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Chapter 21……………………………
As autumn quickly approached, Melina set out for the imperial capital with Cheroyan to attend the Harvest Festival.
“The Harvest Festival lasts three days. You must attend on the first day, but the other days are optional depending on the situation.”
Cheroyan spoke gently as he stroked Melina’s hand. He had not once let go of it since they boarded the carriage.
“You can stay in the imperial palace during the festival, right?”
“That is possible. I am, after all, of the imperial family.”
“Then stay at the palace even if it’s inconvenient. I have a lot to investigate anyway.”
Cheroyan looked somewhat reluctant, but he nodded obediently.
The festival was the best opportunity to meet not only members of the imperial family but also influential nobles.
“I’ve heard noblewomen’s social circles are more brutal than battlefields.”
Cheroyan looked at Melina with concern.
“Even if they can’t openly disrespect you as the Grand Duchess, there may be those who look down on you for being of commoner origin.”
That was probably true. The social world was a place where smiles hid daggers.
But who was she? Was she not the Empress who once ruled over those very social circles, hardened by years of experience?
“I may be new to social circles, but I’m an expert at handling people. Do you think anyone can just become the head of Temno?”
She wanted to ease his worries, but she couldn’t tell him about her past.
Instead, she mentioned Temno, showing confidence.
“I know your abilities well. But social circles are different. Honestly, I’d feel less worried if it were a place where people settled things with duels.”
“Duels are easier, honestly. I’d win every time.”
Cheroyan chuckled softly, amused by her words. Seeing him smile made Melina smile as well.
“What I’m more worried about is the jealousy from young ladies.”
She pretended to be troubled, though such jealousy could be brushed off easily. Still, she wanted to see his reaction.
“Jealousy? What jealousy?”
“What do you mean what jealousy? They probably think I stole you away from them.”
“I don’t recall a single woman ever showing interest in me, so you needn’t worry about that.”
Ha. Look at this man. How can he be so dense?
Melina looked at him, exasperated.
“You really don’t know how popular you were?”
“Popularity is something I’ve never had anything to do with. Do you know how hard the nobles tried not to send their daughters to me?”
“That’s only a few great nobles. There were plenty who coveted the position of Grand Duchess.”
Those with insight into the Emperor’s intentions, the great nobles with too much to lose, were exceptions. For everyone else, the position of Grand Duchess was a desirable prize.
“And that’s the parents’ perspective. The young ladies are different. Imperial politics, power struggles—none of that matters when it comes to attraction.”
“Then what does matter?”
“How handsome someone is, how attractive they are, things like that.”
“Hm. So you’re saying many ladies fell for me?”
“Of course. At every ball, they all tried to catch your eye even once. Since you never accepted dance requests, they tried all sorts of methods. You really didn’t know?”
It had all happened when she was still in the palace. She had seen and heard it herself, so she spoke confidently.
“But why did none of them confess to me?”
“That’s because you were so indifferent and cold. They all called you ‘the flower on the cliff.’ Something so desirable, yet impossible to pluck.”
“Ha. Did they really call me that?”
Cheroyan looked incredulous.
“You were everyone’s unattainable lover. There was an unspoken agreement to simply admire you, not to try to possess you.”
As she continued speaking, his expression subtly shifted.
“And yet the one who plucked that flower was me, a commoner. Of course the young ladies would be glaring at me fiercely.”
Melina sighed dramatically, as if to prove her point.
“But how do you know all this? You’ve never even attended social gatherings or balls.”
He narrowed his eyes at her.
For a moment, Melina froze. How should she explain this? Just as she struggled, her expression brightened.
“Well, I investigated you thoroughly since you were my marriage prospect. You know how good Temno’s intelligence network is.”
As she spoke, she quietly exhaled in relief. That was a decent excuse.
“You investigated me?”
“Even in an arranged marriage, you should know what kind of person your partner is.”
“So it wasn’t because you were personally interested in me?”
Cheroyan’s gaze sharpened.
“Ah, n-no, that’s…”
She should have said no immediately, but the words wouldn’t come easily. Was it really true she had no interest?
She knew him too well for that.
But she hadn’t liked him before.
“Why can’t you answer?”
While she hesitated, Cheroyan smiled faintly and asked again.
“You think so too, don’t you? That I’m handsome? Attractive?”
His face leaned closer, and Melina instinctively tried to pull back. But he wrapped an arm around her waist, forcing her to face him directly.
“Tell me. You said you were the one who plucked the flower on the cliff. Do you think it was worth it?”
For a brief moment she was flustered, but then her gaze turned bold.
“Of course. He’s my husband, whom I chose myself.”
Melina slowly ran her hand over his face. The faintly sensual touch made his expression stiffen slightly.
“There’s a saying that the brave win the beauty. I was brave enough to cross into your bedroom and win you over.”
Her hand drifted down to his lips.
She looked up slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering.
“You’re so handsome I can’t look away for even a moment, so attractive it makes my heart race, and so impressive I want to show you off. Of course you’re worth it.”
With a daring look, Melina wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips met briefly—chuu—before parting.
She smiled in satisfaction as she saw Cheroyan’s widened eyes.
Since the day of the assassin attack, the wall between them had disappeared.
Perhaps trust had formed between them.
She had opened her heart to him, and he too had begun treating her more naturally.
And over the past couple of months of sharing a room, they had gradually grown used to each other’s presence.
Maybe that was why she now had the courage to initiate a kiss.
“As the victor, I’ll enjoy the jealousy of those noble ladies. I have no intention of giving anything back to them.”
At her bold words, his silver-gray eyes—like starlight—deepened and shimmered.
“I am not an object. I was never theirs to begin with. So don’t speak of returning me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her again.
The heat shared through their lips made their hearts begin to pound loudly.
Melina closed her eyes as they pulled each other closer.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
Noel’s voice rang out.
Startled, Melina quickly pulled away from Cheroyan, who looked disappointed.
She fanned her flushed cheeks with her hand.
“Do we really have to go? You must be tired from the journey to the capital.”
His voice, deep and warm, was full of concern for her.
“I told you I have something to show you. It’s better to look around before news of our arrival spreads.”
Cheroyan, slightly frowning, gently kissed her once more before pulling up his hood and stepping out of the carriage.
Melina did the same, hiding her face as she followed him into the imperial city.
As they entered the central streets and the crowds thickened, Cheroyan firmly held her hand to prevent her from bumping into people.
“Be careful.”
She smiled warmly, pleased by his care.
“What exactly are you going to show me?”
“If someone gives a gift, it must be returned. I’ve already sent a present to the Emperor.”
“If you say ‘present,’ it’s never a normal one, is it?”
Perhaps remembering the monster incident, Cheroyan frowned.
“That was only for the Emperor. You don’t need to worry.”
“That somehow makes it more unsettling.”
He chuckled softly.
“Come this way. I’ve prepared it for a long time. I think you’ll like it.”
Melina led him toward the central square, where a crowd had gathered.
“The Emperor’s consort gave the Empress wine, and she collapsed. The wine was poisoned.”
“That throne was mine from the beginning. So you should step down now.”
“How could you…”
“The Emperor and I are in love. The late Empress only stood aside because she was asked to.”
What the crowd was watching was a puppet show.
“This is…”
Cheroyan looked at Melina, clearly surprised.
“Yes. It’s a story about the death of the Empress. I adapted it so the culprit is the Emperor’s consort.”
This was what Melina had instructed Ran to do back in the duchy.
To create a puppet show and spread it not only throughout the capital but across the empire.
Temno had plenty of money and manpower, so it was nothing difficult.
At first, people gathered out of curiosity for the free gifts, but soon they became absorbed in the provocative story, and it became a sensation.
“What a wicked woman.”
“How could the Emperor do that? Was everything he showed in public just acting?”
“The Empress is the only one to pity. Used and discarded by her husband… tsk.”
People watching the puppet show pointed and jeered at the Emperor and his consort, sympathizing with the Empress.
Even children were now spreading the story, so it had likely already reached the Emperor.
“That is quite the gift.”
Cheroyan smirked slightly.
“Rumors among commoners are unstoppable. The more you try to suppress them, the more they spread like wildfire. The Emperor and Nora must be in chaos.”
“But why change the culprit to the Emperor’s consort? Wasn’t the Emperor your target?”
“Of course. But first, I’ll take away everything he cherishes one by one. He took everything from my younger sibling, so he should feel it too—the despair and helplessness.”
Melina’s green eyes flashed sharply.
“Above all, the Empress’s seat belongs to my sister. I don’t intend to let them have it.”
When Cheroyan said nothing, Melina grew slightly anxious.
She had said he would support her, but she worried what he thought of her obsessive revenge.
Back when she proposed the contract marriage, she hadn’t cared.
Was she becoming closer to him now?
That must be why she felt so conscious of him today.
“Hey… Yan.”
Cheroyan turned to look at her.
“Do you… think I’m cruel?”
