TPMBHSW 03

Chapter 03

‘…Wait a moment.’

Wait a moment. What?

What did Richard just say?

A frosty gaze pierced down at me again as I couldn’t collect myself.

“Long time no see, Bella. About five or six years, wasn’t it?”

Ten years, four months, and eleven days.

“No.”

“Really?”

Richard seemed to calculate the dates for a moment, then shrugged with an expression that said it didn’t matter either way.

“I waited in case the spot touched by a lowly knight’s hand had festered and I’d need to take responsibility, but…”

Richard’s gaze slowly swept over me. Like a merchant assessing whether there was something wrong with the goods.

“Seeing as you’re fine, it seems I’m no longer a commoner.”

“Rich, did you really think I’d marry a commoner with no title?”

Ah.

I understand.

Really, I could understand without needing an explanation.

The cold gaze, the twisted corner of his mouth, and the icy expression were enough.

Richard Winston.

My lover from ten years ago, the ex-boyfriend I cruelly dumped…

“I’m perfectly fine, as you can see, Sir. Ah. You said you received a count’s title. As you probably know, I inherited the Bellua Dukedom a few days ago. Since we’ve both become heads of our respective families, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your distance from now on.”

“…Very well, Duke Bellua.”

He resented me.

And quite intensely at that.

* * *

And then three days passed.

It was Noah who dragged me out of bed, nagging me when I’d shut myself in and postponed all outside engagements. More precisely, it was the news Noah brought.

“That’s impossible.”

“Nothing’s actually impossible. You knew that estate had been on the market for a long time, didn’t you? I just didn’t expect someone to come forward wanting to buy it. The markup was outrageous, after all.”

“If you knew in advance, you should have bought it yourself even if you had to pay extra!”

Noah didn’t respond to my unreasonable demand. I didn’t demand an answer from him either.

Instead, I quickly crossed the corridor and slid down to the first-floor hall.

“Oh, please! Is this time going to be the one where you finally break something to feel satisfied?”

Noah, who had chased after me closely, shouted irritably, but I was entirely absorbed in the scene before my eyes.

Nobles based in the capital considered selling their family estate a disgrace. So properties rarely came on the market, and even when they did, transactions were nearly impossible.

Why? Because the prices were astronomical.

The estate across from the Bellua Dukedom had been vacant for years. It was because the already expensive property had been listed at several times the market price.

Everyone had laughed, saying who would buy that no matter how good the location.

But now it had sold.

And to—

“I say. Looks like the rumor that the hero of the North returned in a golden carriage wasn’t an exaggeration.”

To my damned ex-lover.

“Oh. Your Grace, isn’t that Richard over there?”

I reflexively snapped my head toward where Noah was pointing. I could see the old butler directing servants this way and that.

“…Hey.”

“It’s this obvious, yet how does Richard not notice? You’re neighbors now, so try rebuilding your friendship.”

Unbelievable, truly.

I gritted my teeth and went back inside the estate. My entire attention remained fixed on the noisy moving process across the street.

Noah trotted after me, nagging.

“It’s not too late even now. Dump that useless Damon and have a decent relationship, I’m telling you.”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, shut up. Where are Claire and Gerard?”

“So now you finally wonder about the family elders?”

Having said that, Noah explained straight away.

“Claire dragged Gerard back to the estate on the day of the funeral. Mother said to tell you to keep your footing steady.”

“…And to you?”

“She seemed extremely satisfied that her only son didn’t covet Your Grace’s position and stepped back quietly. Ah. I’ve told them I’ll visit the estate, so I won’t be suspected if I go.”

I nodded.

It seemed things I’d discussed in advance had been proceeding while I was shut in my room.

“You should be grateful to Count Winston. He moved in across the street and is seeing Your Grace’s face before leaving.”

“Anyone listening would think I’d gone into seclusion.”

“Hadn’t you?”

I shot a glare at Noah for his cheeky retort. I hung onto Noah all the way to his room.

“Should I just move the base to the estate while I’m at it?”

“To handle the ledger-related matters at the Bellua estate, there’s a lot to pack.”

“Even moving would be less chaotic than this.”

When you’re going to nag me about shutting myself in for a few days?

Noah, noticing my gaze, grumbled as he tossed things into corners.

“It’s all because of Your Grace.”

“Why is your room a mess my fault?”

“Do you know how busy I was while Your Grace was digging at the ground over your ex-boyfriend’s appearance?”

“……”

I have nothing to say.

Noah began throwing clothes into a large backpack, apparently intending to finish packing while he was at it.

“Honestly, why did you say something you’d regret? I’ve always liked you! It was all a misunderstanding! I love you! The obstacle is gone, so let’s try again! Why can’t you say it, why!”

I looked at Noah with a sickened expression as he nagged even while packing.

“Who said I regretted it?”

“You’ve been losing sleep again these past few days, and you’re going to deny it?”

“Did you listen to what the physician said with half an ear?”

“My ears are perfectly fine, Your Grace.”

“Then you should know there’s no connection between my not sleeping and Richard.”

“I know you very well too, Your Grace.”

Would someone stay in bed for days just because they’re tired? I know there’s a reason people lie down knowing they’ll be gossiped about.

It’s because they don’t want to see the Princess who made a brilliant debut in high society and Count Winston, her perfect match.

—Having rattled all that off without even pausing for breath, Noah tightened his bag straps and declared.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to say even this much.”

“Then don’t.”

“Shutting yourself in your room isn’t going to solve anything, so pull yourself together and get up. That guy is getting a count’s title and rising high as the hero of the North or whatever, so if you stay like this, you’ll be compared unfavorably!”

He really seemed to have wanted to say that.

“Tell me honestly. You’re worried about the family, not me, right?”

“Me? You misunderstand!”

Yes. Yes.

Nothing Noah said was wrong. I couldn’t hide forever.

But it was also true that I needed time to sort out my thoughts. At least a few more days.

“That’s why I said I’d go to the estate.”

“Right after inheriting the dukedom, if you go to the estate, what rumors do you think will spread?”

Central nobles typically stayed in the capital for a while after inheriting a title to establish their footing.

As Noah said, rushing to the estate meant one of two things.

Something urgently needed to be hidden, or there was a problem at the estate. Either way, I’d have to endure rumors spreading through high society. When I let out a groan, Noah gestured as if to say “see?” and continued nagging.

“Stop trying to hide somehow and sort out your feelings first. I’ll find the ledger of the personal funds the Grand Duke embezzled somehow, so don’t worry about that.”

“Phew. All right. I got it, so stop. I just need to see you off and prepare for the first banquet, right?”

“I’m delighted as your vassal, cousin, and old friend that you’ve finally shaken off the sorrow of encountering your ex-boyfriend after a long period of digging at the ground and risen to your feet.”

Noah lightly placed his hand on his chest in an exaggerated gesture. He loathed nobles terribly, yet his etiquette was flawless.

“And there’s no need to prepare for a banquet.”

“Why?”

“Because a better occasion is prepared for your first appearance in high society as the new Duke Bellua.”

Having known him my whole life, the inscrutable man smiled slyly and held out a card to me.

…An unnecessarily fancy envelope.

“What’s this?”

“You can see the seal, surely.”

I can, yes.

Two swords crossing in an X and dozens of ribbons connecting them. Up to there, it’s an ordinary imperial seal. Except that all the ribbons are flipped upside down.

The ribbons flipped so that each family’s seal can’t be seen symbolize an imperial family member who hasn’t yet received the nobility’s recognition.

It’s the seal primarily used by the Crown Prince, and for over a decade in the Empire, it was a seal only Damon could use.

“Don’t tell me.”

“You’ve already guessed, haven’t you? Ostensibly it’s a banquet celebrating your cousin’s return alive, but…”

Celebration, my foot.

It was clearly a scheme to summon the nobles and confirm their loyalty. Noah shrugged at my expression.

“Well, that’s the kind of occasion it is.”

“His chronic illness has flared up.”

That damned paranoia.

“It’s about that time, isn’t it.”

It meant that the madman who normally fantasized about the Emperor not passing the throne to him had exploded with the appearance of a direct heir with succession rights.

“Anyway, there’s no better place for your first step as head of family. Sort things out with His Highness appropriately before the banquet too.”

“Ah. Right. That too.”

Breaking up with Damon.

I really don’t want to.

Perhaps my feelings showed on my face, because Noah spoke again.

“You were planning to end it as soon as the title succession was over anyway. Don’t tell me you have lingering feelings?”

“Are you joking? It’s just annoying. Knowing Damon’s personality, he’d be the one to dump someone—if he hears someone wants to break up with him first, he’ll throw a fit.”

I peeled the wax off the envelope, checked inside, and for a moment doubted my eyes.

But the words written on the single card were short and clear, impossible to misread. A low groan escaped my lips.

“Damon says he’s coming to pick me up on the day of?”

Something was definitely tangled up badly.

“…That philanderer, for Your Grace? He’s never once escorted you in the past ten years, and suddenly?”

“…It seems it’s not time to be lying down.”

A bad premonition brushed past me. A very, very ominous premonition began to take hold.

“You leave for the estate immediately. I need to go to the imperial palace.”

“Don’t get swept up in anything—just declare the breakup the moment you arrive and run!”

Noah’s shout came from behind me, but I had no presence of mind to respond.

What on earth happened during the past three days I was lying down?