Chapter 10

“What is the matter, Grand Duke?”

Morin leaned closer to look at the section Asad had pointed to. There was nothing written there.

Only after seeing the old woman’s puzzled expression did Asad suddenly come to his senses. He quickly composed his expression, pretending nothing had happened.

“It’s nothing.”

He naturally tucked the document into his clothes.

“I’ll take care of this matter quickly. The seizure of the Lisicha residence will be lifted today.”

“Very well, Grand Duke.”

“Then, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be going first.”

Asad quickened his pace, leaving Morin behind.

The document he had just slipped into his clothes appeared vividly in his mind.

There’s definitely something here.

Normally, an official reward clearly stated when, by whom, and for what reason the recipient had been rewarded.

Even now, Asad’s own name was recorded in official documents as the hero who had suppressed the rebellion.

The Imperial Family would be even more meticulous when it came to maintaining such records. After all, power could only be maintained when rewards and punishments were clearly documented.

But this document…

There was absolutely nothing written about why Lisicha had been granted a title and residence by the Imperial Family.

This could be related to ‘that incident.’ I’ll have Shuri investigate it.

Asad’s footsteps grew faster as he left the Imperial Palace.

Tap, tap, tap.

A rhythmic sound echoed through the Grand Duke’s office.

After returning from the Imperial Palace, Asad looked restless.

He had not even changed out of his formal uniform. Sitting in his chair, he continued tapping the armrest.

By the time the servants of the estate were about to go mad from the incessant noise, Shuri bravely stepped forward as their representative.

“If you keep doing that, the pain in your right hand, which only recently recovered, will return.”

Asad casually ignored his aide’s sarcastic complaint and brought up another matter.

“Shuri. How did your investigation into Mia Lisicha go?”

“You really are a ghost. I just returned from meeting one of the maids at the Lisicha residence.”

Standing before his master’s desk, Shuri pulled a crumpled note from his pocket and began his report.

“The Lisicha family has two daughters born one year apart. The eldest, Mia, and the younger, Valentina. As you can see for yourself, the eldest daughter is somewhat less attractive than the younger one.”

“Was she?”

Shuri stared at him with an expression that seemed to question whether his master’s eyes were functioning properly.

Asad hurriedly waved a hand, trying to smooth things over.

“Mia was apparently the sort of person who normally kept a low profile. Although she had been going out somewhat frequently lately, she spent most of her time quietly in her room, either writing in her diary or doing embroidery. Even when guests came to the estate, her father would introduce only the second daughter, Valentina, and would often not even summon Mia to the drawing room. Naturally, she had no choice but to grow timid from living that way.”

“I don’t understand.”

Asad thought of the pale green eyes that had met his own without the slightest trace of fear.

There had been nothing timid about them.

“If what I say proves to be true, then the way you treat me will have to change.”

A woman capable of speaking so boldly could not possibly have lived the life Shuri had just described.

“I know how to make sure everyone ends up happy without shedding blood in the future. You don’t want your people to die or get hurt, do you?”

Mia’s confident voice came vividly back to him.

Although he had met countless people throughout his life, she was the first person who had ever expressed what she wanted with such absolute clarity.

“However, apparently, on the morning of that day, she behaved as though someone else had entered her body. She was completely unlike her usual self.”

Asad’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?”

“According to the maid, Mia Lisicha had gone to sleep looking dejected after being scolded the night before. But the next morning, she seemed to be in an extremely good mood. As if she had become a completely different person.”

Shuri flipped through the small note containing the results of his investigation.

“The maid said that, yes, in the morning, when she brought Mia her clothes, Mia grabbed her hand and danced with her. Apparently, in the ten years the maid has worked there, it was the first time she had ever seen Mia behave that way.”

“That’s enough, Shuri.”

Asad pressed both hands against his temples.

A headache was beginning to pound behind his eyes.

“Bring Mia Lisicha to the tea room.”

He corrected himself.

“No. Escort her here.”

After letting out a deep sigh, he struggled to continue.

“If possible… make sure she doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”

She’s a frightening woman.

She instinctively knows that she’s in the advantageous position.

Asad sat across from Mia Lisicha, who had her legs crossed and her arms folded.

The two of them were seated in the tea room of the Uliel residence, where the afternoon sunlight shattered into white brilliance.

The ceiling was high and spacious, while beyond the windows lay a beautiful sea of green.

A luxurious teapot and an assortment of sweet tea treats that young ladies her age would enjoy had been placed on the table between them.

Steam carrying a fragrant aroma rose from the freshly warmed teacups, but Mia showed no intention of touching them.

“Have some.”

“Speak.”

They spoke almost simultaneously.

Asad was slightly faster with his next words.

“Since it was prepared for you, have some first.”

“No.”

Mia’s refusal was as sharp as a blade.

“I don’t want to vomit everything I ate at the moment I’m hanged. So please tell me why you called me here first.”

Asad tilted his head back and placed a hand against his forehead.

There’s no way this woman who talks back so clearly could be the woman who supposedly grew up timid in the Lisicha household.

The realization that he had met someone who would not be easy to deal with made his headache return.

“Fine. I’ll get straight to the point. I don’t want things to go wrong and my people to end up shedding blood. What is this path you mentioned where everyone can be happy without bloodshed?”

“Does that mean you believe me now?”

“Yes… to some extent.”

Mia’s eyes widened as she leaned closer toward the table.

Her hips were almost hanging off the edge of her chair.

She clearly wanted a definite answer.

“And you’re guaranteeing my safety? Whether it’s hanging, burning at the stake, or beheading, none of those things have anything to do with me anymore, right? You’re not going to cripple my legs or…”

For some reason, Mia suddenly began fumbling over her words.

“What? Go ahead.”

“Well… you’re not going to forcibly take me to… um… your bedroom or anything like that, right?”

Asad felt slightly irritated.

What on earth does this woman think I am? Some kind of monster?

He barely managed to summon enough patience to answer.

“Yes. Nothing like that will ever happen. Not in your lifetime, ever, so you can rest assured.”

Only then did Mia’s expression relax.

She hurriedly picked up a fork, cut off a large piece of the cake before her, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Asad watched her chew with cream smeared around her lips, his expression complicated.

The future of the people of Uliel rests on the words of a woman who eats like this.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Mia offered an excuse.

“I haven’t had a proper meal in days.”

Only after completely emptying not just her plate but even her teacup did Mia finally stop eating.

Asad was still sitting across from her with his arms folded, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for her answer.

With her stomach finally full, Mia smiled brightly and spoke.

“For a happy ending, my younger sister Valentina needs to marry the Crown Prince, just like in the original story.”

“What?”

“In the original story, Valentina eventually becomes Empress. After that, the Empire enters an era of prosperity under the Emperor’s rule. He becomes such a wise ruler that there’s supposedly never been another emperor like him.”

“Hmm…”

Asad leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful hum.

As though she had read his mind, Mia continued.

“It’s not difficult. Differences in social status or the existence of a mistress won’t be a problem either. The Crown Prince and Valentina are destined to fall in love anyway. All you need to do, Grand Duke, is help them meet just as they did in the original story.”

“When is that supposed to happen?”

“You already missed the first opportunity.”

Asad straightened in his seat.

His eyebrows twitched.

“I missed it?”

Mia answered without even blinking.

“Yes. The day you dragged me here. I was supposed to become your secretary that day so that Valentina could meet the Crown Prince according to the original story.”

The words Mia had spoken that day replayed in Asad’s mind.

“Grand Duke, in exchange for my family’s debt, I could become your secretary…”

Ah, so that was it.

There was a reason behind that completely out-of-the-blue proposal.

One small question that had been lingering in his mind was finally answered.

He suddenly remembered the moment he had called her an idiot and felt slightly guilty.

“Then that ridiculous collection of belongings and the hair you took…”

“Oh, that. None of that has anything to do with who I am now.”

Mia waved both hands dismissively.

Asad remained silent, covering his lips with the back of his hand.

“The next opportunity is the debutante ball. The date was moved forward just like I told you, right?”

Asad nodded.

“In the original story, the Crown Prince falls in love with Valentina that day and asks her to dance. Even if it’s fate, we should make thorough preparations so that nothing goes wrong!”

Mia began cautiously watching Asad’s expression.

“So, about that…”

What on earth is she about to ask? Why is she hesitating like that?

Asad narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Do you happen to need another person?”