ODIBY 66

<Episode 66>

“Did Her Highness the Princess really invite us?”

Theodore frowned and nodded. He had received the invitation from his cousin and had come straight to the marquisate.

With arms crossed and one leg over the other, he rubbed near his brow and muttered.

“She’s never invited me before, so what in the world is she scheming….”

“What? Not even once?”

“Right. Melissa keeps me in check.”

And she had slyly used Theodore as an excuse so that everyone thought he was simply unable to attend due to personal reasons—when in fact he had never even received an invitation.

“If my uncle continues to hold the throne, then Melissa has the highest chance of becoming the next emperor.”

Roderick was indolent by nature, timid, and lacked the ambition to become a great ruler.

Melissa, on the other hand, was different. She was resolute, driven, and had a much larger capacity than her younger brother.

Though she did not reveal it openly, Theodore knew full well that her heart brimmed with ambition for the throne.

“She’s not the type to ever do me a favor, and considering she was indifferent to our relationship at first, she must have her own aim.”

Claire lowered her gaze and scanned the invitation. The formal wording was flawless, leaving no room to pick at.

Which meant—

“But we don’t have any grounds to refuse. We’ll have no choice but to attend.”

“Exactly. She even included the Marquis of Ravello in the invitation—if we decline, malicious rumors targeting us will spread.”

The recipients of Melissa’s invitation were not just Theodore and Claire, but Franz as well.

If they failed to attend, she would surely seize on all three of them as ammunition to attack.

That would be especially fatal for Franz, who had only just become the new head of the family.

“In that case, we’ll have to attend—and act in the complete opposite way of what Her Highness intends.”

At Claire’s resolute words, Theodore gave a faint smile before his expression turned serious.

“My guess is that Melissa wants to gauge the extent of our relationship, to see how threatening our union might become in the future.”

Claire was no longer just a bastard daughter of a noble son. She had risen to the point where she could potentially inherit the House of Ravello.

For the Emperor’s side, which had always been wary of Theodore forming powerful alliances through marriage, the situation demanded utmost vigilance.

“Then we’ll have to look as unambitious as possible.”

“Precisely. As if I have no interest in the throne, and you are simply trying to establish yourself as the marquis’s daughter.”

The two naturally began aligning on how they should behave at the banquet.

And on the way out, Theodore made a suggestion.

“What do you think about arranging a meal with your father before the banquet? The three of us together.”

“Hmm, that sounds good.”

As Claire’s lover, Theodore had yet to formally greet Franz.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to become acquainted before appearing together in public.

Above all, Franz was one of the very few who knew their relationship was fake—so it would help to align their stories.

“I’ll adjust my schedule, so please arrange it at your convenience.”

“Thank you.”

Theodore gave a light nod and left the marquisate at an unhurried pace.

That evening, Claire brought the invitation to Franz.

“Busy?”

“…Ah, Claire.”

Franz, sitting at his desk reading documents, looked up at her with a weary face.

Since inheriting the title of marquis, his life had been relentlessly busy.

He wasn’t just filling the position in name, but was trying to properly fulfill his duties as marquis. There was simply far too much to do.

The biggest cause was that the previous marquis’s household had left the estate in shambles.

And it didn’t help that Franz had inherited the position with no real training as successor.

Learn one thing, handle one problem—each day was barely enough.

The only reason he could breathe a little easier was thanks to Claire, who, with her experience as a duke’s daughter-in-law, helped him manage the household’s internal affairs.

“You look exhausted.”

Claire gazed at her brother with concern.

She knew all too well how hectic his life had become lately—and how ill-suited such a life was to him by nature.

“I’m fine, just getting used to it bit by bit.”

“You’re still eating properly, right?”

“Of course. Even though I usually don’t have much of an appetite, if I skip meals now, I feel like I’ll really die….”

Franz adjusted his slipping glasses and gave a faint, tired smile.

But seeing Claire’s expression darken, he hurriedly changed the subject.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Ah, an invitation to Her Highness’s birthday banquet came. But seeing you now, I’m not sure if you can come.”

Even though he said he hadn’t been skipping meals, his thinner frame pained her.

Franz took the invitation from Claire and answered readily.

“Of course I have to go. It’ll help both you and me strengthen our positions.”

Hearing his reply—far more broad-minded than before—Claire smiled faintly.

As she patted her tired brother’s shoulder and was about to leave, she remembered something else.

“By the way, His Highness suggested we have a meal together before the banquet. Is that alright?”

“…His Highness?”

“Yes. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll decline.”

“No!”

Franz suddenly raised his voice, and his once-dull green eyes lit up.

They hadn’t met since Priscilla’s funeral.

Given that he was Claire’s public lover, Franz had wanted to meet him again.

“I wanted to see His Highness anyway. This is perfect. Please set it up.”

“Alright, I will.”

Claire looked uneasily at her brother’s sudden enthusiasm, but figured nothing would happen, and nodded.

Thus, the three of them confirmed both their attendance and their meeting.

Two days later.

The three gathered in the Ravello dining hall.

Claire looked between her brother and her fake lover and thought:

Why are both of them dressed up like this?

She herself had dressed plainly, since it was just a meeting at home. But the two men had adorned themselves like peacocks.

Theodore, perhaps, was not surprising—but Franz was a sight she had never seen before.

And it doesn’t even suit him…

The stark black-and-white formal attire clashed with his boyishly pure features.

While Claire looked on with mixed feelings, Franz straightened his shoulders and greeted Theodore.

“Your Highness, it’s been a while.”

“Good to see you, Marquis.”

Franz grasped Theodore’s hand firmly.

Caught off guard by the unexpected strength, Theodore paused briefly before speaking more gently than usual.

“I didn’t expect this to be like a formal meeting, but it’s an honor to meet you, Father.”

His manner of speaking carried respect—unlike when Franz had merely been a minor noble’s son.

But Franz was too shocked to notice the difference.

“W-what…? F-formal meeting? F-Father?!”

The devastating words—formal meeting and Father—had come from Theodore’s mouth.

Even Claire, sitting beside Franz, was startled, but Theodore remained perfectly composed.

“Isn’t the first meeting with a lover’s parent usually called a formal meeting? And naturally, one addresses a lover’s father as ‘Father.’”

“B-but, Your Highness isn’t actually Claire’s lover, right?!”

Franz slammed the table, unable to hold back.

Theodore only shrugged calmly.

“If you want to avoid mistakes in public, you have to immerse yourself and forget it’s fake.”

“Still, it’s only a fake relationship—that’s too much…”

“Even a fake relationship is still a relationship.”

“…!”

Franz’s lips trembled at the irrefutable words.

Yes, a relationship is still a relationship….

Claire, glancing at her brother who was visibly shaken for reasons she couldn’t understand, stepped in.

“Enough greetings—you two should eat. The food will get cold.”

At her cue, the servants began placing delicious dishes on the table.

While Claire and Theodore exchanged bits of conversation, Franz remained quiet.

The loudest thought in his confused mind was:

I’ve lost. I’ve been outmatched.

He had always been wary of their contract relationship. Today, as “father,” he had planned to firmly support Claire.

Even though he trusted she could handle herself, he had worried Theodore might take her lightly.

Now that he was marquis, he had wanted to assert that he would always be at Claire’s back.

That was why he had gone to the trouble of dressing himself with as much charisma as he could muster.

But each time Theodore opened his mouth, he landed a critical blow with something utterly unexpected—leaving Franz unable to respond as he’d intended.

He was cutting his meat absentmindedly when he snapped back to his senses.

Wait, I shouldn’t be eating this myself.

“Claire, I’ve cut this for you—”

He tried to show the common courtesy of slicing the meat and switching plates with the lady.

But—

“Young Lady, please.”

Theodore had already beaten him to it.

Right before Franz’s eyes, their plates switched.

“Thank you, Your Highness. You didn’t have to.”

“Nonsense. It’s only proper.”

“Still, I appreciate it. I’ll enjoy this.”

“Good.”