IMGEA 5

Chapter 5

At the unexpected variable, Anellia paused for a moment and studied Luane’s complexion. His faintly furrowed eyes and tightly pressed lips. In his red eyes that had been glinting with interest, she somehow even sensed a menacing air.

‘There’s no way they’d be on hostile terms with Märchen.’

Since she might end up joining hands with Argenté, she had long maintained friendly relations with them. Anellia herself was Märchen’s branch leader, so there was no need to say more on that point.

‘What on earth is it?’

What had she missed? Anellia’s brain worked quickly, searching for clues. But finding nothing, she decided to ask a question to sound out his intentions.

“Grand Duke, is there perhaps some additional condition you want?”

“An additional condition, you say.”

Then the Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed, and one corner of his mouth crooked upward.

“If you’re that close with Märchen, then you must know the branch leader’s identity as well.”

“That’s… naturally.”

She couldn’t very well say that she knew because she was the branch leader herself, so Anellia gave a small nod.

“Then I’d like to meet the branch leader for a bit. Is that possible?”

She was fully prepared to answer anything without hesitation, but this question forced even Anellia to deliberate. The branch leader of Märchen as known to the world was actually information about the sub-branch leader. And even that only revealed gender and a rough age range—everything else was unknown, even to Märchen’s executives. And yet he wanted it disclosed to a complete outsider. As Anellia hesitated to answer readily, Luane let out a soft laugh and spoke.

“We’re going to be partners doing great things together—shouldn’t we at least know each other’s faces to trust one another?”

His tone was different from when he had first entered this place. He spoke of trust, but within it was a faint hostility.

‘Is it all right to proceed like this?’

She truly couldn’t understand the reason. But she had come this far, and refusing would complicate matters in its own way.

“…All right. I’ll arrange a meeting.”

In the end, Anellia agreed to Luane’s demand. If she couldn’t refuse, then break through head-on. And before that, grasp as much information as possible. That was the method Anellia preferred.

‘First I’ll have to investigate everything thoroughly again. And if things go wrong, I’ll move straight to the next plan.’

Rapidly revising her plan in her head, Anellia outwardly curved the corners of her mouth into a soft smile.

“But I’ll add one more thing as well.”

The music coming from beyond the terrace door suddenly changed. From banquet music, a calm and elegant instrumental piece flowed out. It meant the main schedule of the banquet was nearly over. Which meant that the Emperor and Empress would soon arrive. Thinking it was time to wrap up the conversation, Anellia continued.

“Treat me as you would a real fiancée.”

The wind blew again. Anellia’s black hair fluttered once, obscuring her vision. The cold air raised goosebumps all over her body, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. In that moment, Luane reached out and naturally tucked Anellia’s disheveled hair behind her ear. She couldn’t immediately register what had just happened and only blinked a few times. Luane, now a step closer, met Anellia’s eyes and answered.

“If that’s what you want, gladly.”

Then he smiled brightly, and his harmony with his silver hair, sparkling as if shattered by the moonlight, was like…

‘What is with that face.’

Like a fox bewitching a traveler in the dead of night. Luane Argenté was a man who had risen from bastard to Grand Duke. Most of the rumors about him were that he was ferocious and cruel, but among them was always the story of his insane good looks. She had agreed to some extent, but seeing him up close, he really was—beyond her imagination—a beautiful man.

“Uh, ahem. So our deal is settled, then. I look forward to working with you, Grand Duke. No… fiancé.”

Anellia concealed her fluster and held out her hand, pretending to offer a handshake. Luane looked at Anellia’s extended hand, then slowly clasped it.

“Very well. I’ll look forward to it.”

It was a firm, warm hand. It was the moment the clasped hand lightly enveloped Anellia’s.

‘What is it? The Grand Duke seems to be in a better mood again.’

Honestly, this man was confusing in all sorts of ways.

To avoid people’s attention, Anellia left the terrace first, and Luane came out a little later.

‘No, I went into the third one, so why did he come out of the second?’

The terraces must have been quite far apart, yet he had managed to move. She had information that he was good at anything involving his body, but she hadn’t expected it to be to this degree. As Anellia was inwardly marveling, the resonant voice of a herald rang out from the entrance of the banquet hall.

“Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress enter—!”

The people who had been eating, drinking, and chatting; the people trying to latch onto Grand Duke Argenté to gain something even now; the people going around courting anyone they could to find a partner—in other words, everyone in the banquet hall stopped what they were doing. The music stopped too, and after literal silence made one round of the banquet hall—

“I greet Their Majesties!”

Every member of the imperial family and the nobility bent their knees in unison according to their station and paid their respects. The Emperor’s golden eyes swept over the crowd and stopped on the sparkling silver hair. Since Luane, as Grand Duke, did not need to kneel before the Emperor, he offered only a light salute and quietly met the Emperor’s eyes.

“Congratulations on your victory, Grand Duke.”

Perhaps because Luane didn’t sit well with him, the Emperor frowned slightly, then soon forced a smile and spoke. Luane received the words with the same expression as before.

“Thank you for the hospitality.”

“You’re the hero of the empire—of course it should be so. I’ve been too neglectful until now.”

The Emperor laughed heartily, good-naturedly, and stroking his beard, walked to the very front of the dais. It was where the seats for the Emperor and Empress had already been prepared.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

Seated, the Emperor waved his hand broadly and burst into another hearty laugh, as if telling them to stop. To look at him, one would think he was a friendly, comfortable, gentle, and respected emperor. Anellia inwardly hurled every curse imaginable and looked around. Everyone’s eyes were shining with curiosity about what reward the Emperor would bestow. After a rustling sound swept through and the surroundings fell quiet again—

“I am greatly pleased by Argenté’s great victory this time, and I wish to bestow a reward.”

“Your words alone are thanks enough, Your Majesty.”

“That won’t do. It’s a gift I’ve taken a long time to choose. I do hope you like it.”

The Emperor’s golden eyes rippled unpleasantly as he gestured to the chief attendant. The chief attendant unfurled a scroll prepared in advance and began reading its contents in a loud voice.

“In commendation of Argenté’s great victory, Kars Aile Lodeiam personally bestows: one million ritt in gold, five hundred bolts of silk, ten deeds to lands in the Snow Mountains, and… the Third Princess, Anellia Aile Lodeiam.”

The banquet hall fell silent as if cold water had been thrown over it. Rustle, rustle. Only the sound of the chief attendant rolling the scroll back up echoed. Luane, who had received the reward, also stood silently without a word, but the Emperor instead grinned as if something was amusing and opened his mouth.

“What’s the matter, Grand Duke? Is it not to your liking?”

“How could it be. Your Majesty’s reward seems too much for me.”

“I ask just in case, Grand Duke. You’re not thinking of refusing the reward I personally chose with such care—my precious daughter, the princess of Lodeiam, are you?”

The Emperor’s golden eyes swept over the Grand Duke’s entire body sinisterly, like those of a reptile. Without avoiding that gaze, Luane met it and asked slowly.

“So Your Majesty’s meaning is that I am to take the Third Princess Anellia as my wife?”

“That’s right. Why, do you dislike my daughter?”

Gulp. Among the watching nobles, the sound of someone swallowing audibly leaked out. It was a spectacle more entertaining than watching a fire from across the river, and on top of that, one brimming with thrill. Looking at Luane, who gave no immediate answer, the Emperor leaned deeply back into his chair. Then, with a displeased expression, he opened his mouth to say the next thing—but Luane’s low voice rang through the hall first.

“I accept.”

“What a disappointment, Grand Duke. The gift I went to such trouble to prepare… Hm? Wait, you accept?”

The Emperor, who had assumed the Grand Duke would naturally refuse, opened his eyes wide at the unexpected answer.

“Yes. I will gladly accept Your Majesty’s gift. As for the wedding, I was thinking perhaps next week.”

It wasn’t only the Emperor and the nobles who were startled by Luane’s flatly delivered words. Anellia, who had been watching the situation from a corner, was also feeling a wave of absurdity, covering her involuntarily gaping mouth with her hand.

‘No, we agreed on an engagement! What is he doing, that man?’

What was this sudden talk of a wedding next week! Was this a scheme to take the wind out of the Emperor’s sails? If so, it was a success. Not just the Emperor—everyone gathered here wore a stunned expression.