“Tomorrow, at last, we enter the capital.”
Xenos nodded in agreement with Will’s words.
“And yet, the two of you are still using separate tents.”
Will remarked, glancing toward Selina’s tent pitched across from theirs.
“Because both the young lady and I require time to adjust.”
“Are the two of you truly the same couple who spent three whole days together in that forest?”
“I already told you. We merely stepped onto the path, and when we emerged, three days had passed. And as for what occurred in there… the moment we walked out, it was wiped completely from our minds. The young lady, too—”
“Her Grace the Duchess.”
“Right. Selina does not remember a single thing either.”
Will asked again, sounding incredulous.
“And the Marriage Proof held in your hands?”
“Had we lacked even that, we might never have realized we entered and exited that forest at all.”
“Isn’t it merely a stone?”
“I think not.”
“There are far too many baffling things about this. As matters stand, the first thing declared when we reach the capital will be a refusal to recognize your marriage.”
Xenos’s face turned stony as he watched an anxious Will.
“Frankly, I cannot fathom it. Were I the Emperor, the moment I learned you slipped away to marry, I would have dispatched an assassination squad to slay you both. And if you proved too difficult to strike down, I would have ordered Her Grace the Duchess killed instead.”
“That was precisely my concern, which is why I arranged an escort force. It seems my advance measures have borne fruit.”
“How did you arrange it?”
“I shall reveal that later at the gathering. When you all hear it, you will be stunned.”
Will responded in an uneasy tone,
“Still, even if we enter the capital tomorrow… will we be safe?”
“My apologies, but I could not plan that far ahead. I cannot make you any promises.”
“If you went to all that trouble, you might as well have planned for that phase too.”
“I was in quite a rush.”
A faint smile touched Xenos’s lips as he looked toward Selina’s tent, recalling her departure from the palace.
Beside him, Will let out a weary sigh.
“Yes, yes. Your foremost concern is that Her Grace the Duchess remains unharmed, isn’t it?”
‘Even though we might step straight onto a battlefield the moment we set foot in the capital…’
Will sighed once more, watching Xenos unable to pull his gaze away from Selina’s tent.
Late at night, long after the ball had concluded, Erik remained by Ingrid’s side.
Stealing away from prying eyes, they sat together in the lounge gazing up at the moon. Ingrid then buried her face in Erik’s chest and began weeping bitterly.
“Tears again today? I told you not to cry.”
“How could I not?! That you are marrying Lady Selina… Once people learn of this, they will look down on me as a pitiful girl! I, who held Your Highness’s heart, will become an object of everyone’s pity. I was supposed to be a blissful woman envied by all, but instead… I shall be utterly miserable.”
“This… I could not defy my father’s will.”
“Were your feelings for me a lie, then? Did you not swear they belonged to me alone?”
“Of course they are yours alone. You are the only one for me. You know that. That is why I shared these state secrets with you and you alone.”
“Yet your bride will be Lady Selina! How does that make any sense?!”
Ingrid broke into childish wails once more. Erik gently patted her back to console her, then produced a document he had brought along and showed it to her.
“Here, see for yourself. This is where my true heart lies.”
It was the prenuptial agreement Erik had drafted.
“Read it, and you will see that Selina protecting you is a core condition. Should she refuse to sign this agreement, I will never marry her.”
‘Which means he intends to keep at least three wives under one roof. Has he lost his mind? He dares call this his true feelings?’
Ingrid masked her thoughts completely and carried on with her act.
“I know Your Highness is the empire’s little sun, and that I cannot keep you solely to myself. All the empire’s subjects ought to receive your favor equally. And yet… narrow-minded Ingrid longs to possess Your Highness’s heart all on her own. Whenever it comes to you, I cannot control my feelings. I do not understand… why it must hurt this much.”
“All of this… is because my standing prevents me from devoting my undivided care to you alone. It is all my fault.”
“No, how could it be Your Highness’s fault? It is mine for lacking the grace to accept this with an open heart. I can do nothing but weep in pain… and that makes me feel utterly wretched.”
A tear slipped down Ingrid’s cheek, and Erik gently brushed it away.
“Hush… there now… weep no more. Soon you shall marry me as well and become a mother to the empire’s people. You must not shed tears so readily.”
“Your Highness… I have one small favor to ask.”
“Name it. Whatever it may be, I shall grant it.”
“This agreement… may I keep a copy? That way… even if Lady Arsene stands beside Your Highness, my heartache might lessen a little. Though she attempted to take my life… knowing Your Highness pledged to protect me through this agreement will allow me to trust in your devotion and endure it.”
“Of course. Keep the copy I just handed you. I have another, and I can always draft more.”
“Truly? Just as I expected… Your Highness never fails to grant what Ingrid asks.”
Erik looked at her, smiling as though she had never shed a tear, and returned the smile.
“Your requests are always so modest. All of them are well within my power. Speak your mind freely; never hesitate.”
“Were it not for Your Highness… I know not what would have become of me. I dare not even imagine it.”
“Indeed, do not dwell on such thoughts. For I shall always remain by your side.”
Ingrid rested her head gently against his chest once more, having carefully folded the agreement and tucked it inside her bodice.
The road through which the escort unit entered the capital lay eerily quiet.
“At the very least, they did not bar us at the gates.”
“Yet seeing not a single onlooker… raises suspicion.”
They passed beneath the towering wall’s gates, greeted only by the regular sentries stationed there.
“This marks the first time the Duke has returned to the capital without a welcoming crowd. It is truly strange.”
Just then, an egg came hurtling out of nowhere. Before it could strike the carriage carrying Selina and Xenos, it smashed against a guard’s shield and shattered.
As if that had been a prearranged signal, rotten vegetables and eggs began raining down upon the escort unit from all directions.
Then a voice roared,
“How dare you bewitch the Duke?! We will never forgive you!”
“What right do you have to tail along on military operations?!”
Realizing the venom was aimed at Selina, Will barked out immediate orders.
“All units, proceed directly to the ducal residence!”
The party quickened their pace, heading straight for the Duke’s estate.
“My Lord, you have returned.”
Hans, the head butler, stood with the servants flanking both sides of the drive to receive Xenos and Selina.
“Fortunately, all appears calm within the estate.”
Yet when Will noted this, Selina sensed that something was amiss.
“It is… too quiet. First of all, where is Lord Philip?”
“…He is resting inside.”
“Inside… Very well, let us head in.”
“Pardon me…”
Hans stepped directly into Selina’s path, blocking her way.
“I believe it would be best for Miss Arsene to return to her family estate.”
Xenos’s expression hardened to ice. Will stepped forward, utterly stunned.
“This is Her Grace the Duchess. And today, she returns to her seat at the ducal residence.”
“Do you not see that this is sheer arbitrariness?”
At that moment, Rose appeared alongside imperial guardsmen, as though she had been lying in wait for this exact second.
“Rose.”
“Lord Duke, have you returned safely from your military campaign?”
“What military campaign?”
Rose drew closer to Will.
“Mr. Chase, consider this carefully. I am here by decree of His Imperial Majesty. He declared that should I fail to return Miss Arsene safely to her home, the Duke will be held accountable for taking her from the palace and traveling in her company for more than twenty days.”
Will’s jaw clenched tight. Rose pressed on with her persuasion.
“Would it not be far better to say that Miss Arsene departed of her own free will and has now returned to her home, rather than see His Grace the Duke imprisoned on charges of abduction?”
Gritting his teeth, Will retorted,
“They are husband and wife.”
“Can you… truly prove that?”
“We possess proof.”
“Whatever proof you hold, it must be something capable of convincing every subject in the empire without hesitation. Did you happen to bring back a marriage certificate granted by a high priest without the imperial court’s knowledge?”
To those words, Will could offer no reply.
