Chapter 1 – Broken Engagement (Part 5)

‘It’s him…! Oh no, I’m doomed.’

Barely swallowing the scream that almost escaped her lips, Reubellina calmly approached the prepared seat for her. As she drew near, the Grand Duke stood up and pulled the chair back for her.

Blinking at the politeness of his gesture, Reubellina only sat down after receiving a nod from the Duke. Having escorted her, the Grand Duke casually returned to his seat.

“This is my daughter, Reubellina Asillious.”

As soon as the Duke finished speaking, Reubellina carefully extended her hand, introducing herself.

“I am Reubellina Asillious, Your Grace.”

“Tartenon Speraum. Pleased to meet you, my lady.”

There were no usual pleasantries. Tartenon gently brushed his lips against the back of her hand. His silver hair cascaded down, framing his face slightly. Reubellina couldn’t take her eyes off his hair, which glistened in the sunlight. It seemed to take quite a long time before his lips parted her hand. 

She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him until a teacup was placed in front of her and the aroma of tea wafted out.  This was the first time someone other than Inferno had occupied her vision.

“Um, may I ask why you wished to see my daughter…?”

“I would like to speak to Lady Asillious alone.”

“…Alone?”

“Strictly speaking, we’re not entirely alone. The servants of the manor are here as well.”

“Do you mean to dismiss them as well?”

“It would be better if they left.”

The Duke’s obvious reluctance was casually brushed aside by Tartenon. Reubellina realized why Tartenon wanted to dismiss the people around them – he must have come to talk about what happened last night.

Since having others present would actually be disadvantageous for her, Reubellina quickly spoke up.

“It’s fine to talk just the two of us.”

“Reubellina!”

“It’s fine, Father.”

At Reubellina’s soothing words, the Duke glared sharply at Tartenon, but the latter’s face remained unchanged. Staring at Tartenon calmly sipping his tea without so much as a change in expression, the Duke stood up.

“…Then go ahead and have your conversation. I’ll be right outside.”

The Duke’s words, indicating he would wait right outside to prevent any improper behavior towards his daughter, were met with a casual wave of Tartenon’s hand as the former politely excused himself.

After the Duke left the reception room, Tartenon finally spoke.

“Lady Asillious.”

His low voice called out to Reubellina. She gripped the teacup in front of her, trying not to let her trembling fingers show. She feared what Tartenon might say.

“Why are you here?”

Before Tartenon could broach his purpose, Reubellina asked first.

He never took his eyes off her, and when his blue eyes met hers, she was overcome with an unknown emotion. The eyes seemed familiar, yet also strange. She couldn’t help but be captivated by his gaze.

When she finally regained her composure, she asked again.

“Did you come to receive compensation?”

“Compensation?”

“Yes.”

Reubellina thought it was better to bring it up herself, even though the words felt shameful to speak. That way, she could find out what Tartenon wanted.

“If this is about what happened yesterday…”

“Yes, that’s right. Your reason for coming here this morning must be about that, isn’t it?”

“Lady Asillious, I…”

“Thank you for saving me.”

Reubellina interrupted. 

Tartenon might have thought her attitude arrogant, but she felt she had to say something. It was better than just staying silent and being taken advantage of later. The social circle was full of people who changed their attitudes as quickly as flipping a hand.

“But please keep what happened last night a secret.”

“I believe I said I wouldn’t go around blabbing about it, didn’t I?”

“I don’t trust promises made just with words.”

Reubellina replied with a bitter expression, taking a sip of her tea. As the tea aroma spread in her mouth, her tension eased a little.

“So tell me, what is it you want.”

Tartenon’s eyes gleamed sharply. While speaking boldly, Reubellina kept an eye on him, worried he might go out and start blabbing if he was displeased.

Tartenon’s long fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. The sound of it at regular intervals made her even more nervous.

‘Was it unnecessary to bring it up?’

He didn’t seem like the kind of person who would just go around and babble, but she wasn’t sure if his mood was soured by this incident. Just then, Tartenon’s lips opened.

“Are you saying you’ll grant whatever I want?”

“Ah, that’s not…”

Before Reubellina could finish her hesitant response, Tartenon cut her off.

“Then, marry me.”

“Wh-what?!”

“I said I didn’t intend to go around blabbing, but since you’re offering compensation, I’ll take you up on it.”

“M-marriage… Is that the compensation you desire, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious?”

‘What on earth was this?’

Reubellina couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The sudden arrival of the Grand Duke of the Empire at the ducal household was enough to make people talk, but the Grand Duke, the one known to the barbarians as the Silver Devil, was asking her to marry him.

Dumbfounded by the absurd situation, Reubellina could only open and close her mouth. It was a rather ridiculous sight, but she couldn’t help it. After the unbelievable events of yesterday, Reubellina didn’t know how to react.

Glancing around in her confusion, she finally regained her composure when her eyes met Tartenon’s calm, blue gaze.

“…Why?”

“From the way Prince Inferno behaved yesterday, it seems he has no respect for his fiancée of 10 years.”

Tartenon’s words pierced Reubellina’s heart like a dagger. She bit her lip slightly, wondering why her heart stung so much when she knew he had said the right thing.

“As a member of the imperial family, he seems to lack even the bare minimum of etiquette and concept, so he will soon publicly mention the cancellation of the engagement and abandon you.”

“…!”

She gritted her teeth. She wanted to retort, telling him not to spout nonsense, but Tartenon’s words were all true. Now that she thought about it, Inferno was indeed such a person.

Reubellina opened her mouth, trying to say something, anything, but nothing came out. Watching her, Tartenon whispered again.

“You know, it’s his fault.”

“Of course, I’m not the one who’s done wrong.”

“But others won’t see it that way.”

As Tartenon said, the other nobles of the Empire would definitely shift the blame to her, even though the fault lay with Inferno. Inferno was a prince of the Empire, even if he was incapable, and she was only a daughter of a Duke. It was a safer choice to gossip about the daughter of a Duke rather than speak ill of the prince.

“The nobles will try to tear apart the weak, and if that happens, your reputation in this Empire will plummet to the bottom.”

“It’ll go even deeper than the bottom.”

Tartenon’s lips curled up slightly at Reubellina’s accurate assessment of the situation. But the movement was so fleeting that Reubellina didn’t notice it.

“Moreover, with the fact that you were the Prince’s fiancée, no decent household would dare propose to you, unless they are of a very high status.”

“And so?”

Reubellina started to nod her head but then abruptly opened her mouth in irritation.

It was true, but she didn’t want to simply accept Tartenon’s words. Just because her heart was already wounded didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt more, and she resented Tartenon’s words for stabbing her in the back before the wound from Inferno had even healed.

“So, don’t you think I, who have a status higher than the Duke but lower than the Imperial Family, would be a suitable husband for you?”

“Even so, I don’t need to find a new match in haste.”

Reubellina’s curt response caused Tartenon’s eyes to curve. When he smiled, his previously cold and aloof expression changed. The silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, glowing golden, and his slanted eyes were soft and inviting. For a moment, Reubellina could not tear her eyes away from Tartenon’s face.

“It is because I am also in a difficult situation.”

“A difficult situation?”

Before Reubellina could ponder what could possibly trouble the powerful Grand Duke of the North with his formidable military might, his answer sprang forth.

“You know I’ve broken off my engagement, right?”

“Ah, that…”

Of course, she knew. It was because of that broken engagement that she had also been notified of her own broken engagement. Reubellina’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“As soon as the Emperor heard the news, he commanded me to marry the imperial princess.”

“The imperial princess?”

“The one and only flower of the empire and the sole possessor of His Majesty’s love.”

Reubellina drew in a sharp breath.