PMHM 9

Chapter 9

Grey Mabel Dermis, the Duke.

Lord of the Dermis ducal territory located in the southeastern part of the Elision Empire. He was also my father.

I’d expected to run into him ever since we decided to come to the imperial palace, but I never thought we’d reunite like this.

With the ballroom’s flickering lights at his back through the curtain, my father began softly.

“I see. You’ve been so out of contact I thought something must have happened, but apparently not.”

The voice spoke with a kindly smiling face, but the content was rather sharp.

In the end, isn’t he just reproaching me for not contacting him?

“I’ve been busy just adjusting. It wasn’t my intention to cause you worry.”

Too tired to bother pushing back, I answered vaguely, and my father’s voice turned more insinuating.

“So, how is it?”

“How is what?”

“That fellow—does he seem like someone you could soften up with a bit of effort?”

He seemed to be talking about Kaien, but that was quite a seditious way to refer to the empire’s one and only Grand Duke.

No, more than that—is this really what you say to your daughter barely a month after her wedding?

“I’m not sure. As you know, Father, His Highness the Grand Duke is a busy man… it’s not even easy to see his face!”

Of course, I wasn’t foolish enough to say that outright. Conversation is, after all, meant to be had with people.

As I tilted my head, putting on my best act, my father narrowed his eyes.

“It’s not that your efforts were lacking, is it?”

Oops, did he catch me slacking off? Did our family’s spies report something?

Whether or not he knew I was feeling guilty inside, my father grabbed my shoulder tightly and added.

“A man is always weak to a beauty! The only thing you have going for you is that face, so shouldn’t you be thinking about using it aggressively?”

That’s a line straight out of a fantasy novel villain.

Seeing my father expound in such an exaggerated tone made me feel a bit strange.

I hadn’t thought much of it before, but it suddenly struck me that this place I live in is just a world someone created.

Of course, even so, whether there or here, it’s all the same—a place where people live.

We’re all going to die someday anyway, so it’s not like I’m going to give up on living. People should live positively. Right?

“But Father, I’m not sure His Highness the Grand Duke would even look my way. As you said yourself, I’m a useless, insignificant failure.”

Feigning a tearful expression, I calmly recited the words I’d heard endlessly since childhood.

“Isn’t that why you married me off to His Highness the Grand Duke?”

A choice that could serve as a link to the Grand Duke’s house while not being a loss to the family. A pawn worthless enough to be discarded without hesitation once it lost its use.

The reason I was chosen as Kaien’s bride was that simple.

“What are you saying, daughter? Now that you’re the Grand Duchess, you’re more noble than this father of yours.”

“Me?”

Didn’t you just say my face was my only use?

“So be loyal to His Highness the Grand Duke, but don’t forget—you are a proud member of Dermis.”

The hand gripping my shoulder tightened.

“As I’ve said before, stay as close to His Highness the Grand Duke as possible. Don’t forget what your role is.”

Telling me to spy on Kaien’s movements—he certainly takes the long way around.

Of course, since I was a rational person, instead of speaking my honest feelings, I answered with a bright smile.

“Yes, of course. Don’t worry.”

Loyal, my foot. Do you really think I’d do what you say just because you tell me to?

I’m going to endure for three years somehow and then exit the story as in the original. You, Father, are scheduled to be thoroughly ruined in ten years.

The corners of my forcibly raised lips trembled. On the other hand, thinking that he’d be interfering like this for three whole years made irritation surge up.

Does it really have to take ten years for the family to fall?

Since I’m going to be unfilial anyway, becoming a wholeheartedly fiery filial daughter didn’t seem like a bad idea. After all, to survive, I’ll need to cut ties with my family for certain.

“Good. Then listen carefully. There’s something new I’d like to bring into the Grand Duke’s house this time…”

As I half-heartedly brushed off my father’s words while maintaining a smiling face, my mouth was on the verge of twitching. Of course, whether as Joo Ha-yeon or as Wendy, I was used to dealing with the real culprits, so it was bearable.

Because of that, I didn’t even notice that a faint shadow had flickered beyond the curtain and disappeared.

Only after my father, who had been a nuisance for quite a while, finally left did I slip out onto the balcony. As I looked around for Kaien, several people approached me.

“You must be Her Highness the Grand Duchess Wendy Remia Elision. I am Count Tarion.”

“Are you interested in jewels, by any chance? The thing is, our mine recently produced a rare emerald…”

“Our family is planning to hold a tea party soon—if you have time, we would be honored to invite the two of you.”

Honestly, dealing with the crowd that swarmed me as if they’d been waiting for the chance was a bit overwhelming.

Asking me about business or party attendance—I’m just a Grand Duchess in name only!

Someone save me!

Just then, something tugged firmly at the hem of my dress. I turned around to see Alexei standing there blankly, looking at me.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

“Father is calling for you.”

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

Alexei nodded and tugged at my hem again. After excusing myself to the disappointed crowd, I followed Alexei out of the ballroom.

The back of Alexei’s head as he trudged along was quite round. As he turned into a passage leading outdoors rather than an inner corridor, I asked carefully.

“Aren’t we going to the main palace?”

Alexei glanced back at me and stopped in his tracks. Beneath the pure white moonlight, the boy answered casually.

“It was a lie.”

“Pardon?”

“You looked like you were in trouble. Were you actually enjoying yourself?”

“No! Thank you for helping me.”

As I declared firmly, Alexei stared at me for a moment, then clasped his hands behind his head and spoke bluntly.

“So, have you thought about it?”

“About what?”

“Like I said before, I’ve used every means to change what I saw. But in the end, I couldn’t completely escape the flow.”

Whether I played dumb or not, the boy who’d been chattering on his own suddenly said flatly.

“Do you plan to return soon?”

“I suppose so.”

“If you change your mind, write to me anytime. You’ll probably run into something that needs my help.”

That confident remark was decidedly ominous. I watched him carefully and asked cautiously.

“…Did you see something?”

“Who knows?”

Alexei replied playfully and, with that, ambled off. Left alone behind him, I let out a light sigh.

“He’s not an easy one…”

I suppose that’s the original protagonist for you.

Still, the gaze he’d turned on me at the very end stuck in my chest. Those golden eyes that wavered fragilely, unlike his composed voice.

After a moment’s thought, I began walking again.

There was someone I needed to find.

“Your Highness, where are you?”

Meanwhile, Ciel was wandering outside the ballroom in search of Alexei, who had vanished without a trace.

The man, neatly dressed in the white shirt, black jacket, and dark brown trousers allotted to attendants, loosened his tightly knotted tie slightly.

I told him to at least take me with him—lately, the frequency with which he wandered off alone was far too high.

I don’t know what grand secret he’s trying to create, but from the position of someone who’s sworn to be his hands and feet, it was rather incomprehensible.

Where in the world is there a king who wields authority without a scepter?

Just then, Ciel stopped in his tracks as he saw a woman trotting toward him from the opposite side of the outdoor passage. A neat beauty reminiscent of a sprig of lily of the valley shouted the moment she met Ciel’s eyes.

“Found you! You were here!”

With a lively voice, the woman who came running—almost skipping—approached Ciel.

Why is someone who should be treating me with deference suddenly acting like this? Skillfully hiding his bewilderment, Ciel asked politely.

“What is it, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”

“Don’t you want to live?”

At the sudden topic, Ciel nearly blurted out something disrespectful, momentarily forgetting who he was speaking to.

“What kind of nonsense is that all of a sudden—I mean, what do you mean?”

“If you want the details, come to the place where we first met tomorrow at noon, and I’ll tell you.”

Whether he cared or not, the woman paid no mind and added.

“No—is it that you want to save His Highness Alexei?”

Seeing Ciel’s pupils dilate, Wendy grabbed him by the collar and smiled brightly.

“Don’t forget.”

Tomorrow.

Leaving behind Ciel, frozen with a dazed expression, Wendy passed through the imperial palace corridors and stepped out into the outer garden.

Here and there in the garden, where the dusky night had settled, lights made using magic stones gave off a soft blue glow between the flower beds.

In the quiet, beautiful scenery, as Wendy slowly looked around, a blunt voice reached her ears.

“You.”

The moment she turned her head, Wendy’s eyes met Kaien’s, watching her from three steps away.

Pure white petals scattered in the wind between the two of them.