Chapter 10: TBTW

“...A woman who would stand in front of Daniel Prouss in a tuxedo, holding flowers and smiling…”

As I said that, I closed the distance to Ivryl Bliet again.

Perhaps because she had been raised since childhood as a bargaining chip for the noble faction, she didn’t shrink back even when I glared at her.

Instead, she held her neck straight as if she wouldn’t be pushed down.

After a moment like that, her well-shaped lips painted in red slowly twisted.

‘I can’t let someone like Frey take His Grace away.’

It looked like she was grinding her teeth while thinking something along those lines.

“Indeed, the Count Bliet young lady would be a better bride candidate than me. She has loved Daniel Prouss for much longer as well.”

“I’m glad you understand. So, at this point….”

“Yes. You should do it, young lady. The role of standing in front of the duke in a tuxedo, holding flowers and smiling.”

“…?”

Ivryl looked at me with suspicious eyes.

Tilting her head slightly as if she didn’t understand what I meant, she asked,

“Lady Frey. Are you… yielding?”

Yielding?

A laugh almost escaped me at the memory of my past life.

I had given up plenty of times.

There were countless moments when I abandoned things I wanted, afraid that saying it out loud would make me lose something even bigger.

‘But neither the me from my past life, nor the me now, has ever yielded something I could definitely have.’

I looked at Ivryl with an innocent expression and tilted my head.

“Yielding… you say? I’m the one marrying Duke Prouss.”

“…!”

“But since you said you also wanted to see the duke up close, would you like to take the role of a bridesmaid?”

I smiled brightly.

Smiling while stabbing someone emotionally.

It was a useful skill I had learned in my past life, when I had to deal with horrible people often.

Of course, Ivryl had no reason to accept such a proposal gracefully.

Her clenched fists trembled. She looked like she wanted to tear me apart on the spot—

The same look I had once worn while watching her mock me at a funeral.

Thinking back on that time made my blood boil, but I kept my composure and continued.

“Count Bliet young lady. I haven’t forgotten that when my mother passed away, you personally came with flowers.”

“…!”

“As repayment for those flowers, I’ll send a bouquet for the bride’s entourage to your mansion.”

The meaning behind it was clear:

‘If you hadn’t done such shameless things first, I wouldn’t have taken the duke from you.’

Someone like Ivryl, well-versed in high society, would understand the meaning perfectly.

“Well then. The wedding will proceed quite quickly, so take care of your health from now on.”

I left a refreshing farewell and returned to my room.

That afternoon

The imperial palace was, in one word, turned upside down.

‘The Emperor using the absolute obedience authority for his daughter is already shocking enough…’

‘And the target is Duke Prouss, who is supposedly a depraved man with two illegitimate children?’

‘Princess Frey really chose that kind of man…’

Officials of the Emperor’s faction were unable to hide their confusion.

Members of the noble faction led by the Duke of Zelon were furious.

“Your Majesty! You must not use such a sacred authority for something like this!”

“If you do not revoke the order, I will uphold my loyalty even unto death!”

Petitions full of thinly veiled threats like ‘If you don’t stop, I’ll die’ continued to flood in.

The Empress, the Crown Prince couple, and the Duke of Zelon all fiercely criticized the Emperor for political incompetence.

However, the Emperor—who had already decided to send Frey Obelir to the North—did not even blink.

“Keep in mind that if you take your own life, your lands will be confiscated and returned to me as Emperor.”

He only remained cautious, dropping words that sounded half like a joke and half like a warning.

Meanwhile, Frey spent her busy days during the two weeks before Duke Prouss was forcibly summoned after the absolute obedience command was activated.

Political lessons, crash courses in etiquette, and market research on the North.

What kept her enduring this exhausting schedule was her father’s trust and support… and also—

“Emma. Prepare writing paper. I need to ask about my bridesmaid’s condition today as well.”

Sending daily letters to Ivryl Bliet.

If it had been her timid past self, she would never have done something like this. But her personality from her past life was not so gentle.

And with those memories returning, the part of her that clung on like a mad dog when wronged also came back.

Looking back, the letters she had sent were truly masterpieces.

[Count Bliet young lady. I heard you’ve been bedridden.
Since the wedding is soon, my “bridesmaid” must not be ill, so I’ll send medicine.
-Frey Obelir, future bride]

[To Count Bliet young lady.
Are you feeling better?
I was choosing flower bouquet designs for the wedding today. I’ll send the catalog to you as well, my “bridesmaid.”
Would you like to choose the bouquet you’ll be holding next to Duke Prouss as a “bridesmaid”?
-Frey Obelir, bride in training]

Frey deliberately had the maids handle sealing the letters.

Thanks to that, rumors quickly spread throughout the palace about Frey’s fiery personality and her mockery of Lady Bliet, previously hidden under the “cowardly” label.

‘Good heavens… Count Bliet young lady will collapse from anger if she receives this.’

‘Princess Frey has become terrifyingly sharp…’

When Emma brought the writing paper and gave her a look as if asking, “Are you doing that again?”, Frey sent her away.

Spreading bad rumors about herself was also part of her plan.

‘That way Duke Prouss will think I want a divorce.’

If she acted like a saint doing good deeds out of nowhere,

‘Ah, that abandoned princess is trying so hard for love!’

—he might misunderstand.

And that would be troublesome.

So Frey continued maintaining her “bad-tempered princess” image.

‘This is easier anyway.’

Of course, all of this was known only to Frey, who was orchestrating the bigger picture.

Because of that, the palace staff and the Emperor spent anxious days waiting for Duke Prouss’s arrival.

‘Is she acting out because the duke has illegitimate children…?’

‘How did she suppress that personality all this time?’

As increasingly exaggerated rumors spread, the palace was in turmoil.

Then one day—

“Due to the Emperor’s absolute obedience authority, His Grace Duke Prouss has entered the palace. Please guide us.”

Luke, dressed in knight uniform after a long time, was speaking hurriedly with the imperial knights.

He was preparing to escort the Duke’s procession into the palace.

Thanks to prior notice from the Emperor, the carriage procession passed through the main gate quickly.

Luke hopped onto the footstep of Duke Daniel Prouss’s carriage and grumbled.

“Wow, I feel like a pet monkey for noble ladies. You see the way everyone’s staring at us too, right?”

“This is the imperial palace, Luke. Show respect. I’d prefer you act as the knight commander right now rather than an old friend.”

“Understood. Anyway, seeing these looks of contempt, I guess I really ruined Your Grace’s reputation.”

“….”

Daniel was honestly amazed that in just one week, Luke had turned him into a depraved man with two illegitimate children.

Children said to possess extraordinary power.

Rumors that he avoided marriage because he didn’t know the mother of his children.

Even more absurd was that people had begun believing it completely.

‘The Prouss family never had scandals, so maybe that’s why they believe it so easily.’

A faint wrinkle formed between his brows.

Even after hearing the rumors, neither the Emperor nor the princess had revoked the absolute obedience order.

So he had to meet the Emperor quickly with proper etiquette, then meet the princess alone and request annulment.

If he seriously admitted the rumors were true, Princess Frey would likely be disgusted and choose another marriage partner.

‘Not sure why she doesn’t disbelieve Luke’s fabricated story.’

Perhaps she simply trusted his upright reputation.

Daniel leaned back, thinking he would have to betray that expectation completely.

He still had no intention of love.

Swoosh—

Luke moved to another carriage so as not to disturb his lord’s brief rest.

The procession was moving slowly inside the palace, so it wasn’t too difficult.

He sat beside Butler Baron and stretched.

“Grandfather, how long until the annulment and return to the ducal estate? Two days?”

“I’d like it to be two days as well… but unexpected things may cause delays.”

“Unexpected things?”

What unexpected things could happen in an annulment with a notoriously evil princess?

Luke tilted his head.

Baron smiled bitterly and looked toward the princess’s palace.

“My grandfather once said this: the Prouss dukes are always frozen, but when they meet their partner, they become entirely different people.”

“Come on, you know the duke has childhood trauma. He’s an exception.”

“And do you think the previous dukes had no stories of their own?”

“…?”

“The blood of dragons has a strong obsession with their mate. Some who were as cold as ice suddenly offered their hearts, others ran away for love…”

“Well, I guess that makes sense.”

“Luke. Please study the records of Duke Prouss passed down in the Divine family.”

“Yes, yes. I get it.”

Luke answered casually.

Baron added, watching the approaching imperial buildings:

“So if you notice any change in His Grace’s feelings, report it immediately. If he finds his mate, we will also have to change how we act.”