A bright moon rose high in the sky on a late night.

After finishing a simple dinner, I hurried to prepare for going out. Having asked Annie to act as my stand-in again today, I headed towards the back door, avoiding the eyes of the servants.

Riding in the carriage Annie had called for me, I arrived at the Haven duchy. The butler guided me to the reception room. The Duke, who had been staying at the mansion for two days, was sitting on the sofa in impeccable formal attire without a single wrinkle. As I entered, he followed me with his eyes and said:

“You’re a bit late. I thought you would come to see me right after receiving the letter.”

“I had some circumstances that delayed me.”

I replied with a slight smile. The Duke frowned slightly, then after confirming that I had sat down on the sofa, he dismissed the butler.

Once only the two of us remained in the reception room, the Duke opened his mouth.

“…So, who is this marriage partner that Duke Yusten is trying to arrange for the Imperial Princess?”

I answered immediately.

“It’s Prince Justin Randall II of the Rasca Empire. The Duke has been exchanging letters with the Prince’s close confidant through me.”

“…The second prince of Rasca. A match that would satisfy His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Yes. The Rasca Empire earns enormous wealth from our empire through their gemstone craftsmanship and tea industry. His Majesty, who wants to somehow reduce the amount of wealth flowing out of the empire, will be tempted by the Duke’s proposal. He could demand the transfer of vast tea plantations or the technical skills of gemstone craftsmen guilds as the Imperial Princess’s dowry.”

“…And for Duke Yusten, it would be a good opportunity to permanently remove a troublesome political rival.”

The Duke responded, as if sneering. I nodded heavily and continued.

“Yes. So the Duke will certainly try to make this imperial marriage happen. There’s no reason for him not to.”

“Is there a way to prevent it?”

The Duke asked. I answered with a meaningful smile.

“Of course. Just trust me.”

It was a plan that I had devised and executed in my previous life. So I couldn’t help but know the solution.

The Duke let out a deflating sound as he laughed, then said:

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yes. First, at tomorrow’s regular nobility meeting, get as angry as you can at Duke Yusten. As if you’re surprised and enraged by the Duke’s unexpected plan. Then naturally, the nobles on the Duke’s side will react, and they’ll clash with the nobles on your side. His Majesty the Emperor will surely step in to mediate. That’s when you should pretend to reluctantly offer this compromise.”

“What kind of compromise should I propose?”

“…Suggest holding a party to invite Prince Justin and the Rasca Empire’s delegation to the empire so they can get to know each other. Say that if Imperial Princess Ella likes Prince Justin after attending that party, you’ll have no choice but to accept this imperial marriage.”

At my words, the Duke slightly furrowed his brow. He spoke in a voice that seemed displeased.

“Isn’t that essentially the same as me casting a vote in favor of the Imperial Princess’s marriage? You know well that such a party is a party in name only, and in reality, it’s no different from a place to finalize the engagement.”

“That’s right. After the Prince and Princess, as the main characters of the party, dance the last dance, His Majesty the host will ask if they have any objections. If there are none, the engagement is established. Everything would be over.”

“You know well. But why are you telling me to suggest holding that party?”

To the Duke’s question, I answered as if I had been waiting for it.

“…The engagement is established when no one raises an objection. Then what if someone does object?”

“…Are you saying you’ll make someone raise an objection to that declaration?”

“Yes. There’s absolutely no way His Majesty will declare the engagement established. So trust me, and follow my words.”

I added, speaking with confidence. The Duke looked at me for a moment as if measuring me, then nodded heavily.

“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. …And there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

The Duke asked me, tilting his head slightly. Wordlessly, I took out a small box from my bosom and held it out to him. The Duke received it with a puzzled look. When I urged him with my eyes, he opened the box.

Inside the box were the star sapphire brooch he had given me and a handkerchief I had made for him.

The Duke spoke to me with his brow slightly furrowed.

“I don’t understand why you’re giving me this brooch. And what’s this handkerchief?”

“I’m returning the brooch to you. …The handkerchief is my gift.”

“…A gift? From you?”

The Duke’s sharp eyes widened slightly upon hearing my words. The Duke, without even glancing at the brooch in the box, took out only the handkerchief and placed it on his hand. After carefully examining the thick fabric, the relatively well-finished stitching, and the embroidered initials ‘E.F.H’, he slowly opened his mouth.

“It doesn’t seem like something commonly sold in shops. Especially with my initials embroidered on it. Now that I look closely, the finishing does seem a bit rough.”

“…Well, that’s because I made it myself.”

“You made this yourself?”

He asked again, even more surprised. I extended my hand to him with a stern expression and said:

“I’m sorry for the poor craftsmanship. If you don’t like it, please give it back.”

But the Duke shook his head and told me in a gruff voice:

“No, it’s fine. I’ll gladly keep it, considering your sincerity.”

“No. Please give it back. I’ll buy you a proper one instead of that roughly finished handkerchief.”

“It’s fine. It’s too late now. I don’t have a habit of returning things that have come into my possession.”

Saying that, the Duke carefully pushed the handkerchief I had made for him into his bosom. I burst into a hollow laugh at his behavior, finding it ridiculous.

Meanwhile, he looked down at the brooch, the other item I had handed over, and asked:

“But why are you returning this? I’m sure I told you to sell it if you didn’t like it.”

I answered with a stern expression.

“…Your Grace, do you know what kind of rumors are circulating in high society recently?”

“Rumors?”

The Duke asked back. I slowly and in detail explained about the rumors currently circulating in high society and the recent events that had happened to me.

That I had entrusted a robe to Annie and ended up arousing Danae’s suspicion. And that Danae had reported it to the Duke, but fortunately, the Duke didn’t believe her words. But that I couldn’t just rely on that trust and be careless. I told him everything.

I continued speaking, occasionally meeting his gaze as he stared directly at me.

“Danae will try to search my bedroom somehow to find evidence. If she discovers this brooch then, she’ll easily figure out that you and I are in contact. So…”

“…So?”

“…Pardon?”

“…Why is that a problem?”

But the Duke, having heard my explanation, frowned slightly and asked back.

I replied to him, dumbfounded.

“Of course it’s a problem! If my identity is discovered…”

“Have you forgotten what you said when you first came to me?”

“…What?”

“Since you don’t seem to remember, I’ll tell you. You abruptly asked me to have an affair with you then. You said you’d help me with my work in return. Isn’t that right?”

“That, that’s…”

I trailed off, flustered by his following words. He continued speaking, looking at me with an indifferent expression.

“As you said, I’ve been acting as if I have feelings for you all this time. The rumors have spread according to your plan, so I don’t understand why you’re so flustered.”

“…But the rumors spread much faster than expected. Besides… if it becomes known that I’m the owner of that brooch, Danae’s suspicion towards me will grow even stronger. She’ll insist, using that brooch as evidence, that I’ve fallen for you and am leaking the Duke’s family’s plans.”

I rebutted with a voice full of concern. Then the Duke said as if it were no big deal:

“Then the answer is simple. I’ll pretend to be passionately in love with you one-sidedly.”

“What?”

“Then wouldn’t it make sense that I gave you such an expensive brooch? Ah, if that’s the case, no one would think it strange even if you and I occasionally chat at receptions. They’ll all think I’m fervently courting you.”

“…That, that is. …Of course that’s true, but will people easily believe it? Everyone knows that we were on bad terms. And, won’t it greatly damage your reputation?”

I said hesitantly. The Duke, as if displeased with my behavior, continued with a stern expression.

“You don’t need to worry about such trivial things. Wasn’t it you who initially proposed to cooperate with me with that intention? …Why, perhaps you’re not keen on the idea of me pretending to be in love with you?”

“Of course not! I’d be grateful if you did that for me! As you said, it would also make it easier for us to meet and make plans.”

“Then that settles it.”

The Duke shrugged his shoulders once. He softened the frown between his brows.

Then suddenly, he grasped the tips of my fingers with his hand. And placing the box containing the brooch on my palm, he said:

“I’ve received quite a lot of help from you so far. I’ve gained wealth and honor that I couldn’t have dared to obtain without your plans. Compared to that, the dishonor of being ‘a duke in unrequited love with another’s fiancée, even courting his archenemy’s niece’ is something I can sufficiently endure.”

“Your Grace.”

“So keep this brooch. If your cousin, Duke Yusten’s daughter, asks, tell her honestly. Say you received it from the foolish Duke Haven who is passionately in love with you, even though he knows you have a proper fiancé.”

“…”

“And you, like a virtuous lady, politely declined such courtship from me. Then no one will be suspicious. Neither of me approaching you, nor of us exchanging a few words of conversation. …How about it? Isn’t it quite a good plan?”