“I can’t send my daughter to such a madman.”
He inherited the land at a relatively young age and firmly maintained his position while the King of Oberon changed twice.
The twenty-year-old youth who had visited the palace to present a necklace specially made for the former King Hobert as a gift to the Queen was in his late thirties when he attended Princess Sylvia’s wedding.
Now, when he came to King Valquiterre, he was on the verge of becoming his son-in-law.
“It’s good that he becomes the King, but...”
During the previous Queen’s reign, he had been so troubled by Princess Elise’s marriage to Rowen. Thinking back to the days when he had pretended to be polite and groaned at the feeling of being at a loss even when he felt unfair or unjust because the Queen’s arms were bent inward, he could not argue and pretended to be polite, his teeth were gnashing.
'He thought Irena wasn't a good match.'
That's why when Valquiterre invited him and Irena to the palace, he was excited and expected good news.
"At that time, I didn't know what kind of person he was."
A young and attractive man who caught everyone's attention at a glance no matter where he was, and even bewitched people, was a poisonous plant that should not be touched.
Inside his beautiful and elegant outer shell, like a flower in bloom, there was something so poisonous that it couldn't even be described as dark.
"They grew up like brothers. And to steal a woman who had a child from the territory."
Even after such an incident, Kaian, who trusted Valquiterre by returning the land of Pagos, was the best in the world.
If the Duke of Vermont had been in that situation, he would have done whatever it took to poison the other person's teacup or gathered his private army to fight a guerrilla war.
However, Kain couldn't just point a finger at him.
It was Vatlq who deliberately tried to deceive Kaian.
“The one who is deceived is only guilty of being stupid, but the one who deceived is different.”
How could he send his only daughter to such an immoral person?
When Claudel went missing, it was the Duke of Vermont who spread the rumor that Irena would become the ‘new Duchess’.
Kaian, who had previously felt sorry and licked his lips saying ‘If only it weren’t for Temnes’, was a man who knew his duty after seeing Claudel.
He thought Kaian would call her the daughter of an enemy family. How dare he insist on finding Claudel so loudly.
A person who cherishes relationships would surely think the same of the next person.
“My two daughters will become Queen and Duchess, huh?”
Even if Claudel and Irena’s positions were switched, what would it matter?
The Duke of Vermont felt a little relieved and cheered.
“By the way, that woman became the owner of Salon Arvo.”
No matter how much he recalled the woman who had come to the Castle de Valmonde, who had been burned, looked very unattractive, and looked all shabby from the arduous journey, she was far from the madam of the best salon in the capital that he had encountered when gathering information.
“She must have been sharpening her sword while attached to Temnes.”
If the Duke of Vermont had been in that situation, he would have done whatever it took to poison the other person's teacup or gathered his private army to fight a guerrilla war.
However, Kain couldn't just point a finger at him.
It was Vatlq who deliberately tried to deceive Kaian.
“The one who is deceived is only guilty of being stupid, but the one who deceived is different.”
How could he send his only daughter to such an immoral person?
When Claudel went missing, it was the Duke of Vermont who spread the rumor that Irena would become the ‘new Duchess’.
Kaian, who had previously felt sorry and licked his lips saying ‘If only it weren’t for Temnes’, was a man who knew his duty after seeing Claudel.
He thought Kaian would call her the daughter of an enemy family. How dare he insist on finding Claudel so loudly.
A person who cherishes relationships would surely think the same of the next person.
“My two daughters will become Queen and Duchess, huh?”
Even if Claudel and Irena’s positions were switched, what would it matter?
The Duke of Vermont felt a little relieved and cheered.
“By the way, that woman became the owner of Salon Arvo.”
No matter how much he recalled the woman who had come to the Castle de Valmonde, who had been burned, looked very unattractive, and looked all shabby from the arduous journey, she was far from the madam of the best salon in the capital that he had encountered when gathering information.
“She must have been sharpening her sword while attached to Temnes.”
The reason she had not taken any action against the Duke of Vermont all this time was probably because Claudel was in his hands.
“I can’t let Claudel go because of her.”
If Claudel was his daughter and the Queen of the kingdom of Oberon, she would still be meat in his hands.
Then, no matter how proud the salon owner was, she wouldn’t be able to bring up the old days with him. After all, if he could influence her daughter’s safety.
Thinking that he had almost sent Irena to Valquiterre without even knowing it, thinking that he had been hit by Temnes’s lover, made his spine tingle.
“My only daughter to a crazy bastard who was worse than an animal? No way.”
Irena was rebelling against her father for the first time, disappointed that he had been cruel to Claudel.
But she would eventually come to understand him. Taking responsibility and ruling is not fair and just, it is just a series of moments of making countless choices. Choosing one means sacrificing the other.
In a way that Irena could not understand, the Duke of Vermont still favored his daughter.
“Even things that were thought to be unsolvable, when you look back, are all the will of heaven.”
The heaven of the Duke of Vermont always favored him.
King Valquiterre's marriage announcement was imminent.
Surprisingly, the other was the second daughter of the Duke of Vermont.
Exactly a year ago, the young King issued a royal decree to Vermont and Temnes to marry, saying that it would be a matter that would be remembered in the history of the kingdom.
But did he know that things would turn out like this?
It was an incident where it was unclear whether it was a marriage or a duel, as it was obvious that even if the bride drank poison in the bridal chamber on her first night of marriage and the groom died, or the bride was stabbed to death by the groom, there would be bloodshed even between the two enemies.
The story of Claudel’s disappearance at the water banquet spread widely among the nobles who had gathered because Valquiterre had gone to Rowen to take refuge.
Many people were curious about what had happened in the meantime, but no one knew the truth.
“Didn’t she drown?”
“She’s not dead, so she’s still alive.”
Some even questioned her identity.
“The Duchess of Temnes is now the Queen.”
“Shh. The royal order has been revoked, and now you’re saying that again.”
The fact that Claudel was the Duchess in the first place had been officially erased from the history of the kingdom, so no one could even bring it up.
“Oh my. Her fate. What kind of luck did she have to take after Kaian and now even His Majesty Valquiterre?”
“Does she have some kind of fatal charm?”
“Then why did His Majesty send such a woman to Kaian?”
“How would I know?”
It was expected that the social circles of the capital, suffering from chronic groom shortages, would become heatedly rumored and jealous of Claudel.
However, the events between Claudel and Kaian, and the story of her running away with her child in her arms due to emotional wounds, were forgotten without even a moment to be mentioned.
Valquiterre, who was hastening the marriage without delay, announced that he would officially announce Claudel as a potential Queen at the July founding ceremony.
Claudel herself, who was practically imprisoned in the palace, was the only one who did not know about this fact.
'Why can't I contact my mother?'
When I returned to the bedroom after finishing the conversation with the Duke of Vermont on the day I met him, she had disappeared.
“I can’t let Claudel go because of her.”
If Claudel was his daughter and the Queen of the kingdom of Oberon, she would still be meat in his hands.
Then, no matter how proud the salon owner was, she wouldn’t be able to bring up the old days with him. After all, if he could influence her daughter’s safety.
Thinking that he had almost sent Irena to Valquiterre without even knowing it, thinking that he had been hit by Temnes’s lover, made his spine tingle.
“My only daughter to a crazy bastard who was worse than an animal? No way.”
Irena was rebelling against her father for the first time, disappointed that he had been cruel to Claudel.
But she would eventually come to understand him. Taking responsibility and ruling is not fair and just, it is just a series of moments of making countless choices. Choosing one means sacrificing the other.
In a way that Irena could not understand, the Duke of Vermont still favored his daughter.
“Even things that were thought to be unsolvable, when you look back, are all the will of heaven.”
The heaven of the Duke of Vermont always favored him.
***
King Valquiterre's marriage announcement was imminent.
Surprisingly, the other was the second daughter of the Duke of Vermont.
Exactly a year ago, the young King issued a royal decree to Vermont and Temnes to marry, saying that it would be a matter that would be remembered in the history of the kingdom.
But did he know that things would turn out like this?
It was an incident where it was unclear whether it was a marriage or a duel, as it was obvious that even if the bride drank poison in the bridal chamber on her first night of marriage and the groom died, or the bride was stabbed to death by the groom, there would be bloodshed even between the two enemies.
The story of Claudel’s disappearance at the water banquet spread widely among the nobles who had gathered because Valquiterre had gone to Rowen to take refuge.
Many people were curious about what had happened in the meantime, but no one knew the truth.
“Didn’t she drown?”
“She’s not dead, so she’s still alive.”
Some even questioned her identity.
“The Duchess of Temnes is now the Queen.”
“Shh. The royal order has been revoked, and now you’re saying that again.”
The fact that Claudel was the Duchess in the first place had been officially erased from the history of the kingdom, so no one could even bring it up.
“Oh my. Her fate. What kind of luck did she have to take after Kaian and now even His Majesty Valquiterre?”
“Does she have some kind of fatal charm?”
“Then why did His Majesty send such a woman to Kaian?”
“How would I know?”
It was expected that the social circles of the capital, suffering from chronic groom shortages, would become heatedly rumored and jealous of Claudel.
However, the events between Claudel and Kaian, and the story of her running away with her child in her arms due to emotional wounds, were forgotten without even a moment to be mentioned.
Valquiterre, who was hastening the marriage without delay, announced that he would officially announce Claudel as a potential Queen at the July founding ceremony.
Claudel herself, who was practically imprisoned in the palace, was the only one who did not know about this fact.
'Why can't I contact my mother?'
When I returned to the bedroom after finishing the conversation with the Duke of Vermont on the day I met him, she had disappeared.
'I'll be right back.'
She had left a short note and had not been seen for several days.
'I have to leave the castle as soon as possible.'
It was not easy to resist the ridiculous proposals that were within the reach of Valquiterre and the Duke of Vermont.
A proposal that I could not allow, but whose rejection was not accepted.
In the meantime, it was even more difficult when they forced me to wear a dress to attend the Foundation Ball. When the royal tailor brought me a smooth, glossy white silk, Bianque snorted.
“Hmm. Except for that.”
“Wouldn’t this be good?”
“I’ll wear it.”
The Foundation Ball was just an excuse, and without .e knowing it, it was a place to decide on the bridal dress that I would wear on my wedding day. Bianque sat down in one spot and took the lead in choosing on my behalf, who had little thought or reaction.
“Oh, so that’s what you meant. Put this over there.”
The place the tailor gestured to was already filled with a mountain of fabrics and laces of all kinds.
In contrast, I had chosen nothing so far.
If someone saw me, they would mistake it for Princess Bianque preparing to get married.
“Is there anything you like? Should I have them bring something else?”
Bianque, who had treated the Duchess with contempt as a Princess, now spoke kindly to me.
Since the royal order annulled my marriage with Kaian, Bianque had become gentle as if she had never been mean to me. Sometimes, she would visit me when she was bored, talk to me, have a cup of tea, and leave.
'I have to leave the castle as soon as possible.'
It was not easy to resist the ridiculous proposals that were within the reach of Valquiterre and the Duke of Vermont.
A proposal that I could not allow, but whose rejection was not accepted.
In the meantime, it was even more difficult when they forced me to wear a dress to attend the Foundation Ball. When the royal tailor brought me a smooth, glossy white silk, Bianque snorted.
“Hmm. Except for that.”
“Wouldn’t this be good?”
“I’ll wear it.”
The Foundation Ball was just an excuse, and without .e knowing it, it was a place to decide on the bridal dress that I would wear on my wedding day. Bianque sat down in one spot and took the lead in choosing on my behalf, who had little thought or reaction.
“Oh, so that’s what you meant. Put this over there.”
The place the tailor gestured to was already filled with a mountain of fabrics and laces of all kinds.
In contrast, I had chosen nothing so far.
If someone saw me, they would mistake it for Princess Bianque preparing to get married.
“Is there anything you like? Should I have them bring something else?”
Bianque, who had treated the Duchess with contempt as a Princess, now spoke kindly to me.
Since the royal order annulled my marriage with Kaian, Bianque had become gentle as if she had never been mean to me. Sometimes, she would visit me when she was bored, talk to me, have a cup of tea, and leave.
But today, she seemed determined to use the money she had spent on my formal attire to indulge herself, and she came early in the morning to hang up everything she wanted for her future new sister-in-law.
“This is fine.”
“It goes well with you.”
The woman smiled happily, satisfied as if the rest was hers, as Bianque chose an outdated, dull, plain fabric that she would not even bother to look at.
“I think this is too plain.”
The tailor who had been ordered by Valquiterre to make formal attire for Claudel looked at Bianche with a puzzled expression.
“So what? The Princess’s hair stands out. Even if the dress were simple, everyone would stare.”
“Well... Is that so?”
The tailor hesitated as if he had some regrets, then gathered up the things he had brought and left.
“Phew. Now I can live.”
Bianque took a sip of tea, put a cookie in her mouth, and leaned against the cushions, half-lying on the sofa.
“What’s with your face?”
“I want to decide my own life.”
I was sick of living a life where I had no initiative. But I didn’t know what to do with myself, being swept away by the rapids like this.
“A life you decide? What do you want to live?”
“That... I’ve never really thought about it, so I don’t really know.”
“See? There’s nothing in particular that you want to do.”
Bianque smiled blandly.
The beauty, with her disheveled lemon-colored hair that shone softly in the midday sunlight and her lively pink cheeks that looked like they had been dyed with flower water, just widened her eyes and slightly raised the corners of her lips, was so beautiful that it was almost dazzling.
I felt my heart sink as I thought about the man who looked just like her and asked me to marry him.
“Tell me more about Kaian. Is he affectionate at night?”
Moreover, whenever Bianque casually asked about Kaian, I felt so uncomfortable that I could die.
“Why do you want to get married, Princess?”
“Of course, a woman needs a man’s protection to survive.”
Bianque widened her eyes at the unexpected question.
“If possible, I would like a handsome and wonderful husband. We’ll have to have children. I can’t stand ugly men.”
The Princess, who had grown up without any shortcomings, was truly unstoppable. That was why it was surprising.
In contrast to me, who had grown up enduring abuse and pain, Bianque seemed to have never endured anything.
“Unmarried women are just like property to the family anyway. They’re treated as objects.”
“But you’re a Princess.”
“Don’t you think that, as a Princess, if things don’t go your way, you’ll end up marrying an old and withered foreign King?”
Bianque grinned.
“That’s why I said outright that I didn’t want anyone but Kaian. Look at this. You finally got what you wanted.”
Bianque, who hated being treated like an object and having to do whatever she was told, seemed to be the one who didn’t realize the harm in treating Kaian like a spoil.
“You’re lucky. My brother may be a bit twisted, but he sure looks cool, right?”
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