Chapter 11
“I was hoping for a different answer.”
“The dress His Grace sent is the most expensive one in the salon. And the roses… the flowers were of the finest quality as well. When someone spends that much money, there must be a reason. I mean, why you would go out of your way to choose me—a woman with a broken engagement.”
With an intrigued gaze, Rian looked at Iliana. As he set his teacup down on the table, the corner of his lips curled crookedly upward. It was a smile that didn’t quite match his elegant posture as he sat with his legs neatly crossed.
“By now, you must have heard the rumors.”
Iliana knew exactly what rumors he was referring to. The Emperor was desperate to send Rian to Targa in a marriage alliance. And not a single person had attended the tea party hosted by the Duke.
Noticing the subtle shift in her expression, Rian interlaced his fingers and spoke leisurely.
“The reason no one came to my house is obvious. If they join hands with me, it would mean opposing the imperial family.”
“……”
“And then I heard about a bold woman who dumped a viscount’s heir without hesitation.”
So her broken engagement was what moved him. She had tried so hard to distance herself from Rian, yet in the end, she had ended up approaching him on her own.
“That should be enough of an answer. Now I’ll ask again—will you become my partner?”
The man looking down at her so arrogantly bore no resemblance to the pure-faced boy who once helped her. But his eyes were different.
‘I won’t tell anyone.’
They were just like back then—when he smiled at her so gently.
At that moment, Iliana’s heart wavered violently. Memories that had been quietly rippling beneath the surface began to rise one by one.
“Then I will accompany you only until the entrance.”
That should be enough.
This morning, Jeffrey had suddenly said he couldn’t attend the banquet with her. So, from Iliana’s perspective, going with Rian wasn’t a bad deal. For him, it would also serve as a good excuse to delay marriage. But going beyond that would likely bring him more harm than benefit.
However, Rian shook his head, looking troubled.
“My condition is until the imperial audience with His Majesty.”
He really intended to drag her all the way before the Emperor. No matter how urgent things were, that was absurd.
“You’re not thinking of refusing because a broken engagement would tarnish my reputation, are you?”
“……!”
“In return, I’ll help you whenever you need it. Ah, how about this?”
Reading the hesitation on her face, Rian continued.
“For example, evidence that Viscount Piaget’s heir and Baroness Louise are in an affair.”
Iliana’s fingers trembled slightly as she held her teacup. Was there anything this Duke didn’t know?
“How did you find out?”
“I don’t believe I’ve received your answer yet.”
With a sly smile, he fixed his gaze on her.
‘Is the Duke keeping Cedric in check as well?’
Rumors had already spread that the two were competing for the imperial throne. But in her past memories, Rian had never been interested in it. Even if it was to avoid being sent to Targa as a hostage, something felt off.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
What Iliana needed right now was a weapon to bring Cedric down. And Rian was the best card she had.
At the same time, this might also calm her father’s anger. A man who valued power and honor above all else might even welcome this situation.
If Rian was willing to help her on his own, there was no reason to refuse.
“I accept. Now tell me—about that evidence…”
Leaning forward, Rian cut her off and whispered,
“You’ll find out that day. I promise—you’ll be satisfied.”
His voice was calm and serious, as if making an important vow.
The fresh last day of May also marked the beginning of the Empire’s festival. As the sunset deepened, people gradually disappeared from the streets.
Some prepared fireworks to announce the start of the festivities, while others busily checked their stores of alcohol for the long night ahead. Children stacked up cakes as if for an entire year, ready to indulge without restraint.
For that reason, even the usually bustling plaza remained quiet until the sun disappeared. Once the moment came when day and night changed hands, the Empire’s time began to move again.
“You look absolutely stunning.”
Bessie didn’t hold back her praise as she admired Iliana, who had just finished changing into her dress. She even puckered her lips and added little exclamations of admiration, pouring out every compliment she could think of.
“You’ll be the most beautiful lady in the capital today, won’t you, head maid?”
As if her own praise wasn’t enough, Bessie turned to the head maid beside her. The plump, good-natured woman looked slightly flustered and avoided their gazes, lowering her eyes.
“It seems your pale complexion has regained some vitality.”
Though it was her best attempt at a compliment, Bessie clearly wasn’t satisfied. She pouted and shook her head.
Then she quickly moved closer to Iliana and began brushing her long, wavy hair. Each time her hair swayed, a soft fragrance filled the air—lavender mixed with various flower petals.
“Just ignore what the head maid says. That’s the best she can do.”
Bessie whispered as she leaned in. Still, Iliana’s expression didn’t brighten. She looked worried about something.
“I think we used too much perfume. If Father finds out, he’ll make a fuss again.”
“He’s probably forgotten it even exists.”
Bessie shrugged as if it were nothing and glanced again at the head maid for agreement. The head maid, who had been gathering fallen hair from the floor, straightened up.
“I’ve already told them to redo the cleaning since the mansion was in a mess anyway. Don’t worry.”
She knew her master well. Despite shelves full of unused perfumes gathering dust, he never touched them. Yet if Iliana’s bath took even a little longer, he would immediately scold her.
Understanding this, the head maid reassured Iliana—even if the perfume had been used for her sake.
Iliana gave her a small, grateful smile.
As the preparations neared completion, Iliana finally studied her reflection in the mirror. Thanks to their efforts, she looked every bit like a noble lady today—rosy cheeks, eyes like the sea, glossy hair, and a topaz hair ornament that completed the look perfectly.
Is it too much?
The jewels embedded in her dress sparkled in the sunlight. She briefly considered changing into something else but quickly dismissed the thought.
No matter how beautiful, it was still just a dress.
“Leave these small things to us and just focus on today. You’ll be late at this rate—hurry and stand up.”
Noticing her glance toward the wardrobe filled with old clothes, Bessie urged her on. Iliana reluctantly rose.
The carriage was waiting exactly where she would step out. The coachman, who had been dozing, quickly jumped down upon seeing her—but Bessie was even faster.
She opened the carriage door and waited. The deep sunset above her cast a warm glow over the carriage, perfectly matching Iliana’s crimson dress.
“Today, you’ll be the happiest person in the world. Got it? You have to be.”
Bessie repeated her words like a promise.
Would she really be happy? Wearing a dress bought by someone else and heading to a banquet that would mark the climax of a scandal?
Even if she were lucky, happiness felt very far away.
Still, instead of saying something trivial, Iliana simply nodded.
The carriage door closed, and at the coachman’s signal, the horses began to move. Hoofbeats echoed as trees rushed past the window. As they approached the imperial palace of Gotri, the sunset deepened into darkness.
“She’s late.”
Rian checked his pocket watch and shifted his gaze elsewhere.
“Please wait just a moment. I’ll confirm it right away—You can’t go that way!”
The carriages crowded at the palace entrance refused to organize themselves despite the attendants’ shouts.
The attendants kept repeating the same plea for order, but most nobles, impatient as ever, shouted that they had arrived first and demanded others move aside.
It would be a miracle if no accident happened.
People like that were always the ones to rush in recklessly and cause major trouble. Because of this chaos, no one noticed the man standing beneath the large zelkova tree.
Rian stood there leisurely, hands in his pockets, watching the pathetic scene unfold.
“If you had just come together from the start, this wouldn’t be happening. Why did you refuse?”
Trying to hide his anxiety, Erga forced himself to relax, but he couldn’t stop pacing around the carriages, his eyes fixed on the main gate.
Rian placed a hand on his tense shoulder.
“Stop moving around like a colt. It’s distracting.”
“A colt—… ha, fine. Of course you’d say that. Anyway, do you have a plan?”
“What plan?”
“What we’ll do if His Majesty starts receiving the nobles before the lady arrives.”
“You don’t need one.”
Rian glanced down at his pocket watch once more.
