Chapter 29
The Mayus Trading Company, which had grown terrifyingly fast with numerous permissions and privileges granted to it, used to be just one of the many insignificant trade guilds—at least until the current Emperor ascended the throne. But now, it had become one of the Empire’s leading merchant groups.
…Given all these obvious circumstances, how could Ravina Hansberg possibly be unconnected to the Emperor?
“Maia!”
Maia Hansberg.
She hadn’t just inherited her mother’s appearance—it seemed her older brother had fallen completely under her spell as well.
Because of that, the foolish Enoch Frisch Keppel still couldn’t forget Maia Hansberg and was agonizing over her.
If there was ever a mother and daughter more deserving of being called vulgar, it was them.
Pretty faces, and nothing else of worth.
Elise glared at Maia’s face, seething with rage.
“And yet, you—such a noble woman—weren’t able to win his heart, were you?”
But Maia Hansberg was calm.
So calm, in fact, that it only made Elise’s fury burn hotter.
“And now, I’m the Duke of Western’s fiancée.”
At those softly muttered words from Maia, Elise barely kept hold of her sanity.
Yes. This woman was now the duke’s fiancée.
In a few months, she would become the new Duchess of Western, outranking Elise in status.
…And that position had originally belonged to Princess Riveka.
That such a vulgar woman had taken the place once reserved for the imperial princess—
“The Duke of Western is just another man after all.”
The man the princess had chosen and loved—was he truly such a man?
That day, Elise gave up her longing for the Duke of Western.
“Would you accompany me for a walk in the garden?”
Elise, lost in thought, was suddenly snapped back by a familiar voice.
It was her brother, Enoch.
And the one he was speaking to—Maia Hansberg.
Elise turned her head and smiled triumphantly.
She no longer coveted the Duke of Western. But her admiration for the princess still remained.
And Elise had already noticed that her foolish brother was still clinging to his feelings for Maia Hansberg.
She no longer wanted to see the princess’s legacy defiled.
So, she decided to push Maia toward her brother.
It was by no means an act of goodwill.
If the heir of the noble Keppel Marquisate were to declare his intent to marry a middle-class woman—especially one who had once been the Duchess of Western—the elders of the family would fight it fiercely with every tool at their disposal.
And the weak Enoch Frisch Keppel would never be able to withstand that opposition.
In that case, the duchess’s seat would be clean once more, and Maia Hansberg would be left disgraced, unable to secure even the title of Marchioness.
What could be more satisfying than seeing them crash and burn together?
Pretending not to notice Maia walking out of the study with Enoch, Elise smiled sweetly and spoke.
“But… about what happened during the imperial trial last time.”
The Duke of Western’s face turned rigid the moment she brought it up.
Elise raised the corners of her lips into a smooth, curved smile.
“Why did the Duchess say such things, I wonder?”
Everything was going exactly according to Elise’s plan.
I don’t know what I’m doing.
In the quiet of the night, in the glass greenhouse of the duke’s mansion—
Maia, walking with the Keppel heir, drifted into thought.
Earlier, in the room, he had suddenly suggested a walk. Caught off guard, Maia had agreed without much thought.
If only the Duke of Western had stopped them at the door, perhaps this awkward and bizarre nighttime stroll would never have happened.
But whether it was fortunate or not, the duke had been too focused on his card game to even notice Maia leaving the room.
Maia, feeling the urge to escape, turned her head toward the wide garden in the distance.
They were strolling through the western glasshouse.
A few days ago, during an unexpected visit from Lihi, the eastern garden had been utterly destroyed by some unknown force.
Even the wizard summoned for restoration had fled in fear of some inexplicable terror, so unless something drastic happened, the eastern garden would remain unusable.
“…May I ask you a question?”
Enoch’s voice broke through her thoughts, and Maia looked up.
He stood still, lips pressed together, gazing at her.
“If you’re curious about something, feel free.”
Maia responded calmly.
But she regretted granting that permission the very next moment.
“Why did you ask His Majesty the Emperor to approve your divorce from the Duke of Western?”
Ah. Maia felt hollow.
Why did things like this keep happening?
She’d already expected the news to have spread not just within the capital but across the entire Empire.
She had only been unaware of it because she’d holed up inside the duke’s mansion.
Lihi knew—so of course Enoch did too, and likely with intense curiosity.
Feeling ashamed of her constant anxiety, Maia decided to speak plainly.
“Because our marriage isn’t harmonious. What other reason could there be?”
It was a blunt answer, and Enoch’s eyes widened.
“I’m sick of it. People call me the dream woman who rose from merchant’s daughter to Duchess of Western overnight… but honestly?”
Maia gave a bitter smile.
“Underneath that flashy exterior… there’s nothing beautiful. It’s all fake. Every bit of it.”
Silence fell.
Enoch, emotions stirring in his gaze, resumed walking.
Maia followed beside him.
Looking straight ahead, Enoch quietly spoke.
“Then… you’re not happy?”
Isn’t that obvious?
Maia sighed and looked up at him.
“Of course not. I’m not happy.”
Just then, as if planned, a familiar cluster of flowers appeared before them.
Purple and blue hydrangeas, beautifully blended.
Maia came to a halt.
“…Hydrangeas.”
She spoke softly. Enoch stopped too, staring quietly at the blooming flowers.
Why, of all people, was she seeing this flower again while walking with him?
As if thinking the same thing, Enoch looked down at the blossoms.
“That day, when my sister poured tea on you.”
His voice trembled as it hit her ears.
It was a wound from the past he had reopened.
“I apologize.”
The words were spoken softly but carried unbelievable weight.
Maia couldn’t believe her ears and slowly looked up.
Enoch was looking down at her—
With a trembling smile, as if trying to hide his own unease.
“Truthfully, I’ve always wanted to apologize for that day.”
Her heart was slowly drowning in a feeling she couldn’t name.
“I kept trying to approach you… but you never let me close again.”
She remembered the way he’d used to glance at her in their family estate—eyes full of unspoken words.
“That’s why it took so long.”
“That wasn’t something you needed to apologize for…”
Her voice broke.
Maia’s face twisted slightly as she added with difficulty.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Enoch smiled gently, his eyes crinkling.
“I know. But my sister never apologized, so I thought I should.”
It was the first time someone had ever offered her a sincere apology for hurting her.
“…Maia?”
Even her own husband had never acknowledged her pain—he only recited excuses, blinded by his own feelings.
Maia stared blankly at Enoch.
“Maia.”
He spoke her name again in a flustered voice.
Realizing his mistake, Enoch hurriedly corrected himself.
“Ah, I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you that—”
“Pfft.”
Maia let out a quiet laugh. Enoch stood frozen, watching her.
“It’s fine. You can call me by name… You used to, back then. Freely.”
Yes. Lihi wasn’t the only one who hadn’t changed.
There was one more.
“Do I need a reason? I just wanted to talk to you… Somehow.”
The boy from her memories was still the same.
Even surrounded by filth, his core had remained pure.
At her reply, Enoch pressed his lips together, visibly trembling.
“…Then, please—call me by my name too.”
That, she hadn’t expected.
