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Chapter : 18
“Your Grace, this is an opportunity. Aren’t you already paying off the debts of the Rikesis Dukedom with your own efforts?”
“W-what… did you just say?”
“If you must devote loyalty to Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess, then at least demand an appropriate reward. The Haim Ducal family is incredibly wealthy—rich enough to fund the royal family’s business ventures…”
“…….”
Only then did the duke’s face contort, finally grasping what was being implied. And as expected…
Bam!
His fist struck Jenin’s face again.
“Jenin! Don’t go around saying such things! Where on earth did you hear such nonsense…? Are you saying Crown Prince Abel is having an affair?”
He pointed and shouted.
“Have you never seen them together? They got along so well! If you were Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Letie, would that even be possible?”
The duke paused, nodding to himself, seemingly convinced of his own thoughts.
“Yes… that can’t be true!”
Yet Jenin, still sprawled from the previous blow, was far from defeated.
“Think of the counts who run amok in Rikesis Ducal Castle—especially Morzen and Leyton. How wicked they are. If it’s Her Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, they would be even more cunning. Pretending to get along is probably as easy as eating cold soup for them.”
“Jenin, you… you…”
The Rikesis Duke trembled with rage.
The names Jenin had mentioned were all his lifelong rivals.
Comparing them to the benevolent Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Letie…!
“Jenin, you’ll regret speaking such ill words.”
Even as he shook with anger, the duke’s eyes were clear.
Watching him closely, Jenin shook her head and walked toward the door.
“Accepting the offer is your choice, Your Grace. I’ve said my piece. Well then… oh, right.”
Jenin paused abruptly, turning back.
She glanced at the two signed documents on the duke’s desk and let out a small laugh.
“Use those signatures as tissue paper.”
After that, Jenin left, chuckling, while the duke’s eyes widened in shock.
“…Tissue paper?”
He stood frozen for a moment, staring at the signatures on his desk.
“There’s a woman reportedly dating Crown Prince Abel. Her name is Nevia Khalid—she’s said to be a notorious villainess.”
The words lingered in his mind.
But he shook his head firmly.
“I don’t believe it!”
He decided to dismiss all of Jenin’s claims as nonsense.
He also had no intention of heeding her advice.
‘She’s telling me to stay away from the Crown Princess to avoid misunderstandings? Hmph! If I’m innocent, the world will recognize it.’
The duke strode angrily toward his assigned chamber.
He pulled a letter from his bag.
“Wishing your lands endless prosperity. I’ve heard of your great contributions in the recent large-scale campaign…”
It was a letter from Crown Princess Letie herself.
His eyes grew misty.
‘The Crown Princess acknowledged me…’
And just thinking of how happy he had been when he rushed to her court upon receiving this letter, staying in her palace…
He even met the crown prince, a hero of the southern war.
‘He even signed and shook my hand, and smiled as he sent me off at the duke’s residence!’
Yet, the duke soon clenched his eyes shut.
“Pretending to get along is probably as easy as eating cold soup.”
He wasn’t naive, even if he was sincere.
“They can’t just be a show couple.”
The Rikesis Duke despised loveless marriages.
He was determined to marry someone he truly loved.
But reality was harsh.
“I’m sorry, Cardmael. This debt… it’s all mine to repay, but I’ve grown too old.”
In the past, the previous duke had shown sixteen-year-old Cardmael the family ledger when he had just inherited the dukedom.
“This is the debt you’ll have to repay. But I’ve identified daughters from wealthy families with strong finances. Now that you’ve inherited the dukedom, you can quickly enter into a political marriage…”
“…A political marriage?!”
The young duke was stunned by what he perceived as his father’s betrayal and couldn’t speak for a long time.
After many sleepless nights, he finally declared on the first day of a duke’s council meeting:
“I will marry for love!”
“What… did you just say?!”
The Rikesis elders tried to dissuade him, but the more they opposed, the firmer the duke’s resolve became.
‘No matter what it takes, I will marry for love!’
From that moment on, he faced tremendous hardships.
He had to travel across the northern regions to slay beasts, avoid the social scene entirely, and reject all marriage proposals.
Every effort was a desperate struggle to avoid being married off like a commodity.
Yet he had a guiding inspiration.
“Princess Letie, who fell for Prince Abel, petitioned His Majesty the Emperor to allow her to marry him. And thus, a historic love marriage began.”
The duke was a fan of Letie and Abel!
He kept their autographs close to his heart, in his inner pocket, as a personal talisman.
For the day he would find his own destined partner!
But…
‘What if they really are just a show couple? What if the crown prince is truly having an affair?’
Thump… thump… thump…
His heart pounded violently.
He recalled the Crown Princess Letie smiling at him.
‘How… should I treat Her Highness the Crown Princess?’
That night, the Rikesis Duke stayed awake, unable to sleep.
[I will be leaving the palace today. — Crown Princess]
I immediately informed the Crown Prince’s palace upon waking.
[Notify the Crown Prince’s palace upon leaving.]
This was a condition he had set for signing with me.
Once ready, I took a carriage to the Haim Ducal residence.
“Milady!”
The butler tried to hug me, but I dodged swiftly.
“Where is Ruak?”
“At the academy.”
“Good. And where is the Rikesis Duke?”
“He’s with Your Grace in the glass greenhouse.”
After a brief exchange, I headed straight to the greenhouse. But then…
“Y-you… heard about that? How could you possibly…!”
A booming voice echoed inside the greenhouse, freezing me in place.
‘That’s the Rikesis Duke’s voice…?’
But he was shouting so aggressively.
“…Yes! But how could I… have allowed it!”
‘That’s my father’s voice…?’
My father and the duke were shouting at each other? How could that even happen?
‘Neither of them would act like that!’
The duke and father seemed to have switched roles.
The first thought that came to mind was the crown prince.
‘Surely he must have orchestrated something!’
But that thought didn’t last long.
“If it were me, I’d deal with those who spread the rumors immediately! And make sure they never open their mouths again!”
The duke’s voice rose even higher, piercing my thoughts.
‘R-rumors…’
Only then did I understand the situation.
[Muscular northern men lodging at the Crown Princess’ palace?! Cracks in the Crown Prince and Princess’ relationship—where is it headed…]
‘The duke must have heard rumors about me!’
That’s why he was so angry at my father.
“….”
I bit my lower lip tightly.
‘I need the government’s support for my revenge anyway. And as for nasty rumors… I just don’t need to hear them.’
…but this was clearly not what the duke wanted.
Not asking for his consent and getting him involved in a scandal was my responsibility.
‘I need to apologize first!’
Just as I steeled my resolve and flung open the greenhouse door,
“So, the Duke… oh?”
The Rikesis Duke abruptly turned his head toward me.
“…Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess?”
He looked surprised at my sudden appearance, but only for a moment.
“….”
Then his face twisted in anger, and he strode toward me.
He grabbed my arm sharply at the elbow and said…
