“A woman…you say?”

Gregory muttered blankly in disbelief. As a rather enlightened intellectual, his reaction did not stem from disregarding a woman’s abilities. He was simply surprised by the unexpected revelation.

“Your Highness, hiring a female assistant…?”

Gregory glanced at Caeron, carefully probing his intentions.

The Grand Duke typically kept women at a distance. He was inherently indifferent to others, but it was also a result of being plagued by women who employed various methods to win his affection.

The attention directed at him, the only Grand Duke of the Jupiterian Empire and the current Emperor’s brother, was beyond imagination.

He possessed immense wealth and power, lacking only the crown, and was an unmarried Grand Duke with dazzling good looks.

To gain his favor, young ladies from noble families incessantly sent invitations and letters expressing their affection. As the one handling his correspondence out of courtesy, Gregory was well aware of the ladies’ ardent feelings for him.

‘It’s fortunate if they only send invitations or letters…’

Gregory shook his head, recalling a young lady who had secretly hidden in the Grand Duke’s carriage last month. It was a desperate struggle to capture the attention of the indifferent Grand Duke, who would step over a deliberately dropped fan or handkerchief.

It would be troublesome if this Aidel woman, who wrote this answer, also lost her mind over His Highness… Gregory pondered for a moment, stroking his chin, but he believed a woman with this level of knowledge would possess the ability to discern right from wrong.

“…Who is she?”

Caeron finally spoke after silently examining the answer sheet for a while. At his question, Gregory looked at the professor with expectant eyes. Understanding the gesture, Nichen rummaged through the applicant’s personal information documents.

“Number 136… Ah, here it is.”

With a nimble motion, Nichen pulled out a sheet of paper and respectfully handed it to Caeron. The application contained information that could identify the woman who had only left her name behind.

‘Aidel Fluor…?’

Caeron’s eyes slightly widened, taking on a peculiar gleam upon confirming the woman’s surname. From their first encounter, she had surprised him in various ways.

‘A lady from a count’s family…’

Her noble bearing, which could not be concealed even in plain attire, now made sense. The Fluor County was a family with a long history, owning vast estates in the southern region.

Yet a woman from such a family was taking the Imperial University exam…

Moreover, her answer sheet was impressive enough to make Gregory excited. If one were to find fault, it would be the lack of practical examples stemming from direct experience. It was a common shortcoming found in scholars who only read books, but the essay was of such a high standard that it more than compensated for that.

Caeron tapped the top of the answer sheet with his finger, lost in thought.

What should he do with this woman…?

She was a woman who evoked unnecessary emotions, but at the same time, a woman he found himself continually pondering over.

“Is this applicant accepted?”

“I was also surprised to learn that the applicant was female… But even when compared to the other answers, she is clearly outstanding.”

“So you’re saying she’s accepted.”

“Yes. With this level of performance, she deserves to be ranked first in the Department of Public Administration.”

Professor Nichen nodded his head with conviction. Dean Jefferson, who had been observing the conversation, asked the Grand Duke cautiously, filled with tension.

“Your Highness. Is there perhaps any issue with this applicant…? The Imperial University does select female students, albeit rarely.”

“No. There’s no particular problem. Then how is the acceptance notification handled?”

“It follows the standard procedure and is sent by mail. Based on the capital’s timeline, the acceptance certificate will arrive along with it in a week.”

“Then have it written immediately. That acceptance certificate.”

Dean Jefferson’s eyes widened in surprise at the Grand Duke’s instruction.

* * *

Aidel was unlike her usual self.

She merely stared at the book placed on her lap without opening it. Bien, who was embroidering beside her, glanced at her furtively.

A young lady sighing while looking at her favorite book… Moreover, a young lady who could finish reading a book in a day if she put her mind to it, had been holding the same book for nearly a week.

“Young miss, do you have any worries?”

“Ah… It’s nothing.”

Unable to hold back any longer, Bien asked with concern. Aidel smiled faintly, saying it was nothing, but she still appeared lost in thought as she fiddled with the book.

Could there be an issue with the book borrowed from the Imperial University library…? The young miss would occasionally sigh softly or become immersed in deep contemplation while looking at the book.

‘Is it a very difficult book…?’

It was quite a thick book indeed. The title also seemed different from the light novels Bien usually read. Filled with challenging content one would expect to find in the Count’s study, it somewhat made sense why the young miss was struggling.

However, contrary to Bien’s assumption, what troubled Aidel was not the book’s content. It was a certain man who came to mind whenever she saw this book.

‘The Grand Duke of Ellios…’

The moment she encountered him in the library’s archives remained vivid and unforgettable. The Grand Duke’s royal blood was known throughout the empire to be cold and flawless, to the point where it could be described as blue rather than red.

But the side of him she had witnessed that day was completely different from the rumors. His actions were so persistent that they felt rude, and his gaze was so fierce and rough that it felt intense.

Aidel stroked the inside of the wrist he had grabbed. Recalling that day’s events, the part where his hand had touched felt hot as if it had been burned.

Why did he say she had a fragrance…? Whenever she pursued that unresolved question, what always remained at the end were his eyes, resembling blue molten lava. As those deep blue eyes, burning as if he had lost his reason, came to mind, Aidel unknowingly bit her lip.

“…Miss! Young miss!”

Aidel, who had been deeply lost in thought, came to her senses at the sound of someone calling her. Bien was looking at her, along with a maid standing by the door who seemed to have come to deliver news.

“Ah… What is it?”

“It’s a big deal! Right now… He’s coming!”

It was time for the Imperial University to announce the successful applicants. Attention had been paid to the mail arriving at the Count’s residence, but the awaited news had not yet come.

She wondered if it was news from the postman, whom she had asked to inform her, but judging by the urgent expression, it seemed unlikely. If not the postman…

“Could it be Father returning?”

Aidel asked expectantly, as her father’s return was also something she had been waiting for. At her words, Bien’s face turned sorrowful.

“No… It’s… Marquis Chalet is coming to see you, young miss…”

“Ah…!”

Aidel let out a low gasp, her expression instantly hardening. An unexpected person had arrived at this very moment. Although the Countess had hinted at preparing for Marquis Chalet’s visit, she had not anticipated it would be today.

“Madam said to quickly get ready and attend the afternoon tea time…”

“…I see. I must prepare.”

It would have been better if it had been after the acceptance certificate arrived and she had persuaded her father… But it was someone she had no choice but to face, even for the sake of breaking off the engagement later.

Aidel changed into a newly tailored dress in the dressing room. Although hastily chosen by eye, it had been altered to fit her as the measurements had been provided in advance.

Standing in front of the mirror, Aidel watched herself transform into a more radiant version of herself under Bien’s touch. However, the eyes reflected in the mirror had lost their luster, appearing utterly desolate…

Skilled Bien brought out her beauty harmoniously, like arranging flowers. Just as fillers are placed around the main flower to emphasize it, the low-chroma colored dress maximized Aidel’s elegance.

“Good work, Bien.”

“Young miss…”

Although it was undoubtedly a beautiful sight, Bien couldn’t bring herself to say those words. It was because she was going to meet someone against her will. All she could do was watch the young miss, whose expression had vanished, quietly make her way.

As she descended the stairs leading to the reception room on the first floor, she saw someone standing at the entrance. It was Roselyn, with her wavy reddish-brown hair let down. Roselyn stared intently at Aidel as she came down.

“You look much prettier than usual, sister!”

Roselyn spoke in an exaggerated tone, as if admiring her, narrowing her eyes.

“You truly look like a bride-to-be. Marquis Chalet will be overjoyed to see you.”

Hiding her inner thoughts of ‘He will be so consumed with desire that he won’t know what to do,’ Roselyn smiled meaningfully. Although it was an artificial flower without fragrance, when placed in a vase, it was enough to dazzle the eyes. The thought of that artificial flower being sold at a high price made her extremely pleased.

‘Not knowing what kind of person the Marquis is…’

Roselyn, who knew through the Countess the reason why the previous Marchionesses had met mysterious deaths, raised the corners of her mouth and smiled even more brightly.

Whenever Roselyn had that smile, misfortune would unfailingly befall her. Aidel, who had experienced this numerous times and was well aware of it, slightly furrowed her brows.

“Marquis Chalet is already in the reception room. I waited to go in with you, sister.”

Roselyn, who seemed unusually excited and in a good mood, led her and opened the door to the reception room. Inside, the Countess and a thin, middle-aged man, presumed to be Marquis Chalet, were seated.

The Countess, who had been conversing with Marquis Chalet with a peculiar look in her eyes, noticed the two walking in.

“You’re finally here. Roselyn, you already greeted him last time… And the child next to her is my eldest, Aidel.”

If Roselyn was a fully bloomed rose, then Aidel beside her evoked the image of a pure white lily that had just blossomed. A submissive and graceful woman. The type of woman he desired. Thinking of dominating and trampling on such a woman to his heart’s content, the Marquis licked his lips with his tongue.

Seated across from him, Aidel fully received Marquis Chalet’s discomforting gaze. A lecherous glint in his eyes thoroughly swept over her face, neck, collarbone, and the décolletage line extending to her shoulders, sending shivers down her spine.

“She exceeds expectations.”

His tone was as if he were appraising an object. Seeing Marquis Chalet’s satisfied face, the Countess and Roselyn exchanged glances.

Although she could discern the peculiar atmosphere between them, there was nothing Aidel could do at this moment. It was not yet the time she had been waiting for. She clenched her hands tightly under the table, as if enduring the unpleasant gaze.

“I’m glad she pleases you. She’s a ‘pure’ child, having stayed quietly at home without being tainted.”

The Marquis nodded and smiled, understanding the Countess’s intention in emphasizing purity.

“I fully understand your words, Countess. Even in the horse market, a pure mare fetches a much higher price. Let alone…”

There was no need to hear the rest to understand. This marriage was a negotiation bargaining over her. As if buying and selling an animal…

Aidel bit down hard on the tender flesh inside her mouth. A metallic taste spread in her mouth, like the surging sense of humiliation.