TGDHC Chapter 181

Chapter 181 – A Change in Perspective

It was a cool summer night.

Lucion stared blankly at the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s carriage as it disappeared into the distance.

He already knew that the Grand Duchess was avoiding him.

Because of Princess Pelianes, being associated with him would bring her no benefit.

That was why Lucion had been waiting for today.

The Grand Duke would never appear at a place like this—so the Grand Duchess would surely come alone. And compared to the heavily guarded Grand Duke’s castle, the theater would be a place where he could speak with her more comfortably.

He had changed his outfit several times before coming.

He had even rehearsed what he would say to her.

He planned to ask her for an escort in a way so natural that she would never be able to refuse.

‘I was confident about being shameless…’

But the moment he saw the Grand Duchess in her pale lavender dress, he lost all his words.

Every time the chiffon fabric fluttered as she moved, his heart felt shaken.

When had he become so timid?

His raw emotions were too obvious. Even meeting her eyes felt difficult.

— “Perhaps the audience will only enter once Your Highness goes inside.”

And just as the hesitant Grand Duchess was finally about to take his hand—

— “Prince Lucion, do you have business with my wife?”

At those words, he couldn’t even respond.

Lucion let out a self-mocking laugh.

Why did he feel like something had been stolen from him?

It had never been his to begin with.

“Your Highness, now that the opera has opened, perhaps it would be best to return to Rondoris?”

An aide who had recently returned from Rondoris spoke carefully.

“It seems the Princess is quite angry this time.”

“Well.”

Lucion gave a hollow smile.

“If I’ll be scolded whether I go back or not, does it really matter if I just do what I want?”

“Your Highness…”

Until now, Lucion’s only goal had been to receive an official title after the Princess ascended the throne.

But if a woman like the Grand Duchess became his wife, he felt like he could live happily even without a title.

That thought tormented him.

‘It’s unfair.’

It felt unbearably unfair.

Why was she already another man’s wife?

If there were any path that would let him make her happy, he would devote his life to it.

Was it not cruel that he was never even given the chance to try?

‘If her marriage had been unhappy… would she have looked back at me?’

With an empty heart, Lucion lingered outside the theater for a long time.

At the Imperial Palace

Clink.

The Empress slowly lifted her teacup and took a sip while the Marquis sat before her.

It had been nearly a month since the jewel auction.

After hesitating, the Marquis finally spoke.

“It is late, but about the finale… I sincerely apologize, Your Majesty.”

“Enough. It’s already in the past.”

At first, she had been furious. But thinking positively, since the Grand Duke took the finale, at least it did not fall into the Crown Princess’s hands.

“That’s not why I summoned you today.”

The Empress tossed a weekly magazine onto the table.

Under the title News of the North, bold headlines were printed:

‘Opera Shakes the North!’
‘Exclusive Interview with Antonel, the Irresistible Adulterer!’
‘Snow Wine Sold Out! Even the Grand Duke Cannot Obtain It?’

Even after reading it, the Marquis looked confused.

“It seems you’ve been quite busy lately, Marquis Freise?”

The Empress spoke gracefully, but sharply.

“Or have you become terribly lazy?”

“I—I don’t understand…”

“If not, how could a father know so little about his own daughter?”

At the word daughter, the Marquis hurriedly grabbed the magazine.

Even cheap weekly papers were reporting it, yet a Marquis of the Empire knew nothing.

The Grand Duchess had invited the most famous theater troupe from Rondoris and staged an opera in Blenheim.

‘And despite the Princess trying to interfere, she succeeded brilliantly.’

The Empress had confirmed this through one of the maids connected to Coachviel.

She had suspected it during the diplomatic visit—but now she was certain.

The third daughter of Marquis Freise was no ordinary woman.

And she was actively expanding Blenheim and the Grand Duke’s influence.

The real problem was that her actions were producing meaningful results.

At tea gatherings, noble ladies constantly discussed Blenheim. Even merchants brought it up frequently.

— “Have you tasted the wine released in Blenheim? They say it’s excellent.”

— “Our merchant guild is opening a direct branch in Blenheim soon.”

The Empress had married Annette off to hold the Grand Duke back—but instead, she had given him wings.

Only then did the Marquis realize what was happening.

“But Annette is truly nothing special!” he insisted desperately.

The Empress narrowed her eyes.

If the Marquis had not intentionally deceived her, then his daughter must have completely fooled her own father.

And somehow, she had even captivated the Grand Duke.

‘To think she made the Grand Duke of Blenheim appear publicly to support his wife.’

But perhaps it was natural. If she had lifted the North into prosperity so quickly, even the daughter of an enemy would appear lovable.

From the moment she saw the magazine, the Empress’s thoughts had been racing.

She had always restrained the Grand Duke because he posed a threat to her son, Valentin.

The Grand Duke had the highest succession rank among collateral relatives—and considerable military power.

‘He is also one of only two Swordmasters in the Empire.’

If he truly attacked the Imperial Palace, the current Imperial Family would struggle to stop him.

Moreover, the Grand Duke was closer to the Crown Princess—whom he had known since childhood—than to Valentin.

Naturally, the Empress had to keep him in check.

But what if she brought Annette to her side?

And if the Grand Duke followed his wife and supported her?

Valentin’s path to the throne would become smooth and secure.

The Crown Princess would be no match.

“Do not worry.”

Just as she was considering the possibilities, the oblivious Marquis awkwardly smiled.

“I will discipline Annette so she stops drawing attention.”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

The Empress raised her hand firmly.

“I will handle this matter myself.”

“But—”

“No matter how far away she has married, she is still your daughter. To speak of disciplining her over such a small matter… You are quite a cold father.”

“What?”

“From now on, win Annette’s favor.”

The Empress looked at him coldly.

“That is the only advice I can give you.”

The Marquis fell silent, confused by her sudden change in attitude.

‘If I can secure the Grand Duke, I don’t need the Marquis.’

If father and daughter were on bad terms, she could even distance herself from the Marquis and win Annette directly.

For the first time in a while, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.