Chapter – 27
The “Grand Duchess Selection Tournament,” personally declared by the Emperor himself, naturally stirred up every noble family with ties to the Empire.
Even though ominous rumors about the Grand Duke Caliente spread like wildfire, such things hardly mattered to them.
If they could bind themselves by blood to the Caliente ducal house, they would gladly turn a blind eye to even darker tales.
“Wasn’t the Grand Duchess already decided?”
“Watch your tongue. His Majesty himself issued the decree—this is a real opportunity.”
In one household, a mother was pushing her reluctant daughter, whose marriageable age had long passed, to participate.
“I knew it! That woman could never be the Grand Duchess!”
“Be careful what you say. The only woman staying at the ducal estate right now is her.”
Elsewhere, a father was warning his indignant daughter, who was fuming over Asili.
“There will be a Grand Duchess selection. Prepare yourself.”
“Father, the Grand Duchess has already been chosen.”
“Lady Bolsheik, you mean?”
“His Majesty declared the selection himself. Nothing has been decided yet. No more words—prepare.”
The twin daughters of Count Lemaire exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
“We’ll prepare.”
“Yes, Father. We’ll prepare.”
After leaving the study, Enri and Kelly turned to each other and whispered at the same time.
“The House of Lemaire—”
“—always repays what it’s been given.”
And so, without Asili’s knowledge, the Lemaire twins—her new allies—nodded resolutely.
The tournament to decide who would stand at the Grand Duke Caliente’s side began.
Countless noble ladies gathered for the first task, though only a fixed number were permitted to actually take part.
And for good reason.
“Why aren’t we even allowed to participate?”
“His Majesty personally selected the participants. The results of each task will be evaluated by His Majesty and the Grand Duke himself.”
That was the identical answer given by the imperial official in charge of the event and the Grand Duke’s aide.
Those families that weren’t chosen had no choice but to withdraw in silence.
No one dared to inconvenience the Emperor or the Grand Duke.
Soon, the noble ladies chosen by the Emperor’s criteria gathered in the imperial palace for the first task: to cultivate a garden.
Naturally, as always happens, those who knew one another gathered in small groups—while Asili stood alone, like an island apart.
No one whispered openly about her, but no one approached her either.
Ignored as though she were invisible, Asili didn’t so much as blink.
Whether she was ostracized or watched didn’t matter to her anymore.
Having barely slept the night before, she stared into the distant sky with hazy eyes.
Yet from the outside, it was hard to tell whether her expression was vacant or simply calm—enough for one lady to finally murmur,
“That kind of composure… so the rumors were true—”
“Shh, don’t even mention it.”
The other lady who hushed her had once stayed in the Grand Duke’s annex during the time of the theft and murder incident.
Having seen firsthand what happened to those who spoke carelessly under the Grand Duke’s roof, her warning carried weight.
At her words, the others quickly sealed their lips.
It was a long, uncomfortable silence—as if everyone were sitting on thorns.
Then the Lemaire twins arrived.
They greeted those who approached them, ignoring with perfect poise the awkward attempts from those who had once looked down on them at the ducal house.
The events that had taken place in the Grand Duke’s estate had never been leaked, under his direct order.
Thus, those who hadn’t been there couldn’t understand the twins’ cold demeanor.
Before anyone could ask, the twins turned their eyes toward one person.
The one who stood alone—like a burning flame held upright.
As if sensing their gaze, Asili slowly turned her head toward them.
Her eyes widened slightly when they met theirs.
Unlike everyone else, the twins were walking directly toward her.
“How have you been, Lady Bolsheik?”
“How have you been?”
Enri and Kelly both bowed gracefully.
“Ah… I’ve been well.”
Startled, Asili returned the greeting—and then smiled faintly.
Though their faces were composed, the twins’ eyes shimmered with warmth.
To think that the famously strict and difficult Lemaire twins would approach her first!
She couldn’t possibly guess what was in their hearts, nor the meaning behind their gesture.
Kelly spoke first.
“I’ve done a fair bit of garden tending before.”
The words came out of nowhere, and the intent was unclear.
But Asili, well-trained by years in high society, replied smoothly.
“That’s a lovely hobby. Beautiful landscapes enrich the hearts of those who behold them.”
Her response was textbook-perfect, polite and impersonal.
Enri, however, didn’t bother with pleasantries.
“Whichever garden you’re assigned, we’ll help you.”
At that, Asili understood their meaning—but didn’t answer right away.
After all, what were tournaments for? To compete, to win.
Help? From rivals?
She gazed at the twins and asked quietly,
“You do realize this is a competition, right?”
It was blunt—borderline rude—but she needed to be sure.
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
“And you still want to help me?”
“Lemaire—”
“—repays its debts.”
“Debts?”
The immediate counterquestion made the twins fall silent.
Asili clearly had no idea.
Yet they couldn’t possibly explain everything here.
As Asili blinked and opened her mouth to speak again, an imperial official approached.
“Lady Bolsheik.”
“Yes?”
“You have been assigned the Mist Garden, located to the east. Lady Lemaire, your garden will be…”
Before he could continue, Asili smiled faintly and shook her head.
“So that’s how it is.”
“Yes. It’s far.”
“The gardens are too far apart.”
Their simultaneous, crestfallen answers made Asili take a small step closer to them.
“Your kindness alone is enough. And…”
She lowered her voice slightly.
“Thank you—for coming up to me first. I was a little nervous.”
The twins blinked, wide-eyed.
Nervous?
Even those who resented her hadn’t dared to speak, mistaking her composure for arrogance.
Sensing their confusion, Asili smiled gently, her eyes curving.
“I don’t know what I’ve given you, but this is enough now. Thank you.”
The Lemaire twins froze.
She’d said thank you.
Words that, in their world, were never given lightly.
For nobles who bore their family’s name and honor, gratitude was a weighty thing.
Once you said “thank you,” it couldn’t end there—you owed something in return.
The measure of that “something” wasn’t determined by the giver, but by the receiver.
If the receiver was dissatisfied, repayment would continue until they were.
That was why, even though the twins had long wanted to express their gratitude to Asili for helping them before, they had never once uttered the words thank you.
But now—
“Then, I’ll look forward to seeing your beautiful garden,” Asili said lightly, leaving them with a graceful smile before walking away.
The twins turned to each other at once, meeting each other’s gaze.
“Do you think that confidence is just the Bolsheik way?”
“She doesn’t seem attached to Lemaire at all, so probably.”
“But that was real gratitude.”
“Yes. It wasn’t just polite words.”
They nodded together, identical smiles forming on their lips.
“I like her.”
“Mm. I like her too.”
The moment one person feels affection for another often happens in a heartbeat—and for the smallest of reasons.
A single word, they say, can repay a thousand debts.
Back when the Lemaire twins were cornered and desperate, Asili had said something so simple, yet unforgettable:
“I believe in the ladies.”
Those words had shaken them.
And now, seeing Asili’s unguarded sincerity as she whispered thank you—
their hearts completely tilted in her favor.
No matter what might follow after.
That single, genuine word of gratitude, pure and uncalculated, filled them with warmth far beyond expectation.
“I feel good.”
“Yeah. So good.”
As the twins received their assigned gardens, they looked over at the other ladies whose faces reflected joy or despair.
“Even if she gave us nothing—”
“I still want to do well for her.”
And so, without Asili’s knowledge, the roots of gossip and slander that surrounded her quietly began to wither away—
one by one, at the hands of the Lemaire twins.
