Chapter 10
“…A woman who would stand in front of Daniel Fraus in a tuxedo, holding flowers and smiling.”
As I said that, I closed the distance between me and Ivril again.
Perhaps because she had been raised since childhood as a bargaining chip of the noble faction, she didn’t shrink back even when I glared at her.
Instead, she straightened her neck proudly, as if she would not be pushed back.
After a moment, her beautifully shaped lips—painted red—slowly twisted.
‘I can’t let someone like Frey take away His Grace.’
That was roughly what she seemed to be thinking as she ground her teeth.
“I suppose the Countess of Bliette is indeed a better bride candidate than I am. She has loved Daniel Fraus for a longer time as well.”
“I’m glad you understand that. So let’s stop here and—”
“Yes. You should do it, my lady. The role of standing in front of the Grand Duke in a tuxedo, holding flowers and smiling.”
“…?”
Ivril looked at me with suspicious eyes.
Tilting her head slightly as if she didn’t understand what I meant, she asked.
“Lady Frey… are you yielding?”
Yielding?
A laugh almost escaped me because of memories from my past life.
I had given up many things before.
Countless times I abandoned things I wanted, afraid that if I said I wanted them, I would lose something even greater.
‘But neither my past self nor my current self has ever given up something I could clearly have.’
I looked at Ivril with an innocent face and tilted my head.
“Yielding… you say? I’m the one who will be marrying Grand Duke Fraus.”
“…!”
“But you said you wanted to see the Grand Duke up close, didn’t you? Would you like to take the role of bridesmaid?”
I smiled brightly.
Smiling while screwing someone over.
It was a useful skill I had learned in my past life, where I often had to deal with people like her.
Of course, there was no way Ivril would accept such a proposal gracefully.
Her tightly clenched fists trembled. She looked like she wanted to tear me apart on the spot.
It was exactly the same expression I had once worn while watching her mock me at a funeral.
Remembering that moment made my blood boil, but I maintained my composure and spoke.
“Countess of Bliette. I remember clearly that you once personally came to my mother’s funeral holding flowers.”
“…!”
“I will send you a bouquet in return for those flowers. A bridal bridesmaid bouquet.”
‘If you hadn’t done something so shameless first, I wouldn’t have taken the Grand Duke from you.’
That was the meaning behind my words.
Someone like Ivril, who had long been in high society, would understand perfectly.
“Then I’ll take my leave. The wedding will likely proceed quite quickly, so please take care of your health from now on.”
I left a cheerful farewell and headed toward my room.
＊ ＊ ＊
That afternoon.
The imperial palace turned upside down.
‘Not only is it shocking that the Emperor is using the Absolute Command Authority for his daughter…’
‘But the target is Grand Duke Fraus, who is said to have two illegitimate children?’
‘Princess Frey really chose… of all people…’
Officials of the Emperor’s faction could not hide their confusion.
Members of the noble faction led by the House of Zelon were in an uproar.
“Your Majesty! You must not use such a sacred authority for something like this!”
“If you do not revoke the order, we will uphold the Absolute Command Authority with our lives as loyal subjects!”
They issued near-blackmail-like petitions, essentially saying, “If you don’t stop this, I’ll die.”
The Empress, the Crown Prince and his wife, and Duke Zelon all launched fierce criticism, calling it political incompetence.
However, the Emperor, who had already decided to send Frey to the North, did not even blink.
“If you choose to take your own life, remember that your lands will be returned to me as Emperor.”
He muttered something that sounded half like a joke and half like a threat.
Meanwhile, Frey, after the Absolute Command Authority was activated and Grand Duke Fraus was forcibly summoned, spent her next two weeks quite busily.
Intensive lessons in politics and etiquette, and even market research on the North.
What helped her endure the exhausting training was her father’s trust and support, and…
“Emma. Prepare stationery. I need to check on my bridesmaid today as well.”
Daily letters to Ivril Bliette—letters meant to torment her.
If Ivril had still been the timid girl she once was, she would never have done such things. But Frey’s personality from her past life was not so gentle.
With her memories returning, her old habit of biting back twice as hard when wronged had also resurfaced.
Looking back, the letters she had sent so far were truly something.
[Countess of Bliette.
I heard you are bedridden.
Since the wedding is near and my “bridesmaid” cannot be ill, I will send medicinal herbs.
—Frey Ovelire, future bride.]
[To Countess of Bliette.
Are you feeling better?
Today I was choosing designs for the wedding bouquet. I will send you the catalog as well, since you are my “bridesmaid.”
Would you like to choose the bouquet that you will hold beside Grand Duke Fraus?
—Frey Ovelire, currently in bridal training.]
Frey deliberately had the letters sealed by the maids.
Thanks to that, her fiery personality—previously hidden behind her “coward” reputation—and her harassment of the Countess of Bliette quickly became gossip.
“Oh my… if the Countess receives this, she might collapse from rage.”
“Princess Frey has really lost all fear… she’s gotten so sharp.”
Emma, who brought her stationery and silently asked “Are you doing it again?” with her eyes, was sent away.
It was all part of Frey’s plan to spread negative rumors about herself.
‘That way, Grand Duke Fraus will think I want a divorce.’
If she suddenly started acting like a saint and doing good deeds:
“Ah, so the discarded princess is desperately trying to win the Grand Duke’s love by acting kind!”
—he might misunderstand.
And that would be troublesome.
So Frey continued to maintain her unpleasant reputation.
‘This is more comfortable anyway.’
Of course, all of this was known only to Frey, who was orchestrating the bigger picture.
Because of that, the palace servants and the Emperor spent anxious days waiting for Grand Duke Fraus to arrive.
‘Is she acting out this much because of the illegitimate child rumors…?’
‘How has she been suppressing that personality all this time?’
As exaggerated rumors spread and the palace suffered from unrest—
“Carriage of His Grace Grand Duke Fraus, summoned by the Emperor’s Absolute Command Authority. Please guide us.”
Luke, wearing knight commander attire after a long time, spoke busily with the imperial knights.
He was guiding the Grand Duke’s procession into the palace.
Thanks to prior instructions from the Emperor, the carriage entered the main gate without delay.
Luke quickly climbed onto the footboard of Daniel’s carriage and grumbled.
“Wow, I feel like a pet monkey for noble ladies. You can see how everyone’s staring at us, right, Your Grace?”
“This is the palace, Luke. Mind your manners. Try acting like a knight commander, not an old friend right now.”
“Yes, yes. Anyway, with these looks of contempt, I think I’ve properly damaged your reputation.”
“…”
Daniel was genuinely amazed at how Luke had turned him into a depraved man in just a week.
Rumors claimed those extraordinary children were his illegitimate offspring.
Others said he had avoided marriage because he didn’t know who the mother was.
What was even more surprising was that people were starting to believe it completely.
‘Fraus family has never had scandal, so maybe that’s why they’re more excited.’
A faint crease formed between his brows.
Even after hearing the rumors, neither the Emperor nor the Princess revoked the Absolute Command Authority.
So he would meet the Emperor, show proper respect, and immediately request annulment from the Princess.
If she accepted the rumors as true, Princess Frey would likely cancel the engagement herself.
‘I don’t know why she doesn’t believe Luke’s fabricated rumors…’
Perhaps she trusted his reputation.
Daniel leaned back, resolving to disappoint her expectations completely.
He had no intention of loving anyone.
Luke moved to another carriage so as not to disturb his lord’s brief rest.
Inside the slower-moving procession, he sat beside the butler Baron and stretched.
“Grandfather, how long until we return after the annulment? Two days?”
“I wish it were two days… but unexpected things may delay it.”
“Unexpected things?”
What unexpected things could happen while breaking off an engagement with a so-called villainess princess?
Luke tilted his head.
Baron smiled bitterly and looked toward the princess’s palace.
“My grandfather once said this: the Fraus dukes are always frozen, but when they meet their partner, they become entirely different people.”
“Oh come on, you know His Grace is an exception because of his childhood memories.”
“You think the previous Grand Dukes had no stories of their own?”
“…?”
“The blood of dragons is deeply possessive toward their mates. Some once gave their hearts away the moment they found their partner, others even eloped…”
“Well, that does sound about right.”
“Luke. Please study the records of the Fraus Dukes passed down in the Divine House.”
“Alright, alright.”
Luke replied lazily.
Baron gazed at the approaching imperial palace and added quietly:
“So if you notice any change in His Grace’s feelings, report it immediately. If he finds his destined partner, we may need to adjust our approach as well.”
