--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before me sat not the supreme ruler of a nation, but a brother who cherished his sibling.
It was neither an order nor a demand.
Merely a brother's request, wishing for his sibling's happiness.
Faced with such tender feelings, I couldn't dare to utter a lie.
Unable to lie, yet unable to speak the truth, I could only move my lips when,
in the distance, the sound of a bell rang, signaling the hour.
"I have a prior engagement and must take my leave."
Having reverted to his imperial persona, His Majesty the Emperor issued me a subtle dismissal.
"Then, I shall look forward to the charity bazaar."
"I will do my best to ensure that the faith you have placed in me is not in vain."
In the end, without responding to the plea of the brother with a sibling, I left the office.
A sigh that I had been holding back burst forth, and at the same time, a myriad of thoughts flooded in.
'He wants me to end my relationship with Idris...'
It was a contractual relationship with a foreseen end from the beginning, a conclusion I myself had taken for granted, so why?
Why does the end of this relationship, uttered from another's lips, cause my heart to sink?
'But... I can't end the contract with Idris right now.'
The time when His Majesty the Emperor dies and Idris is branded as a traitor has not yet passed.
I have taken his hand, and he has helped me in return.
I have a duty to save him.
'It would be best to watch over him until that time passes safely.'
So the aversion I felt to the Emperor's words must be due to a sense of responsibility.
As I was gathering my thoughts and about to leave the Imperial Palace, I sensed someone approaching from the opposite direction.
My expression hardened as I met the other person's gaze.
"To meet the Duchess here at the Imperial Palace."
Deon Zahir.
The person with the highest probability of being the culprit behind the incident I had been thinking about until just now.
It seemed Deon was the Emperor's prior engagement.
'Come to think of it, didn't His Majesty say earlier that Idris had no family to call his own?'
That meant that Idris and Deon had a bad relationship.
The suspicion based on my memories of my past life was gradually turning into conviction.
Hiding my feelings, I replied with a bright smile.
"I was just telling His Majesty about the charity bazaar."
"Ah, the bazaar."
"An invitation should arrive at the Grand Duke's residence tomorrow. I look forward to the items His Highness will donate."
"The Duchess is certainly diligent."
Deon, who had been slightly sarcastic, added as if he had belatedly remembered,
"Since the divorce hasn't been formally processed yet. You are still the Duchess, aren't you?"
The question contained hostility rather than seeking my opinion.
"Well, it's good to be diligent, but if you're aiming for the position of Grand Duchess, you should think again."
"......"
"Idris has always been terribly unlucky."
Deon took a step closer to me.
Then, leaning his upper body towards me, he looked down and added.
"Everything that he likes gets ruined. Sadly."
"......"
"Of course, I care about him, but I don't want to see him lose something precious and be sad anymore."
The chilling gaze and voice were as creepy as a snake crawling.
"I'm saying this for your own good, so you should seriously consider it."
The cool eyes were hidden between the languidly folded eyes.
He wore a kind smile as if he had never threatened me.
The moment Deon was about to pass me after saying what he had to say, I opened my mouth.
"That's a relief."
As if he thought I wouldn't say a word in response, Deon turned to look at me, his face clearly showing his displeasure.
I stared straight at his face and continued.
"I've always been lucky."
Of course, this is only limited to this life.
"Strangely enough, everything I like seems to increase in value and become more beautiful..."
"......"
"Wouldn't he become like that if he was by my side?"
Because I will make it so.
I smiled brightly at the now cold Deon and turned away first.
Paydan was glaring at the desk.
To be precise, at the charity bazaar invitation that his aide, Lockherd, had placed on the desk a little while ago.
"Ha! She insults me to my face, then invites me to save face? Amazing."
Of course, the entire empire knows about the discord between himself and Leticia, but not sending an invitation at all would seem a little petty.
He was very displeased with Leticia's behavior, trying to save face.
Lockherd, who had been watching Paydan carefully, cautiously asked.
"Should I reply that we will not attend?"
Then, Paydan's fingers, which had been tapping on the desk, stopped, and soon the arrow of anger flew towards Lockherd.
"Lockherd, do you not think?"
"Yes...?"
"Leticia invited me as if to show off, what do you think people will think if I refuse the invitation?"
Lockherd seemed to realize what he had missed, and let out a sigh of dismay.
Paydan slammed his hand on the desk and vented his anger.
"Then I'm the only one who gets caught up in emotions and becomes a moron who can't distinguish between public and private matters!"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency! I was short-sighted."
"I don't know if I hired an aide or a child..."
Lockherd, who had been silent for a while in front of Paydan, who was clicking his tongue, opened his mouth.
"Then I will reply that we will attend the bazaar. If there is anything else to convey or anything else needed..."
"Wait a minute."
Paydan, who had been lost in thought for a while, called out to Lockherd, who was about to leave, as if he had thought of something.
"I will attend the bazaar, but... I can't go to see that bitch doing well, can I?"
Lockherd, based on his previous experience, quietly waited for what he would say next instead of making reckless guesses.
"I think I heard that one of the distant relatives recently entered the Imperial Palace as a court attendant."
"Ah, yes. I heard it's the second son of Baron Lichman."
"Contact him. I have a favor to ask him."
"Yes."
Lockherd bowed his head and quickly left the office.
Paydan looked at the closing office door and smiled meaningfully.
"Look forward to it, Leticia."
I'll make sure this bazaar is talked about for a long time to come.
While preparing busily, the day of the bazaar arrived.
As the general planner of the event, I naturally arrived at the Imperial Palace a few hours earlier than others.
"It's all done, Miss."
Erin, who had checked my attire, which had been disheveled during the move, stepped back.
As I was looking at my appearance in the mirror for the last time, I heard Idris's voice from behind.
"You look pretty even without looking in the mirror."
In fact, I told him that he didn't have much to do even if he came early, so he could come slowly.
"I have to act like a loving couple at times like this. Don't you think so?"
Idris came to the Imperial Palace with me, using the act of being lovers as a reason.
At his playful words, I chuckled and asked.
"Won't you be bored alone?"
"Well, I don't think I'll be bored."
Idris shook the documents that his aide had left a little while ago, as if adding an explanation to his answer.
"Then I'll go out."
"Don't be too nervous, just do what you've been doing."
"You know that this is the best encouragement, right?"
I made a circle with my index finger and thumb.
"Thinking about the face of a loving couple, I believe you will show off your tremendous wealth, Grand Duke?"
Idris, who immediately noticed the meaning, let out a dumbfounded laugh.
"The pillars of the house will be pulled out at this bazaar. If I end up on the streets, you're responsible."
"Don't worry about that. Your lover owns a magic stone mine that is one of the largest in the empire in terms of mining volume. And now, he is also the owner of the most famous boutique in the empire."
While I was relaxing by exchanging silly jokes with Idris.
Wig's voice was heard along with a knock.
"Boss, all the auction officials have gathered. Are you ready?"
Comments
Post a Comment