Chapter 27
Growing More Difficult
After stripping him of the hollow title of Supreme Commander, they had driven him onto the battlefield of death.
And on the day he returned in triumph—how had the Emperor looked then?
Unlike the hearty welcome in front of the palace gates, the Emperor’s sharp, burning gaze had bored into the back of his head all through the victory banquet.
“Why not simply reduce the troops?”
The sudden voice drew every eye toward Anje.
While everyone else was still busy weighing the meaning behind the Emperor’s words, Anje’s suggestion made them all frown.
“Do you even know what that implies?”
It was Duke Saide who spoke first, eyes so cold it seemed he might sever Anje’s head on the spot.
“If you know nothing, it’s better to keep your mouth shut.”
“I admit I don’t know His Majesty well. But words have weight—if I’ve spoken them aloud, they’re not idle. Isn’t it only a matter of time before it comes to that anyway?”
It wasn’t boredom or annoyance with the banquet that prompted this.
“From the Empire’s standpoint, the large standing army of the Duchy is a thorn in the eye. Ending this wager by agreeing to reduce our forces is the wiser course. In exchange, take something else.”
“Something else?”
This time the sharp voice belonged to the Duchess Dowager.
Anje’s tired eyes slowly scanned the Duke’s fortune-telling chart.
Riches and honor he had in plenty, but when one clung too tightly to power, wealth often dwindled.
“I understand, Madam, that you’ve adjusted the estate’s tax rates.”
The Duchess’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark.
“…That is true.”
“But the taxes the Duchy pays to the Empire remain unchanged. After the war, the Emperor lowered taxes significantly in several Imperial regions, citing war damage. The Duchy suffered no such devastation, yet we still had to feed and clothe countless knights and soldiers.”
“…”
“When you think about it, it was a war between the Empire and the Kingdom. Your Grace was forced to shoulder the burden. Emphasize that without the Duke’s sacrifice, this peace would not exist. Demand reimbursement for war costs and a tax adjustment. I’ll have the supporting documents ready within a week—well, Lord Elliot will.”
Anje lifted her chin with brazen calm.
Whatever mockery might follow, it hardly compared to the torment of attending a banquet like this.
“…Surely you don’t intend to settle for a few trophies and the Emperor’s token condolence payment? That’s only the bare minimum.”
Everyone simply stared at Anje in silence.
After a long pause, the Duchess Dowager slowly rose and approached.
“Joseph.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Where on earth did you find such a child?”
Had she taken offense again? Anje cast a sidelong glance at her.
When their eyes met, Anje quickly looked away, pretending indifference—only for the Duchess to break into a radiant smile.
“We must do something about that dull skin of yours. It’s rough, hiding a rather pretty face beneath.”
“…Excuse me?”
Pretty… face?
Anje looked at her in bewilderment.
Wasn’t this the moment to plan a confrontation with the Emperor? And hadn’t she just been told not to overstep?
“I think you misunderstand, Madam—this is no time to worry about my skin.”
“You’re the one misunderstanding.”
The Duchess gently smoothed the frown from Anje’s brow.
“Such a lovely face mustn’t crease with early wrinkles, don’t you think?”
“Uh… that’s hardly the important—”
“Nothing could be more important right now.”
Cutting Anje off, the Duchess tugged a bell pull.
“You rang, Madam?”
“That child—what did you say her name was?”
Anje answered quickly.
“Anje, Madam.”
They had already been introduced once, but the Duchess seemed to have forgotten—or perhaps only pretended to.
“Very well. Where is Anje’s room?”
The head maid replied, “She stays in the servants’ quarters, the east end.”
“Move her next to Mariana’s room, where the piano stands.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Contact the merchant guild and have the modiste summoned as well.”
As the orders grew longer, the head maid pulled out a notebook.
“For jewelry the Saide Guild is best, but for silks and cosmetics the Crow Guild has the better reputation. Which shall we use?”
“Crow. And add that if the quality is poor, they can close their business entirely.”
At the Duchess’s merciless decision, Anje glanced at the Duke in alarm.
Was it acceptable to bypass their own Saide Guild?
Catching her look, the Duke chuckled.
“Even I can’t control every trade in the world.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening. Doesn’t this mean I don’t need to attend the banquet? I’m already behind on reports.”
“You’re right that the Emperor will try to cut our forces. So your advice to concede and gain other benefits is quite sound.”
“Then why—?”
Anje turned to the Duchess.
“Too flashy is no good. A fan trimmed with simple lace will do.”
“….”
Did a banquet really require this much preparation?
The Duchess continued issuing commands without pause while the head maid scribbled furiously.
Unlike Mariana, who had only mentioned a hairdresser and a dress shop, the Duchess was summoning experts in makeup, jewelry, and etiquette. Anje was left speechless.
Leaning back lazily, the Duke’s shoulders shook with a quiet laugh.
“But there’s something else we must reclaim from the Emperor.”
“What do you mean?”
Had she missed something? Anje racked her brain.
“I said it earlier, didn’t I? If we win the wager, the Emperor promised to return Ahendel.”
Only then did Anje realize the cause of all this commotion, and her face soured.
“That was if you win! That’s why I suggested alternatives. Please, Your Grace—look at me!”
She grabbed the Duke’s collar, shaking it.
“On what grounds do you think you’ll win?”
Her delicate features twisted into an attempted scowl, but it carried little menace.
Like a small squirrel puffing its cheeks, the Duke bit back laughter and looked to the ceiling.
“Mother is capable of anything. I trust she’ll succeed this time too.”
Even if that meant the absurd task of turning a scruffy aide into the belle of society.
“Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention. You won’t attend as Mariana’s lady-in-waiting—you’ll be my partner.”
“…Pardon? Then what about Lady Hildegard?”
The room suddenly fell silent, but Anje, preoccupied with this new problem, didn’t notice.
When the report had come that Hildegard would attend the banquet with the Duke, Anje had never expected this turn.
“Well, about that…”
The Duke glanced at his mother, looking awkward.
“She broke it off.”
Everyone gasped.
“Joseph, tell the truth. You must have committed some offense first. Sienna’s daughter would never behave so.”
The Duchess’s tone was sharp.
“I was busy and contacted her late,” he admitted—quite a bit late, though no further explanation seemed needed.
“…”
“By then she’d already promised to accompany Count Martin.”
“Oh, that gentleman!”
All eyes turned to Mariana as she exclaimed.
“A name I’ve never heard. You know him?”
Blushing, Mariana clasped her hands.
“I caught a glimpse of him from afar at the last banquet. So handsome… no painter could capture his true looks. The other young ladies practically lined up just to greet—”
“Ahem!”
Noticing her mother’s disapproval, Mariana quickly shut her mouth.
“Forgive me, Mother.”
“You’ve nothing to apologize for. The fool is the one who let another man steal his intended fiancée.”
“She’s not my fiancée yet.”
“But she soon would have been.”
“…”
“Unless you secretly fancy someone else?”
“No, nothing like that.”
The Duchess let out a thin sigh and rubbed her eyes.
Hildegard’s mother, Sienna, had once been her dearest friend.
After marriage Sienna had moved to her estate, and over time contact had faded until it ceased entirely.
I still believed she was doing well…
Faced with news of her friend’s death, Elena Saide felt a deep guilt.
Had she shown just a bit more care, Sienna might not have died so tragically.
Wanting Hildegard as her daughter-in-law was partly for the family and for Joseph, but more than anything, she wished to keep her friend’s daughter close and safe.
The shrewd Marquis Crow had even named Hildegard as heir, and from afar the girl seemed every bit as brilliant and beautiful as Sienna in her prime.
So what, then, had gone wrong?
Whenever the subject of an engagement to Hildegard arose, Joseph always seemed to keep a curious distance.
