Chapter 080
The people of the North all stuck together and just shook their heads as if they knew nothing. Count Solovis ground his teeth.
“Damn it. How am I supposed to get anything out of this?”
Some people even reacted as if they’d devour him just for bringing up Charlotte’s name—especially that knight, Lord Rozwood.
“Well, there’ll be a welcome banquet. I’ll probe the nobles then and see if I can dig something up.”
Count Solovis clenched his teeth. He had come officially under the Emperor’s orders. No matter how much they disliked him, they had no choice but to receive him properly.
He formally notified the Duke’s family of this fact.
As expected, they hurried to organize a welcome dinner. It wasn’t a grand banquet, just a dinner invitation.
Count Solovis entered the dining room with a little more dignity than before.
All the northern nobles were gathered.
“Hm. It seems the Duke is running late?”
“He’s a busy man,” Charlotte replied coldly. She had never imagined he’d come as the Emperor’s envoy. She clenched her teeth. He clearly came with an agenda.
‘I won’t give him anything.’
Her eyes flashed with resolve.
The dinner began. Count Solovis started drinking and tried to build connections with the northern nobles.
“You know, I heard my grandfather and your grandfather were close back in the day.”
“Ah, really? My grandfather often went to the capital on missions from the North, but I heard he was turned away most times.”
Damn it.
Count Solovis twitched. The discrimination against the North had been long-standing, so it made sense.
“But every time, he drank with my grandfather.”
“Is that so?”
“Ha ha ha. Since our grandfathers were friends, we must be friends too!”
Count Solovis laughed loudly. The northern nobles seemed to be at least friendly to him.
Only Charlotte was glaring at him sharply.
Despite everything, Count Solovis wasn’t planning to give up easily. His family’s livelihood was at stake.
“Oh, by the way, I heard something curious before coming here.”
“Hmm?”
“I heard my daughter has some kind of power and saved the young lord…”
“You mean divine power? That’s nonsense!”
Count Solovis hiccuped.
“So you got all friendly with us just to dig up dirt on our Duchess?”
“No, I… I just wanted to know about my daughter…”
The unity of the North was what Count Solovis had failed to notice.
After the Count Mers incident and the recent monster attacks, the North had come together. Their loyalty to the Duke and Duchess was sky-high.
“She’s no longer your daughter! She is the Duchess now! How dare you call her your daughter!”
“Did I say anything wrong? I was just saying she achieved something…”
“Don’t make any remarks that could endanger her! Do you not understand how dangerous divine power is considered these days? Whether it exists or not—it must be treated as if it doesn’t!”
“Exactly!”
“How dare you talk about the Duchess…”
“Is the Emperor really trying to oppress the North this much?”
Everyone glared at Count Solovis with united hostility.
“And it was Mr. Miller who saved the young lord!”
“Truly a gift from the gods!”
“Yes, indeed!”
At that moment, Charlotte was overcome with emotion. Seeing everyone on her side unconditionally brought tears to her eyes.
‘They knew… but pretended not to.’
She finally realized.
She had wondered why no one questioned Theo’s sudden recovery or her own miraculous return to health.
They had simply chosen to close their eyes and stay silent.
Charlotte clenched her fork tightly. Being embraced by such a solid, warm shield made her heart ache.
“Enough nonsense. Just eat and leave! Agh, Duchess, I apologize.”
“No, it’s alright. I’m fine.”
As the dining room fell into silence, Cassius arrived.
“I hurried, but it looks like I’m late.”
He casually kissed Charlotte’s hand in front of Count Solovis.
“It’s been a while, father-in-law.”
“…Duke. Yes, it has,” Count Solovis replied, his voice deflated.
Later
In the now-empty dining room, only Cassius and Charlotte remained.
Charlotte had wanted to drink more, so Cassius, dressed comfortably in just a shirt, was keeping her company and pouring her drinks.
“Cassius. Do you know what happened before you came?”
She was still too riled up to calm down. Honestly, she had expected at least one person to say something suspicious—maybe a servant, a maid, or one of the nobles.
But everyone had protected her and kept everything hidden.
“You’ve told me several times. Count Nors defended you. Said even if it’s true, it isn’t. And if it’s not, it’s not.”
Cassius leaned his chin on his hand and smiled lazily, nodding his head.
“That’s right! I really didn’t expect them to say that.”
“They’re protecting you because they know it could become dangerous.”
“I thought I hid it well. I didn’t think anyone here noticed.”
“There are always people who are quick to catch on.”
“Haha… so that’s how it was.”
Cassius refilled her glass.
“Are you that happy?”
“Yes. I really am.”
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling. When she first arrived here, she had come alone. Everyone was hostile, watching her carefully. But now, she had become part of their protective circle.
She wasn’t alone anymore.
“Haha, do you know what else happened today?”
“You’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk! Rubella quickly took Theo and Stephanie away. I was so thankful since I didn’t want them caught up in all that mess.”
“And you agreed to take care of the Stein Baron’s children next time.”
“That’s right, that’s right. Oh, how do you know that?”
“Someone told me.”
Cassius chuckled quietly.
A laugh slipped through his long fingers, covering his mouth. He tapped her cheek lightly.
“You should stop drinking now. You’re still not fully recovered.”
“Nope. Just this last glass.”
She sipped the drink from her glass.
“Oh, and do you know what else happened today?”
Cassius laughed again. She didn’t understand why he kept laughing when she was trying to talk about something so serious and important.
She wanted to tell him just how happy she was.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s nothing. Tell me. What else happened?”
“Oh, Rubella…”
She got excited while talking and kept drinking because her throat felt dry.
Eventually, the glass was empty.
“Oh no, it’s all gone?”
“Then it’s time to get up.”
As she tried to stand on her foot, she stumbled.
“Huh?”
Cassius caught her, but gravity pulled her down, and she fell into his arms.
He adjusted her posture and held her properly.
“Oops? Sorry. My mistake…”
She mumbled as she tried to get up again, but he stopped her.
Cassius was still smiling at her warmly. He looked really handsome—more so with that smile.
Cassius was one of the founding heroes of this country. Right, of course.
She stared at him blankly, and his face moved closer.
Then—kiss.
His lips softly touched hers, brushing lightly inside her mouth before he pulled away.
He whispered, “My mistake too.”
“That didn’t feel like… like a mistake…”
Cassius kissed her again.
This time, it was definitely intentional.
