EURL CH 13

Chapter 13

The Duke was well aware of Aira’s long-standing one-sided love. There was no way he wouldn’t know.

Her blind devotion had begun the very day he first brought her to the Imperial Palace.

Of course… he had never expected it to last twelve years.

Still, he had never stopped her.

Even when nobles from his own faction mocked and pointed fingers at his youngest daughter, he did not interfere.

The Duke believed that in a person’s life, there should be at least one passionate experience.

And he had the power to support her through it.

That did not mean, however, that he supported a union between Aira and the Crown Prince.

They were never meant to be together.

If the ducal house grew any closer to the Imperial Family, both sides might lose even what they currently enjoyed.

An overly powerful alliance would inevitably become a target of suspicion.

Regardless of whether their relationship was good or bad, for the peace of this household, for the happiness of each family member, and even for the Crown Prince himself—

Aira must not enter the Imperial Palace.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince—now the Emperor—had shown no interest in her. In fact, he had drawn a very clear line.

The Duke had seen it many times: back when Rubellus was Crown Prince, he had always treated Aira with polite distance.

And secretly, the Duke had been relieved.

After many long years, Aira had finally let go of her feelings for herself.

Up to that point, there was no problem.

The duke narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

His foolish daughter had suffered from her unfulfilled first love, but that much he and his wife could handle.

But His Majesty…

Wait.

A possibility flickered in his mind, and his eyes trembled slightly.

What if… His Majesty had been thinking something entirely different from the beginning?

What if there were intentions he had hidden even from the Duke, who had walked the same path in secret?

…if that were true.

“You look very troubled.”

At his wife’s voice, the Duke returned to himself as if waking from a dream.

She was looking up at him with concern.

He gently took her arms for a moment, as if to reassure her, and organized his thoughts.

No. Nothing was certain. It was only speculation.

He needed to go to the palace first and assess the situation.

Forcing down a sigh, he smiled at her.

“As I grow older, I seem to worry more. Don’t be too concerned. I’ll explain everything once I return.”

“Very well.”

The duchess nodded and watched her husband’s retreating figure for a long time.

***

Being forbidden from going out was one of Mother’s favorite punishments.

All three of us siblings had taken turns being confined at home.

And if you asked who had been punished the most?

That would obviously be me.

The earliest time I could remember was when I was seven, after I dug up an extremely rare type of lawn grass that the gardener had fought fiercely with the butler to bring in.

No—wait.

Maybe it was earlier, when I was caught pouring milk into the nanny’s cookie jar and eating it before finishing my embroidery homework.

No, that’s not the point.

In any case, being grounded was absolute torture for me.

Among the three of us, I was the only one who truly hated it.

Because I’m the only one who loves running around outside!

But that’s fine.

Because every single time I was grounded…

“I escaped!”

Ha!

I laughed loudly, placing my hands on my hips as I stood before the full-length mirror in the dressing room.

I had short hair—well, a short wig—and wore a loose shirt with men’s riding pants.

Of course it was a wig.

I grinned at my reflection.

My arms and chest were tightly wrapped in bandages, looking fairly flat.

The short black wig had been secretly purchased during my last outing.

My face was free of makeup, my blue eyes bright.

Not bad.

I smiled at the mirror.

“My lady… I truly don’t know if this is a good idea.”

Samara held out my boots, looking deeply worried.

She managed my wardrobe and was very close to me—close enough to help me escape like this.

“Don’t worry, Samara. If I get caught, I’ll take all the blame.”

“If the head maid finds out, I’ll be the one losing my head!”

“Relax. I’ve snuck out more times than I can count. I could do this with my eyes closed. And Marta knows you can’t stop me. They’ll take that into account.”

I babbled confidently while slipping on the Elmu boots.

I had teased Elphine for them being bulky, and now look at me.

They were heavier than I expected—but they added height.

I really did look like a boy.

Throwing on a cloak and putting on a small triangular hat, I spread my arms.

“How do I look? Like a boy?”

“Hmm…”

Samara looked me up and down carefully.

“Not at all.”

“What?!”

Impossible!

I whipped around to stare at the mirror.

I totally look like a boy!

But Samara just shook her head.

“You absolutely do not look like a boy. You’ve grown too much to imitate a child now. In these past three years, you’ve grown taller, your chest has grown, your lines have become slimmer… Right now, you look like a woman deliberately dressed as a man. People won’t think ‘boy.’ They’ll think ‘pervert’ or ‘odd person.’”

“P-pervert?!”

Her words hit like arrows.

I staggered and made a pitiful face.

“Then what do I do?”

“Don’t go out…”

“No!”

At my desperate cry, Samara frowned thoughtfully.

Then one eyebrow lifted.

“Then promise me something. I’ll help you—but you must take Old Man Dale with you.”

“Dale?”

I paled.

Old Man Dale was the gardener. The same stubborn gardener who once fought with the butler.

I got along with everyone in this estate—except him.

I was fairly sure he still disliked me for destroying the lawn years ago.

He had yelled at me more than once.

Whenever I went near the garden, he’d trail after me like a hunting seal stalking prey.

I couldn’t even play in the dirt.

It was tragic.

“If not, you’re not going anywhere.”

Samara shook her head firmly.

“I can’t let you go alone like before. At least take a carriage. Dale is going out today to buy saplings and seeds. And since he always watches you to make sure you don’t cause trouble, if you go with him, I’ll let you leave.”

I pursed my lips and glanced toward the dressing room shelf.

The wedding invitation lay there—lavender paper, slightly creased, bearing a familiar family crest.

My mouth tightened.

My fists clenched.

No.

I have to go today.

“…Fine.”

I nodded heavily.

Samara looked stunned.

She must have assumed I’d refuse outright.

“Really? Even if it’s Old Man Dale?”

“…I don’t have a choice. I really have to go today.”

I slumped my shoulders, then frowned at her.

“Alright, now help me! I want to look like a boy—like it’s not me!”

She sighed.

“Honestly…”

Then her gaze sharpened as she examined me again.

“Fine. First, wear a tight black high-neck shirt to hide your throat. Then layer the shirt over it. The wig is too neat—mess it up. Your figure is too slender for just a shirt. Wear a thick wool coat, even if it’s a bit early in the season. And the hat—choose something plain. A brown hunting cap a middle-aged man might wear. That triangular hat is too cute. It highlights your features.”

“R-really?”

Solutions poured out of her so quickly that I rushed to grab the clothes she mentioned.

“Wait! My lady, not like that!”

“Hurry up! I’m in a rush!”

I shouted as I toppled piles of clothing in my haste.

Now all that was left—

Was getting out.