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Chapter 46
“Do you dare to command me what to do?”
“Pardon?”
“You mean to say, ‘It came from a loyal heart, so I beg you to be lenient,’ do you not?”
The Crown Princess repeated Camilla’s plea with a mocking tone.
“It almost sounds as though you are trying to force me to forgive you.”
Her voice was cold as ice. Clearly, the perfume’s charm-enhancing effects had no influence whatsoever.
Most likely, the palace magicians had already nullified such effects in advance.
“Your Highness, that is not what I meant…!”
Meanwhile, I stole a relieved glance at Camilla.
If I hadn’t summoned the deer, I would have taken the blame for everything.
I had remembered just in time that magical beasts created with mana hate any foreign mana other than their own.
That little scrap of knowledge I had read in a childhood book had just saved my life.
The only useful thing in that dreadful Count Starace’s house had been the library, after all.
While I laughed inwardly at the irony, Camilla was dragged out by the furious Crown Princess.
From this day on, the Starace family would surely fall even deeper into ruin.
“What an insolent creature. To think she dared to try and twist my heart at her own will.”
Hearing the Princess mutter to herself, I wiped the cold sweat from my brow.
Manipulating a member of the Imperial Family was tantamount to treason. That it ended merely like this was already merciful.
But I tilted my head slightly.
This had not been Camilla’s plan alone.
Something like that expensive enchanted perfume could not have been obtained without financial support or connections.
It must have been that reckless fool Zenovio who procured it for her.
Hopefully, after this incident, Zenovio would have learned his lesson.
…Though I wasn’t sure if those people were even capable of such self-awareness.
“Viola Betra, since you have become a member of a house separate from Camilla Starace’s, I will not involve you in this matter.”
“I am deeply grateful, Your Highness.”
With the final test concluded, and myself chosen at last as an official lady-in-waiting, I sat with Crown Princess Giovanna in her drawing room.
She leafed through a dossier containing my personal details.
“By the way, I noticed that your name does not appear at all on the Starace family tree. In this Empire, even married daughters are customarily listed. This is most unusual.”
Her Highness was quick to notice such things. I feigned a bitter silence.
“Would you like me to investigate the matter myself?”
“It is something that has already passed, Your Highness.”
Even those few words would ripple outward with effect.
The Starace family would now be branded, implicitly, as a house that had cruelly cast out their own daughter.
“You are generous indeed.”
“It is because the present is more important than the past that has already flowed away.”
“The present—important enough that even as Duchess of Betra, you have chosen to serve as my lady-in-waiting?”
Our eyes met, and Her Highness smiled warmly.
“Go on, tell me. I like ambitious women.”
“My lady, we heard the news!”
“Congratulations!”
The news that I had been chosen as a lady-in-waiting had reached the estate even before I did.
Thus, when I opened the front door, the members of House Betra greeted me with jubilant cheers.
The entire manor was swept up in celebration.
“I’ve returned successful.”
I murmured shyly.
Michele nudged Ezekiel’s arm. Standing awkwardly behind the crowd, Ezekiel was now pushed into the spotlight and stepped forward.
“You’ve done well.”
That was all he said, yet I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
Ever since the exhibition—when he had confessed that he found me beautiful—I had been restless every time I faced him.
I feared that if I relaxed my guard, Ezekiel might say something embarrassingly tender again, so I found it difficult to even meet his eyes.
“It was nothing. For the sake of the livelihood of the people on my shoulders, it was something I absolutely had to succeed in.”
“To achieve something that must be done—that too is remarkable.”
Alfredo the butler and Ollie both agreed fervently.
“This old man has failed to finish polishing the silverware he must have done, and had to rely on younger footmen.”
“And I once handed His Grace the wrong documents and threw the entire estate’s affairs into disarray.”
At Ollie’s remark, Ezekiel shot him a glare, perhaps recalling an unpleasant memory. Ollie only chuckled awkwardly.
Taking advantage of the moment, I voiced a long-cherished wish.
“In truth, I want to live in Betra for a long time. That is why I give my utmost as Duchess.”
Perhaps sensing my struggle for recognition, Ezekiel’s jaw tightened.
“You are my wife. Thus, you are the rightful ruler of Betra—the Dogaressa.”
Within his icy eyes, a small flame of warmth flickered.
“In other words, you are no outsider.”
Those words alone lifted my heart high into the air.
“Ahem.”
Hearing Michele’s pointed cough, Ezekiel added further words.
“…And if I have ever wounded you with harsh words, I apologize. I am clumsy with kind speech, and may have spoken poorly without intending harm.”
The sincerity in his expression struck me.
For a fleeting moment, I felt as though I had gained a true family.
I now had a strong shelter. People who genuinely praised my efforts.
People who acknowledged me and admitted their mistakes honestly…
My eyes stung with tears.
Even if Ezekiel did not love me wholeheartedly, it no longer mattered.
Whatever his affection might be, I was content with this new family in Betra—these people who had accepted me.
“You are all such wonderful people.”
I looked at Michele, the household staff, and Anna in turn.
“My lady, you need not use such formal speech with us.”
“But I don’t want to be presumptuous and speak too familiarly.”
Hearing that it was my heartfelt choice, the servants sighed with quiet affection.
Just then, Michele raised his hand as though questioning a teacher.
“So, since Aunt has to serve as a lady-in-waiting, does that mean we’ll have to stay in the capital for a while?”
I wrinkled my nose playfully.
“No. We’ll return to the duchy.”
“But it doesn’t make sense for the Crown Princess to send away her newly chosen attendant.”
“No, Her Highness will be right beside me.”
“What do you mean…?”
It was time to announce the news I had been holding back.
“This year, during the summer recess, Her Highness the Crown Princess will be coming down to Betra.”
Gasps of excitement filled the manor.
A royal visit to Betra had not happened even once during Ezekiel’s time as Duke.
“Throughout her stay, I will serve as her chief attendant.”
For Betra, long branded as being at odds with the Imperial Family, this was a precious opportunity to soften that image.
“Your Grace! With such a royal guest visiting, the political footing of the Duke and Duchess will only grow more secure!”
Advisor Ollie beamed. Alfredo wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“My lady, you are truly our duchy’s blessing.”
Michele muttered in dazed wonder:
“The Imperial Family, who had subtly refused to acknowledge our governance and even eyed annexation, are now accepting the Duke and Duchess’s invitation and coming here themselves?”
“I asked Her Highness, and she agreed. She said she wanted to encourage her favored lady-in-waiting.”
“…Amazing.”
Though his words were calm, the rosy flush on his boyish cheeks betrayed his excitement.
“Her Highness will arrive earlier than the usual recess—her visit is less than two weeks away. We must hurry.”
As we celebrated in cheer, evening fell.
Watching the lights flicker on in the capital outside the window, I struggled to calm my racing heart.
The capital of the Piedmont Empire was beautiful, my birthplace—
But now, Betra felt more like home to me than this city ever had.
I became a lady-in-waiting for the sake of improving relations. I must guide Her Highness well.
I wanted to show Crown Princess Giovanna the charm of the city I had fallen in love with.
And while I was at it, I intended to bring up the issue of the toy royal warrant.
Her Highness’s visit promised to keep me very busy indeed.
On the last night before leaving the capital, Ezekiel knocked at my chamber door.
Even as I opened it, I stammered in surprise.
“Wh-what brings you here at this hour?”
He had never come to see me even in the ducal residence.
“There were too many eyes on us earlier. I could not speak with you properly.”
“You came at night just to talk with me?”
I glanced down at myself in my negligee. What was this man thinking?
“May I come inside?”
“Isn’t it improper to admit a man at this hour…”
“A man? An outsider man?”
Ah—right. He was, after all, my legal husband. Feeling awkward, I opened the door wider.
“Very well, come in.”
Thus, I invited him into my room in the middle of the night.
