Cedroy neither nodded nor shook his head. However, Elmerat knew well that his silence was affirmative.
He couldn’t pretend not to know. He only refrained from admitting the fact to himself because, if he did, it seemed like declaring that he was no different from the king’s own sons.
Elmerat was aware of that. She respected that caution.
When handling official matters, he made firm and swift judgments. However, when it came to his own affairs, even if the outcome was certain, he would check two or three times, displaying a carefulness that didn’t disdain the seemingly fixed result.
He had never regretted it even once, but today, just a little, he felt regret.
“Cedroy.”
As if urging him once more, the king called him again. Cedroy finally nodded and calmly replied.
“How could I not know that? Your Majesty has treated me like a son. If not for Your Majesty’s and Lady Valdevé’s care, I couldn’t have grown so safely.”
Balthazar momentarily smiled contentedly, then glanced at Elmerat and cleared his throat.
A sigh, like the ground collapsing, echoed. It was Elmerat. She, too, tossed all her accessories—earrings and rings, following the crown and necklace—onto the table. The maids had disheveled her hair, which they had carefully arranged for two hours.
Both Balthazar and Cedroy were unsurprised by the king’s behavior. Even if Elmerat were to discard her corset altogether, it wouldn’t be particularly surprising.
Elmerat, having tossed her disheveled hair in any way, spoke.
“If you really know that fact… Did you call your companion, whose surname is Dawson, a Miss? Did you say you would welcome her as the Duchess? Fine, answer me with your own mouth. I’ve never heard of a house called Dawson; which family’s daughter is she?”
Cedroy honestly answered, “She’s not of noble birth, Your Majesty.”
“Then?”
“According to her, she was born and raised in an ordinary farming household.”
Elmerat burst into a derisive laughter, as if amazed.
In reality, Cedroy knew much more than that, but he had no intention of telling anyone. These were the facts Maiana had confessed to him.
[If I were to remember what I was like before living this life, what would the Duke say?]Her story was a series of unbelievable things. Moreover, considering that Maiana had significantly abbreviated the facts while speaking, it was even more astonishing.
The fact that there had never been a sincere moment in her life as “Maiana Dawson” was a sensation unimaginable for Cedroy.
King Elmerat stared intently at Cedroy.
“Cedroy. I may have let you go a bit freely for a while, and you might have forgotten, but you are still the Duke of Balthminster. The name Balthminster is as noble and important in El Bluén as that of the royal family.”
“I am aware.”
“Does a fellow who knows such things put such nonsensical words in his mouth? Calling her a girl from a farming family. Saying you’ll marry her as a Duchess. Are you really in your right mind?”
Cedroy replied, “I will never involve the government, Your Majesty.”
“I would hope not. A fellow who’s too busy saving a daughter would talk about marrying multiple wives? That’s truly insane. I know that. But what’s important now isn’t that, don’t you think? You know how much weight the name Balthminster carries. Knowing that, how can you say you’ll seat a farm girl in the position of a duchess!”
“Maiana is a wise person, Your Majesty.”
“There are many wise people among the nobility, Cedroy.”
King Elmerat’s voice trembled slightly. It was clear that he was containing his anger, ready to burst.
At that moment, Balthazar quietly intervened.
“Balthminster Duke, I don’t know how much you value Miss Dawson. Of course, Your Majesty doesn’t know either. But, as you know, noble marriages, especially those of individuals in important positions like a duke, are important for the future governance of the country.”
Elmerat lowered her head.
“No, there’s no need to go so far as national affairs. It’s unnecessary to go to such extremes. Cedroy, you’ve said that you won’t marry until Arianthe becomes an adult. It’s to prevent any elements that could threaten the child in advance. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t marry anyone until Arianthe becomes the next Duchess of Balthminster? Do you remember?”
“I remember, Your Majesty.”
“While saying that, you rejected all the matches I tried to introduce you to. Do you remember that as well?”
Cedroy’s lips tightened. If not, he would have burst into laughter. Elmerat’s words sounded as if… as if she were complaining to an unruly child.
Fortunately, King Elmerat didn’t catch onto that, but Valdevé did. Cedroy felt the wind of her foot lightly kicking him, and he barely restrained the laughter that was about to burst.
“…I remember, Your Majesty.”
As Cedroy replied, Elmerat opened her mouth again, exhaling a sigh.
“He remembers everything, and yet he speaks such nonsense?”
Then, she suddenly turned to her husband.
“You, say something!”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
