“Erna?”
Callion couldn't believe his eyes, wondering if the person entering was indeed his wife, whom he had seen until that morning.
Erna was not usually the type to style her hair. She would typically wear it down, but on busy days, she would tie it tightly into a ponytail and slick it back.
But now, Erna braided her soft, shimmering, gorgeous blonde hair tightly and delicately to create a shape.
She brought the braided hair back behind her head and secured it in a single bun, then placed a flower-shaped ornament of colorful and distinctive shapes on top.
That wasn't all.
Callion's gaze dropped slightly. Along with her distinct features, she saw red lips that appeared darker than usual. Unlike usual, she had to put a lot of effort into her makeup.
Callion's gaze was fixed on the red lips.
It was the lips he had bitten to his heart's content until dawn. It was also the lips that had bitten many things.
He wanted to run his finger over those red lips right now and then give them something to chew on.
'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!'
Callion suddenly felt disappointed in everything in the world. Why are there so many useless people here? If I had my way, right now...
Realizing that his imagination was becoming increasingly violent and dangerous, Callion hurriedly lowered his gaze further. At this rate, he was about to become a beast unable to manage even one person under his command in front of dozens of people.
Callion couldn't believe his eyes, wondering if the person entering was indeed his wife, whom he had seen until that morning.
Erna was not usually the type to style her hair. She would typically wear it down, but on busy days, she would tie it tightly into a ponytail and slick it back.
But now, Erna braided her soft, shimmering, gorgeous blonde hair tightly and delicately to create a shape.
She brought the braided hair back behind her head and secured it in a single bun, then placed a flower-shaped ornament of colorful and distinctive shapes on top.
That wasn't all.
Callion's gaze dropped slightly. Along with her distinct features, she saw red lips that appeared darker than usual. Unlike usual, she had to put a lot of effort into her makeup.
Callion's gaze was fixed on the red lips.
It was the lips he had bitten to his heart's content until dawn. It was also the lips that had bitten many things.
He wanted to run his finger over those red lips right now and then give them something to chew on.
'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!'
Callion suddenly felt disappointed in everything in the world. Why are there so many useless people here? If I had my way, right now...
Realizing that his imagination was becoming increasingly violent and dangerous, Callion hurriedly lowered his gaze further. At this rate, he was about to become a beast unable to manage even one person under his command in front of dozens of people.
As his gaze went down, he finally saw the clothes Erna was wearing.
'Isn't it a formal dress?'
When Erna left the couple's bedroom, she clearly saw the ladies-in-waiting standing outside preparing her ceremonial robes. So he assumed she would come wearing them, but what Erna was wearing now was not a ceremonial robe. It was a beautiful, formal dress that noble ladies would occasionally wear when entering banquets at the Grand Duke's castle. Was it tailored to her hair and eye color in mind? A deep green fabric gently wrapped around Erna's body. On the dress, which fit her perfectly without any gaps or excess, scenes of nature—such as flowers, butterflies, and birds—were delicately embroidered in gold thread here and there.
As Erna took a step inside, the ornament in her hair swayed gently. Beneath the ornament, which sparkled like a flower swaying in the wind, Erna was smiling brightly. The people of Hessengard would usually describe a beautiful woman as being like the goddess of spring. Callion thought. From today on, it would be better to say that the expression is like Erna.
It seemed acceptable to propose submitting such a law to Parliament. He intended to use the Grand Duke's authority to strip those who opposed it of their status and banish them all. Why are these clueless fools clinging to Hessengard?
He was convinced.
He doesn't know what the Goddess of Spring looks like, but he couldn't possibly be more beautiful than the current Erna.
Not only Callion, but everyone in the room looked at Erna. Adelaide was no exception.
Unable to maintain her usual recognized demeanor, she stood with her mouth agape, staring at Erna with eyes full of astonishment. Seeing that face, Callion could guess what Adelaide had been feeling while waiting for Erna. She had likely been waiting with the intention of mocking her to the fullest. However, the poor Princess of Havand no longer exists. Only the Grand Duke of Hessengard remained in this place.
It seemed acceptable to propose submitting such a law to Parliament. He intended to use the Grand Duke's authority to strip those who opposed it of their status and banish them all. Why are these clueless fools clinging to Hessengard?
He was convinced.
He doesn't know what the Goddess of Spring looks like, but he couldn't possibly be more beautiful than the current Erna.
Not only Callion, but everyone in the room looked at Erna. Adelaide was no exception.
Unable to maintain her usual recognized demeanor, she stood with her mouth agape, staring at Erna with eyes full of astonishment. Seeing that face, Callion could guess what Adelaide had been feeling while waiting for Erna. She had likely been waiting with the intention of mocking her to the fullest. However, the poor Princess of Havand no longer exists. Only the Grand Duke of Hessengard remained in this place.
Erna entered the reception room with light steps, stood beside Callion, and spoke to Adelaide.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you, Adelaide."
At Erna's greeting, Adelaide held her trembling hand under her sleeve.
She wasn't the 'Erna' Adelaide had imagined.
***
Erna looked at Adelaide, who was flustered and unable to even properly greet her.
It is her younger sibling she's seeing again after 10 years. Just as Erna has grown up in the meantime, Adelaide has also grown up beautifully.
However, there was something different. To be precise, it wasn't Adelaide, but Erna herself.
Erna felt puzzled as she looked at Adelaide.
'Why...'
Is it that they don't care at all?
As a child, Erna envied everything about Adelaide. She was not much different from Adelaide's worshippers. She had even secretly walked the path Adelaide had walked at night, hoping to feel even a little bit of a similar sensation. To Erna, Adelaide was that kind of person.
So she had braced herself. That people would turn away from her if they saw Adelaide. Everyone will come to realize that the Grand Duke, whom they have praised as beautiful until now, is actually nothing compared to the Princess of Havand.
Even as she thought that, she remembered what Callion had said that morning. He had asked if he looked like the kind of guy who would turn his eyes to Adelaide now.
Those words reignited Erna's fading confidence. So Erna sat down and said to the ladies-in-waiting, "Do your best as much as you can."
The ladies-in-waiting were deeply moved by those words.
They were there to help the Grand Duke with his adornments. However, there were not many days when Erna dressed up. Of course, it wasn't that she never did, but there were rare days when Erna adorned herself with all her might.
Nevertheless, the ladies-in-waiting did not neglect their duties. They always prepare clothes that fit Erna perfectly for each season, believing that she will wear them someday, and prepare new jewelry every year.
Even Chairwoman Vanessa, who was strict with other budgets, would occasionally run into the ladies-in-waiting and subtly suggest that they could order more generously before leaving.
Every time that happened, the ladies-in-waiting grew even more frustrated. "What's the use of buying it? Grand Duke Erna isn't dressing up!"
Although she did tend to dress up for the New Year's banquet, the Grand Duke had to exude dignity there, so she mainly wore outfits that were weighty and neat rather than the flashy decorations worn by other noble ladies.
However, today, Grand Duke Callion made a request. He told them to put all their effort into dressing her up.
From the moment they heard those words, the maids' eyes gleamed. They have been waiting for today. They intended to dress up even if Erna said she didn't want to.
Besides, the person she had to meet was said to be the Princess of Havand, who was rumored to be beautiful.
Before they knew it, this matter had become a battle of national pride in the hearts of the ladies-in-waiting. Come to think of it, it was a funny thing. After all, Erna was also a Princess of Havand. However, now no one in Hessengard considered Erna to be a person of Havand.
Moreover, Erna's weak voice as she sat in the chair further fueled the maids' enthusiasm.
"It's okay as long as I'm not embarrassed in front of Adelaide."
The ladies-in-waiting exchanged glances, rushed to the jewelry cabinet, and retrieved everything they had prepared. The result of their collective efforts was the current Erna.
In fact, at first, Erna intended to wear the Grand Duke of Hessengard's ceremonial robes like Callion, as that was in accordance with etiquette. However, she changed her mind after hearing from Orpheus, who had come to deliver Adelaide's situation.
“She kept calling you 'Sister Erna,' even though I had indirectly asked her to change your title.”
Erna could tell. The fact that Adelaide did not want to call her Grand Duke.
'I suppose so.'
Erna remembered the gaze of Adelaide she had encountered as a child. The look of a touch of pity and overflowing contempt cast by someone in absolute superiority.
She dislikes having to bow her head and using an honorific title for someone she once looked at with such eyes. That is likely why she wants to call her "older sister," a title that, at first glance, seems affectionate.
'It also means she won't treat me like a Grand Duke.'
It is none other than Adelaide. She is the one qualified to ascend to the throne of the Grand Duke of Hessengard under the peace treaty between Havand and Ether.
Erna sighed at Adelaide's attitude of half-blatantly aiming for the Grand Duke position.
'So that's how you're going to play it, huh?'
Erna looked at the robes the maids had brought for a moment, then gave an order.
"I will wear different clothes instead of the formal attire."
"Yes?"
“If she did not intend to treat me as a Grand Duke, then I suppose it would be right if I welcomed her as a younger sister rather than an envoy.”
So, Erna came wearing a dress instead of ceremonial robes. If they were sisters rather than a Grand Duke and an Envoy... a little rudeness shouldn't be a big deal.
Even though she came with that resolve, Erna was still worried before entering. Hearing the news that Callion had gone in the first place made her even more so.
And now, looking at Callion, who was staring at her from beside her with a gaze so intense it was stinging, Erna felt like she was about to laugh for some reason.
She dislikes having to bow her head and using an honorific title for someone she once looked at with such eyes. That is likely why she wants to call her "older sister," a title that, at first glance, seems affectionate.
'It also means she won't treat me like a Grand Duke.'
It is none other than Adelaide. She is the one qualified to ascend to the throne of the Grand Duke of Hessengard under the peace treaty between Havand and Ether.
Erna sighed at Adelaide's attitude of half-blatantly aiming for the Grand Duke position.
'So that's how you're going to play it, huh?'
Erna looked at the robes the maids had brought for a moment, then gave an order.
"I will wear different clothes instead of the formal attire."
"Yes?"
“If she did not intend to treat me as a Grand Duke, then I suppose it would be right if I welcomed her as a younger sister rather than an envoy.”
So, Erna came wearing a dress instead of ceremonial robes. If they were sisters rather than a Grand Duke and an Envoy... a little rudeness shouldn't be a big deal.
Even though she came with that resolve, Erna was still worried before entering. Hearing the news that Callion had gone in the first place made her even more so.
And now, looking at Callion, who was staring at her from beside her with a gaze so intense it was stinging, Erna felt like she was about to laugh for some reason.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you, Adelaide."
Erna greeted her younger sibling, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, without trembling even a little. At that moment, it felt as if the lump of emotion tightly bound deep within her heart was slowly unraveling and crumbling away.
It wasn't because she herself had become beautiful. Nor was it because Adelaide was glaring at her, unable to even control her expression.
Erna smiled and placed her hand on Callion's arm.
Even with Adelaide present, Callion was not only not running toward her like the maid of long ago, but was also staring only at Erna as if he didn't even know she existed.
In fact, this is probably what she has wanted for a long time.
A person who looks only at her.
Erna looked back at Adelaide with a light heart.
Was it because she had everything she wanted? Now, even when Erna looked at Adelaide, she felt no emotion.
***
“…”
Adelaide sat blankly in the middle of the room, prepared for her in the Grand Duke's castle annex.
The morning reception ended quickly, and the Grand Duke and his wife said they had something to discuss and left immediately.
This isn't it.
Adelaide was confused. Everything was going differently from what Adelaide had expected.
She thought winning the favor of the people here would be easy. After all, wasn't the person I being compared to Erna? That ugly fool. That incompetent and pathetic...
Adelaide recalled the sight of Erna entering the reception room. The moment she first saw her, she hadn't even thought it was Erna. However, as soon as she noticed the same hair and eye color as herself and the faint traces of the past remaining, Adelaide had no choice but to admit that she was Erna.
At that moment, Adelaide felt afraid.
Because what she thought she could wield as her greatest weapon could no longer affect Erna.
Crackles.
Adelaide gritted her teeth, even though she knew it was against etiquette.
After fear, anger welled up.
That's Erna. How dare she?
Adelaide clenched her fist tightly once again. She hadn't come all the way to Hessengard just to sit around stupidly.
'I'm going to make it mine.'
Just then, accompanied by a knock on the door, a maid brought by Adelaide entered and spoke.
"My Princess, I have brought her."
And at the same time.
Cosmetics don't taste good.
Callion licked his own lips, which were heavily smeared with the red lipstick Erna had worn. Erna, gasping for breath, lay in her arms, her dress still unbuttoned.
Adelaide recalled the sight of Erna entering the reception room. The moment she first saw her, she hadn't even thought it was Erna. However, as soon as she noticed the same hair and eye color as herself and the faint traces of the past remaining, Adelaide had no choice but to admit that she was Erna.
At that moment, Adelaide felt afraid.
Because what she thought she could wield as her greatest weapon could no longer affect Erna.
Crackles.
Adelaide gritted her teeth, even though she knew it was against etiquette.
After fear, anger welled up.
That's Erna. How dare she?
Adelaide clenched her fist tightly once again. She hadn't come all the way to Hessengard just to sit around stupidly.
'I'm going to make it mine.'
Just then, accompanied by a knock on the door, a maid brought by Adelaide entered and spoke.
"My Princess, I have brought her."
***
And at the same time.
Cosmetics don't taste good.
Callion licked his own lips, which were heavily smeared with the red lipstick Erna had worn. Erna, gasping for breath, lay in her arms, her dress still unbuttoned.
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