Chapter 18

“Hugo…”

Catherine called out to the man standing in front of her with a trembling voice. Hugo turned his head, wearing a charming smile.

“Could it be… were you the subject of the rumors?”

“What rumors are you talking about?”

It was only after meeting Madame Smith that Catherine heard about the ‘new Duke receiving his title.’

It was a rumor related to the Duke’s title conferral. The rumor about a new Duke who had the Queen’s full confidence was filled with various speculations about the Duke.

A strikingly handsome man, an enormous wealthy man, and single!

It was enough to cause a stir in the social world.

But Catherine didn’t care. The subject of the rumors was far from being a potential husband for Brooke, Riena, or Lillie.

Even if Madame Smith hadn’t firmly told Catherine, there was no chance Catherine would get involved with the new Duke.

And yet…

“Hugo, are you the man who will receive the Duke title?”

Catherine realized she couldn’t keep her promise to Madame Smith only when she arrived at the Queen’s audience chamber.

And one more thing.

“Could it be that the person you were going to introduce as a sponsor for the young ladies is Her Majesty the Queen?”

Hugo’s eyes curved like a bow. His smile was an affirmation of Catherine’s question.

Catherine took a step back cautiously.

Queen Regencia had not yet arrived. If she left now, she could quietly return to the mansion as if she had never been here!

But Hugo wasn’t going to let Catherine, who was moving away, go.

Hugo gently grabbed Catherine’s wrist.

“Catherine, please. Stay by my side.”

Hugo lowered his eyes and bowed his head. He rubbed the inside of Catherine’s wrist with his thumb.

With a look like an abandoned puppy, Catherine froze.

“Hugo, if I had known it was this kind of event, I wouldn’t have come.”

“I know. That’s why I couldn’t tell you.”

“…”

“I don’t have anyone to come with me to this place. As you know, I have no family. There’s Brian, but he’s still too young to handle an event like this.”

Hugo explained calmly why he had no choice but to invite his divorced ex-wife to such an important event where he would receive the Duke title.

Catherine couldn’t immediately respond to Hugo’s words. His quiet gaze was fixed on her. Then Hugo tilted his head.

Catherine was defenseless against his empty and lonely eyes.

Hugo’s appearance overlapped with her own when she had guarded the large castle alone while he was at war.

Still, Catherine hesitated. Above all, her outfit seemed woefully inadequate for attending a Duke title conferment.

Now that she thought about it, Hugo looked excessively handsome today. Though not in formal attire, he was dressed in something just as impressive.

Because of that, even though she wore her favorite dress, Catherine felt very small.

“And Catherine, you owe me something.”

“Me?”

“Housewarming gift. Didn’t you say you’d give me something in return?”

Ah, the freesia.

Catherine belatedly recalled the promise she made with him and blamed herself. No matter how busy she was, how could she forget!

“Catherine, think of it as a replacement for the gift.”

Catherine bit the tip of her thumb and fell into thought. Hugo gave her time to think.

It wasn’t long before Catherine spoke.

“Hugo, can you delay it by two hours? No, Hugo. I think it’s better if I don’t go. Um, if it’s necessary for me to attend, how about I watch from that corner?”

“No, Catherine. Can’t you see I’m trembling? If you’re going to help, help properly. You don’t want your ex-husband to look like a trembling fool in front of Her Majesty, do you? What if I drop the sword while receiving it?”

As Catherine wavered, Hugo pressed her determinedly.

“Look, Catherine.”

Hugo took Catherine’s hand and placed it over his chest.

His heartbeat was fast, just as he said. His claim of being nervous was true.

Though the reason might be different from what Catherine thought.

“But my outfit… Hugo, you should have told me in advance.”

“Catherine.”

Hugo, holding Catherine’s hand tightly, approached her.

He lowered his head near her neck. As the scent she liked wafted, he spoke in the low voice she loved.

“Catherine, you are always beautiful. If you were any more dressed up, Her Majesty might get angry.”

“H-Hugo!”

Hugo stepped back slightly.

“Don’t lie.”

Heat rose to Catherine’s face. She finally pulled her hand from Hugo’s grasp and placed it on her cheek.

“My heart doesn’t lie. It’s true.”

“You said it’s beating because you’re nervous?”

Catherine glared at Hugo. She still had her hand on her cheek.

“There are many reasons for trembling, Catherine. Ah, it looks like it’s about to start. Let’s go.”

With Hugo speaking so sweetly and complimenting her, Catherine couldn’t run away any longer.

Taking a deep breath, Catherine said.

“Alright. Since I’m here, I’ll stay until the ceremony ends. But I’ll have to think more about asking Her Majesty to be Brooke’s sponsor.”

“Okay.”

Hugo laughed softly. He turned and started walking again, holding Catherine’s wrist.

***

The Duke title conferment is a very grand event. Establishing a new Duke, who would be central to the country, was a useful opportunity for a king to show off his power.

However, at Hugo’s request, this event was to be conducted more simply.

Regencia was displeased but respected Hugo’s wishes.

A red carpet was laid out in the place where the king was to be seen, and Regencia’s bodyguards and key ministers of the kingdom were lined up next to it.

The marble space was adorned with the faces of previous kings carved in relief on the pillars and stained glass, making it splendid without further decoration.

Catherine, who was visiting the king’s audience chamber for the first time, was enchanted by the marble space dyed in various colors.

“Catherine, we have to go forward.”

Catherine, who had been absent-mindedly looking around, came to her senses.

“Together, in front of Her Majesty?”

“That’s usually how it’s done.”

Catherine knew nothing about the conferment of titles. It was extremely rare for a woman to receive a title.

Catherine, who was quite fond of history, could confidently say that in the history of the Dalton Kingdom, the number of women who had received titles directly from the king could be counted on one hand.

They were all people who had achieved tremendous feats.

Someone who had quelled a plague that had terrorized the entire kingdom, someone who had defeated over 100 knights of an enemy country with bare hands, or someone who had ingeniously designed a way to prevent floods.

Therefore, Catherine had no interest in title conferment ceremonies and was ignorant of the procedures.

“Quickly.”

So she had no choice but to follow Hugo’s lead.

The two walked side by side on the red carpet.

Walking straight down the path under the gaze of people reminded her of a wedding ceremony.

‘But this feels a bit strange.’

Do I have to stand in front of the Queen too?

This seemed like a ceremony for very close confidants. Catherine glanced back at the path they had walked.

It was too late to turn back now. Moreover, the Queen was right in front of them.

‘This is really strange. This isn’t right.’

“Catherine, if you don’t focus, you’ll trip.”

Hugo leaned slightly and whispered.

“Hugo, this is strange…”

“Shh, people are watching.”

At Hugo’s words, Catherine closed her mouth.

It felt strange, but it was too late to turn back now, and Hugo wouldn’t want to be misunderstood, so she couldn’t make any noticeable actions.

She tried to dismiss her thoughts, thinking it wasn’t that important.

Finally, the long path ended, and they reached near the king.

Regencia was seated in a chair placed three steps higher, with the backrest reaching the ceiling.

Catherine couldn’t bring herself to look directly at the king and lowered her head.

She heard the rustling sound of a finely textured dress moving, and the end of a blue dress resembling the dawn appeared in her sight.

“Glory to Dalton, I greet Your Majesty, Regencia.”

Hugo knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

Catherine, following his lead, knelt beside him.

She thought she heard a faint chuckle. But Catherine concluded that she must have misheard.

‘Who would laugh in this situation?’

The hall was suffocatingly silent, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Catherine could do nothing but lower her head further.

“Hugo Edward.”

At Regencia’s call, Hugo raised his head. Regencia looked down at him with lowered eyes.

The arrogant gaze suited Regencia well.

“Head of the Edward family.”

Regencia paused for a moment. Her gaze fell on Catherine, who was sitting quietly beside Hugo.

Her red eyes showed no emotion, but Regencia was thinking many thoughts.

“Your Majesty.”

Piare, Regencia’s closest aide and her right arm, or rather her right shoulder, called softly, urging her to continue the conferment ceremony.

Regencia slightly nodded without even glancing at Piare and continued.

“I will appoint you as the shield, sword, and wings of the Dalton Kingdom. Will you become my shield, sword, and wings?”

Hugo raised his right arm and placed his forehead on his forearm in response to the question that was more of a command.

His precise actions were without hesitation.

The royal sword of the Dalton Kingdom was placed on Hugo’s shoulder.

“Sir Edward, rise and share blood with Her Majesty.”

At Piare’s words, Hugo stood up. He then reached out his hand to help Catherine up.

Catherine’s eyes met Regencia’s.

Regencia, taller than Catherine, who was already quite tall, was a mature beauty with golden hair.

Her presence was overwhelming enough to be instantly recognizable as a queen.

Especially her red eyes shone brightly as if they would burn everything black, and Catherine was captivated by her gaze, unable to hear the surrounding noises for a while.

“Catherine, you need to drink.”

Hugo held out a cup to Catherine. The golden cup was filled with wine close to the color of blood.

‘Me too?’

Catherine widened her eyes and looked at Hugo.