CH 30

The Duchy of Ryzelin was one of the empire’s three major families in name and demeanor, and they could use heavenly powers borrowed from the goddess to predict the future and purify the filthy.

So it was the Duchy of Ryzelin that was the most ecstatic when the Pilsburg family, which had been producing emperors for 350 years of the entire 500 years of imperial history, was having a problem with their heir.

They had no doubt in mind that it was them, the Ryzelin family, who would produce the next emperor after Pilsburg.

The election for the next emperor would have no choice but to consider the public’s opinion to some extent because of the repulsion against the Cardiago family, which had the power of the underworld while having control over dark reapers.

Compared to Cardiago, Ryzelin had heavenly powers, so they seemed similar to Pilsburg, who in turn could wield magic of the four elements in the mortal realm.

This was the public opinion of the commoners.

But such opinions became old rumors.

‘Duke Cardiago…’

Ian Ryzelin, the head of the Ryzelin family, hit the table.

His sister flinched and fell to the ground on her knees, but Ian didn’t care.

That Ephelix was really a brat who knew nothing.

Ian knew that Ephelix succeeded the family at a young age.

While he was still a young man, he was still just organizing the family’s affairs.

But then suddenly, he stepped up and was claiming the throne of the emperor, and he also suggested that the next imperial conference—which should be held in the presence of the emperor—would be held in his domain.

‘What kind of confidence… Does he think that he’s the only one who can beat Pilsburg?’

Ephelix previously did not refuse or hate the throne, but he didn’t show any action to claim the position before, even if he was proclaimed as a rightful candidate.

That’s why Ian Ryzelin changed his plans.

Rather than continuing to side with the deteriorating current emperor, he thought that he should join hands with Ephelix, who didn’t seem to have much desire to take the throne.

‘But why, all of a sudden…!’

Since word had gone out that Ephelix Cardiago had suddenly gotten married, Ian had been running around, half crazy.

“Brother… Please calm down. There’s nothing to be done.”

As she was kneeling at Ian’s feet, Iris said this.

His green eyes normally were spiritless and he would have calmed down by himself, but this time, he couldn’t.

“Iris. You’re always just here in the Ryzelin estate—you don’t even know how serious the situation is. Do you not have any awareness about who the head of Ryzelin is?”

“Cardiago only got married… Please calm down.”

“Whether he got married or not, I’ll have to see who the bride is.”

Ian glared ferociously and called a subordinate of his.

The subordinate brought a portrait of the new Duchess of Cardiago, the painting of which he ordered to be secured the other day.

Ian stared at Isabelle’s portrait.

It’s said that she was a woman with no roots, but even then, she was quite pretty.

In addition, it felt like her appearance was not unfamiliar.

“Iris. Look at this face.”

Iris quietly accepted the painting from her older brother.

It was a woman with coveted wavy silver hair.

And an impression that her sky blue eyes could see through anything.

“Read this woman and her future. If you have the ability to take the lead, you can at least do that with a portrait, right?”

At the coercive voice, Iris trembled.

But she couldn’t refuse. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to sleep in a warm place tonight. Iris closed her eyes.

It was going to be very difficult to dig up information about a person she’d never been in contact with before and predict their future.

However, Iris had no power to refuse Ian.

She closed her eyes and placed a hand over the portrait. 

From where she touched, light bloomed.

Then, transparent, butterfly-shaped light moved its wings slowly.

It was the heavenly power received from the goddess.

“The woman isn’t a noble. I think she grew up in a temple and her name is Isabelle… Ugh!”

Iris’ hand on the portrait was repelled.

And the butterfly-shaped light also disappeared into the air as though it was disintegrating.

There were countless times that Iris was asked to read the future, but Ian was also surprised because this was the first time this happened.

“What happened?”

“I can’t read her.”

As Iris hesitated to say this, Ian’s expression now became distorted.

He was keeping her because of her ability to wield heavenly power, but now she couldn’t read the future.

“Useless. You didn’t do it properly because you’re afraid that you’d get hurt.

“B-Brother… It’s not like tha… Ack!”

Ian narrowed the distance between them and grabbed Iris’ hair.

Iris couldn’t even scream because Ian’s expression was so cold, devoid of any warmth.

“Iris. I can’t take care of you forever. You have to find your own way to survive.”

“……”

“Are you going to live in the Ryzelin estate for the rest of your life? Will you never step on the ground outside?”

“……”

“Listen to me carefully, Iris. The heavenly power you inherited will disappear the moment you leave the Ryzelin estate.”

Iris couldn’t refute his words.

What he said was true.

“In order for you to see the outside world intact, you have no chance but to be with Ephelix Cardiago, who has the opposite power to Isis. His power will stabilize yours.”

“But his marriage was just…”

“Didn’t you say it yourself? That woman is from a humble background, so she’ll soon be gone. To put you in that place, I’m thinking of going to the imperial conference myself.”

Iris said nothing as tears pooled in her eyes.

Her brother would only speak but wouldn’t listen.

In her experience, it was just better to keep herself quiet.

“In any case, you didn’t get enough information about that woman, so go to the top of the tower today. It would be better to keep your power pure.”

Ian’s tone was indifferent. While Iris was being dragged away by the priests, she saw only the back of her older brother.

‘…Brother. I don’t think you should touch that woman.’

It was a warning that she couldn’t utter.

* * *

Changing the location of the imperial imperial conference went smoothly.

Pilsburg, which held out by not replying until the end, eventually gave their consent because they couldn’t overcome the pressure of the other nobles.

‘All of the nobles of the empire will come here. More than it is now, it’ll be more complicated.’

Isabelle sipped her tea and looked at the wide hall.

Designers and seamstresses were busy moving to make new dresses that she would be wearing during the imperial conference. 

“It’s an honor, Madam. I’m Suzanne and I’ll be in charge of designing the Madam’s dresses.”

“I heard that you’re a talented designer. Thank you for coming to the castle.”

Isabelle leisurely received the greeting. As she had read in novels, designers would ask a girl who didn’t know much about the world and give them things at a high price, so they’d tend to sell unimpressive jewelry at absurd prices. Even so, these designers and seamstresses couldn’t straighten their backs properly, let alone show their guts.

At this point, it would be a relief if she didn’t faint while fitting the dress.

‘I heard that there’s no one in the castle who could make women’s clothing.’

There were currently no female nobles in the Cardiago Castle.

The employees who could sew said that they didn’t know anything about women’s fashion because they were mainly responsible for making or mending Riggs’ clothes.

That’s why Riggs ordered for talented female designers and seamstresses to come in from outside the castle.

The unwritten rule about female outsiders being prohibited from entering was broken thanks to the duchess.

‘Whatever these people would see or hear inside the castle would surely become rumors.’

Isabelle wanted to be more expressive about her excitement over the colorful dresses and the translucent cloth presented to her that looked like thin ice, but she held it in.

She didn’t want word to go out that the duchess didn’t hold herself with elegance or that there were many things she was ignorant about.

As much as possible, she wanted to look graceful and dignified.

However, there was someone else who was squealing brightly on behalf of Isabelle, who was determined about keeping herself reserved.

“My Isabelle. This blue ribbon looks very good on you. Won’t you try on this dress, too?”

Isis, who had descended to the mortal realm, has been smiling brightly as though playing with dolls while recommending this and that.

The designers were asking with their eyes, ‘Who on earth is this woman?’

Rosa was supposed to help with the dress fitting, but she ran away from Isis.

Because she was from the underworld, her skin grew itchy while she was in the vicinity of the goddess.

‘No, I think I definitely saw Isis pushing Rosa away on purpose.’

Isis, the benevolent goddess, was not very happy whenever other individuals were near Isabelle.

As though her being Isabelle’s sole guardian deity was enough.

By the time Isis recommended all kinds of white and blue accessories to Isabelle, the designers faltered and brought in a mannequin.

“Madam, this is a dress that embodies the traits of the Cardiago Duchy. I designed it while thinking of the dress that the Madam will wear during the imperial conference.”

As the Duchess of Cardiago will stand before other nobles, it was a russet-colored dress that had the colors of Cardiago.

Like Riggs’ eyes, a red pendant was sitting in the middle of the collarbone over the chest area, so even from a distance, it exuded the image of Duchy.

“Wow… It’s beautiful.”

Isis was the only one who sulked, saying that Isabelle looked better in white and blue.

Isabelle quickly put on the dress with the help of the maids.

Considering that this was made in advance, Riggs seemed to have told them her measurements.

Maybe it’s because she made him do a lot of laundry for her before, but she wasn’t surprised by this at all.

Wearing the dress in front of a mirror, Isabelle felt ecstatic and satisfied at the same time.

She couldn’t wait to show it to Riggs.

Trying to figure out what word she should use to call him because she couldn’t use his nickname, Isabelle spoke with a smile.

“May I visit my husband for a second? I want to let him know that I received his gift well.”

At that moment, everyone was shocked speechless because of her gentle appearance. If they were told that she was a heavenly duchess, they’d believe it right away.

Isabelle thought that their silence was their consent, so she started walking softly.

By the time she just left through the door, she could see a black figure quivering.

“…Riggs? What are you doing here?”

“……”

“Ah, thank you for the gift. What do you think? Does it suit me?”

It was weird how he praised her, looking away all the while even as he said that the dress looked perfect on her.