50. Wishing to Get Close
Katya was now officially the Grand Duchess.
Ivan’s crime would clearly be severely punished, going beyond defaming a woman’s honor to insulting the Grand Duchess.
Today was the marriage fraud lawsuit, and he would soon be referred to trial again as a defendant.
Though the exact outcome would only be known after the trial, typically after being stripped of noble status, it divided into two paths.
Either being sent to labor until death at public infrastructure construction sites in the developing New Continent, or receiving public flogging before being sent groaning to the New Continent construction sites.
Nine out of ten criminals who received flogging would die from complications before even reaching land on the ship to the New Continent.
The rest would survive through tenacious life force but eventually die from overwork doing hard labor at construction sites with their weakened bodies.
It was a choice between living in lifelong suffering while barely staying alive, or dying while experiencing pain that made death seem preferable.
Either way, the end was destruction.
“The court hereby dismisses the plaintiff’s claim. Court costs shall be borne by the plaintiff.”
Bang bang bang.
As the judge pronounced the verdict while striking the gavel three times, thunderous cheers and applause erupted from the gallery.
Ivan, who was sentenced to imprisonment until the defamation trial, struggled and resisted before finally being dragged out by court security.
It was Katya’s perfect victory.
“I’ve lost count of how many times this is.”
Amidst the courtroom chaos, Nikolai whispered quietly enough for only his wife to hear.
“How many times what?”
“How many times I’ve fallen for you.”
It was a good speech.
Good enough to want to hear it like a lullaby every night before sleep.
He hadn’t known until he met her.
That it was possible for two charms to coexist in one person—a lovable cuteness that made you want to embrace her, and a strong character that could confidently voice her own opinions when everyone else said no.
She was truly a woman he couldn’t help but love.
***
“That was practically a confession earlier.”
Nikolai suddenly said this in the carriage returning to the Duke’s residence.
“A confession?”
“You spoke of me as quite a special man back there.”
Embarrassed by his words, Katya cleared her throat with a reddened face.
What did I say again?
A man who loves me as I am without trying to change me to suit his taste.
And that she would have chosen him even if he had nothing and was of low status.
“Until then, I never dreamed you thought of me that way. I nearly got dizzy from joy but barely managed to endure through sheer mental fortitude.”
“I may have exaggerated a bit…”
“Such exaggeration is always welcome.”
Since most people gathered at today’s trial were residents living in Padovangrad, they agreed to keep secret the fact that the Grand Duke had come south.
The same went for other nobles including Gregory and Olen.
Everyone would be afraid to breathe a word about today’s events, fearing they might lose their heads if caught revealing it.
“The nickname ‘Bloody Grand Duke’ is surprisingly convenient.”
“Right. That’s the advantage of having a notorious reputation. Others don’t dare take you lightly.”
“Well, I’m not wronged since I truly am a madman who necessarily sees blood, but the nickname ‘Villainess of the South’ doesn’t suit you.”
“Oh come on, you’re just seeing me through rose-colored glasses, Grand Duke. I can be quite wicked you know?”
At those words, Nikolai lightly tapped her sharp nose bridge with his index finger.
“How can there be any wickedness in such a tiny, cute face?”
“Huh? Are you going to keep touching me without permission even when no one’s watching? This is a contract violation, you know?”
Katya angrily slapped his hand away.
“What do you mean no one’s watching? The sun and clouds in the sky, passing birds, blowing wind, even those street trees over there. There are plenty of spectators.”
“We agreed to limit the couple act to when we really need to pretend!”
“If we’re going to deceive, we should deceive completely. Shouldn’t a perfect lie deceive both heaven and earth?”
“Wow, it’s impossible to win with words! Do you eat and just argue all day?”
“I’m not confident I’d lose in most fights.”
It was her first time hearing the expression ‘not confident about losing.’
But why was he showing subtle humility in such a strange way by saying ‘most fights’?
Katya tilted her head at the question that suddenly arose in her mind.
“If it’s most fights, does that mean there are fights you’re not confident about?”
“Marital fights with you?”
“Marital fights?”
“The outcome of those fights is always predetermined. I’ll lose to you every day. I’ll only listen to my wife from now on. Just give me your orders.”
“Huh?”
“I may be the sovereign outside, but at home you’re always my ruler. As your subject, I promise to show you unwavering affection and obedience while diligently maintaining this beautiful face that pleases you.”
Nikolai spoke quoting phrases from her speech.
He had reversed and applied to himself what Katya had just proclaimed in court as evils that must be eliminated.
“That’s not right! You said spouses are equal!”
“The one who loves more naturally becomes the subordinate.”
“Why should there be superiors and subordinates between husband and wife?”
“After ruling for so long, I’ve developed this strange desire to be dominated by someone. So rule over me.”
“I’m telling Father! That the Grand Duke is trying to make me a traitor who dares to insult the monarch!”
The Grand Duchess shouted at this smooth-talking pervert sovereign.
“To misinterpret my loyalty to you like this.”
“Ah, that’s why I’m telling you not to be loyal!”
“Getting a sparrow to pass by a mill without stopping would be easier. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I thought: At last, here is the ruler destined to conquer me.”
“Sigh… Just tell me when this will end.”
Katya spoke in resignation.
Only then did Nikolai stop teasing with a giggle.
Who knew teasing could be this endlessly fun?
The two continued talking about many things afterward.
“I hid it because I didn’t want to involve Bianca, but it ended up like this anyway.”
“Your sister will probably think it’s fortunate she found out even now.”
“It’s fortunate we can tell her and start treatment now. I hope there’s improvement. Actually, I was thinking of secretly adding it to her tea originally.”
“How thorough.”
“I’m worried about Father. I just found out earlier how fast he can run.”
As soon as the verdict was announced, Baptiski had jumped over the fence in one bound and tried to grab Ivan’s collar, causing quite a scene as court security tried to stop him.
He was so strong that two security guards weren’t enough, and even the Grand Duke’s knights had to come help restrain him.
Baptiski Smirnov had transformed into a gentle and composed man to win his wife’s heart since their courtship days. However, before he met her, he was known for his fiery temper and the strength to take down bears with his bare hands.
As his lifelong friend who knew well of Baptiski’s hidden strength and original temperament, the judge sent people to the Smirnov residence to keep close watch on him for the time being.
He was sincerely worried his friend might personally kill Ivan who had tormented his daughter, or hire an assassin.
“I feel very sorry towards my father-in-law. I should have strangled that bastard and brought his severed head before this.”
“No, is this a battlefield? It’s not like it’s an enemy general’s head! I told you to only think kind thoughts and use gentle words.”
“Has my charm diminished?”
“A little.”
Katya answered while holding her thumb and index finger slightly apart.
As he smiled watching her, Nikolai suddenly recalled a conversation they had before.
“Lifting the export restrictions isn’t difficult for me. I’ll grant your request even if you don’t marry me, so you don’t need to accept my proposal because of that. I don’t want you to marry me just out of a sense of obligation.”
“That’s not why. I’m really marrying you because I want to.”
“Because you want me?”
“No! I mean the decision to marry the Grand Duke is what I want!”
“Won’t you say it’s because you want me?”
“No.”
Katya had firmly refused then.
“I’m saving that. I want to say it when I really come to like you, Grand Duke. I think words about love shouldn’t be used carelessly, even in jest.”
“Will the day ever come when you love me?”
Nikolai thought as he gazed at his lovely wife leaning against the carriage window.
Now he wanted her to love him, but at the same time, he hoped such a day would never come.
Contradictory feelings tormented him.
***
The marriage fraud lawsuit was thus concluded.
Today was the day they would be fitted for their wedding attire for the upcoming ceremony.
The Smirnov family members were gathered comfortably in the reception room waiting for the tailor.
As they chatted amicably with each other, Nikolai’s expression suddenly began darkening at some point.
“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Baptiski asked with concern for his monarch.
“When will you finally acknowledge me as your real son?”
Unable to hold back anymore, Nikolai finally expressed his hurt feelings.
“Pardon?”
“You’ve been constantly calling me ‘Your Highness.’ Despite how I’ve wanted to get close to you and respectfully called you father-in-law all this time, all I get in return is the cold, stiff title of ‘Your Highness’ and formal language that keeps distance.”
“C-cold and stiff…”
The loyal subject Baptiski, greatly shocked, first bowed his head in confusion.
“This lowly one’s inadequacy has caused discourtesy disturbing Your Highness’s mood. I have committed a mortal sin, Your Highness.”
“No, why does everyone think I’m a murderer? Do you truly see me as a deranged villain who would even kill his father-in-law?”
“Grand Duke, please calm down.”
Katya pulled his sleeve while trying to hold back laughter.
A son-in-law whining to his father-in-law about wanting to be closer, and a subject feeling guilty for angering his sovereign.
Their mismatched love story.
Though the parties involved were serious, for Katya who served as the intermediary connecting the two as family, she could only laugh at the situation.
“I’m truly hurt, so hurt.”
The son-in-law yearning for his father-in-law’s love sighed deeply.
Feeling responsible, Katya came up with one brilliant idea.
The project named ‘Father and Son-in-law — Wishing to Get Close’.
