CH 22

“T-that’s.”

The vassals didn’t give any answer to the duke’s sudden question. It was because they couldn’t refute it.

“I entrusted the duchy to you.”

The duke’s voice echoing in the meeting room sounded cold.

“You mean you’ve been doing such low things behind the scenes?”The duke did not know in detail what had happened while he was away. To be exact, he wasn’t interested. But now, he had a vague idea of what Siani had been through alone… I didn’t expect the vassals to join that.

“Your Grace, the duchess passed away as soon as the princess was born, and stern rumors began to circulate about Felicite.”

“That’s right. Since Your Grace wasn’t here, we’re at least trying to discipline the family—”

“Did you say discipline? Now?”

In an instant, the duke’s eyes sharpened. The strong aura of someone who had led the army before didn’t fade over the years.

“So, did you mean that you dared to hold on to the discipline of a princess, a direct descendant of the Felicite?”

“T-that’s not it.”

“You must have taken care of the duchy badly while I was wandering around the battlefield.”

The duke gritted his teeth tightly. His hand gripping the ointment showed veins bulging with the force applied.The fact that the vassals were criticizing the princess’s demeanor and pushing Irik as his successor… Yes, it was all his fault. What he knew but ignored and kept silent. It was all his fault for believing that was the only way to keep his wife’s will.

“Okay. From now on, I will have to re-establish the discipline of Felicite.”

“…!”

“Now that the letter’s contents have been revealed, insulting the princess cannot be forgiven.”

“Your Grace…”

Only a frozen silence fell. No one could predict what words would come from the duke’s mouth.

“I’ll leave the handling of this matter to Siani.”

“Your Grace!”

“I trust her that she will take care of the aftermath. Whether you must apologize to the princess and beg her, submit your resignation, or even have your property confiscated and kicked out.”

The duke went out, leaving his vassals behind.“What on earth is going on here?”

“His Majesty’s letter is already absurd, but why is His Grace’s response suddenly like that?”

When the duke left, the vassals muttered as if their faces had been hit.

There was only one thing the vassals had to do today. It was to undermine and attack Siani so that Irik could gain the duke’s trust and support. They did it as usual but didn’t expect things to get this big.

“Wasn’t the strange thing, His Excellency and the princess? She was looking straight at us with her red eyes.”

“It was creepy.”

“It’s no ordinary matter. Where on earth does she get that information from?”

“There are rumors throughout the capital the duchy is cursed.”

“It’s the Princess’s fault that our Duchy Felicite has collapsed this much!”

“If possible, don’t come out of the duchy and stay alert.

“…”

There was no longer a child sitting like a dead doll. Her eyes were no longer empty, and you could feel the difference.

“Even His Excellency has entrusted this punishment to the princess.”

Rewarding and punishing vassals was the exclusive right of the head of the family. In other words, they could all be cut off by Siani.

“Even the key to the basement was given to the princess. Until now, it was only Lord Irik and His Grace that had it.”

“In that case…”

“It means His Grace’s feelings toward the princess are changing.”

“Huh, can we afford to just sit here and do nothing?”

An elderly noble opened his mouth among the bewildered vassals. “Everybody forgot the most important thing.”

“Lord Obelo.”

He was a collateral relative of Duke Felicite and the eldest vassal.

“Just as Aeron Port said, don’t forget that the princess caught the attention of His Majesty.”

“Yes?”

“If this event makes the princess develop a special relationship with the imperial family…” In the midst of the tension, the elderly noble gave a questioning smile. “Who will inherit this family in the future?”

* * *

I tried to smile to hide my embarrassment. “Are you saying that you came all the way up here to meet me?”

This was the floor where the rooms I used, including my bedroom and dressing room, were placed. It wasn’t the floor where outsiders, and even men, could come and go as they pleased.

How easy it must have been for you to come here like this?

“Why are you smiling like that?” asked Ash. It was as if there was something he didn’t like about my reaction.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re forcing yourself to smile with only one corner of your mouth raised.”I wondered what it mattered. I was just trying to control my facial expression, but how much more shock will he receive in the future?

“Lady…”

“Daisy. Leave us alone for a moment.”

“Yes? But…”

I whispered to the hesitant Daisy, covering my mouth. “Go downstairs and tell Luna and Irik right away. That the grand prince came all the way here to find me.”

“Ah…”

“That’s why I’m very troubled.”

After that, I deliberately raised my voice enough for Ash to hear.

“You can go down. There’s a conversation I’d like to share with the Grand Price.”

“Yes. I understand, Lady.” Daisy went down the stairs, perhaps knowing what I meant.

Ash must have come up with another excuse to slip away from Irik and Luna. If they witnessed this scene, how diminished would all the preparations they made to welcome Ash be.

“Ah, did I offend you?”

“…”

“I didn’t mean much. It’s been a while since we saw each other.”

When it was just the two of us left, Ash spoke casually as if he was used to it.“I’ve never seen you make that kind of expression in front of me, so I must have felt unfamiliar.”

Apparently, it sounded like he was being sarcastic. He must have believed that I would welcome him with tears in my eyes.

“I wanted to ask why you declined my invitation. You’ve been waiting for me.”

Ash shrugged his shoulders as he watched how far I would talk.

“Or, do you still have that habit of trying to intentionally attract my attention?”

What the hell are you talking about? It looked like he had a serious illness.

“Well, thanks to you racking your brain, you get to see my face up close like this.”

He handed me an invitation from the inside of his coat. It was the invitation to the welcoming ceremony that I refused a while ago.

As expected. Seeing that Ash Benio came all the way here with this, something would be happening on that day. It was also clear that I was absolutely needed in that welcoming ceremony.

“Next time, take it calmly. This is the end of my trouble to get here.” When I received the invitation, Ash added as if he knew I would accept it.

“Are you sure you really need me for this welcoming ceremony?”

“…What?”

“Why? Did you even invite His Majesty with the bait that I would attend?”

His straight brows were distorted, whether he was stabbed to the point or embarrassed by my reaction.

Anyway, he’s quick-witted. Even if he didn’t know the details, he must have noticed that there was a connection between me and the emperor.

“This time, since you’ve come all the way here, I’ll accept it.”

I fanned the invitation with the seal of Grand Duke Benio, whose seals were clear.

“But next time, it won’t be like this. If you want to invite me, kneel in front of me and hand over the invitation yourself.”

“Siani Fel—”

“Ah, by the way.”

His face crumpled in disbelief was worth seeing. Watching the prestigious mask of a noble being stripped away was always fun.

“You asked me why I looked like that.”

“…”

“It’s because I’m not strong enough to force myself to smile.”

“What do you mean?”

I could tell that Ash was gritting his teeth.

“Please understand that I can’t manage my expression at your welcoming ceremony. It’s because I’m not pretentious.”

“Haha. You finally become crazy.”

Then he burst into laughter.

“Or are you trying to get my attention even by pretending to be crazy?”

I didn’t think we could communicate. As expected, in this crazy novel, there were a lot of characters who didn’t match their composed appearance.

“Siani, did you forget that you were treated like a human being in this duchy for a moment because of me?”

“…”

“I’m the only one who can save you. But how dare you act like this to me?”

Dare? Even a brief encounter with him gave me an idea of what our relationship was like.

Siani Felicite. She was a typical pushover character wearing the villainess’s mask. Now that I saw it, it was clear the character I possessed was a con artist.

“If I said this much, shouldn’t you understand?”

“…”

I glanced slowly down at Ash with my arms crossed. “Do I still look like that Siani Felicite that used to cling to your feet?”

“…What?”

“I don’t like you anymore. I’m tired of you.”

Who was saving whom? It was clear how Ash used Siani. It wasn’t fun.

“By the way, your welcoming ceremony will become my welcoming ceremony.”

“…!”

“So, Grand Prince.”

I raised the corners of my mouth, a natural fit for the villainess role.

“Stop being misunderstood and go away.”