Looking at the large central gemstone surrounded by small diamonds arranged lavishly around it, it was clearly an extremely expensive piece.
Dahlia turned the ring over and over as if entranced. On the back of the gemstone, a large initial ‘M’ was engraved.
Nobles typically engraved their names behind such large gems, so this letter too seemed to be derived from its owner’s name.
Dahlia tilted her head. This letter wasn’t used in the name of the late Duchess who passed away long ago. The same went for the Duke himself.
She looked down at the ring, feeling an inexplicable unease.
That’s when it happened.
“Dahlia!”
At the sound of the Duke’s return, Dahlia’s shoulders jumped in surprise as she closed the box. She hastily pushed the box deep into the drawer and slammed it shut.
No sooner had she rushed out of the room than she ran into the Duke, who wore a deeply furrowed brow.
“Why are you coming out of there?”
“Well…”
Dahlia swallowed hard, stopping mid-sentence. Her heart was pounding from the shock.
“I-I was looking everywhere for my brooch that went missing. I’m sorry for entering the room without permission, Uncle…”
As she stammered out her excuse, the Duke’s disapproving gaze looked her up and down. His brow furrowed even deeper.
‘Not a single redeeming quality.’
He disliked everything from her completely intimidated appearance to those blue eyes that kept darting around nervously.
‘If only she took after her sisters even half as much, she’d be worth something.’
While Marianne and Sienna were counted among the Empire’s greatest beauties, Dahlia wasn’t someone who could be called beautiful even in customary greetings.
Though not plain enough to be called homely, compared to her father who was famous for his handsome looks in his youth and her other siblings with their refined appearances, her looks were incomparably lacking.
Her fair white skin was somewhat presentable, but even that was marred by the freckles scattered across her nose.
Of course, that’s not to say Dahlia had no outstanding qualities compared to her sisters. In terms of character, she was the most docile among the former Emperor’s children and always acted with caution, making her more well-mannered compared to her sisters.
However, even these positive traits appeared as flaws in the Duke’s eyes. He simply saw Dahlia as weak and timid.
“Tch…! I’m going to a meeting, so don’t wander around anywhere and stay quietly in your room.”
“Yes, Uncle. I understand.”
Despite her obedient response, the Duke clicked his tongue and turned away. Dahlia felt her mood, which had just peaked, plummet dramatically.
****
While Sienna herself showed no interest in how her wedding would proceed, the Imperial nobles and Parma’s envoys had to go through numerous discussions.
Since this was a matter involving both countries, there were many aspects that needed to be discussed between the two nations.
Whether to follow Parma’s customs or the Empire’s customs for the ceremony. How long it should last. How to distribute troops during the ceremony, and so on.
For efficient decision-making, the Emperor summoned several nobles for a meeting.
Marquis Hoffman was one of the summoned nobles.
He was participating as a representative to establish the nobles’ council’s opinion, along with other nobles in charge of Imperial ceremonies, the Knight Commander, Duke Lowell, and even Declan was included.
The Marquis, walking sluggishly, let out a deep sigh with an irritated expression.
‘The Knight Commander must be for the royal family’s security issues, and Declan for border matters, but what about that old man Duke Lowell?’
Even if it made sense because he was an old friend of the former Emperor, it was incomprehensible why even the new Emperor trusted that fox-like old man.
‘If he’s retired, he should just enjoy his twilight years peacefully in his territory. Why does he keep coming up to the capital to meddle?’
As Marquis Hoffman was internally complaining, he turned the corner of the corridor. At that moment, he came face to face with the Duke coming from the opposite direction. The Marquis was so startled that he unconsciously covered his mouth.
“I need a word with you.”
“What? W-what…”
Before the Marquis could finish his response, Duke Lowell had already swept out onto the terrace.
‘Such an unlucky old man…’
However, being in no position to ignore him, the Marquis followed with reluctant steps.
“What reason did you have for calling me out separately?”
Marquis Hoffman spoke with a gruff expression. Contrary to his desire to leave as soon as possible, the Duke was utterly unhurried. He slowly began speaking while pulling out a cigar case from inside his coat.
“Has there been anything unusual in Parma lately?”
“There’s nothing particular to report…”
When the Duke, who was biting his cigar, raised his eyebrow disapprovingly, the Marquis sighed.
“I’ve already told you. They say the King hasn’t shown himself for weeks. We can’t track his movements unless there’s some activity.”
“Is his condition that bad?”
“Well, I don’t know the details. I can’t tell you whether it’s due to health or other reasons.”
The Duke tried to probe him subtly, but the Marquis didn’t fall for such obvious tactics.
Though he had retired from the frontlines long ago, the Duke’s behind-the-scenes influence was considerable.
After Empress Melophe’s death, he had led state affairs in place of the former Emperor, who had practically dropped all national matters for a while.
It was natural that his power became immense. During that time, the Empire’s nobles were desperate to curry favor with the House of Lowell.
The House of Hoffman was no exception. The previous Marquis had accumulated considerable wealth by expanding his trade business with Duke Lowell’s help.
In contrast to other houses that had faced extinction or were on the brink of it, the House of Lowell’s position grew stronger by the day. The power and wealth accumulated during that period remained solid even today.
That was why he couldn’t treat the Duke carelessly, regardless of how much he disliked him. The Marquis suddenly felt depressed at his pitiful situation. Unaware of these inner thoughts, the Duke continued with what he wanted to say.
“By the way, the Grand Duke’s recent movements have been somewhat suspicious.”
“The Grand Duke… you mean the Grand Duke of Monferrato?”
The Duke slowly nodded.
“I heard he called for Baron Vermont recently.”
The Marquis looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Why the Baron?”
“If I knew that, would I be asking you?”
At this testy response, the Marquis closed his mouth with an annoyed expression.
“You’re quite close with the Grand Duke, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you know?”
“I don’t. Do you think the Grand Duke is the type to freely discuss such matters?”
The Marquis didn’t like this conversation. To be frank, it was uncomfortable that the Duke was bringing up anything about Declan.
Wasn’t it obvious how the Duke had treated his own godson who had lost his parents at a young age? There was something unsettling about him now asking about Declan.
The Marquis, who had been looking for an escape route, seized a brief opening and made a show of pulling out his pocket watch.
“Oh my. It’s almost time for the meeting. Then I’ll take my leave first. Your Grace, please take your time to rest.”
The Duke frowned as he watched the Marquis practically flee.
“…There’s not a single useful person around.”
Lately, he had been feeling an inexplicable anxiety. In truth, he had achieved most of what he had aspired to since his youth.
Even when other houses were swept up in turmoil and faced life-or-death crises, he had preserved his house.
In exchange for registering Dahlia in the family registry, he had received a luxurious castle in the south and enough gold coins to fill it and more.
What the former Emperor had asked of him wasn’t particularly difficult. It was just to educate Dahlia properly as befitting a noble lady and find her a suitable marriage partner.
And the Duke intended to fulfill his given duty admirably. Not because of any great loyalty to the former Emperor, but simply because it was most beneficial to him.
The young and inexperienced Emperor needed a reason to trust him. Although Dahlia might be a girl far below his standards, she was still the current Emperor’s half-sister, and that fact alone made her valuable enough.
However, separate from that, this princess’s presence had to be removed from the Empire. Whether sending her back to Lopwell or abroad, she needed to be far away from the capital, the Empire’s center.
That was an essential condition for the Duke to spend his remaining life in comfort.
If this princess were to learn about the circumstances of her mother’s death…
‘That would be truly troublesome.’
The Duke ground his molars.
****
It was an afternoon like any other. While maids were brushing her hair, Sienna was rummaging through her jewelry box.
‘Where did I put it?’
She couldn’t remember what she had done with her father’s ring that Jeremiah had given her that day. After deeply searching her memories, she soon sighed.
She hadn’t brought it in the first place.
Despite not having been conscious of it until now, realizing it wasn’t in her possession made her feel uneasy in a corner of her heart.
It would be quite awkward if someone were to recognize the ring. She considered sending a maid to bring it right away but decided against it. Wasn’t it too delicate an item to entrust to a maid’s hands?
Sienna changed her mind and sent a maid to Jeremiah’s quarters. It was to inform him that she would visit personally soon. The maid returned shortly after.
“The Prince is not in his quarters at the moment, but they said they would send someone when he returns.”
“I see. Very well.”
However, when no word came even as the sun was setting over the ridge, Sienna had no choice but to move herself.
