IDHGA 18

Chapter 18

A strategic alliance.

In other words, what people commonly refer to as a marriage of convenience, or a pact between families, something along those lines.

A marriage of convenience is one of the customs he abhors, and there was no political or business reason for the Marquess of Wellington’s house and the Duke of Fontaine’s house to form an alliance.

So why this sudden talk of a ‘strategic alliance’?

“Duke. I don’t understand why you’re suddenly saying this…”

“I heard from the Marchioness of Wellington. She said that even though the young lady could easily use me to sufficiently push back against her father and the Crown Prince, she refuses to reach out to me.”

“Oh, that’s…”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

My aunt told him that?

And not only that—my aunt, who knew I was trying not to reach out to Ashird, still sent him here, and Ashird, who accepted and came running right away, what on earth was he thinking?

He had asked a young, suddenly eligible bachelor to take care of a young lady he barely knew.

It could be seen as somewhat rude, yet Ashird had readily accepted, and I couldn’t fathom his intentions.

“The Crown Prince is desperate to find you. Those people who were chasing you earlier are also highly likely to be the Crown Prince’s men. It seems he’s determined to marry you by any means necessary, but you clearly don’t want that.”

Then he should resort to any means necessary, but that didn’t seem to be the case either.

Ashird murmured to himself, staring intently at me.

“Nevertheless, since I find myself unable to stop thinking about you, this is the only way I can help. I will take care of everything from behind, so please… just stay safe.”

“Wait, just a moment, Duke. That doesn’t seem right.”

Even amidst the confusion, I quickly sorted out the situation.

So, in essence, he was saying: even though he was willing to be used by me, I was being too cautious about my methods, so he would protect me in his own way. Therefore, I should stay put here.

It was surprising enough that he was willing to be used by me, but also that he was willing to offer his family’s safe house to protect me.

I let out a small sigh and looked at him.

“Duke. This is my problem. I appreciate your willingness to help and your concern for me, but that doesn’t mean I can just leave everything to you and hide behind you.”

“But my lady. As things stand, this is the best course of action. Do you think you can handle both the Crown Prince and Earl Mason on your own? You could get seriously hurt.”

“Still, Duke. I have people by my side for now, so it’s alright.”

“That is arrogance, my lady. Even at the hotel where you used a name that wasn’t your own, you were quickly discovered by the Crown Prince’s men. Even if you have people around you, not everyone can be in the right place at the right time to help you.”

I am what I am, and Ashird is who he is.

Putting everything else aside, I could see the same Ashird from my past life in him now—the one who never compromised on anything when it came to my safety.

That stubbornness, always, constantly putting my safety above everything else.

Ashird wore the same face as in my past life, and in a different situation, he displayed the same stubbornness as before.

“The Marquess and Marchioness of Wellington have also agreed. They said that since your greatest enemies right now are your closest blood relative and the Crown Prince whom you should be loyal to, you need someone to watch over you by your side as much as possible.”

“And you and those two think that person should be you, Duke.”

“…I would like it to be me, but I don’t want to force it on you.”

At my words, Ashird’s assertive momentum seemed to falter slightly.

Yet his face still showed firm resolve.

He would never compromise on safety, but he would respect my choices in other, secondary matters.

I looked at him quietly and then let out a soft laugh.

“I understand that you and I have things we cannot compromise on. And I also understand that you share the same views as my aunt and uncle.”

“Because the three of us all agree that your safety must come first.”

“Yes. Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Don’t worry. For the time being, just stay here and rest. The Marquess of Wellington and I will take care of the rest…”

“No, Duke.”

I waved my hand towards him, who was bowing his head as if apologizing to me.

After considering countless possibilities in my mind, I let out a small sigh and summarized the events that had transpired.

My father and the Crown Prince were trying to force me to become the Crown Princess, and they had even attempted to harm me directly at a crowded hotel.

It meant that staying at my aunt’s residence was no longer helpful and had become too dangerous.

I could hide on my own easily enough, but that would naturally restrict my movements.

In this capital, the only people I could trust were my aunt and uncle, and Jenna.

In that situation, the best way to safely push back against the Crown Prince, bring down my father, and protect Ashird without any restrictions, was…

“I am someone who needs to solve my own problems. That applies to everything, and I have my own plans in mind.”

It was true that I needed strong backing.

Someone with power and authority comparable to the Crown Prince, who would protect me no matter what I did.

But just because I had such a person didn’t mean I intended to leave everything to him and just watch from behind.

I looked Ashird straight in the eye and extended my hand.

“If you’re willing to be used by me, then while we’re together, I’ll make sure to use you to the fullest.”

So let’s make my residence your mansion, not here.

Seeing him blink at me, I narrowed my eyes and smiled brightly.

“Goodness! My lady, look at these invitations.”

Jenna stared with her mouth wide open at the mountain of invitations covering an entire table.

It was probably more invitations than she had ever seen while stuck with me in the North.

I looked at Jenna affectionately and smiled.

“Everyone’s curious. Why the Duke of Fontaine, who never responded to anyone’s advances, suddenly announced he would get engaged.”

This was Jenna’s first time, but I had received this many invitations before.

It was after I had declared my public relationship with Ashird in my past life.

Invitations poured in endlessly from people curious about how a country bumpkin from the North had captured the prestigious Duke of Fontaine.

Back then, I was naive, and thinking I mustn’t be a burden to Ashird, I replied to every invitation and went everywhere, seeing and experiencing all sorts of things.

I also felt that as the long-awaited lady of the Duke of Fontaine’s house, I should behave accordingly.

‘Looking back now, there was really no need to go that far.’

Despite Ashird’s worried dissuasions, saying I could stop if it was tiring or troublesome, I just smiled, pleased by the words ‘the Duke of Fontaine’s lover’ I heard everywhere.

How foolish.

“The gossip papers are in a frenzy too, my lady! Every gossip paper in the capital is covering you and the Duke’s love story! By now, there won’t be a single person living in the Empire who doesn’t know your story.”

“Right. The Duke really does his work well.”

After moving my residence to the Duke’s mansion and bringing all the belongings left at the Marquess of Wellington’s residence here, I had asked Ashird to spread as much news about our relationship as possible.

—

‘Even if you hadn’t said it, I was planning to do so. But may I ask why you think so too, my lady?’

‘To be protected, you need publicity. To let people know that I have Fontaine behind me, so they shouldn’t dare touch me. And also so people don’t get suspicious about why I suddenly moved into the Duke’s mansion.’

‘How wise, my lady. I will have the knights spread the word appropriately.’

—

Unlike my intention to keep it at the level of me having the Duke’s patronage, Ashird wanted a relationship with a clearer, more legitimate reason.

He said it would be safer that way and more acceptable to others.

After much back-and-forth, I finally gave in, nodding to his proposal with a sense of resignation, and half out of spite, I told him to publicize it as much as he wanted.

And less than half a day after we had that conversation, the next day, the front pages of famous gossip papers were emblazoned with stories about me and Ashird.

The gossip papers, which had printed an illustration of him holding me at the hotel the previous day, all echoed the same consistent narrative.

Mason’s Jewel has been captured by Fontaine’s Lion.

The family has allowed the two to live together before marriage, blessing their fairytale-like love.

The engagement ceremony is expected to be held on an unprecedented scale.

Ashird had skillfully utilized trivial facts, and that alone was enough to create a compelling story.

I placed the gossip paper I was holding onto the table and smiled with satisfaction.

“Any word from my aunt yet?”

“No, my lady. No particular contact aside from the letter we received yesterday.”

The ones most pleased to hear that I had decided to stay at the Duke’s mansion were my aunt and uncle.

They sent a letter as soon as we arrived at the Duke’s mansion after leaving the safe house, somehow knowing immediately.

It said that the Duke of Fontaine was a trustworthy person, so I shouldn’t move alone and should stay with him.

It also added that they would visit soon.

“They said they’d come soon. I wonder when they plan to.”

“They’ll send word before they come, my lady. More importantly… what should we do about these invitations?”

Jenna asked, looking helplessly at the enormous pile of invitations.

If I were to accept all of them—at least thirty or more by the look of it—I would probably collapse before I could even do what I needed to do.

Besides, for now, my relationship with Ashird was merely a contractual one, so…

“What do you think, Jenna? It does seem like a lot at first glance.”

I had already made my decision, but I asked Jenna anyway.

“Me? If it were me, of course I wouldn’t go. Why go there just to hear unpleasant things?”

Jenna shook her head with a fed-up expression.

“The thing I’ve heard most since coming to the capital, whether inside or outside the house, is to watch my tongue. When I go to parties with you and wait for them to end, I hear so much nonsense coming from all directions…”

Jenna shuddered slightly and shook her head vigorously.

The capital and the North are different.

Unlike the simple North, where everyone around you is on your side, in the capital you can’t be sure that even the person right next to you is your ally.

I nodded with an understanding look.

“You’ve had a hard time, Jenna.”

“Ugh, tell me about it. Honestly, I’d love to go back to the North right away, but I’m holding on for your sake, my lady. So, how about we throw away all these invitations except for the truly necessary ones?”

“Jenna is right.”

As soon as Jenna finished speaking, a low voice suddenly cut into the space.

“Duke?”

“Good morning, my lady.”