“I really want to know. I’m truly curious.”

Justin plucked a rose petal as red as blood and chewed it up, swallowing it.

Kneeling with his head bowed, Baron Aaron’s eyes trembled slightly as he glanced up at the emperor.

The curiosity about his cousin’s woman may stem from her being the companion of Frost Ielheim, second in line to the imperial succession.

But chewing on rose petals like that…

It was something he had once seen Commander Solas Moretti doing when he was on guard duty at the imperial palace.

That day was the first time Aaron saw the commander’s face.

Usually covering his face entirely with a hood and collar, claiming to hide hideous burn scars, that day Solas had lowered his collar, not noticing Aaron nearby, and was plucking rose petals to taste.

Far from burn scars, the lips savoring the rose petals were redder and more vivid than the roses he held.

And the way he smiled gently, green leaf-like eyes curving as he let a butterfly seeking nectar land on the back of his hand, was as beautiful as a saint in a sacred painting.

The valiant warrior clad in blood-soaked black armor, raising the severed head of the barbarian enemy leader was not there…!

The fiery red hair revealed under the lowered hood, swaying in the wind, shimmered translucently under the sunlight.

The owner of the holy sword, exuding fierce killing intent with a blade that seemed it would burn the surroundings to ash, instilled an indistinct feeling with his exceptionally fair and pale skin.

How could a man be so beautiful.

Along with admiration, a sense of betrayal also welled up. Were the rumors true that His Majesty was homosexual and involved with Commander Solas?

To think the superior he respected was clouding the emperor’s eyes through homosexual acts. Thus, he did not hesitate at all to betray him.

It would be a lie to say he did not covet the position of Imperial Knight Commander. But he firmly believed it was an extreme measure by the emperor to bring his beloved companion, whom he cherished so much, to his senses by branding him a traitor.

He had thought it a decision truly befitting the master of the empire…

So why could His Majesty not forget him and continued these strange behaviors?

“Leave now. I wish to be alone.”

The emperor reached out to pluck another rose petal and put it in his mouth.

As he rose, Aaron thought he should put in a request with the information guild to find out about the woman who would become the Grand Duke’s companion.

It was surely a political marriage, but the Grand Duke was no ordinary man.

Since the Grande bastard daughter was said to be of courtesan origin, perhaps she could be a femme fatale who might even catch the emperor’s eye.

If she could make the emperor, mired in homosexuality and reduced to chewing rose petals, fancy a woman, then elevating the Grande bastard to the position of imperial concubine could be an option, no?

The North would be crushed by the emperor anyway, and everything the Grand Duke possessed would become the emperor’s. His woman would be no exception. It irked him that she was his cousin’s woman, but wasn’t the emperor unscrupulous?

Thinking that the method to quickly seat his sister Carina on the throne as empress might unexpectedly be found in the North, Aaron’s pace quickened.

Left alone in a picturesque garden in full bloom with roses, the emperor, more beautiful than any painting, lay sprawled on a flowerbed, uncaring of dirtying his splendid ceremonial attire, hands pillowed behind his head as he blankly stared at the slowly drifting clouds.

[That rabbit-shaped cloud looks tastier than the octopus-shaped one, Your Majesty. Oh! A roasted whole pig is floating by over there too!]

Justin turned his body, propping himself up on one arm as he lay on his side.

Like yesterday, an illusion of Solas lay beside him, pointing at the clouds in the sky with a long finger and laughing.

He also wistfully smiled at the illusion, like yesterday.

“…Solas. Everything looks like food to you, I see.”

[It’s a habit from childhood. To a beggar child wandering the streets barefoot, even a table leg looked edible.]

“You just… ate four plates of roasted lamb skewers by yourself earlier.”

The illusion turned towards Justin with a grin, resting its chin in its hand.

[Strange, isn’t it? Now I can eat until I burst at any time, but out of habit, I keep imagining things to eat. I suppose the body’s hunger has become the heart’s hunger.]

The emperor bit his lip, the woman in a time he could not return to was so beautiful.

“…Does imagining such things make it a bit better?”

[It only made me hungrier. Haha. Has Your Majesty never experienced it? Wanting something so desperately, but being unable to have it, so possessing it as your own at least in your imagination.]

“Well…”

[Indeed. As the whole world is Yours, what could there be that you cannot obtain? It was a foolish question. Haha.]

“The body’s hunger becoming the heart’s hunger…”

Transparent tears running down the emperor’s cheeks mixed with the blood flowing from his lips, falling with soft patters onto the fine soil.

Only now could Justin Della Ponti fully understand what Solas had said back then.

In a world where everything was his with just a reach of his hand, he was as starved as the most destitute and naked.

In a world where the green eyes that were always there when he turned his gaze were no longer visible.

In a world where the brightly ringing laughter that washed away the weariness of a hard day had vanished.

Amidst the ruins of the heart he had shattered with his own hands.

Justin was starving.

Starving, he imagined those eyes, that laughter. The more he imagined, the hungrier his heart grew, unable to bear it, he was going mad.

*

“Did you just say the emperor is coming to attend our wedding now?”

I shouted loudly without realizing it, too shocked.

The seamstress taking measurements for my wedding dress pricked her own finger with the needle, startled by my shout, and shed a tear.

Head butler Alexis nodded.

“Yes. This morning, he sent word of his visit along with wedding congratulations for you two via communication magic tool.”

“I didn’t mishear that he’s coming to cut off the Grand Duke’s head, leading an army?”

As I failed to calm my excitement, the Grand Duke, who had been leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms, quietly observing me, waved his hand to dismiss the seamstress and maids.

“Alexis. We shall have lunch in the garden.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I shall prepare it.”

Alexis skillfully navigated his way out of the reception room, packed to the brim as if an entire jewelry store and dressmaker had moved in.

“Lunch at a time like this!”

“It’s time to eat. You especially need to eat well.”

“No, the emperor is coming! The emperor!”

“Yes. He says he’s coming to celebrate our wedding. It will take time to prepare the magic teleportation circle, as he’s bringing many in his entourage and no small number of gifts, but he said he would arrive without delay.”

“So-”

Eh? Wait a minute. Is the Grand Duke speaking to me in formal language right now?

“Wh-why the sudden formality… Grand Duke, are you angry?”

That Yustein bastard sometimes spoke formally to spite others when angry.

“No.”

Answering flatly with such a perfectly handsome face without even a smile, it’s a bit scary.

“Then… did I make some mistake…?”

Even if I made a mistake, shouldn’t he forgive me? I’m his lifesaver who rescued the Grand Duke from the brink of death, you know? Twice, at that.

“I am neither angry with the young lady nor has the young lady made a mistake with me.”

Huh? Then… did Duke Grande or that blockhead Dolman do something stupid? According to imperial law, those guilty of treason have their entire clan exterminated… Grand Duke. Even if I can’t say it, only my body shares blood with them, my soul is not part of the Grande family, you know?

“Then why…?”

The Grand Duke strode over to me with his enviably muscular long legs and held out his hand. Seeing that large hand that could be a weapon even without wielding one, I sighed involuntarily.

I greatly admired and envied it even as Solas, and now layering my slender, small hand over it, I can only feel shy and envious.

“My father always spoke formally to my mother. They say my grandfather did the same to my grandmother. I cannot speak informally to you who will now be my companion.”

“Ah. I see…”

Although my body tingled a bit and I got slight goosebumps, I nodded as if I understood.

As expected. Our Grand Duke is meticulous too. Since we can’t risk the fake engagement being exposed, he’s strictly keeping it up even when it’s just the two of us.

“But we haven’t even signed a contract yet?”

What if he pulls out a 25-item contract like Airy did? As my pledged lord, it’s only proper I do whatever he wants.

“We don’t need something like a contract.”

“Pardon?”

Does he trust me enough to not even need a contract? My heart was about to flutter again.

“I’ve never seen anyone bold enough to break a promise made to me. But even if there were.”

The Grand Duke lifted the corner of his mouth, brushing his sharp chin. He’s smiling but that makes it even more eerie.

“I collect debts with lives. Quibbling over contract clauses truly doesn’t suit my temperament.”

“I will do my utmost to cure you, Grand Duke. I’ll spare no effort so you can spend a blissful eternity with the beautiful Lady Shavelle and the real Grand Duchess!”

Without realizing it, I made a vow with a clenched fist pressed to my chest, spirit filling me.

But why is the Grand Duke’s expression not improving? A chill spreads from his cold, hard face like a blade’s edge.

Indeed. It must be difficult to stay composed with that Yustein bastard coming. I heard directly from the emperor that the carriage accident that killed the Grand Duke’s parents was orchestrated by the empress dowager.

“Grand Duke. Shouldn’t we skip the wedding and prepare instead? The emperor coming to see our wedding? He must have some ulterior motive!”

“Skip the wedding ceremony?”

“The ones coming could be elite combat personnel. They might hide dangerous items in the gifts. If we don’t prepare in advance-”

“Are you dissatisfied with the hastily prepared wedding?”

“Pardon?”

Frost glanced at the jewelry boxes and dresses placed on the sofa and table, furrowing his brow.

“Having the Grand Duchess position vacant for so long has greatly diminished the insight regarding jewelry and clothes. We shall immediately summon designers from the capital and wring them dry. The jewelry as well-”

“No, there’s no need for that-”

“I will make proper preparations so that words about skipping the wedding never leave your mouth again.”

Before I could say anything, the head maid was summoned right away. The splendid dresses, jewelry, and accessories that had filled the reception room were cleared out. Alexis was sweating buckets, hurriedly seeking out designers to bring from the capital via teleportation magic circle.

The more I refused, the more jewelry and dresses the Grand Duke ordered, so I shut my mouth.

After lunch, the Grand Duke took me to the annex.

On the first floor of the annex were portraits of past family heads and their relatives, and suits of armor on display. The second floor housed the family’s treasures.

There, he took out a necklace that was gifted to his mother by his grandmother as a token of accepting her into the family, and placed it around my neck.

The necklace, with a very large blue diamond pendant, had diamonds studded on the multi-layered chain, glittering and sparkling. It was tremendously heavy.

As heavy as the contract the Grand Duke said was unnecessary.

[I collect debts with lives.]

A chill ran down my spine at the cold sensation touching my neck.

“Is this to your liking?”

The Grand Duke’s fingertips moved slowly along the necklace chain. His touch was hot. Huh? Is his fever rising again?

I swiftly turned and tiptoed to feel his forehead, making him furrow his brow. There’s no fever though?

Ah! He must be displeased that I didn’t promptly answer that I like the necklace. It’s a family heirloom, after all.

“Yes! I like it very much! It’s wonderful!”

Fortunately, the Grand Duke’s forehead wrinkles smoothed and he smiled with satisfaction as he led me to the rear of the annex.

Laborers were busy sorting stones and compacting soil. I could tell at a glance what the construction was for. The very thing I always wanted to build if I retired one day and was granted a small estate!

“It’s a small training ground for the Grand Duchess.”

“Why are you giving this to me…?”

“Because I saw your skill in wielding maces that day of the assassins’ attack. Harnessing the power of wind, precisely striking and slaying the one who tried to harm me like a sharp spear.”

The Grand Duke, having approached at some point, placed both hands on my shoulders and bent his knees to meet my gaze. My image was fully reflected in his clear blue eyes.

His eyes were asking. To explain what happened that day.

“……”

I tried to twist my body and slip away, but his hands gripped my shoulders tighter. And persistently awaited my answer.

What could I say?

That I was once Commander Solas Moretti, owner of the fire sword Flamma, but lost the sword, got beheaded and died…?

Or that I did make a contract with the spirit of the wind sword, but I don’t know where that sword is, and I may not be able to save you…?

“Answer.”

“That’s…”

“That’s?”

The Grand Duke tilted his head slightly, a familiar smile playing on his angled eyes.

It was the very smile he wore when confusing the enemy to let down their guard, finally finding an opening to stab their vital point!

For a moment, I had forgotten. How tenacious and cunning of a warrior Frost Ielheim was.

Could it be? The mountain of dresses and sudden formality were diversionary tactics? The heirloom of the previous Grand Duchess he smilingly offered and my personal training ground were also thrusting at an opening, thinking I had let my guard down now that the battle was over?

“Yuriella Grande. What exactly are you?”

But there’s something the Grand Duke doesn’t know. I was also a tenacious warrior who hated losing more than dying. The shell may have changed but the core remains the same.

I have no intention of losing this fight. I will be the one wearing the victor’s smile.

Gathering my wits, fortunately I saw an opening.

As Yuriella Grande, I forcefully countered the Grand Duke’s attack.

“I’d like to ask you that question. Grand Duke, what exactly am I to you?”

Was the attack effective? The Grand Duke flinched.

“Do you know what day it is? You don’t, do you? That’s why you’re doing this to me.”

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.