Translator: Nox

45 - The Duke's Bride is a Warrior from Hell

Grand Duke's Bride is a Warrior from Hell 45

Her face, framed by mysterious hair that shone dazzlingly in the sunlight, gave a delicate impression.

Her hazy, bright blue ice-blue eyes scanned the surroundings.

Contrary to her tender and frail appearance, a sense of ennui lingered on Josefina's face.

"You're saying His Majesty ordered you to send an invitation?"

Despair spread across Viviana's face, her eyes red and swollen.

"He didn't order it directly. He wants you to get close to the Grand Duchess. You know this is as good as an imperial order, right?"

"But..."

"Viviana, be grateful you haven't been expelled from the clan."

Josefina spoke as if tossing the words out.

It was a blunt and direct attitude, hard to imagine from her innocent features.

The atmosphere at the table rapidly shrank at her direct words, devoid of any roundaboutness.

"Lady Josefina, although I made a mistake, I am the only aunt of the Imperial Palace's firstborn."

"Lady Viviana, are you trying to start a bloodline fight with me now?"

Josefina said with a snort.

A rough expression naturally surfaced on her mysterious face.

The other ladies at the table cautiously distanced themselves from the two.

"Ah, no, I..."

Viviana quickly changed her attitude.

"And be careful what you say about the Imperial Palace's firstborn. Nobles are of noble status, but the empire can make anyone a noble based on ability. But the Imperial Family is different. I mean, don't privately associate yourself with His Majesty's direct line."

The crookedness on Josefina's face showed no sign of fading.

"I will be careful..."

Everyone was just watching Viviana's subdued figure.

After it was known that Lady Mode was carrying the Emperor's child, Viviana had been arrogant.

Everyone accepted it with a smile, but it wasn't as if they didn't feel resentful.

"Just go."

Josefina said with a frown.

Annoyance dripped from her face as she spoke.

"I will take my leave."

Viviana lowered her body and turned around.

Her shoulders heaved greatly with sobs as she turned.

Josefina made a disgusted face at the sight.

Because of that, no one could comfort Viviana.

Until Viviana left the room, the salon was enveloped in an awkward silence.

The sound of the door closing echoed, and whispers erupted from here and there.

On one side, laughter with a nuance of 'serves you right' also rang out.

"Viviana seems very heartbroken."

One of the ladies, who had been watching, cautiously said to Josefina.

"Is that what an Imperial Concubine who bore a son is like?"

Josefina grumbled, as if she didn't care about Viviana's heartbreak.

Another lady, who had been listening, quietly added.

"But she hasn't even given birth to a son yet."

"And she's not even the Imperial Concubine herself."

The face of the lady who had been worried hardened at the words full of mockery.

"Don't be too harsh."

"Are you worried that Lady Goggins will give birth to an Imperial Prince? Worry about that when the time comes."

"I'm preparing a gift for the Imperial Palace's firstborn. Is everyone else preparing well?"

"You're so thorough."

The table soon became amicable.

The atmosphere of laughter and chatter was only warm.

But everyone was diligently watching Josefina, even if they didn't say it.

It was difficult to read Josefina's expression, which was lost in silence.

Everyone could only guess.

Although she had sent an invitation to Alicia Reine at the imperial order, there was no way Josefina would easily accept the prospective Grand Duchess.

The ladies' recent interest was which of Josefina, known as the Imperial Palace's beautiful troublemaker, and Alicia Reine, who had emerged as the Imperial Palace's new fighter, would take the lead.

The day of the showdown was approaching.

---

Alicia went to bed early yesterday.

As a result, the morning started early as well.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she went to the bath and washed more carefully than ever.

She put on the dress she had chosen in advance and wore all the accessories she had decided on.

She also put on bright makeup, which she always did as if she hadn't done it.

Henrik looked at Alicia with admiring eyes.

He seemed to highly appreciate the efforts of the lonely person from a friendless family.

That wasn't the case, but she didn't explain it separately.

The dark blue dress emphasized Alicia's purple eyes.

Her clear skin stood out, and her delicate features shone.

"It's a pity that His Highness left early. If he had seen this, he would have been very surprised. You are always beautiful, but you are truly beautiful today."

Henrik showered Alicia with praise, looking at her with moist eyes.

Alicia smiled lightly at his sincerely regretful face.

"I'll be back."

Her face, as she greeted him, sparkled.

Everyone at the Grand Duke's Residence saw off the Grand Duchess with pleased faces.

At the same time, everyone was anxious.

To have to send that angelic Grand Duchess to Princess Josefina, the thug of the Imperial Palace.

Making friends is tough.

There's no such thing as an easy job in the world.

Everyone completely forgot that Alicia had committed an unprecedented act of violence in the Imperial Palace and worried with all their heart.

A luxurious four-wheeled carriage stopped in front of the Great West.

"Oh my."

"Oh my god, what is that?"

The carriage, with its elegant cream-colored base and gold decorations, drew everyone's attention with its size.

People strolling through the garden whispered as they watched someone stand up and get out of the stopped carriage.

"It's amazing."

"It's good to be the Grand Duchess."

Josefina was among the crowd watching Alicia get out of the carriage.

The ladies standing around Josefina were constantly watching her.

"Baron Langs' taste was noisy."

Josefina folded the fan she had been unfolding.

She smiled as if she had expected this situation, full of composure.

Today, Josefina was wearing ruby and pearl accessories.

The red dress and red rubies formed a strong contrast with Josefina's dazzling platinum blonde hair.

"Shall we go?"

Josefina said to those who were holding their breath.

At the same time, she strode forward.

'She stood up and got out of the carriage.'

'It's a carriage that you can stand up and get out of without bending your back.'

'Did everyone see?'

The ladies following Josefina were talking only with their expressions and lip shapes.

The prospective Grand Duchess's power was beyond what they had imagined.

Alicia was entering the garden.

The prospective Grand Duchess, who was said to be like an angel, looked cold, sensitive, and aloof, unlike the rumors.

Her ashen black hair, purple eyes, white skin, and delicate features drew clean lines, maximizing the coldness.

Wearing a deep blue dress like the dark blue sea, she gave the illusion that the north wind was blowing.

On the other hand, Josefina, who was dressed gorgeously today but originally had an innocent face, looked more like a well-groomed doll than a flame.

The metaphors of being like an angel or a fairy suited this side more.

She had a perfect appearance like a doll, but somehow, when compared in terms of momentum, she gave the impression of losing.

They felt like they had lost a little, but the Zephyr Clan members were not disappointed.

There were more than one or two people who had been fooled by Josefina's innocent face, pretending not to be, and then getting a scolding.

There was no need to make hasty judgments based on first impressions.

In the middle of the garden.

Alicia and Josefina met in front of the Poseidon Fountain.

What will happen?

Distorted expectations were fully raised in the eyes of those watching.

Alicia is the prospective Grand Duchess, and Josefina is the Emperor's first niece.

Alicia Lane is a lady born in the Northern Marquisate after 200 years, and Josefina Lirin was a lady born between a Duke and a Princess, with no comparable lineage within the Empire.

No one could predict how the two ladies' fight would unfold.

Whether the person who speaks first will gain the upper hand, or whether they will gain the upper hand by making the other person speak first.

They couldn't even guess what kind of attitude would show dominance.

It was even more difficult to gauge because the two people's status and power were equal.

Perhaps they would not stimulate each other and treat each other with courtesy, ending in a boring way.

Many people predicted a boring ending rather than the dominance of either side.

It would be good if they got along well, but pride is something that is not easily bent.

The higher the noble, the greater the noble, the more childish they could become in a battle of pride.

"I greet Princess Josefina."

Alicia showed respect for the Imperial Family towards Josefina's group, who had approached her side.

A faint smile spread across her face, which had looked cold and aloof.

The coldness vanished in an instant as her face, made up of clean and delicate lines that made her look more sensitive, uttered a warm voice.

Gentleness was added to her polite and courteous attitude.

"Lady Alicia. I greet the Count of Echeveria. It's the first time I've seen you since the engagement ceremony with Grand Duke Tessen."

Josefina unknowingly greeted her back according to etiquette.

Josefina's group was returning the greeting at the moment the prospective Grand Duchess paid her respects.

"Thank you for inviting me to the clan."

A soft smile was spreading across Alicia's face as she spoke.

"You're welcome."

The faces of Josefina and her group, who had finished their greetings and stood up, were somewhat bewildered.

It was a false rumor that she was arrogant, but Alicia had clearly argued fiercely with Viviana Manners.

"......"

"......"

Causing a violent incident in the Imperial Palace was something that could not be done without considerable personality and courage.

It was surprising that a person who had an absolute advantage in a case where the Emperor had made a ruling was so polite and courteous.

It was to the point where it seemed like all the words that had been circulating so far were the machinations of Viviana and the Marquis Manners family.

Josefina was not someone who would be swayed by a single greeting.

"Lady Alicia."

"Yes."

The face that answered her call was harmless.

She seemed to know nothing about social circles' power struggles.

"Who is the designer of that dress?"

"It's a dress from Augusta Teville Valette."

Some smiled inwardly as they listened to Alicia's answer.

"Don't wear it again."

Josefina said as if tossing the words out.

Most people were taken aback by the words that were completely different from her innocent and ethereal face.

"Ah."

Embarrassment also settled on Alicia's face.

Preventing someone from wearing a specific designer's dress was a common occurrence among noble ladies.

Usually, it starts with gentle words of recommendation, but in the end, it was settled with something like, 'Someone like you shouldn't wear something like that.'

There were not many nobles who would quietly listen to being suddenly told to wear or not wear a dress that they had normally ordered and had made to fit.

The ladies around Josefina looked at Alicia with interesting faces.

Some spread their fans and covered their faces, spreading laughter.

They waited happily to see how long Alicia would be dazed and how she would resist.

"I will."

Alicia answered with a docile smile.

The fans that had been flapping happily stopped moving abruptly.

Josefina's ice-blue eyes stared blankly at the face that was speaking politely.

"......"

It was strange that she was so easily succumbing to such blatant harassment.

What was strange was that it didn't end there.

"If I had known it was a dress from a designer designated by the Princess, I wouldn't have worn it. I wore it today without knowing, please forgive me."

Alicia spoke in a soft voice, even uttering words that were so humble that she was groveling.

If the other person was lowering herself so much, it only made the person who was harassing her look bad if they harassed her any further.

"Be careful in the future."

Josefina said awkwardly.

"Yes, I'll be careful."