Chapter 41……………………………….
Jonas carefully skimmed through the marriage registration form.
Ivelina’s handwriting was neat, while Arsen’s handwriting was wild and rushed.
He usually wrote very neatly, so he must have been eager to submit the marriage document as quickly as possible.
Jonas deliberately read the form slowly.
Only after one vein popped up on Arsen’s forehead, then two, then three, did Jonas finally pick up the seal on the table and stamp the document.
The moment he stamped it, Arsen snatched the marriage registration form away.
Arsen was just about to rise from his seat when Jonas spoke.
“Come to think of it, Your Grace…”
“Yes?”
“Lotzfeld—”
Arsen cut him off the moment that name began to leave Jonas’s lips.
“Your Majesty.”
Arsen stared at Jonas with chilling eyes.
Jonas, who had been about to say something, closed his mouth and put on an awkward smile.
When Arsen had that look in his eyes, one needed to take a hint.
And right now, that look clearly meant shut up.
It was a terribly rude meaning to direct at the Emperor, but Jonas wisely kept his mouth shut.
Fortunately, it seemed Ivelina hadn’t heard their exchange properly.
She tilted her head and asked,
“Your Majesty? What were you going to say?”
“Oh, that… Rosina!”
“Pardon?”
“Have you ever been to Rosina? It’s the most popular restaurant in the Empire.”
Ivelina thought for a moment, then replied with an “Ah!”
“I actually made a reservation for today. I heard the food is amazing, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I went once when I briefly went outside. It was a work of art. You’ll love it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Arsen smiled gently and spoke to Ivelina.
“Ivelina, I’d like to speak with His Majesty alone for a moment. Would you wait outside?”
“Of course. Take your time.”
“If you go out and turn right, there’s a rear garden. Please wait there.”
“Yes, Arsen.”
Ivelina nodded and stood.
Jonas shot her a look begging her to take Arsen with her, but she didn’t see it and exited the audience chamber.
She innocently thought that since Arsen was seeing his relative for the first time in a while, they probably had much to talk about.
Stepping outside, she followed Arsen’s instructions toward the rear garden.
Entering the garden, Ivelina’s eyes widened as she looked around.
“It’s huge…”
The rear garden was unimaginably vast.
As expected of the Imperial Palace, she thought as she slowly explored.
The ducal residence also had flowers blooming in its garden, but the soil was poor, limiting what could grow.
But this place was different.
Even flowers rarely seen in the North were blooming vibrantly.
Ivelina wandered the garden, forgetting the passage of time.
Then she discovered a fountain and approached it.
“Come to think of it, there isn’t a fountain at the estate.”
The sound of flowing water made her feel strangely calm.
She thought about suggesting to Arsen that they build a fountain—when suddenly a furious voice came from behind.
“Ivelina!”
Startled by the unwelcome voice, she flinched and spun around.
After confirming who it was, she murmured softly,
“…Father?”
Approaching her with a furious expression was her father, Duke Lotzfeld.
As he strode toward her, Ivelina instinctively stepped back.
He grabbed her arm.
“Ah!”
Pain shot up her arm, and she let out a small cry.
But the Duke did not loosen his grip.
“How dare you ignore me!”
“W-What do you—”
“Why didn’t you send me a wedding invitation?”
Hearing him growl the question, Ivelina’s expression went blank.
For a moment, she wondered if he regretted what he said back then, but she was mistaken.
“Because of you, I became a laughingstock among the other nobles. Tell me, how do you intend to compensate me for the honor you dragged through the mud?”
Looking as if he might strike her any moment, Ivelina lowered her head.
Fear made her whole body tremble.
“And what is with that hideous sight! Walking around showing those ominous red eyes—have you gone mad?”
“…”
“You’ve ruined my reputation entirely. Did you wish for your father to become everyone’s mockery?”
Biting her lip, Ivelina spoke with a trembling voice.
“We… we’re not family.”
“…What?”
“We’re not… family. S-So why would I s-send you a wedding invitation?”
Though her voice shook and she stuttered, Ivelina stated her opinion clearly.
She took a deep breath and lifted her head to face the Duke.
Her brilliant red eyes stared straight into his.
The Duke frowned as their eyes met.
“You’ve never once thought of me as your daughter.”
“…”
“Since that day, I’ve had no family. The only family I have now is my husband and my mother-in-law.”
Ivelina struggled not to tremble.
She didn’t stutter anymore, but she still couldn’t hide the tremble in her voice.
The Duke’s face flushed with anger.
Unable to contain his rage, he raised his hand to strike her.
Ivelina didn’t even think to dodge—she shut her eyes tightly.
She braced herself for the pain—but no blow came.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
A large shadow stood before her.
She whispered,
“…Arsen.”
At some point, Arsen had appeared and was gripping the Duke’s raised arm.
Arsen tightened his hold.
“Ugh…!”
The Duke let out a pained groan.
Arsen’s expression was terrifyingly cold.
His icy gaze looked as though it could freeze the Duke on the spot.
Panicking, the Duke tried to pull his arm free, but it didn’t budge.
Arsen only tightened his grip.
The Duke nearly screamed but held it back out of pride.
Arsen spoke in a voice cold as frost.
“And who do you think you’re raising your hand against?”
“…”
“You’ve got some nerve, laying a hand on my wife.”
The warm air chilled instantly.
The Duke bit his lip and said,
“Before she is Your Grace’s wife, she is my daughter.”
“Daughter? Don’t make me laugh.”
Arsen scoffed.
The Duke’s brow twitched even more at the clear mockery.
Arsen spoke sharply.
“Unless my ears deceive me, I heard Ivelina say you are no longer her family.”
“…”
“And wasn’t it you who severed ties first? Now you call her your daughter? Aren’t you even a little ashamed of yourself?”
The Duke’s face burned with humiliation.
Arsen clicked his tongue and released the Duke’s arm.
It was probably hidden under his sleeve for now, but a deep handprint would remain.
Arsen glanced at Ivelina.
Her complexion was pale, and she was trembling slightly.
Turning back to the Duke, he leaned in and whispered too softly for Ivelina to hear.
“I’m sparing you only because you’re Ivelina’s father. But this is the last time.”
“…”
“Take this warning to heart. If you have any sense, you know exactly how you should behave.”
It meant: don’t contact her, don’t approach her, don’t even acknowledge her.
The Duke opened his mouth to protest, but when Arsen’s eyes met his, no sound came out.
He felt that if he harbored even a hint of resentment, Arsen might tear him apart on the spot.
After glaring at the Duke with cold contempt, Arsen turned to Ivelina.
His icy gaze disappeared completely, replaced by warmth and gentleness.
“Ivelina, are you all right?”
“Y-Yes, I’m fine.”
Her heart was still pounding wildly from the shock.
Arsen gently wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“I’m finished speaking with His Majesty. Let’s go. There’s no reason to stay here any longer.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ivelina glanced back at the Duke, who stood frozen like a mute.
But when he finally turned his eyes toward her, she had already turned away.
Only when they reached the carriage did Arsen speak, as if remembering something.
“Oh—I forgot we were supposed to visit the library. Should we go back?”
“No, it’s fine. We can visit another time.”
Ivelina shook her head quickly.
If they went back and happened to run into her father again, it would be a disaster.
Arsen nodded and offered her his hand.
She took it and climbed into the carriage.
Once the carriage started moving and the palace grew distant, she let out a small sigh.
Her cheeks, which had been ghostly pale, finally regained some color.
Arsen, who had been quietly watching her, spoke.
“I didn’t consider the possibility that Duke Lotzfeld might be in the palace.”
“Neither did I. The palace is huge—I never imagined we’d run into him. It was just bad luck.”
She sounded a bit sad as she said it.
He wondered briefly if she regretted anything even a little, but she didn’t—not at all. And that made her feel subtly bitter.
It reminded her that to them, she had never truly been family.
Shaking away the thoughts, she brightened her tone.
“More importantly, I’m really looking forward to Rosina. His Majesty said we could expect great things—just how delicious must it be?”
“I’m looking forward to it too. Even though I lived in the capital, I never went outside, so I’ve never visited.”
“They say Rosina’s seafood dishes are especially famous… It’s amazing they’re known for seafood even though it’s not a coastal city.”
Her cheerful chatter was pleasant to hear, and Arsen nodded along, responding now and then.
After some time, the carriage gradually came to a stop.
