Chapter 3 – Imperial Palace Banquet (Part 8)

Reubellina had no intention of helping Inferno either. He had already crossed the line of what she could tolerate. In her mind, she wanted to unleash her temper and shower him with curses, but with the last shred of reason, she barely managed to restrain herself.

Unable to withstand Tartenon’s piercing gaze, IInferno broke out in a cold sweat and stumbled away from Reubellina’s side. Even as Tartenon’s eyes remained fixed on him, Inferno slowly shuffled towards the door of the study.

Tartenon tilted his head slightly in the direction of the exit.

“The way out is this way.”

He seemed too bothered to even raise his hand. Faced with Tartenon’s complete indifference, Inferno couldn’t even muster the anger.

Inferno, keeping an eye on Tartenon, left the study. Tartenon’s aide, who was waiting, escorted him out.

When he was out of sight, Tartenon closed the door of the study and stood before Reubellina.

“What’s going on here?”

“Indeed, what’s going on? If you had come earlier, none of this would have happened.”

“So it’s my fault for being late?”

“Is it my fault then?”

Reubellina glared at the Tartenon, who stared back at her.

“…It’s no one’s fault.”

“Isn’t it?”

Reubellina shrugged her shoulders and sat back down.

“The news took a while to reach you, I see.”

“I had an urgent matter to attend to, so I wasn’t at the Sylvester Residence.”

“An urgent matter?”

“It’s a confidential issue, so I can’t discuss it right now.”

Reubellina didn’t ask Tartenon any further questions as he closed off the conversation with an appropriate excuse. She knew he wouldn’t answer even if she asked.

Her head was already spinning. Two imperial family members visited today. And if Selena hadn’t gone to see Bellaruse, she might have had to deal with them both at once.

With that, the imperial family’s intentions became clear. At the very least, it seemed that the Emperor had no intention of letting the Asillious family off the hook.

“What are you thinking?”

Tartenon asked cautiously, looking at her over, and she realized she hadn’t even offered him a seat.

“Please have a seat first.”

Sandy, who had already entered the room, quickly grabbed a chair off to one side of the room and placed it next to Tartenon. At a glance, Reubellina held out her hand, and Sandy politely bowed and stepped out.

“I thought it wouldn’t be easy to go North.”

“Why did you think that?”

“There are two imperial family members who came today. The crown prince also came to the event announcing our engagement.”

Reubellina sighed, as if to say that this alone showed the intentions of the imperial family.

“And the Duke?”

“He’s at the palace, he has work to do.”

Reubellina did not inform the Duke of Asillious that she would be leaving for the North tomorrow.

‘He must already know.’

Even if she didn’t say anything, the servants and other staff must have already told the Duke.

‘That way, my father can be free.’

He didn’t know exactly when she would leave, so he couldn’t have something to say to the imperial family.

“You haven’t told the Duke.”

Tartenon immediately understood the meaning in Reubellina’s expression, which was full of concern, and Reubellina quietly nodded.

“Was it because you were afraid the imperial family would interrogate the Duke?”

“For that and other reasons.”

Reubellina had lived a long time, observing the internal affairs of the ducal house. Thanks to this, she could easily read the power struggle between the imperial family and the ducal house. Her father, Duke Asillious, didn’t seem to be too concerned, but it wouldn’t be good to clash with the imperial family now.

There were noble families that supported the Duke of Asillious, but it was uncertain how long that would last. The moment she married the Grand Duke of the North, she would become estranged from the power that dominated the capital. She knew her father’s abilities were excellent, but it was uncertain how long he could maintain the position of chancellor.

‘If anything happens to my father, I won’t let the imperial family off.’

There was a sharp light in Reubellina’s eyes as she vowed to shake this empire with all her might if something happened to her father.

***

“Reubellina!”

Duke Asillious burst into the study.

“What happened? I heard the Imperial Princess came and caused a commotion!”

“It’s alright, Father. It ended without incident.”

“You weren’t hurt anywhere, were you?”

Duke Asillious continued to examine Reubellina’s body carefully, from her face to every part. After confirming that there were no injuries, he let out a sigh of relief.

“How could this happen…”

The Duke’s words, spoken as if self-deprecating, made Reubellina bite her lip. She didn’t do anything wrong, but she felt it was somehow her fault for making him worry.

The Duke’s eyes, as he held Reubellina’s hands and thought for a moment, shone with determination.

“This won’t do.”

“Huh?”

“Depart immediately.”

“Yes. …What?!”

Reubellina was puzzled when the Duke suddenly told her to leave today when she was supposed to leave tomorrow.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

The Duke’s voice was firm.

“May I see you for a moment?”

Leaving only those words for Tartenon, the Duke said to Reubellina:

“I know you are already preparing, so hurry and finish up.”

“Father.”

“It would be better to do it that way.”

“…Understood.”

After glancing between the Duke and Tartenon, Reubellina left the room to finish her preparations, and the Duke spoke.

“His Majesty has asked for my daughter to become the crown prince’s concubine.”

“I’ve never heard such an outrageous proposal. Is that something you would say to one about to marry another?”

“That means His Majesty won’t recognize your marriage. It’s a ploy to get her into the Imperial Family since the marriage proposal has been exchanged.”

“So they’re trying to seize the power and wealth of the Duchy by any means.”

“That’s why it’s best to leave quickly.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

“…Please take good care of my daughter.”

Duke Asillious’ eyes were filled with sadness. Reubellina was his one and only daughter. A precious treasure left to him by his deceased wife.

That treasure had never caused any trouble growing up, except for saying she would marry the second prince. Reubellina was the one who had brilliantly managed the ducal house’s trading company, so the Duke did not want the darkness of the imperial family to overshadow his smart daughter’s future.

‘It would be a little better if she goes to the North.’

At least the North was a place free from the clutches of the imperial family.

If he smuggles Reubellina off to the north, he may have to give up the position of chancellor, but he doesn’t care. After all, he was the head of the nobility, so even the emperor couldn’t treat him lightly.

“How about you come to the North as well, Duke?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”

If he left for the North as well, the imperial family’s vigilance towards the North would only increase. Duke Asillious needed to be here somehow to see how the imperial family behaved. He must remain in the capital to relay information to the North.

“Then at least leave some knights behind.”

“That may cause unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“Still, it would be better than losing your life, wouldn’t it?”

At Tartenon’s firm words, the Duke clenched his fist. The imperial family had been friendly to the Asillious ducal house so far, but it was uncertain how they would act from now on.

“Take it as a favor. If it’s difficult for you to have knight escorts, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“…Thank you.”

Duke Asillious and Tartenon continued to talk a little more, and only left the study after hearing the servant’s report that the preparations were complete.