IDLYA 4

chapter 4

“So… you intend to break off the engagement.”

“Yes. I plan to return to the Solen estate.”

“…Understood.”

An hour later, the butler of the Eustache residence, who received the annulment document in place of his master, looked more bitter than expected.

Even so, he did not try to stop Niveia.

Perhaps that was only natural.

Valere had always wanted to end their engagement, so there was no reason for his servant to hold her back.

Instead, the butler offered to help her pack.

Niveia didn’t refuse, but in truth, there was nothing for him to do.

Everything she had belonged to Eustache, so the only things she could take were a few pens and pen nibs she had bought with her own money, some books she enjoyed reading, and a tea set.

Carrying a bag too small to even be called luggage, Niveia stepped out of the room.

The butler followed behind her and said,

“As I mentioned earlier, the carriage has been prepared outside.”

“Thank you.”

When she had announced earlier that she would be leaving that very day, the butler had shown her one last kindness by arranging the carriage.

He had also promised to deliver the annulment document she had completed to its rightful owner.

That was the most he could do for her.

He didn’t know why someone who had persistently loved Valere for ten years had suddenly changed her mind, but now that she had signed the document, there was no point in asking.

Instead, he asked one thing.

“What do you plan to do after leaving Eustache?”

Niveia, about to step onto the stairs, paused.

She looked quietly at the butler standing just behind her.

He was the only person in the residence who had never treated her poorly—and the one who had helped her until the very end.

So, as a small gesture of gratitude, she answered.

“I’m going to get married.”

“…Pardon?”

The butler asked in a dazed voice, but she gave no further reply.

Clack, clack. The sound of her shoes echoed as she descended the stairs.

In the end, she never once set foot on the fourth floor of the Eustache residence.

“I’m going to get married.”

That statement had been sincere.

Inside the rattling carriage, Niveia thought to herself:

I need to persuade the Emperor of Vinfried within the period of the imperial marriage negotiations.

She had already chosen the man she intended to marry.

The Emperor of Vinfried—Joachim XII.

A few days ago, a delegation from the Vinfried Empire had arrived in Thierry.

What shocked everyone was that the emperor himself was among them.

People were already astonished that an emperor had personally come to another nation—but there was something even more surprising.

Joachim XII had proposed an imperial marriage to the Thierry Empire.

“For the peace and prosperity of both our nations, I, the emperor, shall also marry into Thierry.”

Those were his words.

Because of this, not only the nation—but the entire continent—was thrown into an uproar.

People speculated that since his half-brother had already married a princess of Thierry, Joachim must have taken quite a liking to the empire.

That was the public interpretation.

That Vinfried had chosen peace with Thierry to reduce conflict.

But in truth, there was more beneath the surface.

Joachim XII does not have a good relationship with his mother, the Empress Dowager.

Niveia had learned this purely by chance.

During the three years Valere had been away at war, she had managed the ducal affairs in his place.

During that time, the emperor of Vinfried had died, and Joachim XII had ascended the throne.

Had she been any other noble, she would never have questioned his authority—but Eustache was among the emperor’s closest allies, and through that, Niveia had access to numerous confidential documents.

That was how she learned that gifts sent from Thierry to congratulate the emperor’s ascension were delivered not to him—but to the Empress Dowager.

There were also several correspondences sent not to the emperor, but to her.

From this, Niveia came to understand:

The real power in Vinfried lay with the Empress Dowager.

And because of that, there was no way she and Joachim XII could be on good terms.

Why else would he come all the way to another country to find a bride instead of choosing one from his own people?

He wanted someone outside the Empress Dowager’s influence.

And someone capable of assisting him as empress.

Niveia fit all those conditions.

And I can fulfill the final condition as well.

If she could just meet him—if she could just speak with him—

she could become the perfect empress Joachim XII desired.

That was why she needed to return to Solen.

She needed time to prepare before meeting him.

The family that had cast her aside like she meant nothing, leaving her in Eustache for ten years without a single letter—

her Solen family.

Just thinking about seeing them again made her expression harden.

I never wanted to see them again… but I have no choice.

She intended to return to Solen, make her preparations, and leave.

She had no intention of staying in that dreadful place any longer than necessary.

Just as she finished her thoughts, the carriage came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived, my lady.”

Through the window, she saw the lavishly landscaped garden.

Her Solen estate—

etched into her childhood memories so deeply that she could never forget it.

And it hadn’t changed at all.

Niveia opened the door and stepped out.

Once, she wouldn’t have been able to set foot here—out of fear, or disgust.

But now, she didn’t hesitate.

Her footsteps across the garden were completely indifferent.

And before long, she witnessed something unexpected.

“Will you take me to the imperial palace again next time, Father?”

“Of course. If that’s what you want, how could I refuse? Is there anything else you wish for? Say anything—you know I’ll grant whatever I can in the name of Solen.”

“Hmm… I want a real sword! Not a decorative one. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if the heir of Solen couldn’t even wield a sword?”

The Marquis Solen, with a warmth she had never seen before, was walking through the garden with a young blonde girl who looked just like him.

Meanwhile, completely unaware that Niveia had left, Valere was busy working himself to the bone just to leave early.

After a three-hour discussion with the emperor, he hurried back to his office to finalize documents for negotiations with the delegation.

His irritated voice slipped out.

“I don’t understand why they suddenly decided to push for an imperial marriage now. Those who never even set foot toward Thierry are suddenly arranging not one, but two imperial marriages…”

“To expand toward the sea, they must have judged that they need Thierry’s help. Please don’t get too worked up. Thanks to this, we’ll benefit as well, won’t we?”

Panting as he struggled to keep up with Valere’s pace, his aide diligently tried to calm him.

The imperial marriage with Vinfried was something the entire palace was looking forward to.

Vinfried, located in the northeast of the Rosetia continent, was a powerful empire that could be said to dominate much of it.

Of course, Thierry, which controlled the seas in the southwest, was equally formidable.

It was widely acknowledged that Thierry was the only nation capable of standing against Vinfried.

The two countries had long been like cats and dogs, but about a year ago, a scandal had drastically changed their relationship.

Now they were pursuing peace—and even an imperial marriage.

And this time, the emperor himself had come to find a bride.

It was unprecedented.

Because of this, Emperor Bertrand XV of Thierry was practically dancing with joy, delighted that he could reduce military spending.

This sentiment was shared throughout the empire.

And yet, there was one exception—

Duke Valere Eustache.

The reason was simple.

He had too much work.

Anyone would be irritated when their workload increased.

His aide understood that.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead as he hurried along, he said cheerfully,

“I’ll do my best to help you return early today. Please don’t worry!”

“No need. Just focus on your own duties.”

“Ah—yes, understood.”

Watching his aide bow hastily, Valere turned his gaze away with irritation.

Though the aide didn’t notice, Valere himself was aware—

he was unusually sharp today.

And the reason was none other than his fiancée.

I didn’t realize Lady Eustace had said such things…

That day, when the spring rain had been falling—

the day he had first seen Niveia unleash such fierce violence—

he only learned yesterday that it had been provoked by Lady Eustace.

Anyone would have been angered by being openly mocked for their low birth.

Realizing his misjudgment left him deeply unsettled.

So Valere intended to apologize to Niveia as soon as possible.

Whenever he passed the third floor, she would always appear with a bright smile, greeting him warmly.

He planned to apologize then and ease this lingering discomfort.

But last night—

Niveia did not come to see him.