[Hello, Yuis! How have you been?

I’ve decided to come to your wedding.

I’m rather curious about your future husband, the Duke of Descartes. Is his face really disfigured? Or is he so ugly that words cannot describe him? I’ll find out soon enough, of course, but I can’t help being curious – it’s been eating away at me!

I also heard that you’ve already spent your first night together.

To consummate the marriage before the wedding seems rather indecent, don’t you think? But I suppose desperation leaves little room for propriety.

Still, things seem to have worked out quite well for you, so I thought I’d come and offer my congratulations.

As I’ll be attending as Yuis Johannes’s relative rather than Yuis Everett’s, I’ll be staying at the Descartes estate.

I’ll be leaving tomorrow, so please make sure everything is ready for my arrival. Do you know which bedding I prefer? After all, we lived together for three years.

Anyway, Yuis, I’ll see you very soon.

—Terian Johannes]

***

Edric’s lips twisted into a crooked smile. The King of Darec was far more foolish than he had expected. If he wanted to deceive others, he should at least have got his own house in order first. However, with weaknesses like this being served up so willingly, Edric had little to complain about.

“We must lodge a formal protest.”

Even Noah, who was usually calm, could not fully suppress his anger.

“This is an insult to your grace and to Kalang itself. Disguising the daughter of a fallen baron as a member of a ducal family and proposing marriage to her is unforgivable.”

“Noah.”

At Edric’s quiet call, Noah lowered his head and steadied his breathing.

“And what if I were to annul the marriage to Yuis Everett? Would the princess of Hetar be acceptable then?”

“Your Grace.”

Edric narrowed his eyes. It was only then that he finally understood why the King of Darec had been so insistent on consummating the marriage.

Hah! From beginning to end, it had all been a deception.

Like a strategist reviewing a battlefield, Edric calmly reconsidered the situation.

Discarding Yuis Everett would be easy. After all, Darec had deceived him, and regardless of her intentions when she came to Kalang, Yuis Everett had ultimately allied herself with Darec.

It would be easy.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

She was a Descartes woman.

Edric Descartes was not the kind of man to allow a woman bearing his name to be humiliated again.

“As for Yuis’s parents, it would be best to handle the situation quietly.”

“I will assign someone to take care of it.”

Nodding, Edric organised the documents and locked them away in the safe before quietly giving an order.

“Leave the evidence. It may prove useful later.”

After dismissing Noah, Edric glanced over the letter once more. His gaze sharpened like a finely honed blade.

He put the letter down and called for his steward.

“Arrange a tea meeting with Lady Terian Johannes.”

“Yes, Master.”

***

As Terian gathered her hair to one side, the other ladies showered her with praise. She nodded slightly in response, smiling gently.

“The Duke of Descartes has requested a tea meeting with you, my lady.”

“No matter how beautiful Yuis may be, she can never compare to your innate nobility.”

“After all, bloodlines matter. Perhaps His Grace may consider a new marriage proposal. Ultimately, it would be far more fitting for a duke to marry a direct descendant than a collateral relative, wouldn’t you agree?”

“The House of Johannes is remarkable, whether it is a branch or the direct line. But you, Lady Terian, are the true jewel of the Johannes family.”

Terian gave a soft smile. Her rich, chestnut-brown hair cascaded over her shoulders and her light brown eyes crinkled prettily at the corners.

“Please, don’t say that. After all, he is already Yuis’s husband. Since I am merely a relative of hers, it’s only natural that I would be curious about him.”

As she received compliments about her gentle nature, Terian walked unhurriedly towards the estate’s glass conservatory.

However, no matter how composed she appeared, she couldn’t stop her hand from gripping the hem of her dress tightly.

Her true goal had always been to become Queen of Hetar. Yet the Crown Prince of Hetar had died — right in the midst of their marriage negotiations, no less. And it had been at the hands of that arrogant war fanatic, Edric Descartes.

The shock was all the greater because it was so unexpected.

However, Terian quickly regained her composure.

If a man could be so easily brought down by something as minor as Kalang, then he was never worthy of her in the first place. All she needed to do was find another man who could elevate her to the heights she sought.

Terian had believed that Kalang was incapable of meeting her ambitions.

But that belief shattered the moment she passed through the capital and into the territory of Haneder, which was ruled by Edric Descartes.

Kalang far exceeded her expectations.

It not only outshone the royal family of Darec, but also Hetar, once the wealthiest and most powerful kingdom.

The Haneder territory, which she had assumed would be barren and desolate, was nothing like she had expected either.

Yet, as she gazed upon Haneder’s opulence, Terian scoffed inwardly.

What use was such beauty when the ruler of this place was so cold-blooded? No matter how gilded the surroundings, they were meaningless if ruled by someone like him.

She pushed down the rising unease that this thought brought her.

At least until the tea party. That was when she saw Edric himself come to escort Yuis personally.

Terian had always wanted to be on top.

Her goal had always been to become Queen of Hetar.

But then she saw Edric press a kiss to Yuis cheek and lead her away as though she were the most precious treasure in the world.

“I heard Northerners were supposed to be rough and terrifying, but he’s nothing like that. I’ve never seen such a handsome man.”

“It’s so different from what I expected. The rumours about his terrible scars must have been lies.”

“His manners are impeccable, too. Despite his busy schedule, he still makes time to visit his wife just to see her face. What a kind and devoted husband!”

Had she known this would be the case, she would never have given up her position for Yuis.

Though she struggled to restrain herself, Terian’s anger towards Yuis showed no sign of fading.

Ultimately, though, every seat finds its rightful owner.

Today was proof of that.

As the doors of the glass conservatory opened, Terian approached Edric with perfect posture and graceful steps.

The conservatory was a breathtaking sight, adorned with rare plants and trees rarely seen even in Darec. Cheerful birdsong filled the air like music, while sunlight streaming through the leaves illuminated Terian’s path like a spotlight.

The tea table was already set. As she curtsied, Edric gestured for her to take the seat opposite him.

“Please, have a seat, Lady Johannes.”

“It’s an honour to meet you, Your Grace.”

“I’ve dismissed the attendants so we can speak privately. I trust that’s all right with you?”

At Edric’s words, a faint blush coloured Terian’s cheeks. She lowered her head, smiled shyly and nodded. Edric then poured her a cup of tea.

Raising her gaze, Terian studied Edric closely.

Had she learned about Kalang and this man earlier, she might have betrayed Prince Nicholas of Hetar without hesitation, choosing to marry this man instead. He was far more captivating than she had expected.

Instead of being the brutal, fearsome war hero she had assumed he would be, Edric was elegant and striking. He wore his natural arrogance like a mantle, as if it were only fitting for someone like him to look down on the world from above.

“The tea has such a lovely aroma.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

But after that brief exchange, Edric fell silent.

No matter how much Terian tried to engage him, he didn’t respond. The longer the silence stretched on, the deeper the flush on her cheeks grew, tinged now with frustration beneath her demure smile.