The first time Declan met Shayne was at her mother's funeral.
Although she was still a young Duchess before her husband inherited the title, her family was still the only Duke in the empire, so she had to be treated with respect, and so the Crown Prince himself went there.
“Thank you for coming this far, Your Highness.”
The expression on the Duke's face as he came out to greet him in front of the building was extremely dark.
It was understandable that he would be heartbroken to lose his daughter-in-law not long after losing his wife.
Declan laid chrysanthemums on the woman's body with a sorrowful heart.
Just as he raised his head to pay his respects, he spotted a girl in a black dress.
It was none other than Shayne Veloce.
A small girl whose height was about his shoulder level bowed her head politely when her eyes met his.
'I clearly heard that she was six years old.'
It was quite shocking to him that a child of that age could be so calm in such a solemn setting.
Moreover, this is the place where she is sending off her mother. It would be normal for her to cry and sob.
But that was only for a moment, as Declan witnessed the child's sadness hidden by the net on her black hat.
The child was glaring with bloodshot eyes and pursed lips.
'Ah.'
It's not that the child is fine; she's just pretending to be.
As the successor to the Duke's family, she was desperately holding back tears so as not to show weakness.
When he realized that fact, a corner of his heart suddenly felt a pang.
'What kind of position is that?'
What kind of status do you have that prevents a child from freely mourning the death of his parents?
He was so distressed that he couldn't take his eyes off the child throughout the funeral.
He felt sorry for the child who had to suffer the misfortune of losing her parents at the young age of six.
But the child's misfortune did not end there.
“The Little Duke brought his government into the annex?”
“If only the government had come in. He has a child in the meantime. The child is already four years old.”
“Huh, so you’re saying that he had an affair long before his wife passed away?”
He couldn't hide his bewilderment at the chatter of the maids he happened to hear while walking around the palace.
It is not surprising that nobles often have one or two mistresses, but it is surprising that he brought them into his family home.
'Then that child...'
As the only legitimate successor to the Duke's family, his position will not be threatened, but how shocking must it have been for the girl to have experienced such a thing right after her mother's death?
Moreover, since she was living under the same roof as her father's government and her half-sister, the roles of host and guest were reversed, and she was likely to be wary of others.
'It's okay for now because there's a Duke, but...'
Given the Duke's age, his protection won't last long.
Declan let out a short sigh.
It was heartbreaking to think that the child who had held back her tears even in the face of her mother's death might end up shedding tears.
But his prediction was wrong.
Even after the Duke was bedridden and eventually returned to the goddess's embrace, the child steadfastly maintained her position as successor.
To help the people of a territory who were in poverty due to the disaster, she reduced the already low taxes by 20% and developed high-quality farming tools to increase productivity.
However, her fame grew day by day as she worked hard to provide for the welfare of the people by generating additional income from various places such as the upper class and the mines.
It wasn't just about looking after the family estate.
Whenever he heard news of a disaster in a certain area and visited the area, her hand was always there first.
It was unique and admirable.
In a situation where there was no one on her side, to the point where it was openly rumored that the current Duke only had illegitimate children and treated the legitimate heirs like cold rice, it was fortunate that she grew up well without being discouraged, but it was also truly heartwarming to see her take such meticulous care of even the weak.
So he also decided to help her as much as he could.
That was also the reason why he had first asked the Emperor to be her debutante partner three years ago.
Being the Crown Prince's partner would help her position.
“How unexpected. You are the first to claim to be someone’s partner. Do you perhaps have feelings for Princess Veloce?”
“No, I just thought that as the successor to the only ducal family in the empire, it was only right that the imperial family pay attention to their debutante partner.”
Although he said that, he had actually been thinking for a long time that she would be a good fit for him.
There would be no greater blessing than a woman who knows how to fulfill her noble duties and loves those who make up this empire if she were to ascend to the position of Empress.
However, their marriage did not come to fruition.
“The Duke of Veloce has put the Princess forward as a candidate for the abolition of the throne.”
“What is that... The Princess is the only legitimate heir, so if she dies, who will take over the ducal line?”
“Hmm, I guess he’ll take a son-in-law. Since an illegitimate child can’t be the heir, that would be the best option.”
The Princess becomes a sacrifice.
For Declan, it felt like being hit in the back of the head with a huge sledgehammer.
'Why would you make such a choice when you have an illegitimate child to send away as a proxy...?'
He bit his lip in surprise at the thought that came to him unintentionally. Even though she was an illegitimate child, she was also a citizen of the empire, so how could he have such a thought?
But now was not the time to worry about such things. If things continued like this, the Princess would die.
“No matter how you look at it, this is not right. Years have passed since the human sacrifice, but the disaster still lingers in the empire. This inhumane system must be abolished immediately.”
“Oh, you’re saying that again? Didn’t I say that the system of abolition of the corps cannot be abolished anymore? Up until now, most of the women selected for abolition have been commoners, so the people of the empire are deeply dissatisfied. If the system of abolition of the corps is abolished now that the nobles have only recently participated, all of that dissatisfaction will be directed at the imperial family!”
“Are you sacrificing innocent lives just because you are afraid of such accusations? What are the people of the empire to you, father? And how can you call yourself the father of Catalonia? As the Crown Prince of Catalonia, I can no longer tolerate my father’s cowardice. Even if my father does not permit it, I will definitely put an end to this inhumane human sacrifice.”
“What, coward? Abolishing the system without my permission? Do you dare to exercise imperial authority? Have you ever seen such a brazen man? Look! Imprison the Crown Prince immediately. He is not to step out even one step before receiving my permission!”
The Emperor's orders were strict, and he missed the chance to save Shayne.
Every day was hell.
Even with his eyes closed, the image of her being torn apart by the lion's sharp teeth and dying a horrible death would not leave his mind. Her screams of pain rang in his ears all day long.
But unlike him, Shayne, the person involved, did not lose her composure even at that moment.
“They say Princess Veloce donated all her wealth. She asked that it be used to help the suffering people of the empire.”
It was a report that made Declan laugh out loud.
Even at a time when your life is at stake, you only think of the people of the empire.
He was so angry at that blind sacrifice that it made his head spin, but on the other hand, he respected it.
The heart that would sacrifice everything for the people of the empire. The belief that one's own life would be of no concern.
So much so that he wants to resemble her and learn from her.
That's why it was more shocking.
That she is a fake Saintess.
The fact that she claimed to be a false Saintess was only out of revenge against her father.
Her words that she will no longer live for the people of the empire.
The promise that from now on, she will live only for herself.
The outrageous demand to be paid in exchange for acting as a fake Saintess.
Because she was a 180-degree turnaround from the image of her he had been thinking and drawing all this time.
So, although he understood at first glance that she had changed, he couldn't look at her favorably.
But that thought was soon shattered again.
The day he went down to Delucia to deal with the epidemic.
She had been vehemently refusing to go, saying that her life was as precious as the lives of the people of the empire, but once she set foot in Delucia, she changed 180 degrees.
Her voice was filled with desperation as she held each patient's hand with reddened eyes and said, "It's okay, you can live, I will help you live."
The earnest hope is that they will not die like this and not lose their will to live.
At its core was a deep affection for the people of the empire.
Yeah, she hasn't changed.
She was tired of the suffocating environment and unrequited love, so she just gritted her teeth and tried to turn away.
She was still the same as he knew her. She was still the Shayne Veloce he had admired and respected.
So he couldn't abandon her.
Even though she is clearly a fake, the possibility that her half-sister is the real Saintess increases.
He couldn't let go of her hand.
Shayne, who lived her entire life for the people of the empire, should not have become so shabby.
She couldn't afford to be betrayed and abandoned again.
He looked at Shayne quietly.
Declan almost laughed at the sight of her tilting her head in confusion as she looked at his hands.
When he waved his hand again, she reached out with a bewildered expression.
The weight of it gently resting on his hand felt ticklish.
It seemed like his allergies were kicking in again.
Although she was still a young Duchess before her husband inherited the title, her family was still the only Duke in the empire, so she had to be treated with respect, and so the Crown Prince himself went there.
“Thank you for coming this far, Your Highness.”
The expression on the Duke's face as he came out to greet him in front of the building was extremely dark.
It was understandable that he would be heartbroken to lose his daughter-in-law not long after losing his wife.
Declan laid chrysanthemums on the woman's body with a sorrowful heart.
Just as he raised his head to pay his respects, he spotted a girl in a black dress.
It was none other than Shayne Veloce.
A small girl whose height was about his shoulder level bowed her head politely when her eyes met his.
'I clearly heard that she was six years old.'
It was quite shocking to him that a child of that age could be so calm in such a solemn setting.
Moreover, this is the place where she is sending off her mother. It would be normal for her to cry and sob.
But that was only for a moment, as Declan witnessed the child's sadness hidden by the net on her black hat.
The child was glaring with bloodshot eyes and pursed lips.
'Ah.'
It's not that the child is fine; she's just pretending to be.
As the successor to the Duke's family, she was desperately holding back tears so as not to show weakness.
When he realized that fact, a corner of his heart suddenly felt a pang.
'What kind of position is that?'
What kind of status do you have that prevents a child from freely mourning the death of his parents?
He was so distressed that he couldn't take his eyes off the child throughout the funeral.
He felt sorry for the child who had to suffer the misfortune of losing her parents at the young age of six.
But the child's misfortune did not end there.
“The Little Duke brought his government into the annex?”
“If only the government had come in. He has a child in the meantime. The child is already four years old.”
“Huh, so you’re saying that he had an affair long before his wife passed away?”
He couldn't hide his bewilderment at the chatter of the maids he happened to hear while walking around the palace.
It is not surprising that nobles often have one or two mistresses, but it is surprising that he brought them into his family home.
'Then that child...'
As the only legitimate successor to the Duke's family, his position will not be threatened, but how shocking must it have been for the girl to have experienced such a thing right after her mother's death?
Moreover, since she was living under the same roof as her father's government and her half-sister, the roles of host and guest were reversed, and she was likely to be wary of others.
'It's okay for now because there's a Duke, but...'
Given the Duke's age, his protection won't last long.
Declan let out a short sigh.
It was heartbreaking to think that the child who had held back her tears even in the face of her mother's death might end up shedding tears.
But his prediction was wrong.
Even after the Duke was bedridden and eventually returned to the goddess's embrace, the child steadfastly maintained her position as successor.
To help the people of a territory who were in poverty due to the disaster, she reduced the already low taxes by 20% and developed high-quality farming tools to increase productivity.
However, her fame grew day by day as she worked hard to provide for the welfare of the people by generating additional income from various places such as the upper class and the mines.
It wasn't just about looking after the family estate.
Whenever he heard news of a disaster in a certain area and visited the area, her hand was always there first.
It was unique and admirable.
In a situation where there was no one on her side, to the point where it was openly rumored that the current Duke only had illegitimate children and treated the legitimate heirs like cold rice, it was fortunate that she grew up well without being discouraged, but it was also truly heartwarming to see her take such meticulous care of even the weak.
So he also decided to help her as much as he could.
That was also the reason why he had first asked the Emperor to be her debutante partner three years ago.
Being the Crown Prince's partner would help her position.
“How unexpected. You are the first to claim to be someone’s partner. Do you perhaps have feelings for Princess Veloce?”
“No, I just thought that as the successor to the only ducal family in the empire, it was only right that the imperial family pay attention to their debutante partner.”
Although he said that, he had actually been thinking for a long time that she would be a good fit for him.
There would be no greater blessing than a woman who knows how to fulfill her noble duties and loves those who make up this empire if she were to ascend to the position of Empress.
However, their marriage did not come to fruition.
“The Duke of Veloce has put the Princess forward as a candidate for the abolition of the throne.”
“What is that... The Princess is the only legitimate heir, so if she dies, who will take over the ducal line?”
“Hmm, I guess he’ll take a son-in-law. Since an illegitimate child can’t be the heir, that would be the best option.”
The Princess becomes a sacrifice.
For Declan, it felt like being hit in the back of the head with a huge sledgehammer.
'Why would you make such a choice when you have an illegitimate child to send away as a proxy...?'
He bit his lip in surprise at the thought that came to him unintentionally. Even though she was an illegitimate child, she was also a citizen of the empire, so how could he have such a thought?
But now was not the time to worry about such things. If things continued like this, the Princess would die.
“No matter how you look at it, this is not right. Years have passed since the human sacrifice, but the disaster still lingers in the empire. This inhumane system must be abolished immediately.”
“Oh, you’re saying that again? Didn’t I say that the system of abolition of the corps cannot be abolished anymore? Up until now, most of the women selected for abolition have been commoners, so the people of the empire are deeply dissatisfied. If the system of abolition of the corps is abolished now that the nobles have only recently participated, all of that dissatisfaction will be directed at the imperial family!”
“Are you sacrificing innocent lives just because you are afraid of such accusations? What are the people of the empire to you, father? And how can you call yourself the father of Catalonia? As the Crown Prince of Catalonia, I can no longer tolerate my father’s cowardice. Even if my father does not permit it, I will definitely put an end to this inhumane human sacrifice.”
“What, coward? Abolishing the system without my permission? Do you dare to exercise imperial authority? Have you ever seen such a brazen man? Look! Imprison the Crown Prince immediately. He is not to step out even one step before receiving my permission!”
The Emperor's orders were strict, and he missed the chance to save Shayne.
Every day was hell.
Even with his eyes closed, the image of her being torn apart by the lion's sharp teeth and dying a horrible death would not leave his mind. Her screams of pain rang in his ears all day long.
But unlike him, Shayne, the person involved, did not lose her composure even at that moment.
“They say Princess Veloce donated all her wealth. She asked that it be used to help the suffering people of the empire.”
It was a report that made Declan laugh out loud.
Even at a time when your life is at stake, you only think of the people of the empire.
He was so angry at that blind sacrifice that it made his head spin, but on the other hand, he respected it.
The heart that would sacrifice everything for the people of the empire. The belief that one's own life would be of no concern.
So much so that he wants to resemble her and learn from her.
That's why it was more shocking.
That she is a fake Saintess.
The fact that she claimed to be a false Saintess was only out of revenge against her father.
Her words that she will no longer live for the people of the empire.
The promise that from now on, she will live only for herself.
The outrageous demand to be paid in exchange for acting as a fake Saintess.
Because she was a 180-degree turnaround from the image of her he had been thinking and drawing all this time.
So, although he understood at first glance that she had changed, he couldn't look at her favorably.
But that thought was soon shattered again.
The day he went down to Delucia to deal with the epidemic.
She had been vehemently refusing to go, saying that her life was as precious as the lives of the people of the empire, but once she set foot in Delucia, she changed 180 degrees.
Her voice was filled with desperation as she held each patient's hand with reddened eyes and said, "It's okay, you can live, I will help you live."
The earnest hope is that they will not die like this and not lose their will to live.
At its core was a deep affection for the people of the empire.
Yeah, she hasn't changed.
She was tired of the suffocating environment and unrequited love, so she just gritted her teeth and tried to turn away.
She was still the same as he knew her. She was still the Shayne Veloce he had admired and respected.
So he couldn't abandon her.
Even though she is clearly a fake, the possibility that her half-sister is the real Saintess increases.
He couldn't let go of her hand.
Shayne, who lived her entire life for the people of the empire, should not have become so shabby.
She couldn't afford to be betrayed and abandoned again.
He looked at Shayne quietly.
Declan almost laughed at the sight of her tilting her head in confusion as she looked at his hands.
When he waved his hand again, she reached out with a bewildered expression.
The weight of it gently resting on his hand felt ticklish.
It seemed like his allergies were kicking in again.
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