Chapter 89
Lucianne’s Scheme
“Luci?”
Marican’s eyes widened as Lucianne approached her. Passing by, Lucianne bent close and whispered,
“Mer, I warned you, didn’t I? That you’d regret it. Now I’ll show you why I said that.”
What is she plotting?
Lucianne smirked at Marican’s bewildered expression, then walked forward and bowed to Viseluc.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
“And you are?”
“Your Majesty, I am Lucianne of House Beanonman.”
“The Beanonman family… that would be the Duchess’s kin, is it not?”
“Regrettably, no, Your Majesty. This document proves that our family no longer has any connection with Marican.”
Viseluc accepted the papers, scanning them carefully.
“So it states. But what does this have to do with the Duke’s marriage?”
“Everyone knows my younger sister Mer and the Duke of Canoluf entered into a contract marriage. The Duke, believing his life was short, openly sought a wife for six months. He took pity on my sister and wed her.”
“What is it you wish to say, young lady?”
Ruan’s cold gaze bore into her, making Lucianne flinch back. Still, she steeled herself, faced the gathered nobles with a pained look, and spoke.
“During their marriage, Mer began to act as if she were truly part of the Ducal House, ignoring me and my mother. Some misunderstanding drove her to cut ties with us. We waited for her apology, but she never came. At last, we had no choice but to erase her from our family registry. She ceased to be of House Beanonman. Then, after five months, the Duke passed away. The empire mourned, the funeral was held, and my sister left the Duke’s household. At that moment, their contract ended.”
“So now the Duke wishes to wed her anew, does he not?”
“Perhaps. But when she returned to the capital, my mother and I went to her. We told her we would take her back as family—no apology needed. Yet she rejected us outright. It seemed she despised belonging to a viscount’s family, dreaming instead of being a duchess.”
Ruan’s voice cut like steel. “Lady Beanonman, I do not have much patience. Why drag out this tale? State your point clearly.”
Lucianne turned to Viseluc and the crowd, her expression solemn.
“Your Imperial Majesty, my lords and ladies, you all know this: under imperial law, a noble cannot marry a commoner. My sister severed ties with our family, as these documents show. Therefore, Marican stands beside the Duke as nothing more than a commoner. By law, their marriage cannot proceed.”
What…?
Marican turned to Ruan, stunned. “Ruan… is what she says true?”
“My lady, I’ve never heard of such a law. And even if it exists, do not fear. I will marry you regardless.”
Seeing Marican’s shaken face, Lucianne’s lips curved with satisfaction.
***
It was an archaic law, born of the empire’s earliest days, meant to preserve noble bloodlines. Few even knew it still existed.
Lucianne herself had learned of it from Diamond.
“Diamond, if you regain your place as Crown Prince, will you truly make me your consort?”
“Of course.”
“But what if others scorn my birth?”
He had almost snapped at her constant doubts but forced a smile, stroking her hair.
“Do not worry. As long as you are a noble, no one can oppose. The law says so.”
“What law?”
“That nobles may marry nobles, or royalty, regardless of rank. The only forbidden union is between noble and commoner. So as long as you are not a commoner, there is no obstacle.”
Lucianne had been astonished, later checking the imperial archives herself. The law was real.
So if Mer is stripped of her family name, she’s a commoner. And a commoner can never wed a duke.
She had nearly laughed with delight the day she confirmed it. From then on, she waited for this moment—to see Mer’s happiness shatter into despair on the night her marriage was announced.
***
“That’s absurd. I’ve never heard of such a law,” Ruan growled.
Viseluc frowned, turning to his chamberlain. “Verify this claim immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain hurried out. Murmurs rose through the hall.
So this is why Luci demanded my apology, why she threatened me to beg, to pay her…
Marican gazed at her sister’s triumphant smile, and sadness pierced deeper than anger. Why do you hate me so much, Luci? We are sisters. Why must you treat me worse than any stranger?
Moments later the chamberlain returned, troubled.
“Speak,” commanded Viseluc.
“Your Majesty, I searched the legal codices. The Lady speaks the truth. The law does exist.”
“No… impossible!”
Gasps rippled through the nobles. Marican clenched her fists, swallowing the urge to flee.
“How long would it take to repeal such a law?” Viseluc demanded.
Dominic stepped forward. “A law can only be repealed if all eight Councilors of Law consent unanimously in review. Only then can the amendment be presented to Your Majesty, approved, and proclaimed to the empire. But, as Your Majesty knows, the Council meets only once a year—in November. This year’s session is already concluded.”
“Then not until next November?”
“Yes, unless it is deemed critical to the empire’s safety. This law, however, does not qualify.”
Viseluc grimaced, looking to Ruan and Marican. “It seems the law is real. To amend it would take at least a year. Until then, your marriage must be delayed. What say you, Duke?”
Ruan bristled, ready to argue, but Marican caught his hand and shook her head softly.
A year…
Lucianne’s heart soared. Even if the law were repealed, who could say the Duke’s heart wouldn’t change by then? For now, it was enough—Mer could not wed.
Hiding her glee, she put on a mask of pity and stepped closer.
“Mer, I grieve for you. I gave you chance after chance. Yet you scorned Mother and me, calling us lowly. And now look—you cannot even be a duchess. You said once that your choices were yours alone, and you would bear the regret. Very well. Regret, Mer. Bear the price of casting us aside.”
Who cast aside whom, Luci? Why must you always twist the truth, making me the villain of your story? No. I won’t stay silent anymore.
“Lady Beanonman,” Marican said, voice steady, “how long will you wear that mask of victimhood? I never once belittled you or your mother for rank. It was you who cornered me, demanded apologies, demanded gold. Does it please you now, to see our marriage delayed?”
“Mer, what are you saying? I only wanted you back as family.”
“As family? By forcing me to beg forgiveness for no fault of mine? By demanding one hundred gold coins every month for Mother? Do you know what that sum means? It is half a count’s annual budget! And you call that family? No. Even if I remain a commoner all my life, I would never agree to such terms.”
The nobles murmured, turning questioning eyes on Lucianne. She faltered.
She was once too timid to answer me back. Now… now she dares?
She glanced at Ruan, whose gaze promised death should she press further. Shaken, Lucianne began to retreat—
But then Patricia stepped forward, eyes bright, addressing Viseluc.
“Your Majesty, may I ask one thing?”
“What is it, Crown Princess?”
Smiling sweetly, Patricia turned her gaze to Marican.
“Just now it was said nobles cannot wed commoners. But what of royalty? May royalty wed a noble?”
