Clea, thinking it would be difficult to have any further conversation with Lloyd, went outside to return to the imperial palace.

Many people followed her to see her off.

“I’m sorry. To think that such a thing would happen even though we were by your side.”

The Grand Duke apologized to Clea with his head bowed as if he were a criminal.

Clea felt uncomfortable with his actions. He was someone who never had to bow his head and apologize to others first before.

So she wanted to comfort him even a little.

“Please don’t be sorry. It’s Lloyd’s fault for acting on his own this time too, so you don’t have to bow your head like that.”

If it were during her academy days, she would have said that the Grand Duke couple was also at fault for not properly guiding him as parents.

But the current Lloyd was a grown adult.

Even at an age where he should be able to take care of himself, he was always acting as he pleased and causing harm to those around him.

So Clea sincerely thought that the two of them didn’t need to apologize.

“Rather, I’m just grateful that you let me act according to my intentions.”

When Lloyd appeared in front of her, Clea thought he would soon be caught by the knights and chased out.

But contrary to her expectations, he pointed a sword at her. A sword stained with bright red blood at that.

Since he was the first to boldly cross the line, Clea had no choice but to tap on her calculator.

To figure out just how much pain to inflict back on him.

However, in the end, the answer to that could also change depending on the Grand Duke couple’s decision.

If they had tried to persuade Clea out of pity for their son who had even been stripped of his right to succession, things would have gotten complicated.

‘Lloyd, you’ve even been abandoned by the people who were your greatest strength.’

However, the Grand Duke couple did not interfere with Clea’s actions.

Far from interfering, they even agreed to Clea’s suggestion to send him out of the house.

If they had not agreed, things would have escalated.

If the incident of Clea being threatened at the Grand Duke’s residence had turned into a problem with the imperial family, Lloyd would naturally have been executed, and the Percy family would have suffered hardship, even if not to the point of extermination.

Clea didn’t want the Grand Duke’s family to be harmed, even if not Lloyd, so she gave the Grand Duke couple a chance to choose.

A chance to choose between the family and their son.

In the end, they chose the family.

Of course, their child was important too, but they had countless other people they had to take responsibility for besides their child.

They couldn’t sacrifice innocent people to save just Lloyd.

At this point, Clea felt sorry for Lloyd.

In the original work, these two were his absolute supporters.

Even when Lloyd caused trouble, they would secretly resolve it behind the scenes.

But the two people who did that abandoned Lloyd.

Of course, thanks to that, there would be no issue even if she stabbed Lloyd with a sword.

“I have a lot I want to say to you who suffered because of that child. And if you hadn’t quietly covered it up, we would have suffered hardship as well.”

“Grand Duchess, I’m all right. It’s all in the past now.”

The Grand Duchess approached Clea and held her hand.

Clea’s hand, which still didn’t feel very warm, but at least there was vitality on her face.

Seeing her smiling as if she was okay, the Grand Duke couple felt a bitter feeling. Because in the end, it felt like they had caused all of this.

However, they tried not to show it outwardly.

Because they didn’t want to make Clea uncomfortable.

On the other hand, despite their efforts, Clea noticed their feelings.

Because those feelings were vaguely felt from their expressions.

Clea asked, pretending not to know.

“I’m still doubtful. Whether I can really take the position as the Grand Duke family’s successor. Because honestly, Lloyd’s argument isn’t entirely wrong.”

It was an era where bloodline was valued above all else.

At this point where the middle bridge named Lloyd had disappeared, the Grand Duke couple and Clea were complete strangers to each other. Yet they decided to entrust the family to her.

Even Clea had a hard time understanding this decision, and she was worried about how others would accept it.

On the other hand, upon hearing Clea’s words, the Grand Duke couple immediately denied it.

“Don’t say such things. There is absolutely no one else to entrust this family to but you.”

“The retainers already hope for you to inherit it.”

Clea thought, just how bad must it have been for even the retainers to abandon Lloyd and choose her.

At the same time, she was relieved. That there was no one in this house who would take his side now.

“Will you handle Lloyd according to my wishes?”

“Sending him to the Herscher duchy without warning may raise suspicions on their side, so I plan to send a letter to Duke Herscher. Asking if Lloyd can stay there during the marriage preparation period.”

Clea was satisfied with the Grand Duke’s answer.

Since her main goal was to prevent Lloyd from causing further trouble to the Grand Duke couple, she would be very pleased if he could really stay at the Herscher duchy.

‘If you were to hear this news, what kind of expression would you make?’

Clea imagined what kind of expression Aria would make if she heard this news.

She still hadn’t given up on Admund.

In that situation, if Lloyd were to stay at the duchy for the time being, she would try to drive him out somehow.

Rumors of Lloyd and Aria’s marriage had already spread widely within the capital.

If the news of the two of them staying in the same house were to be known here, people would take their marriage as a fait accompli.

“Then I’ll see you next time. Thank you so much for making time for me today.”

“We were also very happy to see you after a long time.”

“The next time we see you, we’ll have to speak to you in formal language.”

Clea nodded her head quietly while smiling.

Although the Grand Duke couple outwardly tried to act like they were fine, inwardly they felt devastated.

They had no choice but to take the opportunity Clea gave them. Because that was the best choice.

Recalling the sight of their child struggling to the end, their hearts were also worn down.

To implicitly hide that, the two of them just tried to smile.

* * *

As soon as she arrived at the imperial palace, Clea sought out Admund.

“Admund, let’s talk for a moment.”

Through her conversation with the Grand Duke couple, she found out. That the person who orchestrated all of this was none other than Admund.

“Did you have a good trip?”

Clea was dumbfounded by Admund’s nonchalant appearance as he welcomed her.

Sitting in the seat he guided her to, Clea got straight to the point.

“Showing me Lysandre’s ring was also intentional. To make me visit the Grand Duke’s residence in person and find out the truth.”

Meanwhile, Admund examined Clea’s face sitting across from him.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem angry.

The worry that she might not like the gift he prepared vanished.

He calmly replied.

“It was a surprise gift.”

“If it was intentional, the gift is so amazing that I’m surprised.”

“So you don’t like the gift?”

Clea sighed at his question.

Why wouldn’t she like it? She liked anything he prepared for her.

She was just surprised that it was related to the Percy Grand Duke family.

“There’s no way I wouldn’t like it. But you could have at least given me a hint.”

She never expected this.

It was surprising enough that Lloyd was driven out of the position of successor.

But for her to take that position, it was truly unimaginable.

“I’m really sorry about that, Clea.”

“I’m not asking for your apology right now. Rather, I’m sorry for speaking as if I’m blaming you.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’m the one who didn’t tell you.”

Considering the time and effort he must have put in to secretly prepare it, Clea was just grateful.

However, whether to accept his gift or not was a different story.

“I don’t know if I can accept this.”

Clea was still unsure.

She had already told the Grand Duke couple and Lloyd that she would succeed, but honestly, she still lacked confidence.

Seeing Clea like that, Admund replied.

“I’d like for you to accept it.”

“Is there a reason?”

There would definitely be good things about her inheriting the title.

For one, she would become a noble again, and if that happened, Aria wouldn’t be able to act recklessly either.

From that perspective, it was quite good, but Clea wanted to hear directly from Admund.

In case there were any other special reasons.

“You’re the only person I can trust without reason, Clea.”

The only person he could trust.

“If it’s you, I can trust and entrust even my life.”

Clea smiled and asked Admund, who was sending her infinite trust.

“What if I betray you?”

Of course, Clea had no intention of betraying him at all.

It was the first time someone had sent her so much trust, so she just wanted to ask.

Admund answered in a calm voice.

“If you betray me, then I was just a man no better than Lloyd.”

“If anyone compares you to Lloyd, I’ll find them first and cut them down.”

At her answer, Admund couldn’t help but laugh.

If it were someone else, they would have thought she was just saying that, but somehow, it felt like Clea would really find the person and kill them for him.

Even when Clea glared at him, asking what he was laughing at, Admund found that cute too.

Before long, Admund, who had stopped laughing, held her hand.

“Now that you know everything, it’s time to choose.”

A warm heat was conveyed through her hand.

Clea quietly looked at Admund.

“I’ll say this in advance, but I respect your decision, Clea.”

“Admund.”

“So whether you accept this ring or not will depend on your choice.”

As if he had prepared it in advance, he showed Clea Lysandre’s ring with a blue sapphire embedded in it.

Clea pondered a bit more while looking at that ring.

“Rather than having Lloyd inherit it, this is better.”

And before long, she made a decision.

“All right. I’ll accept it.”

Saying that she would become the Grand Duke family’s successor.