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Chapter 46
“No. It’s true that he’s stingy. He never tolerates wasting even a single gold coin. He never gives extra just because he’s in a good mood, and no matter how pitiful someone’s circumstances are, he never lets things slide out of generosity. But when it comes to his son, it’s different.”
The only weakness of Duke Giovanni, who otherwise seemed perfect in every way.
That weakness was Aurelio.
Aurelio, the eldest son of Duke Giovanni, had actually been a fairly clever child. But the moment he became a teenager and realized he had been born with a golden spoon in his mouth, his talent plummeted straight downward. After all, when everything can be obtained without effort, very few people choose hardship willingly.
It also didn’t help that everyone around him only flattered him, preventing him from ever seeing his own abilities objectively.
Of course, all of this was before Bellaxina beat him senseless.
Didn’t bitter tears make everyone grow?
“No matter how exceptional a person may be, educating one’s own child never goes entirely as planned.”
“That seems overly harsh. Sir Aurelio is fairly capable, isn’t he?”
“If he’d been born the son of a serf, he’d be a genius. But considering he inherited Duke Giovanni’s blood and had every possible advantage backing him…”
Bellaxina shook her head.
“If I were Duke Giovanni, I’d strip that fool bare and throw him out—or at least send him to the military. Only after losing everything would he come to his senses.”
“Like you?”
“……”
“That was a slip of the tongue. My apologies.”
“I’ll accept it.”
Having accepted Abalkin’s apology, Bellaxina resumed eating her steak.
Mm. It had cooled a little. But on the other hand, the meat had rested properly, making the juices richer, so perhaps that counted as lucky.
Abalkin quietly watched Bellaxina chew contentedly before speaking again.
“Whatever you think privately is your own business, but tomorrow I’d appreciate it if you greeted him properly. Sir Aurelio is the only noble guest visiting from another territory.”
“Why? Doesn’t he have any friends?”
“That’s a rude question.”
“So he doesn’t.”
“Aren’t you the same?”
“I’ve fallen from grace. Even the friends I had are disappearing.”
“What an excuse. You didn’t have any before that either.”
“What do you take the queen of high society for? I had tons of friends!”
Bellaxina flared up indignantly, though her words lacked conviction.
She had followers. Admirers. Enemies. Hidden enemies.
But she’d only ever had one true friend.
‘Though it turns out I was the only one who thought so.’
Her childhood friend Irisril, who had now become Bellaxina’s greatest enemy.
Once, Irisril had been the only person Bellaxina truly trusted.
Even Ludiger, her fiancé, was treated like dirt beneath her nails, but Irisril alone received special treatment. If Irisril asked for something, Bellaxina would reconsider even things she ordinarily refused.
She had even intended to keep Irisril by her side after becoming empress and shower her with the privileges reserved for close confidantes.
‘And she dared betray me? Insolent little thing.’
A vengeful fire began flickering in Bellaxina’s eyes, and Abalkin quickly changed the subject.
“I wonder if the dress suits your taste.”
“Ah, the dress.”
Bellaxina recalled the gown she had tried on several times recently.
A beautiful dress woven from the red and black colors of House Outweian.
It was a masterpiece containing Margareta’s tears from struggling to gather materials within a limited budget.
The sweat of Patricia and Natasha, who spent days soaking their hands dyeing the fabric.
And Alicia’s blood (source: pricked fingers) from sewing day and night.
“It was beautiful.”
Compared to her days in Licresa, the dress was absurdly modest.
Back then, Bellaxina wore gowns dyed with crushed real gemstones and adorned herself with dazzling jewels from head to toe. In terms of price alone, they were probably over a hundred times more expensive.
But now, she could picture the faces of the people who had worked hard to create this wedding dress. To Bellaxina, its value far exceeded any objective price tag.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Abalkin smiled faintly.
“Get plenty of rest tonight. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”
“I will.”
Bellaxina agreed without objection.
The peaceful night before the wedding quietly passed by.
A Few Days Earlier — Montevia, Western Terminal
Duke Giovanni Desiderio de Mantova had come to Montevia Station, the closest major station to Mantova, to see off his son Aurelio.
“The grain has all been loaded. You brought the signet ring, yes?”
“Of course, Father.”
The Desiderio family signet ring rested on Aurelio’s finger.
As long as he wore that ring, Aurelio represented the Ducal House of Desiderio.
“Send a telegram when you arrive.”
“Yes, Father.”
“If any confusing situation arises, don’t make decisions immediately. Speak to me first.”
“Don’t worry, Father. I’m bringing three lawyers with me so nobody can tamper with the contract.”
Only then did Duke Giovanni finally let his son go.
Even so, he still looked uneasy and added one last warning.
“Be careful in all things. I’ve told you countless times—you must never lower your guard around the Outweians. In the past, because of that wicked woman…”
“I know. Nothing like that will happen.”
Chhhk—Pshhh!
Steam burst from the train as it prepared to depart.
The wheels soon began turning, and the train slowly started moving.
That was when—
“Wait a moment!”
Someone must have been late. The sharp clatter of heels rang urgently across the platform. A woman with long blonde hair braided neatly down her back came running toward the train, and Aurelio instinctively reached out his hand.
“Over here!”
The woman grabbed his hand, and because the train had already started gaining speed, Aurelio practically had to pull her aboard.
Naturally, he ended up catching her in his arms.
“Thank you, mister.”
“……!”
As a result, Aurelio had no choice but to take notice of the green eyes gazing up at him from within his embrace, the pale golden hair, and the woman’s petite frame.
“Not mister. Call me Sir Aurelio.”
“So you’re a nobleman. Forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s fine. And you are?”
The woman smiled with a sweetness that no adjective except adorable could possibly describe.
“My name is Alice.”
It was Irisril.
“Alice. A fitting name for someone so lovely.”
“Oh my. You embarrass me.”
Alice—or rather, Irisril—skillfully reddened her cheeks.
Her acting ability was astonishing enough to control even her body’s physical reactions at will.
Aurelio’s expression melted foolishly almost instantly as he began eagerly accommodating her every need.
‘This is almost too easy.’
There was no need for any elaborate scheme.
All Irisril had to do was smile prettily for a little while and say flattering things. Without lifting a finger, she had secured herself transportation from Mirnovo, the northernmost railway point, all the way to Yeshken.
“Thank you so much for helping me.”
Irisril puffed her soft rosy cheeks slightly and smiled like an angel. Aurelio, trying and failing to hide his idiotically smitten grin, replied:
“Well, ah, th-that’s because a gentleman can’t possibly ignore a lady in distress, can he? It’s simply the proper thing to do. Ahem.”
“How wonderful! That’s such an admirable way of thinking.”
“Haha, is it? It’s only natural to me.”
Aurelio scratched his head stupidly and grinned.
Honestly, he really did embody the word fool.
Meanwhile, Alice—whose true name was Irisril—was expertly taking advantage of her innocent and delicate appearance to completely wrap Aurelio around her finger.
But could this really be blamed solely on Aurelio?
After all, Irisril’s reputation for “seducing the emperor into abandoning his fiancée” practically proved her top-tier ability to enchant others. It was only natural for men to fall under her spell.
‘It’s almost fascinating how he doesn’t recognize my face at all.’
Irisril and Aurelio had never been personally close.
But they belonged to the same generation and had shared one or two social seasons while searching for marriage partners. The fact that he couldn’t remember her face whatsoever was remarkable.
Still, objectively speaking, it would actually have been stranger if Aurelio had recognized her.
According to imperial law, which discouraged marriages between different social ranks, when two noble houses of unequal status married, their children could inherit only the lower title between the couple.
In that situation, would Aurelio—the heir to House Desiderio, a ducal family—ever seriously consider Irisril, the daughter of a baronial house, as a marriage candidate?
To expect him to remember her face simply because they’d crossed paths during one or two social seasons would be unreasonable.
Under these circumstances, there was no way he could even imagine that she was the emperor’s future empress.
Who could possibly suspect that a woman who ought to be staying in the imperial palace at Licresa would suddenly appear at a western terminal station?
At this point, one could not help but wonder why Irisril—who should rightfully have been inside the imperial palace—had appeared at Montevia Station and was now traveling toward Yeshken in the far north of the continent.
Naturally, the reason was that she had received urgent news of Bellaxina’s wedding.
