You are at the End of the Downfall

From early morning, the Grand Duchess’s maids were unusually busy.

“How about this?”

Kaela smiled weakly at the question.

“Anything is fine.”

Although she truly didn’t care, the maids were determined not to let the day pass without effort. They were more careful than the Lusenford patrol guarding the border, and more meticulous than the knights protecting the Soleil Palace where the Emperor resides.

“It’s not just anything! You’re meeting those awful nobles again! You must show the dignity of the Princess of Ostein!”

It was a meeting with the northern noble ladies after the Grand Duchess, who had nearly died at the welcome banquet, recovered. The maids were deeply shocked by the frivolous and harsh behavior of the northern nobles at the welcome banquet.

The first impression was so firmly set that the maids thought all northern nobles were like that, and put effort into adorning the Grand Duchess. It’s the most basic social formula:

The more enemies you have, the more lavishly you should arm yourself with adornments.

“This sky blue matches Your Highness’s eye color so well.”

“This vivid blue is also pretty.”

As the Grand Duchess of Lusenford, it was Kaela’s first time having so many jewels.

She had received many gifts from foreign envoys at her wedding, and besides the jewels she had as the Princess of Ostein, she also brought all the jewels of her mother, who was the Duchess of Ostein.

These were all things that were taken away when her father passed away suddenly during her previous marriage. When her father told her to take everything, she quickly packed them. At least if they were in her possession, even if she lost her title later, she would still have the jewels.

The bride who had been scorned for being too poor and shabby had become extremely wealthy. In addition to the jewels, her father had separately provided ample wealth. Should she consider this fortunate?

‘As if that could be.’

Kaela had already begun her life as the Grand Duchess of Lusenford by collapsing after eating ferenco. In this place where weakness is a sin and not being able to eat what others eat is even less understandable, she would forever be an outsider who couldn’t blend in.

Before she was on the brink of death, she had tried desperately to gain acceptance, but during her confinement, she realized that no amount of effort would suffice.

This time, she lacked even the will to make such efforts, so she wondered if she would just be remembered in history as ‘the Grand Duchess who couldn’t adapt to Lusenford.’ No, everything would probably end before she could even leave that mark.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness? You don’t look well.”

The gazes of the Lusenford nobles looking at her were full of contempt and criticism. Remembering those characteristic glances that would briefly soften only if Kaela constantly proved herself, but soon return to their original state, she felt suffocated again.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Just as the maids were about to drop everything and rush to Kaela, there was a knock at the door. A maid went out beyond the screen and opened the door.

“Excuse me. Your Highness, it’s already time. You must go out now.”

In the absence of the head maid, the butler appeared.

“What are you saying? There’s still plenty of time. Her Highness hasn’t even finished getting ready.”

“In Lusenford, punctuality is most important. As this is an event hosted by Your Highness, you should go out first to greet the arriving guests.”

“What? Where is there such a rule? The people coming now are here to pay their respects to Your Highness!”

“Those coming are at least of higher status than you, so you’d better watch your words. Your Highness, please hurry. You’re already too late.”

You see? Nothing has changed. There were more than a few who looked coldly at Kaela, who claimed to be Peon’s parent or guardian and usurped Beatrice Ravalley’s position.

“Her Highness is not in good health. The doctor advised caution, so she should move slowly.”

Cecile, who had held back once, spoke deliberately.

“Still, you shouldn’t ignore Lusenford’s customs. The host must greet the arriving guests in advance.”

“Since when did Lusenford have such a custom?”

A low voice echoed in the corridor built with cold stones. Kaela, who had been motionless, flinched for the first time. The Grand Duke, walking with steady steps, entered past the butler.

“It’s cold. Close the door.”

As he entered, wearing a cloak with black fur on the collar, the spacious room felt full.

Kaela reluctantly stood up. Peon immediately stopped her.

“No, Your Highness, please remain seated. I didn’t come to disturb you.”

Not just ‘sit down’, but ‘please remain seated’. The butler was greatly surprised to notice the Grand Duke using the highest honorifics for the Grand Duchess.

“The host greets guests when they feel like it, since when did that become Lusenford’s custom, Rolf?”

Gesturing to the maids to quickly attend to the Grand Duchess, Peon turned to the butler.

“I’ve been here for about 20 years, but I’ve never heard of such a custom.”

“Well, among the noble ladies…”

“Even if such a thing exists, local customs don’t supersede imperial law.”

If the Grand Duchess went out first to greet the northern noble ladies, that’s exactly where she would start to be looked down upon. Was Kaela in a position to give greetings rather than receive them? The reason why the butler was telling the young Grand Duchess to make a good impression on the noble ladies was obvious.

“You know very well about social hierarchy.”

That’s why you taught the maid to ‘watch her words about noble ladies of higher status than her’, right?

“It’s unnecessary to recite the Grand Duchess’s status here.”

The maids kept glancing at the Grand Duke even as they tended to Kaela’s hair.

The aura emanating from his entire being overwhelmed everyone present. Even the butler, a typical Lusenford man with a tall and sturdy build, was completely cowed and couldn’t say a word.

“If you really want to express that Lusenford Castle welcomes guests, you’d better go out now and greet them yourself.”

Peon looked down at the butler. He didn’t bother saying anything more about showing respect to the Grand Duchess. There was no need to. If the moment came when it needed to be said, the butler would have to step down from his position.

“Yes, yes!”

The butler barely managed to reply with a trembling voice and quickly turned to leave.

While everyone was holding their breath and watching the Grand Duke’s mood, only Kaela didn’t change her expression. She was very familiar with this heavy, suffocating atmosphere.

She also knew well how the butler must feel. When Peon set his mind to it, he could speak so harshly that it was utterly humiliating to the listener. Even so, this was considerably toned down for the butler.

‘…No, could it be that the butler has already fallen out of favor? That can’t be, right?’

Peon usually spoke more to people he cared about, and said nothing beyond what was necessary to those he wasn’t interested in.

Surely Butler Rolf, who prided himself on raising Peon, should have been soothed more gently. But this time too, Peon ruthlessly pushed him away.

As Kaela was lost in thought, finding this very strange, Peon spoke first.

“…I’m sorry. I have nothing to offer Your Highness but apologies. I’ll have to ask you to handle the internal reorganization.”

‘Internal reorganization.’

It means he’s going to dismiss even Rolf. And telling Kaela to ‘reorganize’ directly made her eyelashes flutter.

“How could I interfere with what Your Highness governs? I couldn’t possibly do that.”

“It’s shameful that this is the state of things under my management.”

Peon replied, gritting his teeth. Then, noticing that Kaela seemed to be watching his mood, he quickly masked his expression.

“Please change things as you see fit, Your Highness. From now on, this is the place you’ll be taking care of.”

By that time, the preparations were finished and the maids hurriedly withdrew. Peon approached Kaela before she could stand up. Kaela looked at the mirror reflecting his image. The mirror, well-polished by the maids, didn’t have a speck of dust.