Chapter 44
Seeing Maia’s expression, Hael descended the steps with a strangely crestfallen face.
“Anyway… please don’t wander around like this from now on. Understood?”
“…Yes. My apologies.”
…Still, I got to see Hyperion Loire’s face.
Never once in my life did I think such a thing would happen.
Maia pressed her hand tightly over her still-throbbing chest.
“What happened? Why were you two together?”
At that moment, a voice that shattered all her dreams rang clearly in her ears.
“Rihi!”
Maia jerked her head up and called out. Hael flinched and quietly made his escape.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
As soon as Hael left, Maia strode right up to Rihi and demanded:
“Did you really kill Count Polaris?”
Rihi replied nonchalantly.
“Yeah.”
…This guy, seriously!
“I told you not to kill him!”
“Why?”
Rihi answered with an unexpectedly cold expression. Maia, who had been yelling in anger, was startled by it and said:
“…Count Polaris admitted to conspiring with the Empress to stage a demon beast attack. To assassinate me.”
“What?”
Rihi furrowed his brows deeply.
“So if you had left Count Polaris alive… we might’ve learned why the Empress tried to kill me…”
‘There was pressure from the imperial family. If I had shown even a hint of my feelings toward you, the Empress would have harmed you without hesitation!’
The desperate cry echoed once more in her mind.
“…We might’ve been able to find out the exact reason.”
Maia’s voice grew faint.
“…Why does the Empress want to kill you?”
Rihi looked noticeably flustered.
“I don’t know for sure. The most likely reason… she probably thinks I stole the title of Princess. Since I’m the woman who remarried her deceased daughter’s husband.”
Maia lowered her gaze as she spoke.
Even if she had dearly loved her daughter and was devastated by the loss, it still didn’t make sense for her to harbor such deep hatred toward me.
…Though I hate to even think about it—could those rumors about my mother and the Emperor have affected her?
Just the thought made her feel like her heart was plummeting into a void.
No, that can’t be it. Before I married Duke Western, the Empress never paid me any attention.
“That’s good news.”
“What?”
Maia’s eyes widened at the voice that cut through her thoughts.
Rihi clasped both of her hands tightly, his eyes shining.
“You should get divorced right away. Then the Empress won’t have any reason to harm you, right?”
…Well, that is the right answer…
Maia, staring at Rihi’s overly delighted face, dropped her gaze.
Why do I keep thinking of that man, the one who cried out so desperately, saying he had to push me away to protect me?
No—don’t overthink it.
Even if he had his own reasons… This marriage must end. That’s what I decided when I asked Rihi for help.
Yes, it’s for the best.
“Let’s tell His Majesty right after the ritual ends. That we love each other. That I’ve committed the sin of having feelings for someone else while married, and I can no longer stay in this marriage with Duke Western.”
At that moment, as if on cue, Rihi’s expression bloomed like a flower.
Maia frowned slightly.
Does he really want me to get divorced that badly?
“Then once we’re divorced, when should we end our relationship?”
And I’m not even done talking. Maia continued:
“What?”
The smile vanished instantly from Rihi’s face.
He stared at Maia with a dazed expression.
Maia looked at him blankly and said,
“Why are you so shocked? We can’t keep pretending to be lovers forever. How about we break up in about half a year? But if we do, we won’t be able to act friendly in public anymore. It’d be strange to stay close after a breakup. People might get suspicious, and we won’t be able to see each other as often either… Rihi, are you even listening?”
Why does he look like his soul just left his body?
The face that had just brightened like a rose now looked pale with despair, as if he’d just been dumped by the love of his life.
“…No. I changed my mind.”
What?
Maia frowned slightly.
Rihi, avoiding her gaze, murmured:
“Don’t get divorced. Not for a year… no, at least three years.”
“What are you saying? Weren’t you going to help me get divorced as soon as possible?”
Maia asked in disbelief.
Rihi looked down at her with a pitiful expression.
“…No, I misspoke. I think telling His Majesty right after the rite ends is too soon.”
He completely retracted everything he’d just said. Maia stared at him, dumbfounded.
“What do you mean ‘too soon’? You just said if I get divorced, the Empress won’t threaten me anymore.”
“I’ll protect you no matter what happens. So don’t get divorced.”
What the heck is with this guy all of a sudden?
Maia, starting to get annoyed, shouted:
“Getting divorced is just easier—hey! Where are you going?!”
And then Rihi ran off, his red cloak fluttering wildly. All that remained in her vision was the distant flutter of his white hair and cloak.
Maia stood frozen, arm outstretched.
…Seriously, what’s his deal?
The day of the Oath Ceremony arrived.
The maidservants, still wary of Maia’s mood, helped her dress with careful hands.
The dress they brought her was a deep navy, reminiscent of Duke Western.
It couldn’t be helped. She was attending as a representative of his household.
Maia, dressed without complaint and donning a hat with a veil that shimmered down to her eyes, looked like a noblewoman attending a solemn mass in the holy empire gilded with the gold of the Western Continent.
Accompanied by the maidservants, Maia left her room.
The ceremony was held on the top floor of the Magic Tower.
The vast hall carved with a massive magic circle, filled with mysterious urns—where she had wandered two days ago with Rihi—was now the site of the Oath Ceremony.
…But why did he say knowing more would get me hurt?
Maia frowned. He seemed to have developed some weird flair for dramatic nonsense.
Stepping through the wide-open doors, the hall came into full view—more seats were filled than empty.
Since the ceremony dated back to the founding of the kingdom, only a select few attended, and the atmosphere was calm.
“Duchess Western, welcome.”
“Marquis Renessa.”
Now that she was attending, the absence of one person was starkly apparent.
Rihi had killed Count Polaris… Ugh, just thinking about it made her furious again. Damn brat—I told him not to kill him.
Maia clenched her teeth again.
“After such a mishap, I wasn’t able to visit. Are you well?”
“Thank you for your concern. The Magic Tower has been particularly attentive, so I’ve experienced no issues.”
“That is good to hear.”
The elderly man smiled gently.
For a moment, Count Polaris’s cruel smirk overlapped with his kind face.
…This man is also a pure noble like Polaris—yet how different they are.
“Do you not see me?”
“Ah.”
Maia looked up at the sudden voice.
The Grand Duke Aetherna was gazing at her, one hand raised in greeting.
Next to him stood a woman glaring daggers at her—but Maia ignored her completely and responded only to the Duke.
“Your Highness Grand Duke Aetherna. It’s the first time we’ve met since that day.”
“…Marquis Renessa already asked how you were, so I won’t ask again.”
Then why does he look so grumpy? Maia noticed he seemed like he had something he wanted to say.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
There was still time before the ceremony, so Maia decided to humor him a little.
“…No.”
The Grand Duke, who had been staring intently at Maia, eventually gave a negative reply.
…What was that about?
Maia stared at the awkwardly behaving Grand Duke for a moment, then moved toward the place where the Duke of Western should have stood.
The House of Western—Adelstein’s closest ally and considered equal to the royal Loire family.
Maia was suddenly struck by how high a position she now occupied.
The lady of a duke’s household—one of the highest-ranking noblewomen in the entire conservative Adelstein Empire.
The very place countless noble ladies dreamed of attaining… was currently held by the lowborn daughter of an unknown merchant.
Before she came, that seat belonged to the Empire’s princess.
A daughter of the Empire’s most noble blood, replaced by the daughter of a nameless merchant involved in scandalous rumors with the Emperor.
How ridiculous the disparity was—it was almost laughable.
And yet, Lucas de Agnolis Western, so principled and logical, had made that decision.
…A truth that had been set from the very beginning.
‘Please, I beg you. Just this once… Please listen to me.’
Maia’s lips twisted bitterly.
Why are you showing me your truth only now?
Do you know what it took for me to make the decision to leave you?
