IMGEA 8

Chapter 8

‘Is he keeping his word to treat me properly?’

It was, in a sense, normal for him to react so fiercely when the Grand Duchess had been insulted.

‘Why is he so good at acting?’

She had nearly misunderstood. Anellia thought she ought to add “acts like a madman” to her information on Luane, and slowly opened her mouth.

“I just want an apology.”

There were too many eyes watching. Demanding too much could actually earn her only resentment. So it was better to end things at a reasonable level—pretending to be gracious while grinding down Latvi’s pride.

“Merely an apology. Will that truly suffice?”

“Yes. Even though my face has been left a mess right before the wedding…… she is still my mother.”

“My wife is too soft-hearted for her own good.”

Luane wore a thoroughly dissatisfied expression, as if he didn’t like Anellia’s choice. But since he had already decided to follow Anellia’s word, Luane’s red eyes turned toward Latvi. At that gaze, as if asking why she wasn’t apologizing this instant, Latvi clenched both hands tightly, hidden slightly behind her skirt.

“Very well. I was educating my daughter for her sake, but if that cannot be accepted, I will apologize.”

Even at the end, her attitude was self-defensive, and Luane wanted to overturn it again, but Anellia restrained him quietly from the side, so he held back. Latvi’s brown eyes reached Anellia. She moved her lips several times, then at last forced the words out through gritted teeth in a voice straining with effort.

“……I am sorry, Anellia.”

Words anyone could see were forced out. Yet the moment she heard them, somehow a small ripple stirred in Anellia’s heart. Until now, Anellia had never once received an apology from her mother or any of her family.

‘So it was this simple a thing.’

Just because she had gained the name Argenté. Just because Luane had glared at her from the side. Anellia slowly closed and opened her eyes. Lowering her gaze, she saw Latvi’s hands trembling with humiliation.

‘For today, this much is satisfying.’

Thinking of how much fury that temperament must be holding back, the corners of her mouth rose of their own accord, and she nearly laughed aloud. Anellia smiled faintly and answered Latvi in a smooth, gentle tone.

“I’ll accept the apology, Mother.”

At that, Latvi’s face warped as if cracking. Belita, who had stayed silent for fear of being caught in the sparks, could not maintain her usual benevolent expression either. Squeezing the hand she held with Luane, Anellia wore a deep smile. This alone was already so entertaining—imagining what it would be like when their bare faces were exposed one by one was thrilling in itself.

After Latvi and Belita left the princess’s palace as if fleeing, Anellia wanted nothing more than to lie down alone and rest a little.

“Your wound needs to be treated this instant—what are you doing!”

That is, if Luane hadn’t still been wearing that fierce face and ordering the maids about—bring ointment, bring warm water, bring a towel, bring ice, and on and on.

“No, it’s not that bad. It’s not as if the wound will vanish just because you do that.”

“Still, it must be treated properly. It could worsen and hurt more.”

“This much will heal if I just endure a few days…….”

It would get better. Anellia couldn’t finish the sentence and swallowed it. Because Luane’s two eyes, meeting hers, were blazing so fiercely it was alarming. In the end, Anellia smiled awkwardly and planted herself on the sofa.

“Um…… all right. Thank you.”

Was he keeping up this treatment as the Grand Duchess for the maids to see? Anellia, feeling oddly self-conscious, couldn’t bring herself to look at Luane and stared only at her toes. And so she failed to see what expression Luane was looking down at her with.

“Your Grace the Grand Duke, everything you mentioned is prepared.”

When the maids set the items down, Luane sent them all out. Then he sat close beside Anellia and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. At the unfamiliar touch, Anellia flinched in surprise and pulled back. In Luane’s hand was a jar of ointment said to be good for wounds.

“I-I’ll apply it myself.”

“This is faster and more accurate. Don’t waste time—just stay still.”

“……Then just, do it simply, please.”

At the firm voice, Anellia straightened herself forward again. Luane took a small amount of ointment, placed it on his finger, and brought it to Anellia’s cheek. Luane’s hand moved carefully over the rough wound, applying the ointment. The sensation was both ticklish and stinging, and Anellia unwittingly let out a small “Ah.” At that, Luane’s hand paused briefly, then moved again with a low voice.

“I’m sorry. If only I had come a little sooner…… it’s my fault.”

In that moment, a fragment of the past brushed through Anellia’s mind. A single word from a boy she had met outside the palace long, long ago.

[I’m sorry, it’s my fault.]

At the time, the apology had been so fresh to her that the moment remained vividly. Perhaps because that child had black hair too. The memory of him being tormented in every possible way by people remained. Later, curious about what became of him, she had looked into it, but it had been twenty years ago, and she could find no trace.

‘I don’t understand why kind people apologize so well and blame themselves.’

When the person who actually ought to apologize and reflect still held her nose high in the air. Even if Grand Duke Argenté carried all sorts of ominous rumors about him, she could feel that at heart he was a kind person. Anellia was once again satisfied that she had chosen well in picking him.

“Don’t nod your head, it’s not done yet.”

It seemed she had nodded without realizing it. Anellia hastily tensed her face and spoke.

“Th-that’s not your fault. I’m the one who should thank you for helping. Even if I did ask to be treated properly, I never imagined you’d take my side with such passion.”

“You seem to be misunderstanding—I didn’t take anyone’s side.”

“……?”

“I simply did what was only natural.”

There was no exaggeration or falsehood in Luane’s voice as it flowed out flatly. Anellia, tensing again to keep from nodding, changed the subject.

“Anyway. Ah, right—about our residence after the wedding. I think it’s going to work out well.”

“Have you found some means?”

“Yes. Thanks to Belita coming to me today and making a fuss.”

The corners of Anellia’s mouth curved up in an arc. Luane’s hand, applying the ointment, paused for a moment, but she was too busy looking forward to the entertaining sight ahead to notice.

The next day, Anellia quietly visited Belita. And exactly two days later, the day before the wedding was to be held, an order came down from the Emperor that Anellia was to remain in the palace for about a month after the wedding to greet her family. It was because Belita had spent two whole days pestering the Emperor. It was an earnest plea—one that could not be heard or seen without tears—begging that there was no precedent for such a sudden case, so please grant time to say farewell to her sister. In truth, all of it had begun with a few words Anellia had said to Belita.

[Bel, you must have been so startled earlier. I’m scared of the Grand Duke too. Honestly, I really don’t want to get married!]

[Goodness, Anel! Then let’s tell Father right now. Hm? I’ll help you!]

[No, I can’t. I can’t cause you trouble again……. If only I had a little more time to stay in the imperial palace. Then the Grand Duke might abandon me and call off the wedding.]

[Make the Grand Duke abandon you……?]

Belita, who had nearly given up on Anellia, lit up at that moment like someone who had found a lifeline. She couldn’t make the wedding itself disappear, but something like letting Anellia stay a little longer in the imperial palace…….

[Father! Please let me spend even just one more month with Anellia!]

Belita’s pleading began that very instant. At the outcry that continued for two days before all the imperial palace, the Emperor finally threw up his hands.

‘One month. That should be enough.’

By law, a married princess could no longer remain in the palace. But to overturn Lodeiam, it was easier to be inside the imperial palace. So she had been looking for a justification not to go to Argenté even after the wedding, and Belita had done it for her so very well. Anellia, feeling genuinely grateful to Belita for once, slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again it would be morning, and then……

‘Finally, the wedding.’

She would formally become the Grand Duchess of Argenté.