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Chapter 30
“…!”
Raymond looked so shocked he seemed on the verge of fainting.
Even under the dim lighting, I could see how utterly pale he’d gone.
But if I stopped here, nothing would be resolved.
He needed to fully grasp reality—right now, once and for all.
“You’ve probably never realized it because you’ve been used to having me beside you since the day you were born. But being the empire’s one and only duke’s daughter… that carries a far greater weight than you think.”
Taking the familiar for granted.
It feels inevitable, but it’s something you must always stay wary of.
Suspicion, worry, or introspection—
Any of those words would fit.
Something familiar is simply familiar, never something you’re entitled to. Realizing that takes a long series of mistakes.
And Raymond had learned that lesson at a very steep price.
Well… that’s assuming he has the will to learn anything in the first place.
Just look at his expression.
Emptiness. Disbelief. Worry. Fear…
A dizzying swirl of emotions crashing over him—it was almost spectacular.
Honestly, it was impressive enough to be added to the Empire’s Eight Scenic Views, considering how refreshing it was to watch.
I kept my lips from curling too visibly and continued.
“I don’t know who planted this ridiculous delusion, misunderstanding, and warped sense of reality in your head, but I strongly suggest you get away from them—or cut ties entirely—as soon as possible.”
“……”
“This isn’t about liking you or hating you. I’m saying this purely as someone who’s known you all my life. Think of it as advice that might end up saving your bones and flesh one day.”
The root cause behind Raymond suddenly going insane like this—
Clearly, some third party had whispered sweet delusions into his ear.
All his nonsense was phrased as “I heard that…” or “Someone said that…”
Meaning, none of these were his own thoughts—he was just parroting someone else’s whispers.
Of course, it’s embarrassing for an adult to mindlessly repeat someone else’s words.
But the fact that this mysterious third party understood exactly how thin-skinned Raymond was—and manipulated him so easily—was the truly dangerous part.
Even if he’s the second son who can’t even touch the edge of the succession line, the blood running through him is still that of House Larson. I don’t know what the third party’s goal is, but… if someone nudged him into certain affairs, things could spiral into disaster.
Take away the “second son” label, and Raymond was still a direct heir of one of the empire’s two ducal houses.
That alone meant he had the power to tarnish House Larson, House Martur, and even the Imperial Family—
And if things escalated far enough, the entire Atrux Empire itself.
There was one thing Raymond had said earlier—something he was teasing me about—that was actually correct.
You cannot ignore the class you were born into.
“You’re one of the only two sons of ducal houses in this empire. Sure, your brother holds the more important position, no denying that. But the simple fact that you share the same blood means you already occupy significant weight in this empire.”
“…One of the two young lords.”
“That’s right. So from now on, try to get your head straight, study, or at least—”
“Then it is true that there’s no better marriage prospect than me?”
For the 1,550,031st time since boarding this carriage, I was speechless.
Honestly, considering he made me speechless every time he breathed, that number wasn’t even exaggerated.
But this time… this time I was truly, deeply at a loss for words.
That’s how violently his conversation swerved off-topic.
If this idiot ever becomes a coachman, he’ll cause a pileup worse than the nine-carriage accident nine years ago.
Seeing how stunned I was, Raymond’s hunched shoulders slowly began to straighten.
“Think about it. You said even a baron’s son could be raised to my level. But I’m one of the only two ducal heirs in the empire. How could someone who doesn’t even share a surname with my brother, let alone his blood, ever rise to my level?”
“…You do know that if you turn that sentence around, you’re insulting yourself, right?”
“Why would that insult me? It just means my bloodline is that extraordinary.”
“Exactly. You’re basically saying your bloodline is the only noteworthy thing about you.”
I thought I’d corrected him gently, but apparently it didn’t land the way I intended.
His brows suddenly twisted, and his pupils gleamed red with irritation.
“Stop nitpicking. I’m just stating facts.”
“And the facts are that you— You know what? Never mind. Who planted this insane idea in your head?”
At this point, it wasn’t simple concern or curiosity—anger was starting to rise.
If Raymond’s personality had been rotten from the start, then both Yevgenia and poor Stella—who was currently trapped with this man—were pitiful.
But if I became convinced that some third party had warped him…
Yevgenia and Stella were still pitiful, but at least his redemption wouldn’t be impossible.
I already felt guilty sticking Stella with this piece of trash, but if he’s rotten down to the bone…
Forget being the female lead—pairing a man like this with any woman would be a crime.
I stared at him seriously, waiting for him to answer.
Under the pressure, after hesitating, he finally muttered:
“…Mother.”
“Your mother…? You mean the Duchess of Larson? She said that?”
Raymond gave a small nod.
I debated between I knew it and How on earth did this happen, then decided to dig deeper.
Maybe the duchess meant something entirely different, and Raymond—being hopelessly stupid—twisted her words.
“What exactly did the Duchess tell you? No, just say everything you remember, word for word.”
“To protect Stella… the Baron Aer’s daughter… she said I should make sure to respect you first. That no legitimate wife ever tolerates a concubine trying to climb over her. That that’s just how women are, so until marriage—wait, no…”
Raymond had been staring off, reciting the memories as they came, until he stumbled over a word and clamped his mouth shut.
But that brief slip was enough to reveal everything about the duchess’s intentions.
“Let me guess. She told you to pretend to respect me until the marriage, then once we’re wed, ‘What could a Martur girl possibly do?’—something like that.”
“…!”
“Please. It’s obvious. Why else would someone who’s been acting like he’s obsessed with Stella suddenly talk about me as his legitimate wife? You want House Martur, you want Stella too, and you want to marry me.”
I couldn’t help letting out a long, disgusted sigh.
With his petty desires laid bare, Raymond’s face flushed red—so red it almost looked black.
For him—who hated the idea of an engagement—not only to accept marriage but suddenly see it as necessary…
That meant the Duchess had taken my emotional shift very seriously.
Otherwise, there’s no way a mother who supposedly loved her son would ever tell him to flatter me.
The problem is that she added “you can toss her aside after the wedding” right after that.
Rubbing my aching forehead, I asked:
“Tell me honestly—there’s no way you’ve forgotten that our Atrux Empire practices monogamy, right? And that a noble was executed for adultery just two years ago?”
