Chapter 74
The corridor was quiet.
Just one step away from the heat of the banquet, the mansion felt like another world — serene and still.
Only the moonlight and the faint gleam of embedded mana stones pushed back the darkness.
“The Grand Duke has changed quite a bit — his way of speaking, his gestures, even his appearance.”
He curved his lips into a smile and asked,
“Was that your doing?”
It was a smile, but somehow, it felt more like mockery.
I raised one eyebrow and replied,
“We live together, after all. At the very least, I wanted to make him look pleasant.”
“Haha. So his former appearance didn’t suit your taste?”
“To be honest, if it hadn’t been Father’s will…”
I trailed off, recalling the past, and then smiled lightly.
“But I’m glad he turned out to have a decent face.”
The Duke’s narrowed eyes turned toward me.
His expression was unreadable — a smile, but no emotion beneath it.
“You’ve changed quite a bit too.”
“…”
I stopped walking down the hall.
As I halted, so did the Duke.
“How could I not?”
“Hmm.”
“I just wanted to become someone who suited my role.”
He let out a soft hum and faced me fully.
The blue moonlight drew a clear line between us — me, hidden in shadow, and him, standing in the light.
Studying his expression, which hovered between a smirk and a frown, I spoke proudly.
“I’ve always wanted to be a daughter you could be proud of, Father. And now, I’ve finally seized that chance.”
My eyes must have been shining more determinedly than ever.
With a bright smile, I slowly bent my knees before him.
“Right now, I’m shining brighter than ever — the perfect Grand Duchess. Because I wanted your recognition!”
“Oh, Edith…”
The Duke spoke in a tone of feigned admiration.
“You’re already my proud rose. The blood of Sertia, the daughter of this Asrel.”
But his next words cut like a blade.
“Then why, if you so desired my approval… did you send Rachel away?”
At last.
Here it comes.
“I heard Rachel was disrespectful to you. Punishing an insolent servant is the lady of the house’s rightful duty.”
He nodded indifferently, but then his eyes grew sharp and cold.
“Still, you must have known she was one of mine.”
“…”
Instead of answering, I turned my gaze toward the garden beyond the corridor.
Not even the chirping of insects broke the stillness.
“I knew. I tried to endure it, at first.”
But—
“Was there any reason I had to tolerate her trying to play the mistress of the house?”
I spoke softly, but my tone was cold.
The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Even the people of the Grand Duke’s household found Rachel’s behavior… overstepping.”
I continued calmly,
“And besides, if a child is born in the future, they’ll see everything that happens around them. I simply decided her example would be a poor influence on the child’s education.”
I didn’t cower before him.
If anything, I tried to appear as an ambitious Grand Duchess — something that would appeal to his taste.
As expected, he gave a small laugh.
“…A child, hm. You have a point.”
He began to walk again, speaking slowly.
I followed quietly behind him.
“According to Rachel, the Grand Duke has fallen in love with you — and that it was by your own skill.”
Then his gaze fell directly on me.
“Is that true?”
I shrugged lightly.
“I think… it’s true that he loves me.”
“…”
“But I’m not sure if that’s really because of my ability.”
Tilting my head slightly, I smiled softly.
“A man who’s never even held a woman’s hand before now spends every night with me… it might have just happened naturally.”
For a moment, silence filled the corridor.
The Duke stared at me.
His eyes were calm, yet somewhere deep within them, he was weighing thoughts.
“Rachel went so far as to record proof of it, but surely, Father, you don’t wish to confirm it with your own eyes?”
At my cold remark, the Duke chuckled quietly.
“Of course not. I’ve seen the way the Grand Duke looks at you.”
His voice softened.
“Eyes so full of love, one couldn’t possibly doubt them.”
…Denok’s acting really was quite something — to have even fooled the Duke so completely.
As I marveled silently, his tone grew heavier, thoughtful.
“Love… it’s a terrifying emotion, isn’t it?”
“…”
“It shakes one’s reason and clouds judgment. It blinds the eyes.”
Then, in a suddenly low voice, he called my name.
“Edith.”
“Yes?”
“This is a warning — from a father, sincerely.”
“…”
“Do not love him.”
That was a face I’d never seen before.
For the first time, he spoke to me with true earnestness.
“Love is a dangerous thing. Especially for you.”
His voice felt strange — distant, like a dream beneath the moonlight.
“Mermaids should not love humans. There’s a fairy tale that teaches that, isn’t there?”
A tale of a mermaid who loved a human and turned into sea foam.
It felt oddly out of place in this moment, yet what filled my mind wasn’t confusion — it was a deep, unshakable unease.
Blue eyes, blurred in memory, curving softly toward me.
A gentle melody, hummed quietly.
My mother had looked happy then.
Did Mother… love Father?
The way he spoke of love’s danger — could it also have applied to her?
Before I knew it, the question slipped from my lips.
“Father… did you love Mother?”
Even I wasn’t sure what I wanted to hear.
The words came without thought.
The Duke was silent for a long time.
“…”
A tense silence hung between us.
His eyes narrowed until his pupils could barely be seen.
And just before his lips parted—
The sharp click of polished shoes echoed through the hall, and we both turned.
Pale moonlight revealed the man approaching.
Hair white as moonlight, eyes blue as dawn.
“My apologies.”
It was Prince Siren of the Kingdom of Elka.
He bowed slightly as he approached us.
“Forgive the intrusion. I was looking for the Grand Duchess of Luciano.”
A faint smile spread across the Duke’s face.
“No need to apologize. A distinguished guest, seeking out my daughter? May I ask what brings you—”
“I’ve taken an interest in Luciano’s magical techniques,” Siren replied smoothly. “I’d like to discuss them privately with the Grand Duchess.”
His gaze lingered on the Duke — a silent request for privacy.
A flicker of surprise crossed the Duke’s face.
He must never have received such a request before.
But he quickly composed himself and nodded graciously.
“Of course. I shall return to the banquet hall.”
I inclined my head.
“Yes, I’ll greet you again later, Father.”
Still smiling, the Duke nodded to Siren.
“Enjoy the evening, Your Highness.”
As I watched my father’s retreating back fade into the distance, footsteps approached.
Siren stopped before me and extended his arm — an offer to escort me.
“I caught a glimpse of the garden earlier. It looked beautiful. Would you show me around?”
Between his gently curved eyes, his blue irises shimmered like jewels under the moonlight.
For some reason, I found I couldn’t refuse.
