In Sergei’s excited hands were a thick book and dozens of sheets of parchment.

When he asked if he could read them in advance while moving my inheritance to the carriage, I said yes, and he seemed to have been engrossed in the book for the past few days…

“For Lord Sergei to come running like this, you must have discovered something extraordinary.”

“Yes, Duchess! That’s exactly why I’ve come.”

Sergei approached me with uncharacteristically quick steps and spread the parchment on the table.

Judging by how carefully he placed the book he brought along, the parchment seemed to be a translation of the book.

All the books are written in the language of the Mado era, so unless one has studied the language of that time, they cannot be read as is.

“It would be good if Lord Joseph could hear this too… Where is he now?”

“Lord Joseph is in charge of bringing over the inheritance.”

“Ah!”

As the volume of books stored inside the cave was quite substantial, there was a limit to moving them by gondola.

It meant that books and treasures had to be moved back and forth dozens of times.

In particular, there was a separate issue that was most problematic in this process, namely that I was the only one who could see the entrance to the cave.

Lord Joseph said that it was probably because I was the rightful heir to the inheritance.

And there was one more person who had the status of an heir.

It was Lord Joseph, the successor of Chronomancy.

Unlike Nergal or Sergei, he was someone who could clearly see the entrance from the beginning, like me.

He agreed to move the inheritance in my stead, and I thought I could trust him, so I accepted.

Thus, even now, Lord Joseph was riding a gondola in the mist.

“Then…”

Sergei, who had a troubled expression for a moment, said.

“How about the Duchess listening first? No, it might be better for you to listen first!”

The scholar’s eyes sparkled, wanting to share what he had discovered with someone as quickly as possible.

Overwhelmed by his enthusiasm, I nodded.

In fact, the contents written on the parchment placed on the table quite piqued my interest.

“So, this is the part that I find astonishing.”

Sergei, with a brightened voice, hastily handed me a page of the translation.

My gaze naturally skimmed over the content.

At first, I read it without much thought, but soon I couldn’t help but pick up the translation with wide eyes.

He was right. There was astonishing content written there.

“Lord Sergei. What’s the title of that book?”

I first pointed with my eyes to the title of the original book. Sergei quickly replied.

“‘Chronicles of the Chronos Dynasty AK (Age of Κρόνος) 501-700’, it’s the annals of the Chronos Dynasty, the imperial family of Mado.”

Chronicles of the Chronos Dynasty. This is what was written in Sergei’s translation:

AK511, Callionix III gives the name Jeunne-Viette with the power of Chronos to a girl found in the Beverdin region to make her his successor.

AK523, 4th Princess Jeunne-Viette inherits the power of the Chronos Dynasty and ascends as the 29th Mado Emperor.

AK544, As Empress Jeunne-Viette has no children with talent, 1st Princess Aiolin, who received the power, searches for a qualified man.

AK545, Aslo Philiodel from the Drezeuk region is deemed qualified, and a marriage is arranged with 1st Princess Aiolin.

AK546, 1st Princess Aiolin has an affair with Duke Rebellion and refuses marriage with the successor. Thus, Aslo becomes the concubine of Princess Aiolin.

AK580, Empress Jeunne-Viette passes away and successor Emperor Aslo ascends as the 30th Mado Emperor.

Thanks to Sergei underlining the important parts, there was no need for interpretation. Nevertheless, to summarize the key points:

1. One doesn’t necessarily have to be of Mado Emperor bloodline to become a successor.

2. Also, those of Mado Emperor bloodline don’t necessarily possess the Emperor’s talent.

Point 2 was already known, but point 1 was surprising even to me. Especially the part about ‘giving a name to make them a successor’…

“By the way, Duchess.”

Sergei suddenly asked as I was about to delve deeper into thought.

“Do you know who was the first person your grandfather, Baron Sun, gave a name to?”

I opened my mouth in surprise. Unfortunately, sound didn’t immediately escape my lips.

“That person is the true successor of the Mado Emperor. Although they didn’t inherit the power of Chronos… that is, Chronomancy, it means they have the true power of the Chronos Dynasty!”

Sergei’s breathing was rapid.

Normally, I would have tried to calm him down first. But at this moment, even my own bodily sensations were not normal.

The person Baron Sun, my grandfather, first gave a name to.

That was…

“…It’s me.”

My voice trembled.

“It’s… it’s me. Grandfather always told me, so there’s no way I could be mistaken.”

Sergei’s pupils dilated instantly.

“…Then indeed. It seems the Duchess is truly of direct Chronos Dynasty lineage.”

“My goodness.”

My gaze overlapped with Sergei’s. At the same time, I felt dizzy as if strength had left my legs.

Barely managing to grasp the table while stumbling, Sergei hurriedly grabbed my arm.

The trembling gaze and breathing from confusion and tension gradually subsided as time passed.

‘Am I really…’

The successor to the Mado Emperor!

It was still an unbelievable fact even upon reconsideration. But rather than indulging in sentiments, I sought the most advantageous and practical meaning for myself within it.

Only after taking a deep breath did I open my mouth.

Particularly, the point that excited me the most was this:

“Then I can really save Lord Joseph!”

“Yes. So you don’t necessarily have to marry Lord Joseph, Duchess!”

Huh?

Did I hear something wrong? My lips, about to let out a cheer, suddenly lost the words to continue.

As I blinked stupidly, Sergei made a gentle smile with a calm face.

“Aslo, the 30th emperor of the Chronos Dynasty, was of successor origin. But he wasn’t the husband of the heir, Princess Aiolin. He was a concubine… in today’s terms, a lover.”

“…”

I did see such content just now.

No wonder Sergei had underlined it, making me curious. To me, it didn’t seem like particularly important information.

That was the moment.

“…? Wait, Lord Sergei.”

Suddenly, Sergei lowered his body in front of me.

It wasn’t just lowering. In a knight’s posture with one knee bent and the other raised, he deeply bowed his head before me.

“Don’t you know, Duchess. No… Lieselotte.”

Before I could react to the sudden use of my name, my fingertips were pulled.

Soon, soft lips gently landed on my glove.

“That I loved you.”

“Sergei…”

“Ten years ago, I was going to propose to you. Although we had only a brief relationship, I thought we understood each other.”

My fingertips were pulled a bit more. Sergei, who had now grasped my hand with both of his, slowly rested his cheek against it.

“I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage back then, Lieselotte. For being a coward who couldn’t stop your marriage to my brother and ran away… I’m so sorry to you.”

“No, that’s…”

My throat choked up. I was flustered, not knowing how to react.

As I’ve mentioned before, …I’m not a fool.

I had known for a long time that Sergei had feelings for me.

No, I even knew that he was trying to propose to me.

‘To be honest, I had good feelings towards Sergei at that time too.’

Nevertheless, I accepted Carlos Nikolai Daiern’s proposal.

Because realistically, I knew that the probability of me being with Sergei was almost zero…

The Landgritz I belonged to was merely a baronial family.

On the other hand, even though Sergei was a second son without succession rights, he was still a child of a high ducal family.

Without any special disqualifications like Carlos, who had been married once and had three children.

So strictly speaking, I’m the betrayer.

Even though I knew his feelings, I abandoned him. The one who should be sorry was me, not him.

“So if possible, I want to undo that mistake of the past. If you’ll allow me, if you’ll give me another chance…”

Sergei’s lips soon concluded with the final words.

“Marry me this time, Lieselotte. I still love you. And I love everything that you love.”