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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Shadows of Secrecy
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Damian let out a chuckle at Elena's curt question.
He'd never imagined the words "our little one" coming out of Elena's mouth.
He had no idea when or how Roena had stolen the Grand Duchess's heart completely.
Here he was, pulling out all the stops just to win a sliver of her affection.
Shaking off the feeling of facing an unbeatable rival, Damian muttered.
"Of course, that's my plan too. Revealing Roena's true nature before we've figured out the source of the corruption would be too risky."
"Even if it gets out later, I'll put in a good word with His Majesty the Emperor, so don't worry."
"Having the Emperor's sister as your wife sure is reassuring."
Elena snorted at Damian's teasing.
"For now, we should make sure the Evis Mine incident doesn't spread. Ideally, shut down the mine altogether. And tell Henry to scrub all mentions of spirits from the reports."
"Closing the mine will cost the Grand Duchess a fortune, though."
"I've got plenty of other ways to make money besides that."
"True, you do raid my pockets pretty often."
"You don't remember all the stupid things you've done?"
As Elena shot him a glare, Damian averted his gaze with a sly slide. She smirked and continued.
"If we let the miners keep coming and going, someone might catch on. There could be others besides Henry Conner who know about spirits."
"You're right about that, my lady."
"Now that the line of spirit mages has resurfaced after vanishing, plenty of people will come gunning for us if it gets out."
"How many would dare lay a hand on the Young Grand Duchess? Don't worry, Your Grace."
"Roena's still young, so she's bound to have gaps in her defenses. Surely the Grand Duke knows that better than anyone."
Damian flinched at Elena's question and met her eyes.
"Yes. I know it all too well."
Nobles were always at risk of assassination or abduction. The high walls and numerous rooms weren't just for show.
They were fortresses of sorts. Protective measures for noble families to safeguard their unawakened children.
The people of Haint were born with innate attributes as descendants of dragons, but commoners' attributes were mostly degenerated into useless or feeble powers.
In contrast, Haint's imperial family and nobles maintained their bloodlines well, inheriting strong abilities.
Once nobles completed their awakening, their family-specific powers manifested, and they performed the rite swearing loyalty to the imperial family.
But the price for such great power came with a perilous phase.
The Awakening Period.
Those entering it grew weak, like pupae preparing for metamorphosis.
It was an essential vulnerability before gaining immense strength—the stronger the power, the more lethal this phase.
Security around the estate ramped up even further during this time. No family wanted to lose a child to some scheming enemy.
Even if Roena was a spirit mage, she was undeniably an imperial noble. That phase would come someday, and enemies might strike then.
"That's exactly why I'm telling you not to worry."
"Grand Duke."
"I've already paid dearly for letting my guard down once. It's etched into my bones."
Damian's gaze shifted to Elena's left arm. His icy stare made her sigh heavily.
Elena knew exactly what he meant, and she wasn't thrilled about his reaction.
"It was an accident."
"Yes. And it left the Grand Duchess injured."
"I didn't do it expecting anything in return. Even if it hadn't been you, I would've helped. I just did what needed doing..."
Elena trailed off, freezing as Damian stepped closer and gripped the armrest of the sofa beside her.
He leaned in, his eyes burning with an intensity that made the air thicken instantly.
She grabbed his arm and pushed, snapping.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Just making sure. Tell me the truth."
"You don't have to get this close to ask that."
Ignoring her protest, Damian leaned in even more.
With only his face filling her vision, Elena could only glare. He murmured lowly.
"You don't seriously think I proposed because of that incident, do you?"
"What if I do?"
"Hah."
Damian scoffed in disbelief. Confirming his worst suspicion left him utterly exasperated.
His hurt expression threw Elena off balance. She was the one wounded here, yet he was making a fuss.
Just as she opened her mouth, he cut in sharply.
"No."
"No?"
"That's right. Absolutely not. I'm not the type to feel that much responsibility. And I'm no fool who picks a spouse over something like that."
"Then what whim made you do it? Spit it out."
Under her interrogation, Damian clamped his mouth shut. Elena hated how he always sealed his lips in crucial moments.
"If you want to fool me, at least put in the effort to make up an excuse. I might even pretend to buy it."
At her icy words, Damian bit his lower lip and stepped back.
Elena shot to her feet as if she'd been waiting for it, her eyes screaming she was done being alone with him.
"Anyway, we'll both be careful about this. I'll prepare countermeasures on my end too."
With that, the door slammed shut. Damian ruffled his hair and called for Asil.
"The list for Stig Island—hasn't been sent to the palace yet, right?"
"Yes. We were planning to dispatch the messenger tomorrow. Any changes, Your Grace?"
"Yes. Say that I'll lead the expedition personally."
"Pardon? You'll go yourself, Your Grace?"
"There's something I need to check. Since it's a covert operation, keep it from spreading."
Asil swallowed dryly and bowed deeply at the Grand Duke's response.
A few days later, I tilted my head upon hearing about Grand Duke Hadelrus's extended trip.
"A whole month?"
"Yes. He's leaving this evening."
"That suddenly?"
The Grand Duke traveled often, but he'd never left the ducal castle for a full month before.
A tense air hung around the estate, suggesting it wasn't a routine outing.
Especially since Ethan Grave, Akid's mentor, was going too—it felt like a dangerous mission.
Misreading my serious expression, Hanna spoke up.
"It was so last-minute that inviting Marquis April has been postponed."
"Ah."
Right, we'd planned to invite Marquis April soon.
The reminder furrowed my brow.
"What a shame. I was looking forward to seeing the marquis and his sons after so long. We'll just have to wait for another time."
"Indeed."
I muttered with as much sincerity as I could muster. Truth be told, the thought of facing anyone from the April family had me on edge lately.
And now the Grand Duke was off on a long trip—perfect timing.
'At least I won't have to deal with the Aprils for a while.'
"Why not send a letter? I'm sure they'd love it."
"Eh. I don't have much to say."
"Anything would make them happy. Shall I fetch pen and paper?"
Hanna started preparing them before I could answer.
Fair enough. After my last letter telling them not to bully Kobishtein, Marquis April had seemed awfully miffed.
Complaining that his youngest didn't care about her father anymore, that marriage had changed her.
He sounded so hurt and sad that I almost felt like apologizing.
His reply had oddly shifted my view of the April family.
Nothing like the brutal villains from the novel.
'Pathetic, somehow.'
Yeah, pathetic was the word. It was less a letter to a daughter and more frantic parental fretting.
They'd raised her like a precious gem, apparently—and it showed. It even reminded me of my own fangirling over Akid.
By then, Hanna had set out paper, pen, and ink before me. I dipped the nib generously and began writing.
It was a vague note explaining the circumstances and that an invitation would have to wait.
"Where did Father say he's going, anyway?"
"Stig Island, I think. Something to do with imperial business."
"Where?"
My eyes widened at the familiar name. Hanna repeated "Stig Island," and I mouthed the words.
'Stig Island...'
In the novel, it was the first place to fall to ruin.
Remembering how the corruption had spread from there everywhere sent a chill through me.
'The outbreak shouldn't happen for a while yet...'
Of course, the Grand Duke might not be going for that reason.
But the elite knight order accompanying him screamed more than a simple trip. For a man who rarely took large escorts, it was excessive.
It might be overthinking, but unease gnawed at me. My becoming a spirit mage already deviated from the original story.
As that nagging worry lingered, a knock came at my bedroom door—from Grand Duke Hadelrus himself.
"Roena, it's me. May I come in for a moment?"
"Your Grace?"
Hanna jumped at the sudden visit, bustling to tidy up.
"Please, come in."
As I granted permission, Damian entered, impeccably dressed in his uniform.
