“He also said he had something to ask me about Rahert…”
“Oh, then may I ask you to deliver it?”
The Marshal handed me the tray with the tea set.
“If you have any good information, please share it with our master, I mean, the Grand Duke.”
With a concerned expression, Marshal Mobi glanced towards the Grand Duke’s tent and then returned to the kitchen.
“Your Grace, are you asleep?”
Soon after, the Grand Duke’s voice came from inside the tent, slightly subdued.
“No, not yet. Come in.”
Entering, I saw the Grand Duke sitting alone at the table, as if he had just emerged from deep thought.
Across the flickering candlelight, his shadowed face became visible. In the darkness of night, his blue eyes seemed to express a hint of surprise at seeing me and the tea.
“Why are you here?”
“Marshal Mobi sent me in his place. He thought you hadn’t retired yet and prepared this tea to help you relax.”
“I was under the impression that you were no longer my attendant as of today.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Aren’t knights not supposed to serve as attendants?”
The Grand Duke gave a slanted smile as he observed my reaction.
A knight.
So, he regards me that way.
Gratefully.
Without realizing, I spoke up.
“I don’t mind whether as an attendant or a knight, as long as I can assist you. Being both an attendant and a knight is fine with me. You…”
He waited for me to continue.
“Saved me.”
And did not turn away.
“Ah, from the South.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no need to be so grateful to me. Is that the only reason you came here at this hour?”
His question was calm yet cool.
I honestly opened up.
“I came to ask about something.”
“What is it?”
“What does the matter requiring the Grand Dukes’ approval involve?”
A brief silence followed. Then, the Grand Duke spoke.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“…Because it concerns you, Your Grace.”
The words flowed out unintentionally.
“Would you sit for a moment?”
“Yes.”
I sat beside him. Then he rose and walked towards the kettle boiling in the stove.
I quickly stood up, but he stopped me.
“Ah, this is my tent, let me do this.”
“But…”
“Would you allow me to serve tea while I ask you something?”
“It’s an honor for someone as lowly as me…”
“You’re not lowly in my eyes. When I brought you to be one of mine, I said you were my person. Have you forgotten?”
His words ‘my person’ pierced my heart.
[I’ve come to tell you that you will be joining me in the North. From today, you are ‘the only one I wanted,’ hence my citizen. That’s why I came myself.]How could I forget?
You came to my humble abode, relentlessly pursued Medea, and asked for me.
“I remember. How could I forget such gratitude?”
The Grand Duke silently poured hot water and herbs into my cup, filling the tent with the soothing scent of lavender.
As I sat down, he spoke.
“In this empire, there are two Grand Dukes. Matters requiring the approval of the Grand Dukes include: decisions related to the empire’s existence, like war; setting and approving the annual budget; and endorsing matters concerning the royal family’s wellbeing.”
“The royal family’s, wellbeing.”
I murmured quietly.
“Yes. I’ve rarely attended the empire’s annual budget meetings due to being in the North. I reviewed the proposed budgets sent in documents and expressed approval through messengers. But, at some point, whenever it was time for these meetings, I received orders from His Majesty to go to distant frontiers. Commands to lead campaigns or strengthen borders.”
Orders from His Majesty?
Could it be influenced by Rahert’s schemes?
“And eventually, I started to approve these documents without proper scrutiny. I neglected my duties under the pretext of being in life-threatening situations, but that’s just an excuse.”
“An excuse, you say?”
“Yes.”
The Grand Duke, harsh and strict with himself.
His gaze seemed fixed on a distant place, not this tent.
You must have felt trapped, thinking it was the only way to protect your people.
The Grand Duke continued.
“It was a wrong decision, one that ultimately led to failure.”
“?”
I didn’t understand. It sounded like he had already seen the end.
Confused, I looked at him, and he met my gaze.
“Spring is coming, and it’s time to approve the budget. But if it were that, why couldn’t the messenger speak clearly in front of me?”
“…”
“There’s no immediate reason for war, no need for approval there. So, the remaining possibility is some consent related to the royal family’s wellbeing.”
Then…
“Your Grace, do you think the messenger came for some matter concerning the royal family?”
“What do you think?”
His eyes, in the dim light, calmly observed me.
“If it’s about taxes, I hope you stay in the capital this time and handle it properly. But if it were just that, the Grand Duke of the South wouldn’t have arrived so urgently in the capital. There must be another reason.”
The Grand Duke smiled faintly at my response.
“I agree.”
I carefully sipped the warm tea he provided.
“Esdel.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you helping me?”
Again, a similar question.
“I’ve told you before…”
“Any other reason? Not because the South is wrong and the North is right?”
“I want to bring down the South.”
Honestly.
I must speak only truths in front of the Grand Duke.
“To bring it down… Why?”
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. He probed again.
“Let me ask differently. Do you want something from me, Esdel?”
This question was disconcerting.
He looked at me as if to see through my soul.
What truth can I speak here? Esdel.
I found my answer.
“I hope Your Grace doesn’t succumb to the South. I hope you win and correct the course of this empire.”
“And what would you gain from that?”
“Perhaps… a sense of purpose?”
My response seemed out of place.
But the Grand Duke chuckled softly.
There it was again, that genuine laugh, like a gust of wind.
“Esdel, I still do not completely trust you.”
‘I know.’
“However, I’ve decided. To use you.”
It stung a bit, but it was also reassuring. It was what I wanted.
“Please use me. By all means.”
“Alright.”
His gaze deepened as he looked at me, precisely at my sky-blue eyes.
“I will use you, but only to the extent that it does not harm you.”
‘Please do use me. I’ve already decided to devote this life to you.’
After riding non-stop, the knight brigade reached the capital in just two days.
I entered the Grand Duke’s residence in the capital, riding along with General Mobius.
Passing through the main gate and following a path made of soft silver stones, we finally reached a grand, gray castle, radiating majesty.
The huge gates, seemingly closed for a long time, swung open, and numerous servants flooded out.
Everyone was almost in tears, welcoming the Grand Duke.
Among them, Arcadia, still in his uniform, approached the Grand Duke.
“Arcadia.”
“Your Grace, it appears the Emperor’s lost granddaughter has been found.”
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
