“So from the beginning… it was us who used them?”

“……Yes.”

At his uncle’s admission, Kyle’s expression crumbled.

“It’s your fault my uncle had to hear such things in the first place. This wasn’t a kidnapping—you followed him here, didn’t you? Shameless… Even if my uncle was the one who suggested it first, you should have refused!”

The boy suddenly recalled the cruel words he had once hurled at Selaia. For the first time, he realized fully what he had done, his face stark with the weight of it.

Kyle clenched his teeth.

“They could have been put in danger.”

He knew it well. If it had been discovered that the prince of Teian was living in Cheringen, Selaia and Rote could have been branded collaborators, even traitors.

Laska had chosen it knowing all this, so he had nothing to say to his clever, principled nephew.

“Your Highness, this is not the time for such a conversation.”

Milen, who was guarding Kyle, spoke quickly and quietly, restraining the boy. Kyle ground his teeth once more but did not resist further, stepping back instead.

At Keron’s gesture, the attendants guarding the doors swung them wide open.

“His Majesty the King, His Highness the Prince, and His Highness the Duke enter!”

With the herald’s resounding voice, the investiture ceremony officially began.

Though simple in form, many had gathered. In such unsettled times of conflict with the Empire, this was one of the few tidings of joy people wished to share in.

Of course, not all did.

“Honestly, it was nothing but luck.”

Scarlett, the famous daughter of Marquis Harper, turned to face her brother, who was grumbling angrily beside her.

“We should have shown our full strength, instead, we had to fight with limitations, minimising the enemy’s losses. If it hadn’t rained suddenly, who knows how things would have turned out?”

“Kaiden, enough.”

At their father’s rebuke, Lord Harper, Kaiden finally fell silent.

Scarlett turned her head back to the front. There she saw Laska kneeling before the king.

‘His Highness truly is a remarkable man.’

Her gaze traced his features—the finely cut brow, the high bridge of his nose, the perfect line of his lips below. Her eyes grew hazy.

‘To think he even showed mercy toward the enemy’s lives.’

It was precisely the image she had always held of her prince: dazzlingly handsome, good at heart, and capable besides. She had dreamed all her life of marrying such a man.

“Better give up on your foolish crush, Scarlett.”

Kaiden, stung by their father’s scolding, whispered mischievously to his sister.

“What did you say?”

“Why else would the Duke have cared about his reputation in the Empire? Obviously because of that woman.”

“Don’t you dare slander him.”

Scarlett shot him a sharp look. But Kaiden only shrugged, unbothered.

“Most of the time, when a man makes a stupid decision, it’s because of some tender affection.”

“Watch your tongue. His Highness the Duke is simply too compassionate to ignore those in hardship.”

Scarlett snapped back, fuming.

‘They all said it was nothing more than a bond of gratitude.’

Prince Kyle had said as much when he reprimanded her. So had Selaia Tran, who remained calm and collected throughout. Scarlett wanted to believe them.

But she could not suppress the unease that festered at the back of her mind.

While she was preoccupied with her own doubts, the investiture ceremony drew to a close.

After shaking hands with King Kleos, Laska turned sharply and descended from the dais. Scarlett began to move towards him.

‘Praise his achievements, then invite him to tea.’

She silently repeated the prepared words to herself.

Her mother had always said that men were susceptible to flattery. Of course, Laska was no ordinary man, but that didn’t mean he would dislike being praised.

‘Besides, if a woman shows interest first, he won’t be able to help but take notice.

Although Scarlett considered herself to be modest and well-mannered, this did not mean that she lacked confidence. She was well aware of the power that her beauty and her status as the daughter of a marquess held over men.

“Your High—”

But the bright voice that Scarlett had intended to use to call out to Laska faltered halfway through.

He swept past her, smiling radiantly, as though she were invisible.

“Selaia.”

His gentle voice called another woman’s name.

Scarlett’s head turned slowly, creaking like a rusted hinge.

“Congratulations, Your Grace.”

Selaia Tran bowed her head slightly, greeting him with poised formality. The long, graceful line of her neck gleamed pale beneath the chandelier’s light.

“Is that how you’ll address me?”

Laska lowered the corners of his handsome eyebrows, and Scarlett’s heart sank with them.

‘I’ve never seen such an unguarded expression.’

A face softened into childish sulking.

Her mind reeled in a haze of confusion and shock.

Meanwhile, Selaia glanced around uneasily. To Scarlett, that look could only be a shameless pretence.

“It is an official occasion.”

“Then I’ll expect another greeting in a less official one.”

Laska replied with a helpless smile, lowering himself a little further. His gaze shifted to the small girl standing at Selaia’s side.

“And may I ask for the young lady’s thoughts as well?”

“Of course you were amazing. The medal sparkled, and so did your face.”

“Then it was worth washing and dressing from early morning to make my face shine.”

“So now should I call you Duke of Ephelt?”

The child asked brightly, her eyes round with curiosity.

Ephelt—the name of the domain he had just been granted.

Laska furrowed his brow slightly as if in thought, then spoke again.

“There’s another title I’d rather hear from you.”

“What is it?”

With a playful smile, Laska whispered something, then lifted the girl into his arms. People around them turned to look.

“The atmosphere… doesn’t it seem unusual?”

“It’s unmistakable—like a family.”

“Then the rumors must be true. Apparently, His Highness the Duke is besotted with that woman.”

“Imagine that: with a woman who already has a child.”

As the whispers spread through the crowd, Scarlett stood rooted to the spot, trembling with fear.

‘She told me they were nothing more than acquaintances!’

Scarlett felt betrayed by Selaia. It was only natural — blame was always easiest to assign to the weak.

Embarrassed, Selaia faltered as Scarlett fixed her with a sharp glare before turning on her heel and storming away.

⭕ ⭕ ⭕

“I’m afraid… I must bring up a rather shameful matter.”

Three days after Laska became the Duke of Ephelt, the Duchess of Tezernet began. A hint of unease crossed her usually confident face.

“Please, speak freely.”

Pouring tea, Selaia reassured her guest with calm composure. Casting a brief glance toward the inner room where Rote was, she also slid the milk jug across to the duchess.

‘She has always defended my position at the noble council to the best of her ability.’

As Selaia watched the duchess lift her cup and sip slowly, she could already guess why she had come.

The Duchess of Tezernet was a woman who kept her word.

As promised, she had safeguarded the standing of Selaia and Esperote, ensuring that those arguing for their return to the Empire as a means of securing peace did not dare speak out too loudly.

‘Even if circumstances have changed, and she can no longer support us, I must accept it.’

Selaia thought with quiet resolve.

Fortune was fleeting. When misfortune struck, good would inevitably follow in time, and then ill fortune would follow again.

‘His Majesty has once more taken to his bed, and the rains are already letting up.’

When the skies cleared, Hendrick would march again. No—he would likely do so even if they did not.

Selaia and Rote would serve him well enough as an excuse.

‘So I cannot continue to be a burden on Teian…’

At that very moment, the duchess revealed her purpose.

“The first edition of Civitas—the book Eugene gifted you. Might I ask to have it returned?”

“What?”

The Duchess of Tezernet sighed lightly, as though relieved to have at last forced the difficult words out.

“The book… you mean?”

Selaia repeated the words blankly, her expression dazed as the meaning finally dawned on her. The Duchess’s golden eyes shifted languidly.

“Yes. That book belongs to my former husband. He has asked that all his possessions still here be sent to him.”

“Ah…”

“In particular, he wrote that the book is rare, and requested it most insistently. But when it couldn’t be found anywhere, I asked the steward. It seems Eugene gave it to Miss Esperote. Well… I cannot tell whether I ought to feel embarrassed, or commend him for the romantic gesture.”

The duchess pressed her fingers to her temple, murmuring as though the thought left her with a pounding head.