Sienna was well aware of the tragedy of the Grand Duke’s household. She had heard that the carriage returning to the grand duchy from the capital had fallen off a cliff, causing instant death to everyone on board. She had heard that Declan was the only one who survived, left behind at the grand ducal residence.
“I heard they went to the capital for your mother’s birthday and then had such an accident…”
Her voice gradually grew softer. Declan met her gaze directly, and Sienna dropped her eyes. From her demeanor, it seemed she didn’t know the detailed circumstances of the grand ducal household’s accident.
Fortunately.
Declan smiled softly and responded, “Your Highness need not feel guilty.”
In truth, there was someone else to blame. But now that person was already buried in the ground, and he didn’t want to plant unnecessary guilt in her.
“Just stay by my side.”
“…”
“That alone is enough.”
He slipped a ring onto her ring finger. Fortunately, the ring fit her perfectly.
Sienna repeatedly bent and straightened her fingers, gazing at the ring for a long time.
“Are you really going to marry me?”
“Didn’t you wish to come to the capital?” Declan answered as if it were obvious. There was even a sense of shamelessness about him.
Why exactly did he go to such lengths to bring her here.
Sienna swallowed the rising question within her. The more she probed, the more she would be setting a trap for herself.
So she asked a different question.
“Can you promise that you’ll never abandon me for the rest of my life?”
“If I didn’t have such resolve, I would never have dared to bring you to the capital.”
“That’s not enough.”
Sienna grabbed his left hand. Declan’s gaze fell to his captured hand. Just as he had done, she pulled out a ring from the box and slipped it onto his ring finger.
Since the ring had been fitted to her hand and was said to be his mother’s, the remaining one would be what his father left behind. She raised her eyes to meet his directly.
“I swear on the legacy your parents left behind.”
She knew that in the current situation, he was her best possible choice, but that didn’t mean she could simply accept everything. She had nowhere else to retreat.
Declan, who had been looking surprised, soon broke into a light laugh.
“I swear to God on all my honor and this ring. I will never abandon Your Highness, no matter what happens.”
His gaze toward her and his soft, low voice were undeniably serious.
Sienna glanced up at him. The face of a man who seemed to live in a different world was now looking at her up close.
‘Why are you being so kind to me.’
The words rising to her throat could not be spoken.
Even though being rejected was already familiar to her.
****
It didn’t take long for the truth behind the rumor that stirred the capital to come to light. It was impossible to gag every servant working in the grand ducal residence.
Sienna instantly became the talk of the town. Her name circulated through all kinds of gossip, and the attention of the aristocratic social circle focused on the grand ducal residence.
Regardless of the sudden circumstances that felt surreal, Sienna knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her.
To become the Grand Duchess of Monferrato.
She could secure her honor and status without leaving the empire, and she could also properly put Joseph and Marianne in their place. Thinking of the advantages this marriage would bring, her subtle unease gradually disappeared into the background of her thoughts.
Sienna decided to keep things simple. The Grand Duke was unlikely to be on the Emperor’s side, so at least he wouldn’t be someone harmful to her.
Having reached this concise conclusion, she set aside her doubts and waited for the right moment.
In a situation where all of society’s attention was focused on her, she couldn’t move rashly. She dreamed of a perfect comeback. She wanted to give those who had humiliated her the same level of disgrace they had inflicted on her.
For that, timing and location were most crucial. She needed an opportunity that would transform rumors into certainty and allow her tarnished honor to shine again.
The wait wasn’t long.
Before long, an invitation arrived at the grand ducal residence. It was an invitation to a ball hosted by the Countess Neroldt, who was called the queen of imperial social circles. Being invited to an event hosted by the Countess was tantamount to being recognized as a key figure in imperial society.
The Countess’s true intention was probably just low-grade curiosity, but Sienna didn’t care about that.
If it was hosted by Countess Neroldt, all of the empire’s prominent figures would surely attend. It was the perfect place to make her first appearance since returning to the capital.
She rested her chin on her hand and tapped the edge of the invitation on the table.
‘A month from now. There’s plenty of time to prepare.’
The corner of Sienna’s mouth curved smoothly.
As the effects became clearly visible, contrary to her initial unease about this marriage, her anxiety gradually receded behind her rising excitement.
The dress she would wear to the ball, the jewelry, perfume, and cosmetics – her mind began racing. There could be no mistakes in any aspect. This ball needed to be an opportunity to widely announce her well-being.
While humming a song and flipping through a catalog, Sienna suddenly paused.
‘Still, I should get permission.’
Strictly speaking, as a princess, she had no reason to seek permission, but now was a time to be tactful. She had returned to the capital because of him and was even now dependent on him.
Her gaze shifted from the catalog to the ring on her finger. Sienna narrowed her eyes slightly, staring at it intently before letting out a sigh and putting down the catalog.
He had shown her his sincerity, so it was right for her to show appropriate respect.
****
“Countess Neroldt has invited me to a ball.”
Her sudden entrance into his study and this statement seemed somewhat out of place. Sienna just blurted out those words and looked at him with eyes filled with subtle anticipation.
Declan, who had been looking at her with a puzzled expression, finally let out a soft exclamation.
“Are you here to seek my permission?”
“Of course.”
Sienna retorted as if questioning why he would ask something so obvious. Then, seemingly concerned that she might be overly conscious of his reactions, she added another word.
“It’s the situation we’re in right now.”
Her voice carried a hint of stubbornness, which made Declan chuckle.
The situation we’re in right now.
When he only smiled mysteriously, one of Sienna’s eyebrows arched slightly.
Instead of answering, Declan stood up and approached her. While seeming to have no ulterior motives, he asked with a puzzled expression, “But if it’s a ball, wouldn’t you need a partner?”
His unexpected remark caused a slight confusion to flash in Sienna’s eyes.
“Not necessarily… I don’t even enjoy dancing anyway.”
“Oh my. Could it be that you find me unsatisfactory as a partner?”
His seemingly regretful words made Sienna’s eyes widen in bewilderment.
“What are you talking about…”
It was an undisputed fact how extraordinarily beautiful the Grand Duke was. People had been praising his looks endlessly, both then and now.
He was quite different from her usual taste, with a broad, muscular build, but she had never questioned this.
Why talk only about external conditions? After the Maloney royal family, he was of the most noble lineage, and his abilities were also outstanding. It was more puzzling that he had remained unmarried until now.
Her eyes, rolling in confusion, suddenly focused on the subtly curved corners of his mouth.
His slightly raised lips and somewhat playful eyes – it was only then that Sienna realized he was teasing her.
Despite this, the corners of his mouth continued to rise, showing no sign of fading.
Even though this was clearly a situation where she should feel humiliated, she felt her own pulse quickening. Not because she was angry that he was making fun of her… it was something different.
‘Am I going crazy?’
Pressing her surging chest with her fingertips, Sienna deliberately responded in a cold tone.
“I heard you don’t usually attend such events.”
“I certainly don’t enjoy them. But I’m not too keen on sending my fiancée alone either.”
The word “fiancée” once again left Sienna speechless. It was then that a soft, gentle laugh escaped his smiling lips.
He slowly approached and gently pulled her waist closer.
“Come to think of it, I’m not very talented at dancing either.”
“…..”
“To avoid embarrassment, wouldn’t it be better to start practicing from today?”
While speaking softly, he simultaneously and subtly took her hand in his. She could distinctly feel their fingers intertwining. Sienna’s gaze, initially dazed and following her captured hand, returned to his face.
