A vast outdoor garden stretched beyond the terrace. The scale of Ellios Grand Duchy was far larger than the grand ducal residence in the capital.

Aidel stood leaning against the window, gazing towards the distant castle gate. She had now recovered enough strength to be able to move around.

“Your Grace, I’ll be entering for a moment.”

The one who entered the Grand Duchess’s room was an elderly gentleman with immaculate white hair, neatly dressed in a suit. He greeted Aidel with proper etiquette.

“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Pierre Delfe, the butler of the Grand Duchy.”

Until now, Pierre had been waiting for the Grand Duchess to recover her strength. Having heard that the Grand Duchess was now able to move about, he was visiting to formally introduce himself.

“It’s nice to meet you. If you’re from the Delfe Count family, perhaps with Marlin…?”

“She is my unworthy daughter. I always worry if there’s any lack in her service to Your Grace at the grand ducal residence.”

“Not at all. I’m always the one relying on and receiving help from Marlin.”

“I’m deeply honored by your kind words.”

Pierre smiled broadly at the Grand Duchess’s humble words. The head of the Delfe Count family, which was a representative vassal family of the former Roman ducal house, Pierre was also the father of Marlin, the head maid of the grand ducal residence, who had served as the butler of this castle for many years.

Although he had been receiving news about the Grand Duchess through Marlin’s letters and newspapers, meeting her in person like this brought new emotions.

Pierre could now understand Marlin’s expression that while the Grand Duchess’s appearance and aura were different from Empress Meriel Sun, their inner characters were similar.

Surely, an ordinary lady would be mentally exhausted after enduring such hardships. Yet, the Grand Duchess who greeted him with a gentle expression and composed demeanor, contrary to appearances, seemed to be a person of strong character.

“Thankfully, I heard that you’ve recovered quickly and are now able to move around.”

“Yes, I was thinking of taking a walk and looking around the Grand Duchy.”

“Then I shall personally guide you. In terms of years of service in this castle, I’m quite old myself.”

Pierre wittily offered to accompany her with a touch of humor. Aidel also smiled softly and accepted his proposal.

“Alright. Shall we go right now?”

“Of course. As the castle is large, I’ll guide you through the nearby areas today.”

The Grand Duchy was divided into spaces by building units. Following Pierre’s guidance, Aidel began walking through the corridor connecting the building where the Grand Duchess’s room was located to other buildings.

Upon entering the corridor lined with golden marble pilotis, an enormous ceiling painting overwhelmed the view. It was a fresco symbolizing the Yupiter Empire. The profound history of the former Roman ducal family, which began from the early days of the empire, could be felt.

“This building is the gallery. Precious artworks and portraits collected since the early days of the empire are displayed here.”

As Pierre introduced, Aidel looked around inside the gallery. What particularly caught Aidel’s eye was a portrait of a black-haired woman and a boy painted together.

Their exquisite features and atmosphere were so alike that one could tell at a glance they were mother and son.

“This portrait, could it be…?”

“Indeed, you recognize them. It’s Her Majesty Empress Meriel Sun and His Grace the Grand Duke.”

Pierre nodded gently with a kind smile at Aidel’s surprised reaction to the portrait.

“This portrait was painted during the fiftieth birthday banquet of the former Roman Duke, His Grace’s maternal grandfather… His Grace must have been fourteen years old then.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen the two of them together like this. They really resemble each other a lot.”

“That’s because they inherited the blood of the Roman family. Caeron Crown Prince, no, the current Grand Duke Ellios, was called the essence of Yupiter since childhood.”

“The essence of Yupiter?”

“You must know that the Roman ducal family has been established since the early days of the Yupiter Empire.”

“Yes, I saw it in history books. The direct descendant of Emperor Yupiter, who founded the empire, was the founder of the Roman ducal family.”

“That’s correct. If we trace back to distant ancestors, the current Yupiter imperial family and the Roman ducal family form one root.”

Pierre spoke while looking at another portrait hanging nearby. It was a portrait of the young Emperor Sun and Empress Sun.

“The roots that had been separated for hundreds of years were reunited through the marriage of the then Crown Prince, Emperor Sun, and the only princess of the Roman ducal family, Empress Meriel Sun.”

Pierre had been speaking with a pleased expression throughout, but somehow when mentioning the marriage of Emperor Sun and Empress Sun, an undisguisable sadness seeped through.

“His Grace the Grand Duke, born from the marriage of the Yupiter imperial family and the Roman ducal family, inherited such a perfect royal bloodline. That black hair and blue eyes are proof of the powerful imperial lineage, worthy of being called the reincarnation of the first Emperor of Yupiter.”

“Black hair and blue eyes?”

“Yes. The direct descendants of the Yupiter imperial family have been born with black hair and blue eyes for generations.”

Aidel’s eyes widened as she learned this unknown fact. Then, Emperor Sun with blonde hair and the current Emperor…

“Emperor Sun was indeed a direct descendant of Yupiter, but unfortunately, he was born with blonde hair. Because of this, he faced public scrutiny questioning his legitimacy since his days as Crown Prince.”

“I see. Then, the marriage of Emperor Sun and Empress Sun…”

“It was to secure the legitimacy of the royal bloodline, which was Emperor Sun’s only weakness, and to hold the coronation ceremony with the support of the Roman ducal family, which was the most powerful family at the time.”

The higher the nobility and royalty, the more thoroughly marriages are arranged for interests and purposes. It seemed that Emperor Sun and Empress Sun were also joined in such a relationship.

“Still… I think it was a historically meaningful political marriage. After all, His Grace the Grand Duke was born from Their Majesties’ union.”

“I too believe that His Grace’s birth was a blessing for Yupiter. However, there’s one thing I cannot agree with.”

Pierre’s eyes moistened as he looked at Empress Meriel Sun in the portrait. She was a being he had cherished and cared for as much as his own daughter Marlin since she was a princess.

“Although Emperor Sun might have had different intentions, for Empress Sun, this marriage was by no means a loveless political union. She sincerely cared for Emperor Sun more than anyone else.”

“I see…”

“She devoted herself to solidifying Emperor Sun’s foundation. Sometimes even opposing the Roman family. The former Roman Duke was often upset and angry to see his beloved only daughter confronting her family for her husband’s sake.”

“It seems Empress Sun deeply loved Emperor Sun.”

“However, regrettably, their father-daughter relationship also grew distant. It was partly to balance the imperial family and the Roman ducal family, which was the highest-ranking noble family at the time… As time passed, the former Roman Duke greatly regretted it.”

“Regretted?”

“He said if he had known Empress Sun would leave this world before him, he would have granted all her wishes while she was alive.”

That self-blame and regret seemed to be not just the former Roman Duke’s. Pierre’s eyes also reddened. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes.

“I apologize. With age comes nothing but sentimentality.”

“Please, don’t say that. The death of Empress Sun from illness is something that saddens all citizens of the Yupiter Empire.”

“Illness… If a heart’s illness can be called an illness, then it could be seen that way. However, Empress Sun did not die from illness.”

“What? If not from illness, then…”

Aidel gasped in surprise at Pierre’s unbelievable words, his eyes now sharp and clear after wiping away all tears.

“Someday, the truth will surely come to light. Because His Grace the Grand Duke is here.”

Pierre’s voice was filled with firm conviction. He looked at Aidel and continued with an earnest gaze.

“His Grace the Grand Duke is fighting a lonely battle. I sincerely hope you will be a source of strength by his side.”

“Ah…”

A low sigh escaped between Aidel’s lips. A lonely battle… And the truth about Empress Meriel’s death… These were all things she was hearing for the first time.

“His Grace the Grand Duke, who had never allowed anyone close, has only permitted Your Grace by his side. Although I’ve only seen and heard through news, I never knew His Grace was someone who could express affection to anyone like this.”

“That’s…”

“It must mean that Your Grace’s existence is special to His Grace. I believe that if the two of you are together, you can overcome any hardship and trial.”

Pierre’s eyes flickered with expectation and trust. Meeting that gaze, Aidel’s face clouded for a moment.

‘He and I are just in a contract relationship with a set term…’

Every time she faced the sincere feelings of the servants who didn’t know this fact, she felt a heavy guilt and sadness weighing down on her heart once again.

“…I will do my best to assist His Grace.”

This was all she could promise right now. However, there was now one more sincere thing she could clearly say.

“…With my affection for His Grace.”

“I am deeply moved by your words.”

The Grand Duchess, whose ear tips had turned red as if embarrassed by her direct expression of affection, slightly lowered her head. Seeing this, Pierre smiled benevolently as if looking at a cute granddaughter.

“Would you like to see this portrait here? It’s of His Grace the Grand Duke at an even younger age than the one you saw earlier.”

Pierre pointed to another portrait, as if to change the atmosphere. The portrait depicted the Grand Duke at what appeared to be four or five years old.

With soft, chubby cheeks that hadn’t lost their baby fat, he looked as lovable as a baby angel. Although he wasn’t smiling like other children, even his characteristic expressionless face, combined with his youthful appearance, just seemed cute.

“Oh my…!”

Aidel unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand and took a deep breath. Seeing the Grand Duchess unable to take her sparkling eyes off the portrait, Pierre smiled with satisfaction.

He had an unfulfilled dream due to his unmarried eldest daughter Marlin. A grand plan that could vicariously fulfill that dream and further strengthen the future of the grand ducal family flashed through his mind.

The excellent strategy he had built up while serving as the head butler from the former Roman ducal family to the grand ducal family was unfailingly displayed even at this moment.

“It’s truly an adorable appearance, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t know His Grace had such a time too.”

“Wouldn’t you like to see this appearance in person?”

“Of course, it would be nice to see it directly, but His Grace has already grown up.”

“Since ancient times, where beans are planted, beans grow, and where red beans are planted, red beans grow.”

“…?”

Seeing Aidel’s puzzled face, Pierre added with a meaningful smile.

“In other words, His Grace’s child will surely resemble His Grace.”

“…!”

Now clearly understanding Pierre’s meaning, Aidel once again covered her mouth and took a deep breath. She felt her earlobes, which had cooled down, heating up again.