CHAPTER 74………………………….
Mine
“Didn’t I tell you to visit more often? Why have your steps grown so infrequent?”
At the emperor’s reproach, a shy smile appeared on Hildegard’s face. She was the very image of a solitary lily, so lovely that the emperor forgot how to breathe for a moment.
“Grandfather isn’t the type to go easy on me just because I’m a woman, as you know. I may be the heir, but there’s still a mountain of things I need to learn.”
“Tsk!”
The emperor clicked his tongue in displeasure, though his eyes never left Hildegard’s beautiful figure.
Even while drinking tea, he felt a needless thirst rising, and he licked his lips with his tongue—completely unaware of how much Hildegard detested such gestures.
“So the marquis finally arranged a meeting with the duchess dowager?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Grandfather believes my marriage should not be delayed any further.”
“The duke has finally opened his heart to you, has he? Well, who could resist such beauty?”
Hildegard discreetly made an irritated expression at the emperor’s honeyed words—so fleeting that he surely failed to notice.
“You don’t know Duke Side, do you? He’s buried in work and has no interest in women whatsoever. I’m the only one frustrated. Grandfather pushes me constantly, yet the person in question isn’t interested in marriage at all. He couldn’t watch it any longer and decided to step in himself.”
“No one can stop the marquis once he sets his mind to something. Still—after you’re married, you’ll continue to visit me often, won’t you? If anything, it might be easier then, once you’re wed. Waiting for you is enough to make me lose my breath.”
“Your Majesty.”
Calling him softly, Hildegard composed her expression. She couldn’t afford to let even a trace of the disgust she felt slip onto her face.
“I understand even the ministers rarely meet Your Majesty outside of official matters. It would be even more difficult for a married noblewoman to visit privately. Unsavory rumors might spread. I could never be an obstacle to Your Majesty’s path.”
“Obstacle? Nonsense. Your visits alone lift my spirits more than anything. Not one of my ministers can compare. Pile up all those so-called loyal subjects before me—none of them hold a candle to you.”
“I’m deeply honored.”
As the emperor stared intently at her bowed head, he smacked his lips. No matter how he thought about it, she was a difficult woman.
“Does the duke treat you well?”
“……”
“He may only care for his work, but you two are to be wed soon. Yet you are so devoted while it seems to me the duke neglects you.”
Hildegard froze for a moment, struck by the accuracy of the comment, but she quickly steadied her voice.
“As with most noble marriages, as long as neither side betrays the other, that is all. I assume you’ve heard about my parents’ situation. All of it happened because of love. I heard society was in an uproar back then as well.”
She paused, took a sip of tea, then fixed a firm gaze on the emperor.
“A noble marriage is merely a symbol of alliance between houses—not a union built on personal emotion.”
Just like her grandfather—stubborn and inflexible, the emperor thought, sighing.
“Do not forget the position of empress is still vacant. Only because you feel burdened do I refrain from pressing further, but my heart remains unchanged.”
Unable to endure the emperor’s absurdities any longer, Hildegard stood. She had already gathered the gifts he had given her, neatly and thoroughly.
“Speaking of being a burden, wasting Your Majesty’s time on needless matters is the gravest disloyalty of all. I should take my leave. Grandfather will handle the dowry, of course, but I should look into the trousseau myself. I have appointments with several merchant houses this afternoon.”
“A shame. Then, next time…”
“With respect, Your Majesty, once the wedding date is set I expect to be very busy, so I doubt I’ll be able to visit often. The next audience will likely be after I return from my honeymoon in the autumn.”
“My lady…”
The wounded expression on the emperor’s face only made Hildegard feel revulsion.
“Until then, may the blessings of the divine rest upon Your Majesty.”
After stepping back a couple of paces, Hildegard boldly turned her back and left the room. She heard the emperor calling her name in desperation, but she quickened her steps and pretended not to hear.
The social club located beneath the department store was a strictly controlled space reserved for the empire’s most distinguished gentlemen.
But despite the reputation, its interior was no different from any other men’s club.
Through the thick cigarette smoke mixed with women’s perfume, George Side, Duke of Side, frowned.
He’d barely inhaled it for a moment, yet it was nauseating. How other men tolerated this stench was beyond him.
“Oh! You finally grace us with your presence. They say it’s harder to see you than His Majesty!”
Ben, who had somehow recognized him through the haze, waved enthusiastically.
Ben, second son of the Earl of Johnson—who oversaw household affairs and personnel at the palace—was a man who had mastered everything from clothing and accessories to painting, music, card games, and every fashionable pastime.
From a young age he excelled at every hobby except studying, and as an adult he became talented in every useless art.
It wasn’t difficult, considering his family had been wealthy for generations. His father was strict with the eldest son, heir to the house—but for some reason, left the second son, Ben, entirely to his whims.
Ben’s own assessment of his father’s leniency was simple:
“He’s given up.”
Seeing his friend with one ear adorned by a long earring, his original blond hair dyed an unrecognizable red, the duke grimaced. Even he could not recall how he ended up friends with such a man.
While Ben was delighted, the duke approached the bar with indifference and ordered wine.
“What did you want to see me about?”
At the blunt question, Ben turned away dramatically and glared.
“You’re as cold as ever. I thought you’d contact me the moment the war ended, but not a single word. I stubbornly waited to see how long you’d hold out but…”
Ben scrunched his nose playfully.
“Then I heard rumors—you’re getting married. And to the queen of this season’s social scene…”
“If you meant to say the queen of the social scene is the Marquess of Crow’s granddaughter, you’d be mistaken. This season’s Lady of the Year is my adjutant, Miss Anze Beaufort.”
Ben froze at the duke’s cool retort, then looked offended.
“What, are you defending Miss Beaufort just because she’s your adjutant? Ha! Please. That’s not like you. She didn’t become Lady of the Year for her beauty, but because she lobbied the young ladies behind the scenes.”
It wasn’t entirely wrong, and a faint playful smile touched the duke’s lips.
“Lobbying? That doesn’t suit her in the slightest. If you’d met her even once, you’d know how ill-fitting that word is. She’s competent, but sometimes so oblivious it’s infuriating… In any case, the Lady of the Year is Anze.”
Because of that incident, the duke’s family had even regained Aehendel from the emperor. The duke was certain that Anze being chosen as Lady of the Year would go down as one of the most joyous events of the year.
Even for a close friend, he could never allow Hildegard to be subtly attached to such a historic matter.
“Any objections?”
Ben looked at him as if he had much to say, then shook his head and patted the duke’s shoulder.
“Whatever the case, the lucky man of the year is you. You’re marrying the most beautiful and promising lady in society, and your secretary is the Lady of the Year. I’m sick with jealousy.”
“Anyone hearing that might think you mean it.”
“I’m absolutely sincere. Truly.”
Chattering cheerfully, Ben sat beside him.
“The same thing he’s having.”
Once the bartender stepped away to pour the drinks, the duke spoke.
“So, how did things go between your dearly beloved Miss Hildegard and the emperor?”
Thanks to his father’s position overseeing palace personnel, there was little that happened in the imperial palace that Ben didn’t know.
Not that he was a gossip, but he never withheld anything from his long-time friend, Duke Side.
And considering the amount of information the duke provided him in return, theirs was a kind of exchange.
The duke suspected this was the reason the stern Earl Johnson turned a blind eye to Ben’s dissipated lifestyle.
