Declan had been searching through the room containing his parents’ belongings since early morning.
After that incident, the previous Grand Duke’s possessions were hidden in the deepest part of the Grand Duke’s residence.
It was both the butler’s decision for the new head of household and the Count’s consideration for the young boy who lost his parents overnight. After all, gathering the belongings in a secluded place would allow him to grieve freely without being conscious of others’ gazes.
However, making those thoughtful gestures meaningless, Declan, who practically grew up on the battlefield, spent very little time at the Grand Duke’s residence.
As a result, even upon returning to the residence after so long, he couldn’t quite remember where things had been placed. Not wanting to ask the servants, as he didn’t feel comfortable with others touching the items, he spent a long time rummaging through the dust-covered room alone until he finally found what he was looking for after half a day.
He let out a sigh of relief as he held the small box that fit in the palm of his hand.
When he returned to his bedroom with the box, there was an unexpected visitor.
The Count, who was about to speak with a face full of things to say, momentarily hesitated at the unfamiliar appearance of the Grand Duke.
Wearing an ivory-colored shirt instead of his uniform, he looked no different from any other young nobleman rather than a battle-hardened soldier. Though it was natural, given he was born a high nobleman, the sight felt strangely new.
The Count’s expression, while staring blankly at him, suddenly darkened.
‘If nothing had happened, he would have continued living such an ordinary life.’
Though bitter, it was a past that couldn’t be changed now. He recalled his original purpose and spoke.
“I have something to ask you, Your Grace.”
While pushing the box into a drawer, Declan raised his eyes as if telling him to speak. The Count opened his mouth in a rigid tone.
“Surely you’re not seriously considering the Imperial Princess?”
If there was no logical answer to a problem, there could only be one conclusion. Of course, it was a conclusion the Count desperately didn’t want to believe.
Though knowing it was presumptuous to ask, he needed to confirm. If there were valid reasons, even the vassals couldn’t oppose his marriage any longer.
However, contrary to expectations, Declan gave no answer. His silence rather became certainty for the Count. Shock gradually spread across the Count’s face.
“She is the daughter of those who drove the previous Grand Duke’s family to death, Your Grace!”
It seemed bringing in a poor commoner woman would have been less shocking. After all, any woman would have been better than this Imperial Princess.
She was the daughter of those who had destroyed the Grand Duke’s family. For the Count, it was incomprehensible to take such a person as a wife, and it would surely provoke opposition from many.
It seemed none of the vassals who had protected the Grand Duke’s family over the years would be able to accept this decision calmly.
Even in his shocked state, the Count tried to think logically.
Yes, the Grand Duke was a man, so he could be captivated by a beautiful woman. But being a rational person, if presented with valid arguments, he wouldn’t push forward with this nonsensical decision.
“If you were to take the First Imperial Princess as your duchess, there might at least be some benefit to the Grand Duke’s family. But you know this Imperial Princess’s situation is completely different.”
“So if I had feelings for that one, it would be permitted?”
The Count stared at him, momentarily speechless. Declan smiled self-deprecatingly.
“I lost the right to speak of enemies from the moment I faithfully followed the Emperor’s orders. I did.”
Either way, he was someone who had betrayed his parents and sibling. Having fled to the battlefield to save himself instead of uncovering the truth behind their clearly suspicious deaths, forgiveness was out of reach.
Since he had already betrayed his parents anyway, was there any reason not to desire her?
“The Imperial Princess…”
He shifted his gaze sideways, choosing his words carefully.
“She is an irreplaceable existence to me.”
That was all he could say. For years, she had firmly established herself in his heart in one form or another.
At some point, his attention to her had reached a level that could no longer be dismissed as mere sympathy. If asked whether he had feelings for her, even he couldn’t know the right answer.
In literature and epics, falling in love was described as sweet with shivers running to the tips of one’s hair, but his feelings for her weren’t like that.
They just pierced through him.
It felt something like longing, and sometimes like endless thirst. He couldn’t define what this emotion was.
The Count called to him with a frustrated expression.
“Your Grace.”
“I find the battlefield terrifying now.”
The Count slightly furrowed his brows at this sudden statement.
“The thought of rolling around on the battlefield until my head falls off makes me shudder.”
“…”
“If I marry the Imperial Princess, I won’t have to roll around in the mud anymore. Isn’t that alone a great advantage?”
Declan said jokingly while crooking the corner of his mouth, but the Count’s face stiffened. Then, he showed rare signs of bewilderment. The words that flowed from Declan’s mouth were something the Count had never imagined.
He knew it wasn’t a path the Grand Duke had chosen willingly. But hadn’t Declan saved the family through war and now achieved such great honor that he had become a threat to the Emperor? Because of this, the Count vaguely thought the Grand Duke’s feelings would have changed as well.
Just as the vassals took pride in his success, the Count thought the Grand Duke would also take pride in his military service.
Therefore, the Grand Duke’s words came as quite a shock to the Count.
After a long silence, instead of trying to dissuade him further, the Count asked,
“…Won’t you regret it?”
Declan’s gaze turned to him.
“You could lose everything you’ve built because of this choice.”
“That’s the price I’ll have to bear.”
His reply came in a remarkably clear voice.
“Whatever it may be.”
His smile, with corners of his mouth rising freely, had completely cleared away the melancholy that had shadowed his face for many years.
Seeing this, the Count could no longer speak.
****
Sienna sat on the corner of the bed and looked around the bedroom.
Whether the servants had been notified in advance or not, it was so immaculate it was hard to believe it had been without an owner for so long.
The Grand Duke’s residence was a beautiful mansion even to her eyes, having been born and raised in the Imperial Palace. While simpler overall compared to the luxurious and splendid Imperial Palace, it still exuded exceptional dignity.
But her satisfaction with the residence was a secondary matter. She glanced anxiously at the door.
‘How did things end up like this?’
She couldn’t feel at ease even after coming to the capital. Although she had readily accepted it since it was the only way to come to the capital as he said, she couldn’t shake off her anxiety.
Isn’t it absurd? Her becoming his wife…
Sienna leaned her head against the bed’s headboard with a troubled expression.
Although she had appeared before him dressed as a prostitute, just returning to the capital together would have been enough. Even that alone would make Joseph and Marianne feel considerable humiliation. Hadn’t they openly coveted the Grand Duke’s honor and power, and the man himself?
It seemed as though they were trying to resolve their inferiority complex by obtaining Declan.
So for Sienna, the Grand Duke was merely the most excellent means to an end.
Men were hypocritical creatures. It was often disgusting how they would disparage her “dirty blood” behind her back, yet when face to face, they would reveal their filthy desires.
Sienna thought the Grand Duke would be no different from them. Despite his public reputation for being level-headed, she thought his true nature would undoubtedly be the same as other men his age.
That’s why this situation, unfolding in such an unexpected direction, was only bewildering.
Sienna nibbled on her fingernail.
‘What’s his purpose?’
Throughout their journey from Lopwell to the capital, he had treated her without any shortcomings. But Sienna was inherently not immune to such kindness. The kinder he acted, the more suspicious she became.
Was he trying to use her to find the Emperor’s weakness? But he must already know how broken her relationship with the Emperor was…
Just then, a knock interrupted the chain of negative thoughts that had been endlessly filling her mind. She hesitantly raised her head.
The person who opened the door and entered was the very man who had been occupying her thoughts until just now.
“I have something to give you.”
He showed the hand he had been holding behind his back. What he brought was a deep navy blue box. However, instead of immediately handing it to Sienna, he kept it behind his back and changed the subject unnecessarily.
“Are you satisfied with the bedroom?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
Declan looked at her questioningly at her answer that came out before the question was even finished. Under his gaze, Sienna’s face slightly reddened. She pointed to the small box he had brought to change the subject.
“By the way, what is that?”
Declan silently approached and sat down beside her. As soon as he opened the box, Sienna unconsciously let out an exclamation.
Inside the box was a pair of rings. Though not particularly ornate, they were cleanly crafted in a timeless design. Sienna stared at them as if enchanted, then looked at him with a face that seemed to say ‘surely not.’
“…Are these handed down from your parents?”
“They’ll be Your Highness’s now.”
Declan answered with a slight smile.
“I’m not sure if I should have them.”
Sienna murmured quietly. His gaze, which had been looking at the rings, turned to her.
