TMLOP 16

Chapter 16

Rebellion

“Why is the young lady here?”

Benerucia’s tone was far from gentle.

It was quite late—well past the time anyone would drop by without being invited for dinner.

Moreover, Roziana had arrived in the Citrine Count family’s carriage, meaning that by tomorrow, rumors of a scandal between them would likely spread again.

Everyone in Heliosa had a strong interest in the empire’s one and only Grand Duke.

And for the first time, Benerucia found that attention incredibly uncomfortable.

If the rumors spread again… it would undoubtedly reach Senelia’s ears by tomorrow.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. That’s rather cold of you.”

Despite Benerucia’s chilly response, Roziana maintained a calm tone.

As if she had expected this reaction. Or perhaps she had found some newfound courage.

“Do I seem like the kind of man who is kind to uninvited guests?”

The colder he got, the more his demeanor turned frigid.

Benerucia wanted nothing more than to send Roziana out of his mansion immediately.

The only reason he didn’t physically throw her out was because he was a refined royal, raised with chivalry.

“You wound me, Your Highness. I didn’t think I was completely unwelcome here.”

“Ha, you and I? Are you suggesting we’re something more because of a random scandal?”

Benerucia shot back icily at Roziana’s remark.

That’s when he remembered why he had broken up with Senelia the first time.

Whether commoner or noble, Benerucia’s popularity meant rumors followed him no matter what he did.

He could simply breathe and still get caught in scandal.

So he usually kept a polite but distant attitude toward most people.

The reason Benerucia had even spent time with Roziana the day before the scandal broke had been simple.

The Citrine Count family had long-standing ties with the Daphne Viscounty.

To be honest, Benerucia had been curious about what had happened while Senelia spent two months at the Daphne estate.

But he had already acted as though he wouldn’t ask her anything and had even instructed his subordinates not to investigate.

So he had turned to the neighboring territory of Count Citrine, hoping for news.

It was an innocent conversation that had somehow turned into a scandal—and that deeply annoyed Benerucia.

But Senelia had never asked about the scandal… and Benerucia, unable to stand the silence, had ended things with her.

So, while he knew it wasn’t really Roziana’s fault, he still didn’t see her favorably.

“Can’t we become something more?”

But with her next words, Roziana firmly moved from “vaguely disliked” to “outright disliked” in Benerucia’s mind.

“I heard you broke up with Senelia Daphne. I want to take her place, Your Highness.”

Benerucia’s face went completely rigid.

How dare she think she could replace someone?

Rage flared within him.

But Roziana pressed on, undeterred.

“I know that Your Highness has feelings for Lady Elihan. And I know what role Senelia Daphne played. I can take on that role.”

But then came Benerucia’s chilling reply—one that left Roziana speechless.

“How do you know that?”

His voice was filled with warning.

“W-What do you mean?”

Roziana faltered, unconsciously avoiding his gaze.

Benerucia was generally known to be kind to most people.

And so people often forgot.

They forgot how many foes the gentle Grand Duke had struck down on the battlefield.

Had Roziana been a knight rather than a noble lady, his reaction wouldn’t have ended with just a glare.

“No one should know that Lucalina has returned yet.”

According to Marquis Elihan, Lucalina had returned on horseback ahead of the army.

In other words, the troops hadn’t arrived in the capital yet.

The news of victory hadn’t even been officially announced—so how did a noble lady, uninvolved in politics, know about it?

Unless one of her parents held a position in the noble council of the capital. But Count Citrine did not have that qualification.

From that, Benerucia instantly deduced that someone had sent Roziana to his mansion intentionally.

And the list of people capable of using such means against the empire’s only Grand Duke was very short.

“Was it… His Majesty?”

Benerucia voiced his suspicion aloud.

Normally, he would’ve pretended not to notice.

Because confronting the Emperor’s intentions was not what Emperor Clifford expected of his subjects.

Clifford was especially sensitive about Benerucia’s relationship with Lucalina.

If the Emperor hadn’t been so paranoid, Benerucia might’ve visited her on the battlefield at least once.

So, Benerucia had long endured the Emperor’s attempts to test his relationship with Lucalina.

But this time, the timing was the worst.

Because of the Emperor’s suspicions, Senelia would misunderstand Benerucia once again.

“I-I…”

Roziana stammered.

But there was no need for her to answer.

Just the fact that she had come boldly before the Grand Duke, that she knew of Lucalina’s return—something most of the capital didn’t—and that she couldn’t give him a straight answer now…

It was all too telling.

Clearly, the Emperor was behind Roziana’s visit. That’s why she could be bold before the Grand Duke and yet unable to answer him now.

“Lady Citrine, if word of tonight leaks from your lips, you will pay the price.”

Benerucia warned her in a deep, threatening voice.

Roziana’s face paled in fear.

Her visit to the Grand Duke’s mansion had been at the Emperor’s command. The scandal was orchestrated by the Emperor as well.

But Benerucia now seemed intent on stopping it.

Until now, Benerucia had never once gone against the Emperor’s will, and Roziana had expected this time would be no different.

Had she known she would end up caught in the middle, she would never have come.

Whether she disobeyed the Emperor or the Grand Duke, the outcome was the same: it wouldn’t end well.

“I’ll take care of the newspapers myself. All you need to do is keep your mouth shut.”

Benerucia’s tone softened, as if offering her a way out.

Only then did color return to Roziana’s face.

The reason his scandals spread more than others’ was because the newspapers constantly chased after the Grand Duke’s news.

If he could stop that, the rumors about him and Roziana would never gain traction.

And only someone like Benerucia had the power to silence the press—meaning he was actively blocking the Emperor’s move.

In other words, Benerucia was giving Roziana a way out.

“But.”

Just as she began to feel relieved, Benerucia added a condition.

“Remember that I can collect the price for your insolence at any time.”

A clear warning—there would not be a second chance.

Benerucia no longer wanted anything that could push Senelia away from him.

“Y-Yes! I swear it will never happen again, Your Highness!”

Roziana nodded desperately.

She would probably never even glance toward the Grand Duke’s mansion again after this.

“I already sent the Citrine family carriage away. Had it circle the outer district rather than come straight here. I’ll call you a public carriage. Take that home.”

The Grand Duke’s mansion stood on the most expensive land in the capital.

Meaning, any carriage seen heading in this direction would be assumed to be visiting him.

If someone had seen the Citrine family carriage approach his mansion, it would definitely spark rumors.

That’s why Benerucia had it take a roundabout route through the outskirts.

“…Thank you.”

Public carriages were, of course, far less comfortable than noble ones.

But Roziana could only accept and thank him.

After forcibly sending Roziana away, Benerucia immediately summoned his men to silence the newspapers.

It was Benerucia’s first act of rebellion against something Emperor Clifford had done.

But by the next day, that rebellion had already failed.

Though the newspapers dared not print a single line, rumors spread like wildfire among the nobility within a day.

When Benerucia learned of this, he clenched his teeth in frustration.

No one but someone in power could make a rumor travel this far in less than a day.

And there was only one person trying to tie him to Roziana—the Emperor.

Clifford had completely disregarded his younger brother’s small act of rebellion.

Benerucia was enraged by his brother’s actions—but something else was more urgent.

Right now, Senelia was ill, and Benerucia had gone to Lucalina instead.

And now, rumors were spreading about him and another lady.

So he had to clear the misunderstanding right away.

That was why Benerucia went to Senelia before facing the Emperor.

But the moment he stepped into her townhouse, that resolve was shattered.