At those words, Elliope stopped the spoon she had been using to pick at her dessert. 

“……” 

As she slowly turned her head, she was met with the old man’s still serious gaze. It didn’t feel like he was asking out of any particular malice. Nor did it feel as if he intended to report her to Theodor. 

‘Why is he asking that?’ 

As confusion clouded her eyes, Dylan continued speaking softly. 

“Please, say that.” 

“Say… what…?” 

“Not to me, but to Sir Kallian.”

There was an inexplicable seriousness to Dylan’s words. 

“That you want to defeat the damned man.” 

“…….” 

“It’s just that Sir Kallian seems to take it seriously when it comes from you, madam.” 

‘What is this…?’ 

It was then that Elliope met the old man’s gaze. 

“What are you doing, Dylan?” 

The maid, who had smiled warmly earlier, came rushing out. 

“There’s so much I need to explain to madam!” 

“That’s true.” 

“May I introduce her to the work in the kitchen?” 

“Go ahead. Ah, madam, if you’re curious about the life ahead…” 

The room quickly became noisy. The servants under Kallian’s employ seemed particularly interested in Elliope, in more ways than one. 

Even amidst the bustle, Dylan’s whispered words lingered in her mind, subtly intruding on her thoughts. 

***

“They say I should grant you a title.” 

In the vast and desolate office of the Grand Duke of Ilmos, the retainers standing in the corners shifted their gazes uneasily. Theodor, holding a bottle of alcohol even in broad daylight, grinned crookedly. 

“They said granting you a title would make it easier to hold the Imperial family accountable.” 

“……” 

Kallian just stared at Theodor in silence. Theodor sneered, as if displeased with the way Kallian was looking at him. 

” They suggested that we should claim that the imperial princess sent by the palace seduced you, a loyal vassal of the Grand Duchy, and caused this mess.” 

Thud. 

The heavy sound of the bottle hitting the desk echoed through the room. 

“They think if we make it look like we graciously took in the disgraced princess instead of kicking her out, the Imperial Family will have less reason to criticise us.” 

Every word was laced with the heavy smell of alcohol. As soon as Theodor finished, some of the retainers spoke up. 

“It would be better to take this as an opportunity, Your Grace.” 

“That’s right. After all, what Sir Kallian did was out of loyalty…” 

“Loyalty?” 

“Isn’t it true that Your Grace has always desired Princess Leanne, not the fake princess?” 

Those present knew how long he had complained and spoken with hopeful anticipation about the matter, so they continued the conversation.

“In this situation, the Imperial Family will have no choice but to send Princess Leanne.” 

“It will also make it easier for us to criticise the Imperial Family for not sending the right princess, which led to this result.” 

“Didn’t the Princess herself say that? That you should use her to your advantage?” 

In truth, Elliope had said as much at the wedding. 

“Demand Princess Leanne from the Imperial Family. Tell them the previous marriage has been annulled. The contract has not yet been fulfilled.” 

The retainers had no intention of missing such an opportunity. 

“Princess Leanne’s position in the line of succession is not insignificant.” 

Although she had two older brothers above her, as a legitimate princess – as opposed to an illegitimate one with questionable lineage – Princess Leanne had legitimate claims that would be difficult to challenge. 

“She would also enhance the dignity of the Grand Duchy.” 

“We might even be able to extract compensation from the Imperial Family.” 

As they spoke, Kallian watched them in silence, his expression emotionless. His gaze seemed to convey a mixture of indifference and seriousness – an attitude he displayed consistently.

“Besides, isn’t Sir Kallian someone who would have acted purely out of loyalty?” 

At these words, Theodor grinned crookedly and looked up at the standing Kallian. 

“Indeed.” 

“…….” 

“There’s no denying that.” 

In truth, Ilmos would never have developed as it did without Kallian, and Theodor himself would probably have been assassinated dozens of times by now. One of the retainers, well aware of this fact, began to speak.

“Besides, isn’t Sir Kallian someone who would have acted purely out of loyalty?” 

At these words, Theodor grinned crookedly and looked up at the standing Kallian. 

“Indeed.” 

“…….” 

“There’s no denying that.” 

In truth, Ilmos would never have developed as it did without Kallian, and Theodor himself would probably have been assassinated dozens of times by now. One of the retainers, well aware of this fact, began to speak.

“Hasn’t there already been considerable discussion about granting Sir Kallian at least a baronial title?” 

“Now that he is married to a princess, it would be wise to give him an appropriate title and establish the proper decorum, leaving no room for further objections from the Imperial family.” 

“Exactly. That way they won’t be able to propose the annulment of Princess Elliope’s marriage to Sir Kallian.” 

Hearing this, Theodor frowned, his expression clearly showing his dissatisfaction. 

“I…” 

Just as Theodor was about to continue, a small voice cut through the air. 

“Elsen.” 

“…….” 

“I want you to grant me Elsen.” 

The retainers slowly turned their heads towards Kallian. 

“Elsen, you say…?” 

It had been the centre of the Grand Duchy some decades ago.

When Theodor’s grandfather moved the great castle and the ducal residence, Elsen was pushed to the outskirts. In time, neighbouring countries like Seor and others invaded and claimed the surrounding lands, leaving Elsen in a precarious state today.

It was neither too large nor too small an area, with crops that were neither exceptional nor poor, and it had its own unique local specialities. Geographically, it was not a particularly safe place, as it bordered enemy territory, but it was also a place where Kallian could serve as an effective deterrent. 

Considering these factors, it was not a bad request. In fact, given how much the enemy feared and mistrusted Kallian, there was no better place to station him. 

Some of the retainers marvelled, thinking.

“For someone who knows the Grand Duchy as well as the Grand Duke himself, Kallian is indeed remarkable.”

Meanwhile, others pondered.

“Doesn’t receiving a fief go beyond the scope of a mere baronial title?”

“That implies a desire for an hereditary title…” 

Some of the retainers looked around, discreetly watching Kallian. 

“Still, we’re talking about Sir Kallian, aren’t we?” 

To them, Kallian didn’t seem to have any particular ambitions or ulterior motives. In truth, if Kallian were ambitious, he would have long since applied for a higher rank or title and demanded a new surname instead of keeping the one reserved for illegitimate offspring. 

“To be honest, he wouldn’t even mind claiming a little more land.”

Such was the weight of Kallian’s achievements on the battlefield. 

With nothing but overwhelming physical prowess and exceptional situational judgement, he emerged like a monster and seized the position of supreme commander in the Grand Duchy of Ilmos – a place that had little else to boast of besides its military might. 

“Not to mention when he went into battle in place of His Grace, the Grand Duke, for the sake of the former Grand Duke and Duchess.”

“Who would have thought that he would wipe out the bandits? No one could have predicted that.” 

Despite those achievements, Kallian had never asked for compensation for his actions. 

Instead, he quietly defeated enemies, returned, and voiced his opinion on the affairs of the Grand Duchy, often personally handling military issues that were difficult to resolve. Therefore, his request was considered reasonable at the time. The retainers thought it wouldn’t be out of place to grant him a hereditary barony as well as a fief. 

“…You really want it?”

Theodor murmured. 

Kallian knelt quietly on one knee. 

“Since the damage has already been done, I want to take responsibility for it.” 

“Receiving a fief is a reward, not a responsibility.”

Theodor replied. But considering the burden and the difficult position of the Elsen territory, Kallian’s words about taking responsibility seemed quite apt. 

Theodor took another sip of his drink and studied Kallian. The knight, always calm and collected, gave nothing away in his typically serene expression. 

“Is it just responsibility again this time?” 

The retainers looked at Theodor as if urging him to make a decision. Even if they all agreed, it would be meaningless if Theodor, as Grand Duke, refused outright. But if Theodor stubbornly refused, the retainers would quietly think him pitiful. 

Theodor despised that. 

‘How dare they. Mere retainers, of all people.’ 

‘Will I let them look at me with such eyes?’ 

Fiddling with the bottle in his hand, Theodor looked again into Kallian’s emotionless blue eyes. 

‘Or will I end up giving this woman to this man after all?’ 

Elliope Kartan. 

Every time he thought of her, his mouth felt strangely dry. 

A woman of illegitimate birth, no better than a fake, but with strikingly vivid eyes. 

Her pale, almost translucent face had an inexplicable glow, and under the tightly wrapped black dress she hid a more voluptuous figure than he had expected. The cold look and indifference she gave him only added to his *rousal. 

The way she looked at him with such utter rejection made him itch with the desire to take her in his arms right now. 

And yet he had lost such a woman in an instant. 

He had never seriously considered taking her as his wife, but to have something he wanted taken away from him made him seethe with anger and resentment. 

As a result, most of the objects in the Grand Duke’s office had been smashed yesterday, which was why the office felt so desolate today. 

‘That woman will become the wife of a mere baron or viscount?’ 

She was someone who should at least be a grand duchess. 

An idea suddenly struck her. 

‘The wives of titled men have a right to attend tea parties.’ 

Half of the mistresses he took were the wives of his retainers or knights whom he met at such tea parties. Most of them were from humble families who couldn’t oppose him, or were the wives of lower-ranking knights. 

There was one more right he could exercise. 

In truth, he wanted to annul their marriage immediately. However… 

“…I will grant you the territory of Elsen and a viscountcy.” 

For those who had expected a mere barony, it was a surprisingly generous decision. Though slightly taken aback, the retainers raised no objections. It was an unusually bold appointment, but Kallian was a man worthy of such a reward. 

“And the right to create your own family name.” 

“You are most generous.” 

“A remarkable appointment indeed.”

The retainers heaved a collective sigh of relief and showered Theodor with praise. It was exactly the reaction Theodor had wanted. 

‘Yes. That’s how it should be.’

Thinking so, he put the bottle down, only to notice Kallian smiling subtly. 

It was an unsettling smile, one that made the back of his neck tingle and sent shivers down his spine – a predator’s smile, like that of a beast lying in wait, crouched in the bushes, watching its prey. 

“…….” 

When Theodor looked back at Kallian, the smile was gone. 

“Kallian Icerick at your service.” 

Only the usual calm voice continued. 

“I accept the Grand Duke’s command.”