HRNGDS 83

~Chapter 83~

Delphina crossed her arms.

“Then tell me the thoughts you had back then.”

Light returned to Jerian’s once-dull eyes.

“I’ll become the Duke of Fuat. Even if my brother didn’t try to kill me with black magic, I can’t hand the Duchy over to him.”

“And?”

“I’ll have to find out if he really did try to kill me. And if it’s true… he’ll have to pay the price. You know me—I’m not exactly a nice person.”

“I know. There were plenty of people at the academy who suffered because of you.”

Delphina smiled faintly. She could already picture Kassen’s troubled face if Jerian regained his health.

She held out her hand to Jerian.

“Then our goal is the same.”

Her eyes glinted coldly. Jerian, not understanding, took her hand.

“I have a way to help you.”

Delphina immediately went to find Elcayan to explain her plan.

“When the Duke and Duchess of Fuat return, Kassen will be officially named the new Duke. Even if he has to go to the Imperial Palace later for approval, it seems they’ll still make a public declaration here.”

“Is there a reason the Duke is rushing it?”

“His health isn’t good either. I think it’s from the stress over Jerian.”

“What do you want me to do? You must have a reason for telling me this.”

“I want to stay here until the Duke and Duchess arrive.”

“There’s a reason, I assume?”

Delphina thought about the Kassen she knew.
When the Duke and Duchess returned, Kassen would be full of pride—and Ivelina too.

If she stayed at the Fuat estate, she didn’t know what tricks they might try. But one thing was certain:

“I want Kassen to face the worst moment when he’s feeling the most proud and happy.”

Elcayan stared at her. Her cheeks were flushed.
She seemed excited—both to help her friend Jerian and to humiliate Kassen.

He gave a short laugh.
Seeing her happy put him in a good mood for no reason.

Delphina quickly added,

“Before the Northern winter comes, you don’t have to worry about the Grand Madam’s health. She’ll be fine.”

Elcayan’s voice was full of trust.

“I wasn’t worried to begin with. I knew you’d have a plan.”

“Thank you, Elcayan.”

“There’s still time before the Northern winter arrives.”

That was all she needed to hear. Delphina nodded with a bright face.

Ivelina was furious.
She’d heard that Delphina was going to stay at the Fuat estate until the Duke and Duchess returned.

“I have to see the Duke before I leave. He’s cared for me since I was a child—it’s only right I see him.”

Delphina said this with an innocent face.
What made it worse was how Kassen looked pleased by her words.

“Jerian will be glad you’re staying. When my parents come, my succession ceremony will be held too—why don’t you stay for that?”

Delphina didn’t refuse. She was planning to stay for the ceremony anyway.

Kassen smiled triumphantly.
The thought of showing Delphina the moment he became Duke made him happy.

But his eyes narrowed at Elcayan standing so close to her.
Things would be different once he became Duke.

Kassen glanced at Elcayan with a smirk. Jerian would soon be dead, and then the same foul power harming Jerian could be turned on Delphina.

Let’s see how long you can keep that calm look.

Second Prince Piaje Rieta Hawkins could barely contain his anger after receiving a letter from the Duke of Rikeion.

[Your Highness, please save us. The magic on my father has been broken. The magic on Delphina as well. The stability of black magic is weakening. The people we controlled are regaining their minds.]

Under pressure from Alfonso and the Rikeion Ducal Council, the Emperor had been forced to return the title of Duke to Alfonso.

The original succession had been done without official procedure—there’d been no ceremony, no seal handover—so the removal and reinstatement went smoothly.

After reading the letter, Piaje froze. The Empress, Yuria, sighed.

“Calm yourself.”

“But Mother, the Duke of Rikeion is pathetic. How could he ruin the title we gave him so easily?”

“…”

“And this news about black magic being unstable is troubling. Doesn’t it mean Jerian could recover?”

“The Duke of Fuat is in despair right now, so there’s no need to worry. The heir he favored is near death. And unless a god intervenes directly, do you really think he’ll survive?”

Piaje nodded reluctantly. Yuria continued to reassure him.

“Even if Jerian doesn’t die quickly, in a few days the Duchy will officially pass to Kassen. The Rikeion situation was rare—once this ceremony is done, even if the Duke regains his senses, removing Kassen will be difficult.”

“That’s true.”

“The Fuat Duchy will be in our grasp. And if needed, we can start over. Dianko is still alive. Or we could give the Rikeion title to a child of Kassen and Ivelina.”

Piaje exhaled slowly. She was right—the loss of the Rikeion Duchy was regrettable, but it could be reclaimed.

“The instability in the black magic must be because Delphina’s in the North and the brainwashing has weakened—same for Alfonso. They were left too long. Sending her north was the Duke of Rikeion’s biggest mistake.”

Yuria told him,

“Be sure to attend the Fuat succession ceremony. Make it as public as possible. Make Kassen shine. That way, there won’t be a repeat of the Rikeion situation.”

The Rikeion Duke had lost his position because the succession hadn’t been done openly. If Kassen’s ceremony followed proper procedure, the same problem wouldn’t arise.

Piaje nodded firmly.

“You’re right, Mother. The Fuat succession will be flawless.”

Ivelina went to see Kassen, unable to contain her anger after learning Delphina would be staying.

“Kassen, are you really going to let Delphina stay here?”

“Well, there’s no real reason to throw her out, is there?”