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Chapter 10
Kaien de Siegfried Elision.
If the Emperor is the scepter that rules the empire, then he was the one who served as the sword protecting the empire’s borders.
He silently accepted the duties and responsibilities given to him. He inherited the Grand Duchy at the age of fifteen and took up the sword to eliminate threats against the empire.
That entire process was much like walking along a well-paved road.
Fourteen years ago, when Kaien was ten years old.
When his brother Joachim, barely seventeen, ascended to the throne after the late Emperor and Empress died from the curse, he learned the fear of loss.
Having bid farewell to his peaceful childhood and become the Grand Duke of Siegfried, he stood against factions seeking to check the Emperor and seize power.
In the process, the Empress died in childbirth while giving birth to the Crown Prince, and in place of the Emperor, who was steeped in grief, Kaien often spent time with his nephew Alexei.
“Uncle, even if Father is being a nuisance, just let it slide. Father’s like a five-year-old when he’s upset—he’ll just make things more bothersome if you do that.”
“Is Father late again? Can’t be helped. Then Uncle, read me a fairy tale instead.”
“Ciel? I picked him up when I went outside the imperial palace. I’m old enough to need a dedicated attendant now, aren’t I?”
…The overly precocious side of him was a problem, though.
Anyway, because of that, life wasn’t so boring. His days were busy just going back and forth between the Grand Duchy and the imperial palace, and he wasn’t naturally inclined to dislike devotion anyway.
That’s why, when his nephew—precocious to the point of being cheeky—collapsed from an unknown illness, Kaien was the first to blame himself.
Feeling that if he had paid a little more careful attention, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.
“Greet him. This is His Highness Kaien, the Grand Duke.”
“Hello!”
An engagement arranged as the price for obtaining Alexei’s medicine.
My fiancée, with glistening silver hair, fair skin, and softly curving eyes, was as clear and pure as a fairy of the forest.
Her ringing voice, her gentle manner of speaking, and even her eyes looking straight at me.
She didn’t resemble her greedy-eyed father in the slightest, and that was probably what left an impression on me.
But even so, she was the daughter of a political enemy, and since the marriage was a transaction, I had no intention of giving her my affection. The promise was simply to marry the daughter of Duke Dermis—that was all.
“What exactly is the standard for living quietly as if dead?”
So when I faced her after the wedding, even I was a little surprised.
I’d expected her to at most seek my affection or act coy, but I never thought she’d try to negotiate.
It was the same with how she accepted a marriage that was empty in name without question, yet said she’d match herself to me in everything. She seemed uninterested in the authority she could naturally have as Grand Duchess.
Maybe that’s why. Perhaps I’d let my guard down a little. At least that this woman wasn’t someone who would bring me harm.
“As I’ve said before, stay as close to His Highness the Grand Duke as possible. Don’t forget what your role is.”
“Yes, of course. Don’t worry.”
Kaien, who had been leaning against the window leading to the balcony, cast his gaze toward the dazzlingly splendid ballroom.
‘I wondered what they were plotting.’
It wasn’t anything to be newly surprised about. From the very beginning, the Duke marrying his daughter to me made his intention to surveil me plainly obvious.
Kaien let out a low, hollow laugh. And yet, he was surprised at himself for feeling downcast.
Surely I hadn’t expected something. How foolish.
I’ve met countless humans who smile warmly while stabbing you in the back. So I was confident I knew well enough that appearances aren’t everything.
Kaien glanced down at the glass in his hand. On the surface of the brilliantly shining golden liquor, Wendy’s afterimage flickered.
‘Live quietly as if dead. That’s right, isn’t it? I’ve never forgotten it for a single moment, so you needn’t worry.’
With cold eyes, Kaien left the spot just like that.
Nothing much happened after that. He simply went out to the garden to soothe the strangely heavy feeling in his chest—perhaps from indigestion.
The spring breeze, carrying white petals and spinning round and round, momentarily stole Kaien’s vision. After blinking lightly, he saw a woman dressed all in white standing in the direction the wind had blown from.
“…You.”
“Oh, did you come out for a walk too, Your Highness the Grand Duke?”
To Wendy, who spoke warmly with a bright smile, Kaien answered with silence.
The atmosphere was strangely awkward, unlike before, so Wendy awkwardly scratched her cheek.
“Are there more people left to receive? I think I’ve greeted everyone I needed to, so I just came out.”
“…”
“Oh, have you tried the wine? The imperial palace is amazing—everything is delicious. Though our estate’s chefs are the best, of course.”
Kaien silently gazed at Wendy as she tried to make light conversation. Wendy, who had been looking at the man curiously—quieter than usual—strode right up to him.
His broad shoulders flinched ever so slightly.
“Your Highness, I can’t read minds or anything, you know? If you have complaints, you should tell me. Did I make a mistake?”
Seeing him subtly turn his head away instead of answering, it seemed he was quite displeased about something.
Fine, I’ll understand as the older one. He’s young, so it happens.
He was three years older than Wendy, but compared to Joo Ha-yeon, who was twenty-six, he was two years younger. Judging by his build and appearance, it didn’t really feel like he was younger than me, though.
“Anyway, this works out well. I had something I wanted to tell you.”
It wasn’t something I wanted to say in such a tense atmosphere, but this might actually be better.
Wendy deliberately began in a gentle tone.
“I’ve been thinking carefully ever since I came to the imperial palace. Experiencing it firsthand, there’s a lot to attend to, and so on.”
Just the people I’d greeted at the ball alone must have numbered around a hundred. Enough to make me feel anew the weight of the title of Grand Duchess of Siegfried.
“So, Your Highness, if you dislike being married to me that much…”
Wendy looked up at Kaien, who finally turned to face her, and smiled brightly.
“Why not just hire me?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m actually quite smart, if I do say so myself. If you don’t believe me, we can set a trial employment period. I’m sure I’ll be helpful?”
To Wendy, who spoke confidently, Kaien finally opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Does that mean you want to be involved in the Grand Duke’s household affairs?”
“Yes!”
“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
“That’s…”
I realized anew after meeting my father. That my current situation isn’t easy enough for me to just sit quietly.
Even if I try to live as if dead, those around me won’t leave me alone. My father will constantly try to use me, and there’s a limit to how I can respond without any power.
I never had any intention of interfering with the original story, not before and not now. But still—wouldn’t it be nice if I could live, and people could suffer a little less?
…Actually, maybe I’m just rationalizing because I don’t want to turn away from that boy who looked at me so desperately.
Of course, I couldn’t answer honestly, so Wendy smiled radiantly and gave a half-true answer.
“I want to crush my family a bit.”
“…What?”
“They keep trying to interfere with me, and I’ve realized that just living quietly isn’t easy either. As you know, Your Highness, they’re quite persistent people, so it’s troublesome if I’m too powerless.”
With this, maybe Kaien will be a little less wary of me.
Kaien’s lips moved slowly as he met her lake-clear eyes.
“You surprise me every time.”
He must feel I’ve let my guard down enough—now he’s showing his true nature.
“So, what are your conditions?”
“We can discuss the details after we return. Anyway, I just want to live a little more freely. As I’ve said before, I absolutely won’t cause you any trouble, Your Highness!”
Even so, it was fine. If he intends to use me, I can use him in return. Conversely, using this woman to keep an eye on the Duke’s household would be far more advantageous.
“…Be sure to keep what you just said.”
“Of course!”
Harboring different feelings, the two firmly clasped each other’s hands.
Kaien suddenly realized that the hand of the woman he was holding for the first time was very warm. Meanwhile, Wendy fiddled with his hand as if fascinated.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, I just thought Your Highness has big hands.”
Kaien slowly withdrew his hand from the grinning Wendy and turned his back.
White petals fluttered and scattered in all directions. As if snow were falling.
At the center of a flower bed in full, resplendent bloom sat a quiet, elegant pavilion.
The woman reading a book in the pavilion sensed a presence and raised her head. Seeing Ciel plop down across from her with a half-doubtful face, Wendy spoke with a hint of laughter.
“You came.”
“You told me to come.”
At his sulky answer, Wendy let out a small laugh. Then she snapped the book she’d been reading shut.
“So, shall we begin the story?”
