Chapter 11

Rennes Grand Ducal residence, why such a place….

Elina stared intently at the address she held in front of the Rennes Grand Ducal residence, which rivaled the Imperial Palace in scale.

Rennes Grand Ducal family.

The Rennes Grand Ducal family was a house granted to Prince Kahel, the second son of the previous Emperor, who had achieved numerous merits on the battlefield.

Though the family spanned only two generations and lacked a long history, it was one of the most prestigious families in the Koseli Empire.

Currently, the head of the family would be the son of Prince Kahel, the first head.

Two years ago, after discovering all the past facts about Elina, Madame Rasiche completely cut off her education. Because of that, this was all she could remember.

She had no interest or enjoyment in the relationships between nobles, so there was almost nothing left in her mind, but for some reason, she could clearly recognize the emblem of the Grand Ducal family.

So it was even stranger. It wasn’t just any noble family but the only Grand Ducal family in the Empire.

Why, why the Rennes Grand Ducal residence? He said it was his address….

At that time, he had been drunk and mentioned that after his mother’s death, he fought with his father and voluntarily went to the battlefield. He also said he was a lower noble himself.

Yes, if he were really a high-ranking noble, he would have hinted at it first, and he wouldn’t have spent the night so carelessly.

That could lead to having a child.

Elina remained seated in the carriage even after the door opened.

Even if he were a servant of the Grand Ducal family, who would claim to live at their workplace address?

Elina, lost in thought, stiffly descended from the carriage. The coachman, who was also tense, escorted her.

What is this? What could it be? What is happening?

Elina’s luggage, loaded in the carriage, was being taken down one by one. Without even noticing them, she walked slowly to stand before the grand gates of the Grand Ducal family.

She didn’t realize that the robe that had shielded her face from the wind had slipped off.

With an unreadable expression, Elina gazed at the massive buildings beyond the gate.

Is he really there?

At that moment, a huge shadow loomed over Elina. Startled by the figure that approached without a sound, she instinctively stepped back.

“Ah, you scared me.”

“What business do you have here?”

When she looked up, unlike the armored knights surrounding the mansion, a knight in light attire stood before her.

Elina’s green eyes, filled with deep verdure, trembled slightly, and she couldn’t say a word.

She had gotten herself into trouble by lingering in front of the Grand Ducal family. 

He must have given a fake address. Foolishly.

Who gives their home address after just one night?

Lowering her gaze, Elina apologized to the knight in front of her and turned around.

Her olive-colored hair scattered. The carriage and coachman who had brought her here were already gone.

Seeing her luggage left on the ground, it seemed the coachman had fulfilled his duty.

It was time to return.

Looking for someone who couldn’t be found was a foolish act.

“Oh…? Wait, wait, Miss. Please wait….”

Until the knight in front of her stopped Elina, who couldn’t let go of a sliver of hope.

The knight, who had been staring at Elina’s disheveled hair and green eyes, hurriedly walked, or rather ran, to bring someone who looked like the butler of the Grand Ducal residence.

Watching the approaching butler of the Grand Ducal family, Elina’s mind became even more complicated. 

Could he really be inside the Grand Ducal residence?

Then what is Floi’s identity? A man with black hair and blue eyes.

While pondering his true identity, she suddenly thought.

Despite his clothes, Floi’s face and demeanor exuded an undeniable nobility.

A charm that irresistibly captivated people….

The butler, who had approached, whispered with the knight and then, looking at Elina, raised his voice in excitement.

“Oh, that young lady…!”

Though he didn’t come close to Elina, his gaze was fixed on her.

Not knowing how to react, Elina only looked around at the wrinkled hem of her dress and the luggage on the ground.

“The note…! Miss, could you please show me that note for a moment?”

The crumpled note in Elina’s hand caught the butler’s eye.

The note with the address of the Rennes Grand Ducal residence.

Feeling she might find a clue about Floi, Elina handed the note to the butler of the Rennes Grand Ducal residence without hesitation.

“Oh….”

The butler let out another deep sigh of admiration. At the same time, he exchanged glances with the knight beside him.

“Deliver it immediately!”

He called one of the armored knights guarding the outside of the Grand Ducal residence and whispered something briefly that Elina couldn’t understand.

The only words she could catch were ‘deliver it immediately.’

“Please follow me, Miss.”

The butler, now even more courteous, bowed his head to Elina. Not knowing what to say, Elina only moved her lips slightly.

What if… Floi is a direct descendant of the Rennes Grand Ducal family? Or a collateral branch.

No, this is troublesome….

Elina almost followed the butler, who was naturally leading her into the mansion, but stopped after a few steps.

“Who are you… no, do you know Floi?”

“Floi… ahem.”

The butler, who had been walking ahead, coughed repeatedly as if he had said something he shouldn’t have. This deepened Elina’s suspicion.

“If you don’t know—”

“No, I know him well. Very well.”

With a nearly serious expression, the butler nodded firmly. It didn’t seem like a lie, so Elina, while frowning deeply, resumed her halted steps.

Entrusting her luggage to another knight, Elina followed the butler, who moved swiftly.

Despite his evident old age, the butler’s steps were incredibly fast. His voice seemed loud earlier too….

As Elina, with her long robe trailing, strode through the corridors of the Grand Ducal residence, people’s eyes were drawn to her.

The maids of the Grand Ducal residence stopped what they were doing and stared at Elina. But she had no time to pay attention to this.

She was moving deeper into the Grand Ducal residence.

Recalling the structure of the Valois family mansion, a prestigious family in its own right, this was heading toward the center of the mansion, not the annex where servants or guests usually stayed.

What could possibly be at the end of this?

Floi…?

She couldn’t understand. The only thing that could be at the center of the mansion was undoubtedly….

It had to be the Grand Duke of Rennes.

Then the butler, who had been walking ahead, stopped. And, befitting the only Grand Ducal family in the Empire, he opened the elegant and formal-looking door wide.

Contrary to expectations, there was no one inside. Judging by the furnished furniture, it seemed like a small room attached to a large space.

“Could you wait here for a moment?”

As soon as the butler received a small nod from Elina, he hurriedly left. Though told to sit on the plush sofa, Elina had no intention of doing so.

Since entering this place, her gaze had been drawn to a certain spot. A door located on the opposite side of where she entered. A door adorned with gold trim, slightly ajar.

Voices could be heard clearly enough through the slightly open gap.

Through the narrow opening, two people were visible.

Undoubtedly the center of the Grand Ducal residence. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling sparkled.

A woman burst into laughter, covering her mouth with one hand. A woman elegantly dressed in a luxurious gown.

Whether they were enjoying tea, the table in the reception room was laden with various desserts and unopened tea leaves.

A cake piled high with fluffy whipped cream. She didn’t know if it suited her taste now, but it was one of the things she desperately wanted while carrying this child.

Thinking of it made her feel unnecessarily sorrowful.

As Elina looked at her lower abdomen, where the child was, she swallowed hard and turned her gaze in the opposite direction.

Oh…. As if she might be caught, Elina, who was crouching, let out a deep sigh.

Elina’s gaze was fixed on one spot and wouldn’t move. The man opposite the woman was undoubtedly him.

Floi. The man who had loved her alone.

Floi, sipping tea with elegant manners, showed the smile, or rather, the frivolous smile that had been deeply etched in her memory, to the woman beside him.

After exchanging a few words, the woman’s face broke into a smile again.

They were indeed a well-matched pair.

So solid that no one could interfere.

“Your Grace.”

At that moment, the knight Elina had seen earlier hurried in from outside the door she was secretly peeking through. Without a moment’s hesitation, the knight saluted and spoke to Floi, bowing slightly.

At that moment, Floi stood up and quickly scanned his surroundings.

Elina, who had been clinging to the door crack, immediately pulled back. But she couldn’t turn her gaze away, so she continued to watch him move through the narrow gap.

The emblem of the Rennes Grand Ducal family on his clothes fluttered ceaselessly.

The emblem of the Grand Ducal family embroidered with precious gold thread.

The emblem embroidered with gold thread was a symbol only the head of the family could use.

Grand Duke of Rennes.

Grand Duke of Rennes. Yes, he is the Grand Duke. Floi. His true identity.

“Grand Duke of Rennes… Grand Duke….”

Simultaneously, Elina’s eyes lost their direction and wavered. She had to collapse onto the floor as her strength left her body.

Why is his true identity the Grand Duke of Rennes?

No, no. Should I be grateful that he hasn’t forgotten me?

Seeing him earnestly searching for her as soon as he heard the news… Contrary to the thoughts swirling in her head, Elina’s tightly clasped hands trembled.

For some reason, she was also short of breath.

Then the butler, who reappeared, flung open the door that had been blocking Elina and Floi.

The butler, in his haste, didn’t even have time to check Elina’s condition.

His wandering eyes inevitably met Elina’s, who was sitting on the floor.