IBYSDW 09

Chapter 9

The one who broke the silence was Delta.

“You don’t need to be so discouraged. You’re still young, and there are plenty of women.”

Hernan did not respond.

He had no intention of changing his bride again.

“And I am greatly relieved that my son is not… incapable. That alone is enough. Hahaha.”

Delta laughed, trying to lighten the gloomy atmosphere.

“Your son is perfectly fine, Father.”

Delta nodded.

There had been rumors that Hernan might be either homosexual or impotent because of how he treated women—more like someone taking care of them than being attracted to them.

Delta didn’t pay much attention to such gossip, but he had, to some extent, suspected the latter.

His second son was so single-minded that he showed little interest in others.

Even noble ladies and female servants didn’t particularly like Hernan.

Though he was handsome, his expressionless face and cold aura made him difficult to approach.

It was unfortunate.

If only they got to know him a little better, they would realize how innocent he truly was.

Feeling sorry for him, Delta had pushed forward with a political marriage.

There would be no civil war for the time being, so it was the perfect time for a wedding.

However, he had never imagined that Hernan would like the duchess’s daughter that much.

Delta grew curious about the young lady who had captured Hernan’s interest.

“I should invite the young lady to the imperial palace. I want to meet her myself.”

Hernan answered without hesitation.

“Very well. You’ll understand once you meet her—she is truly a good woman.”

* * *

After dinner, Ishar followed behind Hernan.

Hernan wondered how long he should pretend not to notice him.

If it were usual, he would have snapped, “Stop following me.”

Their relationship wasn’t particularly warm.

But this time, Hernan had something he wanted to ask Ishar.

What should I wear when I meet Rinzel? I need to dress… stylishly—what was the word again…

Every time he dressed like Ishar, Rinzel’s reaction had been good.

So he wanted advice, but…

It wasn’t easy to ask.

They had never really had a proper conversation before.

Hernan stopped walking and turned around.

Ishar’s face was slightly twisted, as if he had something to complain about.

“Ishar. Do you have something to say?”

Ishar stepped closer.

“Hernan. That shirt you’re wearing… looks very familiar.”

It was a shirt Ishar often wore.

He guessed it was probably from Montblanc.

Knowing that, Ishar deliberately made a sarcastic remark to provoke him.

But—

“That would make sense. I chose something you wear often.”

Hernan admitted it immediately.

“…What?!”

Ishar staggered.

He admitted it just like that?

Was this really the same guy who always protected his pride?

“How surprising.”

Hernan didn’t feel the need to be prideful about copying Ishar’s clothes.

What mattered now was what to wear for his next meeting with Rinzel.

Hernan stared at Ishar.

Or rather, his sharp gaze was analyzing Ishar’s outfit.

A shirt similar to his own.

A casually draped blue jacket.

And finally, the black pants—slim, like slacks.

They accentuated the line of his thighs and, with the perfect length, highlighted his well-defined Achilles tendon and ankle.

Those pants… suddenly look quite nice.

Hernan found himself wanting them.

He had nothing like that in his wardrobe.

He usually wore loose-fitting pants.

A spark flickered in his eyes.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

Without waiting for a reply, Hernan walked away.

Watching his back, Ishar thought—

Why do I suddenly feel a chill…?

He had a bad feeling his clothes would be stolen again.

This side of Hernan—coveting his clothes—felt unfamiliar.

And he became curious about her, the one who had changed him.

Among the twin daughters of the Valencia duchy…

Which one had captured Hernan’s heart?

Come to think of it, he hadn’t heard her name during dinner.

Then someone came to mind.

The young lady who often greeted him.

Was her name… Rinzel?

* * *

“M-Mini… if I end up unable to get up… bury me here…”

I slumped down in the corridor, lowering my head dramatically.

Mini, who had been following quietly, quickly crouched beside me.

“My lady! N-no! You can get up!”

“I can no longer…! Cough—!”

“My lady…!”

Mini held my shoulders and sniffled.

I lay flat on the floor, catching my breath.

After a while, my breathing returned to normal.

A few more minutes later, I lifted my head.

“Phew… Mini, thanks for going along with my acting. I was out of breath, but I feel better now.”

What had just happened was simple—I got breathless on the way to Father’s office and collapsed.

Mini had cleverly played along with my poor acting.

If I had to name the play, it would be The Life of a Terminally Ill Lady.

I stood up.

“Let’s go again.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Mini answered brightly, as if she hadn’t been crying at all.

Cute and amusing.

This time, I walked slowly so I wouldn’t run out of breath again.

Then I thought of Hernan.

The way he lifted me effortlessly.

The way he carried me down the corridor.

If he were here now…

Wouldn’t he pick me up again?

And then say—

“Let’s go to heaven together.”

And I’d answer—

“Deal.”

It was a happy thought.

I wonder what Hernan is doing now.

He had come to visit for two days straight, yet today he hadn’t shown up.

Even though it had only been two days, his absence felt large.

I even felt a strange sense of loss.

Is he busy today?

If he comes, even late, I’d welcome him with open arms.

By the time I reached my destination, I wasn’t too out of breath.

I told the maid outside Father’s office to announce my arrival.

“My lord, Lady Rinzel has arrived.”

From inside, Father’s voice replied—

“Let her in.”

I entered.

Father, seated on the sofa, gestured for me to sit opposite him.

I sat and immediately asked—

“Father, why did you call me?”

He hesitated, fidgeting with his hands.

It didn’t feel like good news.

Soon, he spoke.

“The imperial palace has invited you.”

I asked back—

“The imperial palace? Why?”

It had to be related to Hernan.

Perhaps he had told his parents about me?

What could he have said?

Surely not that I touched his face…

Probably just that I was a frail noble lady.

That was all he knew about me.

“You are to be politically married to Prince Hernan. It seems they’ve invited you for a dinner.”

Just as I expected.

“I see. When is this dinner?”

Father looked even more troubled.

“Don’t tell me… today?”

“Rinzel. Have you heard the saying that what you fear most comes true?”

“…So it’s today.”

He nodded.

“Yes. You alone have been invited to tonight’s banquet.”

“I understand.”

“It seems the palace wants you and Prince Hernan to marry as soon as possible.”

“Why did you want to delay my marriage, Father?”

He answered seriously.

“As I said before, there are political reasons behind this marriage. But if you do not want it, I will do everything in my power to stop it.”

“Father…”

His love for his daughters was evident.

Looking into his sincere eyes, he felt like my real father.

“I told you before… I couldn’t avoid this marriage.”

“Yes, you did.”

“It was because of an imperial decree.”

Even a duke could not defy it.

Just as I thought.

Then I remembered a part from the original novel.

Rike had asked her father to cancel the marriage.

He tried—but in the end, due to pressure from the imperial palace, the wedding went ahead.

The Valencia duchy was powerful, but weaker than the Seville and Cadiz duchies.

The reason was bloodline.

Only Valencia lacked the blood of the First Emperor.

Thus, they were more vulnerable to imperial pressure.

That was why they aligned themselves with the imperial faction.

Meanwhile, the other duchies often opposed the throne.

I spoke gently—

“Don’t worry, Father.”

“Hm?”

“As I said before, I fell in love with Prince Hernan at first sight. And after meeting him, I liked him even more.”

There were many reasons.

His quiet kindness.

His handsome face.

I didn’t want to spend my entire life with him—but a few years wouldn’t be bad.

Once my goal (accessing the imperial archives) and his goal (becoming emperor) were achieved…

I would ask for a divorce.

Marriage, to me, was something I wanted only with someone I truly loved.

And Hernan likely wouldn’t cling to a loveless political marriage either.

Father asked in disbelief—

“You already like him that much?”

“Yes.”

He fell into thought.

Then—

“Ah… I see now.”

He seemed to have understood something about me.