Duke and Duchess Reunion - Chapter 91

“Let’s wrap up today’s meeting here.”

Russell, who had adjourned the council meeting, was the first to rise from his seat.

As the emperor left the hall, the nobles who had been bowing to him one by one straightened their backs.

With the heavy atmosphere lifting, someone let out a sigh, as if they had been holding their breath the entire time.

No matter how much of a politician one was, no one would welcome a meeting that felt like walking on thin ice every time.

The nobles hurriedly sought to leave the venue, causing a crowd at the entrance.

Aneta had no intention of getting caught up in that crowd, and Carlos remained still beside her.

Just as they were holding their ground for a moment, a familiar voice called out.

“Aneta, Carlos.”

Turning their heads, Aneta and Carlos spotted Vernon approaching them.

Normally one to despise meetings, Vernon would usually wear a sour expression, but today, for some reason, his face was brimming with energy.

“It’s been a while… Why are you making that face?”

Whenever he looked like this, it was almost always related to Chris.

Seeing Vernon’s overly bright smile made Aneta feel somewhat uneasy.

The dreary scenery outside the window contrasted sharply with his vibrant aura, as if only around him, it was springtime and filled with the scent of flowers.

“Feels like only the area around you is a field of flowers. Did something good happen?”

Aneta wasn’t the only one feeling this, as Carlos echoed her sentiment.

“Something good did happen. The world feels beautiful right now.”

“What kind of news?”

“This isn’t the place to talk about it. Let’s move somewhere else first. Can we head to your office?”

Vernon gestured toward the now-empty entrance.

Eager to share his news, he tried to take Aneta’s hand, but it was merely an attempt.

Before Vernon’s hand could reach Aneta, Carlos firmly swatted it away. The sound was quite sharp, but Carlos paid no mind and held Aneta’s hand instead.

“Whose hand are you trying to hold?”
“You’re right, my bad. Let’s both hold hands and hurry along.”

Normally, Vernon would have frowned at such a scene, but he seemed unconcerned and urged them to move.

With a grin on his face, Vernon walked ahead with a lightness in his step, as if he could start dancing at any moment.

Watching him walk, Aneta and Carlos exchanged glances, both reflecting the same sentiment.

“Why is he acting like that all of a sudden, Carlos?”

“Who knows? Maybe he’s just overwhelmed with work lately.”

“The crushing workload from His Majesty has finally ruined someone.”

“It’s a shame, he seemed like a decent guy, despite his carefree exterior.”

Aneta and Carlos whispered to each other quietly.

Their conversation was cut short when Vernon noticed they weren’t following him.

“What are you two doing back there? Hurry up!”

“We’re coming.”

As Vernon wished, Aneta and Carlos followed behind him. Once they reached the office and opened the door, Vernon quickly took a seat and started the conversation.

“How have you two been? Aneta, I imagine you were hit hard with the loss of the miracle.”

He brought up the miracle as casually as one would ask about a meal.

Had someone else mentioned it, there might have been suspicions about their motives, but with Vernon, it was different.

Their group was used to talking plainly and without pretense.

“You’re the first person to ask me that so bluntly. You know that, right?”

Aneta responded calmly, without a change in her expression.

“Of course. Who else would dare ask you something like that? If they did, they’d end up buried alive by the guy next to you.”

Vernon gestured toward Carlos, who had taken the seat next to Aneta instead of sitting elsewhere.

Carlos shot Vernon a look that seemed to question why he was bringing up unnecessary topics, but Vernon, unfazed, averted his gaze and continued talking.

“I might be innocent enough to ask such a worried question without malice, but the others aren’t like that, right?”

“Fine, I’ll give you that.”

It wasn’t a convincing argument, but what good would come from debating it? Aneta gave a casual nod.

“You don’t need to worry about me. I may have lost the ‘Glory,’ but the business with the mines is more prosperous than ever.”

With the news that the Adenauer Marquisate had removed the “Glory” title spreading throughout the capital, the house had drawn significant public attention.

The Marquisate became a hot topic in both the media and among nobles and commoners alike, and naturally, interest shifted toward their mines.

“On top of that, thanks to my exclusive deal with His Majesty, we’ve added a premium to the products, doubling the profits.”

“Your wealth increased? Even more than before?”

Vernon looked at her, clearly overwhelmed, but the expression quickly faded. Relieved to hear everything was fine, he looked genuinely happy.

“Anyway, I’m glad to hear you weren’t hit too hard.”

“How about showing a little more joy? Like it or not, Adenauer is your maternal family.”

“Well, I’m not interested in things that aren’t mine.”

Vernon shrugged, saying one should never be attached to something they couldn’t have.

“Well then, how about we get to the main topic? What’s so important that we had to change locations?”

“The most important matter in my life.”

Vernon, with a triumphant look, started rummaging through the inner pocket of his coat.

Watching him, Aneta was reminded of the time he showed her the draft of his wedding invitation. His actions and the way he had arranged the meeting were all too similar.

She wanted to dismiss the idea, but nothing else came to mind.

“Here, take a look at this.”

Sure enough, what came out of his coat was a wedding invitation. Holding the even more ornate envelope compared to the draft he had shown last time, Vernon looked as if he had the world in his hands.

“I thought you were busy with work these past few days. Was it because of the wedding preparations?”

“That’s right. I’ve even finalized the date.”

“Your decisiveness is impressive.”

If it was for the person he loved, it made sense that he had been grinning like someone who had lost a screw.

While Carlos genuinely admired his decisiveness, Aneta took the invitation Vernon handed her.

Upon hearing that the date had been set, she immediately checked the details and frowned. No matter how many times she read it, the contents remained the same.

“A month from now? You’re planning to marry her this quickly?”

Even though she sounded like a parent reluctant to let their daughter go, Vernon nodded seriously.

“Why did you set the schedule so tight?”

It wasn’t just tight—it was rushed. Aneta clicked her tongue.

“Why do you think? Because I want to live under the same roof as soon as possible.”

“I get it,” Carlos nodded, understanding Vernon’s sentiment.

Aneta, however, rubbed her forehead.

“Still, this is too fast. There’s so much to prepare.”

Although her marriage had been a contractual one, Aneta still vividly remembered all the steps involved in planning a wedding. From her perspective, Vernon’s decision seemed reckless.

In noble families, especially among high-ranking nobles, weddings are typically prepared by experienced elders within the family.

However, Chris’s parents had passed away in a carriage accident, and Vernon’s father had died from illness. Aneta’s own family, the Adenauer marquisate, wasn’t in a much better position either.

Her aunt Liliette, Vernon’s mother, had left the family after her husband’s death to focus on a successful business abroad, entrusting the family to her son.

Aneta thought of Liliette, who hadn’t returned to the Empire in five years. Her aunt was a fiercely independent person.

“Will Aunt even come to help? … No, it would be a miracle if she even attended.”

Without the help of family elders, the couple would have to lead the preparations themselves, but that wasn’t easy either.

With each of them having their responsibilities, the time they could dedicate to the wedding was limited.

“Why don’t you push it back a bit?”

In the end, Aneta offered a practical suggestion.

Vernon shook his head urgently, looking as if the world were about to end.

“You’re not thinking of rushing the ceremony just because you’re in a hurry, are you?”

Aneta narrowed her eyes at Vernon, silently vowing to not let him get away with it if he confirmed. Fortunately, his response was a firm denial.

“Of course not!”

“Then how exactly do you plan to get everything done in such a short time?”

“I was worried about that, which is why I wanted to ask you for a favor.”

Vernon suddenly stood up from his seat and bowed deeply. Aneta instantly guessed what he was about to ask.

“Help me, Aneta.”

Her guess was spot on. Looking at the top of his bowed head, Aneta uncrossed her legs.

“What exactly about you, do you think is so charming that I’d go through all that trouble?”

“From head to toe?”

“…Are you serious?”

As the atmosphere grew cold, Vernon shifted his gaze to Carlos. Even he, who had been silently observing, frowned as if he had heard something unbearable. Vernon quickly corrected himself.

“I meant Chris. Not me, but you care about Chris, don’t you?”

“…Fine. But if I agree to help, there’s a condition.”

At the mention of Chris, Aneta paused in thought, then changed her attitude. Knowing herself, she realized she wouldn’t just stand by and let Chris suffer, so she figured she might as well set terms and get something in return.

“Alright, I’ll go along with whatever you say.”

His response came unexpectedly quick. It wasn’t like him to give in without a fight, especially without knowing the details.

“You’re accepting without even hearing what I’m asking for? How do you know what I’ll demand?”

“Because it’s you or Carlos. Neither of you would make an unreasonable request.”

“And if I do?”

“I’ll tell Chris, of course.”

“You’re such a jerk.”

Aneta smiled as Vernon’s playful remark brought a grin to her face.

“So, what’s the condition, then?”

“The night before the wedding, I want to spend time with Chris. Of course, you’ll have to get her agreement first.”

“She’ll probably be happy to agree. But what are you two going to do?”

“Talk bad about you.”

“…Go easy on me.”

“You’re not going to ask me not to?”

“No, I won’t. Chris has the right to know what kind of person I am. She’s someone I want to show everything to without hiding anything.”

“Look at you, saying something so decent. I thought you’d freak out and try to stop me.”

“When I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, I didn’t mean it lightly. I will definitely make her happy.”

There was no hesitation in Vernon’s eyes. Aneta, seeing the sincerity in him, looked at him anew before nodding calmly.

“I believe you can. Congratulations on your wedding.”