Noevian watched Blie, who was eating silently. He felt strange. An indescribable feeling was welling up under his feet. As if she sensed his gaze, when Blie’s gaze turned to him, he unconsciously lowered his eyes to his plate. The moment his vision was filled with only Blie’s plate instead of Blie’s face, Noevian reproached himself for acting like a child in puberty. He forced himself to swallow the food that was not going down with water and made eye contact with Blie, who was still looking at him.
“I know, but your reputation isn’t that good.”
Blie shrugged as if she knew and continued eating. Her eyes followed the cutlery, napkin, and edge of the plate that she had touched. Noevian opened her mouth again, not even realizing that her gaze was so persistent.
“To be exact, no one welcomes our union. At least not among my followers.”
“...”
“So, I would like you to refrain from going out until the Grand Duchess’s funeral is completely finished.”
"All right."
The light and obedient answer that came back was disappointing, despite the anger she had felt over his obsession. Noevian squinted his eyes for a moment and studied Blie’s expression, but there was no malice or resentment in her expression. Was that why?
“If you can just get through this time well, I will make sure that your name is added to the family register as soon as possible after the funeral.”
It was very unusual for Noevian to say something like that. Promising something for which there was no definite plan. Blie's busy fork suddenly stopped. Blie, who had been chewing for a long time, swallowed it and took a light sip of white wine. Blie was smiling so heartily that it seemed as if she had never laughed so sincerely since Adrienne died.
The Duke of Castagna drank the tea the Crown Prince offered him like it was wine.
“If that is all you have to trust in God, then I have no choice but to make this request seriously.”
“...Are you saying that you will eventually bring the 9th Prince back?”
“No. As you said, the Grand Duke has made such concessions, but this time I must make a different request.”
The Duke smiled with the confidence that this time he would never escape.
“Please make sure to have a successor between you and Her Highness.”
“!”
“If I can just hear good news within this year, what more could I ask for?”
Duke Castagna had been holding back because he knew that Crown Prince Bardenaldo's private life was too clean. However, if he wanted to gain confidence from the Crown Prince who couldn't abandon his uncle, he thought he needed insurance too.
“You are both very young and if you lived together for that long, wouldn’t it be ridiculous to have two or three children? If the people of the empire found out that you continue to keep Her Highness the Crown Princess in private despite having no health problems, how ridiculous would the royal family and Castagna be?”
“Duke, that’s...”
“The Castangna family is very precious, so if it’s to see a grandchild... I might change Doris’ husband.”
The Crown Prince froze, holding the teacup in his hand.
“Remarriage is legal in Ronta, and there is a plausible reason for this, as Doris and His Highness have no heirs.”
It was clear that it was quite a threatening statement. Judging from the fact that Bardenaldo's mouth was moving but not uttering a single word. The Duke of Castagna's words meant that if the two divorced by any means, he would depose the Crown Prince and establish another Prince as the Crown Prince. For example, the second Prince, Rhodnes, who was renowned in the west, or the ninth Prince, Ephero, who was the legitimate heir of Her Majesty the current Empress.
“...What do you want?”
The Duke of Castagna showed his teeth and laughed at the words the Crown Prince finally uttered after a long moment of silence.
“It is time for you to step out from your uncle’s shadow, Your Highness.”
The Duke thought that he had been too lenient and had returned long ago. As the Emperor's adviser, he could not allow Noevian Trovica, who had always blocked the West's path, to become the Crown Prince's adviser and enjoy power. The royal family should have been eliminated or moved far away along with the Emperor's other brothers long ago. If he could not keep Noevian Trovica under Castagna...
“It would be the cleanest if you just let it go.”
“I know, but your reputation isn’t that good.”
Blie shrugged as if she knew and continued eating. Her eyes followed the cutlery, napkin, and edge of the plate that she had touched. Noevian opened her mouth again, not even realizing that her gaze was so persistent.
“To be exact, no one welcomes our union. At least not among my followers.”
“...”
“So, I would like you to refrain from going out until the Grand Duchess’s funeral is completely finished.”
"All right."
The light and obedient answer that came back was disappointing, despite the anger she had felt over his obsession. Noevian squinted his eyes for a moment and studied Blie’s expression, but there was no malice or resentment in her expression. Was that why?
“If you can just get through this time well, I will make sure that your name is added to the family register as soon as possible after the funeral.”
It was very unusual for Noevian to say something like that. Promising something for which there was no definite plan. Blie's busy fork suddenly stopped. Blie, who had been chewing for a long time, swallowed it and took a light sip of white wine. Blie was smiling so heartily that it seemed as if she had never laughed so sincerely since Adrienne died.
Noevian couldn't take his eyes off that face for a while. The fact that he had never identified with Adrienne, even though he thought of her as a substitute, really looked like Adrienne after seeing Adrienne's vision yesterday.
“You answer my heart like this, so I also want to study hard for you and become your strength.”
“Well, if it’s a bride class, then you don’t have to do that.”
“I think I need an office where I can study the basic duties of a Grand Duchess.”
“...Think about it.”
He couldn't turn away from those bright, sparkling green eyes.
'I also want to get well soon and become your strength.'
It really felt like Adrienne was asking a favor, and there was no way he could refuse it.
“Talk to the butler first.”
And strangely enough, as if possessed by something, he thought that the time they spent together eating and talking about these things wasn’t so bad.
“You answer my heart like this, so I also want to study hard for you and become your strength.”
“Well, if it’s a bride class, then you don’t have to do that.”
“I think I need an office where I can study the basic duties of a Grand Duchess.”
“...Think about it.”
He couldn't turn away from those bright, sparkling green eyes.
'I also want to get well soon and become your strength.'
It really felt like Adrienne was asking a favor, and there was no way he could refuse it.
“Talk to the butler first.”
And strangely enough, as if possessed by something, he thought that the time they spent together eating and talking about these things wasn’t so bad.
***
The feeling of being much better than yesterday didn’t last long. Noevian was satisfied watching Blie, who had shut herself in her bedroom without saying a word, but as soon as the meal was over, he had to greet the vassals who looked like they were going to war. Since the Crown Prince had personally urged him to meet the vassals, he couldn’t ignore them any longer.
He dismissed most of the servants in the annex and put a cigar in his mouth. He didn’t originally have the hobby of smoking indoors, but he couldn’t drink or take drugs during the day, right? It took a lot of energy to deal with them in his right mind, so it was the least he could do in self-defense. The handwriting on the paper he handed over to them, despite their sullen barge-in, was very polite.
“What is all this?”
“Look closely.”
It was a list of names of all kinds, from familiar faces to noble ladies. They were all names with the surnames of the vassals who had flocked in.
“Are you trying to ask a favor?”
“These are the candidates we have in mind for the next Grand Duchess.”
“It’s so touching that I almost cry, thinking that you guys are worried about my bed situation.”
The faces of several of the vassals turned bright red in an instant. It was a rumor among them that Noevian was crazy about a widow of inferior quality.
“As you all know, I am a widow. Do you want to push your precious daughters into the position of a widow who is as old as me? I wonder if your daughters feel the same way.”
“Your Highness, you are not yet thirty. Are you joking in this situation?”
Count Raylon, who had the most furious eyes, did not hide his anger. As befitting the most powerful of his vassals, he placed the name of his daughter, Canna Raylon, at the top.
“Two years ago, when you suddenly brought in a Grand Duchess from the East, we all agreed. It wasn’t because we knew how much Your Highness loved the Princess as rumored, but because she was a worthy match.”
Everyone nodded at Raylon's words.
“The other party was a Princess. Princess Piretta, who was once known as a candidate for the Crown Princess. That’s why we kept our petty complaints to ourselves. We thought that Your Highness was drawing a bigger picture for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Doris Castagna from the West became the Crown Princess, and Adrienne Piretta from the East became the Grand Duchess Trovica, the leader of the Crown Prince's faction. What could be said about killing two birds with one stone?
“But a widow who lost her husband? A Princess without roots who came from the common people?”
“The position of Grand Duchess cannot be achieved through love alone.”
“Don’t you know how much that one spot means?”
“How can you throw away the greatest gift for His Highness the Crown Prince because of such personal feelings?”
They were elders in name only. Noevian cut the cigar that had burned down and let them chatter away. He couldn't let the Crown Prince's faction split into the East and the West by talking about the Duke of Castagna to them. That's why he decided that the position of Grand Duke Trovica, who was crazy about love and pushed for an unsuitable marriage, was better. But why?
'You said you couldn't figure out what was going on? I always said that I just wanted to sit next to you because I love you.'
'Do well when I say I am interested in the position of Grand Duchess.'
'You answer my heart like this, so I also want to study hard for you and become your strength.'
The voice of Blie in the past felt closer to the voices of those who were babbling about how they were right without knowing what was right or wrong. It also felt as if the sparkling eyes of Blie that he had seen in the morning were still lingering in his heart.
“I think about it. So don’t scold your lord too much and go back now.”
"But..."
“Or at least pay your respects one more time.”
Most of them thought it was too much to come to a house in mourning and harass their lord like this, so they bowed their heads and left. However, Count Raylon and a few others stayed and added a final word of caution, asking him to think carefully before leaving. Noevian knew that it was Count Raylon’s warning, but he couldn’t help but scoff as he looked down at the carriages leaving the annex one after another.
“If you knew that my will was Bardenaldo’s will, what kind of expression would you make?”
There is no such thing as sharing their interests in the interests of Crown Prince Bardenaldo. Not knowing this, they dare to pressure him in the name of doing it for the Crown Prince.
“I can only hope that one day you will realize that all your struggling is useless.”
A single cigar burned completely in a short time. Noevian threw the last part out the window without even cutting it because he knew that this kind of ember was not enough to burn down the Grand Duke's residence.
“What is all this?”
“Look closely.”
It was a list of names of all kinds, from familiar faces to noble ladies. They were all names with the surnames of the vassals who had flocked in.
“Are you trying to ask a favor?”
“These are the candidates we have in mind for the next Grand Duchess.”
“It’s so touching that I almost cry, thinking that you guys are worried about my bed situation.”
The faces of several of the vassals turned bright red in an instant. It was a rumor among them that Noevian was crazy about a widow of inferior quality.
“As you all know, I am a widow. Do you want to push your precious daughters into the position of a widow who is as old as me? I wonder if your daughters feel the same way.”
“Your Highness, you are not yet thirty. Are you joking in this situation?”
Count Raylon, who had the most furious eyes, did not hide his anger. As befitting the most powerful of his vassals, he placed the name of his daughter, Canna Raylon, at the top.
“Two years ago, when you suddenly brought in a Grand Duchess from the East, we all agreed. It wasn’t because we knew how much Your Highness loved the Princess as rumored, but because she was a worthy match.”
Everyone nodded at Raylon's words.
“The other party was a Princess. Princess Piretta, who was once known as a candidate for the Crown Princess. That’s why we kept our petty complaints to ourselves. We thought that Your Highness was drawing a bigger picture for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Doris Castagna from the West became the Crown Princess, and Adrienne Piretta from the East became the Grand Duchess Trovica, the leader of the Crown Prince's faction. What could be said about killing two birds with one stone?
“But a widow who lost her husband? A Princess without roots who came from the common people?”
“The position of Grand Duchess cannot be achieved through love alone.”
“Don’t you know how much that one spot means?”
“How can you throw away the greatest gift for His Highness the Crown Prince because of such personal feelings?”
They were elders in name only. Noevian cut the cigar that had burned down and let them chatter away. He couldn't let the Crown Prince's faction split into the East and the West by talking about the Duke of Castagna to them. That's why he decided that the position of Grand Duke Trovica, who was crazy about love and pushed for an unsuitable marriage, was better. But why?
'You said you couldn't figure out what was going on? I always said that I just wanted to sit next to you because I love you.'
'Do well when I say I am interested in the position of Grand Duchess.'
'You answer my heart like this, so I also want to study hard for you and become your strength.'
The voice of Blie in the past felt closer to the voices of those who were babbling about how they were right without knowing what was right or wrong. It also felt as if the sparkling eyes of Blie that he had seen in the morning were still lingering in his heart.
“I think about it. So don’t scold your lord too much and go back now.”
"But..."
“Or at least pay your respects one more time.”
Most of them thought it was too much to come to a house in mourning and harass their lord like this, so they bowed their heads and left. However, Count Raylon and a few others stayed and added a final word of caution, asking him to think carefully before leaving. Noevian knew that it was Count Raylon’s warning, but he couldn’t help but scoff as he looked down at the carriages leaving the annex one after another.
“If you knew that my will was Bardenaldo’s will, what kind of expression would you make?”
There is no such thing as sharing their interests in the interests of Crown Prince Bardenaldo. Not knowing this, they dare to pressure him in the name of doing it for the Crown Prince.
“I can only hope that one day you will realize that all your struggling is useless.”
A single cigar burned completely in a short time. Noevian threw the last part out the window without even cutting it because he knew that this kind of ember was not enough to burn down the Grand Duke's residence.
***
A great noble known as the King of the West. The father of the Crown Princess. The father-in-law and left arm of the Crown Prince. The Duke of Castangna was a great noble among great nobles who could not be properly described in one line. He had requested an audience a few days ago and had barely entered the palace. Unlike his own burning heart, he tried his best not to despise the Crown Prince who was walking around the garden and telling him the names of plants. The corners of his lips trembled as he forced himself to raise them. His eyes occasionally lowered because he could not bear to look at them kindly.
However, when he heard that Noevian Trovica had made a maid named Blie Acacia the Grand Duchess not because of his recommendation but because of his 'new love', his patience reached its limit. The shock did not diminish even after hearing it once through Doris.
'The snake-like Noevian Trovica has finally won.'
The Duke of Castagna, returning from his not-at-all-exhilarating walk, realized that it was time to speak frankly to his son-in-law, whose face showed no sign of worry.
“I heard a rumor that Prince Ephero in Elacon is missing his homeland.”
The Duke of Castagna dropped the bomb he had prepared on the Crown Prince, who was offering tea to the Elacon messengers, saying that it was a tea that had received a good response this time.
"...Duke?"
He felt sick at the innocent expression on her face, asking what was wrong with doing what he wanted. He was finally beginning to understand Doris, who was stressed out even though she lived with the Crown Prince, who was known to be gentle and kind. A person who drove others crazy with a kind face. That was because he was his son-in-law and the Crown Prince of this country.
“The Empress also misses her son.”
“Don’t you feel that the Grand Duke has made quite a few concessions this time?”
“What I wanted was to establish a new relationship with the Grand Duke as the patron or lord of that lady. Your Highness is a man of integrity, so you can pretend not to know, but the Grand Duke cannot. I am sure he knew and did it.”
'The snake-like Noevian Trovica has finally won.'
The Duke of Castagna, returning from his not-at-all-exhilarating walk, realized that it was time to speak frankly to his son-in-law, whose face showed no sign of worry.
“I heard a rumor that Prince Ephero in Elacon is missing his homeland.”
The Duke of Castagna dropped the bomb he had prepared on the Crown Prince, who was offering tea to the Elacon messengers, saying that it was a tea that had received a good response this time.
"...Duke?"
He felt sick at the innocent expression on her face, asking what was wrong with doing what he wanted. He was finally beginning to understand Doris, who was stressed out even though she lived with the Crown Prince, who was known to be gentle and kind. A person who drove others crazy with a kind face. That was because he was his son-in-law and the Crown Prince of this country.
“The Empress also misses her son.”
“Don’t you feel that the Grand Duke has made quite a few concessions this time?”
“What I wanted was to establish a new relationship with the Grand Duke as the patron or lord of that lady. Your Highness is a man of integrity, so you can pretend not to know, but the Grand Duke cannot. I am sure he knew and did it.”
The Duke of Castagna drank the tea the Crown Prince offered him like it was wine.
“If that is all you have to trust in God, then I have no choice but to make this request seriously.”
“...Are you saying that you will eventually bring the 9th Prince back?”
“No. As you said, the Grand Duke has made such concessions, but this time I must make a different request.”
The Duke smiled with the confidence that this time he would never escape.
“Please make sure to have a successor between you and Her Highness.”
“!”
“If I can just hear good news within this year, what more could I ask for?”
Duke Castagna had been holding back because he knew that Crown Prince Bardenaldo's private life was too clean. However, if he wanted to gain confidence from the Crown Prince who couldn't abandon his uncle, he thought he needed insurance too.
“You are both very young and if you lived together for that long, wouldn’t it be ridiculous to have two or three children? If the people of the empire found out that you continue to keep Her Highness the Crown Princess in private despite having no health problems, how ridiculous would the royal family and Castagna be?”
“Duke, that’s...”
“The Castangna family is very precious, so if it’s to see a grandchild... I might change Doris’ husband.”
The Crown Prince froze, holding the teacup in his hand.
“Remarriage is legal in Ronta, and there is a plausible reason for this, as Doris and His Highness have no heirs.”
It was clear that it was quite a threatening statement. Judging from the fact that Bardenaldo's mouth was moving but not uttering a single word. The Duke of Castagna's words meant that if the two divorced by any means, he would depose the Crown Prince and establish another Prince as the Crown Prince. For example, the second Prince, Rhodnes, who was renowned in the west, or the ninth Prince, Ephero, who was the legitimate heir of Her Majesty the current Empress.
“...What do you want?”
The Duke of Castagna showed his teeth and laughed at the words the Crown Prince finally uttered after a long moment of silence.
“It is time for you to step out from your uncle’s shadow, Your Highness.”
The Duke thought that he had been too lenient and had returned long ago. As the Emperor's adviser, he could not allow Noevian Trovica, who had always blocked the West's path, to become the Crown Prince's adviser and enjoy power. The royal family should have been eliminated or moved far away along with the Emperor's other brothers long ago. If he could not keep Noevian Trovica under Castagna...
“It would be the cleanest if you just let it go.”
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