Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Echo of Memory

The morning air of Windsor Castle is cold.

Especially on the 3rd floor terrace of the mansion it was even more so.

On top of the castle being located on a quite high hill, and the Thames River flowing right next to the castle that coldness was felt deeper.

Princess Louise firmly wrapped a cashmere mantle (*Cashmere Mantle, shawl with fur) on her shoulders.

From the phonograph she just raised the switch an sorrowful melody flowed.

Dvoř�k, Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 2. She liked the sensibility that song gave.

Clatter.

Looking back thinking it was someone it was the Countess of Albemarle. She carefully placed the tea set with steam rising on the table next to Princess Louise.

"Princess, it suddenly got cold because of the rain. Why not stay in front of the fireplace."

"Alice."

Alice Frederica Keppel. It was the name of the Countess of Albemarle. Princess Louise often called her real name instead of her nickname in such private places.

"Sonia?"

"The nanny is taking her. The little one whined so much last night, how can one sleep?"

Sonia was the second daughter of the Countess of Albemarle born last year. And in high society they were suspecting that child as the illegitimate child of her older brother, Edward VII.

In fact that was the truth. The Countess of Albemarle also honestly confessed her birth to her friend Princess Louise. As everyone knows, she was Edward VII's mistress.

Princess Louise briefly looked into the teacup, then suddenly threw a contextless word.

�I've always been curious. Why mother liked cold things so much. And why she stayed away from the warm fireplace. I continued to not understand.�

"...Yes?"

Princess Louise swallowed the later words.

Mother, Her Majesty Queen Victoria wanted to continue chewing the memories of her young days.

Balmoral Castle in Scotland where cold winter is frosted.

The memories at that beautiful manor that father Prince Albert purchased, and the two built without caring about worldly gazes.

Come to think of it, Princess Louise had a story she had to share with the Countess of Albemarle now.

"Did you achieve the goal? When are you thinking of returning to London? Older brother must be looking."

"No, not yet. Asking the servants it seems that person also hasn't been able to return to London yet because of the rain. So I'm continuing to look for an opportunity."

"Is there a possibility?"

"Well, according to the servants he's a very intelligent person. They say he's already solved several difficult problems of the manor that no one could touch. Usually he just stays quietly, then at some moment everything is all solved and everyone is surprised. If he's that sharp, won't he find a method somehow?"

There was only one problem that even a mistress who monopolized Edward VII's interest couldn't solve.

That was exactly older brother's gluttony.

Even though already close to sixty years old older brother had no thought at all of quitting meat and alcohol.

Advice to take care of health he just let in one ear and out the other.

Whether thinking since mother lived long he doesn't care either. But it seemed he forgot the fact that mother always tried to eat healthily.

So when she heard the story that older brother bestowed a knighthood on a chef who cooks amazingly well, Princess Louise couldn't close her mouth.

Even gave the manor next to Windsor Castle? But older brother only said the calm words that if one meets him one will know.

So she called to Windsor Castle. That young man with the French name Jean-Paul Durand.

If a not special person obtained disproportionate profit with eloquence, she was thinking of appropriately teasing.

On the other hand the Countess of Albemarle, if he knows how to make delicious cooking enough to lure older brother, conversely wouldn't he also be able to make cooking that takes responsibility for older brother's health she devised a trick.

The two people spilled this plan to the remaining one tea party friend Lady Churchill.

Surprisingly Lady Churchill already knew Durand.

'Did both of you not know? Jean-Paul Durand, the very person who popularized Chicken and Chips and peanut butter, samgyeopsal in London, right? He's also operating the largest high-end restaurant on Lombard Street. I've also gone with my husband. It was very satisfying cooking. Especially the peanut butter desserts were an enchanting taste that can't be tasted anywhere in Britain. By any chance can I obtain the recipe?'

Already the rumor is widespread? But I've never heard?

'Because they're afraid of the Earl of Derby everyone is keeping quiet. That stubborn and obstinate governor gentleman stuck right next to him what he liked, moreover there's also a rumor that he even attached his granddaughter? By any chance did he even mark as a grandson-in-law candidate? But for that the status difference is a bit... Still who knows, if it's the Earl of Derby he might find a method.'

Louise was puzzled. If such a famous person why hasn't even one line appeared in newspapers or magazines?

'Right? Looking now it's suspicious? Even the Earl of Derby wouldn't be able to block up to newspapers. How did he roast those crazy reporters? I also want to meet once!'

Like that the three people gathered. At first a test of whether that young man knows their faces.

The young man safely passed the test.

The Countess of Albemarle and Lady Churchill couldn't hide their marvel saying his appearance was much more attractive than expected.

But for Princess Louise a completely different emotion arose. The moment she first saw the young man's face, her heart automatically fluctuated.

That face she met again after no less than 7 years. The appearance of that man the protagonist of the unrequited love that was never achieved even once in her life was stuck intact.

Now that time has passed, it was a young face without a single wrinkle, but those unforgettable distinct features were the same.

A prominent nose, clear jawline, dull hair. There even the eyes that look rebellious looked exactly the same.

The cold wind of the Thames River suddenly woke her from the past memory.

"Leopold..."

�Yes? Princess, what did you just say?�

"Huh? What did I just say?"

�You muttered some name.�

�Ah... It's because I haven't been able to sleep well for a few days.�

"You haven't slept? Oh, was the heating insufficient? Shall I tell the attendants?�

�No, don't. I just had a nightmare.�

Nightmare. It was a nightmare. It was sleepless nights that continued for a few days.

Leopold lived as a bachelor for 40 years of his life, and ended his life in a car accident in Vienna 6 years ago.

Leaving without even watching the deathbed, the last thing that made her recall him was one letter he sent before dying.

Barely reached with the help of the Virgin Mary, only one word.

The name that stirred her emotions again.

"Isabella."

"Yes? Princess? Isabella? Who is that again?"

"I can't endure anymore. Now I have to know. I'll ask older brother. You said the telephone line was repaired yesterday? Now I can connect with Clarence House, right?"

"Yes, because it's a dedicated line. But what did you just say...? Isabella?"

"I'll ask older brother. What relation that man and Isabella had. And even Leopold."

"Yes...?"

The Countess of Albemarle was very curious, but Princess Louise had no intention of explaining more.

She called an attendant and had the dedicated line connected. But she couldn't immediately talk with older brother. Asking the call intention between attendants, and adjusting the time to call again took more time.

The voice of Edward VII connected so difficultly felt a strange excitement.

- Caroline.

Louise Caroline Alberta. Now being called by the middle name has become familiar. Because Edward VII's first daughter's name was also Louise, he often used the middle name to distinguish Princess Louise.

"Your Majesty, older brother... No, older brother Albert."

- Caroline, you calling me. Unexpected. It must have been that shocking. Did you finally meet?

"Who is that man? What relation does he have with older brother? Where on earth did you bring him from?"

- Calm down and speak slowly. The noise is severe.

Static.

Whether because of the wind the telephone line seemed unstably connected. Princess Louise took a deep breath.

This question absolutely had to be asked, and she had to hear the answer.

That was exactly Leopold's last wish that made her unable to sleep so far.

"By any chance is he the illegitimate child of older brother Albert and Isabella...?"

- What?

The flustered voice felt beyond the receiver.

- I didn't know you would make such a guess. By any chance didn't you hear the explanation?

"What?"

- It's not such a matter as you think.

"But older brother, dozens of years ago with Isabella at Habsburg..."

- No. That's already a past matter. I hope you don't misunderstand. By any chance is Ally (*nickname of the Countess of Albemarle) next to you?

"No. I'm alone. I sent her out."

Worrying about the mistress's reaction in this situation now?

- Really don't misunderstand. I also only knew by chance. I have no choice but to call it the grace of Saint George.

Isabella, and Leopold.

The two were the nephews that Grand Duchess Sophie the mother of the current Habsburg emperor Franz Joseph I brought when marrying from Bavaria to Austria.

Older sister Isabella and younger brother Leopold with a 7-year difference. The two despite the age difference, looked so much like twins that if they disguised each other one couldn't recognize.

The origin family is not exactly known. Only the rumor that Grand Duchess Sophie cherished them like her own children and protected them in the palace was abundant in European high society.

Because of that there were even words whether they were Grand Duchess's illegitimate children, but as always with back rumors it disappeared without substance at some moment.

The then 22-year-old Edward VII, and 15-year-old Isabella he met as if passing at some party in Austria.

It would have been too good conditions to fall in love. If Edward VII wasn't facing a political marriage with the Danish princess.

Mother Queen Victoria who hated older brother due to father's death had no reason to support older brother's first love.

The two separated like that. From then it started, older brother's inexplicable womanizing.

Along with whether there was even heaven's prank, Princess Louise herself also couldn't avoid the fate of being intertwined with that younger brother Leopold.

The Edward siblings who fell for the Isabella siblings of the same face, similar personality.

That secret, has never been caught in history even once so far.

"Then who is it? Isabella, Leopold? Whose child is it?"

- I don't want to tell. To the point not knowing is better. But Caroline, you also have the qualification to know now. If you know this fact you can never go back. Are you still prepared to hear?

"Tell me right now. Because I'm about to go crazy thanks to older brother."

A long sigh flowed beyond the receiver.

- For now I want to say a few things first. First, I also only knew not long ago. Second, already many traces have disappeared, it was very hard to find out. Third, giving a knighthood to that friend was an impulsive decision, but thinking now I see it as a well done thing. Because the British Empire can officially protect him.

"What are you saying?"

- If you hadn't held Durand at Windsor Castle, everything would have returned to the starting point. Finding out that guy had made a spider web-like organization network in the London underground. If he had noticed even a little, he would have disappeared in an instant. Fortune was good.

"What? Older brother Albert, don't mutter alone and say exactly. Who are the parents."

- Isabella. Jean-Paul Durand is her son. The birth year is 1884, 17 years ago.

"I knew it would be. Because Leopold wouldn't give his heart to another woman. But where is Isabella now?"

The two people Grand Duchess Sophie cherished and cared for like children, Isabella and Leopold. They completely disappeared from high society 30 years ago after Grand Duchess Sophie died.

There were words that the jealousy of the real children was the cause, but the younger brother Leopold received recognition from Joseph I and obtained a count title and worked as a high diplomat of Habsburg so it was a hypothesis that didn't fit.

But Isabella was different. She who made high society noisy dozens of years ago disappeared without a trace.

Even younger brother Leopold desperately searched for her. Even until the moment death approached, desperately hoping for the help of her who was his lover.

Why on earth?

- She's dead. Assassinated.

"What...?"

Isabella died? Like Leopold? Why?

Edward VII was silent for a moment.

Because he was still holding the receiver, Princess Louise waited until his roughened breathing gradually calmed.

- Jean-Paul Durand, those who seemed to be that guy's real parents were actually Isabella's French attendants. It was erasing the traces while fleeing to London. They had the valuables and documents that prove the status as is.

"What? Then that man's father? That person?"

- The ones who killed Isabella assassinated him first. There's nothing more I found out. For the time being hide this fact. Because that Durand guy seems to know nothing.

It was shocking.

But Edward VII's words didn't end there.

- Durand's real father is Henri d'Artois. The last legitimate line of the Bourbon royal family. It seems he got entangled while using Isabella who used an alias before succeeding the French throne as a lawyer.

Princess Louise's front of the eyes gradually became red and blurry.

Edward VII's words were correct. Not knowing would have been better.

At that moment, outside the door an attendant shouted in a loud voice.

"Your Royal Highness Princess Louise, I announce the visit of Princess Alice and Sir Jean-Paul Durand. What will you do?"

Princess Louise didn't answer.