Chapter 2 – Scheh’s Boutique (Part 4)

“I did not expect Your Grace to act like this.”

“And I did not expect the words you had spoken to be unfulfilled. Did you not tell me not to approach your daughter as she had a suitor?”

“Your Grace.”

“Should I explain how amusing it was to find out that suitor was the Second Prince?”

The Duke closed his eyes tightly and then opened them. Just as Reubellina had said, Inferno was not suitable as a fiancé. He was a pathetic and incompetent man. The Duke could never have imagined that someone who had depended on Reubellina and the House of Asillious all his life would abandon his daughter. No, it was beyond his imagination.

When he saw his daughter’s devastated expression, he realized something had gone terribly wrong. The revealed truth was more absurd and disheartening than he had expected.

‘He hurt my daughter over some baron’s daughter?’

He could not understand it. Even a foolish member of the imperial family should have had enough common sense to calculate that much.

When he first heard the news, the Duke had brushed it off as a misunderstanding. But today, when he entered the palace and heard the emperor’s words, he was even more shocked.

‘How dare they propose making my daughter the Crown Prince’s consort?’

It was an unthinkable act. The reward for his lifetime of dedication and effort to the Freynante Empire was this?

He had devoted himself to serving the empire, and all he got in return was a betrayal. The Duke could not forget the Emperor’s words this morning, spoken with a smile, offering him time to consider the proposal to install Reubellina as the Crown Prince’s consort. 

The Crown Prince already had a Crown Princess, but the Emperor’s greed for the wealth of the House of Asillious was clear. The Duke couldn’t respond easily to such a suggestion.

The Emperor, seeing his hesitation, laughed and said he would give him time, leaving the Duke with no choice but to leave, clenching his fists.

“I can imagine what you were told at the imperial palace.”

Recognizing the Duke’s dark expression, Tartenon raised the teacup again and spoke.

“So, what do you think? It would be better to accept my proposal.”

“Is this the same proposal you mentioned before the social event?”

The Duke recalled the words Tartenon had spoken at the banquet. He also remembered how he had snorted at the suggestion that the Grand Ducal and Ducal household be united through marriage.

The Duke’s expression hardened, but Tartenon continued nonchalantly.

“Yes. The North has the military might but lacks the funds to maintain it. However, the Ducal of Asillious  is different.”

“I cannot force my daughter if her heart is not inclined.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Surprised by the gentle crinkle in Tartenon’s eyes as he smiled, the Duke’s eyes widened. This was the first time he had seen the man commonly referred to as the stern Grand Duke of the North smile in such a way.

He was known for never smiling, whether in council meetings or social events. He had a beautiful face, but it was expressionless and cold, and the only young ladies who approached him were those who were interested in the title of Grand Duke.

Thinking of that, the image of the girl, Bellaruse, from the wretched Baron of Zeraon, came to mind. She had once been Tartenon’s fiancée. The Duke had never expected her to reject that title and instead cozy up to Inferno.

‘Does she believe that being near a royal, even in name only, is better than being beside such a man?’

Worry creased the Duke’s face. Ultimately, it was Reubellina who would take the place Bellaruse had rejected.

The Duke could not easily respond. As a father, he made a heartfelt request to Tartenon.

“I hope my daughter does not get hurt because of a mere baron’s daughter.”

“You need not worry about that. I, too, do not wish to see the woman by my side saddened by such a lowly baron’s daughter.”

“……”

The Duke grew more concerned at Tartenon’s calm response. But he had no other choice. If he remained passive, his daughter would likely end up becoming the Crown Prince’s consort.

It troubled him that he should choose the lesser of two evils, but given what he had already heard from the Emperor, there was no turning back.

“I must reiterate that without my daughter’s consent, I cannot give my approval either.”

“I told you not to worry about that.”

Tartenon’s teacup made a distinct sound as it was placed back on the saucer. The Duke stared at him in surprise, for Tartenon was a scrupulous observer of aristocratic etiquette. Tartenon’s cold eyes met his.

“There will be no harm done to Reubellina.”

Somehow, the conviction in Tartenon’s powerful words instilled trust in the Duke, and he reached out his hand decisively.

“…I’ll trust you on that.”

Tartenon firmly grasped the Duke’s hand, answering in this way.

***

In the sunlit corridors of the imperial palace, the servants who worked there bowed and made way for someone’s brisk steps. Following quickly behind Inferno was a royal usher sent by the Emperor. As Inferno walked, he pondered how to handle the situation he found himself in.

The incident with Bellaruse from the day before had been witnessed by the usher, who promptly informed the Emperor. 

‘This is all because of Reubellina!’

The tearful face of Bellaruse, pouring out tears as she recounted her humiliating experience in the Scheh Boutique, tugged at Inferno’s heartstrings. He had comforted her and promised to gift her a custom-made dress.

Inferno had already spent all the money allocated to him from the imperial palace, but he was unaware of this fact. He had assumed that all the money Reubellina had spent on him had come from the imperial treasury.

“Is His Majesty very angry?”

“I understand that he summoned the Chancellor and had a private conversation with him this morning.”

The usher relayed the facts without any change in expression. If anything, it was Inferno who felt a prick of unease at the usher’s composed demeanor.

The Duke of Asillious was an exceptional man, fitting of his nickname “the Iron Chancellor.” Inferno could only wonder what had been discussed in their private conversation.

‘Surely, he didn’t say anything to reprimand me, did he?’

The Duke of Asillious was one of the people Inferno feared. Although Reubellina had been his fiancée for quite some time, the Duke had never once spoken to him kindly. The Duke always looked at him with disdain, making him a figure of terror. He was also someone who could openly criticize even a member of the imperial family.

‘He’ll take my side.’

Inferno was confident that even if the chancellor ranted, his father the Emperor, would side with him. But…

Inferno bit his lip, overwhelmed by the rising tension. The usher observed this unprincely behavior without comment. Oblivious to the usher’s disdainful gaze, Inferno swallowed hard.

Although the Emperor was his father, he was a difficult man for Inferno. Apart from the moment when he had agreed to Inferno’s engagement with Reubellina, the Emperor had never smiled at him.

‘And if he finds out that I’ve broken off the engagement with Reubellina?’

Especially since it was not Reubellina’s fault, but his own unilateral decision to call off the engagement, the imperial wrath would surely descend upon him.

Belatedly, fear washed over him. It had been a bold move to confront Reubellina. How thrilling it had been to see the usually haughty woman crumble before him.