Chapter 3
“He was a gentleman of impeccable manners.”
“Next?”
“…He definitely drew a lot of attention.”
“Next?”
Anel grew tense, unsure what answer the Grand Duke was seeking.
When the Grand Duke didn’t hear the response he wanted, he would question her again and again, like an interrogation.
At times like this, Anel had no choice but to guess what it was he wanted to hear.
“He seemed like someone who knew why he did things.”
“That’s right.”
At last, Grand Duke Morata smiled, clearly satisfied.
“Johannes Magnum is the masterpiece raised by Duke Magnum — the pride of the Stein Empire. And he has every reason to be.”
Although Duke Magnum’s rank was lower than the Grand Duke’s, his wealth and influence were in no way inferior.
The Grand Duke’s family held the honor of being the royal family’s greatest ally and the embodiment of nobility, as well as the comfort that came with owning the largest estate in Stein.
In contrast, the Duke’s family held power as the leader of the noble faction — with two banks and four companies under their name, their fortune was immeasurable.
“The Magnum family,” said the Grand Duke, “is the only house in this empire I acknowledge — aside from the imperial family itself.”
The two families were alike in many ways, yet also quite different.
As the leaders of the Emperor’s faction and the Nobles’ faction respectively, their positions naturally created a distance between them.
“You must already know that I sometimes correspond with Calpen Magnum.”
But this distance existed only in the public eye.
In truth, the two leaders were close friends — a secret known only to their families.
Anel quietly nodded.
“Calpen once told me something,” the Grand Duke continued. “He said you were born with the destiny to become Empress. And I agreed. Whatever else may be uncertain, Anel Morata is destined to be the Empress of Stein.”
It was a phrase she’d heard so many times it was burned into her ears —
Anel Morata will become the Empress of Stein.
Anel neither agreed nor disagreed.
It wasn’t something she wanted to hear.
“But recently,”
The Grand Duke’s eyes darkened sharply.
“That man said something very strange.”
“…?”
“He said it is inevitable that you will become Empress — but as for who will become Emperor, that remains to be seen.”
Anel gasped and glanced around, as if afraid someone might have overheard.
If anyone had, those words alone would be enough to accuse them of treason.
“Father, that’s—”
“Silence.”
Under his crushing presence, Anel closed her mouth.
“You must have heard of the Bastard Hunt that happened twenty-two years ago.”
Anel nodded quietly.
Though it was one of the Empire’s darkest secrets, there was no one who didn’t know about it.
The Bastard Hunt — the very name evoked horror.
It was an atrocity carried out by the late Empress, who, sensing her short life nearing its end, sought to secure her son’s throne by killing every illegitimate child that could threaten his succession.
It was said that not a single one survived.
Because of that, Samyu’s position became unshakable.
He was the only legitimate heir to the throne — the sole surviving child of the Emperor.
No one could challenge him.
Even among the noble faction, no one had ever doubted Samyu’s right to inherit.
“What does that have to do with this?”
In Stein, children born to the Empress had the first right of succession —
but that didn’t mean illegitimate children could never become Emperor.
With enough luck, skill, and cunning, bastards had occasionally risen to the throne before.
“Johannes Magnum,” said the Grand Duke slowly, “is the only surviving illegitimate son of the Emperor.”
If, of course, his imperial blood could be proven.
“The surname he should have had from the beginning wasn’t Magnum, but Drenegger. He’s simply trying to reclaim it now.”
At those words, the first thing that flashed through Anel’s mind was his green eyes.
Those eyes, so similar to Samyu’s — the same deep shade of green, though their aura was different.
She stared down at the floor, unable to find the right words.
It was far too dangerous a conversation.
She didn’t know the young Duke well, but to call him the Emperor?
Anel had never once imagined anyone other than Samyu sitting on Stein’s throne.
“And you must become the Empress.”
“Then… will you stop the young Duke, Father?”
The Grand Duke did not answer.
He simply took out another cigar, lit it, and frowned deeply.
“His Highness the Crown Prince will become Emperor.”
“No.”
The Grand Duke cut her off firmly.
“I have done everything I could to help Prince Samyu ascend the throne, but now the tides have turned completely.”
“But His Highness is beloved by all the people of Stein—”
“Foolish girl! Love alone cannot make one Emperor!”
He shouted, his voice echoing through the room, and exhaled roughly.
“You can’t even think for yourself. Without me, you’re nothing.”
He blew out a thick cloud of smoke.
It coiled around her, choking her.
Anel tried not to breathe it in, but it still filled her lungs.
“I’ve already discussed everything with Calpen. If I close my eyes and allow it, Johannes Magnum will become Johannes Drenegger — and nothing will stop it.”
“B-but…”
Anel tried to steady her voice through the haze of smoke.
“His Highness trusts you, Father. How could you—”
“Johannes Drenegger is His Majesty’s own blood. My loyalty lies with the Imperial House, not with Samyu Drenegger.”
The excuse was too transparent — too hollow.
Anel clenched her skirt tightly.
After all that talk of loyalty, he had chosen betrayal when it truly mattered.
Hypocrite.
Samyu trusted you so deeply.
Just earlier, he had said he felt guilty for not being able to greet his future father-in-law before leaving — and yet you…
“In any case,” the Grand Duke continued coldly, “you will still marry into the Imperial family, as planned.”
“But that’s betraying Prince Samyu!”
Anel’s voice trembled, close to tears.
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue, as if pitying her stupidity.
“I only care about one thing — that you become Empress, no matter who the Emperor is.”
Anel thought,
This voice… there’s nothing in it but greed and malice.
Since that day, Anel had not been allowed to take a single step outside her room.
Her father claimed it was because if she spoke carelessly, all of their “righteous cause” would crumble.
Anel didn’t resist.
She knew it would be pointless.
Instead, she stopped eating — her only form of protest.
If she couldn’t go outside, she would rather die.
But the Grand Duke only replied that if she wished Samyu to live, she’d better behave.
And Anel knew he meant it.
“….”
She spent her days perched by the window, hoping — praying — that Samyu might come to the mansion.
But it wasn’t Samyu who arrived.
That day, Anel sat on the window sill with a book open on her lap.
Her eyes, however, were fixed outside.
She hadn’t turned a page in days.
Screeeech—
A grand carriage rolled through the gates of the Morata estate.
It was black, trimmed with gold, drawn by six horses — a sign of noble status.
Strange.
Samyu always rode a white carriage bearing the imperial crest.
This one had none.
Anel frowned, watching closely.
The carriage stopped. The door opened.
And the uninvited guest appeared.
“—!”
Golden hair, bright as sunlight — arrogant, immaculate.
A flawlessly tailored suit, a long coat draped just right.
Every inch of him screamed nobleman.
Even without seeing his face, Anel knew who he was.
There were many nobles, but few who truly looked the part.
From his effortless grace alone, he stood out — almost unnaturally so.
The masterpiece of Stein.
But to Anel, now, he was nothing but a traitor.
It was Johannes Magnum.
