Chapter 41
Chapter 41
“I’m just saying this just in case, Duke.”
Arthur teased playfully, “You’re not jealous, are you?”
***
Now that he’d even had tea, Arthur had no more excuse to remain at the duke’s residence. He declined the duke and duchess’s farewell and left straight for the imperial palace. The mood wasn’t exactly one for warm goodbyes.
After the prince disappeared, a slight awkwardness settled between the duke and duchess.
Alphonse didn’t think he had overreacted. In fact, he felt he should’ve responded more harshly to that arrogant prince.
But what he felt in that moment wasn’t just anger. It was one of the few emotions he’d inherited from his birth father: fear. And it slipped in through the cracks in his composure.
‘What if she chooses the prince instead of me?’
It was the first time since he had grown up that he had ever felt fear. It wasn’t a grand emotion. It didn’t shake his world. But it crept up softly and whispered, like a loose thread that itched at his nerves.
He didn’t even know why he should fear something like this. Their marriage was one of convenience. If their needs no longer aligned, they could part ways, simple as that.
Alphonse rationalized. He was a man who was content with the life he had and disliked change. His wife was an excellent business partner and conversation companion. The perfect partner. Divorcing her would be an unwise choice.
But still—he remembered the clause in their marriage contract that required mutual respect for each other’s private lives. So even if Chloe were to begin a secret affair with the prince without divorcing him, he would have no reason to feel displeased. Their daily lives would continue as usual. There’d be no need for fear…
‘At least, that’s how it should’ve been.’
And yet, despite all that, he hated the idea of his wife being involved with the prince. He didn’t want them entangled. *For any reason.
Alphonse didn’t understand why he felt this way. And even if he didn’t understand it, it didn’t matter. He just knew he wanted to hold onto Chloe.
As they sat silently in the drawing room, the tea set now cold, Alphonse was the first to rise. Without a word, he left the room, likely staying out for the rest of the day.
He returned around dinner time.
“Thank you… for being a good wife.”
He said stiffly. Then, he pulled out a small box wrapped in dark brown velvet and handed it to Chloe.
She opened it. Inside was a set of jewelry: a lavish necklace and matching earrings made from glittering peridot and tiny pearls strung on platinum wire.
If Chloe had to choose between liking and disliking jewelry, she would obviously say she liked it. If nothing else, because it was pretty. She didn’t see it as vanity, nor did she look down on those who indulged in it.
But she already had more than enough jewelry to last a lifetime. And more importantly—this wasn’t what she wanted right now.
“Um… is this a token of affection as my husband?”
“…”
Alphonse said nothing. Chloe took that silence as confirmation.
“I’m not living as your wife because I want material rewards like this. If you really want to show me gratitude, then I’d like something else. Something a little more… human.”
It didn’t seem like Alphonse understood what she meant. Chloe let out a quiet, private sigh and explained further.
“For example… a warm, kind smile from you.”
She remembered… he had never smiled at her, not even once.
She also realized this was the first time he had ever said thank you. She knew what kind of man he was, but after spending so much time together, it was only natural she’d start to feel hurt.
Still, Alphonse said nothing. His beautiful, sculpted face remained expressionless, unmoved. Not even a twitch of an eyebrow. Chloe never did receive a single gentle word or faint smile from him.
It made her heart feel… heavy and far away.
“I won’t accept this. Though I appreciate the gesture.”
She handed the box back to him. And then, as if fleeing from something chasing her, she turned and hurried to her bedroom.
The next morning, when she woke, the necklace was sitting on her vanity.
Chloe sat at the vanity and stared at it blankly.
‘I thought we were getting a little closer…’
Even if they couldn’t love each other, she thought at least they could grow closer. After all, like it or not, they would be living under the same roof for the rest of their lives. Better to open their hearts to one another and care for each other sincerely.
She had truly done her best to improve their relationship. She had thought carefully about what to talk about, what jokes might make him laugh. She’d even asked Kiel what Alphonse liked.
And honestly, things had gone okay so far. They’d had tea, shared conversations, worked together. She’d even heard stories of his past—though through others. That had felt like a green light for their relationship.
‘Was it all just in my head?’
She really didn’t know. What on earth was Alphonse thinking?
Did he even want to grow closer to her? Was she the only one agonizing over this? …What did he really think of her?
Staring at the necklace in a gloomy daze, Chloe shook her head.
‘Ugh. No. Stop overthinking. I don’t want to stress over something like this.’
She slapped her cheeks lightly with her palms to snap herself out of it. Then, she made a quiet vow.
‘I’ll treat him strictly business-like for a while. I need some space to think things through.’
Over the next few days, Alphonse was busy with his own affairs, and Chloe became occupied with preparations for her upcoming birthday banquet.
In the midst of it, the duke and duchess received an invitation to a small couples’ gathering at the imperial palace. The name listed as host was someone Chloe found quite distant and unfamiliar—the Emperor of the Empire.
She was stunned.
Not once in her memory had she ever been directly invited by the Emperor.
It was a great honor, to be sure, but Chloe had one concern.
A couples’ gathering…?
Her relationship with Alphonse was still awkward. Just imagining going out with him made her feel uneasy.
But there was no avoiding it. If it had been some minor social event, she might have declined, but this was the Emperor.
Through her maid, Chloe informed Alphonse that she would be attending.
***
The day of the event arrived. Dressed appropriately for such an important outing, Chloe descended to the front entrance where Alphonse was waiting.
“Duke.”
Chloe gave him a radiant smile. It wasn’t a sincere one.
Alphonse gazed at her silently for a moment, then returned a polite nod. Escorting her, he helped her into the carriage.
The venue was a garden, with colorful peonies blooming everywhere and a cozy space set up with tables and awnings.
Three couples were invited: the Battenberg couple, the Duke and Duchess of Winchester, and the Marquis and Marchioness of Ronefeld.
The Emperor had not yet arrived. The guests exchanged greetings.
“Pleasure to meet you, Duchess Battenberg. I’m Marisa Winchester.”
“Chloe Battenberg. A pleasure, Duchess Winchester.”
This was the first time Chloe had seen the only other ducal couple in the Empire. The Winchesters were clearly much older than the Battenbergs—old enough, perhaps, to have children Chloe’s age.
As they made small talk about the weather and recent affairs, the Marchioness of Ronefeld joked,
“I heard it’s been a while since you hosted a tea party, Duchess Battenberg. I was sad not to be invited. My friend, Viscountess Cloverfield, said she had a wonderful time. Next time, do include me, won’t you?”
At the time, Chloe had mainly invited the retainers of the ducal house. Feeling slightly guilty at the Marchioness’s genuine regret, Chloe responded.
“It was just a small gathering, but thank you for your interest. I’d love to have you next time, Marchioness Ronefeld.”
At that moment, a servant announced that His Majesty would be arriving shortly. And sure enough, not long after, the Emperor of the Empire appeared.
All the noble couples stood to greet him.
“Ho ho, welcome. Please, be seated.”
Chloe bowed and then cautiously lifted her head.
The Emperor, George Waltval Mercedes Vladimir, was looking down at her.
His hair, likely once the same red as the prince’s, was now streaked with white, combed back neatly, and he wore a well-groomed beard. The way his eyes curved when he smiled and his darker skin tone resembled his son, but the authority and commanding presence he held were beyond comparison.
But there was one more unexpected attendee.
Following behind the Emperor… was Prince Arthur.
