‘……Is it okay to be this blatant?’

It was when she was classifying the guests on the list by region. Suddenly, she realized that there were no members of the Letius Imperial Family on the main list.

At this time, there were still a few months left until the independence of the Asthart Ducal Family. Could the independence have been unexpectedly brought forward?

Or…

Could it be because of that clause put forward before the marriage?

However, wasn’t it too extreme not to invite the Imperial Family to the first banquet hosted by the Ducal Family just because of that one clause? Frankly speaking, they could have invited them and just managed to keep them from interacting with Natasha.

Sieghart wouldn’t make such a reckless choice, if only to avoid the gaze of people who would connect the absence of the Imperial Family with the Asthart Ducal Family.

‘They might be planning to deliver it separately due to personal connections. Let’s not think too deeply about it.’

I don’t know.

Natasha decided not to think about it anymore.

The night was already deep, and fatigue was starting to set in, so it was too much to worry about every little thing.

Natasha wrote a letter template on a spare piece of paper.

“To the esteemed ○○,

We, the Duke and Duchess of Asthart, are honored to invite you to a banquet to be held a month from now. The banquet will be held for about a week at a mansion in the suburbs of the Asthart Ducal Family, so ladies and gentlemen are requested to bring spare clothes including ballroom attire, personal items, and toiletries.

The venue will be at a villa about 5km away from the Asthart Ducal Family.

We kindly request a response from those who wish to attend.

From your beloved, Natasha Asthart.”

She then wrote letters changing only the recipient’s name. With the template in place, the writing itself was easy, but it took a long time because there were so many letters to send.

She chose stationery that was clean rather than fancy. As the handwriting couldn’t be messy, countless papers were discarded. Her wrist was tingling as if the blood wasn’t circulating.

She finally finished writing the letters to be delivered to the guests on the list. Natasha, who stretched out once, rubbed her eyelids with the opposite hand. Her body sagged with fatigue that had somehow descended to the bottom.

‘Let’s just write the list for the next order and then sleep.’

But still, she couldn’t sleep.

Although rumors would spread and everyone would be preparing in advance, invitations had to be sent early as it was a suburban party.

‘Let’s send them to Meliana and Vanessa’s families. Ah, I should also ask Cayena if she’s available. Send a letter to Grand Duke Kshant too…’

It was when she was continuously updating the list.

Overcome by drowsiness, she collapsed without realizing it. A wheezing breath escaped at regular intervals in front of her head sprawled on the desk.

The man who entered the Duchess’s office discovered the prone figure and smiled faintly. He had heard that she had been busy, but was it to the extent that she didn’t even have time to go to the bedroom to sleep?

He had ignored it for the past few days, but he didn’t want to let her sleep in the office until today. If the woman didn’t wake up, he was planning to move her even if it meant doing so surreptitiously.

“Tisha.”

“……”

“Tisha.”

He whispered the woman’s name softly. Even after repeated calls, Natasha didn’t stir.

Confirming that she was deeply asleep, Sieghart quietly turned the chair. He carefully placed his hands under her thighs and gently lifted her body.

Moving with soft steps, he finally reached the bedroom after a while.

After carefully laying Natasha down on the bed, Sieghart showed a contemplative expression for a moment. Alternately gazing at the slightly protruding white forehead and her hand, he finally seemed to make a decision and lowered his body.

Crouching down, he touched the hand resting quietly on the sheet. Then he held it with a shallow strength. The area of contact was not just warm, but hot.

After a while, Sieghart, who came out of the bedroom, headed to his own office this time. Jenks, who was waiting for the Duke in front of the room, politely greeted him.

“Welcome back.”

“It seems you’re still not sleeping either. I’m worried we’ll all die from overwork at this rate.”

“That’s a worry I should have for you, Your Grace.”

Jenks, who responded with a meager joke, then pulled out a letter from his breast pocket. The red envelope was outwardly revealing the sender.

“I’ve set aside the letters addressed to the Madam from the Imperial Family.”

“Good work.”

He opened the envelope on the spot where he stood.

Sieghart dared to anticipate what kind of nonsense they would be spouting this time.

“Damn bastard.”

And the sender’s bullshit was more than enough to satisfy Sieghart’s expectations. He didn’t even feel any newfound emotion to be surprised about.

Jenks pretended not to notice at his master’s low cursing. The other party looked as if he was about to behead an enemy soldier, just without a sword.

The Emperor had already sent five letters addressed to Natasha. And each time, Sieghart had shown the same reaction.

But…

“I’m going out for a while.”

“Yes, I underst… Yes, pardon?”

He had never shown such an exceptionally agitated reaction before.

When Jenks asked again in shock, Sieghart frowned as if it was bothersome to say it twice. It meant that his restraint or worry was only cumbersome and unnecessary.

“And Jenks, block the Imperial Family’s entry during this banquet.”

“Yes? But that…”

“Do it that way.”

“Yes, yes…”

When he kept his mouth shut, an order of even higher severity was issued.

He wondered how to handle the aftermath, but for now, he was more afraid of his master’s aftermath than that of the ducal family. Jenks, who just nodded quietly, bowed his head as if to say ‘have a safe trip’.

“Tell Natasha—”

The words that had been flowing smoothly suddenly cut off. Jenks also glanced at his master’s eyes, pretending not to notice.

He might not care a whit about his whereabouts, but it would be better to say it in advance. Sieghart, having assessed the situation, reconnected the latter part of his fragmented words.

“Tell her I’ll return to the mansion tomorrow.”

“Yes, I understand. Have a safe trip, Your Grace.”

Sieghart had tried not to confront the Imperial Family directly. He tried his best not to get involved with Kyle Letius as she wished.

It wasn’t just because of the clause. It was because there was no good in revealing his pure feelings to such a vicious opponent. Kyle Letius had always used all of Sieghart Asthart’s emotions as his own cards.

But,

“I heard you experienced an unfortunate incident. It’s regrettable that your wife seems to have regained stability faster than expected.

When we meet again in the future, I hope you’ll describe to me how beautiful and intense the taste of that poison was.”

After reading that letter, he simply couldn’t stay still. Even though he realized it was a provocation aimed at someone who would be reading the letter, he couldn’t help but fall for that provocation.

He rode for several hours. As the starlight twinkling on the far side of the sky was fading with the approaching morning, the man arrived at the Imperial Palace.

The figure that dismounted from the horse walked steadily up to the sentinel. The knight, who had been wary of the mysterious intruder, was startled pale after confirming his identity.

“I, I greet the Moon of the Empire. Duke Asthart, Your Grace. What brings you here…”

“I’m here to see His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Y-yes? But it’s too late now…”

“I see. Then shall I wait outside until His Majesty’s summons comes?”

“Ah, no! Please come inside.”

Tense from the sharp question, the guard promptly guided the man into the palace.

Subsequently guided to the reception room, he waited steadily until permission for an audience was granted.

The maid who had left to inform the Emperor of the man’s visit returned to the room after a long while. She approached hesitantly, seemingly afraid of the man exuding a chilly atmosphere.

“It seems His Majesty didn’t grant the audience?”

Anticipating the maid’s next words, Sieghart asked with a sneer. The woman’s face darkened even more, as if to confirm.

“He said he cannot grant an audience with unclear purpose. Furthermore, he stated that a meeting based on one-sided demand without any prior notice cannot be established, so he requests that you make a formal meeting request and revisit.”

The maid’s words sounded familiar somewhere. Come to think of it, it was similar to how the Duchess had responded when the Emperor had arbitrarily visited the ducal residence, as Jenks had later relayed.

Childish, beyond petty.

The coal-black eyebrows rose momentarily. A subtle smile was carried on the expressionless face. It was the habitual expression he made before playing a mischievous prank.

“An uninvited guest can’t add anything to His Majesty’s words.”

Speaking as if he was about to leave, he crossed his legs outward and then leaned back in his seat. It was an arrogant attitude, as if throwing away the last bit of courtesy he had been maintaining.

“Then there’s no choice. I’ll have to publicly disclose all the spiteful letters His Majesty has sent to the ducal residence so far. Please convey that as a ducal family that reveres His Majesty, we regrettably have no choice but to make this selection.”

“…Pardon?”

The maid asked back with a dumbfounded face. It wasn’t that she truly didn’t hear the story. After calming her surprised heart, she seemed to be contemplating something.

After a while, as if her calculations were finished, she bowed her head to ask for the other party’s understanding.

“Considering Your Grace’s position, I will speak to His Majesty again. Would you please wait for a moment?”

A long while later, she returned to the reception room. Finally, as if the Emperor had changed his mind, she guided Sieghart to the audience chamber.