Chapter 27 – In the Name of Marseille

‘Would that guy do this to me even if I didn’t pay his salary?’

That was the entirety of Alis’s feelings toward Yvon. Of course, it wasn’t that she wasn’t grateful to him, but Alis was eighty-seven years old. An age where it wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment. She didn’t want to create unnecessary ties and leave behind lingering emotions. Leaving behind a generous inheritance after her death was the greatest sincerity Alis could show Yvon. But, since she died suddenly, she couldn’t even do that.

Now, that man was lying in bed with a stab wound in his side, and sparks flew in Iana’s eyes. Revenge was only natural.

“Iana, you are not alone. Sometimes, it’s good to ask your father for help.”

Iana was at a loss for words. The Grand Duke’s eyes were filled with worry. It was an unfamiliar emotion for Iana. It would have been the same for the original Iana as well.

The Grand Duke of Marseille, who was always clumsy with his daughter, didn’t know what to do now. Eliminating someone like Odelli Shaude was not a difficult task, but the things he did for Iana were not always welcomed, so he hesitated. Not long ago, he had opposed the relationship with Prince Karl and was disliked by Iana for it.

“I can do far more than you think, so I wish you would use me as much as you like. I’m worried you’ll get hurt moving alone.”

Benoit regretted it. If only he had said this sooner. Until now, what had he been doing, leaving his daughter alone without doing anything? What had he done while misunderstandings piled up until only anger and resentment remained in Iana’s heart?

“So, Iana, don’t act on your own. Use me.”

The Grand Duke’s large hand gently stroked Iana’s head.

“Since they dared to touch Marseille, it’s not strange at all for me, as your father, to step forward.”

After finishing his words, the Grand Duke smiled softly. For a moment, Iana was unable to speak, her throat choked, but she came to her senses at the sound of his laughter. Before she knew it, a similar smile had appeared on her lips as well.

“It’s all right. If I can’t handle this much, how can I call myself Marseille?”

Perhaps it was bravado. But her goal was not someone like Odelli. Her goal was much farther away.

‘Colmar.’

This life’s goal should not be shaken by something like this before it even began. It wasn’t about money that she earned until her death without ever properly using it, as in her previous life. The same went for honor. Maybe it was because she had been given the name Marseille for free this time, but Iana truly had no greed for power or status.

She simply wanted to do things she couldn’t do before. To build small happiness with people she could call family. To wake up every morning looking out at the crashing waves of Colmar’s cliffs. To pat the shoulders of loved ones in the evening, laughing and saying it was a happy day. It didn’t matter if the person beside her wasn’t a man. Yvon or Lou would be enough. Iana had long thrown away the idea of living and dying for love. Or maybe this was learned. She herself knew best what happened to the fragile noble girls who staked their lives on love.

So, she couldn’t afford to hesitate over such trivial matters. Odelli was nothing. She’d experienced enough trash like that.

The Grand Duke sighed as he looked at his daughter’s indifferent face, saying she was fine.

“If you insist.”

He raised his hand and removed the signet ring from his finger. Then, he placed it on Iana’s palm and wrapped his hand around hers.

“You know what this is, right? If Shaude dares ignore your will, show them this. They won’t dare act recklessly. And take Robert with you.”

The Grand Duke turned his head halfway and spoke.

“Protect Iana. If she receives even the smallest wound, you’ll have to pay with your life.”

Following the direction of the Grand Duke’s head, Iana’s gaze landed. Though it seemed no one was there, a man with a longsword was kneeling. At the Grand Duke’s words, the man only bowed his head lower without a word.

“If you take him, he won’t be a burden. He always follows orders.”

“Yes.”

Iana replied, after briefly looking at the man who seemed to blend into the darkness.

“I won’t be late.”

Her calm tone carried confidence. The Grand Duke looked at Iana for a moment. Had his daughter always been this confident? He couldn’t remember. To say he didn’t know would be more accurate. Until recently, he had lived almost ignoring his daughter’s existence. Regret surged over him.

Iana mounted the horse, satisfied with its full feed. She looked down at the man called Robert for a moment, then began to ride. Even without turning back, she could feel, from the vibration in the ground, that he was following on another horse.

* * *

Alis Remaxion’s motto was that people must be flexible. Now, Iana Marseille had become a noble with even her bloodline, but that belief hadn’t changed.

“Tell Duke Shaude that Iana Marseille has come to collect a debt.”

So, Iana decided to use Luca’s name instead of seeking out Duke Shaude or Odelli. The gatekeeper, who remembered the face of the young lady who had recently saved the young master, opened the gate without hesitation even though it was late for a noble lady to visit without prior notice.

Arriving in front of the mansion, Iana calmly handed the reins to a servant and entered. She told the approaching butler that she had come to see the Duke.

“The Young Duke, you mean?”

The butler asked, puzzled. Thinking he had misheard, he politely continued.

“The young master has not yet returned from the Imperial Palace.”

“I’m here to see His Grace the Duke, not the young master.”

Only then did the butler’s eyes show signs of confusion.

“Did you make an appointment?”

He meant she couldn’t meet him without one. Instead of answering, Iana showed the signet ring of Marseille on her hand. The butler seemed to catch his breath. A family signet was not something a young lady would carry around lightly. He looked back and forth between Iana’s hand with the signet and her still youthful face, then quickly excused himself and ran to the Duke’s office.

“My Lady, His Grace says he’s about to go out and can only spare a very little time.”

The butler soon returned, wiping cold sweat, and led Iana to the Duke’s office.

“Speak quickly and get to the point.”

Duke Shaude was visibly annoyed at Iana’s sudden intrusion. He had promised a quiet dinner with Odelli’s mother. Young and beautiful lovers were nice, but a relationship like Odelli’s mother—growing old together and understanding each other—wasn’t bad either. But for Iana to barge in at such a time, without any notice, was not something he could welcome.

If it weren’t for the signet of Marseille on her finger, he would have sent her away as the rumors said.

Upon entering, the young lady stared at Duke Shaude, then shook her head as if disappointed. Her bold attitude made the Duke’s eyebrows twitch in displeasure.

“I made time for you despite my busy schedule, and this is how you show your gratitude?”

“You speak as if you’re doing me a favor. Ah, I’m late with my introduction. I am Iana Marseille.”

“I know. Just state your business quickly.”

If it weren’t for Marseille, or at least that signet, she wouldn’t have been let in. Even if, as the butler said, she had saved Luca’s life, it was nothing more than a trivial family dispute. The young lady’s meddling in a quarrel between brothers was just her overbearing nosiness. Duke Shaude looked down at Iana with a dissatisfied expression.

“Are you on your way to see Madame Therese?”

“How do you know that, Lady?”

The Duke’s displeased face was now shadowed with suspicion. Iana grinned.

“Odelli may be immature, but Madame Therese at least knows something is wrong. So she must have urgently requested to see you, Your Grace. After all, you’re the highest authority she knows, and by law, you are Odelli’s father.”

“My Lady, you seem far too interested in other people’s family affairs.”

“Not at all. Believe it or not, I absolutely detest troublesome things.”

Iana shook her head.

“By the way, is Madame Therese still beautiful?”

The Duke frowned at the out-of-context, odd question.

She was a young lady whose true feelings could not be known. At every banquet, she used to be unable to leave Prince Karl’s side, causing others to click their tongues. But now, her entire demeanor seemed completely different, leaving those around her puzzled.

“A princess from a distant country, is it? Do you still believe that story?”

“And why shouldn’t I?”

At the Duke’s words, Iana burst out laughing.