Chapter 36
Episode 36.
Of all people, not some other lady, but the daughter of the lowly House of Dines!
Amelie huffed, unable to contain her fury.
“Amelie. Pull yourself together.”
However, Count Spencer gripped his daughter’s shoulders with a stern voice and forced her to meet his eyes.
He was worried that his daughter, who would face far worse trials once she became the Crown Princess, was being so easily toyed with by a single anonymous letter.
“The more things are like this, the more cautious you must be. Your current behavior is an act of doubting and insulting His Highness.”
“Father! I didn’t mean it like—”
“No, I am saying that regardless of your intentions, it can be perceived that way. So always mind your conduct.”
“…….”
Only then did Amelie regain her senses and finally nod.
Seeing this, a benevolent smile appeared on Count Spencer’s face.
However, his eyes still watched his daughter with lingering concern.
“Do not take any rash actions until everything is certain. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“……Yes, Father.”
“Good, that’s my daughter.”
When Amelie finally gave a reluctant nod, the Count and his wife patted their daughter’s back as if she were a commendable child.
But as soon as her parents left the room, Amelie picked up the letter again.
It was the back page, which she had not shown to the Count and Countess.
[P.S.
We wish for Lady Spencer to become the Crown Princess.
To this end, we intend to support the young lady with all our heart and soul.
Should you ever require our assistance, please send someone to this location at any time…….]
At the very bottom line, an address was written, seemingly their base of operations.
Seeing this, Amelie’s eyes glinted dangerously.
“That’s right, I can’t just sit still and let it be stolen from me like an idiot. Not by a Bennett, and certainly not by a Dines.”
Amelie rang the bell to summon her maid with an irritable flick.
Her eyes were filled with jealousy and rage.
The anonymous letter had not been delivered only to Amelie.
“What on earth is the meaning of this!”
A loud shout echoed through the Emperor’s Audience Chamber.
The furious Emperor hurled the scepter he was holding onto the floor and roared.
“Who dares to say such things!”
He was already immensely displeased by yesterday’s extra edition of the newspaper.
He had intended to immediately issue a correction stating the article was groundless and that the Crown Prince was preparing for an engagement.
“Dines, of all people!”
The Emperor could not contain his rage at the anonymous letter that accurately identified the other party.
Of course, it was an unwritten rule to ignore anonymous letters.
However, a certain event suddenly flashed through the Emperor’s mind.
‘Wasn’t the Eight Hills project supposed to be handled by Count Preston’s family?’
‘His Highness re-investigated the matter. A serious flaw was discovered on the Preston side, which is why the distribution rights were transferred to Dines.’
At the time, he had simply thought Ian was being diligent in his duties as Crown Prince.
To think it was all because of a woman.
‘Ian, you scoundrel!’
If it had been a Bennett or a Spencer, it might have been a good opportunity to finalize the engagement.
But a Dines, who didn’t even have a single vote in the House of Nobles!
He found it utterly offensive that the daughter of a humble Viscounty was being mentioned as a match for the Imperial Family.
“Bring Ian here this instant! Hurry!”
“Ye-Yes! Your Majesty!”
At the furious Emperor’s command, the servant scurried out of the Audience Chamber.
Not long after, his son stepped slowly inside.
The Emperor watched with displeased eyes as Ian approached.
Standing before his father, Ian bowed his head respectfully.
“Your Majesty, did you seek me?”
“Explain yourself.”
Without a word of explanation, the Emperor tossed the newspaper toward Ian.
Knowing full well what article was inside, Ian picked it up with a calm expression.
“Sigh……”
A heavy sigh escaped Ian’s lips.
The newspaper was filled with nothing but speculative gossip about Ian and his companion.
There was not a single mention of the serious poisonous grass issue that needed immediate attention.
His heart felt heavy, thinking that the new papers coming out tomorrow would likely be the same.
“Your Majesty, there is a matter more important than this right now—”
“What could possibly be more important than the Crown Prince’s marriage!”
When the answer he wanted didn’t come, the Emperor slammed his fist onto the armrest.
“Did you truly enjoy the festival with the Dines girl?”
“……Pardon?”
Ian’s eyes widened in surprise at the Emperor’s question.
At the look that said, ‘How did you know?’, the Emperor snorted and threw the anonymous letter at his son’s feet as well.
“See for yourself. You pathetic fool.”
“…….”
As Ian picked up the letter with a trembling hand and read it, his face turned pale.
If nothing else, he had wanted to keep Lobelin’s identity hidden and keep her safe.
He had to suppress the urge to run out of the room and rush to Lobelin right this second.
The longer Ian’s silence lasted, the greater the Emperor’s fury grew.
“I see you cannot deny it.”
Finally, the Emperor slammed the armrest with his palm.
The moment Ian read the letter, his expression had already betrayed everything.
Yet, the Emperor couldn’t help but feel resentful toward his son for remaining silent.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, the Emperor spoke again.
“Actually, this is for the best. We shall proceed with your engagement immediately. It is already long overdue as it is.”
“……Excuse me? But—”
Ian tried to protest the Emperor’s words.
However, the Emperor firmly raised his hand to stop him.
“I shall send word to the Bennett and Spencer families. The engagement will proceed with whichever side offers the higher dowry. Since it is not yet time for you to take a mistress, break things off with the Dines girl.”
“Your Majesty!”
A mistress!
Ian immediately revolted against his father’s words, which insulted both Lobelin and his own feelings.
“I cannot do that. I have never thought of Lady Dines as a mistress.”
“What? Then are you saying you actually considered a serious relationship with someone like a Dines?”
“I……!”
Ian’s lips quivered at the Emperor’s words.
‘Someone like a Dines’—he wanted to demand a correction immediately, but…
‘No, I must endure for now.’
Ian calmed himself, his chest heaving.
The man before him was the Emperor, the one who held the real power in this country.
If he let his emotions take over and defended Lobelin here, she would be the one in danger.
Of course, that didn’t mean he intended to submissively follow the Emperor’s will.
“……Regardless, I will not get engaged to either family.”
“Y-You insolent brat!”
The furious Emperor leaped to his feet.
“You lack the awareness of your position as Crown Prince! Do you know what kind of position that is? You must choose a partner who will be of the greatest benefit to you!”
Ian, of course, had not forgotten his roles and responsibilities.
However, it was loathsome to hear his father speak of his marriage as if he were choosing a piece of merchandise.
And what about the Empress he had chosen so carefully?
Was she not sowing discord between brothers out of greed to put her own son on the throne?
‘Is this truly the ideal Imperial Family Your Majesty desires?’
Ian clenched his fists.
However, speaking his honest thoughts here would only further provoke the Emperor’s rage.
In the end, Ian simply repeated what he had already said.
“……I have already stated my intentions. I will not proceed with an engagement.”
“Ian Heriet! You truly wish to have your head lopped off!”
The Emperor’s face turned a mottled red at Ian’s words.
In his fury, the Emperor grabbed whatever objects were nearby and hurled them haphazardly at his son.
Most fell short of Ian’s feet, but occasionally, things would graze his arm or shoulder with a dull thud.
A stinging pain surged through him, but Ian stood his ground silently.
“Whew……”
Finally, having run out of things to throw, the Emperor panted for breath.
He slumped back into his seat and glared at his son.
“Fine, since you are currently incapable of making a sound judgment, we shall speak of this later. Leave.”
“…….”
Despite the Emperor’s gesture, Ian remained standing there with his mouth firmly shut.
It was a stubborn gaze that refused to accept the engagement.
Seeing this, the Emperor had no choice but to play his final card.
“Ian, if you continue to be so headstrong, I cannot guarantee what kind of setbacks might occur in the Dines family’s business.”
“Your Majesty!”
Ian turned pale at the Emperor’s threat.
The Dines Viscounty had no territory and was a family that relied entirely on their business.
The Emperor’s words meant he would completely cut off Lobelin’s livelihood.
“That is unfai—”
“If you do not fulfill your responsibilities as Crown Prince, then I, too, will have no choice but to make a decision as Emperor. Ian Heriet. You understand what I mean.”
The Emperor glared fiercely at his son.
Ian tried to say more, but the Emperor firmly raised his hand and stood up.
As if there was nothing more to hear, the Emperor walked out of the Audience Chamber first.
“……Sigh.”
Ian raised his hand and wiped his face.
The cravat embroidered with the Imperial crest felt like it was suffocating him.
