chapter 2
She was persistently pursued.
A pair of sharp green eyes approached confidently.
“Your Grace.”
Johannes Magnem.
Even Anel, who had no interest in social circles, couldn’t be unaware of that name.
Anel blamed herself for how she could lose her composure in front of this man, but soon regained her calm.
The owner of the peculiar gaze. It was a mistake to show weakness in front of him.
“No need to use formal titles.”
“I should.”
Even though she was a lady from a duke’s family, her counterpart was the Marquis of Magnem, famous for awaiting only the title of duke.
He had already been granted the title of viscount and was known for waiting only for the title of duke.
It was different from Anel, who had no titles.
Using formal titles was appropriate. It was natural, especially when they were meeting for the first time.
“You seem like someone who will become an empress.”
Despite the casual words, there was a thorn in them, perhaps due to the tone.
Anel couldn’t be sure since she didn’t face him directly.
She bowed her head even deeper.
“Not yet, no.”
Anel said quietly but firmly.
Johannes, seeming surprised, tilted his head slightly.
Anel deliberately avoided eye contact.
“You must have read the morning paper today.”
“…Among the imperial citizens, there may not be anyone who hasn’t read that article.”
When Johannes mentioned the article so openly, Anel was secretly surprised.
However, she didn’t show it outwardly.
Anel felt sorry for the young lady mentioned in the article.
“It seems like I was impolite.”
“No, Your Grace. Thank you for paying attention.”
Anel responded with as much politeness as possible to block the possibility of continuing the conversation.
She knew it was impolite.
If it were any other nobleman, he wouldn’t have gone this far.
But the opponent was Johannes Magnem.
“Lady.”
“Yes.”
A name that could be seen in the newspaper every morning.
Today, once again, the name was mentioned in connection with the will of a young lady.
Anel felt sorry for that young lady.
“Did I behave rudely?”
“…No.”
She did nothing wrong; it was done to another lady.
Anel recalled the contents of the will she read earlier.
The young lady had begged the Marquis to meet her just once before her death, but he never granted her that wish.
If he had met her just once and rejected her, the contents of the will suggested that Anel could have forgotten about him and lived somehow.
“Oh, you seem to have read the morning article.”
“…Your Grace, I’m sure everyone in the Empire has read that article.”
When Johannes mentioned the article so directly, Anel was inwardly surprised.
Fortunately, Johannes didn’t seem to notice Anel’s feelings, and he didn’t say anything further.
The two danced silently to the music.
Anel bit her lip, thinking if she had gone too far.
He would be the right arm of Samuel, in the sense that he couldn’t be turned into an enemy.
“Your Grace.”
When she finally opened her mouth to apologize, the movement changed once again.
Johannes led her hand to the Crown Prince.
“!”
Just before Anel, who was bewildered, completely left him, he bowed his head and whispered something.
“W-What is this?”
Anel looked up at Johannes in confusion, but Johannes had already turned his back.
“Anel, your dance with Johannes—”
Samuel tried to console her, but when he saw Anel completely stiff, he corrected himself.
“…Anel?”
However, seeing her in this state, he became genuinely concerned.
Samuel took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Anel’s forehead.
“You are sweating right now.”
The touch of the handkerchief on her forehead, the spring breeze cutting through the cold air, made Anel finally come to her senses.
And she met the gaze of the green eyes, filled with concern, looking down at her.
“Are you okay, Anel?”
Samuel pulled out a handkerchief and wiped Anel’s forehead.
“If something is wrong, you must tell me.”
“Of course.”
“Anel, I…”
Samuel hesitated for a moment and said firmly.
“I want to be a different spouse than Empress Pohwang. I will be faithful only to you, and I will live only for you.”
“Your Highness…”
“So please rely on me. I know it’s difficult for you. But I hope I can be your support.”
“Of course, you are my support.”
Anel didn’t let go of the hand held by Samuel and quietly looked into his eyes.
Consistent affection reflected in those eyes.
Anel could endure all the pressure only because of these eyes.
Because of the infinite trust and affection shown by those eyes.
However, even with those eyes, it didn’t mean Anel could tell Samuel everything.
For example,
“You seem like someone too good for him, Lady Morata.”
How could she tell Samuel that Johannes Magnem had said such a thing?
Is this conversation helpful so far?
However, seeing the completely frozen Anel, he changed his mind.
He took Anel and escaped from the crowd.
Anel, without resisting, followed Samuel to the balcony.
“Are you okay, Anel?”
Samuel took out a handkerchief and wiped Anel’s forehead.
“You’re sweating cold right now.”
Feeling the touch of the handkerchief on her forehead and the spring breeze cutting through the cold air, Anel finally came to her senses.
And then, she met the green eyes that were looking down at her with concern.
“It’s okay, Anel?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Anel hastily shook her head. Her emotions were baseless, and she couldn’t involve Samuel in them.
“You didn’t look well all along.”
“I guess I’m not used to crowded places.”
Samuel didn’t easily dispel his suspicions even with Anel’s words.
As if genuinely concerned, he held Anel’s hand.
“If something is wrong, you must tell me.”
“Of course.”
“Anel, I…”
Samuel hesitated for a moment, then said decisively.
“I want to be a different spouse than Consort Magnon. I will be faithful only to you, and I will live for you.”
Morata Grand Manor in the capital.
“You came early.”
Samuel brought Anel to the Grand Manor and offered to escort her, but Anel firmly refused.
He knew that the Grand Duke would make it awkward for him again.
Although the Grand Manor overflowed with servants, there was only one Morata Grand Duke in the house, who was also Anel’s only family.
“…Yes.”
Anel’s birth mother, the Grand Duchess, passed away when Anel was born.
Moreover, the Grand Duke did not remarry.
Given his unblemished character, there was no possibility of having a love child like Anel.
“Well done. No matter how close you are to your fiancé, it’s not good to come in so late.”
He poured all his life into Anel as if creating a masterpiece.
His obsession was similar to that towards a work of art.
Morata Grand Duke considered having a daughter with someone of similar age to the Crown Prince as fate.
And by dedicating his daughter to the Crown, he believed he could complete all his loyalty.
So, from the moment Anel was born, she had to become an impeccable Empress.
“Why didn’t the Crown Prince come in briefly?”
“He said he had some business.”
“He’s busy with state affairs, so it’s understandable.”
The Duke spread the newspaper with his finger. It was the Evening Gazette.
As expected, the headline was about Johannes Magnon.
Anel turned her gaze away just from hearing that name.
However, the Grand Duke seemed not to notice and muttered quietly.
“The press is making a fuss again.”
“….”
“It’s true that it’s unfortunate for the young lady, but what did Duke Magnon do wrong? In that case, the Duke should marry hundreds of wives in the capital. How many young ladies are there to strangle for him!”
The Duke licked his lips and deeply inhaled the smoke, then exhaled it again.
Since the Duke did not ask her to leave, Anel had to inhale the smoke of the Evening Gazette behind his chair.
“Cough.”
Despite trying to endure it, a cough came out.
Knowing that her lungs were weak, the Duke often smoked in front of her.
And during that time, he would place his most excellent trophy behind him.
“By the way, the Duke came to the party today. You probably saw him for the first time.”
“…Yes.”
It was actually surprising to meet him now.
Even if they were not close, there had been a few private meetings between the two families.
If not, there would be exchanges between the families.
“I never allowed you to encounter the Duke before your hair turned gray. I didn’t want my daughter to become such a foolish woman.”
The Duke gestured toward the chair opposite him, where Anel obediently sat.
“Yeah, how do you find him?”
It was a significant question.
Is this conversation helpful so far?
