Chapter 44
In the end, it was Edith who could not endure the silence.
“Did you come to escort me?”
At last, Denok gave a short nod. Then, slowly, he stepped forward, his gaze never once straying from Edith. His footsteps stopped quietly before her.
“…It suits you well.”
The low murmur from above her head caught her off guard. Unexpected praise made Edith feel a gentle warmth creep to her ears.
“Thank you. You too, Denok.”
When he silently extended his arm, Edith slowly placed her hand upon it. Naturally, the two of them matched their steps and began walking side by side down the corridor.
After a moment, curiosity stirred in Edith. She wondered how Denok had found the candidates he’d interviewed earlier. Tilting her head, she looked up at him.
“I suppose when we enter the dining hall, everyone will be terribly nervous?”
“Most likely. They must have already heard the explanation about the examination, so I imagine they were busy conferring with one another.”
Edith gave a small laugh, already able to picture the scene.
“Then, how did you find the candidates? What was your impression?”
After all, meeting them in person was quite different from reading their résumés.
“They were all different in their own ways.”
Denok paused, recalling the faces he had seen earlier, then answered calmly.
“Lucien, being of noble birth, was certainly well-versed in political affairs. If he were chosen, the Grand Duchy’s influence within the Empire would surely rise. However…”
“However?” Edith turned her head curiously.
“He struck me as a man who places great weight on noble authority. He would prioritize the honor and position of the Grand Duchy above the lives of its people.”
Edith gave a light nod. Indeed, for nobles, face and prestige always came first.
“And Emil? He’s of common birth, so I would think he understands the hardships of the people well.”
“Emil is…” Denok trailed off. Raising his head briefly as if in thought, he finally replied in a low tone.
“Quiet, and cautious. Unlike what I expected, he does not seem trapped in the memories of his past. He doesn’t speak much, but he has a sharp eye that seizes the essence of things.”
“But?”
“But perhaps because of his lack of experience in such environments, he seemed somewhat passive. I wonder if he could stand his ground against overbearing nobles.”
Edith narrowed her eyes slightly. He was a man with clear strengths and weaknesses.
Denok then spoke of the last candidate.
“Kyle… stood out for his sense of responsibility. He has the spirit of one who would never flee from any situation. A man long tested on the battlefield carries that sort of gaze.”
His tone was notably warmer when describing Kyle, as though he held him in high regard. Edith allowed herself a faint smile.
“Loyalty and responsibility are indeed vital qualities for a secretary.”
“Precisely. Though, how to temper that rough vigor—that remains to be seen.”
At the word “vigor,” another figure sprang to Edith’s mind.
“Come to think of it, Kyle’s wife, Monica, seemed to have quite a strong character as well. The couple truly resembles one another.”
Denok turned his gaze to her at those words.
“And how was the tea time?”
Edith let out a brief chuckle at the memory. Perhaps because their statuses and backgrounds were all so different, the three wives’ personalities had clashed far too much for their gathering to resemble an elegant tea party.
“Hmm, it was… very interesting.”
She began walking slowly again, recalling the time spent in the garden.
“Silien is the type who could shine in any social gathering. She knows how to lead a conversation and lighten the mood. The kind of person who makes a wonderful ally, but a troublesome foe. She smiled sweetly, but beneath that smile, she was calculating. It was clear she earnestly desired the position for her husband.”
Denok nodded lightly, as though he understood.
“In contrast, Chelsea was calm and kind. She didn’t speak much, but when she did, it was with sincerity. Her love for her husband was warm.”
“You mean Emil?”
“Yes. I believe Emil’s ability to keep from being trapped in the past or consumed by inferiority toward the nobility is thanks to having such a wise wife beside him.”
If Emil were to be chosen, Chelsea would undoubtedly support him, creating a stable balance.
“…And Monica.” Edith hummed softly, her tone uncertain.
“I can’t quite place her yet. She was startlingly frank, yet for some reason… I find her captivating. Almost dangerous. If one lets their guard down, they might fall under her spell.”
Edith, gazing straight ahead, did not notice how Denok’s step faltered ever so slightly—so faint it was nearly invisible.
“At any rate, one thing they all share is that they’re serious about the position.”
With a smile, Edith gave Denok’s arm a gentle tug as the banquet hall came into view.
“I truly cannot wait to see how they’ll approach the trial.”
When they arrived at the entrance, the servants bowed deeply and opened the doors.
Golden chandeliers glittered above, filling the hall with warm light. Denok stepped in first, and Edith tightened her hand around his arm as they walked in together.
The candidates and their wives, who had been speaking with somewhat stiff expressions, immediately turned their gazes toward the Grand Duke and his wife.
All of them rose at once.
“We greet His Grace, the Grand Duke, and Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.”
If their earlier meetings had carried a touch of casualness, this banquet bore the weight of an official invitation—hosted directly by the ducal couple themselves. Naturally, everyone received them with greater formality.
After a polite exchange of greetings, Denok and Edith took their seats at the empty head of the table. The first to step forward was Lucien, who, together with Silien, bowed gracefully.
“We are honored by such a meaningful invitation.”
“Thank you.” Silien’s soft voice followed.
Both were fair-haired, and perhaps because of it, they looked strikingly alike—even in their gentle manner of speech.
Edith answered with a smile.
“We are grateful that you came all this way. I hope each of you finds a good outcome.”
Lucien and Silien returned her smile, while Emil—presumably the man seated beside Chelsea—had gone pale, clearly stricken with nerves.
A hearty laugh broke the silence.
“Ha! Your Grace, the Grand Duchess, has set our competitive spirits ablaze.”
There was no mistaking him—this was Kyle. His presence made him immediately recognizable.
“But of course, not everyone can achieve a happy ending.”
He shrugged his shoulders, then, without hesitation, seized his cutlery.
“Since this meal may be our last supper, everyone ought to enjoy it.”
Though the words bordered on rude, there was something about him that made it hard to dislike him. His wife, too, had been much the same.
Casting a sidelong glance at Denok, who wore a similarly calm expression, Edith softly suggested:
“Your Grace, I believe everyone must be hungry. Shall we proceed to dinner?”
Denok inclined his head, lifting his wine glass lightly. A servant at once stepped forward to pour.
Denok raised the glass high.
“Everyone, raise your cups. Let us have an enjoyable meal.”
The red wine shimmered as it swirled.
After that, conversation flowed lightly alongside the dishes. At first it was small talk—about the weather, the meal—but gradually, it shifted to the Empire’s current affairs and the movement of the markets.
Before her marriage, Edith had often taken interest in such matters. But since becoming Grand Duchess, the affairs of the ducal household had consumed her, leaving her unacquainted with these topics.
Still, she listened intently, eyes bright with curiosity.
One figure, in particular, stood out.
It was Lucien who first raised the subject.
“In the end, only the nobility can ensure order in the provinces. For centuries, it has been proven that when those bound by blood govern, stability follows. That is the true path to safeguarding the Empire.”
He spoke slowly, swirling the wine in his glass.
A moment of silence passed before Emil set down his empty cup and spoke in a steady voice.
“I… must disagree with that view.”
At once, all eyes turned to him.
