Audience Hall. The Emperor looked at Noevian with a somewhat weary face. His adviser was always a rational and cool person, but today he seemed a little excited.
“Is it urgent?”
“Your Majesty, it appears that the remnants of the rebel army are looking west again.”
“Is it urgent?”
“Your Majesty, it appears that the remnants of the rebel army are looking west again.”
“It’s always the West that’s the problem.”
The word rebel, which gave the Emperor the chills when he first heard it two years ago, has now become a bit tiresome.
“The West is where the reputation of His Highness the Second Prince is high, so if you only give the order to go...”
“I’m thinking of sending someone different this time.”
As the Emperor spoke in a slightly subdued voice, Noevian's sharp gaze was heard. The Emperor smiled kindly and opened his mouth.
“I think it’s time for him to get married, Grand Duke.”
“What do you mean?”
“He asked me to do something because he had someone in mind.”
“...The person he has in mind?”
The Emperor nodded heavily. The young son who wanted Adrienne Piretta had lost his first love to this man in front of him. The Crown Prince had finally chosen Doris Castagna as his companion, and while his son was away on the battlefield, Princess Piretta had chosen Grand Duke Noevian.
The word rebel, which gave the Emperor the chills when he first heard it two years ago, has now become a bit tiresome.
“The West is where the reputation of His Highness the Second Prince is high, so if you only give the order to go...”
“I’m thinking of sending someone different this time.”
As the Emperor spoke in a slightly subdued voice, Noevian's sharp gaze was heard. The Emperor smiled kindly and opened his mouth.
“I think it’s time for him to get married, Grand Duke.”
“What do you mean?”
“He asked me to do something because he had someone in mind.”
“...The person he has in mind?”
The Emperor nodded heavily. The young son who wanted Adrienne Piretta had lost his first love to this man in front of him. The Crown Prince had finally chosen Doris Castagna as his companion, and while his son was away on the battlefield, Princess Piretta had chosen Grand Duke Noevian.
The Emperor still felt strange whenever he recalled that day. He had been holding off on Noevian’s proposal because he was also a father, but Princess Piretta accepted his proposal right away, and the marriage was a breeze. Before he could tell Rhodnes, the newspapers were calling them the couple of the century. How would his son feel when he heard the news on the battlefield?
However, he could not even question Princess Piretta, who was the person involved, because it was her will. The Duke of Piretta in the east had not advanced to the center, but it was a great force, and it was better for such an eastern noble to be involved with his own person, Noevian, rather than forming a marriage alliance with a strict powerful family.
“He didn’t tell me who it was, but I found out today.”
“...Who is she?”
“The Countess Acacia, who became a widow not long ago.”
The Emperor laughed softly as he washed his face with his old hands. He was just about to console himself that she was a widow whose husband had died.
“I didn’t see Grand Duchess Trovica often, but I couldn’t help but think of her when I saw Countess Acacia. You knew that, too.”
“...”
“I could have just passed her by because of her appearance and the atmosphere, but as soon as I saw those sharp eyes, I immediately thought of Adrienne, that kid.”
Noevian, who had been frozen stiffly, forced a smile. The Emperor buried his tired body in his chair and drew the face of the noble lady he had personally congratulated today in the air.
“Roan said, ‘Blood is thicker than water.’”
“Did he say that?”
“When I saw Baroness Kuroseda, I thought of Letina. I can’t blame him, can I?”
The Emperor did not notice the dark glint in Noevian's eyes at those words.
“It’s a good thing that the woman became a widow. If she had a husband, his reputation as a scoundrel wouldn’t have persisted.”
“I object, Your Majesty.”
Noevian barely managed to control his emotions. He was overcome by an unpleasant sense of anxiety that made his chin tingle. Things were going strangely wrong.
“I have been watching her for a long time, the wife of my vassal, Count Acacia, but she is not the type of person who would become a Princess.”
"Hmm."
“I don’t know what kind of achievement she has made this time, but she is a woman who is more than worthy of being the Crown Princess’ maid. Not only is her personality not gentle, but she is also extravagant...”
“For a wandering man like Roan, who has no days off and has blood on his hands, it’s not bad to have a woman who can hold him by his side rather than being dragged around meekly. No matter how extravagant she may be, the offerings that Rhodnes has accumulated over the years are enough to allow several generations to leave the palace and have fun, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure? From what I’ve researched, I think that lady may not be of noble birth...”
“So it might be better for Roan.”
Noevian's face was stained with a slight shock. It was because he could not believe the current reality after the Emperor personally defended the possibility of Blie Acacia as the Princess. Was it really true that such a thing would come out just because the welcoming ceremony for the envoys was well-decorated?
“Compared to Bardenaldo, Roan’s reputation within the Empire is not so good. Even if Roan doesn’t care, I’ve always cared about it. Roan has always wanted to live quietly, and Bardenaldo has you and the Duke of Castagna firmly supporting him, so if Roan wants to receive a title and live outside the palace in the future, wouldn’t it be better to have a good reputation among the people of the Empire?”
The Emperor handed Noevian a newspaper that was on the side table. Noevian politely accepted the newspaper and read it. It was the newspaper that was stuck between the gossip newspapers he had read in the morning. It said something like, “The Prince Who Loved a Commoner.”
“He didn’t tell me who it was, but I found out today.”
“...Who is she?”
“The Countess Acacia, who became a widow not long ago.”
The Emperor laughed softly as he washed his face with his old hands. He was just about to console himself that she was a widow whose husband had died.
“I didn’t see Grand Duchess Trovica often, but I couldn’t help but think of her when I saw Countess Acacia. You knew that, too.”
“...”
“I could have just passed her by because of her appearance and the atmosphere, but as soon as I saw those sharp eyes, I immediately thought of Adrienne, that kid.”
Noevian, who had been frozen stiffly, forced a smile. The Emperor buried his tired body in his chair and drew the face of the noble lady he had personally congratulated today in the air.
“Roan said, ‘Blood is thicker than water.’”
“Did he say that?”
“When I saw Baroness Kuroseda, I thought of Letina. I can’t blame him, can I?”
The Emperor did not notice the dark glint in Noevian's eyes at those words.
“It’s a good thing that the woman became a widow. If she had a husband, his reputation as a scoundrel wouldn’t have persisted.”
“I object, Your Majesty.”
Noevian barely managed to control his emotions. He was overcome by an unpleasant sense of anxiety that made his chin tingle. Things were going strangely wrong.
“I have been watching her for a long time, the wife of my vassal, Count Acacia, but she is not the type of person who would become a Princess.”
"Hmm."
“I don’t know what kind of achievement she has made this time, but she is a woman who is more than worthy of being the Crown Princess’ maid. Not only is her personality not gentle, but she is also extravagant...”
“For a wandering man like Roan, who has no days off and has blood on his hands, it’s not bad to have a woman who can hold him by his side rather than being dragged around meekly. No matter how extravagant she may be, the offerings that Rhodnes has accumulated over the years are enough to allow several generations to leave the palace and have fun, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure? From what I’ve researched, I think that lady may not be of noble birth...”
“So it might be better for Roan.”
Noevian's face was stained with a slight shock. It was because he could not believe the current reality after the Emperor personally defended the possibility of Blie Acacia as the Princess. Was it really true that such a thing would come out just because the welcoming ceremony for the envoys was well-decorated?
“Compared to Bardenaldo, Roan’s reputation within the Empire is not so good. Even if Roan doesn’t care, I’ve always cared about it. Roan has always wanted to live quietly, and Bardenaldo has you and the Duke of Castagna firmly supporting him, so if Roan wants to receive a title and live outside the palace in the future, wouldn’t it be better to have a good reputation among the people of the Empire?”
The Emperor handed Noevian a newspaper that was on the side table. Noevian politely accepted the newspaper and read it. It was the newspaper that was stuck between the gossip newspapers he had read in the morning. It said something like, “The Prince Who Loved a Commoner.”
Noevian had to suppress his desire to just crumple it up. The portrait that he had drawn of Blie and Rhodnes’ affectionate appearance seemed like a picture of Adrienne and Rhodnes’ affectionate moment, so it was hard to look at.
“He has accomplished so many feats, but he never says what he wants. If he were to marry a commoner widow, he would be happy to get what he wants, and even if the nobles don’t, he might be quite popular with the commoners.”
“...What if she doesn’t want to?”
“What does that mean?”
Noevian barely opened his parched lips. It was hard to hold back the feeling of something he had worked so hard to create being taken away from him right before his eyes.
“What if the woman doesn’t want that kind of relationship? She just lost her husband...”
"Haha-."
Noevian, who was hastily speaking, suddenly stopped talking at the Emperor's burst of laughter. The Emperor laughed leisurely as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
“Grand Duke. What woman in the world could resist Rhodnes?”
His actions may be rough, but Rhodnes is the most handsome man in the empire, acknowledged even by Elacon, and he is the Prince of this country. The Emperor's endless words were refreshing.
“There is no woman in the world who would refuse to sit next to Roan.”
The Emperor's leisurely yet firm voice immediately pushed Noevian's mood off the cliff. Noevian's eyes became dizzy at the Emperor's assurance.
“But what if, by any chance, even just once, the woman refuses?”
“What can be done? In the end, it is also a problem between men and women.”
Noevian, who was falling off the cliff, felt as if he had stopped in midair at those words. As he barely managed to catch his senses that were about to fly away, he couldn’t help but feel that Baroness Kuroseda was involved in this absurd assumption. Noevian coldly sneered as he watched the Emperor, who was listing his ideals to find his government. As he said, really, really, this vicious bloodline can’t be fooled.
“...Then, as his lord, I will ask Countess Acacia what she thinks.”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to interfere?”
As the Emperor spoke with a slightly accusing tone, Noevian smiled faintly. Ah, you wicked bloodline.
“Of course, I will act with Countess's wishes as the top priority.”
I no longer want to have what is mine taken away by your son.
“He has accomplished so many feats, but he never says what he wants. If he were to marry a commoner widow, he would be happy to get what he wants, and even if the nobles don’t, he might be quite popular with the commoners.”
“...What if she doesn’t want to?”
“What does that mean?”
Noevian barely opened his parched lips. It was hard to hold back the feeling of something he had worked so hard to create being taken away from him right before his eyes.
“What if the woman doesn’t want that kind of relationship? She just lost her husband...”
"Haha-."
Noevian, who was hastily speaking, suddenly stopped talking at the Emperor's burst of laughter. The Emperor laughed leisurely as if to say, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
“Grand Duke. What woman in the world could resist Rhodnes?”
His actions may be rough, but Rhodnes is the most handsome man in the empire, acknowledged even by Elacon, and he is the Prince of this country. The Emperor's endless words were refreshing.
“There is no woman in the world who would refuse to sit next to Roan.”
The Emperor's leisurely yet firm voice immediately pushed Noevian's mood off the cliff. Noevian's eyes became dizzy at the Emperor's assurance.
“But what if, by any chance, even just once, the woman refuses?”
“What can be done? In the end, it is also a problem between men and women.”
Noevian, who was falling off the cliff, felt as if he had stopped in midair at those words. As he barely managed to catch his senses that were about to fly away, he couldn’t help but feel that Baroness Kuroseda was involved in this absurd assumption. Noevian coldly sneered as he watched the Emperor, who was listing his ideals to find his government. As he said, really, really, this vicious bloodline can’t be fooled.
“...Then, as his lord, I will ask Countess Acacia what she thinks.”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to interfere?”
As the Emperor spoke with a slightly accusing tone, Noevian smiled faintly. Ah, you wicked bloodline.
“Of course, I will act with Countess's wishes as the top priority.”
I no longer want to have what is mine taken away by your son.
Noevian's sharp, sharp eyes naturally turned to the Emperor's feet, and Noevian bowed his head extremely politely.
***
Noevian hurried his pace, wondering if he had walked so fast in recent years. He had to meet Blie before the Emperor, and thought that if only Rhodnes could find his government, got things wrong.
“Are you looking for me?”
Just before reaching the place where the carriages were gathered, Blie stood at the end of the long corridor where little light entered as if it were a lie. Noevian stood tall with only a few steps left, looked around, and then walked toward his carriage. Except for his coachman who was tight-lipped, there was no one else in the space.
“Are you looking for me?”
Just before reaching the place where the carriages were gathered, Blie stood at the end of the long corridor where little light entered as if it were a lie. Noevian stood tall with only a few steps left, looked around, and then walked toward his carriage. Except for his coachman who was tight-lipped, there was no one else in the space.
As soon as Noevian jumped into the carriage, Blie followed him and closed the carriage door.
“You’re so fearless.”
“That’s a pretty threatening statement for someone trying to persuade someone.”
And a bland smile. At the smile flowing on Blie’s face, Noevian crossed his arms and legs. He lifted his chin and opened his eyes dimly to examine her thoroughly, but the woman had a calm expression on her face as if she had thrown away the shock she had received yesterday.
“Persuasion? You should be the one to persuade me.”
At that moment, the woman burst into laughter. He held his breath for a moment and stared at her face. It was quite unexpected that she didn’t bow to him. Furthermore, it was completely unexpected that she would laugh like this in front of him.
“Just admit it now, Your Highness.”
“...What do you want me to admit?”
“No matter how much you mess with the people around me, it doesn’t affect me at all.”
Was this woman really that good at talking? Was that kind of attitude really something she could say was just talk?
“You’re so fearless.”
“That’s a pretty threatening statement for someone trying to persuade someone.”
And a bland smile. At the smile flowing on Blie’s face, Noevian crossed his arms and legs. He lifted his chin and opened his eyes dimly to examine her thoroughly, but the woman had a calm expression on her face as if she had thrown away the shock she had received yesterday.
“Persuasion? You should be the one to persuade me.”
At that moment, the woman burst into laughter. He held his breath for a moment and stared at her face. It was quite unexpected that she didn’t bow to him. Furthermore, it was completely unexpected that she would laugh like this in front of him.
“Just admit it now, Your Highness.”
“...What do you want me to admit?”
“No matter how much you mess with the people around me, it doesn’t affect me at all.”
Was this woman really that good at talking? Was that kind of attitude really something she could say was just talk?
Only then did Noevian notice the woman sitting up straight instead of her usual hunched and crooked posture?
“You are the one who can move me, so I don’t understand why you keep picking on strict people and taking the path of going back.”
“...You’re treating me like a murderer.”
“Isn’t it?”
The smiling woman's face was so affectionate that it seemed as if she would listen to everything... Just like Adrienne.
“You are the one who can move me, so I don’t understand why you keep picking on strict people and taking the path of going back.”
“...You’re treating me like a murderer.”
“Isn’t it?”
The smiling woman's face was so affectionate that it seemed as if she would listen to everything... Just like Adrienne.
Noevian quickly turned his head and looked out the window. There was no one around the carriage.
“Count Acacia was just in an unfortunate accident. Don’t say anything that could be misunderstood. You have that much intelligence.”
“So, are you on your way here to tell me again not to provoke His Highness the Second Prince?”
What good was it to say such things now? The whole world was already talking about Rhodnes' new, special lover. Noevian slowly suppressed his rage and turned his gaze to the woman who had messed up the matter. The woman's eyes, once leisurely and confident, turned to him with a sad light.
'That's crazy.'
And that struck him strangely. It was such a sad and mournful look in her eyes that he felt like it was the real Adrienne right in front of him.
“You are trying to sway me using Count Acacia, and I am trying to sway you using His Highness the Second Prince. In the end, what we want is the same.”
Noevian stared at the woman who ignored his words that he had not killed her. Since earlier, he had felt very strange. It was the woman's usual love story, the story of the Archduchess. He didn't hate hearing it that much. Was it because of her innocent expression? Or because of her sorrowful, hushed voice? And yet, was it because of her upright posture and her bright, intelligent eyes?
“You said it yourself. You want me, right here in front of you, more than the dead Archduchess.”
The woman rose from the edge of the carriage seat and approached him. Her eyes were sad and mournful, an emotion he had never seen before in a woman, and his eyes naturally turned to her.
“You can touch and feel it like this.”
The woman took his hand in hers very familiarly and rubbed her cheek against his palm. Her mouth was full of life, but he had never touched skin like that before.
“Instead of wasting time on what you can’t have, have what you can have.”
Don't let the second Prince steal me away like this. If only I could be free under your shadow, I'm ready to give up any freedom.
“Count Acacia was just in an unfortunate accident. Don’t say anything that could be misunderstood. You have that much intelligence.”
“So, are you on your way here to tell me again not to provoke His Highness the Second Prince?”
What good was it to say such things now? The whole world was already talking about Rhodnes' new, special lover. Noevian slowly suppressed his rage and turned his gaze to the woman who had messed up the matter. The woman's eyes, once leisurely and confident, turned to him with a sad light.
'That's crazy.'
And that struck him strangely. It was such a sad and mournful look in her eyes that he felt like it was the real Adrienne right in front of him.
“You are trying to sway me using Count Acacia, and I am trying to sway you using His Highness the Second Prince. In the end, what we want is the same.”
Noevian stared at the woman who ignored his words that he had not killed her. Since earlier, he had felt very strange. It was the woman's usual love story, the story of the Archduchess. He didn't hate hearing it that much. Was it because of her innocent expression? Or because of her sorrowful, hushed voice? And yet, was it because of her upright posture and her bright, intelligent eyes?
“You said it yourself. You want me, right here in front of you, more than the dead Archduchess.”
The woman rose from the edge of the carriage seat and approached him. Her eyes were sad and mournful, an emotion he had never seen before in a woman, and his eyes naturally turned to her.
“You can touch and feel it like this.”
The woman took his hand in hers very familiarly and rubbed her cheek against his palm. Her mouth was full of life, but he had never touched skin like that before.
“Instead of wasting time on what you can’t have, have what you can have.”
Don't let the second Prince steal me away like this. If only I could be free under your shadow, I'm ready to give up any freedom.
The woman, who had been staring at him for a while as if trying to melt away all his anger and rage, opened her closed eyes and whispered sweetly.
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