Feeling drained as if he had died and come back to life, unlike Rensley, whose body felt devoid of all strength, the eyes of others sparkled with curiosity. They rushed forward to Rensley enthusiastically.
“Today, there are so many people in the kitchen that I’ve never seen before! Are you really from Cornia?”
“Oh, yeah… that’s right.”
“Then, during your service, did you see the princess’s face?”
“No matter how much they say you shouldn’t show your face before the ceremony, you must have seen it at least once. How is she? A beauty? Rumor has it she’s a breathtaking beauty.”
Rensley chuckled without realizing it. A breathtaking beauty, Ivet Elbanes. It was regrettable that he couldn’t deliver this rumor directly to Ivet. ‘Hey, Ivette. You’re becoming famous!’
Nevertheless, now there was only disappointment awaiting those who had high expectations. Rensley rolled his eyes.
“Tell us quickly. What kind of person is the princess?”
“Well, if the princess waiting for the ceremony in her bedroom right now isn’t exactly a beauty, she’s still quite a well-known face within the castle. She doesn’t have a noble personality, but she’s reasonably amiable. She’s not exceptionally brilliant, but she’s clever enough to receive compliments quite often.”
“And? I thought she would be a graceful and delicate princess, like in songs or old tales. I was curious since there’s no such princess in Aldrant.”
It would be better not to mention that he excelled in swordsmanship and horsemanship, had a knack for magic, and was sturdy enough not to be a burden when it came to chores.
The girl, imagining the non-existent Duchess, had a dreamy look in her eyes. Freckles dotted her pale cheeks, and her hair, braided under the white hood, looked cute. Rensley smiled and lowered his voice.
“In my opinion, you seem even prettier.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t tease me.”
“I’m serious. What’s your name? I’m Rensley Maelrosen.”
“Tia.”
As the conversation between the two continued, the young men who had been walking ahead turned back and teased them.
“In the south, they say it’s a land of vagabonds, but those Cornians are quite impressive. Already making a move?”
“Well, it’s a compliment to call it a move.”
Despite Rensley’s rebuttal, the teasing continued without restraint.
“Tia, be careful. Have you seen the executioner’s block? It might echo with the cries of many women. Do the men in the south all have such smooth skin?”
“What about your curly hair? If you end up working with us, we might just shave it all off.”
Even though they were joking, the servants seemed to accept Rensley as a colleague without suspicion. Aldrant is indeed a peaceful country. Rensley was genuinely moved and blended in among them. After exchanging a few more words of small talk, he finally asked the question he was most curious about.
“What kind of person is the Duke? I was so scared of him earlier; I thought I was going to wet myself, thinking I might face execution.”
This elicited a burst of laughter from the people. Someone slapped Rensley on the shoulder.
“Execute someone just for that? You seem more afraid than you look.”
“Earlier, you suddenly fell to the floor and started begging, so we were surprised. At most, you’d get scolded by the kitchen servant. It’s not like it’s a soldier violating military law.”
Their common evaluation was that he wasn’t the strict type. Considering the complaints from the kitchen staff, it made sense. Despite not being particularly strict, the lower-ranking soldiers still laughed at the thought.
“He’s not the kind of person who would execute someone for just that. Were you more scared than you look?”
“Yeah, earlier, you suddenly lay down on the floor and begged so desperately that it startled us. At most, you’ll get scolded by the kitchen staff. It’s not like it’s a soldier violating military law.”
Their general consensus was that he wasn’t the stern type. Given the kitchen staff’s complaints, it made sense. Even though he wasn’t particularly strict, the soldiers beneath him still laughed at the notion.
Yet, compared to their expectations, Rensley’s heart didn’t brighten easily. It was indeed a hopeful response, but the thought of a soldier violating military law and facing the executioner’s block was quite severe.
Ding-.
At that moment, the church bells began to ring. Rensley snapped back to attention. It wasn’t the time to be immersed in the mood of the Loudcan kitchen staff.
It was about time for the Duke to have lunch, and someone would likely come to check on the princess soon. Although he had requested to be called when she woke up, he couldn’t just leave her to sleep forever. Without a concrete plan and having deceived others by posing as a servant, Rensley needed to ensure the princess was safe in her room for the time being.
“I’ll be heading off now. As mentioned earlier, I need to look into the relocation procedures and consider my options a bit more. It’s cold, but it’s a decent place to live. Sometimes there are outsiders hoping to relocate too. See you later! I really hope I can stay here.”
Rensley shook hands with his new companions, said his goodbyes, and quickly made his way. People who had been inserting a word or two here and there seemed occupied enough not to bother calling him or asking about his destination. On his way back to the bedroom, he found a suitable item and picked it up.
In the western rear area of the main castle where he had first exited, there were still no people. Rensley approached the entrance to a small courtyard and firmly planted a sign that read ‘Under Repair, Do Not Enter.’ He stood beneath the bedroom window, pressed against the building’s wall.
It seemed harder going up than coming down. Rensley clapped his palms together, took a deep breath, and grabbed the lowest wall decoration he could reach. With a burst of effort, he pulled himself up. Placing his toes between the wall and the ironwork, he searched for new gaps or protruding parts he could grab onto.
Slowly but steadily, Rensley began to climb the wall, much like a spider, finding footholds and crevices as he ascended.
“Well do…ne.”
‘Ugh, it’s tough.’
After a long climb, the summit was finally in sight. Rensley muttered self-encouragement to boost his spirits. The window frame of the bedroom was now within reach.
Taking one last deep breath, Rensley forcefully pulled his arm up. The tips of his right fingers firmly grasped the window frame. It was a perfect and stealthy return.
“Huh?”
Right until a sudden voice from below.
For a moment, his concentration wavered, and his hand almost slipped. Quickly readjusting his grip on the window frame, Rensley exerted strength, pulling his body up. With his arm hooked over the window, he looked down.
Before the intruder from below could be heard.
In an instant, a hand that had momentarily lost focus almost slipped. Rensley quickly adjusted his grip on the window, exerted force with his arm, and hoisted himself up. With his arm over the window, he looked down.
Despite having placed a ‘No Entry’ sign in case of an emergency, the intruder who had sneakily entered the secluded courtyard gazed at Rensley with an astonished expression.
“Thief!”
A child with a ball yelled loudly.
There was no time for Rensley to argue that he wasn’t a thief. He squeezed his body through the narrow window and, intentionally leaving the wooden door slightly ajar, he entered. With a loud thud, his body hit the floor. There was no time to complain about the pain. Like a spring, he quickly got up, retrieved the clothes he had hidden, and put on a muslin nightgown. Shivering, he took the men’s clothes, gown, outerwear, and veil, holding them all close, and rushed towards the bed as if throwing himself into a river.
After hiding the men’s clothes in the princess’s luggage and properly lying down, he noticed that the wooden door he had just opened was slightly ajar. He hesitated but gave up on checking the door again. Outside the bedroom, there was already a commotion.
“An intruder in the Duchess’s bedroom…”
“We had guards at the main entrance.”
Voices became clearer. Catching his breath, Rensley focused all his strength. With a thud, the door swung open after a rough knock. The guards’ shouts followed.
“Duchess! Are you okay?”
“Please forgive the rudeness! There is a witness who saw an intruder entering the bedroom.”
It’s not the Duchess yet…
The people of Aldrant were quicker to react than expected. Still not a duchess, Rensley feigned surprise, curling up under the blanket and covering his face with it.
Following were the maids who entered the room, surrounding the bed while shooing away the guards.
“The princess is startled! Since your arrival, she hasn’t revealed her face even once.”
“But, Lady Samlet, the child who saw the intruder is here.”
“Wait. Let me ask.”
‘Lady Samlet. For now, please explain that I’m not yet a duchess.’ Muttering complaints in his mind, Rensley, like a frightened princess, hesitantly peeked his face out from under the blanket. As he timidly revealed his face, the soldiers either bowed deeply or turned away as if acknowledging a major breach of etiquette. Lady Samlet approached.
“Princess, a child playing in the yard a while ago saw someone hiding through the bedroom window. Have you, by any chance, seen that intruder?”
Rensley raised his head sharply, causing the veil to flutter.
“May we have your permission to examine the area around the bed for a moment?”
This time, he nodded.
Several maids thoroughly searched around the bed, under the bed, behind the pillars, and between the curtains, from inside the veil to the window. Trembling, Rensley, like a frightened princess, pulled the veil up to his shoulders and leaned against the head of the bed, surveying the surroundings with frightened eyes.
While the maids inspected the area around the bed, the guards also combed through every nook and cranny of the bedroom. Inside the wardrobe, inside the chest of drawers, under the table, behind the valuable chest, inside the jar, and even behind the burning fireplace.
Despite the meticulous search, not a single strand of hair from the intruder was found. The intruder, under the blanket, had pulled it up to the shoulders, leaning against the head of the bed, terrified eyes darting around, putting on an impressive performance.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
As the maids searched around the bed, the guards also examined every corner of the bedroom. In the wardrobe, in the drawers, under the table, behind the valuable chest, inside the jar, and even behind the burning fireplace.
Despite the thorough search, there was no sign of the intruder. One soldier shrugged his shoulders, muttering with disappointment.
“Maybe the child saw wrong? Kids tend to see things that aren’t there.”
“But the description was too detailed to dismiss.”
As opinions among the investigators began to diverge, one of the guards signaled the others.
“Come over here. Something seems odd.”
Damn it. Rensley cursed inwardly. He hoped they would just move on. However, it appeared that the sharp-eyed guard had noticed the not entirely closed door.
Several guards rushed to the window, where it seemed that the ill-fated half-open door had been discovered. Rensley anxiously hoped that there wouldn’t be any significant clues. Suppressing his anxious feelings under the veil, he maintained silence.
“It seems like there might be something hidden in here.”
“It does look strange… If the intruder really entered, it doesn’t make sense that the Duchess hasn’t seen anything.”
As the murmurs of suspicion grew, a voice that wasn’t from the guards or maids dispersed the noise, causing everyone to straighten up and bow their heads, except for Rensley, who remained hidden under the blanket.
“How did this happen?”
The voice, not belonging to a guard or maid, dispersed all the noise. Everyone inside the bedroom, except for Rensley on the bed, stood straight, bowing their heads. Rensley, with his veil pulled up to his eyes, looked toward the entrance.
It was the man who had received the report of an unidentified person breaking into the fiancée’s bedroom and had come to inspect the situation.
Standing at the entrance, he surveyed the scene in the bedroom and the people present, finally directing his gaze at Rensley. Under the blanket, Rensley looked back, his eyes meeting the stranger’s eyes.
Receiving a report of an intruder breaking into the fiancée’s bedroom, the prospective groom had come personally to assess the situation.
He stood at the entrance, observing the bedroom’s layout and the people inside, and finally casting his eyes toward Rensley. Under the blanket, Rensley met the stranger’s gaze.
The man stood at the entrance, his eyes scanning the room and the people inside, eventually landing on Rensley. Under the blanket, Rensley met the stranger’s gaze.
The man walked in slowly, his footsteps making no sound, yet his presence felt weighty. Rensley felt as if he were watching a big cat’s prowling walk. Even large animals like tigers or lions were not entirely silent when walking.
“How did this happen?”
Even though the man’s footsteps were inaudible, his movements seemed effortlessly light. Rensley felt like he was watching the silent walk of a predator. Tigers and lions, even though they might not be entirely silent, still had a certain quiet grace about their movements.
“All the guards searched the bedroom, but we haven’t found any special traces yet. However, the child pointed to the direction of the intruder, and the window in that direction is slightly open.”
“Any footprints or other clues?”
“We need to investigate more thoroughly.”
The Duke approached the west-facing window where the guards had gathered, casting a quick glance around. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
“Everyone, leave.”
“What?”
“I need to talk to the princess. Leave and wait in your respective places.”
No, please. Rensley’s lips twisted behind the veil. It was the worst possible outcome. Setting guards in the room and conducting investigations throughout the day would have been better than the Duke’s current decision.
Without further delay, the maids and guards exited the bedroom. Only Mrs. Samlet gave a somewhat concerned look before turning away. Once the door closed firmly, the previously bustling room fell into an eerie silence.
Rensley lowered his gaze, focusing on a small embroidered section of the blanket. The luxurious embroidery depicted a stylized mountain lily, a symbol of nobility, woven with golden thread.
The Duke approached the bed and took a seat on the chair nearby.
“Princess Ivet Elbanes.”
His voice was calmer than expected, and his tone remained as polite as it was yesterday. Instead of replying, Rensley kept his head raised, nodding slightly.
“Since you mentioned you cannot speak yet, if you wish to adhere strictly to customs, you could have at least informed me in writing, as you did yesterday.”
“…”
“This marriage was ordained by the Emperor, not even a desired union by the Cornian royal family. Therefore, I assume you, too, did not truly desire this marriage.”
He was correct. In the northern, cold, and desolate land of Aldrant, rulers rarely entered into marriage unless they were marrying on their own or uniting with a woman from the same country. Aldrant was a crucial bulwark guarding the continent. Beyond the walls of Roudken, dense forests and the Black Sea spread out. Across the sea, there were countries with different beliefs from the Emperor’s rule, and most importantly, beyond the walls, terrifying monsters lurked.
For Rensley, a southern native who had only witnessed the peaceful landscapes of Roudken, all these tales sounded like fantasies or legends. Nonetheless, the stories he heard were true.
In Aldrant, even further north, beyond dense forests, towering ice-covered mountains, and the black sea, there were beings neither human nor beast, always plotting to prey on the inhabitants of the continent.
Despite the northern ruler rarely meddling in conflicts, they trained a military force stronger than any other nation on the continent. The reason was to combat the monsters that perpetually sought to prey on the people of the continent.
The ruler of the northern country refrained from intervening in regional conflicts, yet they maintained a formidable military strength. The purpose was clear—to fight against the monsters.
Therefore, the Emperor could not ignore or turn away from Aldrant. The Emperor respected their devotion, acknowledged their honor, and granted them more benefits and freedoms compared to other kingdoms on the continent.
The Emperor bestowing the privilege of choosing the spouse for the newly-wed ruler was one of those favors. Despite being a simple favor, everyone knew that it was a clear intention to tie the threads of influence on the borderlands that needed to be observed.
Aldrant was undoubtedly a necessary country for the continent, but politically, it wasn’t as attractive to other kingdoms. The territory was barren, and the distance was vast. It showed little interest in central conflicts, pursuing an independent life.
While it had abundant natural resources and a mighty military force, mining and forestry were strictly managed by the royal family. The justification for building military power was primarily to battle monsters, making it challenging to request support for other conflicts.
As a result, no kingdom desired to send precious heirs to Aldrant. However, finding a suitable partner for the ruler’s spouse was naturally from the royal family or an equivalent noble family. It became a procedure akin to drawing lots among the kingdoms in the long history of the continent.
The current Emperor instructed the King of Cornia to send one of his princesses for the young Duke of the North. The King of Cornia had seven sons and three daughters.
“Do you wish to return to Cornia even now?”
In response, Rensley had no choice but to face him. His pumpkin-colored eyes revealed no emotion, and his own eyes, likely to shake in a mess, met them.
When Rensley reached out, the Duke, without a word, extended his hand. Rensley’s fingers trembled thinly as they traced a line on the Duke’s palm. It wasn’t due to fear or tension. If he could voice an answer, a rage, stirred by an irrational anger, would have burst out in a rough tone.
<No. I don’t want it,> he said silently.
“Do you wish to continue this marriage, then?”
Rensley, with his index finger resting on the Duke’s palm, slowly shook his head. It wasn’t a clear yes or no; he remained silent.
After a brief pause, the Duke withdrew his hand. Rensley also let his hand fall onto the bed. In the ensuing silence, the Duke spoke in a low voice.
“After receiving the reports from the soldiers and reflecting on what happened during the day, it seems to match with the events.”
What happened during the day? Rensley silently listened.
“The man who claimed to be your envoy, Maelrosen, did not return to Cornia but stayed here. Considering your relationship, I assume you are well acquainted with the name.”
Well-acquainted. Unexpected anxiety began to tighten his chest. Why would he suddenly bring up the name of the man he had met during the day? The child in the backyard had only glimpsed the intruder briefly.
“After hearing the general impression of the intruder, he seems to resemble that man. The color of his hair and clothing, and other details. His eye color is purple similar to yours. I don’t know about Cornia, but it’s quite uncommon here.”
At that, Rensley’s eyes widened. While not exactly purple, his eyes were closer to a blue with a reddish hue, but as the Duke said, it wasn’t an entirely rare color, even in Cornia. Even within the royal family, there was another person with a similar eye color.
‘Surely it’s too difficult to identify someone to that extent here.’
Unable to easily grasp the implication of the Duke’s words, Rensley swallowed his dry saliva. The neckline concealed under the veil sagged slightly.
“His height and eye color were similar, so I initially thought he might be a relative… but if he’s from the royal family, there would be no need to secretly stay here or invade through the window. He could have visited directly with the pretext of performing a duty for the princess. That means he really is your envoy.”
The Duke sighed lightly. Rensley, too, felt a moment of relief inwardly. He had been tense, fearing that the Duke might conclude that Malsen and Princess Ivet were the same person.
The Duke, though still expressionless, emitted a faint breath that conveyed a certain restlessness. Rensley couldn’t help but be captivated as he sensed the depth of concealed emotions. It was a touch of a profound emotion. Realizing the danger, Rensley understood it but couldn’t look away.
“When I consider it to that extent, I think I understand the reason why that man risked danger to sneak into the bedroom.”
“…”
“Having received an order to marry another man in the position of a royal, I can somewhat understand the distress. Princess Ivet, if you wish, I won’t disturb that man, Maelrosen, to stay here. As long as I fulfill my duties as the Duke, I won’t interfere with your secret meetings.”
‘What…? What are you saying?’
Rensley opened his mouth wide inside the veil. The situation of a young man intruding into the room of a woman about to be married had been exposed to the public, even with investigations still ongoing. The gazes of the guards and maids had already become suspicious.
But affection? Secret meetings? Wasn’t this moving too quickly? Why would he think that way? He couldn’t ask because He couldn’t speak.
“As someone who has barely left Aldrant, I don’t know much about the outside world, but I have read as much as any scholar. Most of them were books for academic or research purposes, but occasionally, there were others mixed in. Sometimes pilgrims or poets who visited castles would tell stories or sing.”
That makes sense. Even in Cornia, it was common for pilgrims or poets to come into the castle, sharing stories or songs to enhance the evening atmosphere. Wanderers visited these lands from all over, and some even claimed to have traveled across the sea to other continents.
“The act of a man sneaking into a woman’s room through the window without others knowing was mostly to court her or overcome forbidden love. After that, the most common type would be to escape, avoiding the eyes of others.”
‘No, Your Grace. While there are certainly bards and poets singing about runaway love, those are mostly stories of imagination. Ordinary people don’t have the audacity for such adventures, which is why those love songs become popular.’
Even if he argues within himself, the Duke can’t hear it. The conversation is flowing unexpectedly, turning into a rapid stream, making it increasingly difficult to catch up.
“I thought he was a beautiful man. So, you must have forgotten him and brought him all the way here.”
Rensley blinked his eyes silently.
Sure, Rensley Maelrosen is handsome. Exceptional in martial arts, sings well, and dances so impressively that he receives subtle affections from women whenever he appears on the streets. He’s used to spending the night drinking and dancing, returning home only when the sun rises. But if we categorize based on appearance alone, no matter how much he judges internally, it seems impossible to surpass the man in front of us. Even if the real Ivet Elbanes secretly brought her lover here, seeing her future husband might change her mind on the spot.
Well, even if he’s a man, he might feel dwarfed in front of the lord’s unique atmosphere. But wouldn’t it give a different impression to women? Just judging by the face…
“But, as you know, this marriage is an imperial arranged marriage. Acting out such an escape could cause rumors and be difficult to handle afterward. It would be better to create a suitable pretext and meet in the castle on the designated day. That way, there won’t be any trouble like today. Wouldn’t that be acceptable?”
‘Is it really okay? No matter how strategic this marriage is, you are still the Duke’s wife, aren’t you?’ Indeed, for royalty and nobles, it’s more natural to marry and establish a government. Rensley nibbled his lips. When filled with the determination to keep the secret, he wanted to avoid eye contact and mix words as much as possible. But as issues arose that he wanted to discuss, containing the words became increasingly difficult. Although embarrassed, Rensley was not the silent type.
Rensley tightened his lips, exerting firm pressure and then extended his hand. Without hesitation, he slowly drew a line on the Duke’s palm, where their hands met.
<Your Grace, can you let me go?>
The Duke’s eyes seemed to lose some strength. However, instead of outright refusing, he asked as if objecting.
“Do you have to go, even if you and that man could be in danger?”
It wasn’t the time to distinguish whether the Duke’s judgment was romantic, eerie, or rational. For Rensley, it was an opportunity that could not be missed.
What should he do? The current Duke, even if it were a romantic escape with a lover, didn’t seem like he would freeze to death crossing a frozen land with just his body. If he had any intention of harboring resentment and driving him away naked, he wouldn’t have proposed a secret meeting in the first place.
If he were to leave, where should he go? He couldn’t return to Cornia, so perhaps he could embark on a journey, feeling like a poet. There might be a lord or king somewhere looking for mercenaries. In some corner of this vast continent, there might be a place where he could sacrifice himself and find a place to die. Abandoning his status, changing his name…
While staring into the void, Rensley suddenly reached one conclusion.
‘…Contrary to what I’ve heard, is Gezell Jivendad a very reasonable person?’
In the world, there were rumors circulating about a monster obsessed with black magic research, a creature that avoided people, a savage mixed with the blood of demons, but the Duke Rensley met upon arriving in Aldrant was consistently quiet and far more rational than average. Even looking at the proposal he made now, it seemed so.
Although the strange appearance he encountered at night bothered him, even then, his attitude was courteous. The reputation among the residents was good, and people openly expressed their affection for the homeland and the capital.
In that case, maybe…
Maybe even if he found out the truth, the Duke would not impose punishment.
Perhaps he could truly… live as Rensley Maelrosen, a resident of Aldrant Castle.
“Princess, answer me.”
He extended his hand, and Rensley placed his fingers on his palm. The fingers, which had remained still until now, finally moved slowly to write, more clearly and distinctly than ever before.
<Does Your Grace still intend to hold a wedding ceremony with someone like me?>
The Duke looked at Rensley. His beastly golden eyes, like a piece of a nightmare, showed no trace of a ripple, as if they were gems sunk in deep water. Surprisingly, his composed attitude and silence were gradually calming even Rensley.
“I don’t mind. I understand, but this marriage is a conventional and strategic procedure ordered by the Emperor.”
“…”
“If we marry, I will fulfill my duties as a husband, and that’s all.”
…He used to like night markets and festivals. Getting drunk on sweet fruit wine or strong beer, wandering through the warm streets, and when meeting familiar faces, he would share a shoulder. When gathering with people, the place he often visited was the street gambling den that stood firmly on market days. Even though he knew that the gamblers manipulated the dice, Rensley often sat at the table. Rensley also had his tricks in gambling.
However, even in playful mischief, there is a limit. Just like using deceit and losing or winning, there were times when he fell for the same tricks. If he lost the bet and drank, his friends would tease him, saying, “Why did you bet on such a simple scam?” He would respond, “You only truly know the outcome when you try.”
Drrrr, drrrr. The sound of rolling dice inside the cup is now heard in his ears.
Caught up in his misunderstood sympathy, leaving this country quietly as Ivet Elbanes might be the safest and most comfortable option. However, his inherent cheap nature couldn’t help it.
<I will not leave.>
Rensley moved his fingers to add more to the sentence.
<I will tell you the truth, please forgive me.>
Instead of a response, the Duke sent a gaze filled with questions. Rensley chose to interpret his silence as approval.
Knowing that he had committed an irreversible act, Rensley delayed his final hesitation. Just like when the hand slips from the beginning of a gamble, it’s a bad omen. Rensley failed to grasp the veil properly this time.
“Sigh…”
He exhaled a long breath to calm his mind. Whether the breath was longer than expected or not, the Duke, who had been observing Rensley, suddenly reached out his hand. His hand approached Rensley’s face, just as it did in the basement a while ago.
Startled, Rensley almost moved backward, but he restrained himself. The hand that had been like a fixed slate until now lightly touched the area around his face.
The long fingers seemed to graze his cheek and earlobe. It might have been an illusion caused by fear and heightened senses.
The Duke slowly pulled down the veil. As he pulled the long hood down, the blonde hair hidden inside was revealed. When Rensley lived in Cornier, he always kept his hair short, but during the journey to Oldenrand, it had grown quite long.
As the veil and the face cover were lifted, the fast-sliding, dark crimson silk, similar in color to the headband, revealed itself. The veil’s buttons, connected to the face cover, were undone with a gentle touch. The dark crimson silk slid down the skin so quickly that it seemed weightless.
With their eyes locked, the flow of time and air seemed to freeze, making the bedroom quiet. They could only gaze at each other’s silhouettes reflected in their eyes, unable to speak or take any further action. It felt like an invisible wax had been poured over them, freezing them in place. It was as if the world had stopped. A misconception caused the accident.
The first to move in the frozen world was Rensley. Desperately, he jumped up from the bed and bounced down to the floor. Even though they hadn’t known each other for long, the Duke’s eyes, which had shown no emotional fluctuations, were slightly widened with surprise this time.
“…You…”
A firm recommendation that sounded like a command interrupted Rensley’s words. Rensley closed his mouth and hesitated, then lifted his head.
The Duke remained seated in his chair, repeating his gesture. Whether the surprise had subsided in the meantime or not, his voice remained calm without any apparent disturbance.
“Stand up and speak slowly. There’s no need to rush if you have a willing ear to listen.”
Rensley stood up, clasping his hands in front of him. Still, his gaze was fixed on the floor. This time, he cautiously began to speak.
The firm and commanding tone, bordering on an order, interrupted Rensley’s words. He closed his mouth and hesitated before raising his head.
The Duke reiterated his statement while still seated in the chair. Any surprise that might have been present seemed to have subsided, as his voice remained steady without any noticeable fluctuation.
“Stand up and speak slowly. There’s no need to rush; I am willing to listen.”
Rensley stood up, clasped his hands in front, and this time, with caution, he opened his mouth, his gaze still fixed on the floor.
“I swear on my honor that there is not an ounce of falsehood in what I am about to say.”
There was a fleeting expression that seemed to question the worth of four honors, but the Duke gestured lightly as if urging him to continue.
“The name I mentioned earlier is my real name. I am Rensley Maelrosen, and Ivet Elbanes my half-sibling.”
“…Are you saying that you are also of royal blood?”
“King Cornia has ten children, and between them, two are illegitimate. One is Ivet, and the other is me, Rensley.”
The first queen of the current King Kornia bore two children but was entangled in the family’s sins and perished. The second queen, after giving birth to three, was dethroned. The third queen, who ascended to the official position after dethroning the second queen, gave birth to the current crown prince and fell ill. The fourth, and the current queen, has borne five children, including twins. Three of the king’s children died at a young age.
Ivet Elbanes and Rensley Maelrosen were born from different common women, each claiming that their child was of royal blood. Only after undergoing a ritual to confirm their royal lineage were they acknowledged as sons.
“The royal family of Cornia values princesses. While some kings are busy producing a prince to inherit the throne, Cornia has a different situation. Too few princes can make succession unstable, but too many also pose a problem. On the other hand, princesses… as long as the issue of succession is resolved, having a large number is not a problem, as Duke Jivendad knows.”
Princesses, without being obstacles to succession struggles, served as strategic marriages to strengthen the kingdom’s position or became symbols of alliances. This was the significance of a princess in various royal families. While there were countries where individuals of any gender could ascend to the throne, Cornia was not one of them, particularly being notably conservative.
Kornia’s king had three daughters. One of them was already engaged in a gentle courtship with the well-known Millayber royal family, famous for their silk trade. Despite the significantly lower number of daughters compared to sons, the demand to send a princess, who would become the wife of the distant northern Duke of Aldrant with no prior interaction, naturally unsettled the king.
However, any king in a similar position would be reluctant to send their daughter to a far-off northern land. Deciding that refusing would only complicate matters, King Cornia reluctantly accepted the Emperor’s proposal, and it was a natural sequence for the illegitimate daughter, Ivet, to be chosen.
“Ivet accepted the king’s decision. She is a year younger than me and has been very close to me. Although she is a member of the royal family due to her position as a daughter, she has gone through many events until now. In those times, we supported each other and relied on each other. Ivet often spoke about wanting to leave Cornia, and even though it was heartbreaking for me, with her being my only close sister, I blessed her many times.”
“…….”
“However, two days before the departure, Ivet disappeared. I thought she had accepted the marriage proposal, but it wasn’t the case. She left only a single letter saying, ‘Elbanes royal family, did you think I would quietly accept?’”
It actually said, “You Elbanes bastards who are lower than mice,” but Ransley had refined the wording.
At the time when he secretly heard the story that Ivet had run away, Rensley had just returned from playing cards at the tavern. Upon hearing the news, he laughed heartily. It couldn’t have been more satisfying.
Even though Ivet often sang about wanting to leave Cornia, her sudden transformation into an obedient daughter complying with the despised king’s command was as unfamiliar as seeing a stranger. But was everything just an act for this moment? Not long ago, Rensley would have wanted to return to the tavern to celebrate the anticipated unfortunate fate of Ivet.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn. The people Ivet cursed were, of course, the king and his cronies. Ivet must have thought that if she disappeared, she would either express regret to the emperor or send one of the remaining princesses to the northern lands.
How could anyone predict that the enraged king, with his remaining son disguised as a daughter, would send him instead to the north? Neither Rensley nor Ivet nor even the clergy of the church could foresee such an outcome. The world refers to those who commit unimaginable deeds as madmen, even if they appear normal.
“In that case…”
The Duke, seeming puzzled after hearing the whole story, lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.
“Why did you not leave? Even if you were under surveillance within Cornia, during the long journey, there should have been opportunities to evade the agents. Just judging by your actions here.”
“If Ivet knew that things would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have hidden herself. It’s the same for me. There are many people in Cornia whom I care about. What would I gain by escaping alone, knowing that if news of my escape reached them before safely arriving in Aldrant, they would suffer the consequences on my behalf?”
“Once you arrive in Aldrant, as far as the King of Cornia is concerned, he has fulfilled the proposal. The Emperor wouldn’t demand another bride from Cornia, even for a second candidate.”
The king had committed this act solely out of abhorrence for the nonexistent collective responsibility and anger towards the maid who resisted him. Although Rensley felt awkward being the sacrificial lamb just because they were both illegitimate, he had no knowledge of Ivet’s escape plan. He was naturally embarrassed. While Rensley, with a newly somber expression, kept his head down, the Duke posed a new question.
“Even if Cornia intended no harm to the Crown, Cornia has insulted me. If I officially protest and inform the Emperor about this matter, what do you think the King of Cornia would do?”
“In Cornia, they would claim that, as commanded by the Emperor, they sent a princess. They would say that everything was my unilateral action.”
The corners of Rensley’s lips slightly lifted.
“A humble servant, nursing a grudge, glanced lightly at the royal family’s marriage proposal and committed such an act. Or perhaps, a man who has always been suspicious plotted to harm my sister, taking advantage of the situation. You can make up any reason you want, and people will believe the more convenient one. Ivet is already gone and can’t testify, and I’m nothing more than expendable trash even if I die.”
There was silence between the two for a moment. Rensley took a deep breath and knelt before the Duke once again.
“Your Grace, I certainly did not come here with such intentions. Even if in jest, as a man, I have no desire to covet the position of the Duke’s spouse. If you graciously spare my life, I wish to live as Rensley Maelrosen, a commoner of Aldrant. Please say only that I fled from Cornia; then, they won’t question it further.”
“…”
“I may be of humble origin, but despite being half a king’s child, I lived in my homeland like a cockroach of the royal family. But even so, I am skilled in martial and literary arts, competent in horsemanship, adept at cooking, skilled in animal husbandry, and reasonably proficient in carpentry. If you accept me, I will give my best and utmost loyalty in any matter.”
“Choosing to live as if dead or non-existent, it seems.”
Rensley did not refute, and the Duke remained thoughtful. After a brief sigh, he spoke again, breaking the relatively short silence.
“For me, marriage has never been a pressing matter. I’ve had no interest, so I’ve continually put off finding a partner. However, if I had known the situation would become this complex, I might have been better off finding a suitable person and seeking approval before the Emperor issued the command.”
‘Indeed, if that were the case, Ivet and I wouldn’t have gone through this…’ Rensley thought to himself but refrained from expressing it.
“If news spreads that the princess sent from Cornia has fled, the Emperor will likely send another princess from a different kingdom to restore authority. Well, that person might not be eager to come here either. I don’t want to add more victims unnecessarily.”
“…Then…”
“Moreover, leaving the vanished princess aside, I can’t guarantee what the Emperor will do. Even if we quietly inquire and move on from the missing princess in Kornia, this marriage ceremony was conducted under the authority of the Emperor. Regardless, deceiving the Emperor becomes a transgression for both you and your sister.”
The explanation was calm and precise. Unable to find a counterargument, Rensley lowered his gaze.
While the King of Cornia and Ivet had each violated half of the Emperor’s command, if this matter resurfaced, ultimately, Rensley and Ivet would bear the brunt of the accusations. Unless they soared into the sky or disappeared into the ground, if they launched an official manhunt, it was almost certain Evette would be apprehended.
“The Emperor may not make a big deal out of a marriage issue, but one never knows. Sometimes, managing minor transgressions grandly can demonstrate authority to everyone.”
With nothing more to say, Rensley remained silent, and the Duke also did not speak. The guards and maids seemed to have withdrawn far away; not a single sound could be heard in the bedroom. As Rensley, lost in thought, absentmindedly stared at the carpet pattern, a low voice flowed into his ears.
“Several hundred years ago, Aldrant had a male Duchess.”
“So, there was a male Duchess… Wait, what did you say?”
“Moreover, it was said to be a different species.”
“What?”
His forehead involuntarily wrinkled. Quickly smoothing his expression, Rensley’s mind became even more tangled.
‘What is this all of a sudden? Is the Duke also insane?’
They say extreme madness can make a person appear calm. Was the Duke also one of those madmen, as rumored? As suspicion crept into Rensley’s thoughts, the Duke, seemingly indifferent to the turmoil he had caused, continued his explanation.
“The case of a male Duchess seems to be unprecedented, but it’s not entirely unheard of. Even though it appears to be the first and last instance.”
“…”
“However, even back then, the marriage records listed the name of another noblewoman. So, her name was officially recorded, but evidence of the existence of a different-species male Duchess still lingers in various places. Although they have disappeared now, it is said that in the past, beings other than humans lived on this continent as well. I speculate that such marriages were formed for agreements with them.”
Rensley rolled his eyes. If he didn’t endure it with all his might, he felt like his body would convulse. His fingertips and toes, collected with great politeness, trembled slightly.
Even as he guessed what the Duke was trying to say, he wanted to deny it. He waited for the Duke to give a clear conclusion, but the moment arrived without mercy.
“I plan to hold a wedding feast with the bride from Cornia. I also intend to send a letter to the Cornian royal family stating that we have safely received the person you sent. I have only welcomed the bride from Cornia as a Duchess, as commanded by the Emperor.”
“…”
“In this way, it seems there won’t be any difficulties or punishment for anyone involved in this situation. What are your thoughts on this, Lord Rensley?”
“But if that’s the case…”
Rensley’s words got stuck in his throat, and he swallowed a breath.
“Successor, then? Don’t you need a Duchess to bear the heir for you? Moreover… even if we pass over it now, what if the Empress or others find out about my true identity later?”
“To formally introduce the Duke and Duchess to the Emperor, it will take at least until winter. There’s no need to worry already. Didn’t you ask me to save your life?”
The Duke looked at Rensley with a gaze that demanded an answer.
…His handling of the situation wasn’t perfect, but it was the most appropriate under the current circumstances, especially in terms of minimizing the Duke’s and Aldrant’s responsibilities.
The Emperor wanted to select a ‘princess’ from Cornia and send her to Aldrant, but the King of Cornia resisted half of that proposal. Despite being a servant, he sent his ‘prince’, Rensley, northward.
However, Gezell Jivendad would only accept the ‘bride from Cornia’ as commanded by the Emperor. Even if people questioned or ridiculed his decision later, if he justified it by saying that the arrival of a male bride was also the will of the Emperor, no one would openly debate the right or wrong of his statement. Moreover, since the public considered the Duke a strange figure, even if he did something inexplicable, there was room for understanding.
In this twisted marriage, only Gezell Jivendad was blameless. But if the Duke claimed that the bride had fled, from that moment on, the Duke would also become an accomplice.
Was that all? No matter how little interaction there was with other kingdoms, the mere existence of Rensley created an opportunity for Cornia to question Aldrant in the future. Why would Duke Gezell give up a strategic advantage for whatever reason?
When there was still sympathy for the unfortunate fiancée, he might have been able to persuade him to assist in the escape for love. However, the chance had already slipped through his fingers. There was no reason for the Duke to show mercy to Rensley Maelrosen, a fake princess and another man.
“Rensley Maelrosen,”
There was no other choice. Rensley placed his right hand on his left chest and bowed his head.
“Back when I was a child, I wanted to become a splendid knight when I grew up. Not as a servant in the court of Cornia’s king but to serve a lord I could admire. A lord who would turn an inadequately educated servant of the royal family into a knight was extremely rare. The dream of becoming a pure warrior, the kind I idolized in my youth, was long gone since reality set in.
Finally, I thought I could at least imitate something similar. But to think I would have to do it while wearing hastily put-on sleepwear. Despite that, Rensley firmly resolved,
“I will faithfully follow the Duke’s decision. Please tell me what I should do.”
“There’s nothing special for you to do. Just perform the wedding ceremony as the Duchess according to the established plan.”
“…Then, do you plan to let people know that I am a man?”
The Duke shifted his gaze slightly to the side, thought very briefly, and summed it up concisely,
“Think about that for a while. After all, until the ceremony, you won’t be showing your face or speaking to others.”
Even though it might look indecent, he had fallen to the level of managing the chores of a fiancée he had promised to show sympathy and kindness. Even so, he quietly accepted the fact that his status had fallen to such a level.
Nevertheless, he had avoided capital punishment. Was this a success or a failure? While pondering over a gamble of a lifetime, the Duke stood up.
“Do you need anything?”
“What?”
“Given the situation, it’s better to limit contact with people until the direction is decided. If you need anything, let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
Rensley couldn’t respond immediately and blushed a little.
“Uh, since yesterday, I haven’t eaten anything since leaving the last inn. I’d like to have a meal.”
In the end, he had to survive, so he couldn’t afford to die of hunger. He worried that he might appear shameless during such a serious situation, but the Duke simply nodded his head.
“Wait a moment.”
He stood up, adjusting his cloak. Without looking back even once while Rensley observed, he walked out of the room. Only after the bedroom door was completely closed did Rensley let out a deep sigh and sank onto the bed. Various thoughts flooded his mind, but he shook his head vigorously, trying to dismiss them.
“Let’s be grateful for avoiding execution, at least.”
If Cornia’s king had changed queens several times, there was no reason why Duke Gezell, who had avoided capital punishment, wouldn’t do the same. His own fate was a sham marriage to disguise the situation. He could contemplate his future after circumventing the crisis.
The Duke probably had no sincere intention of spending a lifetime with a male duchess. Rensley thought it wasn’t too late to consider his position after presenting a sham marriage to deceive the situation.
Love that the Duke ks such an understanding person T^T
I spotted a few errors, I hope it’s okay to mention them.
There are three paragraphs at the beginning of the chapter that are repeated but with different wording, as if you edited the translation but forgot to delete the earlier version? Starting when the servants say that he wouldn’t be executed for something like that and that he was begging so desperately.Further down another paragraph seems to be repeated in the same way, the one where the maids and the guards are searching his bedchamber for the “intruder”. Same thing closer to the end, with the segment where the Duke remains sitting in his chair and asks Rensley to stand up and speak slowly, before he reveals the truth. Also the place is called “Loudcan” early in the chapter and then “Roudken” further down. And Cornia is spelt “Kornia” in a couple of places, and the missing princess’s name is variously spelt as “Ivet”, “Ivette” and “Evette”. [“I thought he was a beautiful man. So, you must have forgotten him and brought him all the way here.”] This doesn’t make sense, should it perhaps be that he is saying that he thinks she couldn’t forget him and brought him along?
Please let me know if I overstepped in mentioning these errors.
Line breaks and paragraph breaks etc seem to have been screwed up when posting the comment, I hope it’s still legible…