Chapter 15
“I should at least ensure her safety.’’
“It might be that Prince Shinkley is getting desperate because things aren’t going as he hoped.”
“Well, after that incident, he probably expected me to kill him. Even if I only have six months left to live, he can’t just ignore my presence.”
Ruan smiled slightly as he recalled how the Crown Prince had tried several times to have Shinkley killed on their way back to the imperial palace—and failed each time.
“He’s currently imprisoned in the prince’s palace. Despite falling into a trap, he remains a prince, not just a soldier. Since he tried to assault a woman who died, it’s expected he’ll be exiled.”
“That should be a relief for His Majesty. And what about the viscount’s daughter?”
“According to our informants, she went to the duke’s house.”
“The duke’s house, huh? I wonder what decision she’ll make…”
Ruan grinned softly as she thought of Mercian, remembering how she had crept into his arms at night and dreamed about eating while dozing off.
Why is this smile coming on so quickly?
It’s frightening.
No way… Will he kill the Duchess if she betrays him and takes her sister’s advice?
“If the noble’s daughter leaves the duke’s house, let me know.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“By the way, Cassel, I’m curious—if someone has insomnia but can sleep deeply without medicine, what could that mean?”
“Well, insomnia is usually hard to cure. Sometimes it’s caused by psychological reasons. So maybe the person feels mentally stable and sleeps well. Why do you ask? Did you skip your sleeping pills last night?”
“Psychological reasons, huh? So maybe I felt calm sleeping next to the lady? Or maybe it was because of that soft, squishy feeling?”
Ruan murmured, thinking of Mercian’s soft skin pressed against him.
He felt an urge to touch her again…
He wanted to swallow her murmuring lips and found her eating in the morning so lovely.
“Duke? Are you listening? Duke?”
“Yes, Cassel. Report back to me later!”
Cassel saw Ruan wasn’t listening and sighed, then left the room.
The crown prince already approached the noble’s daughter?
Ruan stood and walked to the window, staring outside.
The warm sunlight coming through reminded him of how he feels when he looks at Mercian.
Strange… I miss her.
Is she with her sister right now?
If she hears that I’m preparing for a rebellion, how will she react?
Will she look for evidence for her sister or her family—or against me?
Or—will she turn down the offer for me?
No, she wouldn’t… would she?
Unknowingly, Ruan grinned as he imagined Mercian looking through the study for something Luciane had asked for.
So she doesn’t waste her time, should I leave a few pieces of evidence?
It doesn’t matter if I die, but if I fail to remove the trash before I die, it could cause problems for her later.
At least the lady’s safety should be guaranteed.
No, what if that guy develops bad intentions toward the lady…
Just imagining it fills Ruan with an uncontrollable irritation.
***
Known as the little devil of the palace, Diamond Arfonbach was a violent, conceited, and self-centred crown prince.
He was born into a political union between Emperor Biseluk and Empress Antwatte, as is the case with most royal unions, and he was destined to be the crown prince.
He grew up conceited and self-centred as a result of Empress Antwatte’s overprotective parenting.
Biseluk thought he would improve as he grew older, but Diamond only became harder to control.
The emperor was disappointed and started to favour Harmon, the Empress Mariane’s son, as the crown prince.
Diamond was usually quite direct, but he saw that Biseluk preferred Harmon to him as the crown prince.
Because Diamond has been trying to kill Harmon ever since, Biseluk asked Ruan to take care of Harmon.
Ruan didn’t want to get involved in palace power struggles but thought Harmon was better than Diamond becoming emperor.
So he agreed to help.
After all, Ruan thought, since he only had six months to live, cleaning up some trash before dying wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Yeah, there’s no way I’ll let that guy touch my wife!
Ruan was determined to eliminate Diamond before he died.
***
Beanoman Duke’s house.
Bang!!
“Lucy? What on earth is going on?”
“Stupid girl!!”
Penelope was shocked as Luciane angrily threw things around her room.
“Aaah!!!”
“Lucy!”
“Mother, how could you give birth to such an ignorant and unreasonable child?”
“Lucy, did you go see Meri?”
“I was just trying to say something for her good…”
“Lucy, please calm down. You already have gastritis and a weak heart. Getting this upset isn’t good. Take a deep breath and sit on the bed.”
Luciane, guided by Penelope’s calming hand, sat on the edge of the bed.
“Haa… haa… phew.”
“Better now?”
“I’m sorry, Mother. Sob. I’m just so upset because of Meri.”
Luciane started crying as if Mercian had done something terrible to her, and Penelope gently stroked her back, asking,
“Lucy, stop being so upset. What did Meri do to make you so angry? Did she look down on you because she’s now a duchess?”
“That’s not it…”
***
House of Canoluf Duke.
“What? Who did what?”
Mercian asked, not believing Luciane.
“They say Duke Ruan Canoluf, your husband, is planning a rebellion.”
Ruan? Doing what?
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
How could a man with only six months left plan a rebellion?
You expect me to believe that?
Mercian felt annoyed watching Luciane nervously look around and whisper.
Ah, I was just about to finish making the pumpkin soup, and now I have to listen to this nonsense?
“Really? Thank you, sister. Thanks for coming to me with such a big secret.”
“Yes, you should be thankful. Yesterday, I stopped the crown prince from ruining your wedding.”
“You did? How? Did you give him the dowry money or something?”
“What are you talking about? Well, maybe you don’t know, but a woman as beautiful as me doesn’t need to prepare anything special.”
I don’t want to ask why, but I already know what you’d say. Still, if I don’t ask, I’ll just get tired.
Mercian looked at Luciane, who was waiting for her to ask the reason, and said,
“Why?”
“Of course, when any man sees my beauty, it’s hard to just pass by. Yesterday, I politely asked His Highness the Crown Prince not to ruin the wedding. I begged him for my sister’s wedding. You may not like me much, but to me, you’re my only sister.”
Mercian thought deeply as she listened to Luciane speak as if the wedding between Ruan and Mercian was possible because of her.
You expect me to believe that?
That a crown prince, however attractive or strong, would release a dissident simply because he had never seen a woman so beautiful before?
He most likely intended to win me over and learn more about the duke’s family.
Do you think I’m unaware that this isn’t about me, but rather about wanting to be the crown princess?
If I were still living at the duke’s house, maybe I would have listened to my sister.
But now, things are different.
I’ll stay here safely for six months, and after that, I’ll live alone in the countryside.
Even if Ruan plans a rebellion, I don’t care.
Sorry, but I don’t want to get involved in this fight.
Finished with her thoughts, Mercian smiled gratefully at Luciane and said,
“Wow, so it was thanks to your outstanding beauty that I could safely finish the wedding yesterday. Thank you so much. I don’t have much to give you, but oh! I’ll send the three dresses I bought at the tailor’s a few days ago to the duke’s house. Honestly, those dresses would suit you better than me. Okay, be careful, and I’ll see you later. Or actually, let’s just not see each other again.”
Dresses?
Do you think I came here for some stupid dresses?
You need to follow my orders and find proof of your husband’s rebellion and bring it to me.
Luciane grabbed Mercian’s wrist as she stood and said urgently,
“Meri, aren’t you worried? Your husband is planning a rebellion! If this gets out, both you and your husband will be dead, you know? And our family too…”
“I am worried. That’s why I’m going to tell Ruan.”
“Tell him what? Are you planning to tell him to kill the crown prince?”
“Oh? How did you know? I only have six months left. I should at least rule the empire for two months before I die. So instead of planning a rebellion in six months, he should just rebel tomorrow. If he succeeds, I won’t be a duchess but an empress. Since you helped with this rebellion, I’ll advise Ruan to reward you by marrying you to a decent man if he succeeds in becoming emperor. Return now and watch for Ruan to succeed. When he becomes emperor, I will get in touch with you immediately. Now that I’m so busy, I’ll leave. I’m sorry, but I can’t say goodbye to you. You know the way out of the duke’s house, right?”
Mercian got up, obviously finished talking, bowed to Luciane, and walked out of the parlour.
After a long period of waiting in the parlour, Luciane remained enraged, but Mersian never came back.
.
.
.
“That stupid woman!”
Having returned without even managing to mention keeping an eye on the Duke, Luciane muttered to herself, unable to control her anger.
“Won’t He make trouble for us if His Highness the Crown Prince discovers that you were unable to learn anything from Mercian?”
“Mother, don’t worry. The prince is already completely infatuated with me, so you don’t need to worry. But since we’re meeting tomorrow, I’ll make sure to talk to him properly.”
“What? Meeting tomorrow? Oh my, if he’s already looking for you so quickly, maybe you really will become the crown princess.”
“Of course, Mother. Just trust me.”
Watch and see, Mercian.
How dare you ignore me?
I will find evidence of the duke’s rebellion and make sure neither you nor the duke gets away with it.
Luciane hugged Penelope tightly and made this vow in her heart.
***
“Where is the lady?”
When Ruan entered the duke’s house, he asked Edward, who tilted his head and replied,
“She said she was going to the garden a little while ago.”
“The garden? Okay.”
Ruan hurried to the garden but didn’t see Mercian anywhere in the large garden.
“Did she go back to her room?”
He knocked on Mercian’s door, but there was no answer.
Opening the door, he found the room empty.
What’s going on?
Did something happen?
Or is she searching for evidence about my rebellion in the study?
Ruan quietly opened the study door and searched thoroughly, but didn’t find Mercian.
Then maybe the kitchen?
Hurrying down to the kitchen just in case, Ruan asked,
“Chef, have you seen the lady?”
“If you mean the madam, she took a basket of apple pies I made earlier.”
“Apple pies? Got it.”
Maybe she’s in the garden, and I just didn’t see her.
I should check from above.
Thinking that he could see the whole garden from his room’s window, Ruan left the kitchen and quickly returned to his room.
When he opened the window.
His eyes met Mercian’s, who was sitting happily, leaning against a large tree branch, enjoying a pie with a joyful expression.
The titles are a bit messed up.