Chapter 464
As the start of the school year was approaching, I began checking through the belongings I would use at the Academy one by one.
I could have just taken the stuff I used last year, but I figured I should confirm my clothes, considering they felt a little snug lately.
“Come in.”
After about an hour of sorting my stuff, I called in the attendants waiting outside.
“I’m thinking of just taking this much. Make sure the carriage is a suitable size.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The attendants bowed in response to my instructions and quickly gathered my belongings before heading outside. They’d probably load everything onto the carriage going to the Academy themselves.
Once the last attendant closed the door behind them, I plopped down on the bed and let out a sigh.
‘I didn’t think I’d be borrowing the Imperial Palace attendants’ hands again this year.’
Feeling a bit awkward, I absentmindedly scratched my cheek.
No matter how much of a noble I was, I thought I’d be living somewhere other than the Imperial Palace, given that I had officially received my title. That’s just how things usually went. However, the Emperor had said to wait until he found me a place, so I had to stick around the palace for now.
Of course, while I didn’t have an actual territory officially tied to the Duke of Idripen, I had received quite a bit of land along with it. But hey, what could I do? As a Duke, I had to enjoy my benefits while living in the Imperial Palace.
But for some reason, I had this feeling—though unfounded—that I would be living in the palace for a few more years.
‘…Maybe I should reach out soon.’
Shoving my complicated feelings aside, I grabbed the communication stone. I had finished organizing my belongings, so it was time to take care of other matters.
– Who is it?
Not long after activating the communication stone, the other party picked up.
A noble lady with pristine white skin and dazzling silver hair—too cliché to say it, but her voice sounded like a nightingale chirping.
“It’s me, Lady Shati.”
The only child of the Barandi Marquis, Shati Gurt.
I was calling my fiancée, practically.
– Ah, it’s the Duke of Idripen.
As always, her response was curt and blunt, but I was used to it by now, so it didn’t faze me.
From Lady Shati’s perspective, she was suddenly engaged to someone she barely knew. Even if it was an arranged marriage, it’s usually done between people who’ve known each other since childhood. Therefore, I could completely understand her putting up walls.
“Today is such a nice day that I suddenly thought of you, Lady Shati, and wanted to reach out. I hope I’m not interrupting your precious time?”
– It’s fine. You calling out of the blue isn’t anything new.
“Glad to hear it.”
As I responded with a smile, Lady Shati made a sulky face. It seemed she wasn’t too thrilled about me laughing off what could have been a touchy remark.
Even though it was unfortunate for her, I had no intention of getting mad at her. I definitely wasn’t about to ruin this relationship, which had already become a matter of fact with our engagement.
My feelings weren’t based on some romantic cliché about falling head over heels at first sight. Probably due to having loved someone else before, I didn’t feel any private affection right now. I was simply acting for the duties of royalty and for the lady who would be my wife.
“I wanted to see you in person before heading to the Academy, but sadly, the start of classes is right around the corner. Never have I felt so resentful of being a student.”
– I’m actually relieved you’re not coming. It would be embarrassing to host the Duke here in our secluded northern area.
“Just being with you is more than enough. How could you say such a thing?”
At that, I could practically feel her expression trembling through the communication stone.
‘Still as honest as ever today.’
That sight made me chuckle. Honestly, while I didn’t have romantic feelings for Lady Shati, I did like her as a person. The more we talked, the more her blunt and cute reactions grew on me.
At first, Lady Shati maintained a strict decorum, pushing me away with indirect remarks. It was only natural; the rumor that a newly risen noble refused to marry into the royal family would threaten her family.
But I tried my best to act clueless about her feelings. If she was being polite, I’d lean in playfully, and if she spoke indirectly, I’d pretend I didn’t catch on. Frustrated, Lady Shati gradually started to become more straightforward and transparent in her rejections.
Though, I continued to act like I hadn’t noticed.
“By the way, as you advised, I’ve been working hard to train recently. One day, I’ll have to live in the north, so it would be troublesome if I couldn’t keep up.”
– Ah… I see. Thank you for taking my advice seriously.
“It’s only natural to heed the words of someone like you.”
Soon, I began to hear the sound of a knife clinking.
I figured it was time to wrap this up.
*
As soon as the face of the Duke of Idripen faded from the communication stone, I threw it aside.
“AAAAAHHHH!”
Then I violently raked my hair and screamed. I felt like I wouldn’t calm down until I did.
I was seriously frustrated. If the Duke of Idripen had been in front of me, I would have closed my eyes and thrown a punch. That’s how irritating he was—smooth-talking and grating on my nerves… in short, someone I didn’t like.
‘Just one punch and he’d be out cold!’
I clenched my fist, grinding my teeth. When I first met the Duke of Idripen at the New Year’s Ball, he looked like a typical prince from a stable nation.
Someone who had never faced hardship and had achieved nothing by working with his own hands. Just someone who expected to be treated like royalty, relying solely on looks and status. That was my first impression of the Duke of Idripen.
Now, that impression had expanded to include the obnoxious, smarmy, and oblivious aspects he also had!
– “Well, as you advised, I’ve been training rigorously lately. One day, I might also have to live in the daunting north, and it would be a problem if I couldn’t endure it.”
As those words echoed in my mind, a hollow laugh escaped me. I was too drained to even express my anger anymore.
‘Training? Really?’
A few weeks ago, back when I was still being polite to the Duke of Idripen, I said something like that. The northern climate is harsh and biting, so an average person would struggle to even find their footing.
When you marry me, it implies you’ll have to live in that harsh north, but the Duke of Idripen took that as encouragement to train rather than a warning to reconsider.
No, he definitely knew what I meant but chose to pretend he didn’t. Given his smarmy nature, it was almost a certainty.
‘Go ahead and train all you want.’
With a self-deprecating chuckle, I picked the communication stone up off the floor.
Flowers growing in the garden would eventually bloom beautifully in warm winds after all their training.
He could never stand next to me as a warrior from the cold north.
*
At this point, I genuinely wondered if I had committed some grave sin in my past life. Like, I sold out a nation ruled by an emperor or something equally heinous. It felt like I must have made such an implicit agreement.
Yeah, that’s definitely it. If not, that guy shouldn’t have to be so genuine with me.
“I couldn’t just put the Cardinal’s gift anywhere, so I hung it up. It brings me joy every time I see it.”
After receiving a call from the Emperor, I visited the Sun Palace. Inside the Sun Palace was the Emperor’s office where he conducts his affairs.
It was essentially the space where all imperial matters receive their final approval, and, unexpectedly, my portrait was hanging there.
‘What the hell?!’
I was astonished. As the start of the school year approached, I had thought it was just a regular summons from the Emperor, but as soon as I stepped into that office, I was welcomed by that portrait.
Is this guy for real? Seriously, what emperor in history hangs the portrait of their subordinate? It’s one thing if it were their own portrait!
“This is quite something. Are you so overwhelmed with emotion you can’t even speak?”
Amidst this, the Emperor continued to provoke me.
Emotion? You should really go study what that word means in the dictionary because you wouldn’t know it if it hit you.
“…Your Majesty, to have the portrait of such a lowly person hanging in this sacred space… I am both terrified and honored.”
“It’s a sacred space, so it’s only fitting we hang a saint’s portrait.”
He laughed heartily, a robust and confident laugh that almost made me smile back.
“When my head feels cloudy, I look at the minister’s portrait. Imagining that a great man who could become a saint is alive and assisting me fills me with joy.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
I bowed my head in response while feeling the urge to pummel him at the sight of that smirk.
After managing to suppress that urge to punch him, we could actually have a decent conversation afterward.
“This year, I’ll need you to continue your hard work. No matter how I look at it, it’s better to send you than stir any confusion by sending someone else.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so.”
Again, I was being sent back to the Academy to face those hopeless club members. I nodded without a fuss. I assumed he would think I’d be the one to go anyway, but just as the Emperor said, there was no need to switch things up with only a year left until the end.
And if I sent someone else and a situation exploded, someone would have to deal with it, most likely me. So it was better for me to handle it from the start.
“Just letting you know, you have done a lot over the past three years. What bureaucrat serves a foreign royal family for three years? Of course, Your Majesty must have sent the minister to the Academy believing he was the best fit, but that must have put you in a tough spot.”
To my response, the Emperor surprisingly offered me some comfort. My life at the Academy must have made an impressive impression on even an emperor with a notorious temperament.
“As a loyal servant, I simply did my duty.”
“Because you did your duty, you deserve the praise.”
The Emperor gave a slight smile before falling silent for a moment and then softly began to speak.
“…Since you’re already a minister, there’s no promotion I can give you. Playing around with this talk of dual ministers is—”
“Your Majesty.”
“It’s a joke. It’s common sense that one person cannot serve as two ministers.”
Though I interrupted the Emperor, I don’t regret it.
That guy, while saying it couldn’t happen, had genuine intent in his eyes. If I’d shown any hesitation, he might have pushed it through.
“Oh, speaking of which, Minister, I have a personal favor to ask.”
“Speak, Your Majesty.”
My instinct kicked in, but my head was filled with suspicion. After that insane comment about dual ministers, he’d throw out a personal favor? What in the world was he about to say?
“I hear Ainter has recently taken an interest in swordsmanship. If you could, teach him a thing or two when you have the time.”
But what came out was completely unexpected.
Surprising. Isn’t Ainter the one who has been keeping his distance from martial arts since the fall of the second prince? The Emperor must consider him part of the royal family now, so he no longer needed to keep his distance, but there was no reason for him to purposely reach out either.
“Yes. I would be happy to assist him if my advice can be of any help.”
Of course, it was unexpected, not something I’d be hesitant about.
A guy can go through life without wielding a sword, right?
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