Chapter 99

“I proclaim the House of Elemore as the Empire’s Number One Meritorious Family.”

After a storm had swept through the throne room, Etias declared this in the solemn silence.

My heart was beating so hard it felt like it might burst.

Number One Meritorious Family.

Just as Etias said, anyone who couldn’t accept me would have to leave.

The nobles who learned the truth about the Duke of Elemore all nodded in agreement.

“Also, I grant the title of Duke of Elemore to Lady Katrin Elemore.”

I was surprised and looked at him.

He, with his clear blue eyes looking straight at me, said without hesitation,

“Katrin Elemore has carried on the will of the late Duke Elemore, always seeking justice even in difficult times, and has shown grace to the people through charity, so it is only right she inherits the title.”

Kamel, Caron, and the other nobles nodded in agreement.

Come to think of it, I had run away on the day I was supposed to receive my title during the Rebel Emperor’s time. Now, receiving it as soon as I return feels strange and new.

“Of course, receiving the title is not the end.”

Etias was looking only at me.

He declared in a serious voice,

“Katrin Elemore… has become my everything.”

People gasped loudly at his words.

I, too, opened my eyes wide in surprise.

‘Did he really just say that…?’

My face grew hot, and the memory of him kissing me during the flood in Quaidon flashed through my mind.

I could hear nobles whispering behind me.

“Uh, isn’t the atmosphere kind of strange?”

“No, no, he just means he wants the Duke of the Number One Meritorious Family close by.”

I bit my lip and looked at Etias, who twisted his lips slightly and stared at me with sharp eyes for a long time.

After things calmed down, he changed the topic.

“Next, I elevate Caron Fernar’s family to the rank of marquis, and appoint him as Minister of Economy.”

Caron bowed politely.

“I will adopt the liberation economic theory he advocates as the empire’s economic policy. It will help stabilize the people’s livelihoods after the revolution’s chaos.”

As emperor, Etias was explaining and directing policy just as I had always dreamed of.

His confident shoulders, shining face, overwhelming presence—he looked truly like an emperor.

‘…But why did he say that?’

The heat on my face lingered.

His everything? Isn’t that a bit too much?

“My lady.”

On the way out of the throne room, Caron hurried to catch up to me.

“…?”

“About what you asked me before, to look for the note.”

Before the revolution, I’d once asked Caron, when he was leading me to Etias’s office, to find a note I’d written in a book I was reading in the library.

His eyes looked deeply moved.

“There was no note.”

“I see.”

I nodded with a small smile, but he quickly asked with urgency,

“Was that, too, meant to enlighten me?”

He seemed excited, recalling when he first read the book.

“When I opened the book looking for a note, each word caught my eye. I realized it was perfect for the empire’s economic policy, which had lost its way because of the Rebel Emperor’s incompetence. It was like finding a pearl in the mud.”

He continued,

“But that pearl was something you had hidden.”

“Well, I’m glad you thought that way. Most people wouldn’t even notice a pearl if they saw one.”

I replied with a smile, meaning I was happy with the outcome.

“I’m glad it worked out as I intended. Liberation economics will surely help the empire.”

There was no reason to hide it now, since everything had already been revealed.

“Ha… My lady.”

Caron blushed a little and looked at me with trembling eyes before bowing deeply.

“I didn’t know what kind of person you truly were, and for a long time, I was wary of you… I misunderstood you.”

“Don’t worry. I acted that way on purpose. If I’d openly helped the revolutionaries, it would have caused problems. The Rebel Emperor had many eyes on me.”

Caron stared at me for a long time, then bowed his head again.

“You are truly amazing, my lady. Please continue to teach me in the future.”

“Not at all. Let’s get along well.”

Even after saying goodbye, he hesitated before speaking again.

“Um, this is unrelated, but about your maid, Agnes…”

“Oh, yes?”

I raised my eyebrows in curiosity when he mentioned Agnes.

“I mean, is she alright—”

Someone interrupted us then.

“Lady Katrin Elemore.”

It was Duke Kamel Beatrice.

He had helped reveal the truth about the Duke of Elemore by testifying about the past, and now he was looking at me with a deep gaze.

“You are truly remarkable. I can only admire you. And your father as well…”

He paused for a moment, as if his throat was tight, then continued.

“I’m ashamed that I misunderstood Luchi for so long. He was hard to read, but he wasn’t a traitor. I was also wrong about the late emperor… and about thinking badly of Luchi. I’m too ashamed to lift my head.”

I understood how embarrassed he must have felt.

“Now that everything is settled right, that’s enough.”

His own reflections were his to bear, but since he had greatly helped the revolution’s success, he deserved to enjoy the new world.

Looking at me with grateful eyes, he spoke again.

“It’s shameless of me, but… may I visit your family someday to remember my late friend?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. And let me apologize to you as well.”

He bowed to me.

“I also misunderstood you, my lady. I ignored you at the hunting festival, not knowing you were the emperor’s biggest supporter. I found out it was the Rebel Emperor who tried to turn me and His Majesty against each other, thanks to you.”

It seemed that had weighed on his mind. Personally, I’d thought his inflexible attitude was actually a good thing.

“Well, I’ll gladly accept your apology.”

“Thank you, my lady. Ah, now you’re a duke. Congratulations on inheriting the title. On the day you inherit, I’ll send a gift from my house in the west.”

After this friendly conversation, I said goodbye and headed to the carriage.

“See you.”

Heros, waiting for me, opened the carriage door and escorted me.

Dressed in a white shirt and gray vest, he looked every bit the perfect butler.

“Everyone knows you’re Jeffrey Whistler. Isn’t it strange to keep acting as a butler?”

“Please don’t stop my happiness. I can only feel it when I’m by your side.”

Heros had once practically confessed to me, so words like this always made my heart flutter a little.

—Darling.

We called each other that, even though we were only pretending to be a married couple.

But we were so used to each other that being together never felt awkward.

Soon, our carriage arrived at the Elemore estate, and the grand mansion came into view through the window.

My familiar home.

Many servants, having heard we were coming, were waiting in front.

“Ha, I never thought I’d come back.”

“So true.”

Heros stepped out first, opened the door, and helped me down.

Agnes and the maids, with teary eyes, all said together,

“My lady, welcome home!”