Chapter 52
Marsha’s face flushed an even deeper red than before, and she snapped like an irritable cat.
“P-put me down this instant!”
If he didn’t, she looked ready to dig her nails into his face.
Claudio carefully set her down and said with a faint smile,
“Why are you so flustered? This isn’t even the first time.”
“It’s not flustered—it’s awkward! What if someone sees us?”
“Then they see us.”
He tilted his head indifferently as he gathered their things.
Marsha stared at him in disbelief.
Did it never cross his mind that if someone saw him acting like this with a maid he had brought along, strange rumors would spread?
“I’ll show you to your room. Ah, and if you get tired on the way, you can always ask me for help.”
He stepped toward her again, as though ready to scoop her up.
“That won’t be happening…!”
Marsha glared at him, lips jutting in protest.
Claudio gave a soft chuckle and started walking ahead, and she reluctantly followed.
Honestly, I can’t tell if this man is overly sensitive or utterly clueless.
He was impossible—completely ruled by his own whims.
Perhaps even Duke Gloria suffered because she kept such a man under her command.
Why did she keep him around in the first place?
If she were the duke, she would have dismissed him without hesitation…!
She’s practically burning a hole in the back of my head.
Claudio smirked faintly, sensing Marsha’s glare.
But what are those idiots doing over there?
His sharp eyes flicked toward the curtains where Urian and visd hid, spying on him.
Like prey caught in the gaze of a predator, the two froze in terror before scrambling out of sight.
“My word, he noticed us.”
Urian spoke in dismay, and Visd nodded gravely.
“As expected of our lord. Truly remarkable. Truly admirable. So then, just now…?”
Visd bit his lower lip hard, his mouth soon bearing bright red marks, before hesitantly asking,
“It was nothing more than an act of kindness… wasn’t it?”
Kindness, from the duke? Impossible…
Urian gave a strained smile, recalling what had happened only two days prior.
***
At that time, Urian had been hunched over the desk in his office, poring through a mountain of documents, his brow deeply furrowed.
Without warning, the door burst open—without even a knock.
“You look busy.”
“Duke?!”
Startled by Claudio’s sudden appearance, Urian shot to his feet before he could stop himself.
“What brings you here so suddenly? Has something happened?”
“I can’t visit my own villa unless something’s wrong? That’s what I’d like to say, but unfortunately, yes. Something happened.”
Claudio explained the incident with James in brief, and Urian ’s face went pale.
Even if it had happened to a stranger, it would have been regrettable.
But to hear that Marsha—who had already endured a similar ordeal—had once again been harassed by thugs filled him with guilt and fury.
“I’ll take care of it immediately.”
“Good. Swift action is best. But first, give me your opinion.”
“…My opinion, sir?”
“Doesn’t it seem to you that women live far too dangerously?”
“By ‘that woman,’ do you mean Miss Marsha?”
Claudio’s icy gaze cut through him.
Urian flinched, instantly replaying his words in his head to find the misstep.
He lowered his head deeply in apology.
Claudio’s frown lingered as his eyes shifted toward the desk.
“…This woman is still writing letters.”
His voice brimmed with displeasure.
Following his gaze, Urian saw the name written on the envelope.
Beatrice Hémès.
He sighed at the sight of that tiresome name.
That woman is relentless.
The king had remained unmarried.
With no powerful backing, no notable bloodline, and a precarious throne that could be toppled by the western factions at any moment, no noble wished to tie their fate to him.
No one—except the Marquess of Hémès.
‘Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a shared dream—she merely dreamed of turning a powerless king into her puppet.’
The king had no real choice in the matter, but even so, Lady Hemes was an excellent bride.
The marquisate was not wealthy, but her lineage was flawless, and her beauty left nothing to be desired.
For the king, there was little reason to refuse.
Yet once Claudio declared his support for the throne, the situation shifted.
With such a formidable ally at his side, rival families began to circle, hoping to tie themselves to the crown.
Alarmed, the Marquis of Hemes moved quickly to turn spoken promises into binding reality.
The Marquis of Hemes begged me to pledge his daughter as queen.
What should I do?
The king sought Claudio’s counsel in private, eyes darting with unease.
If you do not care for her, then cast her aside…
No, no—I do not dislike her.
In fact, I… rather the opposite…
Watching the king’s face flush crimson like a callow youth, Claudio could hardly contain his exasperation.
What on earth did that woman possess that reduced a monarch to such idiocy?
With one corner of his mouth lifting, Claudio said coolly,
Then hold the betrothal ceremony.
No—better yet, hasten the royal wedding itself.
That would serve Your Majesty’s position most advantageously.
Do… Do you truly think so?
The king’s hesitation stemmed from one person—Beatrice.
She had adored Claudio with a fervor bordering on madness.
Many young ladies had entertained tender feelings for him, enough to fill his grand estate with sighs and longing, but none with her ferocity.
She wrote to him every day without fail, appeared at every place he set foot as though she were his chosen partner, and though he dismissed her time and again, her only answer was tears… followed by yet another letter the very next day.
Her letters are unbelievable.
Anyone reading them would think I was her secret lover.
She once went so far as to throw herself in front of Claudio’s horse, blocking his path outright.
Lady Hemes—are you out of your mind?!
But no matter how many times I called, you never looked at me, Your Grace.
You’re completely deranged.
Not deranged… only brave, because I knew you would never truly harm me.
And even if I had died because of you, I think… I would have died happy.
The memory of Beatrice pressing her fingers to her lips and smiling shyly as she said those words had never left Urian ’s mind.
A woman possessed.
Even after becoming the king’s fiancée, she did not abandon her outrageous displays.
Instead, they grew worse, sparking vile rumors.
That Claudio had enthralled her, then contrived to make her queen, ensuring that his own bloodline would someday inherit the throne.
Inevitably, the gossip reached the king’s ears.
I… I do not mind, even if the rumors were true.
Your Majesty.
Have you lost your senses?
Claudio’s eyes blazed as he looked down at him.
After all I have done to preserve your crown, you dare believe such filth?
Is my honor worth nothing to you?
N-no! That wasn’t my intent.
You are right—if you had sought the throne, you’d never have spared me.
It was a foolish slip, nothing more.
In the end, the king declared his desire to proceed with the royal marriage to Beatrice.
But Beatrice, with pleading eyes, begged for time.
There is no queen but me.
No other can be.
But… to become one, I need time.
Please, grant me a single year.
In that year, I will be ready in every way to be your queen.
