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Chapter : 5
“Of course.”
I agreed with the head maid.
Surely, the Crown Prince and the Western Noblewoman were far away, completely unaware that we were watching.
But…
“She doesn’t even seem like she’s trying to hide it. What good would it do to grab her hair and scold her?”
“All that you’ve seen here today must remain a secret.”
“Pardon?”
“What did you say?”
“No! Your Highness!”
“I refuse!”
“Please don’t do this!”
The maids immediately protested.
Even the head maid, who had suggested the raid, had a hardened expression.
And no wonder.
What I was asking was essentially to cover up the Crown Prince’s affair.
Still, I shook my head.
“I just needed confirmation, that’s all.”
I gave a bitter smile to the maids staring at me, then turned to look toward my palace.
“……”
A heavy silence followed, and I began walking.
Passing through the courtyard of the Crown Princess’s palace, I eventually arrived at my bedroom.
“W-we’ll be taking our leave now, Your Highness. P-please have a good rest… sob.”
The maids, sniffling, ran off.
“……”
I neither answered nor looked back.
After the door closed with a solid thunk.
“Phew.”
Alone, I let out a small sigh and approached the bed. Then…
“You vile bastard!”
Bang!! Bang!!
“How long do I have to keep watching that sight?!”
Indeed.
I was in a very foul mood.
Even though I had confirmed his affair two days ago, seeing my husband cheat again made it impossible to stay calm.
Moreover…
“Huh, putting a flower in her ear? I didn’t expect such a romantic side from him!”
The sight of the Crown Prince acting in ways he never had before shocked me.
Had he been so blinded by love that he didn’t care who saw him?
Bang!!
I threw the pillow, feathers spilling out, onto the bed.
“I can’t wait until the Duke of the North arrives!”
I clenched my fists tightly.
“I need to change my plan.”
Because the Dukes of each region were forcibly subordinated to the empire about three generations ago, they didn’t get along well with the royal family.
If the current Duke of the North wasn’t favorable to the throne, even sending a reply could take months.
“I need to get revenge on the Crown Prince immediately!”
As soon as I made up my mind, I grabbed a piece of paper from the bedside table and scribbled furiously.
[Looking for a man to become the Crown Princess’s consort. If you’re a single, proper gentleman, apply immediately!]
Abel, just wait and see!
“I’ll send this audition notice to all the nobles immediately…!”
Bang!
I slammed the drafted audition proposal onto the door just then.
“Your Highness!”
Who dared to interfere with my grand plan?
Looking back, I saw Shuna running down the hallway with a letter in hand.
Normally, I’d be pleased to see Shuna, but interrupting me at the historic moment I was about to announce an audition was infuriating.
“If it’s not urgent, I won’t forgive you!”
“What’s the matter?”
I replied coldly, and Shuna cheerfully said,
“The Duke of Rikesis sent a reply—he’ll arrive today!”
What?
Shuna handed me the letter, and I stared at it, stunned.
“Already?”
It had only been a day since I sent the invitation…
A short while later…
“…I must have been crazy for a moment.”
The moment I confirmed the Duke’s reply, I went back into the room and burned the audition proposal completely.
The thought of it becoming public sent chills down my spine.
“Ugh!”
I shivered, staring blankly at the mirror, then took out the Duke’s letter from my pouch and read it again.
[Your Highness, the Crown Princess! I will come immediately. —Cardmael Rikesis]
Perhaps because it was urgent, even such a simple message pleased me immensely.
“How could he send such a perfectly timed reply?”
It felt like he was rescuing me at the exact moment I was in trouble.
Like a destined lover prepared just for me…
But my smile lasted only a moment.
“Ahem!”
I quickly cleared my throat.
“……”
The maids bustling to prepare for the guest were staring at me intently.
“Did I look too pleased?”
Trying to maintain my composure, the head maid approached, applied some perfume to my hair, and smiled.
“Seeing Your Highness continually looking at the Duke’s letter, it seems you are very much looking forward to meeting him.”
“…I’m just going to meet and converse with a noble. There’s nothing to be excited about.”
I replied in a noble tone, though inwardly I flinched.
“Was it that obvious?”
I suppose it was natural.
“The head maid doesn’t know what Shuna and I talked about.”
She would think I had merely cheered up after receiving the Duke’s letter while still upset about the Crown Prince’s affair.
“……”
Under the head maid’s piercing gaze, I had no choice but to make an awkward excuse.
“Um… I invited the Duke yesterday morning regarding the Northern Railway project.”
In other words, the Duke had nothing to do with the Crown Prince’s affair I witnessed today.
“I can’t exactly tell her I’m planning to retaliate with my own affair.”
A strict head maid would surely try to stop me.
“I see.”
Fortunately, she nodded without saying more, and I exhaled in relief.
“Phew!”
After finishing all preparations:
“The portal will open soon, so let’s hurry.”
I set off with the maids toward the portal gate.
The royal palace had portal gates connecting to all regions of the empire.
Through them, Duke Rikesis would enter the palace.
Soon, I alighted from the carriage.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess who watches over the empire, we welcome you.”
I passed through the parting crowd of palace attendants gracefully, approaching the portal from which the Duke would emerge.
“Ah!”
A shadow appeared in the pale green glow, and I swallowed nervously.
“It’s definitely the Duke of the North!”
As a fan of romance/fantasy novels, I was thrilled to see him in person.
Moreover, my intention was to seduce him.
“What if he’s too cold and doesn’t respond to my charms?”
After all, in <Ma.Pa.Gong>, he had been the king of the North, so he wouldn’t be easy.
As I tensed, the light dissipated, revealing his full figure.
“Phew.”
And…
As if nothing had happened, a sly smile escaped from me.
“I’m an expert at charming formidable people!”
Hiding my face behind a thick scarf, I observed the man buried in snowflakes, then elegantly nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Duke Rikesis. As the Crown Princess of Raidetan, I welcome you to the palace.”
Then, as I lifted my head again…
“I need to seduce him and make him my consort… ugh, hmm?”
Our eyes met as he lowered his scarf to reveal his face.
“……!”
His black eyes, initially surprised, began sparkling almost unbearably.
Finally, his first words, from lips frozen in the snow, were…
“Wow!”
An exclamation of amazement.
“Are you really the Crown Princess of Retier? Wow! I’ve been looking forward to meeting you!”
“……”
Something felt off.
“C-could I… get your autograph?”
The ‘Duke of the North’ I had anticipated so much…
“Why do I feel like sending him back?”
An unexpected complication had arisen.
Next:
“Your autograph will be a family treasure of mine!”
“No, really, it’s not necessary.”
The Duke, holding my autograph, seemed endlessly delighted.
“Hmm.”
Thanks to that, I could take a step back and observe him properly.
“Not bad.”
His appearance was quite impressive.
Dark brown hair of fine texture, a fair and sharp face.
Especially his firm-looking physique—he was a worthy rival to the Crown Prince.
But…
“What’s with those sparkling eyes?”
As I tried to ignore his gaze,
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess?”
Startled by Duke Rikesis’s call, I jumped.
“Yes?”
