Chapter 33

“I despise violent relationships, too.”

Michalis let out a quiet sigh.

The long-standing image of House Ascher’s “violent perversion,” passed down since his grandfather’s time, was a legacy he had to correct.

“Then… there’s still plenty of hope, Your Grace.”

“So what should I do?”

“First, I suggest presenting a small gift along with a verbal confession.”

“That doesn’t sound too difficult.”

“But the confession must be spoken—with your mouth. You must say, ‘I love you,’ with words. Not with your body.”

“Haa… really?”

Such an embarrassing act. Hadn’t it been enough to simply hold her sincerely in his arms? This wasn’t something he’d ever considered.

“And the gift doesn’t need to be expensive or excessive. Even a single flower will do, as long as it’s something you’ve chosen yourself. The point is to convey your feelings.”

“…”

Michalis fell silent.

He had already launched an all-out offensive by filling the dressing room—and those weren’t even gifts he had picked himself. To make things worse, the flower—he had already lost that opportunity to the Crown Prince.

“Since it was a political marriage, I assume there was no formal proposal?”

“N-no. There wasn’t.”

In fact, it was closer to Eliana proposing to him.

“Your Grace… Don’t tell me that the wedding band she received during the ceremony, from the little priest, was the first and only ring she’s ever gotten from you?”

“…That’s right.”

“Oh, dear heavens.”

His lord had no love cells. This was a complete disaster.

“Then I believe I have a solution.”

“What is it?”

Feeling like he might finally hear something useful, Michalis fixed his eyes on Terius, fully focused.

“That wedding ring—it’s just a family heirloom passed down to every Duchess of Ascher, isn’t it?”

Terius steeled himself against a rising headache and finally began to lay out his model answer.

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Then Your Grace should choose a new ring personally and give it to her along with your confession. Tell her you love her. Thank her for marrying you. Words like that.”

“Do I… really have to say things like that?”

How was he supposed to say such embarrassing things out loud?

A flush crept up Michalis’s face. Winning Eliana’s heart was proving far more difficult than expected.

“There must be other ways, like…”

“If you were about to say something like ‘I picked it up on my way here,’ please, I beg you—don’t.”

Terius put strong emphasis on the word please.

“…Alright.”

Was he psychic? Michalis shut his mouth tightly—he had been about to say exactly that.

It was clear now why Terius had earned titles like “Star of the South” and “Southern Gentleman.” They hadn’t been given for nothing.

“As for the finer details…”

Terius looked his clearly flustered lord in the eye and concluded his advice.

“Once I’ve learned more about Her Grace’s preferences, I’ll advise you further.”

He genuinely wanted to help his lord. But unfortunately, his knowledge of the Duchess was limited to the brief hour he’d spent helping her rehearse a waltz before the wedding. He didn’t have enough information for more specific advice.

“…Lord Joel.”

Michalis, who had been quiet until now, finally opened his mouth.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At the soft sound of his name, Terius snapped to attention. It was the first time his lord had ever called him by his first name.

“Starting tomorrow, come an hour earlier.”

Michalis had no intention of taking these lessons for free.

“I’ll oversee your swordsmanship.”

“It would be… my honor!”

Shocked by this unexpected reward, Terius—no, Joel—dropped to one knee and offered the knight’s salute. Being personally trained by the South’s strongest swordsman would surely accelerate his path into the elite Azure Knights.

As the second son of a noble family, Joel couldn’t inherit his father’s title. His two paths to success were either marrying into a childless house or serving in the Azure Knights long enough to earn a title. As a knight, his pride demanded the latter.

“I’ll be relying on your advice moving forward.”

“With all my heart, I’ll do my utmost to assist you, Your Grace.”

And so, the two men became each other’s secret mentors.

By the time he’d washed off the sweat, the sun had climbed high—it was already afternoon.

Flap.

A carrier pigeon flew through the open window. It was likely the reply from the intelligence bureau, following the orders he’d sent out the night before.

Michalis shook the water from his hair with a towel, then untied the tiny message secured to the pigeon’s leg and unrolled it.

As expected, the small scroll was written entirely in encrypted shorthand.

<Status Report: House of Count Espensen>

• Head of House: Biern Espensen (49)
• Spouse: Alicia Espensen (45)

Children:

• Eldest Son – Karl Espensen (23)
• Second Son – Victor Espensen (21)
• Third Son – Martin Espensen (20)
• Only Daughter – Freya Espensen (18)

Sources of Income:

• Mana stone mines within the territory
• Local agriculture (wheat, barley for brewing)
• Taxes from the domain
• Military stipends

※ Based on our investigation, likelihood of treasonous intent: low.

※ Currently under internal review by the aristocratic faction: nomination of Lady Freya Espensen as a potential Crown Princess candidate.

“A mana stone mine…”

As Michalis quickly skimmed the report, his eyes paused on that line. Finally, he had a reason to initiate a business conversation with Count Espensen.

After burning the report himself, Michalis sat down at his desk and quickly drafted a short letter.

To the esteemed Count Espensen, upon reviewing my schedule, I have found some time to spare.

I would be pleased to accept your invitation.

If possible, I would appreciate it being scheduled before the investiture ceremony.

Imperial Year 321, June 2nd

—Michalis Ascher

He sealed the letter with wax, then glanced toward the carrier pigeon perched nearby. After a moment’s hesitation, he picked up his pen again.

Investigate everything regarding the Duchess during her time as Baroness of Acrela in the North:

• The type of education she received
• Whom she was close to
• Her personality, habits, and tendencies

He rolled the brief command into encrypted shorthand and secured it in the pigeon’s tube.

Flap.

Having been fed a special diet, the bird took off swiftly out the open window.

“Sigh…”

Michalis stood at the window, watching until the pigeon became a speck in the sky. Only then did he let out a quiet breath.

He had said he trusted her—yet here he was, ordering a background investigation on Eliana. It didn’t sit well with him.

It wasn’t that he distrusted her… But he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something he didn’t know. A faint, persistent “what if” that gnawed at his mind.

If Eliana ever decided to leave him… he wanted to at least know why—and where she might go.

“Welcome, Lady Espensen. I’ll escort you to the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

In the city of Wespa, one of the most prestigious jewelry shops—Cartipaschi.

Freya had made a reservation in advance and was easily guided up to the second floor.

“Freya, really—can’t you just have these jewels delivered to the estate? Why bother with this?”

At her side, Martin muttered the same complaint as yesterday while climbing the stairs.

“It’s suffocating, staying cooped up in the mansion all day.”

Ever since the harassment incident with Davide Joseph, Freya had been strictly forbidden by her father from going anywhere alone. As a result, she was always trailed by either a knight or one of her brothers. It was exhausting.

“You just came back from the far South, and already you’re whining.”

She just wanted a moment of peace to herself. Instead, she had to endure unnecessary lectures.

“You’re just going to sit and read anyway.”

“Well, true.”

At least her third brother Martin was the most relaxed and idle of the bunch. Compared to her eldest or second brothers—whose hawk-like eyes never left her—this was a tolerable arrangement.

“Could you start by showing me the ruby pieces?”

After settling into a plush chair in the private room upstairs, Freya addressed the attendant directly.

“Of course, milady.”

As requested, rings and necklaces adorned with rubies were carefully laid out on the table before her.

“These two are the newest pieces this month. This square cut and this round cut are currently the most popular styles.”

“Hmm… None of these really appeal to me. Could you show me some sapphires?”

“Right away, milady.”

“Freya, I’ll be over here with my book. You enjoy your shiny things.”

After ten minutes of browsing jewels beside her, Martin finally succumbed to boredom and opened the thick book he’d brought along.

“Sure.”

Freya flashed a sweet smile, watching him out of the corner of her eye as he became immersed in reading.

Just as she expected.

And this was exactly why she’d scheduled her appointment for the same day both her eldest and second brothers were at the palace.

“Ah, nothing like these… Could I see a ‘2-carat Rose-Cut Blue Diamond’ instead?”

“If that’s what you wish, I’ll escort you to the VIP chamber.”

As soon as Freya uttered the code phrase, the staff member quietly closed the jewelry cases without a word.

“Brother, I’ll just check out something in the next room real quick. Okay?”

“Alright.”

Already deep into his book, Martin replied absentmindedly without looking up.

As soon as Freya stepped through the side door, it closed behind her.

“I’m surprised Lady Espensen knows that code… quite unexpected.”

The phrase she used granted her access to a private meeting room reserved for mid-to-high-ranking members of the information guild.

“Ugh. How many times do I have to hear that line? I’m sick of it.”

Freya casually sat on the couch and fixed her gaze on the middle-aged woman seated at the desk.

“Save the preamble, Deputy Guildmaster.”

Having heard the same line in every loop of her return, she was utterly exhausted by it.