MPGF 09

Episode 9: You Were the Grand Duke?
The Poisoning Incident at the Victory Ceremony.

It wasn’t just a simple case of someone wanting to kill another.

It was an act orchestrated by the faction supporting the Empress, who couldn’t stand seeing Grand Duke Blandice rejoice in the victory.

They deliberately tried to poison a priest instead of a soldier. That way, the Grand Duke’s image would be tarnished.

Because the public’s joyful attention after the victory would then shift.

Because of this incident, Violet began researching poisonous plants, fearing such a tragedy might happen to Serdis as well. Later, that skill would help her save Serdis.

“The accident will happen when the congratulatory drink is shared at the victory ceremony.”

Some priests and a cardinal attend the victory ceremony to celebrate. It is a ritual where they share homemade liquor from the temple, praying for prosperity.

“But we can’t skip that ritual.”

If they skip it, even without clear evidence of poisoning, the image would only get worse.

“You don’t have to go that far. Just use the silver cup inside this gift instead of the golden one. If the silver cup darkens, that’s proof of poison. If it doesn’t change color, you don’t have to grant my wish.”

When the servant opened the gift, there was indeed a silver cup inside. The emperor let out a dry laugh, surprised. The servants had overheard talk about the gift from outside.

“How did you know the method of detecting poison with silver?”

“I only knew that it’s commonly used in the Eastern Empire to detect poison. My father bought me many books during his diplomatic trips.”

A plausible answer came out effortlessly. Having already proven my story, no one could suspect me of being involved in this incident.

“Good. If poison is found at the victory ceremony, I will grant you one wish as promised.”

The emperor finally agreed to what I wanted. A sigh of relief escaped me.

Anette left the audience chamber, and Hertian, who had been observing everything, came out from behind a pillar.

“A bold and clever girl.”

He had planned to scold and send her away if she acted naïve, but surprisingly, he enjoyed the time with Anette. She resembled the woman he once loved.

It seemed the son had good taste in women.

“Don’t get any ideas.”

“No. She’s my daughter-in-law, so I’ll often call her to play with me.”

At the emperor’s playful remark, a faint smile appeared on Hertian’s lips. It seemed there was no need to formally approve the marriage, but he left a brief warning:

“Take good care of the only son you have. Your habit of destroying what you cannot have still seems unchanged.”

The trumpet announcing the victory ceremony sounded.

Under the clear sky, a massive banner with the empire’s winged emblem fluttered.

I considered watching the ceremony but soon returned to the mansion. I had stayed up two nights in a row worrying about receiving a marriage proposal, and exhaustion hit me hard. The moment I entered my room, I collapsed into sleep.

My heart felt light.

It wasn’t perfect, but at least I had an insurance policy.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the results after the victory ceremony.

I collapsed into sleep as soon as I entered the room.

“Miss! Miss!”

About an hour later, Betty urgently shook me awake.

“Hmm?”

“The Grand Duke is here. Hurry and get ready!”

The Grand Duke?

“But what business does the Grand Duke have at our house?”

I changed into a neat dress for greeting guests and came out of my room.

I planned to greet briefly and leave.

Instead of the parlor filled with the scent of oil paintings, I headed for the reception room.

When I opened the door, at the end of a long mahogany table opposite my parents, a man who looked like the Grand Duke was sitting.

‘He came without notice. Mom and Dad don’t seem to know.’

Since Anette’s detailed family background wasn’t in the novel, I could only guess.

“Anette, greet the Grand Duke immediately.”

Without looking closely at the Grand Duke’s face, I politely bowed.

“It is my first time greeting Grand Duke Blandice. I am Anette Leangberia.”

My mind was full of thoughts about the victory ceremony. What did it mean that the Grand Duke came to our family? Was everything going well? Or was something different from the original story happening?

I sat, overwhelmed by various thoughts.

“We apologize for the poor reception without prior notice, Your Grace.”

My parents also couldn’t hide their surprise. The Grand Duke had come straight here after the victory ceremony with no connection to our family.

“It was my fault to come unannounced.”

His low, resolute voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I finally raised my head from the pit of worry and faced the Grand Duke directly.

‘Wow.’

He was an amazing handsome man.

With black hair like a wild beast’s eyes and blue eyes reminiscent of Lake Aor, where fairies lived.

Almost on par with the male lead, Serdis.

If Serdis was a flower in a greenhouse,

the Grand Duke was a wildflower in its raw form.

Personally, I preferred this side over Serdis.

‘But don’t I recognize him from somewhere?’

A man in an elegant three-piece tuxedo. If I met the Grand Duke before, it would have been at a party or banquet.

Something felt familiar but I couldn’t quite place it.

As I stared, the Grand Duke turned his gaze toward me.

When our eyes met mid-air, he gave a faint smile.

‘That smile. I’ve definitely seen it before.’

“Please speak informally, Your Grace.”

“I’m used to speaking roughly from my time as a knight, so don’t mind it.”

He then turned his head and spoke politely and gently. My father nodded in understanding.

“By the way, I heard you held the victory ceremony today. Why did you come to our count’s manor instead of your townhouse?”

In other words, why did you come uninvited?

The Grand Duke sat up straight and looked at my parents in turn.

“I sent a letter in advance, but you probably haven’t received it.”

“A letter? We haven’t received any. Butler, did you not deliver a letter from His Grace?”

My father wiped the sweat beading on his forehead and called the butler who stood far away.

Although the room wasn’t hot, the butler’s monocle fogged up.

Hesitant, the butler finally spoke.

“I delivered it earlier to the master.”

“Earlier? I don’t recall receiving anything except a marriage proposal.”

When my father asked, it was not the butler but the Grand Duke who answered.

“It seems it arrived safely. My marriage proposal.”

No one immediately understood what he meant.

After a few seconds of silence, I realized the situation and screamed inwardly.

“You mean the Grand Duke sent this marriage proposal?”

My mother shouted, breaking the silence that had sealed my lips.

“To our Anette?”

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

Because he looked at me and smiled widely.

‘No way, right?’

The guard I met at the casino… could it be?

I didn’t want to believe it, but the memory was becoming clearer.

Red lips, the dimple on the cheek when he smiled, and the smooth line from the chin to the neck.

“Eek.”

Yes. That man!

‘The guard I met at the casino!’

I had thought he was a minor provincial noble or a junior baron.

How could he be the Grand Duke?

And now, he appeared holding a marriage proposal? After all I had been through?

Seeing my eyes widen, the Grand Duke seemed to realize I knew his identity and smiled mischievously.

“Anette, you didn’t tell us anything.”

My mother shook my arm, urging me to respond.

“Say something!”

I finally opened my lips.

“You’re surprised, aren’t you?”

“You said you were meeting for the first time when you came in.”

“I wanted to surprise you!”

I awkwardly made a startling gesture with both hands.

“Why is she acting so unlike herself? The Grand Duke just returned from war, and now he’s proposing? Doesn’t that seem odd?”

“It’s nonsense.”

There was no choice now.

If it was the Grand Duke, it was even better.

There was no guarantee that the emperor’s wish power would perfectly protect me.

Nor would I be swayed under Serdis’s authority.

‘Besides, he’s really handsome and kind.’

There was no reason to refuse marriage.

I had no choice but to act with all my might.

“We met at the banquet. I came home late that day because the Grand Duke saved me from a group of thugs targeting noble ladies on the street.”

I slammed the teacup on the table and stood up.

“I fell in love at first sight that moment.”

I declared boldly. Believe it or not, I didn’t care.

“You expect me to believe you’re engaged after meeting once?!”

Father had to say that.

“I inherited my father’s ‘face-first’ love style. It’s genetic.”

“Face-first?”

“Falling in love just by seeing someone’s face. Lian told me all about it. Dad fell in love at first sight at the ball and proposed immediately.”

Mother was beautiful like me.

And the Grand Duke’s appearance wasn’t lacking either.

“Look at our Grand Duke. How handsome, dependable, and charming he is. If anyone doesn’t fall for him, I’ll call them out. It’s impossible. If you lose him now, you’ll regret it your whole life!”

It was a passionate confession of love. I nodded towards the Grand Duke at the same time.

‘Don’t just stand there, help me out.’

Living quietly and divorcing peacefully wasn’t the way. I had to get a proper marriage approval.

The Grand Duke seemed amused by the situation, chuckling as he bowed his head.

Without any trace of laughter, he then put on a serious expression.

“As the young lady said, I was captivated by her courage and accepted her.”

Mother gasped, then hurriedly covered her mouth.

“She resembles the countess, a flower-like beauty that’s hard to put into words.”

“Oh my.”

The Grand Duke said this without hesitation. It was so natural no one could deny it.

Mother’s expression softened completely at his words.

“Your Grace, please allow us some time to consider…”

Father spoke now.

But the Grand Duke looked relaxed, as if he had anticipated everything.

Then, his imposing gaze dropped, and he knelt firmly on both knees.

“Please give me your daughter.”

K.O.

The Grand Duke, who had won every battle, was now making a winning move in our home.