A Change of Husband - Chapter 67

After the meeting ended and the nobles left the chamber, Albert stayed behind to wait for Esperad.
He still had something to talk about with him.

Just as Esperad was about to leave the meeting room, he saw Albert and stopped walking.
“Albert?”
“I waited because I have something to ask. If you’re too busy, then…”

Now that Esperad had officially become the heir to the throne, Albert treated him with the utmost respect.
Esperad felt a little uncomfortable with how others were starting to treat him differently, but he nodded without showing much emotion.
“Let’s move somewhere else.”

The two of them moved to one of the parlors inside the palace.
Esperad looked at Albert, thinking it had been a long time since they last talked like this.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to ask about your future plans. Unlike what many expected, you didn’t get rid of all the conservative nobles. Most of the nobles are confused by that decision.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m also curious why you chose me over people like Sir Villian or Thomas.”

Today, Esperad had roughly shared a list of the nobles he planned to promote after his coronation.
He had made it clear that he did not intend to punish all of the conservative faction.
Albert’s question was expected—maybe even more so because of that decision.

“What do you think the conservative nobles are guilty of?”
“The biggest crime would be disrespecting the late king.”
“How many of them were directly involved in that?”
“Well…”

Albert couldn’t answer Asilie.
Among the conservatives, the key nobles had clearly sided with Count Mirk, but many others had just gone along without even knowing what was really happening.

“Of course, it would be easier to govern if I cut off all possible threats. But don’t you think maintaining balance is just as important, especially to keep the person in power constantly in check?”
“Do the progressive nobles agree with that?”
“It’s my job to convince them. I’m ready for that.”
“You’re trying to carry too much from the very beginning.”

Albert had known Esperad for a long time, long enough to know he had always been this kind of person.
Still, he hadn’t expected him to stay so true to his beliefs.

Because of that, Albert started to feel that Esperad was more than he had imagined.
Putting aside personal feelings, he began to think that someone like Esperad was truly the right person to be king.

“Maybe I am. And the reason I chose you is…”
Esperad paused for a moment.
Then, meeting Albert’s eyes, he continued.
“You’re not someone who would overlook my mistakes.”
“Because I’m not on anyone’s side?”

Albert gave a bitter smile, and Esperad nodded.
“It’s not just because of what happened with Countess Gariburn. It’s just… you’ve always been like that.”

The Gariburn family was part of the neutral noble faction.
Even though Esperad could have chosen a progressive noble who fully supported him, he had decided to bring Albert to his side.
That was because he knew Albert would speak up if he ever started to stray down the wrong path.

He wanted to become a king he wouldn’t be ashamed of—
Not to the people of this country, not to the late Hort, and not to Asilie who always stood by his side.

“I understand what you expect from me. I’ll do my best to become someone who deserves it.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s just one thing I want to make clear.”

Albert didn’t want to place conditions on Esperad, but this was too important.
He looked serious as he spoke.
“Please, make sure the truth comes out about Violeta’s unfair death. No matter what, you must clear her name.”
“I promise. Those who committed crimes will be punished.”

Esperad understood.
For those who had lost someone, the “just punishment” that society offered was never enough.
That made his words sound proud, but as king, it was still something he had to say.

The unfair death would not be forgotten.
It would remain in his heart—in the form of guilt.
Maybe forever.

After his meeting with Albert, Esperad immediately went to look for Asilie.
But once again, he couldn’t speak with her properly.

When he entered the bedroom, he heard that she had gone with Lydia to meet Agua Nale Roja.
“How did she look?”

What worried him most was her health.
Knowing she wasn’t feeling well, he had held back yesterday. But even that seemed too much for her.
This morning, when he saw that she still hadn’t woken up, he regretted it too late.
Now, he just wanted to make sure she was okay.

“She didn’t look well.”
“And her meals?”
“She skipped them.”

Madam Marce’s answer made him let out a deep sigh.
Asilie was always beautiful no matter if she lost or gained weight, but seeing her grow thinner still made him anxious.
He had asked just in case, but hearing that she hadn’t eaten hurt him.

Asilie always worried about his health and meals, yet she was far too careless with her own.

“When Asilie comes back, make sure she can eat right away, Rosetta.”
“Yes, understood.”

As Esperad sat down at the table, he suddenly thought about how close the coronation was.
Something felt strange.

Everything was going too smoothly.
Of course, after weakening the Bonaparte and Bellucci families, and with Count Mirk falling soon after, the conservatives had lost their leader.
Even so, it was all happening too Asilie.

Most of the conservative nobles had admitted to their crimes without much resistance.
Only Count Mirk was different.
He hadn’t admitted to any crime or even tried to explain himself.

That was odd.
He had been obsessed enough with the throne to keep his own nephew alive just to use him.
Why was he so quiet now?
It didn’t make sense, especially when he wasn’t doing anything in particular.

Esperad had actually expected this to be harder.
It wasn’t just about the throne—it was a conflict between the progressives and conservatives.

In that situation, just having Agua Nale Roja’s testimony, from someone with an unclear background, wasn’t enough to punish nobles.
So he had ordered people to collect evidence.
But now, it seemed like they didn’t even need it.

Only Count Mirk was resisting.
He was the only one not cooperating with the new king.

‘Is he planning something again?’

But realistically, that seemed impossible.

Esperad couldn’t figure out what was making him so uneasy, and that uncertainty made him feel worse.

“Esperad?”

It was then.
At the sound of his name, he looked up by reflex.

Asilie had just walked into the room.
He was happy to see her, but that joy quickly turned into worry when he saw how pale she looked.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Of course.”
“I heard you skipped your meal. Madam Marce is getting it ready now.”

Normally, she would just nod quietly, but something was different.
She didn’t look very happy to hear it.

After staring at him for a moment, she gave a small, somewhat hesitant nod.
“Then let’s eat together.”
“Asilie? Do you not want to eat?”
“No, it’s not that. I just… I feel like we won’t have many more chances to eat together anymore…”
“…What do you mean by that?”

The tone felt a bit strange.
When Esperad slightly frowned and asked, Asilie, who had answered absentmindedly, shook her head as if she had just realized what she had said.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just… after the coronation, you’ll be busy.”
“Even then, I’ll make time to eat with you.”
“You don’t have to, Esperad.”
“To me, that time will be the most precious and happiest part of my day. So I’m doing it because I need it.”

As she looked at Esperad for a moment, she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into his chest.
She was usually bright and active, but always shy when it came to physical affection—so Esperad was a little surprised, but happily embraced Asilie.
Her small, delicate body fit completely in his arms.
Feeling that her body temperature was a little lower than usual, Esperad hugged her a bit tighter.

Maybe after the coronation, he’d be too busy to even have time to hold the one he loved like this.
The free time they enjoyed now might not be allowed then.
That’s why Esperad wanted to see her more now, and hug her more now.

“Asilie.”
“Yes, Esperad.”
“…I love you. Truly.”
“So suddenly?”
Asilie’s voice changed slightly, but Esperad didn’t notice because he was holding her.

“Whenever I get the chance to focus only on you like this, I want to say it. I want to tell you how much I love you, how much you’ve helped me grow.”
“Did I help you grow?”
“Don’t you think so? I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for you.”
“Ha…”
Asilie made a sound that could’ve been either a laugh or a sob, and with her face buried in his chest, she slowly said,
“When I think about it, we’ve really been through a lot.”
“Everything that’s happened since I met you has probably been more unbelievable than anything I’ve experienced in my whole life.”
“I’ll never forget it.”
“Me neither. Yesterday, I had a thought. That when we grow old, it would be fun to sit together and talk about all the things that happened before the coronation.”

Watching Asilie as she slept, he had thought something so silly.
That they would pass the throne to their children and live together in a quiet place, looking back on their younger days with joy and laughter.
Even then, Esperad knew he would still love her.
He also wondered what Asilie would look like when she was older.
Her years of life would show like rings on a tree, and surely, she would be even more beautiful.

“…I really hope that happens.”
“It will. That’s why I’m going to keep doing my best every single day.”
“You’ll be a good king, right?”
“I’ll be a king who’s not ashamed to face you.”
“Then Astel will become a better country too.”
“I’ll have to keep trying to make sure of that.”
“I’m sure it will.”

It felt like they were finally having a real conversation again.
Esperad now wanted to look at her face instead of just holding her.
But Asilie tightened her arms around him even more, and he looked down in confusion.
Then he saw that she was crying.

“Asilie? Why are you crying?”
“…Hic…”
When he asked, her tears—which she had barely been holding back—suddenly spilled out, and she began to sob deeply without being able to speak.
His chest grew damp with her tears.
He didn’t know why, but it didn’t seem like something he could just ignore. Her sobs were full of pain.

“Is something wrong?”
“Hic… n-no…”
But he couldn’t take that answer at face value.
With a frown of concern, Esperad soon remembered that Asilie had met with Agua Nale Roja.

“Did that mage say something ominous to you?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…”
Asilie barely swallowed her sobs and lifted her head.
Her face, soaked in tears, looked truly heart-wrenching.

“I just realized how much has happened to us. How long I’ve been able to enjoy time like this. That’s all…”
“Is that really it?”
“Now that everything’s getting settled, I guess I’m feeling a bit emotional… and my health hasn’t been great lately, either.”
It didn’t seem like that was the only reason, but seeing her shake her head repeatedly, trying to reassure him, he guessed she wouldn’t tell him the whole truth.

Without saying anything, Esperad simply looked at her and then pulled her back into his arms.
Asilie, who had been calming down, burst into tears again, overwhelmed by emotion.
“Sob… sob…”
“Then cry as much as you want. You’re in my arms. I’ll hide your crying from the world.”

That was one of the few acts of kindness Esperad could offer her.
She said nothing and just cried, but for him, simply holding her, watching her, and sharing this moment together was a kind of peace and happiness.
After all, it was time they were sharing together.

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