🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 04
When two wars break out in one country, usually they don’t divide their forces between both—they abandon one side.
From the beginning, the war with the Kingdom of Mervenia, where Damian had marched out, wasn’t very big. Mervenia was only a kingdom, a small nation compared to the Crofus Empire.
It was practically a guaranteed victory from the start—more like crushing them with certainty.
Most of the ministers had invested their knights into the battle against Mervenia, where Damian had gone.
Because of that…
The war against the Biaten Empire, where Crown Prince Calisten Edan Crofus had gone, was considered a fight to be abandoned.
The Biaten Empire shared a border with them, so there had always been frequent small battles. They thought this time would be no different—just a few symbolic fights.
So he received almost no proper support.
But then how…
Did he destroy the Biaten Empire with just that small number of knights?
And this wasn’t even mentioned in the original story.
“Calisten?”
“Yes! He is at the castle gates right now!”
The Emperor glared at the aide who interrupted his speech. Under that gaze, the aide immediately lowered his head. The ballroom fell completely silent.
Everyone knew that the Emperor did not favor his own son, Crown Prince Calisten.
After his mother, the former Empress, died, Calisten had completely fallen out of favor. There were even rumors that the Emperor wished he would lose this battle and be removed from his position as Crown Prince.
“We are still celebrating Duke Maze. Tell him the victory ceremony will be held next month.”
“…Pardon? But right now—”
It meant that the knights who had already reached the capital would not be allowed inside and would instead have to camp outside—for a whole month.
Even after achieving a great victory.
“Ah. I expected this, but as always… Your Majesty.”
At the familiar voice, everyone turned their heads.
Calisten was standing there.
With jet-black hair and blood-red eyes—
His entire body covered in blood.
Each step he took made a heavy metallic sound from his armor. His footsteps pressed across the carpet of the banquet hall, and everyone’s gaze followed him.
“Father.”
“…Calisten.”
“My subordinates and I have brought the head of the Biaten Emperor, solely for Your Majesty.”
“…Is that true? You really brought his head…?”
“Yes.”
Calisten hadn’t come alone. A knight standing behind him bowed his head, holding a small box.
At Calisten’s gesture, the knight quickly left, ran up to the second-floor inner balcony, and moved behind the Emperor.
Then he handed over what he was carrying.
“Ha!”
The Emperor received the head of his long-time enemy, the Biaten Emperor, and exclaimed in excitement.
“Truly… this wretched devil…!”
With a heated expression, he checked the contents of the box again. Then, smiling in delight, he said—
“I will hold the victory ceremony tomorrow.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
“And tonight, enjoy yourself and celebrate as much as you like!”
At the sight of his long-time enemy’s head, the Emperor seemed to forget that Calisten was the son he despised, speaking as if granting him mercy.
The current Emperor hated Crown Prince Calisten.
Because Calisten was far more exceptional than an ordinary emperor.
“I would rather receive what was promised to me.”
“Th-that will be at your victory banquet! Right now, this is Duke Damian’s victory banquet!”
“…Yes.”
Calisten looked dissatisfied, but then he turned toward me and smiled.
“Make sure you give me what you promised, Your Majesty.”
Calisten was my childhood friend.
But I didn’t like him much either.
Because he was truly insane.
The reason I rushed into marriage was also because of this madman. If Damian had gone to war and I remained unmarried, there was no way he would have left me alone.
❖ ❖ ❖
The banquet dragged on endlessly.
Damian and I, along with Delilah and Sir Baron, had to stay together the entire time.
“Duke Maze! Come here!”
The Emperor, clearly in a good mood, had drunk heavily in a short time and was now speaking recklessly.
“I knew my Duke Maze would succeed! You have brought the Kingdom of Mervenia to the Crofus Empire!”
“You flatter me. It is already an honor to have been of help to this Empire.”
“Oh, still being humble, are you?”
Normally, the Emperor maintained dignity, but now he seemed too drunk to control himself.
Well, it made sense—he had just received the head of his greatest enemy.
He must have also received documents regarding the Biaten Empire.
That meant the territory would likely double in size. The Emperor’s joy was surely due to those hidden ambitions.
I forced a smile, pretending to listen.
If not for Calisten standing near the terrace door, still in his armor, staring at me without even changing clothes, I wouldn’t have bothered acting like this.
I had actually planned to leave while he went to change, but it seemed he knew my thoughts. No matter who spoke to him, he ignored them and just kept staring at me.
“Lady Delilah.”
“The fact that you remember my name is such an honor, Your Majesty!”
Delilah bowed deeply, as if moved. The Emperor smiled brightly.
“I’ve heard of your achievements. The strategy at the Luden Bridge—it was yours, wasn’t it?”
“Ah… that was all thanks to the Duke’s leadership…”
“Hahaha. I’ve heard from Duke Maze already. You are modest, as a lady should be. A wise woman.”
“You flatter me. I feel like I could die without regrets now!”
“You must not die! You are young and beautiful!”
Delilah smiled with teary eyes, acting deeply touched.
In the original story, Calisten and Delilah didn’t end up together because…
They were actually half-siblings.
That truth was only revealed near the end, but until then, Calisten had chased after her like a madman.
“I once had a daughter like you…”
The Emperor reminisced about his lost daughter—who was, in fact, Delilah.
“If you ever face difficulties, come to me. I will help you anytime.”
“Ah…! It is an honor, Your Majesty!”
Delilah bowed repeatedly, almost bending to the ground.
And I kept smiling, pretending to be the Duke’s wife in this uncomfortable banquet.
We hadn’t even spent our first night together yet. That meant, under imperial law, annulling the marriage wouldn’t be difficult.
If I returned to the Phyllia Marquis family, I might just be sold off into another marriage.
I wanted to avoid that.
So, even if I divorced Damian, it would be better to secure my next marriage first.
“Then tell me about the battlefield, Duke.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
And so, the long, tiring war stories continued.
Maybe… if I hadn’t been disappointed in Damian, those stories would have meant something to me.
Even though I found his words meaningless, I couldn’t just ignore them.
If it were that easy to move on, I might have left the house the day I saw him kissing Delilah.
“And so, at that time, I… did this… and…”
Every time Damian smiled, he checked Delilah’s expression—not mine.
That made my chest ache again.
Maybe… even now, I was hoping he would apologize, send Delilah away, and come back to me.
“My love will never change.”
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“There’s nothing I can’t keep, Bri. Not if it’s for you.”
Those were the words he said before leaving.
Remembering them made me feel even more miserable.
At some point, I realized Calisten had disappeared from the terrace door.
Maybe he got tired of waiting and left.
Tomorrow was the victory ceremony. He would need to inform his subordinates and rest after being on the battlefield for so long.
Yes… he must have left because he was tired.
“Bri.”
“I’m sorry. I feel very dizzy.”
“Oh dear. I heard the Duchess hasn’t been well lately. Could it be pregnancy?”
The Emperor, too drunk to think properly, asked something he shouldn’t have.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”
“Your complexion is poor. I’ll prepare a room for you in the palace.”
“I am grateful for your kindness, but I think it would be best for me to return to the Duke’s residence.”
I had a bad feeling he might send Damian with me, so I quickly added—
“So even if my body leaves, my heart remains here. Please take care of my husband with Your Majesty’s wisdom.”
“Hahaha. You are still eloquent. Very well.”
With the Emperor’s permission, I immediately headed to the carriage.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Ha…”
After arriving at the carriage, I spoke to the coachman.
“To the Duke’s residence.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Just as the carriage was about to move—
Bang—
“Long time no see, Bri.”
It was Calisten.
He opened the carriage door and stepped inside.
Still staring at me with those mad, blood-red eyes.
“Didn’t you miss me?”
