How to Perfectly Break Up with You

It was late at night, a week after leaving Lopwell, when the army arrived in the capital.

Typically, it would be proper for the army’s commander-in-chief to go to the imperial palace and have an audience with the emperor upon returning from war. However, due to the late hour of their arrival in the capital, all schedules were postponed to the next day.

So after disbanding the army at the entrance of the capital, Declan, the commander-in-chief, headed to the Grand Duke’s residence located in the outskirts instead of entering the capital.

The Grand Duke’s residence, situated in a quiet area just outside the capital, boasted a magnificent scale befitting any great noble’s mansion. Though it couldn’t compare to the main residence in the Grand Duchy of Monferrato.

Nobles with territories typically kept a mansion near the capital and used their territory and suburban home as needed, and the Grand Duke’s family was no exception.

While not as splendid as the grand mansion in the Grand Duchy of Monferrato or the imperial palace, the suburban residence exuded dignity as befitting a house with a long history.

Its location away from the city center added a uniquely serene atmosphere that made the Grand Duke’s residence stand out even more.

As usual, in the heavy and quiet air, Declan paused as he entered the foyer and looked at the empty mansion. Dark navy banners symbolizing the Grand Duke’s family hung heavily on the pure white walls.

Somehow, the atmosphere felt lonelier than usual.

“It’s quiet,” he muttered, almost unconsciously. The Count, following a few steps behind, seized the opportunity to interject.

“You see? It’s really time for you to start a family now. Almost all the young ladies of the capital will be attending the upcoming banquet. Why don’t you take this opportunity to find a Grand Duchess, Your Grace?”

It was something he always said out of habit, but this time it was also a probing question. However, when Declan showed no particular reaction, Rio’s gaze narrowed.

Could he really have a woman hidden away somewhere?

“We’ll be busy at the imperial palace starting tomorrow morning, so you should retire for now as well.”

If he had someone, wouldn’t there be no need to postpone further? After all, it’s unlikely that the other party would refuse him.

By the time he came to his senses, the Grand Duke was already walking far ahead. The Count, who had unconsciously tried to follow him, hesitated.

‘Well, it was a three-year war.’

Even high-ranking nobles were mere soldiers on the battlefield, desperate to cling to life and secure territory. Neither the Count himself nor the Grand Duke could be free from this fact.

Being human, they couldn’t help but feel fatigue. The Count nodded briefly and withdrew.

****

Even after returning to the Grand Duke’s residence in the capital, Declan shut himself in his office without taking any rest.

Starting by having the servants bring in the backlog of paperwork that had piled up during the war and stacking it on one side of his desk, he spent the entire day focused solely on catching up on the paperwork.

As the war had lasted for the not-so-short period of three years, when all the delayed documents for approval were brought out, one side of the desk formed a tower of paper stacks.

Most were documents sent from the military headquarters or papers sent by the butler of Monferrato.

When he finally looked up after being absorbed in processing documents for a long time, the sun had already set completely. Only then did Declan put down his pen and rub his eyelids.

His body was tired, but his mind was excessively clear.

As Declan turned his gaze back to the documents, he finally let out a soft sigh and stood up. When he opened the door and went out to the terrace, the scent of cypress wafted strongly from the garden. Declan leaned on the railing and looked at the dark cypress forest.

The eerie silence of the Grand Duke’s residence was both familiar and, now, strangely unfamiliar.

There was a time when a child’s voice had filled this mansion.

On the sturdiest branch of the old zelkova tree in front of the wooden chair hung a wooden swing he had made himself, and around it were lilac trees his wife had loved, planted in abundance. There was certainly a time like that.

He used to sit on the wooden chair in this garden, holding a book with colorful illustrations, reading to the child. But now, it’s a past that only he remembers.

After staring blankly at the garden for a while, he buried his face in one hand with a movement heavy with fatigue.

The Grand Duke’s residence remained silent.

In that silence, Declan felt an intense sense of loss.

****

As soon as dawn broke the next day, Declan donned his impeccably prepared uniform and headed to the imperial palace.

Except for his golden hair that reached his shoulders, his appearance was flawless. A beautiful face devoid of any emotion and an unwavering gait. He looked exactly as everyone remembered the Grand Duke of Monferrato.

Behind the man following the head servant’s guidance, silent gazes bustled back and forth.

Even the busy servants and maids slowed their movements slightly to glance at him, exchanging looks among themselves. Their meaning was generally the same.

That the Grand Duke had finally returned to the capital.

It had been a time when only vague rumors were rampant. But as of today, the rumors would become fact, reaching the ears of all the nobles in the capital.

It was obvious whose attention and interest would be focused on in the noble society of May, just in time for the social season.

As the two reached the massive mahogany doors of the office, the two servants standing guard opened them.

Thanks to one wall being entirely made of windows, the emperor’s office had excellent lighting. Everything in the room was brightly illuminated without any additional lighting.

“His Majesty seems to be running a bit late, coming directly from the training grounds.”

“I see.”

Declan nodded at the head servant’s words.

As the door closed with a heavy sound, only he remained alone in the office.

Instead of sitting at the table, Declan looked up at the man in the giant portrait hanging on the inner wall.

Perhaps because it was painted right after his coronation, the man looked much younger than he remembered.

He had always been a man with a stern face and a subtly irritable impression, but the young man in the picture was arrogant and bold. He was a dazzlingly handsome man.

Declan saw a woman’s face overlapping with it. The image of a father and daughter with completely opposite colors and atmospheres.

As the woman’s form, merely imaginary, began to feel more distinct than the man’s image before his eyes, Declan casually concluded:

If nothing else, her arrogant gaze resembled her father’s.

“His Majesty is entering.”

Only then did Declan turn away from the portrait.

Unlike the woman dominating his thoughts, a dazzlingly handsome man who looked exactly like the man in the picture entered with a bright smile upon seeing him.

“Grand Duke of Monferrato.”

“I greet Your Imperial Majesty.”

Declan also painted an extremely ceremonial smile on his face. A quite plausible expression settled on his face that had been indifferent all along.

“I heard you had returned. I’m truly glad to see you back safely.”

That much at least seemed sincere, as his face was full of smiles.

Following the invitation, he sat on the sofa, and the head servant brought out refreshments and tea with a strong sweet scent. The emperor personally recommended it, saying it was tea imported from a country with which they had recently signed a new trade agreement.

The reddish tea exuded a strong sweet and bitter mandarin scent.

He didn’t particularly like sweet tastes, but Sienna had loved this type of fruit tea. Her tastes were generally like that. The lilac scent that filled the front yard, things so sweet they left the tongue feeling dull.

Even as his mind wandered to thoughts of another, Declan smoothly smiled and responded to the kindness.

“I’m at a loss for words, being personally welcomed by Your Majesty.”

“Of course. How could I not, given how valuable you are to this country?”

Declan raised the corners of his mouth appropriately in response to the hearty voice. The emperor offered him a cigar while putting one in his own mouth. When Declan politely declined, the emperor lit his own cigar instead of insisting further.

“So, how was the situation there?”

“Not much different from what we’ve heard.”

Declan reported what he had seen without any exaggeration.

The starved corpses on the streets and the nutritional state of the residents. After concisely reporting the situation of the impoverished area, which needed no embellishment, he briefly added his own opinion at the end.

“It didn’t seem like the relief food Your Majesty sends annually was being properly distributed.”

“I should send someone soon to take appropriate measures.”

The emperor nodded, indicating he would take suitable action. That was enough for this issue.

Moreover, Declan was well aware that the emperor’s attention was focused not on the corruption of some remote monastery, but on the woman staying there.

“And?”

So he couldn’t misunderstand what the brief and concise question was asking. Declan mechanically gave an answer that hardly had any substance.

“Her Highness the Princess was in poor health, so we merely exchanged greetings.”

“Poor health, you say. What was wrong with her?”

“I heard she had caught a fever after being caught in the rain.”

“Oh dear…”

Unlike the sigh full of sympathy, deep interest gleamed in the emperor’s blue eyes. But as if it wasn’t the important issue at the moment, he quickly erased the expression.

“I’ve been waiting for your return. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask of you.”

The emperor said in a casual tone.

“I’m looking for someone.”

Purple eyes slowly turned towards him. As their gazes met, the emperor smiled brightly.

“I know it’s not a task worthy of asking you. I’m even ashamed to ask something so trivial of one called the Empire’s hero.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

The emperor stared at him intently, as if gauging his true feelings. But at least to his eyes, there was no sign of displeasure in the Grand Duke’s attitude.

“Whatever title I may be called by, in essence, I am merely Your Majesty’s arms and legs.”

Declan smiled and gave an appropriate response. The emperor let out a laugh close to a snicker and put the cigar back in his mouth.

‘Whether he truly means it, I’m not sure.’

As he exhaled, hazy smoke dispersed.