No.
The reply was quick and calm.
“The princess was acting as if she knew you well?”
At my sharp, prickly tone, Edan fell silent for a moment. I set down my teacup with a soft clink and turned my head away.
Edan, who had been staring intently at me, suddenly flashed a bright smile the moment our eyes met. Thanks to the autumn sunlight pouring over the terrace, his handsome face was—needlessly—dazzling even then.
“Lati.”
“What?”
“Jealous?”
“Yes. I am. So what?”
“Be more jealous.”
“…….”
This guy? I glared at him, eyes narrowed fiercely, and Edan reached out with his long arm to gently stroke my cheek.
“I like it when you’re jealous.”
Come to think of it, this man had always enjoyed watching me get jealous. I’d completely forgotten.
“Don’t smile. You’re far too popular.”
“Mm. And?”
What on earth kind of conversation is this? Even with my irritated expression, Edan continued stroking my cheek, wearing a gentle smile. His touch was tender, brimming with affection.
And so, my fighting spirit quietly melted away.
Shortly afterward, Benika returned, bowing lightly with a genuinely apologetic expression as she asked for my understanding.
“I’m sorry. Actually, I made a mistake last time. It wasn’t meant to set up a meeting from the beginning… I didn’t know then. I thought the Grand Duke mentioning he was looking for a woman was just an excuse to avoid tedious obligations.”
She added that it was less about the princess and more about her own fault for giving false hope, and she hoped I’d understand the girl’s disappointed feelings. She asked for my understanding just this once, given the circumstances, but promised that if something like this happened again, she’d draw a firm line herself. Her words made me like Empress Benika even more.
I appreciated that she didn’t immediately take my side by badmouthing the princess—even though she easily could have. She was a person of principle.
After enjoying tea a little longer, we ended our gathering. Just before parting, Killian leaned close and whispered softly to me.
“Even though I said that, the Empress gave Princess Ilia a stern talking-to. And I’d appreciate it if you recognized that it was my mistake, not hers. Back then, I genuinely couldn’t remember you at all—I thought Edan had gone mad. I sincerely apologize.”
Watching Killian cling to me and babble excuses like a lovesick fool made me laugh.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“This time, at least, your eye for women was spot-on.”
Killian raised his eyebrows slightly at my words, delivered while I suppressed a laugh. Then, he smiled faintly, almost bashfully.
“Oh… Is that so? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Yes. It’s a compliment.”
For the first time, I glimpsed the gentle-hearted older brother Edan had once described, reflected in that pure smile.
***
Knock knock.
At the sound of someone rapping on the study door, I stopped moving my pen.
“Yes.”
I lifted my head in reply, and after a brief pause, the door opened and a maid entered.
“Lady Latieana, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
That was odd. Leaving aside the fact that they’d arrived unannounced, I couldn’t think of anyone who’d come to see me.
“Duke Dante Ian of the South and Viscount Noah have come to visit. They’re asking if you’re available to receive them now—what shall I tell them?”
“Viscount Noah?”
“Yes. They’re waiting in the reception room.”
“I’ll be right there.”
I set down my pen and stood up immediately.
Dante, fine—I’d met him before. But Noah!
This was undeniably delightful news. I’d naturally seen everyone else at least once, but I hadn’t managed to meet Noah. He’d gone to study in the Northern Empire half a year before the Demon War officially ended, recommended by the Empress when peace first settled over the Empire. The Northern Empire, bordered by the sea, had terrain and a thriving commerce completely unlike the South, making it an ideal place to learn. Although portals connected the regions, his academy was notoriously strict—students needed prior permission for any outings.
I hurried my steps. Passing through the corridor, descending the central staircase, and arriving at the reception room, a waiting attendant quickly opened the door for me.
“No…!”
“Big sister!”
Huh? I froze mid-smile, startled as the person who’d leapt to their feet upon seeing me.
In my memory, Noah was small, with big eyes, soft wavy bobbed hair, and an adorably pretty, girlish face…
“…Vis… Viscount?”
“Yes! It’s me!”
The boy before me was not the Noah I remembered.
He’d grown tall enough to nearly match my height, his voice had deepened, and his once soft, pretty bob was now cropped short—just like Dante’s.
Moreover, his formerly gentle features had transformed into those of a strikingly handsome youth. Though his sharp facial lines and lovely eyes and nose remained, his overall aura now unmistakably carried a masculine charm.
This suddenly grown, unfamiliar Noah closed the distance in a few strides and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“I missed you!”
“When did you get so tall?!”
“Last year! I shot up suddenly over a month or two—my legs hurt like crazy.”
Noah clung to me tightly, acting spoiled like the little kid he used to be. My arms, flailing awkwardly in midair, eventually settled on patting his shoulders.
“Goodness. I really couldn’t recognize you. Have you been well?”
“Of course I have! Big sister… ah, I mean, Lady Latieana, how about you?”
“I’ve been well, thanks to you.”
Noah had even solemnly adjusted his form of address. The awkwardness lasted only a moment. After exchanging a few more lines, Noah and I quickly slipped back into our old dynamic. Then, Dante—who’d stood silently like a ghost until now—finally spoke up, sounding a little hurt.
“Lady Latieana, am I invisible to you?”
“Ahaha. Sorry, Your Grace. It’s just been so long since I’ve seen Viscount Noah.”
“Yeah. Well. I understand.”
Dante nodded lightly, as if he had no complaints—but his expression was thoroughly sulky. I did feel a twinge of guilt; last time, he’d been overshadowed by Hillstain and Killian and hadn’t gotten to talk much. Still, I dove right back into chattering with Noah.
Noah began with an apology for not remembering me, then launched into a chatty, detailed recounting of his life.
He especially talked a lot about the academy under the Northern Empire’s royal jurisdiction—mostly sea-related tales. When describing sailing out and encountering waves, he even added dramatic, suspenseful acting.
Noah also shared his solid plans for the future and mentioned that, with no more demons and no longer struggling due to his abilities, Dante had decided to retain his dukedom.
At that moment, I smiled and congratulated Dante. Then, suddenly, Noah scrunched up his eyebrows.
“But what’s that ring?”
“Oh.”
It was the couple’s ring—I’d grown so used to it I barely noticed anymore.
“Viscount, I’m married—”
“AAAH! Damn it! No!”
He hadn’t even let me finish. Noah clutched his head with a pained expression and let out a single, anguished scream.
“I had a bad feeling!”
Noah… going through puberty? Where did that sweet, gentle boy from just a moment ago go?
Staring wide-eyed at the transformed Noah, I glanced at Dante. He simply closed his eyes and gave a small, slow shake of his head.
Just ignoring it, huh? I could’ve sworn the old Dante treated Noah like a precious baby bird… I guess a lot had changed in three years.
Well, yeah. Puberty’s unavoidable.
“Congratulations. When’s the wedding?”
“Brother! She’s getting married! This isn’t the time to ask so calmly!”
“Then how should I ask?”
“Grrr… I mean…”
Noah, covering his face with both palms and bowing his head in thought, peeked out only his eyes.
“So… is it the Grand Duke?”
“Yes.”
“Hah. Big sister.”
Noah sighed deeply, and his way of addressing me naturally reverted back to “big sister.” Then he roughly ruffled his own hair.
“Isn’t it about time you broke up?”
His face was dead serious, all traces of laughter gone.
“I think a ten-year age gap is something we can overcome…”
Just then, a familiar voice cut between us from the reception room’s entrance.
“Honestly, this brat and that brat…”
I turned to see Edan, hands shoved in his pockets, pushing open the reception room door and stepping inside.
Both Dante and Noah reflexively bowed in greeting.
A moment later, Noah lifted his head and asked, brows slightly furrowed.
“Am I one of ‘this brat or that brat’…?”
“Who else would it be?”
“And who’s the other brat?”
“There is one. The guy who’d have gone bald if not for Latieana’s mercy.”
“Bald…?”
Edan strode over in long steps to stand beside me, then looked down coldly at Noah.
“I’ve been feeling rather generous lately, so I’ll give the Viscount one chance.”
Noah tilted his head, puzzled.
“What kind of chance?”
“A chance to confess.”
“…….”
“If you’re going to do it, do it now and get rejected. Come spring, your first love will become the Grand Duchess—and your punishment will be heavier then.”
It was true Noah had grown significantly thanks to his diligent growth spurt, but next to Edan, he was still just a kid.
Merely standing there, Edan’s imposing stature and murderous glare made Noah flinch—but he stubbornly shot back, refusing to yield.
“…And if she doesn’t reject me?”
At Noah’s bold retort, Edan let out a mocking scoff.
“You’ve grown up a lot, kid.”
“I’m not a kid! I’m a full-fledged man now!”
At that, one corner of Edan’s mouth curled up even more derisively.
“Fine. Then let’s settle this like men. Since you’re a full-fledged man, you won’t need the Duke’s permission, right?”
Edan flicked a glance toward Dante. Dante responded with a light, curt nod.
“Perfect.”
“Huh? Wait, hold on…!”
Edan grabbed Noah by the back of his neck and dragged him out of the reception room.
Didn’t Noah just turn deathly pale…?
“Your Grace. Is it really okay to just let them go? Noah just got dragged off.”
“Yeah, well. A little discipline won’t hurt him.”
“That’s it?”
“You raise boys tough.”
Good heavens. I thought he’d be coddled in someone’s arms forever. This is a bit shocking?
Still, I also thought: teenage boys really aren’t easy. Even that adorable little kid had hit puberty. On the other hand, it meant he was growing up well.
Surely he won’t kill him. He’ll just lay down some stern warnings.
…Though I am a little worried.
I’d just exchanged a few words with Dante when Edan and Noah returned.
Noah, lips jutting out like a duck’s beak, quickly bowed his head to me.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Grand Duchess…”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
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