Chapter 3
“A true gentleman with impeccable manners.”
“Again”.
Anel was tense, not knowing what answer the Duke expected.
The Duke would often inquire as if interrogating, if the desired response did not come.
At times like this, Anel had to predict alone what the Duke wanted.
“It seemed like he knew the reason.”
“Indeed.”
Only then did Morata Duke smile, seemingly satisfied.
“Johannes Magnem is the masterpiece raised by Duke Magnem. A man deserving of such recognition.”
While Duke Magnem’s status was lower than Morata Duke’s, he was by no means inferior in power and wealth.
In the Duke’s estate, there was the honor of being the closest ally of the imperial family, the nobility itself, and the leisure granted by the largest territory in Stein.
On the other hand, the Duke had the power of the aristocracy’s pinnacle, the wealth from two banks and four companies.
“Magnem is the only family I acknowledge in this empire, excluding the imperial family.”
The two households had many similarities yet significant differences.
The labels of the pinnacle of the imperial faction and the pinnacle of the aristocratic faction created a distance between them.
“I know that Johannes often associates with me, as you are aware.”
However, this distance was external. The fact that these two pinnacles were the closest of friends was a secret known only to the two households.
Anel nodded silently.
“A while ago, Kalpen said something strange to me.”
“…?”
“He said that you were destined to become the empress. I agreed. I don’t know about anything else, but Anel Morata is meant to be Stein’s empress.”
It was a statement that struck her ears.
Anel becoming the empress of Stein. Anel neither agreed nor disagreed; it was not the answer she wanted.
“But recently.”
Then Morata Duke’s eyes began to sink rapid.
Anel took a deep breath.
She looked around, even though someone might have overheard, but it was a situation where there was nothing to say even if accused of treason.
“Father, that’s—”
“Listen.”
The Duke’s imposing attitude made Anel finally close her lips.
“You must know about the incident that happened twenty-two years ago, the hunt for illegitimate children.”
Anel nodded quietly.
Although it was an imperial secret, no one was unaware of the atrocity committed by the former empress.
“The Johannes Magnem is the only surviving child of the former emperor.”
However, the proof of being the emperor’s bloodline was required.
“Johannes Magnem should have originally had the title of De Nager, not Magnem. Now he is only trying to reclaim that title.”
The moment she heard those words, Anel couldn’t help but think of his peculiar green eyes. Was it strange to associate them with her own thoughts?
Anel thought quietly, recalling Johannes’ green eyes, so similar to Samu’s, although the atmosphere was different.
The atmosphere was different, but the color of the eyes was just as unique.
She had never imagined an emperor of Stein other than Samu.
“And you should become the empress.”
“Then, Father, are you going to oppose the Duke Magnem, sir?”
The Duke did not answer Anel’s question.
He just lit another pipe and seemed to be deep in thought.
“The crown prince will become the emperor.”
“No.”
Morata Duke decisively cut in.
“I have also made considerable efforts to make Samu the emperor, but now the momentum has completely shifted.”
“But Your Highness, the crown prince, is loved by all the people of Stein.”
“Foolish. The position of emperor cannot be attained with mere love!”
The Duke shouted, and then exhaled his breath heavily.
“I see. Johannes De Nager would have been the one to reclaim the title if I closed my eyes.”
“But he is the crown prince’s half-brother. I cannot go against His Highness and—”
“You are naive. Johannes De Nager is the legitimate son of Her Highness. I swear loyalty to the imperial family, not to Samu De Nager.”
Too much hypocrisy, Anel thought. You just told Samu a little while ago that it would be unpleasant to see him go as an apprentice. You—!
“Anyway, you will enter the imperial family as planned.”
“But that means betraying Samu’s trust, Father.”
Morata Duke did not respond to Anel’s words.
He simply lit his pipe again, filling the air with smoke.
“As long as one thing is maintained. Whether Johannes becomes the emperor or not, as long as you become the empress.”
Anel thought.
In this voice, there was nothing but malice and greed.
After that day, Anel couldn’t step a single foot outside her room.
The fear that any wrong word might ruin everything was the reason.
Anel did not resist.
There was no point in resisting; that was the reason.
She resorted to a silent protest by withholding food and drink.
If she wasn’t allowed to go outside, she would rather die – that was the maximum protest she could make.
However, the Duke agreed to Anel’s silent protest as long as Samu was spared.
Anel couldn’t defy him.
The Duke would save Samu’s life if she behaved with decorum.
“… ”
Afterwards, Anel could not leave the window, clinging to a small hope that Samu might visit the Duke’s mansion.
But the visitor who arrived at the Duke’s mansion was someone else.
“!”
A large carriage with a black and gold frame pulled by six horses entered the Duke’s mansion.
The horses with the imperial seal stamped on them testified to the status of the passenger.
It was strange.
Samu always rode in a white carriage with the imperial seal.
But there was no seal on this carriage. It was odd.
Anel frowned, staring at the carriage.
The carriage stopped, and the door opened.
And an uninvited guest revealed himself.
“!”
With brightly shining lemon-colored hair, a perfectly tailored suit, and a coat draped over it.
From head to toe, the epitome of a perfect aristocrat.
Even without lifting his head, Anel knew who he was.
There were many nobles, but so few true aristocratic men.
His smooth strides were too elegant, causing an uncomfortable feeling – a Stein masterpiece.
But to Anel at the moment, he was just a Stein rebel.
It was Johannes Magnem.
Next, Johannes Magnem doesn’t even lift his head, but Anel knows who he is.
He knows who he is even without lifting his head, because few aristocratic men walk that smoothly.
But now, he’s just a Stein rebel to Anel.
Johannes Magnem.
