SEM 16

Chapter 16

“Eek! Your Grace, don’t kiss that woman!”

Outside, voices were filled with resentment toward Grady and criticism toward Eliana.

Like Grady standing in the sunlight and Eliana hidden in the shadows, the contrast between them was stark.

Eliana slowly raised her arm. The sudden movement stung her open wound, but she didn’t care.

Her hand slid up Grady’s back, eventually reaching the back of his head. The blanket draped over their chests looked like it would slip off at any moment.

“Aaagh! Witch! Get your hands off our Duke!”

A shrill female voice made Eliana let out a faint chuckle.

‘They really have no idea what’s happening, do they?’

Eliana stood on her tiptoes, arms around Grady’s neck. Her lips barely brushed his chin, leaving only a faint trace.

‘What? That’s it? So teasing.’

Grady, watching her kiss just his chin with closed eyes, was bewildered to find himself feeling impatient.

“Can’t even find my lips?”

At his teasing remark, Eliana opened her eyes and spoke calmly.

“You have to make them come to you if you want to raise your value.”

“…You really do know how to make a sale.”

Their hearts beat wildly in opposite rhythms, like parallel emotions that could never meet, now flaring fiercely toward each other.

Grady’s lips devoured Eliana’s.

“KYAAAH!”

As Eliana’s face came into view for a moment, screams erupted from all around. But despite the deafening uproar, their lips didn’t part.

When Eliana disappeared into the curtain under Grady’s pressure, the screaming faded too.

Grady had dated many women before, but never so openly. His name often made the front page of tabloids, but he never acknowledged or denied the rumors.

The fragile noble ladies who had just witnessed this scandal collapsed one by one, either carried out by waiting attendants or leaving with broken hearts.

Only Rodin, who had not once taken his eyes off Eliana, stared coldly at the now-empty terrace.

* * *

“I simply can’t believe this!”

Baron Hoffman slammed his hand on the table, holding a freshly printed copy of Raola’s Daily Journal.

Normally, he would’ve dismissed it as a cheap gossip rag, but not recently. Lately, he had been eagerly scanning the paper every day—because it was his only way of tracking Eliana.

“Still under tight watch?”

“Yes. Rodin continues to monitor her, but there’s been no significant progress,” the butler answered with a deep bow.

Baron Hoffman roughly unbuttoned his collar and threw the paper onto the table.

“I should’ve kept her locked in from the start.”

The wound still hadn’t healed—and with it lay a shameful secret he couldn’t share with anyone. He hadn’t expected the timid Eliana to actually run away. That had been his mistake.

“She ran off with none other than Duke Cryber.”

“Right. And it seems he’s hiding something he doesn’t want others to know as well.”

A brown bottle of strong liquor filled a glass. The baron took it from the butler and threw it down his throat, his face twisting.

The burning drink scorched his throat instead of easing his tension.

“Stronger than usual today.”

“It must feel that way since you’ve been abstaining for some time.”

His face flushed with heat. He rubbed it with his cold palm and sighed deeply.

Nothing was going right these days.

Since the marquis’s death, the imperial palace had interfered with the inheritance. Baron Hoffman had assumed Eliana’s wealth would soon be his, and this disruption was deeply frustrating.

Almost all the paperwork required Eliana’s signature. And now he had to endure Duke Lloyd’s disapproving glare too—it was all unbearable.

“So, what have you found about Duke Cryber?”

He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and looked at the butler.

“We’re investigating the women he’s been with, but…”

Seeing the butler’s troubled face, the baron clicked his tongue. No matter how much of a scoundrel the duke was, he was still royalty. It wouldn’t be easy to get dirt on him.

“Did you find anything at all?”

“They all said the Duke was a good man.”

“…What?”

Baron Hoffman tilted his head, holding a second glass of liquor.

A womanizing duke who let women come and go as they pleased… and yet they all said he was a good man?

It didn’t make sense.

No woman would speak kindly of a man they’d competed over.

“From courtesans to noble ladies, they all sincerely wished the Duke happiness.”

“…Ha!”

Baron Hoffman gave a baffled expression and downed the glass. He glanced at the newspaper.

Every paper in the empire was talking about Eliana’s engagement to Duke Grady Cryber.

For her to marry that Cryber Duke—it was something that could only happen by miracle. He might be a scoundrel, but he was a duke, the Emperor’s son, and second in line to the throne unless the Empress bore a child.

“Is the Duke insane? Or is my daughter just that amazing?”

His muttered words echoed in the spacious study.

The room, filled with unread books, had once been the Marquis’s favorite place. The late Marquis had often mocked the Baron’s lack of intellect here. But he had never realized that the entire estate was already under Hoffman’s control before his death.

‘Hypocrite.’

Baron Hoffman curled his lip at the memory of the dead Marquis.

The imperial palace had yet to make any move. But from the inheritance dispute onward, they had started watching Baron Hoffman’s actions closely.

“What now…”

“He’s Duke Grady Cryber, my lord.”

“And?”

The butler, having filled the baron’s glass again, straightened up. His face was full of loyalty.

“You’ve already gained wealth and honor.”

“…”

“Rumors say Duke Cryber has completely fallen for Miss Eliana. He even donated gold to the temple, pledging to marry a twice-widowed woman as his lawful wife.”

Baron Hoffman nodded. The Duke’s behavior was still baffling.

“You really think he’s fallen for her?”

“Considering the lady’s beauty, it wouldn’t be so surprising.”

“…True.”

Even Baron Hoffman couldn’t deny Eliana’s beauty.

“Just think—Duke Cryber came all the way to the Marquis’s funeral just to see her.”

At the butler’s words, Hoffman emptied his glass. The strong liquor made his heart pound.

“Could he truly be serious about her?”

“If anyone can give you what you desire most, it would be Duke Cryber.”

At the butler’s honeyed words, the baron closed his eyes.

He had wealth and honor. But one thing still eluded him.

“…Then, what now?”

He rested his chin on his hand, sinking into thought. His opponent was the Emperor, with Duke Lloyd behind him. People far beyond Baron Hoffman’s reach.

“First, meet with Duke Cryber.”

After a moment’s thought, Baron Hoffman slowly opened his mouth. The butler’s advice seemed to please him—he smiled faintly.

“Call Rodin to the estate.”

The butler bowed and left.

“Becoming the Duke’s father-in-law… not bad.”

Baron Hoffman lit a cigar imported from the Kingdom. The same kind the late Marquis had favored.

* * *

“Forgive me for calling you on such short notice.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

At the edge of her vision, Eliana noticed a pair of violet silk shoes. Though the formal greeting was finished, no command had been given to rise, so she remained bent at the waist.

“Oh my, look at me. Please, come sit.”

Only after Empress Rosella’s theatrical words did Eliana finally straighten up.

All eyes in the room were on her.

Eliana barely suppressed a sigh as a maid helped her to a seat.

The scrutinizing stares were so intense her skin prickled.

“Is this your first time in the palace?”

“Regretfully, yes, Your Majesty.”

Rosella nodded, seemingly pleased by Eliana’s downward gaze.

“No need to be nervous. You’ll be coming here often once you become the Duchess.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”

A white teacup was placed before Eliana, filled with golden tea.

“You’re to be the wife of none other than Duke Cryber. Of course I must take special interest in you.”

“…”

“It would be ideal if the palace had senior women to guide you, but as you know, the former Emperor and Empress passed away long ago. I oversee all internal affairs of the imperial family.”

“I don’t know how to thank Your Majesty for your care.”

The empress’s smile deepened, clearly satisfied by Eliana’s answer.

But unlike Rosella, Eliana’s mind was in turmoil.

She had entered the palace early at dawn with Emma’s help, summoned by a letter from the Empress. She had no idea why she was called.

On top of that, entering the palace without preparation had awakened old fears. As if the Emperor himself might appear any moment and drag her away.