than before to finish his work at the palace and hurry to Yuuri’s shop. He straightened up and set right to work on the documents before him.