ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 102

Chapter 102

      Marican’s Wedding (1)

Ruan’s Office

Returning to his office after losing Marican to Petrica, Ruan stood with a stern expression, flipping through documents.

Sigh… What could have happened while I was stepping out for a bit that would make her act like that?

Cassel, feeling the chill from Ruan’s intense gaze, handed over the papers cautiously.

“Cassel, is this true?” Ruan finally asked, holding out the documents after a moment of silence.

Cassel glanced over them and nodded.

“Y-Yes, Duke. The Marquess’s household is moving faster than we anticipated.”

The Rifad Marquess… Unlike his sister, the virtuous Queen Fione, her brother Dominic was just as ambitious as Kymon. Ever since Kymon’s power waned, he had secretly reclaimed the hidden assets under his name and placed his distant relatives in the capital’s trade districts, subtly shaking the commerce there. His actions were secretive, leaving no obvious trace.

Ruan pondered the matter carefully. The execution of Kymon and Diamond had happened not long ago, and he did not wish to stir scandal in the royal court again. If I leave things as they are, this could escalate.

“Duke, are you going to just watch?” Cassel asked.

“Not yet. It’s not the right time to make this public. First, we need more concrete evidence.”

“Yes, Duke!”

***

Marican followed Petrica through the palace corridors until they reached a certain door.

“This is the place?” she asked.

“Yes. This is where you’re most curious.”

Marican tilted her head, staring at the door in front of her. What is this place? Could it be a treasure room in the palace?

Thinking of the secret treasure chambers in the novels Charles read, she asked, “Petrica, is there some kind of treasure here?”

“What? Treasure? Marican, surely you’re not here just to see the palace treasure?”

Marican blushed.

“Oh, no… not that. I just… where are we?”

Petrica smiled mysteriously. “This is a reward for spending the day with me. You’ll see later.”

She knocked lightly.

“Come in!” a voice called.

Petrica opened the door and gently guided Marican inside. As Marican entered, her eyes met Ruan’s.

“Oh! Ruan!”

“My lady!” Ruan, who had been frowning all day, now beamed and took Marican’s hand.

“What brings you here? Surely not just to see me?”

“Ah… well…” Marican’s cheeks warmed, and she nodded with a smile. “Yes, I came to see you, Ruan.”

Ruan smiled and spoke to Cassel.

“It seems you’ve never visited my office before. This is where I do my work.”

Marican looked around with fascination.

“So you work with Sir Cassel here?”

“No, normally there are others to assist me, but they have other duties today,” Ruan explained.

“Ah, I see.”

Marican explored the office as Ruan finished his work.

“Cassel, I’m done for today. Make sure you finish your tasks and head home.”

“Yes?”

Cassel’s uneasy gaze met Marican’s sudden presence, but he quickly nodded at Ruan’s command.

“Of course, my lady. The Duke has already completed everything.”

Satisfied, Ruan turned to Marican. “Shall we go home, my lady?”

Marican smiled warmly at his offered hand and nodded.

During the carriage ride, Ruan asked, “Did you enjoy your tour of the palace today?”

“Yes, it was fascinating. Seeing the inside of the palace made it even more grand than the last banquet. The gardens were especially beautiful.”

“The gardens?”

“Yes. This is where the Crown Princess had her wedding.”

“Oh, you mean the garden next to the late Empress’s palace. It is indeed the largest garden in the palace.”

Marican nodded. “It seemed three times bigger than our Ducal Estate’s garden.”

“So you envied the palace garden? If you like, we could make our Ducal garden even larger than the palace’s.”

Marican laughed. What a ridiculous suggestion…

“Ruan, I didn’t mean it like that. I just… the Emperor suggested that I, as a member of the Allomande Royal Family, hold my wedding in the palace gardens.”

“As a member of the Allomande Royal Family?”

Marican explained Viseluc’s suggestion to Ruan.

Truly, he is exceptionally clever in matters like this…

Ruan pondered silently. Horman was kind and gentle but indecisive. If he became emperor, his personality might be a weakness. Even if all the nobles swore loyalty, another Kymon-like figure could still arise.

Additionally, Fione’s brother, Dominic Rifad, was making his own moves, asserting influence in the capital. And without Antwatte, Petrica still lacked full authority in the court due to lingering support for Antwatte.

If Horman ascended the throne, he would be swayed by the nobles, and Petrica would remain a powerless figurehead. But if Marican married as a member of the Allomande Royal Family, Petrica’s position in the palace would strengthen.

Marican knew accepting Viseluc’s proposal would help stabilize the empire after Horman became emperor, but Ruan did not want Marican dragged into political schemes unnecessarily.

“What do you think, my lady?” Ruan asked.

Marican was about to answer when the carriage stopped.

“Ah? We’ve arrived at the Ducal Estate.”

Ruan helped Marican down.

After dinner, while sipping tea in the garden, Ruan asked again, “What do you think, my lady?”

Marican remained silent, sipping her tea. From what she had seen, Petrica lacked real authority in the palace. Despite the title of Crown Princess, the staff treated her disrespectfully.

Though hesitant about Viseluc’s proposal, seeing Petrica’s situation made Marican reconsider. If she married in the palace gardens as the Allomande Royal Family’s member, it would certainly benefit Petrica.

After much thought, Marican met Ruan’s gaze.

“Ruan, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to follow the Emperor’s suggestion and have the wedding in the palace gardens.”

“If that’s what you wish, I have no objection.”

“Really?”

Ruan took Marican’s hand, placed her on his lap, and embraced her waist.

“I will follow your wishes. No matter your status or where the wedding is, I do not mind.”

“Thank you, Ruan.”

“Now that your decision is made, it’s time to solve my dilemma.”

“My dilemma?” Marican asked as Ruan lifted her and stood.

“Some dilemmas are best solved in the bedroom,” he said, kissing her as they entered the room.

The next day, Marican’s decision was communicated to the palace, and preparations for Marican and Ruan’s wedding began in earnest.

December 31, 518

“Marican, I’m so nervous! To meet the Crown Prince and Crown Princess… Is this a dream or reality?”

“Zelda, calm down,” Marican said, trying to soothe her younger sister, who had arrived at the Ducal Estate the day before, still tense after hearing about Petrica’s identity.

“I barely slept last night! I’m so lucky to have such an amazing sister… and now we get to meet the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!”

Marican smiled. “Zelda, it’s thanks to you that I’m even here. Today, during the home party, everyone will call you Petrica for one day.”

“Oh, but… calling the Crown Princess by her name! And the Crown Prince is coming too!”

Marican laughed. “It’s just for today, Zelda. It’s a home party, so using formal titles would feel awkward.”

“Right… I understand.”

“Betty, help Zelda change her dress,” Marican instructed.

“Yes, my lady. Zelda, this way, please.”

“Thank you, Betty.”

As Clea approached Marican, she said, “My lady, everything is ready.”

“Good. Everyone else, prepare for the party.”

Clea shook her head. “Today, we will enjoy the party ourselves.”

“But the Crown Prince is attending—”

“It would be uncomfortable for us to mingle with them directly, my lady,” Clea explained.

Marican nodded, slightly disappointed.

“I understand. Make sure there’s plenty of food; don’t hold back,” she said.

“Thank you for understanding, my lady. Now you should prepare as well.”

Marican glanced around the hall one last time before going upstairs to change into her dress. Last year, she had feigned joy despite knowing Ruan was “dead,” but this year she could genuinely enjoy the home party.