Chapter – 4
The next Duchess herself had come to the palace to see the Duke.
That single fact was enough to send ripples through the entire hall. The men waiting at the door instinctively revealed their curiosity when they encountered her, but Lady Ohara remained completely composed. She exchanged perfectly proper greetings with no hint of agitation or emotion.
The same was true of Duke Teze.
If anything, his demeanor was even more upright, so aloof it could almost be discouraging. Normally, when a man and a woman are alone behind closed doors, all sorts of speculation might arise—but with them, even that was impossible. At most, one could guess that they hadn’t fought.
Of course, there was no chance of any romantic display either.
“Then, let’s handle today’s matters as they are and report to His Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Call the heads of each department to review the final documents, and submit the details within two days.”
His tone fell as precisely as a set quill, perfectly measured. Those who had been glancing nervously at him bowed their heads and withdrew one by one. Any futile curiosity would only backfire—they were dealing with someone who could turn the tables on them in an instant.
“……”
Even after everyone had left, Duke Teze’s posture remained unshaken. His arms rested neatly on the desk, and the sorrowful intensity in his downward gaze gave his profile the appearance of being sculpted. The calmness of that figure was such that even pressing questions about when he would approve the military support were swallowed in hesitation.
“…Um, Your Grace. I don’t think now is the right time to say this, but…”
“Then don’t.”
Phylon, who had mustered some courage to speak, bit his lip and fell silent. Having observed the Duke for some time, he knew exactly how deeply lost in thought he was at this moment.
‘What on earth is going on?’
His friend had always been serious to an extreme, but this time it was almost excessive. It was only after Mikael, who had been waiting outside, reentered the meeting room that Decarno lifted his indifferent gaze.
“Your Grace, Lady has departed for the Duke’s residence.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. We switched the coachman, so she should be going directly there.”
Mikael, who understood the Duke’s intentions, reassured him. The coachman driving the Duke’s carriage was a trusted, fully vetted member of their household, capable of handling any unexpected incident.
“She will confirm everything as soon as she arrives at the annex and then return immediately.”
“…I see.”
For some reason, the Duke’s answer did not sit well. Still, unpleasantness lingered because there were matters yet unresolved.
“By the way, was the security at my residence really so lax?”
“…Pardon? Your Grace, what do you mean…”
“How could someone hear news I haven’t even been told, and come to my house directly?”
The Duke’s interlaced fingers tightened. Mikael flinched under the sharp, predatory glare above them. Traditionally, the Teze family’s security was as formidable as the palace itself. Since a suspicious sudden death occurred during the previous generation, all visitors had to either be pre-scheduled or present an invitation.
Even family members could not show up unexpectedly; it was the house’s rule. Except for one place.
“I’m afraid the annex falls under Lady Ohara’s jurisdiction. Today’s banquet was held there, and the carriage sent by the Ohara faction could not be stopped by us.”
“……”
Mikael, who had already assessed the situation, quickly explained. Among the extensive grounds of the Duke’s estate, only the annex in the west had always belonged to the Duchess. Even the head of the house traditionally refrained from interfering there.
“If there’s anything more you wish to know about today…”
“Send someone reliable—or rather, you yourself—directly to the Ohara faction. Make sure to verify the time and circumstances of what happened.”
Decarno changed his plan from sending someone to sending Mikael personally. Phylon, who had been watching silently, grew more serious as he observed the Duke’s direct command.
“So, something really did happen, huh?”
“It’ll be as if nothing happened if you keep your mouth shut.”
“Ha…”
Phylon clicked his tongue at the warning, sensing both a promise and a threat in Decarno’s words. He instinctively recoiled from entangling himself in complicated affairs, yet even standing up and leaving wasn’t easy.
“Who currently holds sovereignty over the Lyman Sea? Wasn’t it Kale outside of Adis?”
“Uh? Why do you ask that all of a sudden?”
“Because you’ll have to go there yourself.”
“……”
The simplicity of his tone left Phylon dumbfounded. It was as casual as inviting someone hunting or fencing after work. Yet Decarno spoke with remarkable composure about the Valice Empire’s fleet entering another country’s waters.
“Is that difficult?”
“…This isn’t a joke. You’ve served in the military—don’t you understand what that means? Even if it’s Adis, Kale was essentially an enemy nation that once went to war with us.”
“We’ve signed a truce again, haven’t we?”
“Ha…”
A hollow laugh escaped him. But this was no joking matter; Decarno’s words carried weight. Phylon opened his mouth to protest again, but Decarno had already pulled a sheet of paper from a stack of documents.
“That’s for you!”
“This should cover your travel expenses.”
With a swift motion, the Duke’s handwriting flowed elegantly across the page.
Even the previously withheld naval budget seemed like nothing more than a mere check in his hands. Phylon, unsure how to react, watched as Decarno rose from the desk.
“Charge separately for any compensation and expenses they request.”
“…Good grief. What is all this?”
“You don’t need to know.”
The meaning was clear: gather information thoroughly, but erase it from your mind immediately. With that, Decarno had completed all that he could for the moment. As he prepared to leave, Mikael waited once more at the meeting room door.
“You shouldn’t be here right now, I think.”
“Apologies, Your Grace. I just wanted to ask one more thing.”
Mikael approached with urgency. Commands from the Duke came first, but when there were two, prioritization was necessary.
“…Then, should Lady’s birthday gift be canceled for now?”
◇ ◆ ◇
The scent of roses carried on the night breeze was fresh. The glass conservatory was the most secretive and exotic part of the Duke’s western annex. Filled with rare flowers and trees rarely seen in the Valice Empire, it evoked memories of tropical islands she had visited by ship.
“Do you like it? Does it please you?”
The late previous Duchess had loved this place the most. Originally a princess from the northern Nix Duchy, she had been accustomed to seeing rare treasures, but here she could not hide her pride. The annex and its secret garden were the ultimate dream for all women of society—a final destination of elegance.
“This will be your kingdom alone, Evangeline.”
Her late predecessor surely did not know… that I would end up like this.
Recalling the voice of the previous Duchess, as poised as her own son, Evangeline smiled wryly. The elegant and beautiful future mother-in-law had often been cold. Even after accepting her as a prospective daughter-in-law, she had waited months before speaking to her properly.
If she saw me now…
Evangeline’s smile was knowing as she caressed the silver-blue rose leaves. Even these rare blooms only grew here, making her heart flutter.
I wonder if I’ll ever touch them again.
Though she knew it was too early to think that way, tonight their scent felt unusually poignant. But it wasn’t the rare flowers she clung to.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Rex!”
Evangeline, who had bent to smell the flowers, turned suddenly, spreading her hands. Rex, his silver fur rippling, was no ordinary dog.
Rex was of the precious ancient lion dog bloodline brought from the North by the previous Duchess when she married. She had personally trained each generation, taking pride in their history and lineage. Though Rex’s mother had passed before giving birth, the Duchess had cared for her many times.
