Chapter 71
Revealed Secrets (3)
Retina had wrestled with countless worries before meeting Nolden and handing him the pendant, before revealing her secret. But when she saw him confidently enter the ballroom, she made up her mind. She would rise to a position where no one could touch her recklessly and live as her complete self, just like him.
“If this pendant truly is the Tear of the Vanished Goddess, then I would be one of the descendants the prince has been searching for.”
Retina clenched the pendant tightly in her hand. If she really was a descendant of Ignes, and if a royal marriage between the two nations was necessary for trade, then…
‘It can be a strength, not a weakness.’
Even if she didn’t marry Nolden, she could maintain the trade between the two countries. She wouldn’t let it hold back the one she loved.
“From my memory, that pendant is indeed the Tear of the Goddess. Since you said it was an heirloom from your mother, it must be genuine. However, the verification process must be conducted in Raglas.”
“That would be wise. The jewel I possess could be a fake.”
“I’ll contact the home country first. Since it’s an heirloom from your mother, it’s delicate to send it directly. Perhaps I could send a drawing instead—would that be acceptable?”
Retina nodded and handed the pendant back to Nolden. He accepted it even more carefully than before, putting it into the inner pocket so as not to lose it. Watching the pendant, which she had never let out of her hands since her mother passed away, slip into Nolden’s pocket, she asked:
“Could this give me strength?”
“If confirmed by our home country, you will be granted the title of Duke according to your wishes. Back then, under the king’s order, the Ignes family was spared from annihilation, and both their title and lands were preserved exactly as they were a hundred years ago.”
“A Duke… then my existence could aid the exchange between the two nations.”
If she received the Dukedom from Raglas, which sought friendly relations with Ludenheim, her position would be different from now. Even without marrying Nolden, she could withstand challenges through her own strength without burdening her family or those around her. Hope appeared—a way to stand proudly beside the one she loved.
“I don’t think you have any intention of marrying me, milady.”
“I’m sorry to say it to you, Your Highness, but yes… if I can avoid it, I’d like not to marry.”
Nolden accepted the emotions he could see in Retina’s heart. From the first time their marriage negotiations began, there had been no place for him in her feelings. Unlike him, whose affection grew despite knowing the truth, her heart had always been set on one person.
“Was the person you liked then the Crown Prince?”
At his question, Retina’s shoulders trembled. Even without confirming, her reaction was clear.
“As I thought… that explains it.”
Nolden touched his forehead and sighed.
“Not long after you came to my residence, Your Highness came to visit.”
Lowering her head, Retina stared at Nolden intently, as if asking what had happened when the Crown Prince came.
“He asked when you would be returning.”
“And he only asked?”
“Once he finished his business, he told me to leave quickly.”
Nolden spoke with a smile, but Retina’s expression betrayed her disbelief. To tell the visiting prince who came as part of a delegation to leave… it seemed he had come after hearing news of her.
“It’s fine, even if milady has someone in mind. If it’s a marriage without feelings, it’s better to marry someone you at least have some affection for. As for me, I intend to proceed with the royal marriage with you, but if you truly don’t want to marry me, I will not force you.”
Nolden spoke clearly, his heart open. Whatever choice Retina made, he would accept it willingly.
“However, the Crown Prince will choose another lady as his consort. Then you would not be his wife, but his concubine. Would you be alright with that?”
What troubled him was the current situation in Ludenheim. Although the Crown Prince seemed to care for Retina, he was already selecting a prospective princess. The selection, which began even before the negotiations with Nolden, was approaching its final stage. Soon, the chosen princess would be officially decided.
If that happened, the Crown Prince’s undisclosed lover would never be formally recognized and would spend her life as his concubine.
“But this is my life, and I can’t just live as others dictate. I want to at least try for what I want.”
Yet Retina’s answer was firm. She no longer wanted to live swayed by others. Having lived comfortably under her father’s shadow, she realized upon coming to the capital that the world runs on power, and running away solves nothing.
If she wanted what she desired, she had to possess equivalent strength. And Retina intended to gain that power.
“I will marry the person I choose.”
Nolden raised his eyebrows in surprise at her resolute words. Retina, with unwavering determination, had spoken as if claiming what she wanted.
“By the way, I was truly surprised. You have silver hair, milady. It feels unfamiliar, but it certainly suits you.”
After their conversation ended, Nolden remarked as he watched Retina put her wig back on. Though he didn’t mean her appearance with the wig was bad, her silver hair still drew more attention, even to a Northerner like him.
“Really? I often hear that brown hair suits me poorly.”
“Not poorly… bright hair tends to look more vivid. That’s why I think it suited you even when it was platinum.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Since they would return to the mansion soon, Retina loosely fixed her wig and tidied her disheveled hair. She didn’t have the skill to style her hair as Lina did, so she gathered it with a comb, tied it in half, and secured it with a pin.
“Let me help.”
Seeing her struggle, Nolden stood and took over. He neatly tied her hair into half without a single stray, securing it with a pin so that the knot wasn’t visible.
“You’re skilled at doing hair.”
“Ah, I have two younger sisters. Taking care of a newly adult sister and a nine-year-old sibling taught me hair care. Not as elaborate as the maids, but enough.”
He smiled after letting go of her hair. So she had younger sisters—he hadn’t known. That explained why she conversed so naturally with ladies. He shook her securely tied hair lightly.
“I didn’t know you had younger sisters.”
“They’re half-siblings. My mother died giving birth to me, so there’s an age gap.”
“My apologies.”
“Not at all. Our new queen is kindhearted, so she treated us like our mother. I grew up without loneliness. Honestly, I liked having cute younger siblings.”
It had been nearly three months since she last saw them. His subtle smile betrayed a hint of longing.
“You must miss them.”
“It’s the first time I’ve been apart this long. I’ve been wanting to see them recently. But I’ll see them soon enough, as the return date is near.”
Nolden looked at Retina, who resembled his own sisters, and quickly averted his eyes, realizing he might be overstepping. When he first saw her struggling to adapt at the royal ball and going to the terrace, he remembered his sisters in Raglas.
Whether it was because she didn’t cower even before the Empress or because the child had intrigued him, he felt she could comfortably live in unfamiliar Ludenheim.
‘I didn’t expect to like her beyond a comfortable acquaintance.’
Had he known sooner, he might have approached more boldly. Nolden resigned himself with a bitter expression. But his feelings were too late—he could wish her happiness, but he could not forcibly push the royal marriage.
“You asked whether the Ignes family could be your strength. As long as Ludenheim seeks exchange between the two nations, you will be treated as an equal here. In Raglas, once you reclaim the Tear of the Goddess, you can fully dedicate yourself to restoring the Ignes family.”
Returning to his seat after fixing Retina’s hair, Nolden spoke. To give Retina some strength in her desire to choose her own marriage, the quickest way was to have her recognized as a descendant of the Ignes family.
But first, there was something to resolve. Nolden asked Retina for her consent:
“However, to have that power recognized, your secret must be revealed in Ludenheim. Are you alright with that?”
