Chapter 12

Clang!  

A sharp sound of something breaking echoed from Diane Lesper’s bathroom.  

The maids waiting outside quickly entered and swept up the shards of the glass scattered on the floor with brooms.  

Their movements were practiced, as if broken glass was a regular occurrence.  

They promptly brought a new glass and poured wine.  

Diane was soaking in a bathtub filled with red rose petals, reading a newspaper.  

The front page featured a large article about the reunion of Duke Conver and his son after seven years.  

“Ugh…… Ugh!”  

She bit her lower lip hard.  

She was frustrated at missing a perfect opportunity to capture Duke Conver’s heart.  

Diane crumpled the newspaper she was reading and threw it on the floor.  

Still unsatisfied, she gulped down the wine beside her.  

It wasn’t enough.  

She clenched her fists and tightly closed her eyes.  

Gathering all the breath in her body, she screamed.  

“Ugh. Aaaah!”  

Her sharp cry echoed throughout the bathroom.  

Only after squeezing out her last breath did she feel somewhat relieved.  

Haa, haa……. She caught her breath.  

“Now I feel a bit alive.”  

She slowly brushed her tangled hair back and refilled her glass with wine.  

The alcohol she drank after screaming with all her might tasted like honey.  

Diane wiped her wet lips with the back of her hand and gave a sly smile.  

“At this point, the most important thing is to target that kid.”  

It seemed easier to target the child than to target Bryce.  

Children are simpler and more honest with their desires.  

Feeling like she had found a breakthrough, Diane began to think of ways to entice the child.  

“Starting with gifts would be good. What should it be? A pony? A sword? Or…… a villa?”  

Just imagining giving the child a grand gift that would surprise him made her feel better.  

By giving gifts, she could get closer to the child and, in turn, closer to Bryce.  

She had a good feeling about this.  

But then, an unwelcome thought crossed her mind, ruining her mood.  

“Who is that ridiculous woman?”  

What was her name, was it Astrid Vaughn?  

She looked like an ordinary commoner woman, but it was suspicious how she knew about the major contract details shared only among the upper echelons of the Lesper Earldom.  

“No, she appeared with daggers in both hands, so she seemed like a woman who could handle a sword. She’s definitely not ordinary.”  

What kind of woman was she?  

Diane’s brow furrowed deeply.  

Although not mentioned in the article, according to her sources, the woman named Astrid was also staying at the Ducal House as the child’s nanny.  

Whether to win her over or get rid of her, she needed information about her.  

The sooner and the more, the better.  

Jingle, jingle, Diane rang the call bell.  

* * *  

Someone else was also reading and rereading the article about the Conver Ducal House in the newspaper, and that was Princess Stephania.  

Tap, tap, tap.  

The sound of her biting her nails echoed in the quiet private parlor, her gaze fixed on the newspaper.  

It was a habit that surfaced whenever she was anxious or nervous.  

She had been scolded a lot as a child for not maintaining her composure as a princess, but it was a habit she couldn’t easily break.  

Three days had passed since she met Bryce at the stone grave on Hurt Mountain and talked to him.  

But there was still no contact from the Duke, and Stephania was just waiting.  

Her patience was slowly wearing thin.  

‘Should I send a letter of inquiry? Or just go crazy and visit him? No, then he might hate me immediately.’  

Princess Stephania Rimetten, the sole legitimate heir of the Rimetten Imperial Family, possessed the most noble blood in the Empire.  

Everyone looked up to her, and she, in turn, looked down on everyone.  

Until she met Duke Bryce Conver.  

It was unfamiliar to see herself shrink in front of Duke Conver, but she couldn’t help it.  

He was the most dazzling person in the world and the only man who made her heart flutter.  

“Let’s be patient. Let’s wait.”  

Stephania murmured to herself as if to reassure herself.  

Compared to everything she had endured so far, this was nothing.  

She had to endure it.  

‘Isn’t this a good thing? If I wait a little longer, surely…… Bryce will start to see me as a woman.’  

In fact, Stephania felt relieved.  

After all, they finally found his wife, who had been missing for seven years.  

But she had already been dead for a long time.  

He might be sad for a while now, but once the mourning period passed, her opportunity would come.  

The opportunity to stand by his side as a woman.  

The opportunity to win his heart.  

In truth, there hadn’t even been an opportunity before.  

She was always in the background, overshadowed by his missing wife.  

‘But now, I won’t be pushed aside by anyone.’  

Just as Bryce was her only man, now she was the only woman for him.  

A small smile formed on Stephania’s lips.  

Knock, knock, knock.  

With a knock, Viscountess Michelle Swinton, and Countess Laura Bellani, Stephania’s maids, entered the parlor.  

“Your Highness, have you heard?”  

“It’s serious, Your Highness.”  

The maids, who were the same age, approached her fussily.  

“What’s going on?”  

“The elder ministers are showing a negative reaction to your engagement with Duke Conver.”  

“What? Why all of a sudden?”  

What on earth was this about?  

Stephania’s pretty face crumpled mercilessly.  

“Because of Duke Conver’s son.”  

“Ah…….”  

The Princess’s mouth fell open weakly.  

In fact, she had vaguely anticipated this ever since hearing there might be a son with Duke Conver.  

Stephania stood up abruptly.  

“I need to meet Father and Mother.”  

* * *  

“I can’t be with anyone but Duke Bryce Conver. I really can’t.”  

“My dear, Stephania. We understand your feelings for Duke Conver.”  

“Ahem.”  

The Empress gently soothed the Princess, but the Emperor beside her only let out an unswallowed sigh.  

Having just finished a meeting with the elder ministers, the Emperor had to face the tearful Princess.  

“It’s natural for the ministers to be worried. Bringing a child who doesn’t carry the Imperial blood into the Imperial family can cause various disturbances, as you know.”  

The Empress spoke kindly again, but it seemed her words didn’t reach Stephania.  

She held the Emperor’s hand and asked.  

“What do you think, Father? Do you agree with the ministers?”  

Her eyes, full of moisture, looked at her father.  

Finally, the Emperor’s mouth slowly opened.  

“All royal marriages are important, but Stephania, yours is especially important. So the ministers and we have to be cautious. And the person who should be most cautious is you.”  

His voice was firm as he advised his daughter.  

“I’ve been watching Duke Conver carefully for a very long time. Since we met in the provinces when he was nothing. Since we didn’t know we were Rimetten and Conver. So I’m sure.”  

“There isn’t a single person I know who questions Duke Conver’s character or abilities. But that’s not what I’m worried about.”  

“Then what is it?”  

At Stephania’s question, the Emperor paused.  

He seemed to be pondering how to express his thoughts more gently.  

“Duke Conver’s feelings for you.”  

“Ah…….”  

Stephania’s mouth fell open weakly.  

But she couldn’t easily continue speaking.  

It took a long time before she managed to find her voice, but she couldn’t form a sentence.  

“That’s something from now on…… going forward……”  

“Yes, you’re right. You haven’t had a chance to share your feelings seriously. I understand. He’s only just found his wife’s whereabouts. So let’s take it slowly and watch a bit more.”  

“……Yes.”  

The Princess answered in a barely audible voice.  

The Emperor and Empress’s gazes were filled with concern as they looked at their daughter.  

The Princess also understood what her parents were worried about.  

That’s why she felt frustrated and increasingly lost confidence in her patience.  

* * *  

The Dark Guild located on the western outskirts of the capital, Geiser’s base.  

Loud footsteps echoed as someone headed to the office of the leader, Nikolai.  

“Boss, it’s serious.”  

“What’s up?”  

“Well, the Capital Patrol is conducting a large-scale crackdown on taverns starting tonight. Here’s the official notice.”  

“What?”  

Nikolai’s already stern face crumpled even more.  

His hand clenched tightly around the parchment handed to him by his subordinate.  

There wasn’t much time left until the taverns opened at 4 PM, and the inspectors arrived.  

‘What’s going on? This wasn’t the deal!’  

According to the information from his informant in the Patrol, the next crackdown was supposed to be in a month.  

But suddenly, there was a crackdown.  

“Those bastards take the money and do this kind of work? Damn it!”  

Harsh words spilled from Nikolai’s mouth.  

At that moment, the door opened again with urgent footsteps, and another subordinate rushed into the office.  

In his hand was today’s newspaper.  

“Boss, it’s serious! Look at this!”  

“What now?”  

Nikolai’s eyes blazed as if they would shoot out red flames at any moment.