TNBTW | Episode 14

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That afternoon, Edith made her way to the imperial palace to meet the Duke.

The imperial palace, which she was visiting for the first time, exuded an air of antiquity, akin to an old temple, with its grandeur and elegance. 

As she took in the atmosphere, she recalled the relatively modern appearance of the Ministry of Magic’s building, a reminder of its recent establishment.

Following the instructions, she stepped into the drawing room, where Duke Devion and Vincent were waiting for her.

“Oh, Lady Edith, you’ve arrived. Please, have a seat,” 

Vincent greeted her, gesturing naturally toward the seat beside the Duke. Though she felt awkward at the unexpected reunion, Edith complied quietly and took her seat.

“Even in barren lands, new buds bloom. The love between you two is no different. Who could have imagined that a bond formed in the war-torn borderlands would blossom into marriage?”

“…Pardon?” 

Is he referring to us?

Edith blinked, startled by Vincent’s sudden remark and quietly glanced around. 

She was wondering if someone else could be the subject of his words, but there was no one present who fit the description of “you two” aside from her and the Duke.

“His Majesty likely foresaw it,” Vincent continued.

“Of course, His Majesty sincerely blesses your union. He wishes for all the citizens of the Empire to celebrate your marriage.”

Caught off guard, Edith instinctively turned her gaze to the Duke. To her surprise, he seemed neither alarmed nor confused by Vincent’s declaration. If anything, he appeared to understand it completely.

“Wouldn’t it be a good outcome for everyone if it happens that way?” Vincent pressed on.

“Is that His Majesty’s intention?” the Duke asked.

“How could I presume to speak for His Majesty?” 

The cryptic conversation left Edith utterly bewildered. She alternated her gaze between the two men, searching for clarity, but found none. Vincent, with his composed smile, and the Duke, whose face betrayed no emotion, only heightened her confusion.

“Well, it seems I should leave you two to talk privately,” Vincent finally declared, rising from his seat. After exchanging a few final words with the Duke, he departed, leaving the room.

“Simply put, this is a script written by His Majesty. There will undoubtedly be those curious about the story of our union.”

“Ah… I see,” Edith nodded, finally piecing things together. It seemed a fabricated backstory had been created to cover the fact that their union was orchestrated by the Emperor.

“I’ve never lived near the borderlands, but fortunately, during the period you were stationed there, I was taking a break from work for about half a year. If we say we met during that time, it should work. How about that?”

Edith, who understood the Emperor’s intention, added thoughtfully, “We could say we lost touch for a while, then reconnected after I moved to the capital. That would also explain the marriage proposals you received in the meantime.”

If one were to tell a lie, it needed to be consistent to gain even a semblance of believability. Considering the number of proposals the Duke had likely received, no one would believe a narrative of an uninterrupted romance.

“That’s a solid suggestion. We can discuss the specifics of the timeline and locations later,” the Duke agreed readily. 

Though they barely knew each other, Edith appreciated his pragmatic demeanor. The fact that he considered her input, even when he could have dismissed it, spoke volumes about his character.

‘Not everyone is like that,’ she mused. 

The memory of Young Lady Valesia and countless others she’d encountered in her previous life underscored this truth.

While he had his peculiarities, Edith found the Duke to be a decent man overall.

“The wedding is scheduled for the end of this month,” the Duke announced abruptly.

“This month?” Edith’s eyes widened in surprise. That was only three weeks away. As she mulled over the rushed timeline, the Duke added, as if reading her thoughts.

“It’s abrupt, but His Majesty is concerned about potential complications.”

“Complications?” she asked, tilting her head.

“The concern is that you might change your mind before then,” he replied bluntly.

Edith’s head snapped around in shock at his frankness, her eyes scanning the room to ensure no one else had overheard. Fortunately, they were alone.

‘I do appreciate his directness, but…’

Is it really okay to voice the Emperor’s intentions so openly? She couldn’t help but recall Vincent’s careful phrasing earlier.

Still, she decided it was better than being kept in the dark.

“I don’t mind. I don’t have any family to invite anyway,”

“Nor do I,” the Duke replied. “It won’t be an issue.”

Her casual remark, however, took on a solemn tone when he answered. The mention of his estranged younger brother crossed her mind, casting a shadow over her thoughts.

The Duke had a younger brother who was rumored to be possessed by a demon. Even if he was family, it would be unthinkable to invite someone like that to the wedding. No one would allow it.

 

“My brother is possessed by a demon.”

“Marrying me means marrying into a family tainted by demonic blood.”

 

Suddenly, the Duke’s words from the past began to echo in her mind. Back then, he had spoken with an indifference that made it seem as though he were recounting someone else’s story.

‘Has he said those words many times before?’

So many times that they had dulled him to the point of numbness?

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over her. Edith found herself unable to imagine what thoughts the Duke might have had when he brought up that subject.

‘What does His Grace think about his younger sibling?’

Part of her was genuinely curious. According to Daisy, the existence of his sibling was the only blemish on the Duke’s otherwise flawless reputation.

Of course, that didn’t mean she intended to ask him. Digging into someone else’s wounds out of mere curiosity was something she could never condone.

“The article will be published sometime next week. Meridies¹ will take the lead, so it will likely cause quite a stir.”

Edith let out a soft sigh. So that was why things had been so quiet lately—they had already chosen the perfect day to make the announcement.

It made sense. When the Emperor invited her to the theater he patronized, it was all part of a meticulously calculated plan.

‘I worried for nothing.’

Realizing that high society was far more organized than she had assumed, Edith felt a little sheepish.

“Then I will take this as your agreement and proceed with preparations for the ceremony.”

“Wait, Your Grace!”

Just as the Duke began to conclude their conversation, as if everything had already been settled, Edith called out to stop him. His cold eyes shifted downward, fixing on her with an impassive gaze.

As Edith stopped the Duke, who seemed ready to conclude their conversation as if all matters had been addressed, his emotionless eyes glanced down at her.

“Have you been well?”

It was a belated inquiry, awkward even as she voiced it, but Edith asked regardless.

After all, it had been some time since they last met. Even if there was a pressing agenda, exchanging pleasantries felt appropriate. That was how she had been taught, at least.

“If you are inquiring whether there have been any significant changes in my circumstances, then no.”

So that’s another way of saying ‘I’ve been well.’

Momentarily distracted by this new tidbit of knowledge, Edith quickly refocused and followed up with another question.

“And have you been eating properly?”

“…”

Though his expression remained inscrutable, this time, she could discern the sentiment. It was the look of someone thinking, ‘That question again?’ Before the Duke could ask why she cared yet again, Edith hastily spoke.

“I explained poorly last time. It wasn’t that I was worried about being impolite.”

“Then what was it?”

“This… this is me asking about your well-being. Bill mentioned how extremely busy you’ve been. I was concerned you might be skipping meals because of work.”

Edith glanced at him cautiously. Though his face betrayed little emotion, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his expression silently asked, ‘And what do you propose to do about it?’ Perhaps it was just her own guilt making her think so.

“I consume an appropriate amount of calories to ensure my work is unaffected,” 

The Duke finally responded tersely after listening in silence. Then he countered with a question of his own.

“Even if I weren’t, what significant relevance would that have to you, Miss Edith?”

For a brief moment, doubts raced through Edith’s mind—Was my question too intrusive? Did I offend him?—but she soon realized the true intent behind his words.

‘Ah, he’s genuinely asking why I’m curious about such things.’

Although the content of his remark could easily be interpreted as combative, the monotony of his tone suggested no ill will.

She hadn’t spent much time conversing with the Duke yet, but Edith had gathered that he wasn’t the type to antagonize others without reason. At least, that was her impression.

“Well, a balanced diet and adequate sleep have a significant impact on one’s health.” 

Edith replied, attempting to mimic his formal tone but quickly shaking her head. Such phrasing didn’t suit her at all.

“You’re saying you asked out of concern for my health?”

“Yes! Not just me—everyone’s worried about you. They say you work tirelessly without a single day of proper rest.”

The next exchange was something Edith had anticipated.

“What a pointless waste of emotion.”

But what followed was not. Edith was so stunned that, for a moment, she found herself at a loss for words.

The statement alone was startling, but it was the Duke’s demeanor—calm and entirely unbothered, as though what he said was the most natural thing in the world—that left her even more shaken.

If he had said it with sarcasm or derision, she might have dismissed it as, ‘Wow, he really has an odd personality’, and moved on. But that wasn’t the case. He genuinely seemed to believe what he said, and that realization hit Edith harder than she expected.