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Chapter 5
Could That Rumor Be True?
About a month ago, when Walter returned to the capital with news of his victory, Regina held her head high alone among the crowd that blossomed with admiration at his tales.
The reason was simple.
“Walter Erdmann? That’s easy.”
Whether he was a cold-blooded duke or a blood-soaked maniac, she was confident that if she set her mind to it, she could make him kneel at her feet.
Since her debut as a debutante, Regina had never lost her title as the flower of high society.
Her stunning looks, her status as a princess, and the immense support from the Rodel Duke family—her mother, Empress Katharina’s natal family—made her dominance in social circles almost inevitable.
By the end of the spring social season, everyone would say about Regina:
“Truly beautiful!”
“How can anyone be so elegant!”
Men vied to secure a dance with her, and many considered even a single conversation with her a lifetime honor.
So naturally, she believed that Duke Erdmann was nothing compared to her.
“Judging from the lack of gossip, he must be some idiot who knows nothing about women.”
Duke Erdmann, busy traveling battlefields from the moment he became of age by the Emperor’s order, and known for avoiding social circles entirely, had very few people who had ever spoken to him.
Of course, rumors of his exceptional handsomeness were everywhere.
“So what? He’s probably a bumbling fool.”
Regina scoffed even at that admiration. Naturally—she was Regina Rodel Celestine!
Accustomed to having everyone, regardless of gender, fawn at her feet, she hadn’t abandoned that attitude even when meeting Walter, and even smirked at the thought.
“Mother, do you think Duke Erdmann has ever held a woman’s hand? Maybe if I flirt a little, he won’t be able to resist. Those dull knights are no fun at all.”
“Stop talking nonsense, Regina. I arranged this meeting with difficulty. You must win Duke Erdmann’s favor!”
“Difficulty? Who even cares about Erdmann now? Is this really necessary?”
“Don’t be naive! Just because Erdmann is reserved doesn’t mean his influence disappears overnight. And now that he’s returned as a war hero, his presence will be even more formidable.”
Empress Katharina scolded her reckless daughter sharply.
“Because Walter Erdmann happens to be the swordsmanship peer of the Crown Prince, many believe he sides with the Crown Prince. If we can bring him over to our side, it will be easier to sway the other nobles as well.”
Faced with her mother’s stern words, Regina reluctantly changed her attitude and went to meet Walter.
“Well, it’s not a bad thing for me, either.”
Walter was currently the most talked-about figure in the capital’s social circles.
“Besides, I quite like Duke Erdmann.”
If she could claim the seat beside him, all eyes of envy would surely fall on her.
“To think that Your Highness would be dating Duke Erdmann!”
“Only someone like Your Highness could be with a duke, right?”
Regina was confident she could make this plan a reality. Today, of all days.
“Your Highness! Duke Erdmann has admitted to having a secret meeting with the Fourth Princess!”
Before hearing this absurd news, she had been confident.
Rumors surrounding Walter, Regina, and Odette spread rapidly like morning mist.
Regina could hardly avoid hearing the whispers.
But she had always scoffed at these rumors, denying them outright. There must be some mistake.
Odette rarely even left her palace, so the idea of a secret meeting with Duke Erdmann made no sense. It has to be a baseless rumor.
Yet Walter kindly shattered the mask of denial Regina had been clinging to.
“…Walter Erdmann and Odette had a secret meeting?”
Blake, her older brother and the Second Prince, who was playing chess opposite her, spoke with a mocking tone.
Unlike Regina, who resembled the Emperor, Blake was the spitting image of Empress Katharina: wavy blue hair and amethyst-like eyes. At first glance, he seemed a refined noble, but when his lips twisted, his cold expression could even terrify Regina. Just like now.
“What’s this all about, Lizzy? Did I hear wrong?”
“…About what?”
“You were so confident about seducing Duke Erdmann, weren’t you? Saying he was practically yours—was that all bluff?”
“What are you talking about? What would I gain from lying? You saw it too! Duke Erdmann was genuinely kind to me!”
“Kindness can be faked by anyone. It’s your job to see if it’s real or not.”
“But you know, brother, he came to see me repeatedly. If he didn’t have feelings for me, why would he bother?”
Regina felt wronged.
It wasn’t a lie that Walter had treated her specially.
Though he had never been socially active, over the past month he had visited Empress Katharina countless times, and each time Regina was summoned to have tea with Walter, or with all three of them together.
If he hadn’t wanted to see her, why would he visit Katharina at all?
She believed things were going well between her and Walter.
He was not particularly gentle and rarely met her eyes, but he always responded to what she said.
“Moreover, Duke Erdmann couldn’t possibly be unaware of the rumors I spread.”
Regina had been spreading rumors that things were going well between her and Walter—that he was exceptionally kind to her.
If he knew yet remained silent, why? Regina interpreted his attitude as interest in developing a relationship. Or at least, she wanted to believe that.
“I’ve never seen a man like him.”
Walter Erdmann.
She could still remember their first meeting.
The day she had been reluctantly pushed by Katharina to meet him, she entered the greenhouse where the tea table was set. The person waiting without sitting turned at her approach.
-Odette…
-It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Erdmann. I am Regina Rodel Celestine.
-…Third Princess.
At that moment, a flash of disappointment and irritation crossed Walter’s face, but Regina didn’t notice.
Instead, she was struck by his impressive presence.
A man who seemed as if a sword had been made into a person—strong from military service, his movements and words precise and sharp.
Unlike the boastful men she had encountered before.
“I thought he’d be a naïve fool since he never attended social events.”
Walter was well-versed in etiquette, skilled in conversation, and naturally commanded attention with his looks.
A genuinely attractive man—unexpected.
Half the men she had met before acted foolishly under the weight of her beauty and status; the other half merely tried to impress her with empty words.
For the first time, she truly wanted someone.
It didn’t even seem difficult. She was confident she and Walter were gradually growing closer.
But now, not only were there rumors of a secret meeting with Odette, Walter had admitted it!
Humiliation made her hands tremble.
Watching her, Blake chuckled and moved a chess piece.
“This is getting interesting, Lizzy. The whole social circle will be talking about you now.”
“…What did you say?”
“You know how much people love tearing down someone high up. The rumors have reached here, so everyone who needed to know, knows.”
And they would gossip:
“So full of herself, yet she lost a man to some illegitimate girl.”
“Even the Third Princess can’t capture every man’s heart.”
“So it’s like Odette slapped you across the face.”
Blake’s laughter made Regina’s face flush further in shame.
Had she heard such talk alone, she might have been angry but could think rationally. With Blake present, it was different.
“Why would Duke Erdmann associate with such a lowly girl? She probably doesn’t even know her place and is just fawning like her mother. Will you just stand by, Lizzy?”
“…Odette, that wretched girl… I won’t forgive her!”
Blake’s prods only fueled Regina’s anger further.
Fuming and muttering curses, she suddenly stood up and stormed toward Odette.
Currently:
“Do you realize how ridiculous you made me look, fawning over Duke Erdmann?! Tell me the truth right now! What did you do to him?!”
Odette froze, completely dumbfounded.
The reason was simple:
“…That rumor is true? Duke Erdmann really did that?”
She had no idea what was going on. Naturally, she thought Katharina or Regina must have sent Walter intentionally—but apparently not.
“Duke Erdmann came to see me, and it has nothing to do with the Empress or Regina?”
She didn’t know the details, but she sensed something strange.
Odette’s clueless reaction only further fueled Regina’s fury.
“Hah, pretending not to know when you know everything? You detestable girl!”
Regina’s face twisted in uncontrollable rage.
Had Odette simply admitted the truth, her anger might have eased. But she couldn’t tolerate the expression on Odette’s face saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“You ruined my reputation! Now the social circle will gossip happily. That I lost a man to you! It’s humiliating enough to be mentioned alongside someone like you, and now I’ll hear that too!”
“No, I really don’t know—”
“Don’t know? Sure, right. Try saying you didn’t know Duke Erdmann was meeting me either! How shameless, like your mother!”
Odette stiffened at the mention of her mother.
Her mother, a former palace maid to Empress Katharina, was the only thing Odette knew about her.
“Your dead mother tried to steal my mother’s man, didn’t she? Just as wretched as her daughter. That’s why lowly girls shouldn’t exist. Always trying to take what’s not theirs!”
