Chapter 9
Interests at Play
“Your expression doesn’t look good, Duke.”
Richard, comfortably sitting in the reception room, spoke as he looked at Duke Dante.
“It seems the Duke is in trouble, and I feel ashamed that I can’t help.”
“You have unnecessary pride.”
“It’s loyalty.”
Richard nonchalantly took a sip of his coffee.
“If you had contacted me, I would have given you a room right away.”
“The Duke has a pregnant wife. I can’t enter and cause a disturbance at such a critical time. Also, the twins will have to like me if they want me to stay. Staying here would probably drain all my energy.”
“Not incorrect, but I have nothing to say in response.”
Dante groaned slightly.
Richard, skilled in handling children from his experience with raising his own, had a great affection for kids.
Among them, Dante’s twin sons followed Richard around like shadows, clinging to his arms and asking him to play with them.
His muscular frame, built through years of battle and training, was no match for the twins’ seemingly endless energy.
“The Duke’s children will make fine knights in the future. Truly exceptional talent.”
“They might be better off joining a circus. The other day, they threw a fork and it stuck perfectly in the wall.”
“Truly, they are exceptional from the start.”
Richard laughed heartily.
“By the way, Duke, are you finding it uncomfortable staying at the Greyston mansion?”
“Hmm, the food is good, and the servants are kind, so I’m not uncomfortable. It’s only been a day, but they’ve treated me so well, it’s almost too much.”
“That’s not what I meant. I’m asking if you’re sleeping well.”
Dante looked at Richard with a concerned expression.
“You have trouble sleeping when the environment changes, don’t you?”
Richard pursed his lips.
He had one bad habit—insomnia caused by changes in his surroundings. Whenever he was placed in an unfamiliar space, sleep would evade him.
It wasn’t simply about being sensitive to where he slept—it was far more severe. Until he could adjust to a place and recognize it as “his space,” he couldn’t close his eyes.
Having fought through countless battles, the tension and unease that had seeped into every part of his body made him distrust any form of peace, as he always expected an attack the moment he relaxed.
“The battle’s not over yet,” he would think. “As soon as I close my eyes, a blade will strike and tear through my insides.”
His body was still in the northern battle zones.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get used to it soon enough.”
“Would you like a sleeping pill?”
“I don’t want to rely on medicine for something this trivial.”
Richard waved his hand.
“But…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll only be for a week at most. And besides, I’m not the only one having trouble sleeping in the Greyston mansion. It seems like I’m not the only one staying up at night.”
He recalled the embarrassed Richard from earlier.
Trying to hide his embarrassment while fumbling around had been so amusing.
He had tried to ask for directions, but instead, it had only turned into teasing.
Richard had managed to follow Eliana, holding back his laughter, not wanting to make her feel bad.
“By the way, I’ve heard rumors about the Princess and the Crown Prince recently.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes, there’s been talk that while the Princess was studying abroad, the Crown Prince became infatuated with the daughter of some Count. There’s no solid proof yet, just hearsay, but it’s been passed along from mouth to mouth…”
“Duke, what do you think?”
Richard set his teacup down with a slight gesture.
“I’ve looked into it, and it seems true. The girl is the daughter of the recently arrived Count Granoff, and she’s about to make her debut this season.”
“Does His Majesty the Emperor know about this?”
“Yes, but he seems to be treating it as just a rumor.”
“Does the Princess know?”
Eliana’s fabricated smile, which occasionally revealed a hint of sincerity, shimmered before her eyes.
“It’s been spreading so widely…”
“Troubling.”
“Indeed. There have even been rumors of a breakup regarding the engagement, and now I’m worried that the autumn royal wedding might fall apart.”
Dante sighed deeply.
The marriage between Eliana and Albert was a politically important matter.
The Empire’s current political power was divided among three factions: the Emperor’s faction, the noble faction, and the citizen faction.
The Emperor’s faction and the noble faction were in sharp conflict, each trying to secure their own power.
Richard and Dante were key figures in the Emperor’s faction.
On the other side, the noble faction, led by the Empress, held significant power.
“Surely, my nephew isn’t foolish enough to cast aside his best ally over love.”
Though he said this, he wasn’t so sure.
Albert, born to the Emperor and Empress, was in an ambiguous position.
As a child of the Empress, he had little legitimacy as the Crown Prince.
Despite being adopted into the royal family, everyone knew Albert wasn’t truly the Empress’s child.
His ascent to the throne had been due to the support of the Empress and the nobility that backed her.
This meant Albert couldn’t easily ignore the noble faction.
And, as always, his indecisiveness meant that once he became Emperor, he would likely be swayed by others.
To prevent this, Eliana had been chosen as his fiancée.
The Greyston family had long maintained political neutrality, loyally supporting the Emperor while fulfilling their moral obligations.
For the Emperor’s faction, Eliana was the perfect ally to secure Albert’s throne.
But to cancel the engagement for the sake of love? That would be a disaster for everyone involved.
“That seems likely.”
“Indeed…”
A heavy silence filled the room.
Outside, the sky was tinted red, as if reflecting someone’s fiery hair.
Richard stood up.
“I’ll take my leave now. If you need to report anything, send me a letter.”
Richard, escorted by Dante, left the reception room and returned to Greyston mansion, where Gerard was waiting for him.
As soon as he got out of the carriage, the butler approached Gerard and informed him that his second brother had returned.
Gerard, clearly displeased, shot a quick glance at Richard, his face contorted in distaste.
“Your Highness, may I ask you to permit me to sleep outside instead, in place of the Duke?”
“Denied.”
Gerard groaned loudly, a mix of disbelief and frustration filling the air.
Richard laughed heartily at the display of Gerard’s changing expressions.
But then, he suddenly felt someone’s gaze on him and lifted his head.
Outside, Eliana stood at the window, looking down at the scene below.
Her silhouette in the fading twilight, illuminated by the soft glow of the setting sun, looked like something out of an old painting—lonely and beautiful.
The Crown Prince, who harbored feelings for the daughter of a poor Count.
What must the fiancée of such a man feel like?
Richard gave a soft smile and raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
By the time dusk fell, Eliana had returned to her room.
She had spent time explaining to Helio why Richard was staying in the mansion, and once she finished, she planned to return to her room immediately.
However, conversations had a way of changing topics depending on the situation.
Just when the discussion about Richard had come to an end, the topic switched to her life abroad.
A deep sigh came from Eliana, rising from her gut.
It was the first time she had sat down and spoken with Helio in such detail.
Perhaps Emil had hoped for this, hoping that the stubborn siblings would become somewhat closer through their interaction with Richard.
Of course, it could also be that she had passed the burden onto Helio because explaining everything to him was simply too much work.
“What’s this?”
A small box was placed on the table.
Inside, there was a splendid necklace studded with emeralds.
The faint scent of coal lingered around the box, as if someone had left it there on purpose.
Though frustrating, she couldn’t bring herself to hate it.
Someone knocked politely on the door. It was Milla.
“Miss, a letter has arrived for you.”
Milla handed her a sealed letter.
The envelope, covered in rich perfume, had a lioness-shaped seal on it.
Eliana opened the letter, recognizing the elegant handwriting.
It was an invitation to a tea party from the Empress.
“Why can’t there be a single quiet day?”
The invitation felt off.
The sound of carriage wheels echoed distantly.
Through the window, Eliana saw Richard returning to the mansion with Gerard.
Gerard’s expression was not good as he spoke to the butler.
It seemed he was hearing about Helio’s return.
“Ah…”
Richard, who had been laughing lightly earlier, looked up.
His gaze fixed directly on her.
Richard waved his hand.
Eliana shyly lifted her hand in response.
Through the slightly open window, the breeze swept through.
The scent of lilacs planted in the garden teased her senses.
Eliana stood at the window, staring out into the fading light of day, her thoughts tangled.
Her fingers lingered on the letter from the Empress, the delicate scent of perfume wafting up from the envelope, mixing with the smell of the garden outside.
Her mind kept returning to the conversation she had just overheard, to the words and warnings that had been spoken of her and Albert.
It was as if the entire world was discussing her life for her.
As the carriage wheels rolled into the distance, Eliana’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.
She turned her head to see Milla standing in the doorway, holding a tray with a cup of tea in her hands.
“Miss, you seem troubled,” Milla observed, her voice soft with concern.
Eliana didn’t respond at first, just standing there in the quiet, looking at the night that had slowly begun to settle over the mansion.
The last remnants of daylight were slipping away, and in the distance, the faint glow of the evening sky barely illuminated the outline of the gardens.
“Do you think they’re right?”
Eliana finally asked, her voice quiet but laced with tension.
“The rumors… about Albert… and the other woman?”
Milla didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she set the tea down gently on the small table beside Eliana.
Her eyes met the princess’s with an understanding that went beyond simple sympathy.
“The truth doesn’t matter to those who want to talk,” Milla said finally.
“What matters is how you choose to live with it. Rumors are nothing more than empty words, Miss. They pass, fade into nothing. But your actions, your decisions… they will define who you are.”
Eliana turned to look at Milla, her gaze softening just a little.
She had always appreciated Milla’s bluntness, her straightforwardness when it came to matters of the heart.
The maid’s words, though simple, always seemed to carry weight, as though she could cut through the noise of Eliana’s thoughts.
“How do you keep from caring?” Eliana whispered, looking down at her hands, unsure of what she was asking.
“How do you silence the doubt, the fear… of what might happen?”
Milla didn’t reply immediately, and Eliana could almost feel the weight of the years that separated them.
Milla had lived a different life, a life with its own set of rules and expectations.
Yet, despite their differences, Eliana always found herself turning to her maid for answers.
It was strange, how one person could offer so much solace without ever asking for anything in return.
“I’ve seen enough of this world to know that fear is a luxury,” Milla said, her voice firm but kind.
“Worrying about things you can’t control will only weaken you. The world will always find a reason to try and break you down. But it’s up to you whether or not you let it.”
Eliana nodded, though she still felt a tightness in her chest.
Milla’s words were easy to understand, but living them out was another matter entirely.
“I know you’re right,”
Eliana murmured, her gaze fixed on the cup of tea that steamed gently in front of her.
“But it’s hard to ignore the noise. The pressure. The expectations.”
Milla placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, her grip comforting.
“You don’t have to ignore it, Miss. Just don’t let it define you. That’s what they want. To make you doubt yourself. You are stronger than they think.”
Eliana took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Milla’s words were a balm to her restless soul, but she still couldn’t shake the weight of everything that had happened — everything that was yet to come.
“Do you think I made the right choice?”
Eliana asked, her voice quiet, almost hesitant.
It was the first time she had voiced that question aloud, the uncertainty that had been gnawing at her for days.
Milla paused, her eyes searching Eliana’s face for a moment before she responded.
“I think… I think you made the choice you had to make. And no matter what happens, you’ll find a way to live with it. You always do.”
Eliana nodded slowly, though the uncertainty didn’t entirely fade.
She had chosen this path, and now she had to walk it — no matter where it led.
The quiet of the room seemed to envelop them both, and for a moment, Eliana let herself sink into the stillness.
The weight of the day, the rumors, and the pressure from all sides began to feel a little lighter, even if just for a moment.
She stood up, pulling herself together.
“I need to rest,” she said, her voice steadier than before.
“I’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”
Milla nodded and stepped back, allowing Eliana to move toward the bed.
The princess’s thoughts were still jumbled, still uncertain, but for now, she would let the night swallow her doubts.
She lay back on the bed, closing her eyes, but even as the weight of exhaustion began to pull at her, the question lingered in the back of her mind — had she made the right choice?
As sleep slowly began to claim her, she didn’t have an answer.
But perhaps that was okay. For now, it was enough to rest, to face another day tomorrow, and see where it would lead.
