“……Is this true?”
At the same time, inside the Imperial Palace.
The rumors that had begun in the capital yesterday had spread with such astonishing speed that they reached the Imperial Palace by today.
‘Duchess-To-Be Alzbeit and Duke Remut are getting married!’
It was only natural. The gossip concerned a figure who—for better or for worse—had monopolized all attention in the capital. The influence of Charlize was truly immense.
And Loxidian, the brother burdened with such a sister, was in a foul mood.
The office was saturated with an ominous energy. The air, thick with a malice bordering on killing intent, threatened to crush anyone who dared cross his path. Noah watched his master, the source of this oppressive weight, and contemplated quietly.
……If he loses control, is it really wise to bring the Duchess-To-Be here?
Loxidian was enraged by these rumors, his restraint fraying as his anger boiled over. Was it truly the right move to drag the subject of those very rumors before such a man?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, Noah startled.
‘……Why am I worrying about that Duchess-To-Be?’
Whenever Charlize sparked an incident that the Imperial Palace was forced to mop up, it was always Noah tasked with the practical aftermath. Under such circumstances, Charlize Alzbeit could never be seen in a favorable light.
“You brought her here thinking of your brother, right? You’re lucky to have a loyal subject like Sir Noah.”
“If you’re really sorry, help me out sometime.”
Noah’s thoughts tangled. But the internal debate lasted only a moment before his master’s furious voice cut through the air.
“I asked you if it was true, Noah.”
“……Yes, that is how the rumors are circulating. The veracity has yet to be confirmed.”
At that, Loxidian’s expression loosened ever so slightly—truly, just a fraction. Noah breathed a silent sigh of relief. It seemed the Emperor would not be losing control today.
“Does that bastard even deserve to marry her? It’s ridiculous. How can a man with no resources even talk about marriage? Tell him to hold onto his precious younger sister and wither away with her!”
“…….”
“Did he think he’d get his hands on my money if he married my idiotic sister? He’s got a twisted mind for such a hollow husk of a man. Hey, say something. Isn’t he a complete scumbag?”
“……If you require my objective opinion.”
When reflecting on the past, wasn’t Charlize the one who was objectively the villain? Noah, who remembered the truth of those events, considered his reply.
“I do not believe he is a scumbag. Rather, as a man, Duke Remut is…… I believe he is closer to being a decent man, or a respectable groom.”
“Huh? Where? Where!”
“First, beyond the appearance that women favor, he possesses a steadfast personality. He is honest and upright, and judging by the knights who serve him regardless of their rank, his character is……”
“…….”
Noah clamped his mouth shut.
His master was glaring at him with such intensity it felt as though magical beams might erupt from his eyes. Noah had no intention of being the collateral damage in this outburst.
“……Fine, let’s concede a hundred, no, a thousand steps, and say the guy is at least slightly better than pond scum.”
“Could you please use language befitting the dignity of the Emperor?”
“Shut up.”
Loxidian remained furious, but his expression had chilled, turning colder than it had been a moment ago.
Tap. He drummed his fingers against the desk.
As if the outburst had never occurred, the usual cold-blooded Emperor returned.
“If things continue like this, she will become a permanent fixture of that Ducal house, just as that greedy pig-badger, Duke Alzbeit, intends. Furthermore, it would be safe to assume that Remut will also fall into that old man’s hands.”
It was a reasonable point.
Charlize would be marrying as the Duchess-To-Be of Alzbeit. If Duke Remut then became a son-in-law to the Alzbeits, it would become nearly impossible to bring Charlize into the Imperial family.
“……Why is Your Majesty so intent on bringing the Duchess-To-Be into the Imperial family?”
“What?”
Loxidian smoothed his frown, looking as if he couldn’t fathom why such an absurd question had been asked.
“What reason would there be? I’m bringing her in because she’s family, that’s all. If you saw your younger sister’s future being ruined, would you just stand by and watch?”
“…….”
Noah could not easily answer.
“Anyway, Duke Remut—that guy is a ‘no.’”
Well… he might be a decent fellow as a loyal subject, but he lacked the qualities to be accepted as family. By Loxidian’s standards, he fell far short of the criteria. Noah didn’t fully understand his master, but what choice did he have? He was in a position to follow his sovereign’s will.
It was just that, very slightly—truly, just a sliver—whenever he thought of Charlize lately, a thought would cross his mind:
‘Surely… there is no need to marry someone who hates you.’
The thought vanished into thin air as Loxidian jumped to his feet.
“……Where are you going, Your Majesty?”
“Where do you think?”
Loxidian flicked his fingers. The gesture was a clear command for Noah to use his ability. Noah felt a sense of foreboding as he looked at his master, then at the mountain of work on the desk—work that absolutely had to be finished by the end of the day.
The dread deepened.
“I’m going to her. Open the door.”
“……There is a great deal of work remaining.”
“Is that the problem right now? I’m just going to confirm the facts. Open it, quickly.”
Exactly as expected.
“Tsk.”
“May I quit?”
“Sure. Quit, and would you like to be re-employed as my slave?”
“…….”
Facing such stubborn, explosive petulance from his master, Noah sincerely wanted to draft a resignation letter, if only for a brief moment.
* * *
“Greetings, Duchess-To-Be.”
When I arrived at the Remut Territory, I felt a sense of dissonance the moment I stepped out of the carriage.
‘The castle gates are wide open?’
It was unsettling. The gates, which had always been firmly barred to block my path, were left wide open despite my arrival. Moreover, as I stepped down, the knight guarding the entrance greeted me with polished courtesy. He was not the same knight who had thanked me during my previous visit. However, unlike the cold, uncomfortable hostility I was used to, there was no trace of it today.
……I should be happy, but why am I so anxious?
“The Duke is currently out.”
The phrase was familiar. Right, this is what my fiancé says when he wants nothing to do with me, isn’t it?
“Would you like to wait inside?”
……Am I actually going to die today?
I couldn’t let it show, but I was breaking into a cold sweat. What is happening? Why are these people treating me differently now that the rumors have spread? Why the sudden, biting politeness?
Seeing this, it was clear the rumors had reached even this far.
‘Ah, I think I’m going to lose my mind…….’
I covered my face. Even though I tried to compose myself, I must have looked pale, as my maid, Beth, who had followed me, asked a worried question.
Still, I had to see his face at least once, right?
The only comfort was that my heart wasn’t hurting—yet. With that shred of hope, I entered the Main Building.
I had marched in with bravado, but as soon as I stepped into the hallway, my legs threatened to give out. I stood still, taking a deep, steadying breath. Suddenly, someone approached me with cautious, hesitant steps.
“……Greetings, Duchess-To-Be.”
I turned to see one of the retainers who worked here. The elderly man watched me with eyes full of nervous anticipation, bowing politely.
“If it is alright with you, may I escort you to the drawing room?”
No, I had only stopped because my knees were buckling. Had I caused some sort of misunderstanding?
‘Well, I did once throw a tantrum and refuse to leave until he came out, didn’t I?’
I pretended to deliberate for a moment, rotating my ankles beneath my dress to regain some strength.
As I nodded toward the retainer, he offered an ambiguous smile and led the way with cautious, measured steps.
‘……They’re truly wary of me. Well, I suppose I can’t blame them.’
I stepped into the drawing room.
It was a space I had never entered before. For a brief moment, I pushed my worries aside to take in my surroundings.
If the drawing room at the Alzbeit Residence poured every ounce of effort into being extravagant, flashy, and ostentatious, the room here felt focused on stark cleanliness and efficiency. I knew that the Remut House lacked the liquid wealth of other families of similar rank, but this wasn’t mere austerity. Their style was refined, almost ascetic.
‘The room is just like him.’
Pure and clean. Those words described my fiancé perfectly.
And, I had to add, hauntingly beautiful. His appearance leaned closer to ‘pretty’ than ‘handsome’—though one would never guess it, given his broad, sturdy build.
Soon, a maid entered, setting a tea service before me. As I sat in the solitude of the room, sipping the brew, the anxieties I had chased away came flooding back.
I forced them down and returned to studying the room, only then noticing a large portrait mounted on the wall. It was so massive that my failure to spot it earlier was proof of how distracted I had truly been.
‘Wow…’
It was a family portrait, capturing a happy quartet. It showed my fiancé, Aria, and their parents.
‘They’re all incredibly stunning… or perhaps, ethereal is the better word?’
To be precise, the father possessed bold, rugged features, but the other three were possessed of a breathtaking, delicate beauty. My fiancé, in particular, looked so striking in his childhood portrait that one might have mistaken him for a young girl with a shorter haircut. The former Duke Remut held a different kind of charm, equally commanding.
‘So, such a beautiful pair of siblings was born from such remarkable parents.’
Both children seemed to have inherited the former Duke Remut’s features perfectly.
‘Aria had a much healthier complexion when she was younger. …It’s such a pity.’
Her cheeks were flushed with a vitality that made me wonder if I would ever see that color in her again. A family of beauties, generation after generation… come to think of it, Charlize’s mother had been a great beauty as well.
I gripped my necklace, then released it, reaching for my teacup once more.
Just then, a faint knock sounded at the door.