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Chapter : 34
Luciano spoke to Rebecca, who was sitting in the shade of a tree.
“No matter what, it’s better if you eat something. The journey ahead will be rough.”
Rebecca stood up, smiling faintly at his words.
“If that is the Grand Duke’s wish, then I suppose I have no choice but to eat.”
A week later, they crossed the imperial border.
They had traveled quickly when going to the kingdom with barely any breaks, but on the way back, since Rebecca was with them, they slowed their pace.
“Your Highness, Princess. From here on, it’s the Frizen Empire.”
At Luciano’s words, Rebecca pulled aside the curtain covering the window and looked outside.
Even though it was not the capital but the empire’s outskirts, the mansion of the noble guarding the region was elegant and imposing.
So this truly is the empire.
She held no lingering attachment to her homeland.
After her mother—who had loved her dearly—died, her father, King Etois, fell completely under the spell of his beautiful new queen. He neglected Rebecca and doted instead on the son born from his new wife.
To them, Rebecca was nothing but an obstacle.
Rather than remain among them, Rebecca thought it might be better to live in the empire instead.
The empire was incomparably vast compared to her kingdom.
Though they had crossed the imperial border, it still took two more days to reach the imperial palace in the capital.
“Your Highness! That must be the imperial palace!”
At the maid’s excited voice, Rebecca once again looked outside. Even from afar, the enormous palace radiated overwhelming grandeur.
I’m supposed to live in a place like that from now on?
Suddenly, fear washed over her.
She had never seen the imperial palace before, and now she truly realized she would live among people who looked and spoke differently from her.
“Your Highness, Princess. It’s time to disembark.”
The carriage stopped, Luciano knocked on the door, and Rebecca stepped out.
“This is the imperial palace.”
Following Luciano inside, two particularly splendid palaces caught her eye.
“The palace on the left is where His Majesty the Emperor resides. The one on the right belongs to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Turning her head, she saw another palace—smaller than the first two, but still lavish.
“That is the residence of His Majesty’s consort, Her Highness the Imperial Concubine.”
“I understand.”
Luciano led Rebecca toward the Emperor’s palace.
“Your Majesty. His Grace the Grand Duke Winfoste has returned.”
Rebecca swallowed once in front of the grand doors and stepped inside.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire.”
“Welcome back, Grand Duke.”
Khalid greeted Luciano, then shifted his gaze to Rebecca.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty. I am Rebecca von Etois, first princess of the Kingdom of Etois.”
“So you are the princess of Etois.”
His voice was vastly different from the tone he had used with Luciano a moment earlier.
So cold it felt as if it could freeze her bones. Rebecca involuntarily flinched when she heard Khalid’s voice.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You must know quite well what your kingdom has done to the Empire.”
Khalid did not bother with pleasantries. Either he was too furious to speak politely, or he simply believed Rebecca didn’t deserve courtesy. Regardless, Rebecca bowed her head.
“His Majesty my father has also expressed his deep apologies for what has transpired.”
“You will reside in the Lily Palace from this day forth. The palace ladies of the Imperial Court will attend to you.”
He said attend, but in truth, it would be more like surveillance.
Rebecca understood this—but accepted it.
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
Rebecca left the imperial palace and headed toward the Lily Palace.
While Luciano was away in the Kingdom of Etois, Licianthus finally regained consciousness.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
“What is it, Head Maid?”
“His Grace the Grand Duke Winfoste has returned—with the princess of Etois.”
At last, news of Luciano had arrived.
I had waited so long—just hearing of his return filled my face with smiles. Licianthus’s face, however, was twisted with anger.
“The princess of Etois has come?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After waking, Licianthus learned that the attacker who had harmed her was from Etois. Anger toward the kingdom had grown in her heart, so she did not welcome Rebecca’s arrival.
So the main characters of the original story have finally met.
Realizing the moment had come felt more bitter than I expected.
Were they drawn to each other? Of course they were… They are the protagonists beloved by the author.
“Send word to the princess. Tell her she may visit the Empress’s Palace when she has time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once the head maid left, I spoke to Licianthus.
“Your Majesty, I will return to the Grand Duke’s estate now.”
“Very well, Estelline.”
After bowing, I left the Empress’s Palace and headed toward the Emperor’s Palace.
“Your Grace! That must be the princess of Etois who arrived today.”
At my maid’s whisper, I looked up—and recognized the appearance I had read about so many times in the original story.
Yellow hair, silver eyes, pale skin unusual for an Etoisian, and a bright, gentle smile. The heroine.
Rebecca saw me and stopped.
“Your Highness the Princess, this is Her Grace, the Grand Duchess Winfoste.”
Realizing who I was, Rebecca smiled and greeted me.
“Pleased to meet you, Grand Duchess. I am Rebecca von Etois, princess of the Kingdom of Etois.”
“An honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Estelline Winfoste.”
Rebecca looked me over with interest.
“So you are the Grand Duke’s wife?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rebecca was even more beautiful than I imagined.
She needed no jewelry—her beauty shone even in a plain dress.
“Your Grace, we must go.”
My maid urged me, and I bid Rebecca farewell.
“Madam!”
When I reached the Emperor’s Palace steps, I saw Luciano.
“Luciano!!”
He hurried toward me.
“I truly… missed you.”
“What?”
He said he missed me—words he had never spoken before.
And he was blushing, so clearly sincere.
Adorable…
I laughed softly and took his hand.
“I missed you too.”
“Let’s return home quickly, my lady.”
He escorted me back to the Grand Duke’s estate.
“We greet Their Graces, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.”
After leaving the estate empty for over two weeks, returning stirred odd feelings.
Ed came forward to greet us.
“I’m glad you both made it back safely.”
“You’ve done well.”
He had handled all the work in our absence, and in just a few weeks he looked worn.
“Let’s go inside, my lady.”
Luciano put an arm around my shoulders and led me inward.
He walked me to my room—then headed straight for his study.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it, Ed?”
“The Council of Elders will visit soon.”
“Those old geezers!?”
Luciano sat down and immediately grimaced.
The Council consisted of long-serving retainers of the house—elders who supported him and helped run the Grand Duke’s estate.
And what they always pressed for was an heir.
“They’ll bring up my wife and the matter of our successors again.”
Ed nodded as if it were obvious.
“It is only natural. You did not consummate the marriage on your wedding night—and have not shared a chamber even once since.”
“When we married, both my wife and I were sixteen—too young. Of course.”
“And even after reaching adulthood, you still have not consummated the marriage.”
Luciano waved irritably, unwilling to argue.
“Enough, enough. Like I’ve said before—I still have no intention of sharing a bed with my wife.”
After all, once the partnership with her family stabilizes, she’ll ask me for a divorce.
When I returned to my room, the head maid was waiting.
“Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
“The elders will visit tomorrow.”
“Elders?”
Of course I knew who they were.
In the original story, when Luciano tried to remarry Rebecca, they were the ones who opposed most fiercely.
To the elders, the dignity and honor of the ducal house came before all else.
So they desperately fought against a remarriage to Rebecca, who was at odds with the Empress.
In the end, an enraged Luciano threatened them before he was allowed to marry Rebecca.
They were frustrating even in the story… and now I have to face them?
My face twisted at the thought.
“Some of the elders will likely request to see Your Grace tomorrow.”
The maid’s voice sounded like a warning bell.
I had expected to rest at last—but instead, I would be subjected to scolding. My head throbbed already.
“I understand. You may go.”
After sending her away, I changed clothes and collapsed onto my bed with a long sigh.
“This is ridiculous…”
I could already hear, vividly, the nagging that awaited me.
Of course. They’ll hound me about when we’ll share a bed, and insist I bear an heir as soon as possible.
“My lady, don’t worry too much! You handled their complaints just fine before!”
Sarah’s attempt to reassure me was no help at all.
Unlike Estelline in the original story, I had no idea how to deal with them.
“Right… I can do this…”
I let out a short, incredulous laugh, forced myself to steady my breathing—and tried to convince myself.
