Chapter 67 –
“……”
“If it’s difficult to talk to Count Parden, I can speak to him myself. Of course, I’ll also find a suitable match for his daughter. No need to look far. I’ve heard Jared is interested in her…”
Ian, who had been frozen stiff, finally snapped back to reality when the Emperor mentioned both Aisha and Prince Jared in the same breath. Aisha with Prince Jared? Ian almost ground his teeth right in front of the Emperor.
…There’s no way he’d ask me to take care of that illegitimate child without a reason.
Yet, the surge of anger ironically brought clarity to Ian’s mind. From the way the Emperor spoke of arranging a match between Aisha and Jared, Ian realized the Emperor wasn’t simply showing care for his illegitimate child—there was a political motive.
With the Old Nobles gaining momentum…
After Ian, the head of the Marquisate of Lloyd, openly sided with the Old Nobles, several major noble houses abandoned neutrality and joined the faction. The Old Nobles were steadily gaining the upper hand in imperial politics.
Though things were still relatively balanced for now, the Old Nobles had deeper roots than the newly risen nobles. If things continued like this, they were likely to take the lead. But that wasn’t the picture the Emperor wanted. He wanted both factions to remain evenly matched under the Imperial Family.
A marriage between a New Noble’s daughter and a prince… It’s not a bad political move for the imperial family.
It wasn’t unprecedented. When one faction lost power, the Imperial Family sometimes strengthened them by marrying off royal blood—excluding the crown prince—to their side.
Even if she was illegitimate, marrying Helen to Ian, a key figure in the Old Nobles, would let the Emperor exert influence over that faction through her. He could both ease his slight guilt toward her and use her politically. At that moment, the Emperor’s red hair seemed even more vivid.
“I believe I’ve made my intentions clear enough. What do you say, Marquis? Do you need time to think?”
When Ian didn’t respond, the Emperor graciously offered him time to consider. Ian nodded, thinking of how to escape and come up with a plan—but then bit the inside of his cheek.
I’m not going to break off my engagement with Aisha anyway. In that case…
Despite all the times he swore he’d cast her aside once his revenge was complete, Ian couldn’t imagine ending the engagement. He straightened his back, rose to his feet, and knelt on one knee before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I will not break off my engagement with Aisha Parden. And thus, I cannot marry Lady Helen either.”
“Marquis.”
“Forgive my cowardice, Your Majesty. As Your Majesty said, I fear the hatred of the Empress and the Crown Prince.”
By invoking the Empress and Crown Prince, Ian made it clear he was refusing. The Emperor’s smile faded. He dragged his chair back with a screech and changed his posture.
“You fear their hatred… but not my wrath?”
“……”
“If you weren’t afraid, you wouldn’t dare speak like this in front of me! Not only do you reject my will, you lie to my face? Marquis—do you wish to lose your head?!”
The Emperor, no longer hiding his anger, thundered at Ian. His voice wasn’t loud, but the pressure it carried was immense. Ian didn’t hesitate to lower his head, abandoning his usual arrogance in the face of imperial fury.
With a voice thick with displeasure, the Emperor continued.
“Don’t make excuses. Give me a real reason. Illegitimate or not, how dare you refuse my daughter in front of me?”
“Your Majesty… please forgive my petty lie.”
Realizing that invoking the Empress and Crown Prince had only provoked the Emperor, Ian quickly apologized and tried to provide a real explanation. But he had nothing. The engagement with Aisha was tied to the mess Sophia caused, his plans for revenge—too many things.
And truthfully, even Ian didn’t fully understand why he couldn’t give up the engagement. As the question he’d buried deep within himself resurfaced, his pupils trembled uncontrollably.
Because I have to destroy her completely. That’s the reason. That must be it.
Wrestling with his turmoil, Ian bit his lip and reminded himself he was before the Emperor. After a long pause, he finally offered a poor excuse.
“…Aisha Parden and I have known each other for a long time. I cannot betray that trust.”
“That’s it?”
The Emperor, who had been patiently listening, was dumbfounded. He chuckled in disbelief and muttered just loud enough to be heard.
“I thought maybe you were in love, the way you so boldly refused me… Tch. How dull.”
“……”
“If it’s not even love, then just obey me.”
Though displeased, the Emperor offered Ian another chance to accept his will.
I hear Helen is interested in the Marquis too… If I marry her off to a man of his caliber, maybe this lingering discomfort will go away.
In truth, ever since Helen came to the Empire, the Emperor had suffered from a mild headache caused by guilt—a minor but annoying discomfort that would strike once or twice a week. It didn’t affect his daily life much, but it bothered him nonetheless.
So he wanted to rid himself of it by marrying her off to someone decent. But Ian, whom he expected to comply, was now resisting. The thought that this headache might continue irritated him greatly.
“You have no feelings for her. And besides, the Parden family and your house don’t even align politically. As for this so-called trust… I can reward you enough to make up for it.”
The Emperor spoke bluntly, but Ian stood firm.
“I cannot break trust once given. Regardless of the political climate or my feelings—no matter how things change—once engaged, I will not break off the engagement.”
At Ian’s unwavering stance, the Emperor went silent. Ian, tense beneath his gaze, swallowed hard.
“Regardless of your feelings… What a deeply suggestive yet pathetic excuse.”
With a long sigh, the Emperor finally spoke again, as if something had clicked in his mind. Looking down at Ian with pity, he ordered:
“Raise your head.”
Ian did so, only to meet the Emperor’s gaze—one that looked at him as if he were a complete fool.
“Marquis. Do you even understand your own feelings?”
Ian didn’t fully grasp the meaning of the Emperor’s words. But the moment they reached his ears, it felt as though he’d been struck on the back of the head.
His eyes widened, unable to even respond. The Emperor, seeing this, sighed and gestured for him to sit. Dazed, Ian obeyed without resistance.
“Well… fine. Seeing how far you’ve gone, I suppose you won’t back down unless I take your head. Your father was the same—stubborn to the end. I remember when he insisted on marrying your mother. Everyone tried to stop him, but he went through with it anyway—marrying an orphan from a house with no inherited title. He should’ve married into a powerful family, but no… Tch.”
The Emperor’s tone softened slightly as he reminisced about Ian’s parents. Sensing the shift, Ian silently sighed in relief.
“We’ll put Helen’s matter on hold for now. But you will continue to assist her integration into noble society. That’s an order.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Not even trying to hide your displeasure. But there’s no choice. Since you refuse that post, I’ll have to find a replacement… but that will take time. It’s hard to find someone of your caliber.”
Seeing Ian’s tension ease slightly, the Emperor acted pettily—delaying the appointment of his replacement on purpose. It was childish for a man his age, but so be it. Ian simply bowed his head silently.
“I don’t want to see you anymore. Leave. I won’t summon you for a while. Don’t attend any court meetings unless I say so. And walk out through the main gate. Consider it your punishment for today’s rudeness.”
With that, the Emperor dismissed him and issued two penalties. Walking to the main gate was a minor one, but being banned from palace affairs was a significant blow. Yet, Ian’s face showed no shame.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I shall take my leave.”
Ian rose, bowed deeply, and retreated. His face was pale, his steps stiff and weak. Watching Ian disappear, the Emperor clicked his tongue and muttered.
“They say the Marquis loathes the Parden girl, but isn’t it the opposite? Hah. You really can’t trust the gossip of the lower ranks.”
From the annex where he had met the Emperor to the main palace gate, even Ian’s long strides took quite a while. It was nearly an hour’s walk, and the servant waiting for him looked visibly uncomfortable. But Ian walked on, unfazed by the distance.
Because to Ian, it wasn’t the walk that mattered.
“Marquis. Do you even understand your own feelings?”
The Emperor’s voice echoed louder and louder in his head, and the dull pain at the back of his skull intensified. So dazed he couldn’t even collect his thoughts, Ian’s blank expression startled everyone he passed—regardless of their status.
But Ian walked on, undeterred. Eventually, the main palace gate came into view. As he passed by the fountain in front, he suddenly stopped.
No way…
A drop of water, rising gently from the fountain, landed on his face.
There’s no way I…
If he had just walked by, the water would’ve dried instantly, leaving no trace. But Ian stood still like a statue, not moving an inch as the water soaked his hair and trickled down—until it began to drip from him like rain.
