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CHAPTER 49:
Method Acting
Although Jeremy had been confined to the tower, the fact that the three dukes were still roaming freely in the imperial palace meant that anything could happen at any moment. Because of this, Dietrich stationed knights around the estate with great precision.
However, remembering the previous incident in prison when one of his own knights had tried to attack Celia, Dietrich deployed only a minimal force—and only outside the estate, not within it.
“The crown prince may be imprisoned in the tower, but the real problem is Empress Erpia. She won’t just sit back and watch. Since she and Illeon are from the same family, she’ll surely try to use that to her advantage. Things haven’t gone as she wished, so I bet she’s seething with frustration right about now.”
“So what we need to do next is corner the Empress? Just like you said, we can’t bring Illeon down yet. And he’s not going to fall that easily either.”
Celia and Dietrich were having tea in his room, discussing their next move.
Knock knock.
“Duke, you have visitors at the estate.”
Other than Anderson—the aide and head chef—there was no one who would knock on his door at this time.
Dietrich glanced at Celia. She read his expression and gave a small nod.
They both stood and assumed a pose that would appear as intimate as possible to anyone entering.
Dietrich wrapped an arm around Celia’s waist, and she leaned her weight onto his shoulder.
“This should be convincing enough.”
Celia whispered softly. Dietrich nodded and called out to Anderson on the other side of the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
“Duke, there are some guests at the—”
Anderson’s expression darkened instantly when he saw the two of them looking like a picture-perfect couple.
He was struck speechless, frozen in place like a statue.
“What’s the matter?”
“Ah… well…”
Anderson’s eyes wandered aimlessly through empty space.
“Who are the guests?”
Celia asked, impatient with his stammering.
“Well, um, it’s… should I say, the Duke’s lover, or… maybe the Duchess now? I’m not sure how to address her properly…”
“Just call her my lovely fiancée. Keep it simple.”
Dietrich said it without changing his expression in the slightest.
Celia felt a chill down her spine at his flawless method acting.
How can he say something like that with a straight face?
She couldn’t help but be inwardly impressed.
“Ah, then… the Duke’s lovely fiancée?”
“Why are you adding lovely, Anderson? Just call her Miss Fiancée.”
“Oh… yes, sir. Miss Fiancée…”
Even after saying it, Anderson’s jaw was clenched so tight that a vein popped on his temple from the awkwardness.
Celia had to bite her lower lip to suppress her laughter.
Meanwhile, Dietrich, who had asked to be called fiancé, looked perfectly composed.
After taking a few deep breaths, Anderson got to the point.
“Some family members have come to visit. I believe their names were Heriel Brillion and Gabriel Brillion.”
“…”
Celia’s gaze turned cold.
“Did they say anything to you?”
“They said they were worried about you… that you might be having a hard time adjusting to life in the palace, so they came all this way to see you…”
Not only had they sold her off to that decrepit emperor, now they had come back to suck out whatever benefit was left.
Celia knew all too well how cruel those two could be.
Back when she lived with the Brillion family, the men constantly tried to get their hands on her, while the mother and daughter duo bullied her in every possible way.
“Don’t eat too much. If you gain any more weight, you’ll lose the only value you have.”
They ate fatty meals every day, but wouldn’t even spare her a single bowl of porridge.
“Though she’s adopted, I cherish her as if she were my own. So I hope only men who are worthy of supporting her will come forward to propose.”
All while parading her in front of men of marrying age—sometimes even old geezers—trying to use her as a cash cow.
She’d thought she would never have to see them again after coming to the palace.
But fate had brought them back. A truly twisted fate.
Seeing the dark look on Celia’s face, Dietrich leaned down and whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
“Want me to go kick them out? Make sure they never find you again?”
Celia shook her head.
“No. Let’s at least hear what nonsense they’ve come to say.”
“Mother, are we really sure she’s living here?”
“Well, the knight went to report, didn’t he? You saw it yourself.”
Gabriel’s expression twisted with disgust. She glanced at the guards standing around the estate and lowered her voice.
“She probably threw herself at the Duke of Calypso, no doubt. He must have taken her in without knowing how shameless she is.”
“Of course. That wench always had a talent for seducing men. If we hadn’t adopted her, she would’ve ended up a brothel girl.”
Even in front of the estate, where they had supposedly come to “see” Celia, the two continued to badmouth her with vulgar comments.
At that moment, the estate doors opened, and out walked Celia and Dietrich.
“…”
Gabriel’s jaw dropped the moment she laid eyes on Dietrich.
Flawless skin, neatly groomed brows, a sharp nose, and a chiseled jawline.
Just looking at him took her breath away.
Even in uniform, his muscular build was impossible to hide, and the way his chest expanded with each breath was downright sinful.
His large, strong hand wrapped around Celia’s waist looked as if it could protect her from anything.
Gabriel was drowning in envy.
She wanted to shove Celia aside and take her place right that moment.
With a sinister look on her face, Gabriel quickly put on a sweet smile as soon as Dietrich’s gaze shifted toward her and acted like a kind older sister.
“Duke Calypso, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I didn’t expect you to take such good care of my beautiful little sister. Thank you so much.”
Dietrich looked at her with an utterly emotionless expression.
But when his gaze turned to Celia, it instantly softened.
Gabriel felt certain Celia must have filled Dietrich’s head with lies about her.
Suppressing her anger, she forced herself to act affectionate.
“Celia, I’ve been so worried ever since you went to the palace. But seeing you doing well now… I’m relieved.”
Celia said nothing in return.
She only stared at Gabriel like she was a stranger.
Gabriel had expected her to come crawling, but when she didn’t, it made her burn with rage inside.
Seeing Gabriel flounder, Heriel stepped forward.
“Celia, we came all this way because we were worried about you. Why don’t you even greet us? Don’t tell me you think you’re above us now just because you’ve been in the palace a little?”
Dietrich was about to say something, but Celia tugged gently at his sleeve and shook her head.
He respected her decision.
“You pushed me off to the palace like I was a burden, and now you show up calling yourselves family? How laughable.”
Celia let out a small scoff.
“You’re really going to act like this toward us? After everything we did for you? You went to the palace on your own, remember!”
“On my own?”
“Yes! You said you didn’t care if he was old, you wanted the emperor for his power!”
Heriel started shouting, fabricating lies on the spot.
“Think whatever you want. I don’t have to listen to any more nonsense.”
“Celia!”
Gabriel quickly stepped in to calm things down and offered an apology in her mother’s place.
“Duke Calypso, I think my mother lost her temper because Celia was being rude. I’m truly sorry on her behalf.”
“I’m not the one you should apologize to. And the rude one here… is you.”
Gabriel bit her lip at his cold response.
“Apologize to my fiancée, not to me.”
“…”
Gabriel’s pride was wounded, but she didn’t dare risk offending Dietrich.
Forcing a smile, she turned toward Celia and gave a half-hearted apology.
“Celia, I’m really sorry. We’re family, after all. I hope this doesn’t ruin our relationship. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”
“No.”
Celia’s firm reply made Gabriel’s lips twitch with frustration.
“Dietrich, we’re done here. Let’s go back inside. I just want to be alone with you now.”
Celia rubbed her cheek against Dietrich’s shoulder.
He looked down at her with eyes full of affection.
Gabriel’s insides boiled. She wanted nothing more than to slap Celia across the face, but with Dietrich standing protectively beside her, there was nothing she could do.
“I’ll make sure those people never show their faces here again. You’ll be a duchess soon, after all.”
That final comment of Dietrich’s slashed right through Gabriel’s pride.
Before entering the estate, he turned to the knights standing outside and gave an order:
“Get those people out of the palace. Immediately.”
