Just receiving a certificate of succession to the title from the House of Peers did not mean that one immediately became a Duke.
Only by submitting this permit to the court and correcting my title to Duke Leopold did I become officially a Duke.
Usually, before submitting the license to the court, a title succession ceremony was held at the imperial palace, and the Emperor personally presented the prospective Duke with a sword, pen, or other item symbolizing the family.
In the case of the Duke Leopold family, they were given swords by the Emperor for generations.
But there is no way the Emperor would hold a succession ceremony.
Even if I open it while being conscious of the eyes of those around me, I'm sure he'll say something ridiculous like, "Let's do it after you marry Perdes," so I headed straight to the court.
I stared at the certificate of succession all the way to the courthouse in the carriage.
My heart was filled with excitement and emotion at the fact that the permit I had wanted so desperately was finally in my hands.
Because I remembered how hard I had struggled to get this.
I became even more emotional as I recalled my past lives, especially when I was killed three times while playing into the Emperor's hands.
As I was trying to control my emotions, Sir Aldor, who was sitting across from me, handed me a handkerchief.
“Wipe it, Miss.”
“What are you wiping?”
Sir Aldor pointed to his eyes without saying a word.
At that gesture, I hurriedly touched the area around my eyes. They were moist. It seems that I shed tears without realizing it as my emotions grew intense.
Stupidly enough.
I wiped my tears with the handkerchief Aldor had given me.
“I looked ugly.”
“No. Even when you cry, you look beautiful.”
"Yes?"
Aldor looked at me, slightly embarrassed by his unexpected and goosebump-inducing comment.
He, too, seemed embarrassed.
“It was a slip of the tongue...”
“Oh, so you’re saying I’m not beautiful?”
“Oh, no. That’s...”
“I'm joking.”
When I said this playfully, Sir Aldor lowered his head and his earlobes turned red.
How cute. I giggled and put the permit back in the brown envelope.
He was older than me and had a cold impression, but he had a strangely cute side.
Before I knew it, the carriage arrived in front of the courthouse. I entered the courthouse under the escort of Sir Aldor.
Sir Aldor asked the guard for the location of the title management department and reported to me.
“The royal administration department is in the third room on the east side of the third floor, my lady.”
“Let’s go right away.”
I started walking quickly without realizing it because I wanted to become a Duke as soon as possible.
As I entered the department, a manager who had been working at a desk near the door got up and approached me.
“What brings you here, Young Lady Leopold?”
I didn't even introduce myself, but you knew who I was right away.
Well, it's strange not to know that the only people with red hair are the blood relatives of the Duke Leopold family.
"This."
It would be faster to show him than to explain it in detail, so I immediately handed him a brown envelope.
The eyes of the official who saw the succession permit inside widened.
“This, this is...”
“I have come to inherit the throne of Duke Leopold.”
When I spoke a little louder, other managers also looked this way while working.
Even so, there were only three people.
Judging from the fact that the top seat is empty, it looks like the department head here is away.
The official who received the documents rubbed his eyes in disbelief, checked them several times, and then asked me.
“This document... is it real?”
“That’s a rude question.”
Aldor, who was behind me, took a step forward and said.
“Does that question make you suspect that Lady Leopold has been creating forged documents?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it...”
“If not, then what on earth is it? Please tell me what you mean by asking.”
The official, overwhelmed by Sir Aldor's momentum, rolled his eyes, not knowing what to do.
He's going to cry like this.
“Enough, Sir Aldor.”
I raised my hand because I thought it should be moderately discussed.
Sir Aldor looked at the manager with displeasure and stepped back again.
“I understand. You thought His Highness the Fourth Prince would become Duke Leopold, but, surprisingly, I will inherit the ducal title.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. That’s why I was surprised.”
The manager, who was looking for a place to escape, quickly snatched the bait I threw.
“The document is genuine. I just received it when I attended Aletheia, so if you have any doubts, you can check it out.”
“Oh, no. I will believe you.”
“Then can you take care of it quickly?”
“Yes, yes. I understand. I will process it within a week and let you know the results.”
A week?
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurd length of time.
There's no way the Emperor would have already put pressure on the management department.
It was certain that he had deliberately made the period long to ask the Emperor for confirmation since he had heard something in advance.
I had this foolish idea that I didn't know anything.
I twisted my lips and snatched the papers back from the manager.
Then the manager looked at me in surprise.
"What..."
“What is your name?”
"Yes?"
“Which family are you from? Or do you have a title?”
“Why are you suddenly asking that...”
“I was curious. I asked because I was curious about how great a family must be to ignore me and my family.”
“Wh, are I ignoring you? No!”
The manager waved his hands violently as if he was really being treated unfairly.
“I swear I have never disrespected Duke Leopold and Young Lady!”
“But why does it take a week to process the title succession? As far as I know, it should be done in about 30 minutes.”
“...!”
The manager froze in surprise as if he had never thought I would know that fact.
I put my hand on my cheek and tilted my head.
“Then, would you like to answer? Why did you say that?”
“That, that...”
The manager was sweating profusely and asked for help from those around him, but they all ignored him.
It was a wise choice because if they helped him for no reason and the sparks flew, they would also be in trouble.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
When Aldor came forward and urged him on, the official closed his eyes tightly and bowed deeply to us in apology.
“I’m sorry. I just started this and I had a momentary misunderstanding. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, that could happen. I understand.”
I didn't understand it at all, but squeezing him wouldn't gain me anything.
It would have been a hundred times better to quickly receive the succession and return to the fiefdom.
“Please wait a moment in the VIP room. I will handle it right away.”
“No. I’ll just watch you work here.”
"Yes, yes?"
“I told you that since you are still inexperienced at work, if you make a mistake it will be a big problem, so I will watch over you and make sure you handle it properly.”
When the manager asked stupidly, I smiled and said.
“I’m anxious because this is an important matter, so I hope you understand. Just as I understood your mistake.”
Exactly 30 minutes later, the manager showed me the paperwork, saying that the correction had been completed.
“Your Excellency the Duke’s name has been written on the official documents.”
I nodded after confirming that there was no problem with the documents.
"Great job."
“No. I sincerely congratulate you on accessing the ducal throne, Your Excellency Duke Leopold.”
“My heartfelt congratulations, Your Excellency the Duke.”
Other managers also bowed down and congratulated me.
It was a pretentious greeting with no speck of sincerity, but it still felt good.
Because I've finally officially become a Duke.
As much as I had desperately wanted it, I was overcome with an overwhelming emotion that was difficult to express in words.
If the opponent had been Perdes, I would have hugged him and enjoyed this joy...
Wait, if it's Perdes, I'm hugging him and being happy?
Why? Why can't I just be happy like I am now?
As my thoughts spiraled in directions beyond my understanding, questions tagged at me like tags.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a Duke, Your Excellency.”
But I quickly forgot about it because Aldor spoke to me when I left the department.
“You may continue to call me Miss, Sir Aldor.”
“But now that you are a Duke...”
“It’s okay. Well, once I get married, the title of Miss won’t be appropriate anymore, so you’ll have to call me Your Excellency, but for now, it doesn’t matter.”
"...Is that so?”
Was it my imagination that Aldor's expression seemed sad for a moment?
“I’d like to give you a congratulatory gift. Is there anything you need?”
“Is it a gift?”
“Yes. I will give you whatever I can give you.”
“Haha, then why would you say such scary things when I ask for Sir Aldor’s life?”
I said it as a joke, but Sir Aldor put his hand on his heart and said it with a serious expression.
“If you wish for my life, I will gladly give it to you.”
“I’m joking. I’m joking. There’s no way I would ask for Sir Aldor’s life.”
I was rather one of those people who desperately wanted him to live.
Anyway, I can't play around.
“And you don’t have to give me a congratulatory gift.”
“I really want to give it to you.”
And also stubborn.
“Well, then let’s have madeleines.”
“Madeleine... right?”
“Yes. Sir Aldor’s sister is good at making madeleines.”
I've only had one madeleine made by Sir Aldor's sister, and it was so delicious that I still can't forget the taste.
“So, give it to me as a gift. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay... but how did you know?”
Huh?
“I don’t think I ever told you that my sister is good at making madeleines. How did you know that?”
Come to think of it, I've never heard that story in this life.
In my second life, I was momentarily confused when I brought Madeleine to Aldor to comfort him when he was heartbroken.
After repeating the same life several times, there were often cases where memories became tangled like this.
As we were walking down the courthouse steps, wondering how to handle this, someone blocked our path.
Only by submitting this permit to the court and correcting my title to Duke Leopold did I become officially a Duke.
Usually, before submitting the license to the court, a title succession ceremony was held at the imperial palace, and the Emperor personally presented the prospective Duke with a sword, pen, or other item symbolizing the family.
In the case of the Duke Leopold family, they were given swords by the Emperor for generations.
But there is no way the Emperor would hold a succession ceremony.
Even if I open it while being conscious of the eyes of those around me, I'm sure he'll say something ridiculous like, "Let's do it after you marry Perdes," so I headed straight to the court.
I stared at the certificate of succession all the way to the courthouse in the carriage.
My heart was filled with excitement and emotion at the fact that the permit I had wanted so desperately was finally in my hands.
Because I remembered how hard I had struggled to get this.
I became even more emotional as I recalled my past lives, especially when I was killed three times while playing into the Emperor's hands.
As I was trying to control my emotions, Sir Aldor, who was sitting across from me, handed me a handkerchief.
“Wipe it, Miss.”
“What are you wiping?”
Sir Aldor pointed to his eyes without saying a word.
At that gesture, I hurriedly touched the area around my eyes. They were moist. It seems that I shed tears without realizing it as my emotions grew intense.
Stupidly enough.
I wiped my tears with the handkerchief Aldor had given me.
“I looked ugly.”
“No. Even when you cry, you look beautiful.”
"Yes?"
Aldor looked at me, slightly embarrassed by his unexpected and goosebump-inducing comment.
He, too, seemed embarrassed.
“It was a slip of the tongue...”
“Oh, so you’re saying I’m not beautiful?”
“Oh, no. That’s...”
“I'm joking.”
When I said this playfully, Sir Aldor lowered his head and his earlobes turned red.
How cute. I giggled and put the permit back in the brown envelope.
He was older than me and had a cold impression, but he had a strangely cute side.
Before I knew it, the carriage arrived in front of the courthouse. I entered the courthouse under the escort of Sir Aldor.
Sir Aldor asked the guard for the location of the title management department and reported to me.
“The royal administration department is in the third room on the east side of the third floor, my lady.”
“Let’s go right away.”
I started walking quickly without realizing it because I wanted to become a Duke as soon as possible.
As I entered the department, a manager who had been working at a desk near the door got up and approached me.
“What brings you here, Young Lady Leopold?”
I didn't even introduce myself, but you knew who I was right away.
Well, it's strange not to know that the only people with red hair are the blood relatives of the Duke Leopold family.
"This."
It would be faster to show him than to explain it in detail, so I immediately handed him a brown envelope.
The eyes of the official who saw the succession permit inside widened.
“This, this is...”
“I have come to inherit the throne of Duke Leopold.”
When I spoke a little louder, other managers also looked this way while working.
Even so, there were only three people.
Judging from the fact that the top seat is empty, it looks like the department head here is away.
The official who received the documents rubbed his eyes in disbelief, checked them several times, and then asked me.
“This document... is it real?”
“That’s a rude question.”
Aldor, who was behind me, took a step forward and said.
“Does that question make you suspect that Lady Leopold has been creating forged documents?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it...”
“If not, then what on earth is it? Please tell me what you mean by asking.”
The official, overwhelmed by Sir Aldor's momentum, rolled his eyes, not knowing what to do.
He's going to cry like this.
“Enough, Sir Aldor.”
I raised my hand because I thought it should be moderately discussed.
Sir Aldor looked at the manager with displeasure and stepped back again.
“I understand. You thought His Highness the Fourth Prince would become Duke Leopold, but, surprisingly, I will inherit the ducal title.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. That’s why I was surprised.”
The manager, who was looking for a place to escape, quickly snatched the bait I threw.
“The document is genuine. I just received it when I attended Aletheia, so if you have any doubts, you can check it out.”
“Oh, no. I will believe you.”
“Then can you take care of it quickly?”
“Yes, yes. I understand. I will process it within a week and let you know the results.”
A week?
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurd length of time.
There's no way the Emperor would have already put pressure on the management department.
It was certain that he had deliberately made the period long to ask the Emperor for confirmation since he had heard something in advance.
I had this foolish idea that I didn't know anything.
I twisted my lips and snatched the papers back from the manager.
Then the manager looked at me in surprise.
"What..."
“What is your name?”
"Yes?"
“Which family are you from? Or do you have a title?”
“Why are you suddenly asking that...”
“I was curious. I asked because I was curious about how great a family must be to ignore me and my family.”
“Wh, are I ignoring you? No!”
The manager waved his hands violently as if he was really being treated unfairly.
“I swear I have never disrespected Duke Leopold and Young Lady!”
“But why does it take a week to process the title succession? As far as I know, it should be done in about 30 minutes.”
“...!”
The manager froze in surprise as if he had never thought I would know that fact.
I put my hand on my cheek and tilted my head.
“Then, would you like to answer? Why did you say that?”
“That, that...”
The manager was sweating profusely and asked for help from those around him, but they all ignored him.
It was a wise choice because if they helped him for no reason and the sparks flew, they would also be in trouble.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
When Aldor came forward and urged him on, the official closed his eyes tightly and bowed deeply to us in apology.
“I’m sorry. I just started this and I had a momentary misunderstanding. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, that could happen. I understand.”
I didn't understand it at all, but squeezing him wouldn't gain me anything.
It would have been a hundred times better to quickly receive the succession and return to the fiefdom.
“Please wait a moment in the VIP room. I will handle it right away.”
“No. I’ll just watch you work here.”
"Yes, yes?"
“I told you that since you are still inexperienced at work, if you make a mistake it will be a big problem, so I will watch over you and make sure you handle it properly.”
When the manager asked stupidly, I smiled and said.
“I’m anxious because this is an important matter, so I hope you understand. Just as I understood your mistake.”
***
Exactly 30 minutes later, the manager showed me the paperwork, saying that the correction had been completed.
“Your Excellency the Duke’s name has been written on the official documents.”
I nodded after confirming that there was no problem with the documents.
"Great job."
“No. I sincerely congratulate you on accessing the ducal throne, Your Excellency Duke Leopold.”
“My heartfelt congratulations, Your Excellency the Duke.”
Other managers also bowed down and congratulated me.
It was a pretentious greeting with no speck of sincerity, but it still felt good.
Because I've finally officially become a Duke.
As much as I had desperately wanted it, I was overcome with an overwhelming emotion that was difficult to express in words.
If the opponent had been Perdes, I would have hugged him and enjoyed this joy...
Wait, if it's Perdes, I'm hugging him and being happy?
Why? Why can't I just be happy like I am now?
As my thoughts spiraled in directions beyond my understanding, questions tagged at me like tags.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a Duke, Your Excellency.”
But I quickly forgot about it because Aldor spoke to me when I left the department.
“You may continue to call me Miss, Sir Aldor.”
“But now that you are a Duke...”
“It’s okay. Well, once I get married, the title of Miss won’t be appropriate anymore, so you’ll have to call me Your Excellency, but for now, it doesn’t matter.”
"...Is that so?”
Was it my imagination that Aldor's expression seemed sad for a moment?
“I’d like to give you a congratulatory gift. Is there anything you need?”
“Is it a gift?”
“Yes. I will give you whatever I can give you.”
“Haha, then why would you say such scary things when I ask for Sir Aldor’s life?”
I said it as a joke, but Sir Aldor put his hand on his heart and said it with a serious expression.
“If you wish for my life, I will gladly give it to you.”
“I’m joking. I’m joking. There’s no way I would ask for Sir Aldor’s life.”
I was rather one of those people who desperately wanted him to live.
Anyway, I can't play around.
“And you don’t have to give me a congratulatory gift.”
“I really want to give it to you.”
And also stubborn.
“Well, then let’s have madeleines.”
“Madeleine... right?”
“Yes. Sir Aldor’s sister is good at making madeleines.”
I've only had one madeleine made by Sir Aldor's sister, and it was so delicious that I still can't forget the taste.
“So, give it to me as a gift. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay... but how did you know?”
Huh?
“I don’t think I ever told you that my sister is good at making madeleines. How did you know that?”
Come to think of it, I've never heard that story in this life.
In my second life, I was momentarily confused when I brought Madeleine to Aldor to comfort him when he was heartbroken.
After repeating the same life several times, there were often cases where memories became tangled like this.
As we were walking down the courthouse steps, wondering how to handle this, someone blocked our path.
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