How to Perfectly Break Up with You

“Well, who do we have here.”

Declan turned around at the familiar voice behind him as he was leaving the castle. A man somewhere between middle-aged and elderly approached him with a welcoming expression.

“Duke Lowell.”

The man approaching with a kind smile was the head of the only remaining ducal family in the empire.

Although he had retired from the frontlines due to age and was now recuperating in a quieter place than the capital, he was still respected as a great minister and was a loyal servant of the late emperor.

And on a personal level, he was also a close friend of the former Grand Duke and Declan’s godfather.

“It must be the first time since the war, almost 3 years? You haven’t changed a bit. Dahlia, come here and say hello.”

The duke gestured somewhere. At this, a young girl who looked nothing like the duke approached where the two were standing. She had a plain appearance, unlike her flashy half-sisters.

Lady Dahlia of Lowell, curtsied slightly in front of him.

“It’s been a long time, Your Grace the Grand Duke.”

“Lady Lowell.”

Declan also bowed his head in response.

“I heard you two were staying at the southern villa.”

“Ah, His Majesty said he wanted to meet Dahlia, so we’re staying in the capital for a while.”

Declan nodded silently. Although they had different mothers, Dahlia Lowell was the current emperor’s youngest sister, so it wasn’t strange for her to stay at the imperial palace.

Especially since the emperor was quite fond of his much younger sister. It was a stark contrast to how he treated Sienna.

Dahlia, who had been standing next to the duke with a bored expression, didn’t miss the chance when there was a brief pause in the conversation.

“Uncle. If there’s nothing else you need, may I go in first? I seem to have indigestion…”

It was obviously a lie, but Dahlia didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it. The duke, who seemed to have noticed, nodded with a displeased look.

“Go ahead.”

“Then, I’ll excuse myself. Your Grace.”

After giving a concise greeting, Dahlia went into the castle as if she had done her duty. The duke clicked his tongue as he watched her retreating figure.

“Please understand. I raised her indulgently, and now she just lives as she pleases. I’m worried beyond measure.”

“That’s typical for her age.”

“You speak like a parent with children of your own.”

Declan’s face hardened subtly at the duke’s words, which were meant as a joke.

“Anyway, I really can’t treat you carelessly anymore. To be honest, I thought this war was completely hopeless.”

Then, as if he thought his words were too blunt, he hastily added,

“Ah, that’s not just my personal opinion, but the view of most nobles.”

“I’m sure it is.”

Declan replied with an indifferent expression. The duke cleared his throat unnecessarily, like someone who had put his foot in his mouth.

“It’s understandable. The elite troops deployed this time were less than half the size of previous deployments.”

It was indeed a small number for a war deployment. This was because the late emperor, while being overly sensitive about losing imperial territory, showed little interest in reclaiming the northern regions. Moreover, he had little interest in the victories Declan had achieved in the war.

When Declan made no reply, the duke narrowed his eyes slightly.

“On the other hand, I truly admire you. If it were me, I wouldn’t risk my life being called the dog of the enemy who killed my parents.”

“Mind your words. Even for an elderly duke like yourself, it won’t do you any good to upset His Majesty.”

The duke frowned at the cold tone.

“Do you still resent me?”

“Resent?”

Declan laughed silently.

“On the contrary, I’m grateful. Thanks to you personally pushing me onto the battlefield, I’ve been able to reach this position. Not only did I survive, but I also regained my family’s status.”

At that time, it was uncommon for children of noble families to enlist in the army. Even if it happened, it was usually for minor nobles without much wealth. Most high-ranking nobles typically joined renowned knightly orders.

This was considered honorable because it involved less arduous work and allowed them to serve the emperor in close proximity.

When Declan first set foot on the battlefield, he was just a child of ten years old.

Having lost his parents in an unfortunate accident during his childhood, he had no proper guardian and couldn’t properly inherit his parents’ legacy due to being underage.

The businesses owned by the family were quickly transferred to others, and their properties were put up for auction. The only thing that remained as the ducal family’s heritage was the Grand Duchy of Monferrato, thanks to the stern handling by the late Count Monches. That was all.

During the time he was barely surviving after his parents’ death, his forgotten godfather came to find him.

[Declan. This is the only way for you to survive.]

Whether his intention at the time was genuinely to protect his godson or to completely cut off the bloodline of the Grand Duke’s family that the former emperor viewed as a thorn in his side, it no longer mattered.

In the end, he survived and, as the late emperor wished, he excellently maintained his position as a mere nobleman. He lived not as a hero threatening the emperor’s power, but as a loyal servant of the emperor.

If it weren’t for the vain ambition he harbored in his previous life, he would have intended to live his entire life maintaining that position.

“Come to think of it, when news came that you were visiting Lopwell, His Majesty certainly didn’t seem pleased.”

“Are you saying His Majesty doubted me even now?”

When Declan mocked him in a dry tone, Duke Lowell shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it’s understandable. The Imperial Princess was there, so he must have been secretly anxious. As you know, Her Highness is quite beautiful. Despite your numerous achievements, you’re still just a man after all.”

“My, your imagination runs wild.”

Declan laughed as if he had heard nonsense, but the duke persisted.

“I’m not joking. Or perhaps we thought Her Highness might use you to return to the capital. Of course, this is just my speculation.”

“That’s quite insulting to Her Highness, Duke.”

“But it’s true, isn’t it? Her Highness is the spitting image of her late mother… Empress Maloney was someone who had to get whatever she wanted.”

The duke’s eyes deepened as he was lost in old memories.

“Well, the late emperor wasn’t much different in that regard.”

Declan’s gaze turned back to the duke at his muttered words.

“Speaking of which, you were close to the late former emperor, weren’t you?”

The duke nodded readily.

“That’s right. Since he was a prince, the three of us – your father, myself, and him – were close friends.”

“Did the late emperor leave any last words before he passed away?”

“He asked me to take care of Dahlia.”

As soon as he mentioned the name of his only niece, the duke’s face became clouded with worry.

“Poor child.”

It was a voice full of sympathy, but Declan couldn’t really empathize.

Although Dahlia Lowell wasn’t officially recognized as the emperor’s legitimate daughter, she had received an inheritance almost comparable to that of the first imperial princess.

Moreover, considering that the infinite affection poured on Sienna after the empress’s execution had entirely shifted to Dahlia, it seemed the one who deserved sympathy wasn’t her.

“If you don’t have a woman in mind, how about our Dahlia?”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Declan frowned as if he had heard nonsense. Finding his reaction amusing, the duke burst into laughter.

“What’s wrong with that? I don’t think my niece is such an inferior match. To be honest, except for the two Imperial Princesses, there’s probably no better marriage prospect in the empire than our Dahlia.”

At least that much was true. After the disappearance of the Ricata ducal family, the Lowell family remained the empire’s only ducal house.

But for Declan, it wasn’t even a matter for consideration.

“I don’t think it’s time for Lady Lowell to discuss such matters yet.”

“But she’s already come of age. As much as I’d like to keep her in my arms forever, given my age, I can’t help but worry.”

“When the time comes, His Majesty will surely find her an excellent match. Doesn’t he genuinely adore Lady Lowell?”

His face showed not even a hint of interest.

Perhaps due to their significant age difference, the Emperor genuinely cherished his youngest sister. Recalling that Dahlia had even been engaged to a foreign prince in his previous life, the duke’s worry seemed like a waste of time.

“Compared to this Imperial Princess. Yes, as you say, he does treat her like family, but…”

The duke let his words trail off.

“Even so, compared to the First Imperial Princess, she’s only a half-sister. And the First Imperial Princess wants you. That’s what frightens me. With you backing her, the Emperor would have absolute power.”

The duke’s face became quite serious, but Declan remained indifferent.

“I’ve told you many times. I have no intention of jumping into politics.”

“Are you afraid of becoming like your father?”

The duke looked at him, throwing a mocking question. Declan raised his lips in a crooked smile.

“It would be more appropriate to say I’m used to it.”