Chapter 7
Henry, having caught on to the implications, fixed his gaze on the retreating figure of Hermia.
“I doubt they would have continued to torment their daughter, who was to become a Duchess.”
‘You’re suggesting it was possible in the past.’
“Indeed, it seems so. When I saw her briefly last time, she seemed to have quite a temper.”
“What do you mean by formidable?”
“Ouch!”
Henry jumped at the sudden voice that interrupted him.
“Your Highness! I almost shot you!”
He had instinctively reached for the revolver at his waist, grimacing as Walter bowed his head calmly, as if this were a common occurrence.
“You’re late.”
‘Oh, come on, Your Grace, don’t be so boring.’
As Gerald took off his toy glasses and pouted, Walter finally managed a slight smile.
“Gerald.”
‘Yeah, man.’
The two walked into Sophia’s shop. This time, the soldiers waiting outside blocked the entrance and firmly shut the door.
Inside the store, all the staff had vacated to their offices, leaving only Walter and Gerald walking side by side.
Madame Sophia followed closely behind them, visibly tense at the presence of royalty.
“Sometimes it’s not bad to come out in person.”
She was eagerly presenting all the jewelry pieces that caught Gerald’s interest. Watching him hum a tune, Sophia couldn’t hide her excitement and hurriedly interjected.
“If you had just mentioned it, I would have come to the castle anytime to meet you! How could you grace us with your presence…!”
“There’s a separate contract with the royal family’s designated merchants, so that’s not feasible.”
Gerald smoothly cut her off with a gentle smile.
“I’d like to have a quiet conversation with the Duke.”
“Of course! Of course! I’ll be upstairs, so please take your time…!”
Grabbing her dress hem tightly, Sophia hurriedly disappeared upstairs.
With Walter’s subordinates all dismissed, only Gerald and Walter remained on the second floor. After a heavy silence settled in the room, Walter finally spoke softly.
“Why did you want to meet outside? Why not come to my house?”
“Just for convenience? I wanted to read that book everyone is talking about and buy a gift for my lover.”
Walter’s expression relaxed into an unguarded one as he looked at his longtime friend. In a place where no one was watching, he let out his frustrations.
“If you have free time, can you do me a favor and ask His Majesty? I keep getting rejected whenever I apply for a transfer.”
“If someone without an heir stands on the front lines and dies, who will take responsibility? It’s not just a family disgrace; it’s a national loss.”
“That’s why I’m getting married.”
“Exactly! It’s because of that will.”
“……”
As expected, there was no way to outtalk Gerald. With a small sigh from Walter, Gerald continued in a teasing tone.
“So if you marry my sister, you can go to that battlefield you love so much? Elisabeth is even taking potions these days to ensure she has a healthy son.”
“I hope the princess safely gives birth. Of course, it will be someone else’s son and not mine.”
“How heartless. She’s only had eyes for you since she was eight years old.”
“You think I don’t know they’re trying to marry me off to your sister just to turn grandfather’s inheritance into royal property?”
“It’s customary for war spoils to belong to the state. Your grandfather embezzled part of it!”
“You should be precise with your words. There’s an agreement signed by the late king stating that 20% of war spoils would go to the Duke’s house.”
“……”
This time it was Walter’s victory. Gerald grunted before asking meaningfully,
“Speaking of which, besides Elisabeth, there was another girl who boldly declared she would marry you.”
“……”
“Melisa. Have you given up searching for her?”
Walter immediately took on a serious expression as he stroked his chin.
The carriage carrying the Vansen family had overturned in an accident during a rainstorm, resulting in the deaths of the Count and Countess on-site while their only daughter went missing.
Walter had been too young at that time to do anything about it. He could only rely on his grandfather Duke Leonard John Rockford’s efforts to find her.
Walter’s father and Jack Vansen had fought side by side in battle, forging a brotherly bond.
They were close enough to take leave together frequently; thus, it was quite normal for Melisa Vansen to visit Duke Rockford’s castle.
Walter first met Melisa then and quickly became friends with her. Having maintained their relationship over several years made them as close as siblings. They often hung out together with Gerald whenever he visited.
Then one day, news of his father’s death in battle arrived. The one who returned carrying bodies from that bullet-ridden battlefield was none other than Jack Vansen himself.
Walter suspected that the will urging him to marry Melisa was probably written around that time.
As soon as he came of age, he entered military academy and graduated early with excellent grades. While stationed near the border region, he received news of his grandfather’s passing—specifically from that eastern front where his father had died.
In an instant, he was reassigned to non-combat administrative duties. If all heirs of the renowned Rockford line were killed in action, it would spell disaster for the kingdom.
The high-ranking position assigned at such an inappropriate age for a Colonel was likely an attempt by the royal family to sway Walter’s stubbornness.
Colonel Walter Rockford was currently on extended leave to fulfill his marriage obligations according to his grandfather’s will and had immediately begun searching for Melisa Vansen.
“I’ve searched every orphanage and convent in the region. I’ve looked for anyone with a name similar to Melissa’s, or even a matching appearance, but…”
Walter trailed off with a somewhat gloomy expression, prompting Gerald to nod knowingly.
“You probably didn’t find her. If you had, you wouldn’t be marrying Hermia Vansen, would you?”
“That’s a different issue from finding Melissa. Lady Hermia is also officially a member of the Vansen family, and I’ve decided to marry her.”
‘He’s such a narrow-minded young master.’
Curiosity piqued, Gerald began to probe subtly.
“What if you find Melissa? Would you still marry Lady Hermia? Her father is just an illegitimate half-brother who lucked into the position after the former Count’s sudden death. Moreover, Lady Hermia is the child of such a man. There’s quite a distance from legitimate lineage.”
“I’ve already decided to be faithful to her. What are you trying to say?”
Walter immediately showed signs of irritation.
Everyone knew that Hermia Vansen had lived as a commoner for 14 years. However, if anyone were to use that as leverage against her, he would not tolerate it.
Gerald, being perceptive, recognized this. Seeing his stiff friend’s face, he smiled somewhat bitterly.
“I’m not trying to belittle her origins. Originally, the position of Duchess was meant for Melissa; I just feel… sorry for her.”
“If I found Melissa, I would certainly be happy, but she is merely like a younger sister to me.”
“Hmm. But Hermia Vansen is a woman.”
“What are you talking about? Have you found any clues about Melissa?”
Feeling an unfamiliar discomfort rise within him, Walter tried to change the subject, but Gerald merely shrugged.
“I don’t know. I found this, should I tell you or not? I’m curious to see how that woman would react.”
The ‘woman’ Gerald was referring to was clearly Hermia Vansen. Had he met her in secret?
Feeling an unsettling annoyance rise within him, Walter cut off the conversation.
“You should settle down too. It’s disrespectful to the women you give gifts to if you have no intentions.”
“So you bought a gift for Lady Hermia, whom you have feelings for?”
It seemed Walter had failed to divert Gerald’s attention. Knowing his friend’s persistent nature all too well, Walter quickly gave up.
“Is it a problem to buy a gift for my fiancée?”
Gerald was taken aback by this unexpected response.
“Wow. This is gossip-worthy material! When? Please don’t tell me it’s some pathetic story about falling in love at first sight…”
“……”
“…Wait. Really? Walter Rockford, you?”
His eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth gaped open as if he had forgotten all decorum befitting royalty.
“This is truly unexpected! Now I have to find out who the author is! I can’t miss out on such an entertaining spectacle!”
“The author?”
Walter raised an eyebrow at Gerald’s excitement. It was then that two thin books emerged from inside Gerald’s coat.
“The person who wrote this. It seems we might have found our Melissa.”
—
“Are you saying… the Duke bought this for you?”
The Countess asked as she held up the rough-looking brooch in her hand.
“Yes. He chose it himself as a birthday gift for you.”
Hermia nodded with an audacious expression.
‘It’s not true at all. I chose it myself. It’s the ugliest one.’
How exhilarating!
She had saved money and gifted her stepmother a tacky brooch. That alone made for a worthwhile day.
When the Countess boasted about it at her birthday party, people would surely murmur in surprise: a mere 700,000 Persos silver brooch gifted by someone from the Duke’s family!
Everyone could see that it was an unsatisfactory match and that the Countess’s family was being looked down upon behind their backs.
In any case, she would be leaving after a year anyway; whether the Vansen family was disrespected or not didn’t matter to her at all. She was struggling to contain her laughter, which threatened to burst forth and cause her face to twitch.
“Oh my goodness, what terrible taste! Even though you grew up in a house full of men, how could you choose something so terrible…?”
The Countess muttered with genuine shock on her face.
“You! What were you doing while the Duke was choosing this?”
‘Oh no. I didn’t expect this.’
Caught off guard by the sudden outburst, Hermia froze in place.
Just then, Andy emerged from her room after hiding some books and caught the Countess’s eye. She shouted at him immediately.
“You there! Come here!”
“Y-Yes? Me?”
Seeing Andy look utterly bewildered made Hermia grit her teeth and shake her head vigorously. If Andy opened his mouth, all hell would break loose.
“Did the Duke really pick this out? Or was it you?”
The Countess was barking fiercely at Andy like a gatekeeper of hell. Her heart began racing as if it might burst from anxiety.
“Quickly tell me the truth!”
