“I don’t understand at all what the Duke wants.”
Felix continued to speak, clenching his fists and biting his lower lip roughly.
"No matter what Dukes Iels and Argenthoz say, I don't expect anything. I'm content with my life now, and I'm happy as it is."
"I apologize, Your Highness Prince Felix. May I correct you? Your Highness is not happy."
“Do you dare to decide my happiness now?”
Felix raised his eyebrows impatiently.
“It won’t be bad for Your Highness, so please listen.”
Rudnine made the suggestion with slightly sunken eyes and a calm voice.
"This is my first offer to Your Highness. This is a personal deal of mine. I would like to select a partner woman to accompany you to Your Highness the Crown Prince's birthday banquet."
Felix, who was listening to him with an expression on his face, was dumbfounded.
He was about to refuse right away, but Duke Iels made such an unexpected offer.
"Birthday party partner? Who are you talking about?"
“This is Princess Yvonne Argenthoz.”
Rudnine was in so much pain that he could barely finish speaking.
It was a terrifying reality that he had to keep the woman he loved away from another man, but he had no choice because of the lack of time.
For now, this method is the best.
"Princess Yvonne Argenthoz? No, why would I take the risk of taking the woman the Empress has chosen as Crown Princess as my partner? Ugh?!"
Felix took a step back as Rudnine, who had been polite until then, suddenly glared at him like a madman.
“...Crown Princess? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Oh, no... I mean.”
Duke Iels is a sword master.
Even without a sword, it's no problem to kill a person with just that one hand.
'Damn it. Why is it like that? It's scary!'
Felix was thin and had no muscles compared to Rudnine.
He looked as precarious as a bush swaying in the rain, trembling under the brunt of Rudnine's murderous aura.
"Calm down, Duke of Iels! Come on, I'll listen to your offer first."
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Felix forced a smile and changed his stance, Rudnine barely managed to take a deep breath.
It felt strange to me that he couldn't think calmly about Yvonne as he usually did, but he couldn't help it.
He decided to accept this kind of self.
Rudnine sighed softly and looked into Felix's eyes again, opening his mouth.
"We will prepare detailed plans and send them to Your Highness in confidence. We will also ensure the safety of Your Highness and Lady Evelyn. Compensation accordingly."
"Duke."
"I'll get you a cure for Lady Evelyn. Is that alright?"
Felix, who had been listening to the Duke's proposal with his head between his eyebrows, pounding, raised his head in surprise at his last words.
He was sure he had misheard.
So he asked again.
“Duke, what did you just say? A cure for my mother?”
"Yes. Evelyn's symptoms are brain damage caused by the aftereffects of the poison. But I heard there's a cure."
Felix's eyes, which had been calm and composed until then, as if he had no interest in the world, turned strange.
He knows that the Duke of Iels is not the type to talk nonsense, lie, or throw out empty promises.
But it was still hard to believe.
No, why on earth?
This is the first time he's heard that there is a cure...
“It must cost a lot of money... I don’t have that kind of money.”
Felix's voice trembled.
"Your Highness, you don't have a single penny to spare. I've found out that you need a cure and a skilled wizard."
“Even a wizard...? That’s even more difficult!”
“The magic will be provided directly by the Duke of Argenthoz, the Magic Tower Lord.”
“What?”
He was starting to feel dizzy from all the excessive treatment.
Felix's spine immediately went cold. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
From the moment the two Dukes sent him their letters, he knew they had something in mind.
It was Empress Giselle who made Concubine Evelyn an idiot. Offering to treat her would mean formally rebelling against the Empress.
“...What do you ultimately want from me?”
Felix's hands and voice trembled as he looked into Rudnine's pitch-black eyes, which were as deep as a lake.
But he shook his head with a calm expression and postponed the answer.
"First, I told you to do them one by one. Please do your best at this banquet."
“...I understand, Duke.”
Felix nodded.
He doesn't want to be Emperor. He has no such desire whatsoever.
But what if he could cure his mother? If only he could free her from the world she's been living in, trapped in a childish world, ridiculed by others, unable to see the world clearly because of him.
Whether it's a puppet Emperor of the Dukes, or an Emperor who destroys the world, he will do whatever it takes.
Felix, having made up his mind, looked at Rudnine, who was also staring at the pouring rain, deeply contemplating something.
Seeing him like that, Felix felt an uncontrollable curiosity welling up within him.
"Duke Iels. Let me ask you something. Why on earth are you doing this? For what purpose? Have you always been driven by a lust for power?"
Rudnine met Felix's eyes after receiving his question and smiled faintly.
“I have no lust for power. But... I do have personal desires.”
"Personal desires?"
“Yes. Anything to have ‘that’...”
“...?”
He looked at Prince Felix, who was curious, and after a moment of silence, he answered.
“...I will do anything.”
For her.
Rudnine slowly closed and opened his eyes, remembering the last time he felt Yvonne's fingertips on the porch of the Argenthoz House entrance.
If she wants, he'll give her everything in this empire to express his feelings.
Since she declared that she would not indulge in extravagance, he cannot give gifts.
He gets jealous of the hamster she raises.
It was so hard trying not to seem like such a petty man.
It felt like it would be easier to just come and recruit the Third Prince.
'Oh, right.'
Rudnine remembered the three days he had been away from the capital, when he had missed Yvonne so much that he had returned without being able to completely destroy the Thiels Mine with his own hands.
Because he was short on time, he ended up just blocking the entrance.
"Well, there's nothing I can do. Next time I have time, I'll go and destroy it myself."
He would do anything for her.
Time was running tight for Yvonne.
The rain that had been pouring down with frightening force the day before stopped as if it were a lie in the morning.
Everyone welcomed the sun that had finally emerged from between the clouds after a long time, and the intense rainy season was finally over.
Time passed by in a flash, and it was finally the evening before Crown Prince Adrian's birthday banquet.
Duke Argenthoz, who had been so busy that it was hard to even see his face for a while, left work early at the top of the tower and called me to his study.
“You called, Father.”
“Yes, Yvonne.”
As I entered the Duke of Argenthoz's study, which I hadn't seen in a long time, I was reminded of the first time I was called here to work as a form of self-reflection.
At that time...
'That was good. I guess I didn't have any worries.'
I turned my head with a smile and saw Duke Argenthoz looking at me with a strange expression.
“Why are you like that?”
“You paid back the twenty million gold you borrowed from me last night, plus interest.”
“Yes. Did you receive it?”
I smiled and nodded.
Duke Argenthoz looked me in the eye and sighed slightly.
"Yvonne. You seem to have grown up so quickly. I'm starting to truly believe you've matured, just like you said."
“Oh, really?”
Do you believe that things have changed a little now?
But Duke Argenthoz didn't look very happy, so I tilted my head and realized what his feelings were.
“Are you... disappointed?”
Felix continued to speak, clenching his fists and biting his lower lip roughly.
"No matter what Dukes Iels and Argenthoz say, I don't expect anything. I'm content with my life now, and I'm happy as it is."
"I apologize, Your Highness Prince Felix. May I correct you? Your Highness is not happy."
“Do you dare to decide my happiness now?”
Felix raised his eyebrows impatiently.
“It won’t be bad for Your Highness, so please listen.”
Rudnine made the suggestion with slightly sunken eyes and a calm voice.
"This is my first offer to Your Highness. This is a personal deal of mine. I would like to select a partner woman to accompany you to Your Highness the Crown Prince's birthday banquet."
Felix, who was listening to him with an expression on his face, was dumbfounded.
He was about to refuse right away, but Duke Iels made such an unexpected offer.
"Birthday party partner? Who are you talking about?"
“This is Princess Yvonne Argenthoz.”
Rudnine was in so much pain that he could barely finish speaking.
It was a terrifying reality that he had to keep the woman he loved away from another man, but he had no choice because of the lack of time.
For now, this method is the best.
"Princess Yvonne Argenthoz? No, why would I take the risk of taking the woman the Empress has chosen as Crown Princess as my partner? Ugh?!"
Felix took a step back as Rudnine, who had been polite until then, suddenly glared at him like a madman.
“...Crown Princess? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Oh, no... I mean.”
Duke Iels is a sword master.
Even without a sword, it's no problem to kill a person with just that one hand.
'Damn it. Why is it like that? It's scary!'
Felix was thin and had no muscles compared to Rudnine.
He looked as precarious as a bush swaying in the rain, trembling under the brunt of Rudnine's murderous aura.
"Calm down, Duke of Iels! Come on, I'll listen to your offer first."
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Felix forced a smile and changed his stance, Rudnine barely managed to take a deep breath.
It felt strange to me that he couldn't think calmly about Yvonne as he usually did, but he couldn't help it.
He decided to accept this kind of self.
Rudnine sighed softly and looked into Felix's eyes again, opening his mouth.
"We will prepare detailed plans and send them to Your Highness in confidence. We will also ensure the safety of Your Highness and Lady Evelyn. Compensation accordingly."
"Duke."
"I'll get you a cure for Lady Evelyn. Is that alright?"
Felix, who had been listening to the Duke's proposal with his head between his eyebrows, pounding, raised his head in surprise at his last words.
He was sure he had misheard.
So he asked again.
“Duke, what did you just say? A cure for my mother?”
"Yes. Evelyn's symptoms are brain damage caused by the aftereffects of the poison. But I heard there's a cure."
Felix's eyes, which had been calm and composed until then, as if he had no interest in the world, turned strange.
He knows that the Duke of Iels is not the type to talk nonsense, lie, or throw out empty promises.
But it was still hard to believe.
No, why on earth?
This is the first time he's heard that there is a cure...
“It must cost a lot of money... I don’t have that kind of money.”
Felix's voice trembled.
"Your Highness, you don't have a single penny to spare. I've found out that you need a cure and a skilled wizard."
“Even a wizard...? That’s even more difficult!”
“The magic will be provided directly by the Duke of Argenthoz, the Magic Tower Lord.”
“What?”
He was starting to feel dizzy from all the excessive treatment.
Felix's spine immediately went cold. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
From the moment the two Dukes sent him their letters, he knew they had something in mind.
It was Empress Giselle who made Concubine Evelyn an idiot. Offering to treat her would mean formally rebelling against the Empress.
“...What do you ultimately want from me?”
Felix's hands and voice trembled as he looked into Rudnine's pitch-black eyes, which were as deep as a lake.
But he shook his head with a calm expression and postponed the answer.
"First, I told you to do them one by one. Please do your best at this banquet."
“...I understand, Duke.”
Felix nodded.
He doesn't want to be Emperor. He has no such desire whatsoever.
But what if he could cure his mother? If only he could free her from the world she's been living in, trapped in a childish world, ridiculed by others, unable to see the world clearly because of him.
Whether it's a puppet Emperor of the Dukes, or an Emperor who destroys the world, he will do whatever it takes.
Felix, having made up his mind, looked at Rudnine, who was also staring at the pouring rain, deeply contemplating something.
Seeing him like that, Felix felt an uncontrollable curiosity welling up within him.
"Duke Iels. Let me ask you something. Why on earth are you doing this? For what purpose? Have you always been driven by a lust for power?"
Rudnine met Felix's eyes after receiving his question and smiled faintly.
“I have no lust for power. But... I do have personal desires.”
"Personal desires?"
“Yes. Anything to have ‘that’...”
“...?”
He looked at Prince Felix, who was curious, and after a moment of silence, he answered.
“...I will do anything.”
For her.
Rudnine slowly closed and opened his eyes, remembering the last time he felt Yvonne's fingertips on the porch of the Argenthoz House entrance.
If she wants, he'll give her everything in this empire to express his feelings.
Since she declared that she would not indulge in extravagance, he cannot give gifts.
He gets jealous of the hamster she raises.
It was so hard trying not to seem like such a petty man.
It felt like it would be easier to just come and recruit the Third Prince.
'Oh, right.'
Rudnine remembered the three days he had been away from the capital, when he had missed Yvonne so much that he had returned without being able to completely destroy the Thiels Mine with his own hands.
Because he was short on time, he ended up just blocking the entrance.
"Well, there's nothing I can do. Next time I have time, I'll go and destroy it myself."
He would do anything for her.
Time was running tight for Yvonne.
***
The rain that had been pouring down with frightening force the day before stopped as if it were a lie in the morning.
Everyone welcomed the sun that had finally emerged from between the clouds after a long time, and the intense rainy season was finally over.
Time passed by in a flash, and it was finally the evening before Crown Prince Adrian's birthday banquet.
Duke Argenthoz, who had been so busy that it was hard to even see his face for a while, left work early at the top of the tower and called me to his study.
“You called, Father.”
“Yes, Yvonne.”
As I entered the Duke of Argenthoz's study, which I hadn't seen in a long time, I was reminded of the first time I was called here to work as a form of self-reflection.
At that time...
'That was good. I guess I didn't have any worries.'
I turned my head with a smile and saw Duke Argenthoz looking at me with a strange expression.
“Why are you like that?”
“You paid back the twenty million gold you borrowed from me last night, plus interest.”
“Yes. Did you receive it?”
I smiled and nodded.
Duke Argenthoz looked me in the eye and sighed slightly.
"Yvonne. You seem to have grown up so quickly. I'm starting to truly believe you've matured, just like you said."
“Oh, really?”
Do you believe that things have changed a little now?
But Duke Argenthoz didn't look very happy, so I tilted my head and realized what his feelings were.
“Are you... disappointed?”
"Ah, I see. You must be disappointed. This shouldn't be happening. I should be happy that you've grown up, you little troublemaker who used to throw bombs and cause accidents. What a ridiculous situation.
When I pinpointed his feelings, Duke Argenthoz nodded in delight, but I was overcome with guilt."
I avoided his gaze, biting my lower lip, and stroked my clenched fingernails.
Because that version is gone now.
The original Yvonne doesn't exist, so I'm here to take her place. Shouldn't we be sad, rather than resentful?
Was it too shameless of me to try to become the daughter of the Duke of Argenthoz or the younger sister of Barden?
Did you have no conscience?
'But, I...'
Suddenly, everything felt uneasy, and my stomach started churning.
What.
It was a dream-like, perfect first love, and I think it started from the moment Rudnine told me he liked me.
The rest of the happiness... I feel suffocated because I’m anxious that everything will disappear like a dream or a bubble.
The Duke of Argenthoz spoke when I had held the hem of my skirt so tightly that it formed unsightly wrinkles.
"Yes, let's talk about these feelings later. Let's take care of urgent matters first."
“Oh, father.”
I came to my senses and raised my head again.
As I looked into his shining purple eyes that were looking straight at me, my heart, which had been wavering in the vast ocean, became calm.
Yes. I'm Yvonne Argenthoz now. I have the same eyes as that person.
Anyone can see that our faces look similar. I'm his daughter.
With this confidence alone, I managed to shake off my anxiety and focus on what Rudnine had planned for Adrian's birthday party tomorrow.
"All preparations have been completed by Duke Iels and us. You must wear the dress bestowed by the Empress, go to the entrance of the Palace of Peace, stand in front of the banquet hall, and enter with the Third Prince."
“Ah... His Highness, Third Prince.”
I nodded.
It was as I expected.
When I pondered what Rudnine had said about the royal family not being just Adrian, the answer quickly came to me.
Prince Felix Delk Verbent, 3rd Prince.
He was known as an incompetent Third Prince with no particular power, no ability, and no official duties.
First of all, is he the kind of person who would get involved in such a complicated matter?
I asked, scratching the ball.
“Did His Highness the Third Prince give permission?”
“Of course. Just go without worrying about anything.”
"Hmm. Is that okay? No matter how gentle Her Majesty, Empress Giselle, is, she'll be angry. The nobles will also object, and public opinion will turn quite negative."
"Oh, that's interesting, Yvonne? Our daughter is so mindful of what people think of her."
The Duke of Argenthoz smiled brightly, then stretched out his arm and gently stroked my head.
The touch was so affectionate that I felt a bit dazed, and my heart ached.
I deliberately answered sharply to hide my feelings.
“Of course. I’m mature now.”
"Haha. That's admirable, but... you're from the Argenthoz family. The countless accidents you've caused were clearly wrongdoings that shouldn't have been committed, but they were forgiven because you're the Princess of Argenthoz. You're a noble Princess from a prestigious imperial family. You don't need to worry about what others think. Do whatever you want."
"...Father."
I called him, but then I couldn't continue speaking, so I lowered my head.
I avoided his gaze, biting my lower lip, and stroked my clenched fingernails.
Because that version is gone now.
The original Yvonne doesn't exist, so I'm here to take her place. Shouldn't we be sad, rather than resentful?
Was it too shameless of me to try to become the daughter of the Duke of Argenthoz or the younger sister of Barden?
Did you have no conscience?
'But, I...'
Suddenly, everything felt uneasy, and my stomach started churning.
What.
It was a dream-like, perfect first love, and I think it started from the moment Rudnine told me he liked me.
The rest of the happiness... I feel suffocated because I’m anxious that everything will disappear like a dream or a bubble.
The Duke of Argenthoz spoke when I had held the hem of my skirt so tightly that it formed unsightly wrinkles.
"Yes, let's talk about these feelings later. Let's take care of urgent matters first."
“Oh, father.”
I came to my senses and raised my head again.
As I looked into his shining purple eyes that were looking straight at me, my heart, which had been wavering in the vast ocean, became calm.
Yes. I'm Yvonne Argenthoz now. I have the same eyes as that person.
Anyone can see that our faces look similar. I'm his daughter.
With this confidence alone, I managed to shake off my anxiety and focus on what Rudnine had planned for Adrian's birthday party tomorrow.
"All preparations have been completed by Duke Iels and us. You must wear the dress bestowed by the Empress, go to the entrance of the Palace of Peace, stand in front of the banquet hall, and enter with the Third Prince."
“Ah... His Highness, Third Prince.”
I nodded.
It was as I expected.
When I pondered what Rudnine had said about the royal family not being just Adrian, the answer quickly came to me.
Prince Felix Delk Verbent, 3rd Prince.
He was known as an incompetent Third Prince with no particular power, no ability, and no official duties.
First of all, is he the kind of person who would get involved in such a complicated matter?
I asked, scratching the ball.
“Did His Highness the Third Prince give permission?”
“Of course. Just go without worrying about anything.”
"Hmm. Is that okay? No matter how gentle Her Majesty, Empress Giselle, is, she'll be angry. The nobles will also object, and public opinion will turn quite negative."
"Oh, that's interesting, Yvonne? Our daughter is so mindful of what people think of her."
The Duke of Argenthoz smiled brightly, then stretched out his arm and gently stroked my head.
The touch was so affectionate that I felt a bit dazed, and my heart ached.
I deliberately answered sharply to hide my feelings.
“Of course. I’m mature now.”
"Haha. That's admirable, but... you're from the Argenthoz family. The countless accidents you've caused were clearly wrongdoings that shouldn't have been committed, but they were forgiven because you're the Princess of Argenthoz. You're a noble Princess from a prestigious imperial family. You don't need to worry about what others think. Do whatever you want."
"...Father."
I called him, but then I couldn't continue speaking, so I lowered my head.
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