Chapter 99

Chapter 99

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hard at all. However…”

Iellie shook her head.

She could feel the tension as she proceeded with Zachary’s coming-of-age ceremony and her wedding this time, though it was a pleasant tension. She felt the fullness that someone completely believes in her.

“It’s like I’m already getting special treatment because I’m the Duchess.”

“Well, if you think about it, that’s true, but…”

“And the truth is, I don’t want to hear about Zachary being swayed by relatives.”

Iellie whispered in her small voice. Leaning her head against her mother’s arms, she narrowed her eyes as she continued.

“…Then, the relationship between the Duke and his vassal would deteriorate, and it would make the family uncomfortable.”

“Len.”

The Viscountess, who was gazing at her daughter blankly, tightened her arms as she embraced her. She says in a sweet voice.

“I don’t know when my daughter grew up like this.”

“Oh, I’m an adult now.”

Saying so, she wrinkled the tip of her nose and laughed. The Viscountess looked at her daughter with a new feeling.

“Really… I never dreamed that you would say such grown-up things.”

“How did you see me?”

“A brat and stubborn?”

“Mom, really.”

As Iellie looked down at her mother, annoyed, the Viscountess laughed and continued softly.

“Still, Len…”

Her kind eyes captured Iellie preciously. The eyes were softly curved.

“You will always be me and your father’s sweetest daughter.”

“Mom.”

“So, you can tell me whenever you have a hard time. Do you understand?”

Seeing her mother’s gaze looked at her unwaveringly, after a moment of hesitation, Iellie nodded her head.

“…Yes.”

It felt as if there was something soft and sweet in her mouth. The Viscountess laughed.

“Then, shall we sleep together after a long time?”

“Yes.”

Iellie nodded her head.

The Viscountess, who sat down first under the blanket, tapped on the spot next to her and Iellie burrowed into her mother’s arms like a squirrel. Soon, the mother and daughter fell asleep holding hands next to each other.

12. Mistress of the North (1)

As the Emperor’s luxurious imperial wedding had come to an end, the attention of the noble society naturally began to focus on the only Duke in the empire. The new Duchess took a slightly different wedding route than the imperial couple.

Instead of revealing their marriage to everyone, only a few were invited.

“I heard that there are only a handful of noble families who have received wedding invitations from the Duchy?”

“Then, is it okay to say that the family that received the wedding invitation from the Duchy were considered special?”

Nobles were naturally sensitive to power relations. Moreover, if the newly married couple were the new Ducal couple of Hessenweiz, they were bound to be more sensitive as they were the only Duchy in the empire comparable to the Imperial Family.

“What kind of wedding will the Duchess have?”

“Well… there are very few people who can attend the Duke’s wedding.”

People were keen on the Ducal couple’s wedding. The Imperial Family’s wedding ceremony was lavishly celebrated throughout the empire, but the Duke’s wedding ceremony was secret so only a few rumors spread tantalizingly.

“It was said that the Emperor gave a congratulatory gift to the Duchy.”

“They say they spend a huge budget on weddings and receptions.”

“Besides, I heard that Mrs. Transel stayed at the Duke’s castle the whole time.”

Mrs. Transel was such a famous designer that all the ladies who wanted to be famous in the capital tailored their dresses to Mrs. Transel. To monopolize such a designer for the duration of the wedding…

“Furthermore… do you know the Duchy’s famous jewel? Asha’s tears.”

One of the most surprising news was the legendary jewel, ‘Asha’s Tears.’ People were very excited.

“They said that the Duke gave the jewel to the Duchess as a wedding present.”

“Isn’t that jewel a precious object that is the symbol of the Ducal Family?”

“That makes it even more amazing! If the Duke values the Duchess that much…”

The Duchess received such a huge wedding present…

A few nobles were acknowledged for their friendship with the Duchy as the people received wedding invitations. It was a natural step to ignite people’s curiosity. In the meantime, some of the people who received wedding invitations were revealed, and people were taken aback when they saw the unexpected people who were friends with the Duchy.

“The Princess and Marquis Rondo…”

“I know. Didn’t the Princess once have a marriage talk with the Duke?”

“Besides, Marquis Rondo must be the Empress’ father.”

People’s curiosity was further amplified by the unexpected invitation. Still, the Ducal couple was silent while inflating people’s expectations.

Time passed like that, and the morning of the wedding day arrived. Everyone’s attention was gathered.

As predicted, only a handful of people attended the Duke’s wedding. Although the Emperor and the new Empress did not attend, instead, the princess, who received an official wedding invitation from the Ducal Family, attended the wedding on behalf of the Imperial Family.

“Welcome, Princess.”

“Nice to meet you. I never thought I would visit Duke Hessenweitz’s castle like this again.”

Instead of the Ducal couple who were away for the wedding, the butler of the Duke’s castle personally entertained the guests.

Listening to the polite greeting, the Princess smiled. At the same time, she couldn’t help but admire the appropriate behavior of the Ducal couple.

‘Viscount Blanchett and his wife are deliberately stepping back.’

Having a butler to greet guests was an unspoken sign that Duke Hessenweitz was not being swayed by their maternal relatives. It was a great choice considering the former Countess Laurent ran amok with the Duchy on her back.

“Marquis Rondo, I will take you to your seat.”

“Thank you.”

As the Empress’s father, Marquis Rondo, also attended the Duke’s wedding, people were a little surprised. Not surprisingly, Marquis Rondo had lost his wife early and had been taking care of his only daughter.

“The Marquis is also amazing.”

“Yes, I bet the Emperor is not ignorant of the kindness the Duchess had shown.”

“But even so, it would be foolish to break ties with the Duchy.”

It would not have been too nice to see his precious daughter being neglected by the Emperor, but Marquis Rondo proudly attended this wedding. A nobleman who maintained a friendship with the Ducal family… he knew its value well.

“Wouldn’t His Majesty be displeased with his attendance?”

“How can? The Emperor neglected the Empress in the first place.”

Hearing the low whispers of the people, Marquis Rondo narrowed his eyes. In the first place, the reason that he attended the wedding this time was a push from his own daughter, who had become Empress, and it was also a protest against the Emperor.

“Be sure to attend this wedding, father.”

“Your Majesty, how can you say such a thing? How did the Emperor act toward the Empress…”

His daughter’s eyes sank deeply the moment she heard the title of empress. The Empress calmly opened her mouth.

“That’s why I’m telling you to go.”

“….”

“It’s difficult for an empress that is not loved to even keep her place.”

Marquis Rondo felt speechless. The empress’s calm face stared at her father.

“So, father, strengthen your relationship with the Duchy.”

“Your Majesty…!”

“It is His Majesty who made the mistake first, so it will be difficult for him to reprimand our family.”

There was a bit of resignation in the Empress’ eyes as she said that. She was always a wise daughter though he never wanted to see her grow up like this.

Marquis Rondo was soaked in bitter feelings.

“Marquis Rondo.”

“Ah, Princess.”

At that moment, Marquis Rondo glanced around at the voice calling him to see the Princess smiling at him.

“Can I sit next to you?”

“Of course.”

Marquis Rondo offered the seat next to him. As she sat down, the Princess, who was silent for a moment, opened her mouth.

“…I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry about, princess?”

“Just… as a member of the imperial family, I want to apologize on behalf of you.”

Marquis Rondo quietly shut his mouth. The Princess frowned slightly with dizzying eyes.

“The wedding today.”

“….”

“…I think it will be a very beautiful wedding.”

With Marquis Rondo’s words, the Princess nodded her head slightly. The two were thinking of the same person. She was a beautiful young lady who couldn’t be happy even after having the most gorgeous wedding in the empire.

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