CMI 10

Chapter 10 He’s Here?

Louis Clovis.

And Walter Ertmann.

“What on earth is the connection between these two?”

After the Emperor’s tea gathering ended and Walter escorted Odette back to the palace, she couldn’t shake this thought deep into the night.

The conversation she had with Walter earlier in the day lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.

“Duke Ertmann must have misunderstood that I like Count Clovis.”

Where did such a misunderstanding even come from?

Odette recalled their conversation from earlier.

…

“Is it because you love Louis Clovis?”

After Walter said that, Odette momentarily lost her words. The sudden mention of Louis’ name had caught her off guard.

“…Why is Count Clovis coming up here? This has nothing to do with him.”

“You even intended to propose because you desired him, yet you say it has nothing to do with him?”

“I—”

Odette paused, trying to say that she wasn’t intending to propose out of love for Louis.

When she glanced at Walter, his expression seemed unexpectedly pensive.

It was strange.

“He must be trying to tempt me because he likes Regina.”

Then why did he look so troubled whenever Louis’ name came up?

No wonder Odette herself was getting confused.

If even this was a deliberate act, Walter would truly be a master of manipulation.

“Focus, Odette. He doesn’t like you.”

Their first encounter was at the victory celebration, where he deliberately interfered with her plans. How could he possibly like her?

She had long given up on the romantic notion that someone would one day genuinely like her.

“…Right, that’s true.”

It had been a painfully hard lesson, yet she had already forgotten it.

Odette pursed her lips bitterly and lowered her gaze. Then, for the first time in a long while, she spoke a lie.

“…Fine. I love Louis Clovis.”

“……”

The moment she said it, it felt like Walter’s hand had tightened—but that was probably just her imagination.

“It stings my conscience a little, though.”

A little lie was necessary to protect herself from a man who was trying to tempt and use her.

“But aside from my feelings now, I will never love you.”

“…That’s unfortunate.”

Walter’s response, cold and composed, pricked at Odette’s conscience. She lowered her gaze and exhaled softly.

“I feel the same. So you can stop trying to pull me in—”

“You will have a husband whom you will never love.”

“Wait, what…?”

Odette’s eyes widened in disbelief. Yet Walter’s expression remained calm as ever, looking down at her. His arrogance seemed even greater from this angle.

“Even if you dislike him, you will see him every day as your husband… wouldn’t it be easier if you loved me instead?”

“W-what are you talking about? I already refused your proposal!”

“I have already said it. I intend to marry Your Highness no matter what.”

Odette’s mouth fell open.

“Are you saying you plan to force me into marriage?”

“Well, I intend to tempt you. That way, Your Highness will choose me.”

Good heavens.

“Even if I say I like someone else?”

“Yes.”

“Even if I want to marry someone else?”

“Louis Clovis will not do.”

“No, I want Count Clovis!”

“Do as you wish. I will not stop you.”

Was this man in his right mind?

Odette was left speechless, as Walter’s responses were always swift and unyielding.

He had already had his proposal—though hardly sincere—rejected, and she had admitted liking someone else!

“This is getting even more suspicious.”

If Walter’s words were true, he wanted Odette. But normally, wouldn’t someone respect the other person’s wishes?

Odette, baffled, asked:

“Duke Ertmann, does it not matter to you what happens to me?”

“…I would rather it didn’t. That way, we wouldn’t have to deal with this unnecessary struggle.”

Walter’s expression darkened slightly as he spoke.

“Believe it or not, I sincerely—”

“…?”

Odette waited for him to finish, but no response came. Only his slightly irritated expression.

Finally, after an awkward silence, he said:

“…Anyway, Louis Clovis is not allowed. You should give it up.”

It seemed like that was the best he could do.

…

“…Even thinking about it again, it’s the worst.”

One thing became clear today: Walter Ertmann was the worst man Odette had ever met.

She had thought she had already endured enough terrible men to never need to rank another, but apparently, the world was bigger than she thought.

“…What exactly is Duke Ertmann after?”

“Again with Duke Ertmann? Ugh, stop thinking about it already.”

Ellie muttered as she prepared for bed, overhearing Odette’s muttering. She knew what conversation had taken place earlier.

“Honestly, what kind of man is that? Why is he so desperate to interfere with Your Highness?”

“He wants something through you, of course.”

“I may be a noble, but I cannot agree with such thinking among high nobles. They act as if it’s fine for others to suffer as long as they get what they want!”

Ellie’s complaints about Odette being used made Odette smile softly.

“You’re the unusual one, Ellie. Most nobles live like that.”

Odette, if she had to define it, shared the worldview of high-ranking nobles.

“If you lack power, you can only be used.”

“Still, doesn’t it make you angry, Your Highness?”

“Of course Duke Ertmann is the worst. I really never thought I’d meet anyone worse than Count Xavier, now a duke… anyway, he’s just as bad.”

“Count Xavier? You mean the one who tried to tempt Your Highness under the Third Princess’ orders?”

Odette nodded lightly at Ellie’s angry words.

Count Regis Xavier—the one who conspired with Regina to tempt Odette—was still considered one of the worst men she had encountered.

-Think carefully. Do you really think you can meet a better man than me?
-You’ll regret this!

Odette recalled memories of Regis and shook her head.

“No, thinking back, Count Xavier was actually worse.”

“Why? Just listening to you, Duke Ertmann seems worse.”

“At least Duke Ertmann wasn’t doing it for fun.”

If that had been the case, she wouldn’t have been worrying like this.

When Walter misunderstood and thought she was trying to be cornered like Xavier, she had slept peacefully. The problem was that, despite his rough words and behavior, he seemed genuinely sincere. He truly hoped Odette would accept his proposal.

But why?

Because he wants Regina? Or is it due to some connection with Louis Clovis?

“Could it be that Duke Ertmann really has feelings for Your Highness?”

“No way. If that were true, he would have at least confessed and told me he loves me.”

“That makes sense…”

Ellie muttered with slight disappointment. She cursed Walter, yet secretly wished Odette would come out on top in the rumors surrounding Walter, Odette, and Regina.

The thought that Regina might have been embarrassed by these rumors was secretly satisfying.

The Third Princess has always been obsessed with making things difficult for our Odette.

It felt good to knock her down a notch this way. Though seeing Odette run around because of the aftermath, that satisfaction quickly waned.

Odette leaned back on the long sofa and murmured quietly:

“…Anyway, getting angry won’t solve anything. I should at least find out what his intentions are.”

She had no intention of letting Walter manipulate her.

“First, I need to figure out what connection Count Clovis and Duke Ertmann have.”

“Hmm, but do they even have any connection? They really don’t match at all.”

Louis was active in society, while Walter was extremely reclusive. That made understanding Walter’s intentions even harder.

But…

“That doesn’t mean there’s no possible connection to investigate.”

Odette rested her chin on her hand and gazed out the window, a faintly amused and nostalgic expression on her face.

“Looks like I’ll finally see Anne again.”

“Good heavens, Your Highness! What brings you here?”

“Call me Odette. How have you been, Anne?”

“Oh, how could I call Your Highness by her name? I’ve been well. Please sit, please sit!”

A woman with long curly brown hair tied loosely and thick glasses covering half her face fussed over serving tea.

Despite a few bumps and exclamations like “Ouch!” or “Thud!” no accidents occurred, and the tea tray was placed safely before Odette.

This careless yet endearing woman was Annesophie, a magic research student at the prestigious Belfort Academy and Odette’s close friend during her academy days.

“Ugh, I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I can’t see clearly.”

“…Didn’t you clean your glasses?”

“Oh! Right! You’re sharp as always, Your Highness!”

Annesophie busily wiped her glasses, and her brown eyes sparkled. Beneath them, the traces of sleepless nights were clear.

“…Anne, I hope I’m not disturbing you while you’re busy?”

“Well, to say I’m not busy would be a lie. The academic festival is coming up, so everyone’s on edge.”

Every two years, scholars from across the continent gather for an academic festival, presenting research and exchanging knowledge.

“This time, the professors are so strict, saying they’ll burn down the lab if we lose to the Tehez Kingdom guys…”

“…Given the professors, I understand…”

Unfortunately, as time passed, the festival had shifted more toward competition than knowledge-sharing.

“So, Anne, you don’t even have time for tea?”

“Oh, it’s fine! A guest happened to arrive, so the professor stepped out. Count Clus—uh, Count Clovis, I think?”