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Chapter 47
“Lady, surely you don’t mean that he’s the biological father of the children…?”
“What nonsense.”
At one mercenary’s question, Karia wore a look of sheer contempt. Her expression was so fearsome that one of the onlookers let out a nervous hiccup.
Well, compared to her, he did look rather young, but was he really that detestable? Then why on earth did they bring him here?!
Seeing their lingering curiosity despite her vehement denial, Karia tapped the floor with the tip of her shoe and chose her words carefully.
“Hm, this is…”
“This is?!”
“A hostage.”
Pointing at Red, Karia made it clear that he had committed a grave mistake, and she was keeping him only until negotiations with his family about the consequences were completed. In other words, he wasn’t a man to them—he was collateral.
Red slumped his shoulders at the brutal, no-nonsense answer, as if he had lost everything in the world. The sight stirred pity even in the battle-hardened mercenaries, and one by one they patted his shoulders in consolation.
Karia, still unimpressed by Red’s sniffles and unrepentant attitude for trespassing into someone else’s estate, flicked her eyebrows and gave her butler instructions, loud enough for him to hear.
“Butler, I’ll be taking care of him for a while, but I can’t stand the sight of anyone loafing around in my house. It may be difficult, but try teaching him so he can at least serve properly.”
“I shall do my best, my lady.”
“Wait a moment, Marver…! No, not just a butler—you are so great it leaves me speechless! Where are you taking me?! Spare me!”
With two claps of his hands, the butler summoned the younger servants to take Red away. The kindly smiling, burly attendants dragged Red to the back door of the mansion.
The man, standing at the boundary between boy and youth, let out a beautiful, pure voice that echoed through the townhouse’s courtyard.
Karia, wearing a carefree expression, held Andyon and Alice by the hand.
“Well, everyone’s worked hard since morning, so shall we go have a snack?”
“Damn, persistent as ever!”
Shagal sighed deeply and opened the door. Even late at night, the townhouse’s lights had not been extinguished, thanks to the uninvited guests.
“Almost midnight, and now who could it be?”
“This time the Duke of Pandeon’s house sent knights, so it took a bit of time. They made such a fuss about escorting the Duchess… Lady, you are truly popular.”
After the commotion in the grand hall, people came from all over. From the imperial palace to the grand dukes, distant relatives whose names she didn’t even know, and people she had met once or twice decades ago—all sent letters or messengers, eager to inquire. Courteous and kind words were used to satisfy their greedy curiosity.
Karia had expected this. Naturally, she ignored all messages, neither showing her face nor replying. But there was one exception: the Duke of Pandeon. They still had justification to claim her.
“Can’t be helped, my name is still Pandeon after all. Well, His Majesty, who prioritizes the royal dignity, will probably make a decision by tomorrow or the day after at the latest.”
“Then will you become Grand Duchess Luterbert again?”
“Well… I’m not really fond of that idea.”
Divorce was uncommon in noble society, but when it happened, the woman’s registration would typically return to her father.
Karia didn’t want that. It was obvious that the grand duke would never let her be free. After all, the very person who insisted that divorce would sully the imperial family’s honor had no reason to welcome her return with a child born out of wedlock.
She wished she had a third name she could freely use.
“Yes, a title would be convenient.”
With a title, she could name herself after a domain. Living separately from the grand duke, and with children, she would be regarded as a completely independent family.
A title would also allow her to exert influence in noble society and give her a plausible excuse to disappear to her estate without raising suspicion. Many inconvenient restrictions would vanish.
“But it can’t be a title bought with money like the Dowager of Pandeon or Noah.”
Karia was far too famous to simply “wash” her status like that. Moreover, she would still need to deal with powerful figures like grand dukes or dukes. A low-ranking title would be meaningless. And if her estate was too busy, it would be counterproductive.
What she needed was a peaceful, even modest estate, in a province, with clear provenance. But such an estate wouldn’t simply fall from the sky…
“Wait a moment!”
“Let go! You wouldn’t dare touch a member of the royal family, would you? Do you want your head cut off for insulting royalty?!”
While deep in thought about the future, the foyer erupted in noise again.
Shagal, standing nearby, reached for his waist in readiness, but Karia stopped him.
A sharp, nervous voice—unchanged with age—cut through. Karia recognized it immediately. For the first time in her life, she was glad to see the speaker.
“So the pumpkin came with the vine intact.”
A scuffle ensued outside, and the front door slammed open. First to appear was a guard accompanying the princess, poorly disguised.
With a sullen expression, he bowed to Karia. Behind the opened door, Princess Servis strode in.
“Karia Luterbert!”
Karia covered her ears at the princess’s shout.
In the quiet of midnight, why scream when a normal conversation would suffice? What if the servants waking early in the morning heard it?
“I didn’t invite you, but welcome to my estate. But lower your voice a bit—do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Karia! You! What are you scheming?!”
Servis approached quickly, grabbed Karia’s shoulders, and shook her. Her sharply manicured nails dug painfully through the fabric of Karia’s dress. As a royal, she had never been shy to display her true nature when no one was around.
Karia mercilessly struck her hand away. The princess’s hand turned bright red where she was slapped.
“‘You’?”
“Ugh!”
“You should call me ‘sister,’ Servis.”
Rude. Karia, as if the princess’s touch were filth, brushed the fabric off with a flourish. Naturally, Servis’s face turned red with anger.
Yes, that’s it. The Servis Luxen Castaros Karia knew was arrogant, malicious, and selfish. And to think that in just a few years, she would suddenly act all friendly, calling her “sister, sister”? Even a passing dog would laugh.
“Come in first. Since a cute little sister has come, I’ll offer you some tea.”
“You think I came here for tea?! Tell me immediately what your scheme is! Who is that child?!”
“That child?”
Servis clutched her injured hand, glaring. But Karia, who had never cowered before even the emperor, wasn’t intimidated.
Servis’s anger was like a scared puppy barking. Not cute like a puppy, but similar.
“Do you mean my child when you say ‘that child,’ or…?”
“Argh!”
The shouting princess was silenced by Karia’s quiet words, her mouth covered. Shagal and Servis’s guards went on high alert, ready to intervene if a struggle broke out.
Karia raised her hands to stop them and freed the princess’s hand. Then, almost embracing her, she whispered in her ear with a calm but firm voice.
“Don’t be arrogant. If you trembled in your room and got scared enough to come here, you should at least show some effort.”
Karia stepped back from Servis, who had turned pale, feigning calm. Even as she walked into the townhouse, Servis, who had underestimated Karia, felt a chill down her spine. She sensed it.
She had walked straight into the dragon’s nest.
Servis’s intuition was correct. Once inside the private room, Karia dismissed her servants and guards, sitting with a sulky expression.
“What are you doing? Not kneeling?”
Karia’s words were clearly an invitation, not a command. Yet Servis felt immense pressure from Karia’s strange authority.
Whether it came from guilt or fear of what Karia might know, she found it hard to breathe.
Still, she couldn’t show weakness. Servis lifted her chin, asserting her royal status.
“Why should I sit on the floor when there’s a perfectly good chair? You may be of low birth, but do you not know how a Grand Duchess treats guests?”
“Well, if you want, you may sit… but you’ll be responsible for the outcome.”
“Hah, ridiculous threats!”
Ignoring Karia, Servis sat in the chair with her back against it, crossing her legs. Karia found her desperate attempt at strength amusing and shrugged with a smirk.
She intended to watch how the spoiled princess behaved, treating her like a mere curiosity.
