Part 2 Chapter 105
A tiny, round body—plump little arms and legs like linked sausages.
And a face that burst into laughter the moment it looked at Ryan.
“Wow… so cute I could die.”
Ryan couldn’t take his eyes off the baby. Seeing this small, fragile life filled him with feelings he couldn’t describe.
“Y-Your Grace, that’s enough!”
“Huh—”
Before he could even enjoy the moment, the head maid rushed in and snatched the baby from his arms.
It was the head maid of the imperial palace, holding the infant prince, Sebastian Valencie.
Ryan licked his lips, looking longingly at the baby in her arms.
“My, must you embarrass me like this? I’ve barely held him for a few minutes!”
The crown princess scolded the flustered maid, who immediately bowed in apology.
“Ha-ha, it’s fine, Your Highness,” Ryan said, smiling, though he understood her anxiety.
After all, this baby—firstborn son of the crown prince and princess—was the empire’s joy.
And letting an “instant-death” ability user like Ryan hold him must have been terrifying.
‘The princess trusts me too much, really…’
He thought to himself, though he couldn’t help watching the maid hurry away with the baby in her arms.
“I’ll sneak him back later so you can look at him a bit more,” the crown prince said kindly, patting Ryan’s back.
“Anyway, Duke Belzer,” the crown princess began, “is your territory keeping you that busy? I heard your steward, Baron Hughes, is quite capable. You should stay in the capital for a while. Meet people—perhaps even someone special?”
Ryan shrugged. “Good people don’t only live in the capital. My duchy is full of decent folks too.”
“But all the proper young ladies from noble families are here,” she replied. “For a duke’s household, it’s better to find a wife from a respected noble family.”
The crown prince chuckled. “Hilde, our Ryan isn’t exactly in a position to be picky between nobles and commoners.”
Soon the royal couple was bickering about who should find Ryan’s future wife first.
Caught between them, Ryan scratched his head. “I’m fine, really. I’ve been neglecting my duties as lord, so I plan to focus on managing the duchy for a while. My younger siblings are still adjusting too.”
He placed a hand on Richard’s shoulder and pulled him forward.
“In fact, I’m quite busy, but the crown princess really wanted to see this one’s face, so I made time to visit—and, well, to meet the young prince too.”
“Ah, actually…”
The crown princess smiled mysteriously and gestured for Ryan to come closer. When he did, she whispered quietly so only he could hear.
“I may have called you here to introduce someone.”
“What?!” Ryan’s eyes lit up instantly.
“The princess has been working hard to find you a match. A few months ago, she took in a new lady-in-waiting from a baron’s family—and she keeps her close all the time.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“When I asked why, she said the girl has a good heart and would suit her brother perfectly. Sounds like she’s keeping her in mind for you.”
Ryan gasped and clutched his mouth.
Bania! Of course—it’s you!
The crown prince laughed. “Go on, don’t just stand there—go see the crown princess.”
***
Clara Flint was the eldest daughter of a poor baron’s family.
Her father, a retired knight, had nothing left but his title.
Her mother was a commoner.
And with three younger siblings and two sick parents, Clara had supported everyone by sewing and taking small jobs.
Then, one day, her life changed.
It began when the crown princess, Vania Valencie, invited her mother, the Baroness of Flint, to a tea party.
No one knew why a princess would invite such a humble lady.
But when her mother returned, she was trembling with excitement.
“The crown princess said she’s looking for a lady-in-waiting—and she wants to meet you!”
The whole family was stunned.
They pooled a week’s worth of food money to buy Clara a decent dress.
It was the most expensive thing she’d ever worn.
And when she went to the palace, she was hired on the spot.
The crown princess even paid her in advance—a huge sum that let Clara’s family eat a proper meal for the first time in months.
But soon, Clara began to realize the real reason the princess had chosen her.
***
“One funny thing about your name,” Bania said one day as they strolled through the garden together.
“What about it, Your Highness?” Clara asked politely.
Bania laughed. “Remember how my brother and I once pretended to be father and daughter? I used the name Clara as my fake mother’s name back then!”
Clara blinked. Was… that supposed to be funny?
Bania giggled. “Even now, some people still think the woman named Clara is my brother’s wife.”
Oh no… of course.
Clara had already heard rumors.
“The crown princess is desperately looking for a wife for Duke Belzer.”
“But with his scary reputation, no noble lady dares marry him.”
Her so-called friends—girls who’d once looked down on her for being poor—were the ones spreading those stories.
“If the princess made you her maid, it’s probably because she ran out of candidates,” they had said.
“She’s grooming you to marry him. You’ll be sold for money.”
“Still, if you survive long enough to become a duchess, lucky you!”
They had laughed cruelly, whispering about the terrifying “instant-death duke.”
But even knowing that, Clara couldn’t afford to quit.
Her family needed her job to survive.
So, she resolved to do her best—whatever the reason she’d been chosen.
***
“Clara,” Bania called softly.
“Yes, Your Highness?” Clara turned, admiring how beautiful she looked against the sunlight.
Vania really was lovely—kind, gentle, and warm.
Even if her motives were complicated, she treated Clara with genuine care.
“Clara… what do you think of men who smoke?”
“…Pardon?”
Ah. Here it comes.
Clara tensed. Bania had never brought up men before—this could only mean one thing.
He smokes? The terrifying duke smokes too?!
Bania waved her hands quickly. “Oh, no, no! He used to, but not anymore! I made him quit before he left for Belzer.”
“R-Really? That’s… good.”
“Yes. So, Clara…”
She was about to continue—Clara braced herself like she was facing a firing squad—
when suddenly a voice called out from afar.
“Rabbit—uh, I mean, Your Highness!”
Someone was running toward them.
