TLDOWN 84

CHAPTER 84………………………………

“I heard everyone was dead…”

“How… how is the Duke here…?”

Lea blinked slowly, thinking perhaps she was seeing things. But the voice that came from the man’s lips—she knew it all too well.

“To think that the proud young lady of House Belarus would be in such a filthy place. Truly admirable, isn’t it?”

His tone was polite on the surface, but full of sarcasm. Snapping out of her daze, Lea stammered,

“I—I really didn’t know what kind of place this was…!”

Her shock at running into Akkia quickly gave way to embarrassment as she tried to defend herself against his biting remark.

Who could have imagined that the refined nobles would indulge in such debauchery behind closed doors? It was an unfair situation.

But the thought didn’t last long. When Lea noticed that Akkia himself seemed dressed for the party, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“And what about you, Your Grace? What brings you here? Don’t tell me you came to enjoy the party—knowing full well what kind of place this is?!”

Maybe she could plead ignorance, but Akkia was different. A man of royal birth couldn’t possibly be unaware of what kind of masquerade this was.

The thought made her blood boil. But Akkia only ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

Lea’s expression wasn’t one of someone making excuses.

“Do you have any idea who I came here because of? Unbelievable.”

His annoyed tone made Lea blink, her lips parting slightly.

No way.

“You came here because you knew I’d be here?”

Even before he answered, her heart had already melted. She had thought he didn’t care—since he kept avoiding her—but if he had followed her here, that must mean he’d been watching over her all along.

It was a little… stalker-like, sure, but still flattering.

The thought made her cheeks flush pink—until a heavy coat suddenly dropped over her shoulders.

“At least wear this.”

He must have thought she was cold from the autumn breeze.

Meanwhile, Akkia was inwardly mortified. He’d only planned to quietly keep watch from a distance—until some man started getting too close to Lea, and he’d reacted without thinking.

Does she even realize what she’s wearing?

Seeing Lea’s bare collarbone exposed in the fall air made his blood boil. And to think others had seen her like this, too—

He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to suppress his irritation, when Lea fidgeted with her fingers and asked softly,

“Then why did you leave without saying anything at the last party?”

“…”

“Even if you didn’t want people to know about our relationship, you could’ve at least said hello.”

Lea finally voiced her long-held disappointment. The air between them turned awkward after so long apart—until Akkia finally spoke.

“Coming from the woman who was happily dancing with another man, that’s rich.”

Damn it.

The words slipped out before he could stop them, and he cursed inwardly. After all this time, that’s what he said? How pathetic.

“Are you talking about Sir Edward?”

“…Edward?”

Edward… Edward…

He’d barely seen the man once, and she was already calling him by name? In social circles, addressing someone so familiarly meant a deep level of intimacy—especially between a man and woman.

Either childhood friends or promised partners.

But she said it so casually—Edward. Akkia bit back the sharp words that rose in his throat, then suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“If we keep talking here, everyone will figure out who we are.”

Indeed, people’s gazes had begun to gather around them. Probably because he’d shown his face.

Without another word, Akkia adjusted his mask and led Lea out of the mansion, toward the waiting carriage.

“This carriage…”

The insignia on the back belonged to House Belarus. Lea looked troubled—she’d kept her attendance at the masquerade a secret from her grandfather.

“Don’t tell me you told Grandfather I was here?”

“Of course. The Duke of Belarus is your legal guardian. I’m sure he’ll want to make sure his granddaughter stays on the right path.”

“Your Grace!”

Akkia smiled faintly as he stepped back once she was inside.

“Then do listen to your grandfather’s words, Lady Belarus.”

He’s definitely doing this on purpose!

Lea wanted to shout something back—but the carriage had already started moving.

By the time she arrived home, she had to endure over an hour of scolding from Dmitri.

❀ ❀ ❀

Lea’s development of botox was an astounding success.

Every noblewoman knew about it, and demand was so high that even the initial batches were sold out with waiting lists forming.

When word spread that the one who created it was none other than Lady Belarus, her name became known throughout the capital—and soon, even the Imperial Palace.

“So, the granddaughter of Duke Belarus has appeared?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Dowager Empress.”

The dowager sat serenely, sipping her tea.

The legitimate daughter of House Belarus…

Her gaze was sharp enough to make the man before her flinch.

“I also heard that this botox everyone’s raving about was developed by that young lady.”

“Botox?”

The dowager had heard of it at the salon. She had seen with her own eyes how a noblewoman’s wrinkles had vanished after using it.

She herself had been trying to obtain it.

To think the one who made it was the Belarus girl.

The dowager tapped her fingers on the armrest, intrigued.

“And there’s more—though this is just a rumor…”

“What is it?”

“They say Lady Belarus had a secret rendezvous with Duke Heidern at the masquerade.”

“The Duke of Heidern and the Duke of Belarus’s granddaughter?”

Tch.

Of all people—it had to be Akkia, and the only remaining heir of House Belarus. Wasn’t he the weakling who once couldn’t even lift a spoon?

But apparently, he’d recovered, regained his strength, and even begun handling state affairs.

I’d hoped to live out my twilight years in peace, but…

The dowager tapped the rim of her teacup, uneasy.

This doesn’t feel right.

Especially since he’d recently been granted rights to the hot spring project by Duke Belarus and was growing increasingly influential.

If Duke Belarus ever approved of a union between the two…

Her brow furrowed at the thought.

That boy who couldn’t even meet my eyes as a child…

Akkia had always hidden behind his mother’s skirts when she visited the palace.

After the late Empress’s death, he would hide himself in the Crown Prince’s quarters whenever the Dowager entered the palace.

This won’t do.

She had once dreamed of becoming Empress—but failed.

When she bore the Emperor’s first son, she believed the throne would surely pass to him. But it went instead to the late Empress’s child—Philip III.

The humiliation of failing to become Empress, and of her son failing to inherit the throne, had burned into her soul.

When Philip III ascended, Akkia was born soon after—a legitimate prince, not far in age from her own grandson, Illay.

Watching Akkia, the true-born imperial prince, study imperial politics while her own grandson did not—how it had stung.

Then, after the Empress’s death, Akkia’s health had deteriorated rapidly.

But in that weakness, the Dowager had seen a glimmer of hope.

To make my grandson Emperor.

And through Illay, she fulfilled the dream she never could. She had thought Akkia would simply waste away in exile at Heidern—but he had returned.

Thinking of the marquis still imprisoned because of Akkia, her fists clenched with rage. She slowly opened her eyes.

“But the granddaughter of House Belarus—that means she’s Ariel’s daughter. You told me that matter was handled, didn’t you?”

“T-That is…”

The chill in her eyes made the servant tremble. His hesitation only narrowed her gaze further.

Twenty-two years ago, to blackmail Duke Belarus, the Dowager had ordered the kidnapping of his runaway daughter and her knight lover.

She had been told they were all dead—including the unborn child.

If I’d known the granddaughter was alive, I would have acted long ago.

Then Akkia wouldn’t have the Belarus family backing him now. The Dowager clicked her tongue in regret.

“Go to the capital today and tell Illay to prepare the Rose Palace.”

The Rose Palace—where every Empress in history had resided.

But the Emperor currently had no fiancée.

Surely not…

The servant’s eyes widened as the realization dawned. The Dowager’s fingers stopped tapping the table, and a thin smile spread across her lips.

“Yes. It’s about time I had a great-grandchild.”