Crash!

“Your Grace, ahh!”

The sound of objects being knocked over was accompanied by the raucous laughter of women. The commotion emanated from behind the tightly closed doors of the Grand Duke’s bedchamber.

Taleon, the chamberlain, hesitated at the door. The Imperial Ambassador was waiting for the Grand Duke, making the situation all the more awkward.

Just then, a woman appeared at the end of the corridor, swaying gracefully as she walked.

Her deep red hair, wafting with the rich scent of roses, was striking – so much so that anyone who saw her would find it impossible to look away.

“Lady Marte.”

“Is His Grace busy?”

“Ahhng!”

As soon as Charlotte asked with a charming smile, another moan came from inside.

“He must be very busy.”

“…….”

“Well, of course. I always deliver the best – whether it’s medicine or women.”

Taleon, the chamberlain, finally frowned at these words.

He was already uneasy about the situation, and now his concern was only growing.

Frustrated and displeased, Theodor’s decision to consider a military trial for Kallian was causing division among the vassals of Ilmos.

Most of them seemed to be against his actions.

“No matter what, you know what Viscount Kallian Elsen means to Ilmos.”

“Besides, this wasn’t just a simple servant – he tried to kill someone who is not only an imperial princess, but also the wife of a vassal…”

“It’s hard to say, but there are rumours that it wasn’t just an attempt on her life.”

“This time he went too far.”

“No, not just this time. Your Grace has repeatedly shown poor judgement…”

“Enough! Are you all planning to be disloyal to His Grace the Grand Duke?”

Even among the few vassals who sided with Theodor, it was clear that they all agreed that he had serious emotional problems and that his decision this time was unwise.

‘And it had to be her.’

The woman who arrived, dressed in black, her face bare and without make-up, as if she wished the Grand Duke dead.

From the moment Elliopé Elsen had been sent, Taleon had never liked her. His wife, the head lady-in-waiting, felt the same.

‘She really is a shameless woman.’

Still, she was no longer just anyone – she had married Kallian and was now a viscountess. And yet he had tried to strangle a vassal’s wife, only to be caught by other vassals.

‘That alone had cost him a great deal of trust…’

The military trial that was supposed to expel Kallian never took place.

In the end, Seor sent only a formal and polite letter of protest. It seemed that they had decided that if they pursued the matter too aggressively, they too would suffer casualties in the process of determining right and wrong.

As a result, Kallian Elsen was left completely unscathed. Instead, public opinion of Grand Duke Theodor worsened.

No matter how strictly they tried to silence the palace servants, rumours inevitably spread. Many now believed that Theodor had tried to kill the viscountess and sold Kallian to the Imperial family.

Theodor’s support, originally built on the people’s lingering affection for the previous Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, had always been fragile. Now their mixed feelings towards him were turning to hatred and resentment.

Instead of addressing the situation, Theodor continued to indulge in pleasure and decadence. As a result, Taleon, who had long been his ally, could hardly sleep. If Theodor were to fall from power, his own position would be in jeopardy…

It was the end of the road.

Taleon even wondered if he should start siphoning something off before everything collapsed.

‘Besides… it’s only gotten worse since he met this woman.’

Charlotte Marte was deadly poison to Theodor.

“It seems His Grace was quite pleased with the gifts I provided this time as well.”

“…….”

“It was worth the effort to choose women who resembled her.”

“Lady Marte.”

Taleon swallowed hard before speaking.

“His Grace has important matters to attend to.”

“I know. He’s dining with the imperial ambassador tonight, isn’t he?”

“If you already know, you shouldn’t.”

“What do you mean? I’m just fulfilling His Grace’s needs…”

“Ahh! His Grace!”

Just as Charlotte smiled seductively, the moaning of a frail woman rang out loudly from beyond the door.

Although the thick wooden door was designed to protect the Grand Duke’s privacy, it could not completely muffle the intense moaning coming from within.

The chamberlain and the knights standing guard outside the door blushed.

“Haa, Elliope.”

“Ah, ah! Ouch!”

“Beg me for more.”

“More, more please…”

 “Please f*ck me, tell me my p*nis is better than Kallian’s!”

“Y-your p*nis is better, aah!”

“Say you love me!”

“P-Love… ahh!”

The loud, rhythmic pounding continued.

Moreover, the women presented to the Grand Duke were deliberately chosen for their resemblance to Elliope Elsen. The sounds they made while having s*x together were deeply embarrassing to anyone who happened to hear them.

“Exactly. How did you manage to get here without your husband… without Kallian noticing?”

“I put him to sleep and came – Haang!”

“Impressive.”

“Your Grace summoned me… How could I… Aahng!”

Theodor even uttered such words without hesitation.

If an outsider were to overhear, they might suspect that Elliope Elsen was having an illicit affair with her husband’s lord, Grand Duke Theodor.

Fully aware of how inappropriate the situation was, Chamberlain Taleon cleared his throat several times.

Whatever his indifference to Elliope Elsen’s honour, he could already see how this matter would be gossiped about among the vassals.

Charlotte smiled again and lowered her eyes.

“Shall I inform the Imperial Ambassador that Your Grace will not be attending the banquet tonight?”

“…….”

“The ambassador is in the dining room, isn’t he?”

“Lady Marte, there is no need to go that far…….”

“I just want to catch a glimpse of the Ambassador’s face. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything unnecessary.”

“But…”

“Can’t I at least buy Your Grace some time until he’s ready to come out?”

At this point, Taleon sighed and had no choice but to grant permission.

For a while, the sound of heels clicking against the cold, long corridor echoed.

“Foolish man.”

Charlotte muttered mockingly before standing in front of the dining hall doors. The knights standing guard glanced at her as they pushed open the heavy doors.

“Count.”

Charlotte smiled sweetly again and turned to face the Imperial Ambassador. The envoy, who had been stuck in the castle since being sent there by the Imperial family, was none other than Count Guile, a known supporter of the Imperial faction.

“Lady Marte.”

Count Guile was as easy to handle as Theodor. A man with almost no personal convictions, slow to act because he was always waiting for orders from the Imperial Family. Someone who only became arrogant when speaking on behalf of the Imperial Family, but otherwise had no backbone.

“His Grace will arrive late this evening.”

“Um.”

Count Guile subtly hinted at his discomfort. Charlotte smiled and sat down next to him.

“Being an ambassador is quite difficult, isn’t it, Count?”

“At least you, Lady Marte, understand how taxing it is…”

“I’m sure your family is waiting for you in the capital as well. You must have many things to do there, don’t you?”

“hmm.”

Charlotte deliberately pushed the sensitive topic. When Guile looked away, her smile widened.

“Let’s be honest, Count. The Imperial Family really does see this as an opportunity, don’t they?”

“W-What?”

“Even as things have escalated to this point, the Imperial Family has merely watched the affairs of the Duchy without making a move.”

“…….”

“They are not rushing to take Her Highness, the Princess, nor are they directly questioning or accusing His Grace, the Grand Duke. Instead, they are negotiating with him to obtain compensation from Viscount Elsen.”

As she spoke, Charlotte tapped lightly on the silverware in front of her.

“As a businessman’s wife, I have a feeling.”

“…….”

“The imperial family wants to win over His Grace, the Grand Duke, while cutting off Viscount Elsen. Isn’t that right?”

The current strength of the Duchy of Ilmos is largely due to the presence of Viscount Kallian Elsen.

“If Kallian were to be removed, the Duchy of Ilmos would be no different to a dragon without fangs. In that state, it would be advantageous for the Imperial Family to win them over subtly. That’s why the conflict between Theodor and Kallian is to their advantage.”

The count remained silent, lowering his eyes to his plate. Charlotte whispered softly, as if to persuade him.

“In that case, shouldn’t the Imperial Family take a more proactive approach?”

“P-Proactive?”

“I’m saying you need to offer a lure that is enticing enough for His Grace to take an interest.”

“Hmm.”

“At the moment, His Grace would accept almost any proposal from the Imperial Family. That’s how angry he is with Viscount Elsen.”

“…….”

“So why not send someone who can easily influence His Grace?”

At Charlotte’s words, the count’s eyes shifted.

Charlotte remembered a conversation she had not long ago in Zenya.

“Shall we talk?”

“Do you desire me, Charlotte Marte?”

“…….”

The man with the deep black and blue eyes had reacted like this the moment she had mentioned her business.

“It won’t happen to us in this lifetime.”

“You sound so sure. Why is that?”

“Because I have no intention of letting go of what I have now.”

“…….”

Even with a languid smile, he evoked the image of an incubus.

“Unless you drag me down.”

Just thinking about it again sent a shiver down her spine.

Charlotte had not even met the Grand Duke at that time, but it was as if he had already foreseen what would happen when she did.

Charlotte let out a small laugh and twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

“If it’s a challenge, there’s no reason not to accept it.”

Once Kallian was stripped of the Elsen territory, along with his rank and honour, there would be no reason for him to remain at the princess’s side.

On the contrary, if the Imperial Family were to bring about his downfall, he would end up resenting the Princess. It would only be a matter of time before Kallian left Elliope and came to Charlotte instead.

“Think it over carefully.”

Charlotte smiled as she poured wine into the count’s glass.

His face flushed, the count drank it down, absentmindedly tapping his fingers on the table.