Chapter 13 – Betrayal of Betrayal (Part 2)

Tartenon didn’t know whether to feel pleased or displeased by Reubellina’s words. He liked that she didn’t lose her sense of self-worth, but hearing that nothing had changed even now that she was the Grand Duchess left him unsure of how to respond.

“Such a serious face again.”

Reubellina rubbed Tartenon’s brow with her index finger. She smiled softly and whispered.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it well.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

“But your expression says otherwise.”

She lightly kissed Tartenon’s face and then straightened her back. As Tartenon gently rubbed his cheek, her golden eyes turned towards him.

“I’ll be back soon, so stay here quietly.”

“What if Princess Selena does something?”

“Princess Selena Freynante isn’t that type of person. Well, she is a bit headstrong, though.”

“If I hear any loud noises, I’ll come right away.”

“Please do.”

Reubellina playfully saluted Tartenon with a smile.

“Then, I shall take my leave, Your Grace.”

Tartenon’s gaze didn’t leave Reubellina’s back as she turned and exited the room.

“Is it alright to leave His Grace alone like that?”

“He was always alone in the castle, wasn’t he?”

“But this is the Duke of Asillious’ mansion…”

“If he gets bored, he can go to the study. And he’s busier than he looks.”

Reubellina gave a slight smile to Sandy, who was worried about Tartenon. Sandy turned her head, as if to say who was worrying about whom.

Tartenon was indeed a very busy man. Even while staying at the Duke of Asillious’ mansion, letters from the North arrived almost daily.

Nothing in the North proceeded without his decision. Even urgent matters handled by Paddington ultimately required Tartenon’s final approval. Thus, Reubellina could bet all her money that Bruelin would enter the room as soon as she left.

Sure enough, Reubellina gave a triumphant smile when she saw Bruelin greeting her as he passed by. There was nothing more satisfying than having her predictions come true.

As someone who dealt with people, predicting and matching future events was the most enjoyable part.

‘This time, things must go as I plan.’

Hoping that Princess Selena Freynante shared her thoughts, Reubellina walked slowly. Fortunately, there was no sound of breaking teacups as before.

“Where is the Princess?”

“She is inside.”

“And the tea?”

“We’ve prepared the finest.”

Reubellina realized from the butler’s calm voice that there were no issues and that there was room for negotiation.

‘She must have come to find out why Tartenon and I are at the ducal residence.’

At Reubellina’s signal, the butler opened the door. As the door to the reception room opened, Princess Selena Freynante, who had been enjoying the aroma of tea, turned her gaze.

“Greetings to the flower of the Empire.”

“Welcome, Reubellina.”

When Reubellina bowed deeply, Princess Selena waved her hand dismissively.

“Visiting so early in the morning?”

“What does time matter between us?”

“Between us…?”

“A woman who took the man I was supposed to marry and the woman who lost him?”

Reubellina, who was about to sit in the seat offered to her, hesitated. As Reubellina stared at her, Selena smirked and opened her lips.

“Why? Haven’t you heard that often?”

“Princess.”

“It’s fine. I don’t really care. Not anymore.”

Selena responded nonchalantly. Reubellina, who thought she had come to stir things up, decided to speak as she had initially planned.

“What brings you here today?”

“Reubellina, ever since you returned to the capital, many people have been asking for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Although it would have been proper to use honorifics since Reubellina had become the Grand Duchess, Selena remained the same. Before Reubellina could point that out, Selena spoke first.

“From my father to my brother, and who was it… Bellaruse? Even she was quite a nuisance.”

At those words, Reubellina flinched as she was about to drink her tea. The Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Bellaruse? The combination seemed strange.

Reubellina’s eyes narrowed as she heard that Bellaruse had instigated Selena to summon her.

“No need to be so angry. She’s in a rather pitiful situation herself.”

“What do you mean…?”

“We’ll discuss that later. First, let’s get to my business.”

If the Selena she had seen before was an empty-headed princess who only cared about accessories, the Selena now was a bit different. Moving like a well-fed lion, Reubellina felt a sense of satisfaction.

‘As I expected.’

Though they had exchanged subtle glances before, the situation had been somewhat uncertain. But seeing Selena now, Reubellina felt she could fulfill the role of a reliable partner.

“When will you return to the North?”

“What?”

Reubellina asked back at the sudden question. Her gaze still scrutinized Selena.

“Having you here is quite bothersome.”

“Has the Imperial family said something?”

“Given the situation, of course. It’s very annoying.”

Selena’s face looked quite bored, but Reubellina wasn’t fooled. Seeing Reubellina’s sharp gaze, Selena smirked.

“Let’s stop beating around the bush. You can’t deny that you got that far thanks to me, can you?”

“Thanks to you, Princess?”

“If I had decided to interfere, do you think you could have married the Grand Duke?”

Selena’s cold words settled in. Reubellina felt a chill but tried not to show it.

“I thought you understood when you went to the Imperial Palace that day.”

“I did understand. If I had any lingering feelings for the Grand Duke, you would have been dragged to the palace by your hair that day.”

Selena placed her teacup down with a clink and looked directly at Reubellina.

“You’re underestimating the Duke of Asillious.”

“You also underestimated the Princess, so you deserve to hear this.”

“I almost fell for the attitude you showed, Princess.”

“But you didn’t, did you?”

“Pretending not to know is a lady’s virtue.”

“I don’t know since when pretending not to see became a lady’s virtue, but that pretense saved you.”

‘Saved me?’

Reubellina tilted her head at Selena’s sudden words.

“Otherwise, I would have been the one targeted by the Crown Prince.”

Selena was also a imperial with a claim to the throne. However, her name was never mentioned as a successor due to her frivolous behavior.

Only then did Reubellina become certain.

‘Maybe I can work with the Princess.’

“His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed a dangerous person.”

“I know that too.”

Selena nodded. Reubellina warned her.

“When His Highness the Second Prince tried to do something, he would appear immediately and crush him.”

Reubellina still hadn’t forgotten. The young Inferno, beaten and flattened by Monterno. Harsh words were common, and physical violence was frequent. It had been quite a shock to young Reubellina. Beating one’s own blood-related brother.

‘I thought it was unthinkable…’

Even Viverna in the North tried to kill her nephew. Reubellina realized that such things happened frequently in noble families and that she should not be bound by familial affection.

‘That doesn’t mean I need to become cold-hearted.’

But appropriate caution was necessary.

With those thoughts, Reubellina let out a bitter smile. 

‘How did things come to this?’ 

The situation of the imperial family was what it was, and she used to think that if she did well, she could make Inferno happy, but that seemed like a distant memory now.

Reubellina closed her eyes tightly and then opened them to shake off the sudden thoughts. Seeing Reubellina’s expression of pity for Inferno, Selena snorted.

“Do you pity my brother?”

“How could I? I wouldn’t dare pity a member of the Imperial family.”

“You speak well.”

Selena lifted her chin. Reubellina straightened her posture at Selena’s change in demeanor. From a frivolous princess to a noble member of the imperial family.

“Just because he’s pitiful doesn’t mean my younger brother is normal.”

“What?”

“Those who are tamed by violence produce more violence.”

“What are you saying…?”

“Do you know what situation Bellaruse Zeraon is in now?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Lady Zeraon?”

Reubellina blinked at Selena’s unexpected words.

“Haven’t you heard the rumors yet?”

“I haven’t been back in the capital for long and have only stayed at the Duke’s mansion.”

“The servants here seem quite satisfactory. They pass for not spreading gossip carelessly.”

“My servants are my responsibility. It’s not something for you to concern yourself with, Princess.”

Reubellina replied aggressively to the remark that implied taking her people. Selena returned a smile to such Reubellina.

“No need to get prickly over a casual remark.”

“People are very precious to me. Finding loyal servants to our family is a very difficult task.”

“Ah, I know. The servants of the Duke of Asillious have served for generations, right?”

“That’s because we treat them well.”

“Don’t get so smug.”

Selena opened her fan, indicating she no longer wished to discuss the topic. Reubellina switched the subject.

“What happened to Lady Zeraon?”

“My brother is truly despicable.”

“Pardon?”

It was clear that the brother Selena mentioned was not Monterno but Inferno.

‘He was lacking, but he wasn’t a despicable person…’

“They say you see a person’s true nature when they have nothing. I thought imperial family members would be different, but they aren’t.”

“If that’s the case…”

“He does the same thing as our older brother.”

The lightly spoken words carried heavy content. Reubellina felt her blood run cold. Had she not known this and married Inferno, she could have been in Bellaruse’s situation.

‘No way…’

“He treats Bellaruse harshly.”

“…I see.”

“From what I’ve seen, it’s not just harsh treatment. It seems like he hits her almost daily.”

“Oh my.”

“It seems the imperial family justifies violence. My older brother did, and now my younger brother too.”

Though Selena mentioned it casually, her expression was not good. She knew there were many noblewomen who suffered at their hands. Though she had ignored it until now, it was becoming harder to do so.