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Chapter 5
“Wendy Remia Elision, I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
The unfamiliar surname, pronounced for the first time, left a bitter, medicine-like residue in my mouth.
Bowing according to etiquette, I subtly stole a glance at the Emperor seated before me.
Joachim de Siertha Biers Elision.
He was a handsome man who appeared to be in his early thirties, with soft-looking chestnut-brown hair. The golden eyes symbolizing the imperial house looked down at me.
“You’ve traveled a long way, Grand Duchess.”
At first impression, he seemed gentle, but the Emperor’s personality as described in the original work was not so mild.
Unlike Kaien, who possessed overwhelming martial prowess, the Emperor was a schemer to the bone and a born politician—praised as a wise ruler by the empire’s citizens, but to the nobles, he was the very embodiment of fear.
In particular, his skill at taming nobles who criticized him for the Crown Prince’s frivolous nature and demanded a change of heir was enough to make me click my tongue even when reading the original.
‘Thanks to that, there were tons of theories that the Emperor was actually the mastermind behind everything…….’
Well, in the end, it was concluded that he was just a doting father.
“It must be your honeymoon period—I hope I haven’t interfered.”
And he was also quite the prankster.
“If you mean the honeymoon, I’m already enjoying it sufficiently, so it’s fine.”
“What? Haha!”
When I offered an appropriate answer, the Emperor let out a light laugh.
“I heard my only brother finally found a partner, so I was curious what kind of lady she was. As you know, he’s a blunt fellow, so I wonder if there’s any fun in the newlywed life.”
“Not at all! I consider that aspect part of His Highness the Grand Duke’s charm.”
I felt a gaze from right beside me. I could picture Kaien’s expression—surely dumbfounded—but I stubbornly added.
“Since I’m so ignorant of the world, I’m worried I might be a burden to His Highness the Grand Duke.”
I tried my best to look as innocent as possible.
A noble lady who knew nothing of the world, raised delicately, kind and cheerful like a flower.
That was the image of the ‘Grand Duchess’ I had agreed upon with Kaien.
“That can’t be. Rather, it’s surprising that Duke Dermis had a daughter like you.”
That’s 100% genuine. Yes, definitely!
I know best the personality of that man called my father. An ambitious man with a stronger desire for power than anyone.
Otherwise, there’s no way he’d have the audacity to make a deal wagering the Crown Prince’s life. As someone who wants to live long even if thinly, I simply couldn’t understand it.
“Your Majesty, may we take our leave now?”
Just as I was at a loss for how to respond, Kaien gracefully interjected into the conversation. When I glanced at him, I saw his side profile looking weary.
“As you said, the fatigue from the long journey hasn’t worn off. Please let us go rest now.”
Judging by his tone, it seemed he was just annoyed.
“This is hurtful. Aren’t you being too cold to your elder brother whom you haven’t seen in so long?”
The Emperor, who had dropped his stern expression and was now drooping his eyes with a sullen face, was met with a flat retort from Kaien.
“I don’t know what someone so busy with official and private affairs is talking about. It’s better for us not to see each other often.”
No, really—such a direct shot.
Perhaps surprised by the bold statement, the shoulders of the attendants waiting around us flinched slightly. Meanwhile, the Emperor, instead of looking displeased, shook his head.
“Look at this. This is a man with such a heartless side—does the Grand Duchess think even this is charming?”
Why are you asking me that?
The arrow suddenly turned to me, and I was briefly flustered, but I responded calmly.
“Because that’s not all there is to His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Honestly, judging by objective standards, Kaien is an excessively undeserved partner for me.
“My, my—it seems I have no allies here. Aren’t you two getting along too well already?”
The Emperor, who had spoken in an exaggerated tone of lament, smiled brightly and gently added.
“I hope it stays that way until the end.”
……That’s a warning, isn’t it?
“Yes, of course.”
I have absolutely no intention of harming Your Majesty’s precious younger brother. I plan to live quietly and leave gracefully, so please don’t worry too much!
As I stared at the Emperor with that sincerity, his eyes took on a peculiar light. Though I still couldn’t guess what was inside them.
After exchanging more of what wasn’t quite casual conversation and leaving the audience chamber, it was only after returning to the guest room assigned to us that the tension in my shoulders finally released.
As soon as the door closed, I spun around to face Kaien, who had followed me in.
“Was I all right just now, Your Highness?!”
Did I look like a pure, delicate orchid of a woman?
“……Probably.”
I felt a wave of relief at the answer that came after a brief silence.
“That’s a relief. Anyway, you two seem to get along well.”
Actually, I’d encountered countless scenes of the Emperor teasing and Kaien responding bluntly when reading the original, but experiencing it firsthand was refreshing in many ways.
“He may look like that, but he’s not someone to be taken lightly, so refrain from treating him carelessly.”
“Who in the empire would dare take His Majesty the Emperor lightly?”
Except you.
As I smiled awkwardly and replied, Kaien, who had been looking at me with a puzzled expression, stared past my shoulder.
“And his mischievous side is still the same.”
“Huh? Oh—oh.”
Only then did I notice the large bed sitting conspicuously behind me.
And not just any bed—the bedding, the canopy, everything was wine-colored, with a cute pair of pillows placed side by side at the head.
The image of the Emperor giving a thumbs-up briefly flashed through my mind. After scattering the disrespectful imagination that nearly surfaced with it, I spun around to face Kaien again.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything!”
As I clasped my hands together and declared, Kaien narrowed his eyes as if dumbfounded.
“Isn’t that something I should be saying?”
“Assuming women are only ever demure is also prejudice, Your Highness.”
“Indeed—looking at you, I understand well what prejudice means.”
“That’s right!”
No, that’s not what I meant.
“By any chance, Your Highness, do you prefer demure and delicate women?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because…… I want to use it as reference for the Grand Duchess’s image.”
When I answered honestly, Kaien’s expression shifted oddly.
“Why are you so…….”
“Hmm?”
I widened my eyes and waited for an answer, but Kaien ultimately said no more and fell silent. Feeling the atmosphere turn awkward, I quickly changed the subject.
“Oh, may I go for a walk? I heard the garden is very beautiful.”
Perhaps he sensed my desperate desire to escape this situation, because he readily answered.
“Return before the evening meal.”
“Of course!”
After giving a quick bow, I went out humming cheerfully.
The imperial palace was vast. So vast that it was slightly beyond my ability to handle, given I’d nearly gotten lost even in the Grand Duke’s estate.
I’d slipped away from the maids following me and enjoyed touring the beautifully decorated garden—that part was fine, but now that I wanted to head back, I couldn’t quite remember the way.
Still, I was asking servants I encountered along the way and heading toward the dining hall where we were to have the evening meal, when……
“So, about Alexei……. He keeps avoiding me these days. Has puberty hit already?”
“Apologize.”
“No, are you concluding it’s my fault?!”
This was a bit awkward.
Just as I finally reached the dining hall and grabbed the door handle, I heard soft voices through the slightly open door.
They sounded distinctly like the Emperor and Kaien, so instead of entering right away, I leaned against the nearby wall and listened. What good would it do for me to go in now except interrupt them?
“Anyway, you seemed to get along quite well with your wife.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Why? Didn’t you subtly help her whenever I asked difficult questions? I never knew you had that kind of consideration in you.”
To the Emperor’s teasing, said with a playful lilt, Kaien answered quite firmly.
“As you know, brother, it’s merely a marriage of necessity. There are no feelings beyond that, nor should there be.”
The frost-cold voice pierced my ears clearly.
“That woman will eventually come to resent me as well.”
It wasn’t particularly shocking content, so I stood with my arms crossed, blankly staring at the ceiling.
I’d seen more than enough descriptions in the original of how much Kaien hated House Dermis, and I’d read several chapters where he directly destroyed the ducal house and completely severed ties with it.
“This is boring talk.”
A blunt mutter was layered on top. Only then did I realize someone was beside me.
When I looked down, my eyes met those of a boy barely tall enough to reach my chest.
Hair as crimson as the sunset streaming through the window across from us, and unlike his delicate features, a tightly shut mouth that gave an arrogant impression.
The boy’s deep blue eyes turned toward me.
