Chapter 7 (Part 1)

Duke Anthus Rockbellion, who practically lived at the Earl’s mansion, had to reluctantly return to the Ducal mansion, leaving behind a sense of regret after hearing the sudden news from Butler Ferrell.

“Ferrell, where are you?”

“They are in the couple’s drawing room.”

When Anthus opened the door to the drawing room, he was greeted by Phillip and Frey, who had just returned from their second honeymoon.

“Mother, Father.”

Phillip and Frey welcomed Anthus with bright smiles.

“Did you enjoy your trip?”

“It was enjoyable in its own way.”

“I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.”

Frey stood up and approached Anthus.

“I gave birth to you so handsome, yet you still haven’t managed to seduce Lady Yuliana?”

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’m making good use of the beauty you passed down to me.”

Ignoring Frey’s words, Anthus spoke with a happy expression.

“You returned just in time. I recently got engaged to her.”

“We’ll have to prepare for the engagement ceremony.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Engagement, not marriage?”

Phillip spoke with a disappointed expression.

“I waited for nine years; can’t we wait a little longer before the marriage? Besides, it’s fortunate that both of you have returned.”

Frey looked at Anthus’s confident demeanor with satisfaction. The family, reunited after a long time, enjoyed a pleasant conversation about the events that had transpired.

“So, when will the engagement ceremony be held?”

“It is scheduled after the territorial war.”

Anthus mentioned the territorial war to Frey and Phillip as if it were nothing.

“You have a definite excuse for the territorial war.”

“Yes, a significant excuse has arisen. Additionally, I plan to use this territorial war to reduce the power of the noble faction.”

“Marquis Fedeurus has been pressuring His Majesty to take a concubine, so His Majesty seems quite stressed.”

“It’s okay if His Majesty is a little stressed.”

“Oh my, that’s harsh.”

Anthus briefly explained to Phillip and Frey the outrageous remarks made by Young Lord Beonar and the actions of Ophelia.

“If you had killed Young Lord Beonar, you could have gotten engaged and married earlier. Why complicate things?”

“Father, death is too lenient a punishment, but there’s a reason I didn’t kill him from the beginning.”

“It’s because of Lady Yuliana’s nature, right? If her fiancé died, Lady Yuliana would be saddened.”

Frey answered Phillip with a smile in place of Anthus.

“Yes, Mother. I didn’t want her to have feelings of sadness while reminiscing about a deceased fiancé. So, I didn’t kill him and instead had him break off the engagement by cheating with another woman.”

“The more unfortunate Young Lord Beonar is, the less Lady Yuliana will think about him.”

Frey looked at Anthus with eyes full of admiration.

“Then, Yan, where do you plan to start the territorial war?”

At Frey’s pressing words, Anthus slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“First of all… Mother, I plan to crush the mines owned by Marquis Fedeurus.”

“That means you’ll start the territorial war at Ludmilans.”

Among the mines owned by Marquis Fedeurus, the most expensive diamond mine is located near the Ludmilans mountain range.

“Then, shall we discuss where and how to proceed in earnest?”

“Let’s do that.”

The lights in the Ducal mansion’s drawing room remained on all night as they discussed the territorial war.

* * *

After wrapping up the territorial war meeting, Anthus woke up early to have breakfast with Phillip and Frey. His lips couldn’t help but curl upwards at the thought of Yuliana arriving soon.

“But Yan, installing a teleport in your room, isn’t that a bit too sneaky?”

Anthus just smiled and continued eating.

“Mother, I also want to see Lady Yuliana. I haven’t seen her grown-up appearance since she was young.”

“Please invite her for lunch today.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go up to greet her now.”

As Anthus opened the door, he saw Yuliana.

“I should have come up sooner.”

“I came early because I wanted to see you, Yan.”

“I’m so happy from the morning.”

Anthus gently embraced Yuliana.

“Yan?”

“Yes, my fiancée?”

Arriving at the Ducal residence, Yuliana found Anthus, who was only gently holding her, unfamiliar. Usually, he would rush in for a deep kiss like a beast.

“It’s nothing.”

Anthus looked at Yuliana, who seemed to be contemplating something, and tilted his head.

“Lia?”

“Yan… Is something wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. Why do you ask?”

“Usually, when I come in the morning, you hold me and… “

Yuliana pointed to the bed, her face turning red.

“You lay me down over there and kiss me… But today, you’re so calm. So I wondered if something was wrong.”

“Are you upset because we didn’t go over there?”

“No! It’s not like that.”

Anthus smiled sweetly with a seductive face.

“You always told me to stop, that it wasn’t allowed because you had to work. So I’m just trying my best to restrain myself.”

“Right. Let’s go to work.”

As Yuliana turned to leave, Anthus grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

“Are you running away after seducing me with such a cute face?”

“When did I ever seduce you? It’s always you who… initiates it first.”

Anthus was satisfied with Yuliana’s curious reaction to his unusual behavior, and he whispered while gently biting her ear.

“Are you disappointed? Because I didn’t kiss you as soon as you arrived…”

Hearing those words, Yuliana’s ears turned red. Anthus observed her, smiling, reached out to lift her chin, and quickly pressed their lips together.

Yuliana’s heart pounded dangerously. Just as she was becoming dazed by the sound of their lips meeting and Anthus’s unique scent touching her nose, there was a knock.

Knock, knock.

She thought she heard wrong.

Knock, knock.

As Yuliana slightly regained her senses at the sound of the knock, the door suddenly opened. The person who entered was none other than Frey.

“Yan, why aren’t you coming down… Oh my!”

Frey, who opened the door, was delighted to see her son’s affectionate display and shouted with joy.

“Sorry. Continue what you were doing.”

Frey, with an apologetic expression, closed the door and left.

Yuliana’s face turned crimson. The fact that someone who could call Anthus by his pet name and open the door at will…

“Did the former Duchess return to the Ducal mansion?”

Anthus scratched his cheek and said.

“Yes. I should have mentioned it… but I was too focused on the kiss…”

Yuliana felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her at Anthus’s words.

“I’m doomed.”

Yuliana, whose face turned as red as a tomato, lowered her head deeply.

After closing the Duchess’s door, Frey ran to Phillip with a beaming smile and shared the story of Anthus’s affectionate display.

“You are so mischievous. Going there and opening the door like that.”

Phillip shook his head and said.

“I knocked twice. But there was no response… so I opened the door.”

“You know why there was no response to two knocks…”

“Do you think Lady Yuliana went home out of embarrassment?”

“Even if she said she was leaving, do you think Anthus would let her go?”

“If it’s my son, he wouldn’t let her go.”

In the conversation between Phillip and Frey, Butler Ferrell’s lips twitched. He looked like someone with a lot to say.

“Ferrell, you seem to have something to say.”

“No, it’s just…”

“Just? Tell us.”

“Lately, the master has been purchasing a large amount of health-boosting foods and herbs to enhance Lady Yuliana’s stamina.”

Ferrell, who shared the latest information about Anthus and Yuliana, had his lips twitching again. It was as if he was suppressing a joy that was trying to escape his lips.

“Tonic food? Herbs? Is the lady perhaps weak?”

“She’s not weak. Ahem… It’s just that the two of them work late into the night… so they need to replenish their strength… ahem, I’ll stop here. I’m disqualified as a servant for discussing the master’s private life.”

Frey laughed heartily at Ferrell’s words.

And with a knock, Anthus entered the room, followed by Yuliana, who was blushing deeply.

“Father, Mother, let me introduce you. This is my fiancée, Yuliana Loengrin.”

Yuliana, who shyly emerged from behind Anthus, was warmly welcomed by Frey, who found her incredibly cute.

“Welcome! Lady Yuliana.”

Yuliana slightly grasped the hem of her dress, bowed, and greeted them.

“I’m sorry for the late introduction… I’m Yuliana from the Loengrin family.”

“Welcome. I’m Phillip of the Rockbellion family.”

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Frey of the Rockbellion family. You can call me ‘Rey’ as a nickname. I’m sorry for opening the door earlier. Were you surprised?”

“No, it’s my fault for not hearing the knock.”

As Yuliana’s face turned increasingly red, she closed her eyes tightly.

“Don’t be embarrassed, come and sit here.”

“Please feel free to speak comfortably.”

Anthus gently reassured Yuliana, escorting her to sit on the sofa opposite Frey and Phillip.

Yuliana lifted her head slightly and looked at Anthus’s parents. Phillip’s red eyes resembled Anthus’s, and Frey’s golden hair, smiling brightly, was elegant and beautiful.

Phillip broke the brief silence with a cough and spoke first.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh my… She’s so pretty. Calling you ‘Lady Yuliana’ feels too distant, so may I call you ‘Lia’?”

As the conversation turned out to be more comfortable than expected, Yuliana began to relax a little.

“Yes, please do.”

“I only have one son, and he has no charm. I wanted a daughter, but when a son was born… Still, I’m glad he brought such a beautiful and lovely bride!”

At Frey’s words, Phillip nodded repeatedly and continued.

“That’s right. You said you wanted a daughter, but a son was born, and you were a bit disappointed then, right? Remember when you dressed Yan as a girl when he was little to feel like you had a daughter?”

“Of course, I remember! He was so cute!”

Anthus’s face twisted strangely as he interrupted Frey and Phillip’s conversation.

“Um… Lia. Shall we move to the investigation office?”

“Lia! How about having lunch together today?”

“Yes, Madame Frey. Thank you for the lunch invitation.”

“After lunch, I’d like to have tea and tell you about Yan’s cute childhood.”

“Yes, Madame.”

“Why are you trying to tell Lia about my childhood?”

“I’ll also show you a portrait of Yan when he was little.”

“Mother!”

Frey casually ignored Anthus’s words.

“Lia, we should go.”

Anthus, who had risen from his seat first, extended his hand to Yuliana. As soon as Yuliana took his hand and stood up, Frey and Phillip urgently called out.

“Feel free to think of me as your mom and call me ‘Mother’.”

“And call me ‘Father’.”

Anthus gazed sharply at his persistent parents.

But they were Anthus’s parents. They were the only ones in the Rockbellion family who were not intimidated by Anthus’s cold gaze.