Chapter 42

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***

“Count Schenberg, what are you doing?”

He stood in the way, almost completely blocking Kathleen from Count Schenberg’s view. Holding her hand tightly.

“I wanted to give the best courtesy to the beautiful duchess.”

Even though the Duke of Walten evidently showed his displeasure, Count Schenberg got up with a clever smile.

“It was Schenberg’s etiquette, so I hope there is no misunderstanding.”

“It is surprising that they are trying to serve the imperial family with manners that could lead to ruin.”

At Alexis’ sarcastic remarks, the atmosphere instantly became cold. Kathleen gently pulled her hand away from his grasp and stepped forward in front of him.

“I am glad that you would like to give me the best courtesy. Schenberg seems to be classy and refined.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Fortunately, Count Schenberg accepted Kathleen’s words and smiled. As the parties involved seemed not to care, the surrounding nobles also relaxed. Kathleen casually returned to Alexis’ side.

“What are you doing?”

Alexis asked in a low voice.

“I’m trying to be polite as a member of the Imperial Family as you wished.”

“Forgiving sudden physical contact towards the Imperial Family is not polite.”

“I just did my best to make sure that an important event ended well.”

After Kathleen replied calmly, she began to greet the ladies who had gathered around her again. Alexis looked dissatisfied, but he didn’t say anything more.

“Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Soon after, the chamberlain announced the arrival of the banquet’s organizer. All of the nobles bent their knees on the spot, and Alexis took Kathleen’s hand and stepped forward in front of her.

When Alexis and Kathleen appeared at the end of the steps of the podium where only the Imperial Family could stand, the empress, who looked down at everyone with a proud look, opened her mouth to greet him with a slightly hardened face.

“Walten, long time no see.”

Kathleen was neatly disregarded. It was a blatant pressure to bow first. Kathleen grabbed the hem of her skirt, as she always did, and tried to bend her knee.

Then, Alexis grabbed her arm tightly and prevented her from saluting.

She looked to her side in wonder, but he looked straight ahead at the empress and said.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the Duchess of Walten.”

The empress snorted at her as if she was a waste of time. After reading the atmosphere, Peter hurriedly intervened.

“It’s been a while. Sister-in-law. Are you feeling better? Perhaps because you came back from resting in a local estate, your complexion is much better than before.”

“Yes, I am well. Thank you for your concern.”

“I am happy to see you again. Let’s chat together in a little while.”

“I am happy to oblige, Your Highness.”

The empress, who watched the Crown Prince’s unwavering, friendly attitude with displeasure, turned around and sat down on the empress’ seat on the podium. The court musician, noticing the Crown Prince’s quick signal, began to play upbeat music.

“Hurry up and go.”

The Crown Prince whispered quietly so that only Kathleen could hear, and then returned to the empress.

“Let’s go.”

Alexis took Kathleen’s hand and went down the podium without changing his expression.

As soon as they left the center of the banquet hall, nobles began to flock towards them. They were aiming for the Duke of Walten who had not attended a party for a long time. Their purposes varied, from those who wanted to form a private connection with the Imperial Family to those who wanted to provide supplies for the Confederate War.

“I will step back for a moment.”

Kathleen, who was guarding Alexis’ side, exchanging only polite greetings with the nobles, whispered softly and let go of his hand. Alexis’ brow furrowed.

“Where are you going?”

“To the break room. If you call me when you leave after looking at everything, I will come to you.”

And without hesitation, she disappeared from the crowd. Alexis stopped trying to catch her. Since the hostess of Walten had announced that they had returned, even the empress would not act prematurely.

As he thought, the empress was having a conversation with the Crown Prince on the podium. Seeing that she was uncomfortable, it seemed that she could not find a way to stop the arranged marriage.

A faint smile formed on his lips.

Now it was the empress’ side that was caught in the trap.

***

“Hello, Madame.”

“Long time no see.”

While heading to the break room, all the ladies she encountered greeted her first. Unlike before, they were eager to have an active conversation with her. But Kathleen passed them by pretending not to know.

‘I’m tired..’

Enduring the social circle in the capital city Meyer was more tiring than surviving an avalanche. Anyway, she did her duty today just by attending the party as he requested, so it didn’t matter if she left.

‘So what’s going on with Peter?’

She said that talks about marrying Count Schenberg’s sister were going back and forth.

She didn’t want to meddle in the affairs of the Imperial Family, but if it was Peter’s business, it was different. She couldn’t pretend she didn’t know Peter, who helped her both physically and emotionally.

‘At today’s banquet, there must be talks of an arranged marriage……’

If Count Schenberg had the ambition to raise his sister as the empress, he would have joined hands with Alexis’, but the two didn’t seem friendly at all. They didn’t seem to have the same intentions.

However, it was difficult to say that he did not want a political marriage. Count Schenberg, who fervently roamed the social world, seemed to yearn for a high-ranking noble title more than anyone else in the Empire. Kathleen began to ponder whether to pull Alexis out of the middle of the banquet hall.

She left the banquet hall, where the atmosphere was ripe, and walked down the long corridor and went out to the garden. A beautiful fountain carved from alabaster spouted a powerful stream of water which complemented the music.

She sat in front of it and quietly listened to music.

“Hello, Madame.”

“Ah, Count Schenberg.”

Count Schenberg appeared out of nowhere and sat next to her.

“You are the main character who returned to the social world after a 3 year absence, so why are you alone in the garden?”

“Today’s protagonist is the Count.”

Kathleen stepped back and pointed out his words.

“I heard that all the nobles were waiting for you to attend. The same would be true for Her Majesty, so why are you here?”

“Perhaps it’s the same reason as the duchess.”

With a light burst of laughter, he emptied the glass he was holding at once.

“I don’t want to get involved in troublesome affairs. To be precise, the Imperial Family. So I sneaked out. I’m glad the focus was on His Grace.”

“…..”

“In the meantime, I am contemplating how to break the plate laid out by the Duke of Walten.”

Kathleen was a little startled by Count Schenberg who saw right through her, but she answered without expression.

“You seem to have forgotten that I am also a member of the Imperial Family, Count Schenberg.”

“You are, but it seems that the Madame has a different opinion than His Grace.”

“Different opinion?”

“It seems to me that Madame is against the marriage of the Imperial Family and the Schenberg family.”

A smile hung on his lips as he set the glass down on the fountain, but his eyes were cold.

“Looking earlier, I saw you were very worried for the Crown Prince. Weren’t you?”

“It may have looked like that because he’s family that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

“I heard that you and His Highness are very close.”

Count Schenberg’s voice lowered at Kathleen’s attitude of pretending not to know. As if he was nervous.

“It’s presumptuous, but I want you to persuade His Highness.”

“What kind of persuasion are you talking about?”

“Please tell him to refuse the arranged marriage.”

He and the Crown Prince had the same thoughts. Kathleen almost sighed in relief, but tried to hide it.

“I don’t have the strength to dare to say that.”

“If the Madame says a word, His Highness will listen.”

“In that case, I think it would be better for the Count to meet His Highness in person.”

If she welcomed this here and accepted his offer, Peter would not have an advantage in the negotiations.

Kathleen stood up and took his hands together and said.

“Tell His Highness directly why you do not want this marriage. It’s not for me or other parties to intervene.”

“But Madame.”

“I will call His Highness. That’s all the help I can give you.”

Count Schenberg paused to say something. Kathleen rang the small bell near the fountain to call her attendant.

“Take this person to the lounge with the west terrace and inform the person who made the reservation in advance.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kathleen took off a pair of gloves and handed it to Count Schenberg, who looked back with wondering eyes.

“If you take this with you, you will be able to talk about what you want.”

“……Thank you, Madame.”

He nodded his head as if he understood Kathleen’s intentions at that moment, and disappeared following the attendant.

Kathleen sighed and put the bell away. She had sent the attendant in the garden with Count Schenberg, so now she can truly rest without anyone watching.

She was resting peacefully while listening to the sound of the water, and it seemed that a certain amount of time had passed so she was about to return to the break room.

“Kathleen!”

Someone called her from behind. Kathleen froze on the spot. She could not forget the cheerful voice of the middle-aged man, even after a long time had passed.

“Kathleen, how long has it been?”

When she turned around, shocked by the hand on her shoulder, Count Winston was standing there.

“How are you here?”

“I got an invitation too. What are you so surprised about?”

“……I see. Please enjoy yourself.”

Not wanting to see any more of that creepy face, Kathleen was about to leave her seat.

Count Winston said.

“I heard the news. You brought a child? The successor to the Walten family.”

The corners of his mouth which had risen had a strange smile.

“I thought you only knew how to use your body, but your brain works too. Yeah, well done. As long as you don’t get caught… Duke Walten pretends to be cold-blooded, but in the end he also wanted a son.”

“…I will go now. His Grace must be looking for me.”

“Where are you going? I’m not done talking to you yet.”

“Ah!”

Margrave Winston’s arm was so strong that his slender daughter’s wrist was about to break.

“I don’t know where you stole him, but do it properly. If people find out that he’s not the Duke’s blood, let alone yours, even the Winston family will be furious.”

“Let me go!”

“Answer me properly!”

Angry at the words that insulted Luci, she pushed him with all her might, but she could not defeat the power of the war veteran, Count Winston.

“You must hold the ankles of Duke Walten with that b*stard. Apparently, he was kicked out and abused, so don’t miss out on this opportunity! When your child becomes the duke, I will be able to come down from the d*mn North. Then Isabella can find her true husband again, right?”

“Please, please, pl-…!”

It had never been more terrifying to have the blood of Count Winston in her veins than it was now. She was fed up with her father, whose eyes only saw her as a tool until the end.

“I don’t want to do that.”

“What?”

“My child will never be the duke. So stop dreaming!”

“Y-You! Duchess, duchess, you really are so precious!”

Count Winston’s other hand, not grabbing her wrist, went up to the sky. Kathleen was again enveloped by the feeling of helplessness she experienced as a child, and her whole body trembled.

‘Let’s just get hit. If I get beaten by a few hits, then he will release……’

She closed her eyes.

As she resigned herself, waiting for her bitter father’s hand to fly to her cheek, her wrists were suddenly freed. Simultaneously, Count Winston screamed.

“Aack!”

When she opened her eyes, she saw Count Winston stuck in the fountain.

“Are you hurt?”

An unexpected person pulled her over with an angry face and examined her.

Alexis Walten.

Her husband.