The Duchess’s Contract Marriage

Chapter 5

There’s nothing I can do. I have already sworn to god. Maybe god really does exist. My sister defeated the tyrant and became the new queen so easily. Is that all?

She conquered the neighboring lands, established an enormous kingdom, and became the empress. My sister is smart enough to make that happen, but something feels off about how quickly and easily everything seems to have fallen into place. My sister, who became the empress, is still so young. She will be the empress for at least a couple of decades and pass on the throne and the empire to her offspring. During Kalena’s reign and afterward, if we hope to be looked after by god, then first I must offer to him what was promised.

That was what she rationalized to herself.

You know, I think everyone is too focused on marriage these days.

Rubiana didn’t like that she was doing the same and shook her head. She wanted to leave immediately but thought that it would be best to calm down a bit first. Besides, if she were to go home early, the head maid would look at her like she was wondering what Rubiana was doing there already.

Rubiana changed course and headed to the garden that Marchioness Rivadour had bragged about.

I should get some fresh air, then head back in.

“You have no choice but to marry me!”

She was planning to empty her mind and relax when someone screamed at the back of Rubiana’s head— No, it wasn’t actually directed at Rubiana because the sound came from far away. However, she still felt like it was, since it just so happened to be about marriage.

“You have no choice but to kill me!”

“You have no choice but to pay me back!”

“You have no choice but to treat me to a meal!”

She could have ignored it if it were just these phrases, but it just had to be about marriage. Rubiana’s body and soul instantly reacted to those words.

Damn it.

Rubiana was annoyed, and she just couldn’t ignore it. Her body moved of its own accord. She went to the place where the sound had come from and looked through the bushes to see a man and a woman. The lady was astonishingly beautiful. Her charming eyes were bright and slanted upward like a cat. She was covered from head to toe with jewels, but it wasn’t too much.

Compared to her, the man’s clothing was shabby and simple. He was wearing only a white cravat with a black suit. There were no golden or silver tassels like most suits. His family might have been going through a difficult time, and standing next to the woman, he barely even looked like an attendant.

Wow.

Despite their appearances, it was the man, not the woman, whom Rubiana was staring at. He was extremely handsome—beautiful, even. He was so good-looking that she regretted even thinking the woman was pretty when she first saw her. Even though she’d made a lifelong vow when she entered the monastery, Rubiana was too skeptical about god’s existence for someone who had pledged the rest of her life to him.

I don’t know if he exists or not, but I always thought it would be nice if he did. But things started to change after I started to follow Kalena. I’ve begun to think that god might really exist after seeing my sister rise to the top. I watched as she was able to destroy an entire kingdom and raise an empire in just a few years. I’ve been wondering if that had anything to do with god.

So, I’m trying my best to go through with the promise I made to god. If god exists in this world, then there must be angels that assist him. If he could create a large world like this, it is unlikely that he only made one angel. He would probably have made many angels with various appearances and personalities, and if the angel with the most beautiful face but most atrocious behavior came down to earth, wouldn’t he look just like that?

His shining silver hair contrasted with his eyes, which were darker than the night sky. The beautiful man was clearly annoyed. His scrunched-up expression was quite gross, yet he still looked beautiful.

He looks quite hot-tempered, so I should probably be careful when I approach him.

This was all Rubiana could gather as she watched from a distance. He was so beautiful it didn’t feel real, and she felt satisfied just by looking on from afar. However, it seemed that the lady had a different impression.

“P-please don’t avoid me, Louimonde.”

The woman grabbed the man’s wrist.

“Let go of me. I don’t remember giving you permission to touch me.”

This blindingly handsome man didn’t make the best first impression. He was a total jerk.

“Ahhhh!”

Staggering, the woman let go of the man and fell to the ground.

Oh, his body is thin, but I guess he must be pretty strong—but not very chivalrous at all. The girl did start it, but still. How can he not try to help her or ask if she was ok?

Instead of doing any of that, the man furrowed his brow while shaking off his hand. The cold look he gave to the woman made him look as beautiful as a marble statue made by the best artist of the century.

“After all, a man’s face is the most important.”

My grandmother was right—this man is worth looking at. If he’d been ugly and acted like that, I would have immediately cut off his hands.

In other words, the man’s face was the only thing holding Rubiana back from interfering. It wasn’t like she didn’t know that her biased attitude was problematic. If her parents had been alive and seen the situation, they might have grabbed her by the neck, questioning how she could do that.

Well, if he’s that handsome, there’s nothing I can do.

She thought of her grandmother sitting by her side and petting her cat.

“Where did you go? I’m certain I saw you coming this way.”

The man looked around, pretending not to see the woman who had fallen. Unlike his beautiful and delicate appearance, his behavior was quite rough.

“Louimonde!”

“Shut up over there.”

It became apparent that the man was looking for something other than the woman on the ground. At that moment, the man started to turn in the direction that Rubiana was standing in. Rubiana quickly hid behind a tree, the leaves rustling.

Why am I hiding?

It wasn’t until she was already hiding that she asked this fundamental question, but she didn’t dare risk moving and revealing her presence.

It would probably be a hassle.

Her instincts were warning her. If she was caught now, she would get involved in some annoying situation.

“Damn it. I lost it. Dang!”

Is he looking for me? Just as expected—my instincts were right.

Cold sweat slid down her back. Duchess Ashelion said she was looking for a handsome man but did everything to avoid him when she finally found one. The ones who knew about her goal might make fun of her if they could see her situation, but Rubiana was serious.

I’m looking for a gentle husband. The angry guy over there yelling didn’t look gentle at all. Is it enough for him to be handsome? No, he also needs to be gentle.

“Don’t forget, Ruby—being handsome only qualifies him. He also must have a gentle personality. If he’s too damn crazy, you can’t use him.”

Yes, Grandma. I haven’t forgotten your words.

* * *

A few days later, Rubiana encountered the man again at the imperial banquet. They didn’t meet in person and introduce themselves, but she could make out his face from across the ballroom.

Dozens of ladies were around the man. Married or unmarried, it didn’t matter—they all looked at him dreamily, with the same eyes that seemed to burn with desire. The man was so calm and graceful that it seemed he’d gotten rid of the callousness that he’d shown in the garden. He was melting all the women’s hearts with a mere wink and a wave of his hand.

Is he feigning innocence?

Rubiana couldn’t even be disgusted by it because he was so pretty and handsome. She watched the situation unfold while leaning against the wall and gulping down her drink. By the time the banquet was in full swing, Cedric, who had arrived late, approached her. He was holding a drink in each hand. Rubiana was glad to see the drinks more than she was to see him.

“You clean up nice.”

She couldn’t ignore Cedric. She slowly looked him up and down and let out a playful whistle. The sound wasn’t loud, so there was no way that the man surrounded by women across the room could hear. However, he glanced at Rubiana like he had heard her whistle. She was too busy focusing on her drink to notice the man staring— No, she did notice but didn’t care because there was nothing behind his stare. Cedric noticed and didn’t ignore the man’s glance, instead glaring back in warning. With Rubiana between them, there was a fierce exchange as the two glared daggers at one another over her head.

As Rubiana put her lips to her new drink and looked up, the handsome man in the distance turned his head, seemingly ignoring her. Cedric frowned.

“What’s his problem?” he asked.

“What?”

Rubiana turned her head, following his gaze, and let out a laugh when she saw who he was talking about.

“I guess you can see pretty things even with one eye.”

“Well, since I lost one because of someone, the one I have left is more sensitive now.”

“Isn’t it usually the opposite?”

“Why? Do you wish I couldn’t see?”

Cedric touched his eye patch with the edge of his finger out of habit. He was wearing one decorated in onyx and diamonds. The empress had given it to him to cover the scar that he’d received from Rubiana. She lifted her hands as a sign of surrender.

“No way. I’m still sorry for what I did.”

That, of course, was making her sister’s potential husband one-eyed. It was actually Kalena, not Cedric, who she was sorry toward.

“Whatever you say.”

Cedric clicked his tongue. He didn’t seem to like Rubiana’s sly attitude. Come to think of it, he was always this unfriendly to her. This is why it was unthinkable for her to consider him as a potential husband.

“Anyway, who is he? I think this is the first time I’ve seen him.”

“He was sick for a couple of months, so he wasn’t around for a while. Of course, you don’t know him.”

“So, who is he?”

“Count Graium’s grandson.”

Cedric clicked his tongue again. It seemed that he wasn’t happy to see Rubiana expressing interest in the man.

“Graium?”

Rubiana could remember Count Graium. The family was close to the tyrant, but the whole family surrendered to their side as soon as the castle gates were opened in the Battle of Dawn. Originally, they were the first in line to be purged, but Kalena had said that whoever surrendered other than the king would be saved. As such, they were not killed.

They seem to be survivors, back then and even now.

Rubiana could at least give them that much credit. Now, whenever Count Graium was bored, he would find men with dazzling faces and offer them to the empress. For some reason, Kalena kept Count Graium close by her side, appearing to enjoy his flattery and gifts.

You have another plan.

Rubiana was sure that there was more to her sister’s actions. Ludante, who was openly aiming to be the empress’s consort, didn’t look so relaxed.

I should have just killed them before they surrendered.

Ludante regretted not killing Count Graium when he had the chance. Rubiana vaguely remembered Count Graium and his family. All the members of his family had wheat-colored hair and auburn eyes. They were tall but had soft bodies with practically no muscle. Most importantly, none of them had that bright silver hair or those dark eyes.

Silver hair and black eyes—he’s truly stunning. Rather than Count Graium’s grandson, it would make more sense for him to be the secret son of the tyrant.

“Oh my god!”

“Did you finally get it? You’re so slow.”

“No way.”

“Louimonde Van Lux Amel von Graium.”

Having four names was a royal sign. Silver hair and black eyes, with four names—he was a member of the Einos Royal Family that they had overthrown.

Cedric spoke in a cold voice.

“Should I say that he is the last blood relation? No, it would be more accurate to put it this way: the only living illegitimate child of the tyrant.”