Chapter 94
Julian lowered his gaze for a moment, thinking deeply, then lifted his head.
“Ah. It must be because our family has always sided with the old faction.”
Rebecca smiled faintly.
“That’s right. They’re already a group lacking unity. Even if you’ve maintained a neutral stance all this time, Duke Johannes is practically the symbol of the old power bloc. So if you were to join that club, there would be quite a backlash.”
“So they’re trying to strengthen their solidarity through your secret, huh?”
“Exactly. The entire Empire is buzzing with rumors about Duke Johannes’ fiancée. They’re just as curious as anyone else. If we reveal a bit of that secret, even if they don’t completely trust us, we can at least earn some goodwill. And right now, goodwill is what we need most.”
“Now that I hear it, it sounds like a decent plan.”
“Besides, you’ve already filled that room with items tailored to the members’ tastes. That alone should have earned plenty of goodwill. But still—those are all heirlooms, aren’t they? I don’t mind, but… is it really okay to display them so openly?”
“Well, heirlooms or not, they’re just a few stone carvings and scraps of paper. From the heirlooms’ perspective, it’s better to be handled by people who appreciate their worth than to spend eternity gathering dust.”
Julian shrugged and gave a long yawn.
It seemed he was tired from waking earlier than usual.
Croa had mentioned that he’d been bustling about since dawn trying to decide what to wear.
Rebecca carefully studied the drowsy figure before her.
Julian had abandoned his trademark black attire for a light gray suit.
The change softened his usual dark, intimidating air, making his expression appear gentler.
The neatly tied black cravat around his neck added a touch of dignity, making his outfit quite suitable for winning someone’s favor.
Even the faint shadows that normally lingered under his eyes were hidden with makeup, brightening his face considerably.
“Now that I look at you, your face seems to be glowing today. Your complexion, once like black pearl, has turned to white jade.”
Rebecca tilted her head curiously.
His tanned skin, which used to complement his rough charm, looked unusually fair and luminous.
“Really? I guess taking a break from it for a while worked wonders.”
“Taking a break from what?”
“Oh, nothing important.”
Julian dodged the question and pulled a small hand mirror from his pocket.
He tugged the corner of his lips upward with his finger and changed the subject.
“I practiced like you said… but if I keep this up, I’ll get a muscle spasm.”
Grumbling, he inspected his smile one last time in the mirror.
“Still, Croa said it’s improved a lot. Personally, I think it looks the same as usual, though…”
Rebecca had emphasized again and again that if Julian wanted to win over the club members, he had to act differently from how the public normally perceived him.
That conversation had taken place the day they returned from the Lavonne Salon.
After sending a letter to the Emperor from the ducal estate, Rebecca had said to Julian:
“You have to make the club members feel like they’re receiving special treatment.”
“What? I hate that sort of thing. I can’t stand fawning over people.”
Julian had rested his chin in his hand, looking thoroughly displeased.
Rebecca had frowned briefly at his uncooperative attitude, then sighed.
“If you can’t do that, then at least just smile. I’ll handle the rest.”
At that, Croa, who had been quietly listening, suddenly chimed in:
“Then, Your Grace should practice smiling first. Not sneering—smiling. I can assure you, if you just smile sincerely, half of them will be won over instantly.”
Rebecca’s eyes had widened.
“Huh? But Julian smiles quite often, doesn’t he? I thought that was one of his charms…”
“W–Who smiles? Surely you’re not talking about our Duke?”
Rebecca couldn’t help but chuckle at Croa’s horrified expression.
“But he does smile, doesn’t he?”
Looking at Julian, who now had his lips jutted out in irritation, Rebecca tilted her head.
He had seemed intimidating when they first met—yes.
But over time, that impression had faded.
At some point, every time Julian looked at her, there was always a trace of a smile in his eyes.
She had long since forgotten that this man was once known throughout the Empire as the infamous “Black Lion.”
A sigh escaped Julian’s lips as they reached the scholar’s chamber.
Before turning the doorknob, he raised the corners of his mouth until his cheeks cramped.
Anyone could see how forced his smile was.
At that moment, Rebecca recalled Croa’s words—that Julian didn’t smile easily—and suddenly realized something.
Her face flushed hot.
She remembered how Julian had responded so coolly to the staff’s greetings on the way there.
Thinking about it, he was cold to others—just as he’d been when she first met him.
He hadn’t changed.
He was only gentle… in front of her.
‘Ugh, why is he like this? So unfairly cute.’
Feeling secretly pleased by the thought of receiving “special treatment,” Rebecca furrowed her brow to suppress her growing smile.
Julian mistook her expression for nervousness and gave her a reassuring grin.
“Don’t worry. Everything will go fine.”
The sudden charm in Julian’s dazzling smile made Rebecca’s heart pound wildly.
She quickly turned her head away, breaking eye contact.
“…?”
Rebecca silently clutched her chest.
Julian, puzzled by her reaction, came to his own conclusion.
‘Could it be… her heart’s acting up again?’
He looked at her in concern.
It must be that the poison symptoms hadn’t completely left her body yet.
Why else would she be sweating and holding her chest like that?
He grimaced inwardly.
He’d thought Yustaf was unreliable—and it turned out he was right.
Julian resolved to have another doctor examine her soon and grabbed the doorknob.
‘Helen Montana, Salvador Winster, Theresa Barbara, Chelston Sermond…’
The club members glared at Rebecca, unable to hide their suspicion.
Rebecca slowly studied each of their faces, comparing them to the list Canna had compiled earlier.
Because the Montblanc Club operated in such secrecy, obtaining a full, accurate list of members was impossible.
And not everyone was present today, either.
Even among themselves, the members didn’t all know one another’s true identities.
The only person who knew everything about the club was the Emperor.
Still, Rebecca had been able to make educated guesses.
She’d asked Canna to investigate prominent theologians and nobles active in the new political faction—and everyone in this room appeared on that list.
‘As expected of Canna.’
Rebecca smiled faintly, the corners of her lips curving upward.
Her breathtaking smile momentarily stole the attention of everyone present.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering why I’m standing here today.”
Rebecca met their wary eyes one by one.
Her calm, unwavering gaze pierced through them, sharp as if it could read their thoughts.
A few still looked defiant, but most, when caught in her gaze, lowered their eyes or uncrossed their arms, curiosity slowly replacing suspicion.
Rebecca softened her expression and began to speak.
“I am the woman you’ve all been so curious about—Duke Johannes’ fiancée. And I stand here today to join my future husband in purpose.”
The room froze.
For a moment, everyone wondered if they’d heard correctly.
To them, Rebecca was still known as Countess Devonshire.
And now, barely after her divorce, she was engaged—to Duke Johannes, of all people?
It was unbelievable.
“Duke Johannes! Is this another one of your tricks?”
One member shouted angrily.
“That’s right! You’re not trying to deceive us again, like last time, are you?”
Another glared at Julian with open disgust.
Rebecca shot Julian a quick glance.
What on earth had he done in the past for their trust to be this low?
Julian, seemingly used to such reactions, simply kept smiling like a mechanical doll.
It was clear that his mind was too occupied with “remember to smile” to think of anything else.
Rebecca let out a quiet sigh before continuing.
“I wouldn’t come here to speak falsehoods at such an important gathering. Believe what you will, but we truly are engaged—and we’ll be married soon.”
The crowd murmured uncertainly.
Rebecca wasn’t the type to participate in such deceit, so they were torn between doubt and belief.
To dispel the last of their suspicion, she began to tell their “story.”
“I should make this clear to avoid misunderstanding—there was no affair between us. I was still bound to the Devonshire household, so that would’ve been impossible. When I was cast out by the Count, Duke Johannes took me in. That’s when we realized our hearts were aligned.”
Though there was no prepared script, Rebecca spoke as if recounting a real love story.
In moments, Zeppelin Devonshire was transformed into a jealous madman, and Julian into the gallant hero who saved her from ruin.
Her storytelling was so convincing that even Julian almost nodded along as if it were all true.
The story grew longer and richer.
By the time Rebecca concluded their “tearful love saga,” the members were no longer suspicious but rather captivated.
Rebecca lowered her gaze slightly, her long lashes casting soft shadows.
“As you know, my former husband, Count Zeppelin Devonshire, was a man of obsessive temperament. That’s why we had to hold our engagement in secret. With his personality, we feared what kind of interference he might attempt. Even at the last ball, I couldn’t appear openly as the Duke’s partner…”
She trailed off, lifting her head as though she couldn’t bring herself to say more.
