I finished speaking and looked up at Alec. He seemed to be pondering for a moment, then, recalling my request to play along, he opened his mouth in that refined voice of his.

“…That is correct.”

“…!”

Immediately, gasps of astonishment rippled through the room.

“Oh my, he truly speaks so well now?”

“How did he manage to change his habit so suddenly?”

“Truly remarkable.”

People openly murmured and showered him with admiration.

I recalled the words the Emperor had said to us the last time we were at the palace.

“Do you know that people change when they’re shocked? Duke Brent, I’m going to personally prescribe a shock therapy for you. It’s to cure your stuttering. How about that?”

“I’m going to give you the greatest shock you’ve ever experienced.”

The Emperor had indeed claimed that taking everything from us was to cure Alec’s speech habits. Of course, his true intention was to humiliate and torment Alec, but the official reason was to help him.

The ladies seemed to remember that day as well.

“Now that you mention it, the Emperor did say something like that.”

“That’s right. He said that a great shock could cure the Duke’s stammer.”

“Could it be that the shock was so profound that it changed his way of speaking?”

The murmurs grew louder again.

Honestly, the hope that the tyrant would return our titles just because Alec’s speech had improved was faint. We were like ants crushed under the tyrant’s meaningless whims.

The decision to restore our status rested solely with the tyrant.

I wore a bittersweet smile.

“With this development, we have found hope. We firmly believe that the Emperor will show mercy to our family.”

“…”

In truth, I was content and happy with our current life. However, a lingering sense of injustice kept bubbling up inside me.

It seemed that the other nobles present also felt pity for our unjustly fallen family. They couldn’t be certain that the same fate wouldn’t befall their own families.

I spoke with a worried tone, hoping to stir their fears.

“Perhaps the Emperor might intend to resolve the issues of other noble families as well. His solution proved effective, after all.”

“Ah…”

The ladies sighed.

They seemed to realize the possibility that their own families could be next in line for such ruin.

If the once-powerful Duke Brent could fall so swiftly, what chance did other families have?

Our case had been the first visible example of a noble family being targeted, and it was now dawning on them how unreasonable the tyrant’s actions were.

I continued, raising my voice slightly.

“I sincerely hope that nothing happens to your families.”

With that, I made a grand gesture, swiftly unfolding my fan to cover just below my eyes.

My gaze was calm yet firm as I watched the ladies.

This meant, ‘I will be watching.’

Though typically a gesture directed at a husband’s mistress, the ladies seemed to understand my intent, their lips parting slightly.

We need to unite.

However, I couldn’t openly say this yet. I could only hint at our mutual desire to avoid the tyrant’s wrath.

A solemn atmosphere settled over the ornate tea room, which contrasted sharply with its luxurious setting.

Then, the sound of firm, measured footsteps began to echo, like raindrops falling steadily.

Eloise turned her head in surprise, her eyes widening as if she had seen a ghost.

“Harriet!”

Harriet?

I closed my fan and turned towards where Eloise was looking.

Striding into the tea room, with their blue cloaks billowing, were knights.

“…”

I recognized them immediately.

I couldn’t forget the man who had almost married my sister-in-law.

It was the Blue Blood Knights and their commander, Count Harriet Warden.

The appearance of these cold, imposing knights in such an incongruous setting made the ladies shiver slightly.

Harriet, with his handsome looks that had captured the hearts of the empire’s young ladies, stood before us.

He seemed to deliberately ignore Eloise, not even glancing her way. Then, his words shocked everyone.

“The Emperor invites the former Duke and Duchess of Brent to the palace.”

“…”

Already summoning us?

He had heard of us sooner than expected.

I thought the rumors would need more time to spread before he would take notice.

Regardless, everything was going according to plan, and I had to suppress a smile twitching at the corner of my mouth.

* * *

Ding!

[A new character has been introduced.]

[Harriet Warden]

[Male, Age: 16]

[Count of Warden and Captain of the Blue Blood Knights. He inherited the knighthood at the youngest age after his father, Count Newton Warden, died young.]

[Heartless and ruthless, but usually hides it behind an indifferent yet kind demeanor.]

[Engaged to Eloise Myers, but chose Princess Annabelle, the emperor’s sister, for power. He is tormented when Eloise dies unexpectedly in an accident.]

[Combat Power: Level 35]

[Main Weapon: The Blue-Eyed Sword, passed down to the captains of the Blue Blood Knights.]

‘Blue Blood Knights…?’

After checking the new character list, Alec immediately closed the window.

As the knights entered the glass greenhouse, an unexpected character list opened.

The knights before him looked like well-crafted NPCs from a game, all handsome and polished. The man leading them seemed to be their captain, Harriet.

He had an appearance that made it hard to tell if he was a boy or a young man.

The Blue Blood Knights reminded him of the original work, where they served Aksen.

“The Emperor invited us? What a surprise. We humbly accept the emperor’s invitation.”

Louise seemed a bit surprised but followed the emperor’s order without much hesitation.

It wasn’t an order they could refuse anyway.

In the end, he and Louise boarded the carriage to the imperial palace.

Eloise wasn’t invited, so she had to stay in the tearoom.

‘To think that Louise was planning to reclaim her status.’

Louise’s elegant and resonant voice still echoed clearly in his mind.

‘I plan to reclaim our status today.’

He never imagined she had such thoughts.

He had assumed that she, along with the family, had already resigned to their current status.

Suddenly, something soft and delicate wrapped around Alec’s hand.

“Don’t be nervous. Nothing will happen just because we’re meeting the emperor.”

Looking down, he saw Louise holding his hand.

The touch was gentle yet fragile.

After staring at her for a moment, Alec shifted his gaze to the window.

Louise’s touch seemed to make him feel a tension that wasn’t there before.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke.

“…I didn’t know you had such plans, My Lady.”

“Huh? Oh…”

He had thought she planned to live like this forever.

But the look in her eyes when she spoke of reclaiming her status was filled with joyful hope and excitement.

It was surprising and admirable.

Wouldn’t most people in such situations just give up?

The reactions of the noblewomen they met in the greenhouse also seemed to find their family remarkable.

Louise then smiled self-deprecatingly.

“…Alec, I still can’t do much. But somehow, I started to have hope.”

“…”

“Watching you change gave me courage and a goal. You don’t just endure anymore.”

“…”

That’s because he wasn’t the real Alec.

He turned to meet Louise’s gaze.

“If you hadn’t changed, I wouldn’t have dared to attend the ball we went to yesterday.”

“…”

“So, I decided to try reclaiming what’s ours. I don’t want to be reckless. I’m happy enough as it is. But having endured so much, I want to give it a try.”

“…”

Alec opened his mouth to say something but then closed it again.

Louise’s violet eyes were clear as morning dew, yet as firm as tempered glass.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories