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Episode 21
At Iris’s call, I broke out of my thoughts and stepped closer to her.
“Isn’t it pretty?”
She had placed a flower on my head.
A flower. A sweet floral scent surrounded me.
Though I couldn’t see a mirror, I answered without hesitation.
“It’s pretty.”
“It really is, isn’t it?”
She suggested we take a walk, and I carefully followed, making sure the flower in my hair wouldn’t fall off.
Perhaps because she was tall, Iris’s strides were long.
‘There must be birds.’
Occasionally, the sound of birds chirping could be heard from the garden.
“You must like birds.”
She raised just the corner of her lips into a mysterious smile.
That must mean she does.
Then, she spotted some flowers in bloom and stopped walking.
“Your Grace.”
“Your Eminence, may I pick one flower as well?”
She tilted her head in curiosity but soon nodded.
I picked a blue rose, contrasting with the pink flower she’d placed in my hair.
“Here…”
“Oh my.”
I offered it to her.
She held out her hand, and I gently placed the flower in it.
There was a moment of silence before Iris spoke, slightly late.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“I find you quite likable.”
“…Excuse me?”
The flower I had given her glowed briefly, surprising me enough that I widened my eyes.
She tucked the flower into her bosom.
Even though it was just an ordinary flower that could easily wither and lose its petals, it disappeared into her embrace while completely retaining its shape.
“None of those who’ve returned by turning back time have ever been unworthy.”
“Is that so…”
“And I was moved by this one pretty flower.”
She gently tapped the spot where she had placed the flower and smiled.
“There are no bad people among those who treasure my flowers.”
“I’m simply grateful you think kindly of me.”
She slowly tilted her head and lightly tapped her fingers in a thoughtful rhythm.
“If you ever need help, just say so.”
She smiled warmly.
“Do remember—living within my temple, in my stronghold, might not be such a bad idea.”
Join the temple?
I immediately realized she was joking.
“Perhaps I could solve all your troubles.”
She looked up at me, smiling.
“Isn’t that an enticing offer?”
Unfortunately… no, it wasn’t.
This was my task.
What she said might have meant Iris was willing to stand on my side.
But this—this mission.
Erasing the grotesque scars remaining on this body was a task only I could take on.
“I’m sorry.”
Iris looked up toward the sky for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“It can’t be helped.”
Maybe she really was just teasing, as there was no hint of disappointment.
It had been a suggestion that would’ve been impossible for someone holding the title of duke anyway.
“But I can still come to see Your Eminence when I wish to, can’t I?”
“A duke is welcome anytime.”
As we continued our walk, time slipped away, and before long, it was time for me to leave.
Just as I was about to return, Iris stopped me.
“Wait a moment. Since I received two gifts, I should give you one in return.”
I quickly waved my hands in refusal.
“Pardon? Your Eminence, that’s not necessary. It was simply an expression of gratitude—I wasn’t expecting anything in return.”
Two gifts?
Wait, was one of them that flower?
Then couldn’t she count the flower she put in my hair as my gift?
She blew gently into the air, and pure white powder gathered tightly in one spot.
Then it turned into a piece of paper, roughly palm-sized.
‘Magic?’
While I stood dazed in surprise, Iris brushed back my hair and handed me the paper.
“It’s not mine, so I can’t promise to help you always—but I can lend you aid at least once when you truly need it.”
“Your Eminence, I can’t possibly accept something like this…”
“Take it. My god values gratitude. I was moved by your gift, and I simply want to return that feeling.”
I could only stand there, stunned.
“Write your message on the back and burn the paper. I’ll know immediately. Call me when you need me.”
“It’s far too much… but I will accept it with gratitude.”
Sometimes, it’s best to accept a kind gesture. Without refusing further, I tucked it carefully into my chest.
Well… I’d somehow ended up with a token of the pope’s help.
✦ ✦ ✦
Lady Inerea Mertiel became a duke.
That story was the hottest topic in the capital recently.
Exaggerating only slightly, even children who stepped outside their homes could hear the name enough to memorize it.
And it wasn’t just because she was the first-ever female duke.
A hero of the empire.
The thrill people of the empire felt at that fact was extraordinary.
No one had forgotten the hand of salvation that appeared from a rotting hell.
“That’s the mansion His Majesty granted the duke.”
“Isn’t it even bigger than Duke Japino’s estate?”
“Shh! You’ll get in big trouble for saying that!”
“Honestly, Duke Mertiel deserves an even grander mansion.”
“Of course! She’s a hero!”
While people were gossiping non-stop and showering Duke Mertiel’s mansion with attention…
There was a visitor inside.
“Duke.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
When I entered the drawing room, the guests greeted me.
I gave a small nod.
“I heard you summoned us.”
“What might the reason be?”
“I think you already know why.”
The men wore the expressions I’d seen far too often over the past few days.
Subtle suspicion and wariness.
“I heard you’ve all been struggling since my father passed.”
They had once belonged to my father’s faction but left without hesitation once I inherited the dukedom.
“I believe I can help with those struggles.”
And now, I was trying to bring them back to my side.
“Sir Fer, I heard your grant was canceled, and you’re in a tough spot. And Viscount Sebin, I hear the dukedom’s staff has been pulled, making things difficult.”
Their expressions faltered in surprise.
“And Viscount Nevin—wasn’t your son trying to become a scholar? Hmm… Not sure how he’ll fare among the rigid academia without someone to back him.”
I could hear someone swallow nervously.
“I think I can help with that too.”
Because they had once looked down on me, they were even more shaken by my current attitude.
“What do you think?”
‘If I want power strong enough to not be looked down on by anyone, then bringing these people in comes first.’
I was steadily growing my faction to become a proper duke.
✦ ✦ ✦
I returned after sending off the new loyal retainers with smiles.
“Ah! Miya, bring the tea to my room.”
“Yes, Duke.”
I spoke to Miya, the maid I brought from the Asra merchant group.
Among the new maids, she’d caught my eye with how fast she worked.
While she hurried off for the tea, I entered the room with Kiscel.
“In the blink of an eye, it’s already past lunch. Time flies.”
“Today’s meetings did seem to go longer than usual.”
“They suddenly ganged up on me, asking if I even had the ability to help them.”
Still, I handled it well—so that’s what matters.
“Oh, the Mont Blanc! Kiscel, where’s the Mont Blanc we bought earlier?”
It was from a shop that supplied the imperial palace—I had bought it early in the morning.
Kiscel brought out the well-wrapped Mont Blanc.
Then he suddenly murmured.
“This feels strange.”
“What does?”
“Leaving the house with you at dawn like a rebellious teen just because I didn’t feel like working….”
“…”
“Then coming back with nothing but a Mont Blanc… everything about today just feels so strange.”
He leaned back against the wall with a laid-back smile.
“I guess I’ll get used to it someday, right?”
Those words carried deep meaning.
“Yeah, probably.”
Kiscel placed the Mont Blanc on the table.
He did it so carefully, trying not to ruin the shape, that I ended up walking gingerly too.
“This looks amazing.”
“Right?”
“Should we have bought more?”
“If we eat it all and want more, we can just go again. We can go anytime now.”
“Yeah, we can.”
“If it’s a hassle, I can go by myself.”
As I sat in the chair Kiscel pulled out, I burst out laughing at his words.
“You’re not my attendant anymore—you’re my secretary. Why’s the son of a viscount offering to run errands?”
He crossed his arms and mumbled to himself like he was recalling something.
“The son of a viscount… it’s been so long since I left home, I barely remember.”
The deep vanilla scent of the Mont Blanc mixed with chestnut purée made my expectations soar.
“Well, honestly, someone like you could probably become part of our family as an adopted son.”
“You don’t mean as your own adopted son, right?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I meant my father adopting you.”
“Ugh… that I really don’t like.”
“That’s the worst thing I’ve heard in nearly a year,” he added.
“So… you want to be adopted by me instead?”
“Honestly… I’m tempted.”
“Want to?”
