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Chapter 23
The bright blue eyes disappeared behind his eyelids for a moment, then slowly reappeared.
“There is something you must protect,” he said, exhaling deeply. His voice carried a certain chill, and I felt a jolt of fear.
“From the moment one becomes the lady of the Duke’s household, it’s true that there are no restrictions on where you may go,” he continued. I was too tense even to nod, so he spoke again.
“However, I’d prefer it if you avoided the basement whenever possible.”
“The basement in the west annex?”
Johannes nodded.
Why only the basement?
At that moment, countless rumors about basements began swirling through my mind—stories like Bluebeard, or whispered tales passed down through generations. My eyes narrowed.
“…Do you realize how suspicious that sounds? Is there something in that basement I absolutely shouldn’t see?” I lowered my voice even further.
“A brutal murderer, or a hidden corpse… things like that.”
A faint crack appeared on Johannes’s otherwise rigid face. He let out a laugh that seemed part exasperation, part disbelief.
“You, my wife-to-be, have quite an imagination. How exactly do you see me?”
It was a bold smile I had never seen before.
“Well… someone who gets everything they want? After all, you married me in the end.”
Johannes raised an eyebrow. Seeing that I didn’t argue further, he seemed satisfied.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t go down there.”
“There’s no special reason. There are many important things stored there, no sunlight reaches it, it’s dark, and dust has accumulated heavily.”
For someone who had set such a serious tone, it was a rather mundane reason. Still, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to confirm once more.
“There’s no other reason, right?”
“No.”
Johannes’s answer was firm—then a smooth, deep voice spoke from behind.
“It’s been a while, Johannes.”
I turned toward the sound and saw a man walking toward us. He wore a well-fitted dark gray suit, and his dull blond hair was neatly swept back. There was a faint resemblance to Johannes, though his expression was friendlier.
Johannes’s face instantly stiffened. It was rare to see him lose composure.
“And what brings you here?” he asked.
It was a chilling voice I hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Attending the wedding of your only cousin isn’t exactly a crime,” the man added.
“I never imagined we’d be reunited at your wedding, though.”
His words seemed intended to tease Johannes, but the expression on his face was serious. Observing closely, one could detect the subtle difference.
The man’s intentions were difficult to read. In the brief moment I saw him, I understood why Johannes was not welcoming.
“Johannes Schultz, who never seemed interested in women, getting married…”
Then the man looked at me and grinned. Reflexively, I moved closer to Johannes’s side.
He continued undeterred.
“So the rumor about you being interested in men was false, then? I didn’t believe it anyway.”
He kept teasing Johannes.
“If the Schultz bloodline were to end with you, think of the great national loss.”
Johannes glanced at me and shut his mouth. He seemed to be restraining himself in front of me.
“Surely you still misunderstand me?”
“Unfortunately, I have no energy to think about you.”
The man laughed heartily.
“How heartless. I see you have no intention of answering, but your temperament seems unchanged. No particular problem there, then.”
He jabbed his index finger near his chest, then pointed above his head as he spoke. I blinked at the heavy atmosphere. When it seemed Johannes wouldn’t respond, the man turned his gaze to me.
“Forgive the delayed greeting. Congratulations on your marriage. I am Edward Windsor.”
He introduced himself as Edward Windsor. I froze—any citizen of Dochilia would recognize that name instantly. The Windsor name…
“Madam Duke?”
As I was thinking about Edward’s identity, he spoke to me. I raised my head sharply.
“Are you uncomfortable in any way?”
I must have frowned without realizing it.
“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself sooner. Then, as a prince—”
“No need for formalities,” Johannes interrupted. Edward, seemingly accustomed to this, smoothly continued.
“—as a prince, I have no official duties, so I’d appreciate it if you treat me as the Chief of Police of Varden.”
He maintained a very gentlemanly demeanor befitting royalty, though his true intentions were unclear. Knowing what he and his family had done to Johannes and the Schultz household, I found it hard to view him favorably.
“You suit each other well, Johannes,” Edward said. Johannes tilted his head slightly. The dry blue of his eyes showed not the slightest hint of friendliness.
“Scary. No need to be so hostile.”
“What do you want?”
“Oh, I came to apologize in advance. The flowers from the royal family sent to your wedding were handled entirely at the King’s discretion.”
“From Begonia, I presume?”
Edward’s face flickered with surprise, and Johannes added casually,
“Prince Windsor’s garden is famous in Dochilia.”
He meant, “You can’t not know the flowers came from my garden, so why pretend otherwise?”
“Yes, they came from my garden, but—”
Edward paused mid-sentence, looking aggrieved.
“I was very busy with police affairs, standing in for my family at your wedding, and you still hold it against me?”
“When will you stop being so egotistical?” Johannes raised an eyebrow with boredom. Edward responded with the same cheerful tone.
“Johannes, I’m different from my family… I have no interest in power. I swear, I’m not involved in any of that.”
Then he turned to look at me.
“Of course, I was curious about who the future Duchess would be. We are relatives, after all.”
“Only in name.”
“Quite prickly.”
Edward laughed off Johannes’s words and continued,
“I know you dislike me, but we know each other better than anyone. I’ve wondered all this time—what kind of woman could captivate Johannes Schultz…”
He stepped closer, meeting my gray eyes. He studied my face carefully, then stepped back as if nothing had happened.
“You exceed expectations. Makes sense now.”
At the word “makes sense,” displeasure crossed Johannes’s face.
“You’ve seen enough, and your personal business seems done.”
“My, your manner of speaking hasn’t changed. You know just how to say ‘get lost’ politely.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Edward had a knack for being annoyingly charming. On the surface, he seemed considerate of Johannes, but a little attention revealed just how infuriatingly he spoke.
All that he had learned over time didn’t vanish, after all. I thought he was very much the type of royal who had framed the previous Duke of Schultz.
“Madam Duke?”
“…Yes?”
“What’s this look? Were you secretly thinking something unkind about me?”
I awkwardly lifted the corners of my mouth.
“Huh?”
Look at that—Edward was looking down at me like that. Then he chuckled briefly and raised his eyebrows.
“Seems so.”
I should have controlled my expression better.
After all, he was Dochilia royalty. If he discovered I had improper thoughts, I could easily face imprisonment. I had to avoid causing Johannes any trouble.
Even knowing that, I couldn’t manage my expression. The cold had frozen my facial muscles.
As I struggled to lift my stiff mouth, Edward said in a bored tone,
“Don’t sulk. I know well enough that I’m unlucky.”
I looked up at him silently as he adjusted his cravat and added,
“You have peculiar eyes.”
