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Chapter 11
“What? A bride?”
“Yes. A bride. Well, to be precise, a fiancée.”
The calm, even bored tone with which he said it made Litricia’s eyes widen in disbelief.
It was so shocking that even the throbbing headache she had earlier was forgotten.
She had been prepared to accept any condition he might propose—but this? A bride? That was beyond anything she had imagined.
“As far as I know, Winston Hilton isn’t even of marriageable age yet…”
Litricia pressed her fingers against her forehead, trying to quell her rising confusion.
“As Your Grace might have heard, I just spoke to my fiancé about breaking off our engagement. Though, of course, no official documents have been exchanged yet.”
Despite Patrick having agreed to the breakup, on paper, Litricia was still engaged to him.
But even in the face of her words, his reply was utterly indifferent.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“What? But…”
His attitude, as if the duke’s family was of no concern at all, made her frown slightly.
The way Winston Hilton was treating her—it was as though he had the kind of power that could casually dismiss a duke’s house.
‘No way… If he’s of that status, then the only possibilities are… His Majesty… or the Grand Duke of Heberus.’
The thought was so absurd even to her that she let out a faint chuckle and shook her head.
Just then, the bell in the high, arched dome above them rang once. A dumbfounded noise escaped her lips.
“Uh…? Lord Hilton, your eyes…”
“My eyes? Ah, seems the spell’s wearing off already. Tch. Such a weak enchantment. I’ll have to complain when I get back.”
Despite the unchanged boredom in his voice, his once soft chestnut eyes were now gone—replaced by icy blue irises as cold as midwinter.
At the second chime, his brown hair turned silvery-white, shining under the moonlight.
And by the third chime… his previously plain appearance was replaced by a face so stunning it defied description.
In that moment, the ridiculous suspicion Litricia had brushed aside just minutes ago turned into reality.
“Your Highness… the Grand Duke?”
Still staring at his now luminous silver hair, Litricia spoke in a trembling voice.
“Whew…”
Kilian brushed his hair back, relieved to be free from the stifling mask, and turned his gaze toward her.
“Well, seeing as you recognize me, I suppose there’s no need for introductions. And now you understand why I couldn’t care less about pleasing the Godwin family.”
“…”
“Is there still a problem, Lady Esta?”
With a face more beautiful than any demon whispering death, Kilian stared at her coolly.
Then, as if he never expected a reply in the first place, he turned his back and walked to the railing.
At that moment, the final bell toll echoed throughout the hall, signaling the hour.
And right on cue, the Emperor’s voice rang out.
“I believe sufficient time has been given. Therefore, with this, we shall formally announce the engagement between the Grand Duke of Heberus and Lady Luzabek—”
But before he could finish the sentence—
Whoosh—Litricia felt a sudden tug, and a chillingly amused voice cut through the hall.
“My apologies, Your Majesty, but that won’t be possible. I’m already promised to another.”
And before Litricia could even register that it was Kilian’s arms holding her tightly—
His velvety voice, dripping with a seductive chill, whispered against her skin.
“To this very lady, Lady Esta.”
***
Clink.
As the attendants set down their teacups, the Emperor’s voice followed gently.
“When I didn’t see you in the hall, I wondered if you had decided not to attend today’s banquet.”
“How could I possibly skip it? A banquet Your Majesty personally arranged for me—I simply had to attend.”
“Haha, is that so…”
The Emperor gave an awkward smile as he sipped his crimson tea.
“Hmm, so… what you said in the hall earlier—about being engaged to Lady Esta—was that true?”
“Yes, it’s true. So I ask that the marriage arrangement with Lady Luzabek be withdrawn.”
“…I see. Then I suppose that’s for the best.”
“Thank you.”
Kilian offered the bare minimum of courtesy to the Emperor before picking up the plate in front of Litricia.
It held a peach compote dessert.
He placed it before himself and slid a plate with lemon pound cake toward Litricia.
“How did the two of you meet? I was under the impression you had no prior connection.”
Given that Kilian had spent most of his time stationed at the warfront on the northern border since leaving the capital, the Emperor’s question was understandable.
“Even more so considering that Lady Esta was already engaged to Duke Godwin’s second son.”
“Oh, the engagement…”
“We broke it off. Ten minutes ago. And right after that, I proposed to her.”
Just as Litricia was about to answer the Emperor, Kilian pulled her hand toward him.
Then, with a soft smooch, he kissed the back of her hand.
“Your Highness…!”
Startled by the sudden intimate gesture, Litricia tried to pull her hand away, but Kilian only tightened his grip.
Still holding her pale hand in his red lips, Kilian lifted his gaze and looked into her eyes.
“I fell for her at first sight. I couldn’t wait.”
Heat surged to Litricia’s cheeks.
She knew better than anyone that this was all a lie.
And yet… maybe it was the haze in her head, or maybe the man’s tragically cold and breathtakingly handsome face had bewitched her—
But for a moment, Kilian’s words felt sincere.
“You expect me to believe that, Your Highness?”
While Litricia shook her head, trying to regain composure—
A sharp voice rang out from the Empress Dowager, who had been silently observing.
“Fell in love at first sight? Hah. At least come up with a more believable lie, Your Grace.”
Her heavily painted red lips twisted into a mocking sneer.
The Emperor tried to intervene, “Mother—” but as a puppet who had only ascended the throne under her backing, he couldn’t stop her.
“Your Majesty, can’t you see? The Grand Duke is only trying to escape marrying Lady Luzabek!”
“Hmph.”
Kilian let out a soft sound as he leaned back in his chair—still holding Litricia’s hand, resting his head lightly against their intertwined fingers.
“It seems Her Majesty the Empress Dowager still disapproves of me.”
“What did you say?”
The Empress Dowager’s face contorted at his voice, calm to the point of sounding bored.
“Oh. Or are you upset that Lady Luzabek won’t be sitting in the Grand Duchess’ seat?”
“I have no idea what you’re implying.”
Heh.
Smirking at her shameless denial, Kilian twitched the corner of his lips and glanced sideways at Litricia.
Her pale face was lowered, strands of damp pink hair sticking to her skin with cold sweat.
Tsk.
Seeing her condition, Kilian uncrossed his legs.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? What you plan to do with Lady Luzabek?”
Thud.
He tossed down a decorative piece—retrieved from the body of the assassin the Empress Dowager had sent not long ago on his way back to the capital.
Half-standing from his seat, Kilian leaned toward her.
“Enough, Your Majesty. I’m starting to get annoyed. My patience has limits.”
“You insolent…!”
The Empress Dowager’s face turned crimson at being addressed with a title from the previous reign.
But still, Kilian’s voice remained calm, murmuring low enough for only her to hear.
“You ought to be careful. If I get truly annoyed, I might not stop at just assassins next time.”
“Are you threatening me, Your Grace?”
His aura so deadly it seemed he could snap her neck on the spot, the Empress Dowager’s upper lip trembled.
“Yes. You understood correctly. So stop bothering me. I won’t be setting foot in the capital again after this banquet.”
“Your Grace…!”
“Oh. And release the subordinate of mine you had imprisoned. He’s quite temperamental. Who knows what chaos he’ll cause if kept locked up.”
As if on cue to prove his point, a BOOM! echoed from the west tower—where Mark was imprisoned.
Kilian glanced out the window briefly, then turned his dry gaze back to the Emperor.
The marriage issue was resolved. There was no reason to waste more time here.
“Then, Your Majesty, I trust you will handle the matter with Lady Luzabek properly. We’ll be taking our leave.”
“So soon?”
“Yes. Lady Esta’s health is not well.”
He gave a lazy nod and moved to support Litricia, who had risen to bow.
But the Empress Dowager stepped in his way.
“Hold it. We can’t just abandon a marriage the imperial family arranged based on nothing but Your Grace’s word.”
“…Ha.”
Kilian rubbed his brow in exasperation at her continued pestering.
But then her next words made his eyebrow twitch.
“If you were to hold the wedding with Lady Esta immediately, perhaps I could believe you. But that nonsense about love at first sight? I can’t accept it.”
“Then let’s do that.”
“His Majesty surely agrees—Wait, what?”
The Empress Dowager, who had been chirping like a mother hen beside the Emperor, suddenly fell silent.
“What did you say?”
“I said I’ll hold the wedding. Will that satisfy you?”
