TQV 22

Chapter 22

Duke Sadi sent an invitation to the Starre family.

“So what he said at the banquet was real.”

Emily shook her head after reading Duke Sadi’s invitation. Everyone knew she was his former fiancée—how could she possibly show her face there?

She’d be the perfect prey for gossipmongers.

Emily began writing a detailed and entirely fabricated letter explaining why it was impossible for her to travel north, citing the poor state of her health.

“Milady.”

At that moment, the butler, Alvin, knocked on the door.

“Come in. What is it?”

“Lady Marlene Wifaire is here to see you.”

“Marlene?”

Emily had a distinct impression that Marlene had been acting unusually friendly ever since she’d won the title of social queen.

“Yes. She insisted she had something to tell you as a friend, so I let her in.”

“Hmph, all right then.”

‘I think it’s time I made it clear we’re not friends.’

When she entered the drawing room, Marlene was gracefully sipping tea and observing the decor.

“What brings you here?”

Emily snapped, and Marlene frowned at her tone.

“Why don’t you just throw salt in my face?”

“Why waste something so expensive on you?”

“I was going to say your mansion is quite impressive for a Starre, but what’s with your attitude?”

Emily, slightly embarrassed by Marlene’s words, cleared her throat and sat down on the opposite sofa.

“Fine. Let’s hear why you came.”

“Before we get to that, what happened the other day?”

“What day?”

Emily let out a quiet sigh when she realized what Marlene was referring to. She hadn’t properly explained the incident at Gallery Molyneux.

“You should’ve seen the look on the Marquis of Starre’s face. I was terrified, you know.”

Marlene shuddered, still creeped out by the memory. No matter how good-looking he was, she didn’t think she could ever marry into a mafia-like family.

It made her admire Emily all the more.

“It was chaos that day. I’m sorry I just left.”

“Seriously, was that creepy guy trying to hurt you or something?”

“Before anything could happen, my husband showed up. So don’t worry.”

“Good thing you’ve got a man to protect you.”

Marlene spoke with a hint of envy.

“Let’s move on from that. What are you really here for?”

“So impatient.”

Marlene clicked her tongue and pulled out an invitation.

“That invitation looks familiar…”

“It should. It’s from Duke Charles Sadi.”

“What?”

Emily took the invitation and examined it. It was identical to the one she had received.

“So I wasn’t the only one he invited?”

“Nope.”

Marlene snatched the invitation back from Emily’s hands.

“I bet you were already writing a rejection letter, weren’t you?”

Emily’s expression, as if asking how did you know, made Marlene smirk.

“I told you—no one knows you better than I do.”

“I’m pretty sure I said that wasn’t true.”

“Yes, yes. Among friends! I meant no one among your friends knows you better. Satisfied?”

“Fine.”

Pleased with Emily’s reluctant agreement, Marlene continued.

“His Grace didn’t just send invitations to you. He sent them to me, to the Blois family, and to the Touche family too. Know what they all have in common?”

Emily didn’t even hesitate to answer.

“They’re all far more prestigious families than mine.”

“Exactly. Former fiancée or not, you have to go. It’s a chance to elevate your pathetic family’s reputation.”

Emily couldn’t help but wonder why Marlene, who usually delighted in mocking her, was saying such helpful things.

“What are you scheming?”

At that, Marlene suddenly set down her teacup and sighed. Her gloomy expression was unfamiliar to Emily, who tilted her head in confusion.

“Something wrong?”

“Ever since my rival disappeared from the social scene, life’s been so boring and dull.”

“Why don’t you go date someone, then?”

“No! That’s not the kind of emptiness a man can fill. I miss how things used to be between us.”

Emily gave her a strange look.

“Anyone hearing this would think we used to date. Watch what you say.”

“Anyway, I’m getting you back in the game. This is your chance.”

“Back into what?”

“Into the whirlpool of fate.”

Emily frowned at the nonsense.

“What? …What kind of melodramatic crap is that?”

Marlene glared and stood up.

“So are you going or not?”

After the imperial banquet, Emily had come to a painful realization: the Starre family still wasn’t recognized as true nobility.

To change that, accepting this invitation—just as Marlene suggested—might be the right move.

“I’ll go.”

Emily’s expression grew solemn.

After Marlene left, Emily waited for Kilian to return. The moment he stepped into the mansion, she showed him the invitation.

Kilian’s eyes briefly flashed with displeasure upon realizing Charles had actually sent the invitation.

“Do you want to go?”

“Yes.”

Emily didn’t say a word about improving the Starre family’s reputation or anything similar. Such comments might hurt Kilian’s pride, given his commoner origins.

“I have no ulterior motives toward the duke.”

“Then why must you go?”

“Well… um…”

Emily forced out the words that were stuck in her throat.

“My only friend Marlene really wants me to come with her. She got invited too, but she doesn’t have any other close friends.”

Hearing this, Kilian nodded. He had worried that since marrying him, Emily might have lost all her social connections. He couldn’t forbid her from maintaining them.

“Very well.”

“Really?”

“But I’m going with you.”

“Of course!”

It was only natural for Kilian to accompany her on this trip to minimize scandal.

However, despite agreeing easily, Kilian remained in a sour mood the entire next day.

“My lord.”

That evening, Emily finally spoke up.

“Is it the duke’s invitation that’s bothering you?”

“What makes you say that?”

“You seem displeased with me.”

Though they never talked much to begin with, things never felt tense. But today, Kilian wouldn’t meet her eyes, nor did he initiate any conversation.

“You misunderstand. I’m fine.”

Caught off guard by Emily’s observation, Kilian awkwardly denied it.

“Really?”

Emily gave him a suspicious look. But since he said nothing more, she sighed and headed to her room.

Once she was gone, Kilian returned to the dining table and pulled out a bottle of liquor.

He’d nearly asked her not to go. He’d had Giovanni investigate Charles Sadi the night before—and the man turned out to be flawless.

That night, Kilian had secretly ordered Giovanni to dig into Duke Sadi’s background.

“Did you find anything?”

“Yes, here it is.”

Giovanni handed over a thick file.

“As you’ll see, the duke is considered nearly perfect in all of Vancent.”

“Perfect?”

“Yes. The founding head of the family was a founding contributor of the empire, and the current line continues to hold the most powerful duchy. Most of the North’s wealth belongs to them, so their fortune is immense.”

Giovanni paused when he saw Kilian’s frown deepen.

“Go on.”

“Right. The duke is a Sword Master and has never lost a war. He’s handsome, fit, and pursued by countless women. The ideal groom.”

Kilian finally asked what had been bothering him the most.

“Why hasn’t such a man married? Doesn’t he date anyone?”

Giovanni hesitated, clearly reluctant.

“If you don’t tell me everything, be prepared to face consequences.”

“Well, it’s just… It’s a rumor, so please take it with a grain of salt, Your Lordship.”

“Say it.”

Giovanni swallowed hard before continuing.

“Apparently, the duke fell in love with Milady at first sight in the Xinophe territory and personally petitioned the emperor to arrange a marriage. You knew that part, right?”

“Yes. But didn’t he abandon her the moment the Xinophe family collapsed?”

Cowardly and selfish—Kilian had no respect for him.

“Actually, no. It was the emperor who canceled the engagement, not the duke. As a loyal servant, he couldn’t disobey.”

Kilian’s face hardened. The emperor’s involvement struck a nerve.

“And supposedly, the emperor promised to reinstate the engagement if the duke completed a mission. But in the meantime…”

“I swooped in and married her?”

“…Yes. Again, it’s just a rumor, so please don’t take it too seriously.”

How can I not?! Kilian crushed the papers in his hand.

With a breakup like that, it was no wonder if Emily still had lingering feelings.

Now, he felt like the villain standing between the leads of a tragic love story.

After sending Giovanni away, Kilian leaned back and closed his eyes, trying to calm his nerves.

A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and threw the report in the trash.

He didn’t care if he was the villain.

What mattered was that Emily was by his side now.