IDHGA 05

Chapter 05

In the empire, there are five great noble families that protect the Imperial Family, the Livre.

In that distant past, when the empire’s flag was first planted on the continent.

Those closest to Livre, who became the center of continental unification and established the empire, became the founding heroes of the empire.

Harriet of the East, Ertel of the West, Linus of the South, Mason of the North, and Fontaine of the Capital.

The five heroes, spread across the four directions to protect the so-called ‘Central Livre,’ over time took on the role of checking the Imperial Family in addition to their original purpose of protecting the center.

And among the five, Fontaine, located in the capital, was the family with the strongest military power among the five great nobles, as they had to both check and protect the Imperial Family from the closest proximity.

It was only natural that other families would check them when such a family was joined with Mason, who guarded the northern border.

It was what my father had said until he was blue in the face.

Even though Mason of the border had lost considerable power compared to the old days, to the point where the title of ‘five great nobles’ seemed meaningless, people still checked each other simply based on that title.

It was also unthinkable for the five great nobles, who were supposed to be the first to check the imperial authority, to ally with the Imperial Family.

“Father. If Fontaine of the capital is unacceptable, then Livre of the center is even more so. Then what would be fitting for Mason of the North—at best, a branch family in the northern borderlands?”

“Eloise. The command of the Imperial Family is absolute.”

“Even if it’s a command from the Imperial Family, you cannot force a marriage without any justification. No matter how much you wish to move up to the capital, Father, you must not use me to do so. Besides, that was a private suggestion His Highness the Crown Prince made to you, not an official imperial decree, is it not?”

Eloise, who had been calmly refuting her father’s words, took a breath and looked him straight in the eye.

“Likewise, while you are my father, you do not have the right to force a marriage upon me.”

“I am your father. Under imperial law, the right to a daughter’s marriage belongs to her parents.”

“A father who only gave birth to me and did nothing else. People call that a parent in name only.”

“Eloise!”

“…Miss.”

Just as my father and I were about to raise our voices.

The butler of the Marquess’s household called me in a cautious tone. If he hadn’t intervened, we would have raised our voices endlessly.

I turned my head away from my father first, ending that pointless war of attrition.

“What is it?”

“Well, a guest has arrived.”

Finally, the guest I had been waiting for.

I nodded and instructed him to show them to the reception room.

“Then I’ll be going. I hope we don’t have to talk about this matter any further, Father.”

“Eloise.”

A deep frown formed between my father’s brows.

My father had never shown me any expression other than an indifferent one in his entire life. It seemed my defiance, when I had always been obedient, surprised him.

I passed by my father and entered the reception room.

At least for this moment, I resolved not to be swayed by his words of ‘I am your father.’

“He said to come to the Marquess of Wellington’s residence, so I assumed you were the Marquess of Wellington’s daughter, but upon looking into it, I found that the Marquess and Marchioness of Wellington have no children.”

He, who had been eagerly awaiting the dawn, came with a face that would make anyone’s heart flutter, just as I remembered him.

Wearing the dark-colored coat I had liked and with his night-sky-like hair stylishly swept back, he was handsome enough to make passersby turn their heads.

My heart pounded at the smile filled in his warm green eyes and his gaze wholly directed at me.

He had come to me, looking even more handsome than I remembered.

For the sole reason that he wanted to meet again the woman he had shared a comfortable conversation with the night before.

I thought I had firmly resolved my heart, but it was helplessly drawn to him again.

Yes, after all, this too is just my dream. Perhaps in this place, I could find a way to live happily by his side?

Facing him, all sorts of thoughts suddenly popped into my head again.

Lax thoughts like, maybe it would be alright.

But…

I already know what happened when we were together.

It’s fine if I get hurt. But I couldn’t bear to see him get hurt again because of my shortcomings, or to see him fall apart.

And… if Fontaine crumbles after my death, like in another dream, what if that was a preview of the end of this nonsensical dream?

Even the slightest possibility was unbearable.

Suppressing my confused heart again, I faced him with a faint smile.

“The Marchioness of Wellington is my aunt. Our family’s townhouse is in need of repairs, so I’m staying here for the time being.”

“That’s fortunate for me. If you hadn’t had a place to stay this time, we might not have met.”

He smiled brightly.

That smile still made my heart stir.

Just like when I first fell in love with him.

I had to struggle not to be drawn in by that smile he sent my way.

“Thank you for yesterday. Thanks to you, my first ball wasn’t awkward.”

“That’s what I should be saying. I too had a pleasant time, thanks to you, when I might have been bored.”

And that’s why I wanted to meet you again.

His pleasant voice rang out softly.

And the laughter he let slip along with it was quite something.

Had he always been this skilled at dealing with women?

Watching his smile as if bewitched, that thought suddenly occurred to me.

When we first started seeing each other, had he been this skilled?

“…I’m just grateful that you remembered and came to find me. Honestly, I thought you would forget.”

“Me?”

“Yes. It was so dark that night. And our conversation wasn’t particularly memorable either. So I never imagined you would come find me like this.”

I didn’t expect it much either.

As I continued speaking in my usual tone, I suddenly thought that his gaze directed at me seemed to waver.

Why?

“Are you saying, Miss, that you weren’t expecting to meet me again?”

He asked in a strangely pressing voice.

His gaze was no longer wavering, but his voice held an unmistakable agitation.

Could it be that he had been looking forward to this meeting more than I thought?

I tried to recall how he had been in the past and nodded.

“After all, there is a difference in status between our families. Even if we are both among the five great nobles, the standing is different. Yesterday, I didn’t know that you, my lord, no, Your Grace, were of Fontaine in the capital, but now that I know, my position is different from yesterday.”

But it was meaningless to recall how our conversations had been before.

After all, my attitude and our conversations were completely different from back then.

“But Miss, does status really matter when people meet? Besides, Mason of the North is a founding hero family just as prestigious as Fontaine of the capital, so why would that be a problem…”

“Even if we are a founding hero family, my family has only ever guarded the border in the North and is ignorant of the social circles of the capital. And we know even less about political maneuvering.”

It’s a well-known fact, without needing to say, that our influence has waned.

I added that with a faint smile.

“I grew up in the North my whole life, so I may not know much, but I do know that Fontaine of the capital, along with Livre of the center, bears the greatest burden in the empire.”

“Miss. That is not a problem at all.”

“It is a problem for me, Your Grace.”

The corners of his eyes began to droop.

Was it just my imagination that his words to me seemed to become more pleading?

His darkened face was pitiful, but at the same time, questions arose.

Before, I hadn’t thought it particularly strange that he had been so favorable towards me from our first meeting, but now I found it a bit odd that he was clinging to me this much.

I had found a sense of stability in conversations with him that I hadn’t even known existed, but why did he like me in the first place?

We had been so caught up in falling for each other that I was busy just managing my own feelings. That’s why I hadn’t even thought to ask him why he liked me.

At this moment, that thought occurred to me anew.

Had he really fallen in love at first sight?

With someone whose face he couldn’t even properly see in the dark?

Or had he taken a liking to me after actually meeting?

My mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts, yet I maintained a cool expression on my face.

I found myself strange.

“Your Grace, the path ahead is likely to be very rocky. As you said, you’ll have to build everything alone without your family, so you’ll probably feel mentally exhausted. But if you want to share those burdens with someone, I believe that person should be someone more outstanding and resolute than I am.”

“I have no intention of asking you to share my burdens, Miss. I simply came to see you because I wanted to talk with you more.”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I don’t have much confidence. Confidence that I can just talk with you and not take any interest in your affairs.”

I firmly refused his offer.

Just conversation. Yes, it would be ideal if it could end with just conversation.

But I knew it, and he knew it too.

We had feelings of fondness, or even more, for each other, and we wanted to maintain those feelings.

Perhaps we were even hoping for those feelings to develop further.

But now.

No, even if it weren’t now, he was far too good for someone as shabby and worthless as me, who had nothing to offer him.

Even if things flowed smoothly for a while, as I had experienced before, it was as clear as day what would happen afterward.

I shook my head.

“I want to meet someone I can handle, Your Grace. Last night… I’m truly grateful, but I think that’s as far as it goes.”

“Miss.”

“Thank you for coming to see me, Your Grace. I hope the next time I see you, you’ll be talking with someone better.”

His eyes wavered mercilessly.

That expression, like an abandoned puppy, tugged at my heart, but it couldn’t be helped.

I suppressed my desire to reach out to him and rose from my seat.

Stepping and stepping again on my heart that felt like it couldn’t hold out any longer.

“Miss! Oh, my. Just how long are you going to stay in bed!”

*Swish, swish*, making sharp sounds, Jena threw the curtains wide open.

The sun was already high in the sky, and the dazzling sunlight streamed mercilessly through the window.

Morning had come again. Again.

Instead of being dragged into the pitch-black darkness of death, morning was breaking for what felt like the umpteenth day.

I didn’t want to admit it, but now I had to.

That this had already become my reality.

I whined weakly to Jena, who was relentlessly pulling down my blanket.

“Jena, it’s not even lunchtime yet…”

“What are you saying? The Grand Madame has already finished her luncheon! You said you’d have afternoon tea together with the Grand Madame today!”

“…I did?”

Had I made such a promise?

I couldn’t remember.

I shook my head vigorously, forcing my mind, which was still wandering between reality and dreams, to focus.