Chapter 114

I stood on the balcony and lifted my glass with a lighter heart.

“The path of the Holy Kingdom of Yucubis was the most important, but now that they agreed to cooperate, I can finally relax.”

Next to me stood the Grand Duke of Montella, Lancelot Obier, holding a glass and looking at me.

“I even sent them evidence from Marquis Messus, but their decision to join was late, so I was worried. They’re old-fashioned people who always sing of peace, peace. If they stayed neutral, things would have gotten difficult.”

The empire’s military power alone was not enough to face the five Western nations.
Especially now, when the country still hadn’t been fully rebuilt after the Rebel Emperor’s rule.

That’s why Etias had risked so much on this victory banquet.
To turn Gran Orden into a public enemy early, and openly strike down their ambition.

“Barzenka’s foreign minister must have been terrified too, afraid of being exposed as an ally of Gran Orden. She pretended not to know, but she knows.”

Better to stir up division between them—so for now, only hit one target.

“….”

“But, Your Grace, why are you so quiet?”

Since earlier, the Grand Duke hadn’t taken a sip of wine. He just held the glass and stared at me. Curious, I asked.

At my words, the Duke let out a low sigh, then after a pause, opened his mouth.

“It feels so new… I was just looking at you.”

“….”

“That I am standing by your side.”

He said before that he remembered everything.
So he must also remember the matter with the prince of Gran Orden.

“Do you remember everything clearly, just like before you took the Beast Peak drug?”

He nodded. Then moved his lips again.

“I remember when the Duke stroked my head.”

A cool breeze blew, swaying his silver hair.

“I also clearly remember the feeling when my tongue licked your beautiful hand.”

At those words, my fingertips twitched.

Unlike the panting, cute border collie, the man beside me was a tall, broad-shouldered adult.
The thought that he remembered all of that made my ears burn.

“Especially when you looked at me with those deep purple eyes, as if with affection.”

I lifted my gaze and met his eyes.
The same green eyes as the collie’s, filled with me.

“I even thought, maybe this is fine as it is.”

‘This feels… strange…’

He ran his hand through his silver hair. Under the soft moonlight, his handsome face was clear.

“…Your Grace.”

“In this war, as the empire’s closest ally, I will have my revenge on the enemy.”

“…….”

“And when our war is won and peace comes to the continent…”

His low voice brushed my ears.

“How about enjoying the rest of life in Montella, as we once planned?”

Yes, I had once thought of fleeing to Montella after the revolution. I had even asked him for help with that.

“Montella has as much to enjoy as Oswell.”

A faint blush touched his cheeks.

“Give Montella, and me, just one chance.”

My eyes wavered as I looked at Lancelot.
His sudden proposal made my heart tickle.

In The Star of Revolution, Grand Duke Lancelot Obier of Montella, known as the Mining King, was a man skilled in calculation and ruling his land wisely.

And now, that man was earnestly asking Katrin Elemore, once the villainess, to give him a chance.

‘Well, my talent was remarkable.’

Under the name Never Cry Eti, I had earned huge profits and greatly helped Montella’s finances. Of course he would want me.

“Your Grace, I…”

But things had changed.
The misunderstanding about Elemore was cleared, and now I had to stay by Etias’s side—for his heart, if nothing else.

“…There is someone I must stay beside.”

‘Even if I haven’t answered his confession yet…’

When I thought of those deep blue eyes, heat brushed my cheeks.

Lancelot looked at me for a long time before speaking.

“I know. You mean His Majesty Etias.”

“…!”

I flinched and looked at him. He twisted his lips with a lonely expression.

“Before he took the throne, I was forced to meet and speak with him. I offered him conditions that would bring huge benefit to the empire, if only he would give you to me…”

I hadn’t heard this before.

“He refused instantly. Said he wouldn’t take you even if he was given all of Montella.”

“Is… is that true?”

“At the time, I thought he hated you. But watching you two while I was a dog, I realized the truth was the opposite. I was greatly mistaken.”

My chest trembled at his calm voice while he spoke of Etias.

“But I also…”

Lancelot clenched his fist and spoke with sincerity.

“I don’t regret being attacked by the prince of Gran Orden.”

I could already guess what he was going to say next.

“…You are the first woman to make my heart race.”

His heartfelt words were soaked in his low voice.

“Any man’s heart would race for a woman like you. Even if you dismiss this as just another meaningless gesture, like bees drawn to fragrance…”

He gave a lonely smile.

“If I don’t say this, I will regret it.”

A cool breeze blew between us, swaying the hem of my dress.

In the silence, he added:

“I, Lancelot Obier, like you, Katrin Elemore.”

My heart gave a heavy thud.

“…!”

“From the first time I saw you, my heart raced. And when I heard Quaden was on fire, I jumped from the carriage and realized my true feelings.”

“…Your Grace.”

“I’m sorry. I know you have someone else in your heart, yet I still confess. But…”

He paused, then slowly spoke again.

“When I returned to being human, this was the first thing I decided to do.”

“….”

“If I didn’t, I’d regret it even after death.”

His words of confession made my heart pound.

Heros’s confession, I had expected. Etias’s, I denied, thinking it couldn’t be real.
But Grand Duke Lancelot Obier’s confession—that, I never imagined.

Aside from investing in Montella and giving him the Beast Peak drug, the only personal thing I had done was pet him when he was a dog.

And now, he confessed to me.

— “My lady, stop touching him.”

Suddenly, I remembered Heros’s angry brows.
He had always been wary when I stroked the collie.

They say a man’s body is more sensitive than we think.

‘But he was so cute back then…’

Even if I knew the collie was really the Duke, to pet him and now see him confess as a man—it all felt overwhelming.

But in the end, the only thing I could say was this.

“You are a good man, Your Grace.”

I stepped closer and looked up at him.
Like Heros, he was strikingly handsome—enough to steal anyone’s gaze.

If this were a world without Etias, maybe my heart would have swayed.

“I’m sorry.”

At my words, his eyes trembled with quiet sorrow.