If he had been prepared to ascend to the position of Duke from a young age, would handling these affairs have been a bit easier? The past couldn’t be changed, so it was impossible to know.

Suddenly, the image of Alisa from earlier that day came to mind.

Rashid found himself smirking involuntarily. Once he started thinking about it, he couldn’t focus on the documents, continuously recalling her composed tone, sarcastic responses, and displeased expression. No one had ever dared to act that way towards him before. It was fortunate that she said she would be fine after resting, despite the sudden nosebleed that had startled him.

He looked at the ring on the ring finger of his left hand. Though he had worn it habitually since marriage, he felt its weight anew, having never consciously acknowledged it before.

What wind had blown to change the woman who had always been reticent and eager to avoid him?

‘How amusing.’

Rashid rested his chin on his hand. His golden eyes gleamed peculiarly.

It was extremely rare for unexpected events to please him. But now, this situation that couldn’t be classified either way was quite interesting. A rebellion that posed no threat was both fresh and surprising.

To him, the world was divided into two categories: yes and no, possible and impossible, O and X, likes and dislikes, things that must be done and things that need not be done…. The middle ground, the ambiguous compromise, was for those who had failed or given up on clear classification.

For him, succeeding to the title of Duke was possible. So was killing his blood-related older brother and younger sister before that. Confining his mother to an island was equally possible.

Thanks to that, Rashid Penvernon went from being the second son of the ducal family to becoming the current Duke of Penvernon.

The Emperor did not charge Rashid with the crime of murder and allowed him to possess everything of the ducal family. Immense wealth, power, and honor became his property intact.

The price for this was unwavering loyalty to the imperial family. Their intention to strengthen control over the Penvernon Duchy by creating a debt was clear.

Use his abilities for the imperial family, follow and serve the imperial family, do not rebel, do not stand out too much….

Even though loyalty had been sworn in blood since the time of his predecessors long ago, the Emperor’s constraints were becoming increasingly sophisticated. Perhaps because he thought, ‘He’s someone who could set fire to Granrose at any time,’ but anyway.

At first, he resisted. But the imperial family’s control over the Dragon’s Strength was unyielding. In the end, after kneeling once in the great hall, Rashid submitted to those who had put a chain around his neck.

Now it didn’t matter. Let them do as they wish. The same went for marrying the daughter of a count’s family he had never even heard of. It was all the same to him.

Rashid leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The soft light of the lamp pooled on his eyelids.

He liked things he could anticipate. Moments that flowed as imagined that didn’t betray his expectations were trivially peaceful.

Things that weren’t like that, those lurking beyond expectations, often tired him. For example, things like his brother trying to kill him, and his mother and sister participating in that plan. It was the pain born from envy and inferiority towards the power of the strongest dragon.

So Rashid decided to trust no one. He could no longer trust anyone. When even blood relations rejected him, who could he possibly attach his heart to?

The intentions of those who approached him were so obvious that he didn’t need to look closely. The sight of weak humans, like insects, drooling and clinging to him was disgusting. Enduring it was a torment. That’s why the world was disillusioning and life was wearisome.

He didn’t hide his contempt for others, and this was no exception for the woman he married by the Emperor’s order.

The title of Duke was an inescapable yoke and a burden laden with the weight of sin. It wasn’t a position he wanted to obtain, but one he had to acquire to survive. Therefore, he just wished for this duty to end soon.

As Rashid waved his hand, the lamp went out. In the place where light disappeared, the blue night silently embraced him. To prevent anyone from seeing him, the starry curtain slowly covered the body of Duke Penvernon.

The deep, deep night continued.

* * *

The carpet laid on the long corridor of the imperial palace is red like blood, or like flowers. Rashid walked calmly upon it. The Emperor was waiting for him, seated on the golden throne at the end of the carpet.

The current Emperor, Helios Grandia, was truly a tiring and troublesome person.

Ever since Rashid gained the ability to control fire, the Emperor always wanted to know what he was doing. The more his ability strengthened, the more obsessive the Emperor became. His desire to keep Rashid under perfect control was so fervent that even the passion of the many women who had been infatuated with Rashid couldn’t surpass it.

“May the glory of the rose be with you. I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Rashid knelt before the Emperor. The Emperor gestured with his arm, wearing a benevolent smile. It was permission to rise. Rashid stood up.

“Duke Penvernon, it’s hard to see your face.”

“I apologize. I was in the western territory for a while.”

“I heard. There were signs of demonic beasts, weren’t there?”

His tone was peaceful, as if he was talking about someone else’s story unrelated to him, even though it happened within the empire’s borders.

Rashid’s lips curved into a small arc as he replied.

“I’ve taken the necessary measures, so there shouldn’t be any problems for a while.”

“For Duke Penvernon, that level is nothing. Isn’t that right?”

“You flatter me.”

As he bowed his head lightly in response, the Emperor laughed heartily. The exaggerated sound echoed emptily in the great hall.

“How is your wife doing?”

As expected, he’s concerned about how I’m treating the match he arranged. As if he’s really curious about her well-being. Rashid suppressed the sarcasm that was about to escape.

“She’s quite introverted and doesn’t like to stand out… But she’s doing well.”

“Is that so? She seems to possess the virtues of a wife.”

“I’m honored.”

“However, I hear that your wife recently experienced a misfortune.”

“There was a small accident, but she’s fine now.”

He seems well-informed. Alisa’s lady-in-waiting must have been working diligently.

Although he knew about it, he left her alone, thinking that killing her would only make the Emperor more troublesome. It was a matter that gossipmongers would gleefully make a fuss about, so rumors must have spread quite a bit. The thought of them whispering made him nauseous.

“That’s a relief. The Empress said your wife misses you. I was worried.”

“Is that so…?”

Judging by her attitude yesterday, she doesn’t seem to miss me much. I wonder what they heard.

Alisa doesn’t have many close acquaintances in social circles. Rashid was well aware of who they were. But this was the first time he’d heard of her being close to the Empress. Although he doubted it, he needed to confirm.

“Take care of her so she doesn’t feel lonely. She is, after all, the wife you’ll spend your life with.”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s command.”

Rashid bowed his head.

That much was certainly possible. Rashid easily categorized the Emperor’s orders. He would have done so anyway, even if the Emperor hadn’t said it.

He thought of his wife. Her soft coral-colored hair, ash-gray eyes with a blue tinge, the unfamiliar appearance of her getting upset at his words seemed out of character for her, yet strangely fitting.

It was quite novel to see her meeting his eyes without any sign of fear. To think that after behaving quietly for a whole year, she could make such vivid expressions and say such impertinent things.

What else could she possibly do in the future?

Rashid suddenly became curious about that. Whether it was a temporary impulse, or if she was hiding something beneath the surface. Amidst the endless swamp of boredom, it sprouted as a hint of curiosity.

To be interested in an insignificant human, in something unexpected.

Rashid momentarily felt unfamiliar with himself. It was an emotion he would never have had normally.

He still didn’t know what exactly moved him.