🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 35
Next morning, the Grand Duke’s residence was bustling from dawn.
When I opened my eyes and looked outside through the window, I saw carriages already lined up in front of the estate—carriages carrying the Elder Council.
“Milady! You must get ready quickly!”
The maids who waited on me fluttered around in a fuss, helping me into my clothes.
Once I finished getting ready and came downstairs, I saw the elders waiting.
“We greet Your Grace, the Grand Duchess.”
“I greet the honorable Elders.”
They bowed to me first, and I responded with proper courtesy.
“His Grace has asked that you come inside.”
After giving a brief bow, the elders entered Luciano’s office.
“When the meeting ends, several of the elders may seek you out, my lady.”
“All right, I understand.”
I headed to the garden to rest.
Luciano let out a small sigh as the elders entered his study.
What are they going to say this time…
“We greet Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“Please, be seated.”
The elders barely sat before their lips began to twitch—clearly eager to speak.
“What brings the Elder Council to the Grand Duke’s residence today?”
Only when Luciano posed the question did they finally open their mouths.
“Your Grace. We have come because word has reached us that neither you nor the Grand Duchess have consummated your marriage even once since your wedding. We fear for the continuation of the ducal line.”
“There is no need for the Council to concern itself with that matter.”
Luciano tried to dismiss the issue curtly, but seasoned elders were not so easily brushed aside.
“But, Your Grace. You are both already twenty-one. Among noble families, it is customary to produce a first heir within a year of marriage. Yet five years have passed, and not only is there no heir, there has been no consummation at all. How could we not worry?”
“…I do not believe an heir is an urgent matter yet. My wife and I are still young.”
At his answer, the elders sighed deeply.
“Then you ought to take a consort. If the Grand Duchess does not please you, you must accept another woman and secure the lineage.”
Luciano raised his voice, enraged.
“Did I not say I would handle it? And how dare you even suggest a consort? Is that something an Elder—whose duty is to uphold the honor and dignity of this house—should be saying?!”
“But, Your Grace—!”
“Enough! I will discuss such matters privately with my wife. Leave it at that.”
The Council fell silent at the sight of Luciano’s fury.
“If you have nothing further, you may go.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The moment they left the office, they began murmuring.
“What are we to do with the Grand Duke so unyielding?”
An elder whose age showed more than the others spoke.
“There is another way. We persuade the Grand Duchess instead.”
“But… the Grand Duchess has been…”
They shuddered at the thought of Estellin’s past reactions.
It was not that they hadn’t tried over the years. They had—many times. Luciano always sent them away coldly, but Estellin was worse.
At first she listened politely, but once they persisted, she would explode in anger, lash them with scathing words, and send them away with their spirits utterly crushed.
“All we can do is sigh…”
Rubbing their aching temples, the elders headed toward Estellin’s chambers.
“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess. May we enter?”
Estellin—who had returned from the garden—granted permission, and the elders slipped inside.
“What business brings you to me?”
After swallowing nervously, they spoke with care.
“We have a matter to discuss with Your Grace.”
Estellin nodded, indicating they should continue.
“You must consummate the marriage.”
“The consummation…”
“It has been nearly five years since the wedding. Ordinary nobles produce heirs within a year. Yet Your Graces have not even shared the marriage bed. The retainers are deeply anxious.”
Estellin only smiled softly and spoke calmly.
“I understand the Council’s concern well. I shall speak with His Grace.”
Her voice was warm, but her eyes were icy cold.
Sensing the atmosphere, the elders stood to leave, almost tiptoeing.
“We place our trust in Your Grace.”
“Very well.”
Once they left, Estellin exhaled deeply.
“That was it? Nothing more?”
She had only lowered her voice to sound more dignified, more fitting of a Grand Duchess—yet they retreated from her room far more easily than expected.
“Well… that’s a relief.”
Rebecca awoke from sleep.
“Your Highness. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Did you?”
After rising and changing into a dress, Rebecca ate her breakfast.
“Her Majesty the Empress asks that you visit the Empress’s Palace when you have time.”
Rebecca kept silent at the mention of Lishiansius’s summons.
She knew the Empress did not like her. Why was she being called?
Is she trying to humiliate me…?
Anxious thoughts washed over her, but a mere princess could not ignore the Empress, so she said nothing and made her way to the palace.
It’s even grander and more beautiful than what I glimpsed yesterday…
She finally had time to look properly. The Empress’s Palace was imposing—so magnificent that it felt overwhelming and frightening.
The great gilded gates and the palace rising beyond them were the very symbol of imperial authority.
“Please proceed, Your Highness.”
Following the palace maids inside, she found Lishiansius calmly drinking tea.
“I greet the Moon of the Empire, Her Majesty the Empress. Rebecca von Etoile, First Princess of the Kingdom of Etoile, pays her respects.”
Lishiansius set down her cup and looked at her.
“Welcome, Princess of Etoile.”
Her tone was gentle—even toward a foreign princess.
But when Rebecca lifted her gaze and met the Empress’s eyes, she understood everything.
Those eyes were as cold and deep as the abyssal sea.
One might have mistaken them for unreadable—but Rebecca sensed clearly the bitterness and rage hidden within.
It would have been easier if the woman had spat venom or shown open hostility. Instead, she said nothing—only her gaze bore down on Rebecca, and that silence was far heavier.
“Oh my, don’t stand there. Come sit, Princess.”
Rebecca carefully took a seat opposite her, and the Empress ordered tea to be served.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
As Rebecca took a sip, Lishiansius asked—expression unchanged:
“Yesterday must have been your first day in the palace. Did you spend it comfortably?”
“With Your Majesty’s grace, I did.”
“That is fortunate. You are not His Majesty’s woman, but as long as you stay here, the imperial household will allot you a stipend equivalent to a consort’s.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
They continued drinking tea in silence. That silence tightened around Rebecca like a vise, and her palms grew damp with sweat.
When she could stand no more, and her cup was empty, she finally asked permission to withdraw.
“Your Majesty, may I take my leave?”
“You may, Princess.”
After Rebecca departed, the head lady-in-waiting approached the Empress.
“What do you think of the princess, Your Majesty?”
“I do not yet know.”
Lishiansius wanted to know her—every thought in Rebecca’s mind.
Most people betrayed themselves through their eyes, but Rebecca’s showed nothing.
At least she had noticed the slight tremble in Rebecca’s hands—a sign of nerves—but beyond that, she learned nothing.
“Still—she is a beautiful young woman.”
Lishiansius admitted it.
Hair like honey-gold, eyes like shining silver—one could not help but look.
“One can’t know. She is from Etoile—the very kingdom that sent an assassin against Your Majesty.”
The head maid voiced her concern.
“Even if it happened once, it won’t happen twice. And Etoile surely understood the Empire’s warning well enough. Is that not so?”
Lishiansius pictured Rebecca sipping tea moments ago.
She didn’t seem to harbor ill intent.
Of course, one could never be sure of people’s hearts—but that was her first impression.
“Grant the princess a stipend equal to a secondary consort’s and assign her an etiquette tutor to teach imperial court customs.”
“Your Majesty! Even if she is a princess—granting a stipend equal to a consort’s?”
“If it proves excessive, we can reduce it later. Do not overreact.”
At the Empress’s firm command, the head maid bowed.
“I will obey, Your Majesty.”
When she left, Lishiansius recalled the moment—just weeks ago—when assassins attacked her.
