TCBCVF 125

~Chapter 125~

“Anyway… the fact that Lari has this shawl means—”

Lady Eva suddenly hugged my arm tightly.

“Now we have another couple’s item, don’t we?!”

“……”

Of course, the Duke’s face crumpled immediately.

But Lady Eva just clung to me even more.

“Since you’re wearing such a warm shawl, why don’t we go see the snow?”

“Snow?”

“Yes, I saw earlier—it’s the first snowfall of the season!”

At once, the Duke cut her off with a stern look.

“Are you a child?”

“Hey, is there a rule that only children can enjoy the snow?”

“Laritte gets cold easily. What if she catches a cold in this weather?”

“Wait—did you just say Lari?”

Eva froze too, glaring.

“What?! I thought I was the only one who could call her by that nickname!”

“What’s the problem? I’m her lover. And you’re her friend, but you call her that too, don’t you?”

“Excuse me? I’m not just a friend—I’m her best friend! Don’t you know what ‘bestie’ means?!”

Their voices—Eva’s shrill protests and the Duke’s scolding tone—clashed noisily.

Watching the two siblings bicker, I simply smiled brightly.

It was such a warm, touching scene it almost brought tears to my eyes.

The next day.

At the Noble Assembly, Dietrich looked unusually cheerful.

The Duke, who always wore a blank expression, actually had a faint smile on his lips.

“Did everyone spend Saint Laila’s holiday well?”

He even greeted the nobles first with warmth.

“Did the sun rise in the west this morning?”

“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen the Duke smile like that…”

The nobles glanced at each other in confusion.

Meanwhile, Marquis Evans clenched his teeth, trying to suppress his irritation.

He had recently heard how his son Isaac had been humiliated in the temple because of Dietrich. The anger still burned inside him.

Dietrich, after exchanging small greetings with the nobles, moved calmly toward the highest seat in the chamber—the chair reserved for the presiding officer.

Standing there, surveying the room like a well-fed predator, he fit the position perfectly.

Then he spoke.

“Please, everyone be seated.”

The nobles sat down.

Dietrich continued in a calm tone.

“As you all know, the Rosburn delegation will be visiting soon.”

Rosburn.

A small island nation in the far north of the southern continent.

Though small, it had grown wealthy through fisheries and pearl cultivation.

Because of its harsh cold climate, farming was impossible, so they relied completely on imports for grain—most of it supplied by Claudius, the Empire’s richest breadbasket.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to decide how we will approach the coming talks with their delegation.”

“Is there really any need for such a fuss?”

Marquis Evans deliberately sneered.

“They’re just a primitive island nation. We can deal with them however we like.”

Of course, he knew very well he was talking nonsense.

Rosburn was not a country to be treated lightly.

But his twisted resentment toward Dietrich—and the Claudius family—made him say it anyway.

For a moment, Dietrich’s cold gaze locked onto him.

Then—

“Is that the official stance of House Evans?”

The question pierced like a blade.

The Marquis stiffened.

“That’s… not…”

“Pity.”

Dietrich cut him off, narrowing his blue eyes.

“His Majesty is currently striving to secure more of Rosburn’s warm-water ports.”

Warm-water ports. Harbors that didn’t freeze even in winter.

Rosburn’s ports were the northernmost ones the Empire could access, essential for reaching the northern continent.

For over twenty years, the Empire had been negotiating to gain more access, but Rosburn allowed only one port to remain open for trade, wary of the Empire’s growing power.

“In such a situation, instead of helping His Majesty with the negotiations, you choose to dismiss them as trivial—”

The soft smile vanished from Dietrich’s face, replaced by his infamous icy expression.

“To call them a primitive island, and to say we can just overlook it—such careless words…”

He let the words trail off, his stare pressing heavily on the Marquis.

The pressure was suffocating.

Dietrich was the youngest of all the lords present—barely half the age of the next-youngest head of house.

And yet.

The aura radiating from him was overwhelming.

The nobles felt their throats dry, their backs drenched in cold sweat.

One man alone was suppressing the entire chamber.

No one dared to speak.

Then—

“Marquis Evans.”

At that slow, calm call, the tension snapped.

Dietrich spoke softly, but every word was sharp.

“If you respond that way, what will happen to His Majesty’s position, when he is trying so hard to persuade Rosburn?”

His voice sounded gentle, but within it hid a deadly blade.

“His Majesty treats Rosburn as a partner in negotiation. If one of His Majesty’s vassals shows such disrespect, it could be seen as…”

“Defying His Majesty’s will.”

“What nonsense—!”

Marquis Evans flushed red, but before he could defend himself—

“His Majesty the Emperor enters!”

The Emperor himself walked into the chamber.

“What? His Majesty here at the Noble Assembly?”

“This isn’t even the State Council!”

The nobles hurriedly rose, bowing, but exchanged shocked glances.

Normally, decisions from the Noble Assembly would be passed to the State Council, where the Emperor gave the final word.

But now, the Emperor had come in person—proof of how important this matter was.

And more than that—

The Emperor was openly standing behind Duke Claudius.

“Everyone knows that the Rosburn delegation will soon arrive.”

The Emperor smiled calmly.

“Their warm-water ports are the Empire’s long-cherished goal. I expect you all to give your utmost effort in these negotiations.”

It was exactly what Dietrich had said earlier.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We will keep it in mind.”

The nobles bowed, swallowing hard.

They already knew the young Duke was not someone to underestimate.

But now they saw clearly:

The Duke and the Imperial Throne were acting as one.

They hadn’t even noticed when the Emperor and the Duke began moving together behind the scenes.

The realization hit them like a blade to the throat.

And when Dietrich, standing by the Emperor’s side, turned and smiled gracefully at them—

It felt as if a knife had been pressed right beneath their jaws.