Chapter 91: The First One to Deal With

Princess Jasmin looked at the two families with a broad smile. Duke and Duchess Blast sat facing Marquis and Marchioness Adrian, while Karhen took his place beside Princess Jasmin.

Karhen leaned over to whisper in Princess Jasmin’s ear.

“Is this really going to be an interesting gathering today?”

“We just need to watch.”

“But I don’t think I’ll be able to watch so comfortably.”

Karhen turned his head away with an awkward cough. The Duchess Blast’s gaze had been unfriendly since earlier.

Princess Jasmin, who hadn’t mentioned the reason, wore a subtle smile.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Duke Blast, and Duchess.”

Princess Jasmin made eye contact with each person before exchanging the same greeting with Caelan and Bliss.

“Consider this gathering I’ve arranged today as one of harmony. Marquis Adrian will soon receive his duke title. When that happens, there will be two dukes in the empire, so I thought we should maintain good relations going forward.”

Princess Jasmin took a breath before adding one more thing.

“Things became uncomfortable because of the dagger, didn’t they?”

That direct statement froze the forcibly maintained atmosphere solid.

“I had no idea you were so interested in the dagger. For me, it was just one of my collectibles, and I was surprised by how many things happened because of it. Shall we now untangle this knotted thread?”

Princess Jasmin stepped back, saying they should use this occasion to resolve the pent-up feelings between them.

In a situation where no one was opening their mouth first, Bliss recalled Duke Blast’s story from the original work. At first, he became entangled with Caelan using the dagger as an excuse, and later, because of his abilities, he became more vicious out of envy for a future he didn’t have.

She had chosen the man who fought against Caelan until the end as her first target to deal with.

Duke Blast could never be pleased with Caelan, who not only blocked his son’s future but also rose to his own position.

[So you’re thinking of trying to appease him?]

[No. The relationship with the Duke has already become irreversible.]

Bliss tightly clenched both hands to calm her boiling insides at Duke Blast’s brazen behavior, acting as if he hadn’t done anything. Getting excited here wouldn’t help matters. As Bliss took a breath by not looking at Duke Blast, warmth touched her hands.

“Your hands are cold.”

Caelan repeatedly grabbed and released Bliss’s hands.

“Should I bring you some warm tea?”

Various dishes were already laid out lavishly in front of them now, so there was no need to bring tea. Rather, Duke Blast, who had expected something to happen right away, was momentarily confused, then showed his displeasure at feeling ignored.

“I’m fine.”

Though Bliss declined the tea, she left her hand in Caelan’s grip without pulling away.

“What are you doing, Marquis Adrian?”

“I’m warming my wife’s hands.”

Caelan replied calmly without turning to look at Duke Blast.

“Can you not see me sitting right in front of you?”

Duke Blast’s expression turned uncomfortable, and the Duchess also looked at Bliss with disapproving eyes.

“I came to this gathering intending to forget everything that happened and move forward anew. But it seems you have no such intention.”

For Duke Blast, this was a major concession. He had come despite suffering the humiliation of his pride being crushed at the ball held after the knight tournament. He had intended to somehow build a relationship today to avoid future conflicts, but Caelan was no different from before.

Rather, while he had been aggressive then, at least he had looked at him, but now he wasn’t even doing that. Duke Blast’s expression grew increasingly fierce at the thought of being thoroughly ignored.

“It doesn’t seem necessary to tear our relationship apart like this over just one dagger…”

There was a limit to patience. Duke Blast released his killing intent as he watched Caelan, who continued to not look at him.

“As if it was just that one thing.”

Caelan smiled at the force he felt in his hand. She must be squeezing firmly in her own way, telling him to be resolute, but to him it was just an adorable amount of strength.

When he raised his eyes to look at her, Bliss shook her head slightly as if telling him not to smile. Watching her hair flutter and her eyes sparkle, now he couldn’t erase his smile even if he tried.

What could he do when just looking at her made him smile?

The atmosphere was becoming increasingly polarized because of Caelan, who was doing other things in front of Duke Blast.

While Duke Blast was emanating increasingly fierce killing intent, Caelan was radiating an energy like warm sunshine while looking at Bliss.

“Marquis Adrian!”

“I have captured the one who ambushed me.”

“That…”

Duke Blast flinched as he was about to say he would leave if things continued this way.

“What are you talking about?”

“It seems someone felt uneasy watching my tournament. They must have thought I would win the finals without fail, so they came to ambush me.”

Still looking at Bliss, Caelan’s voice grew quieter. However, everyone who focused on him heard those words.

“Why are you bringing that up now? Don’t tell me you suspect me?”

“Whether it’s suspicion or certainty… we’ll have to find out.”

Caelan slowly turned his head to meet Duke Blast’s eyes. The warm gaze he had when looking at Bliss was utterly cold when directed at Duke Blast.

Duke Blast narrowed his eyes to hide his confusion. He had been hoping since the traces had disappeared, but things had finally come to this. However, Duke Blast quickly hid his confusion.

Whenever he had ordered the job, the one absolute requirement was to never reveal they were knights of the duchy. Even if caught, they wouldn’t open their mouths, so he thought this was just provocation.

“Then you could just hear from that person who ordered it, so why bring it up here? Are you trying to guess whether I sent them? It’s hasty to suspect me just because we had a bet.”

“I didn’t ask who ordered them. Because there was no need.”

As Caelan showed a subtle smile, the atmosphere between the two began to escalate.

“No need?”

“There was a red raven embroidered on their clothes.”

“Lies!”

Duke Blast slammed the table and stood up abruptly. The red raven was the symbol representing the duchy. Discovering that was tantamount to revealing it was him.

“The duchy’s knights never embroider symbols on their clothes.”

As Duke Blast pushed back saying it was nonsense, Bliss cut in.

“But I saw it.”

She interrupted so naturally that even when the Duchess glared at her to stay out of it, it was useless.

“When you came to the mansion last time, I saw it embroidered here on the sleeve. And that person had the same symbol embroidered on their sleeve too.”

“That’s impossible.”

Duke Blast cut her off firmly. At his reaction as if it was completely absurd, Princess Jasmin watching showed even more curiosity.

“I’m not sure whose words are true.”

At Princess Jasmin’s words, Karhen agreed.

“Since one person says they saw it and the other says it’s impossible, we should bring that person here.”

When Karhen suggested his own solution, Bliss clapped her hands.

“That’s the plan. I’m going to show the sleeve to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“So you plan to frame me like this.”

Duke Blast snorted as if he had figured out their plan to create false evidence to corner him.

“Nonsense. Knights engrave the symbol on their chest as a sign of their willingness to offer their heart to their lord. Knights who haven’t received permission cannot engrave it. The sleeve, what nonsense are you trying to make up…”

“Then that person must be a knight who didn’t receive permission.”

Caelan cut in and interrupted. He had been waiting for even a small mistake to come out of Duke Blast at the end of the heightened atmosphere and caught it.

Duke Blast realized his mistake and hurriedly tried to add more words.

“Duke Blast.”

Princess Jasmin’s gentle voice flowed monotonously as if clearing up the entire situation. The princess made eye contact with the Duke after glancing at the Duchess, who seemed to already know the situation had turned unfavorable.

“Discuss the rest with His Majesty. This gathering wasn’t made for that purpose.”

While blocking any attempt to cover things up here, Princess Jasmin raised her hand. Then the imperial knights surrounded the Duke and Duchess.

“His Majesty is waiting.”

Princess Jasmin stood up first, intending to lead the way.

“Your Highness… let go!”

Following behind, Duke Blast and the Duchess were escorted out surrounded by knights, and suddenly it became quiet.

“I wonder if the heir will inherit the duchy now? If the Duke admits his crimes, his son should succeed to maintain the family, right?”

When Karhen spoke while looking ahead to the future of the Blast duchy, Bliss shook her head.

“It probably won’t be easy.”

Bliss recalled the reason why the Duke had done everything until now. It was also what she had said when talking with Caelan.

[The Duke’s weakest point is his heir, his son. Just as he tried to get the dagger, he wanted to develop his abilities and wanted to make up for what was lacking by having Princess Jasmin as his wife. That will be what binds him.]

Having to pass on the family to his son when nothing has been prepared – that might be the real punishment the Duke has to bear.