I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 46

“When do you think it will be finished?”

“It’s almost at the final stage. Viscount, truly, this piece will be something that will remain in the life of this humble man forever.”

I just smiled slightly at the painter’s flattery. The portrait, which had begun shortly after we arrived at the Duke’s estate, was now finally nearing completion. For a while, only the sound of the brush touching the canvas could be heard before the painter lifted his head.

“It’s finished. Now I just need to return to my studio to finalize it.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Your words are too kind.”

The painter bowed his head. I stood up, still dressed in heavy clothes, and moved behind him. The completed portrait was so beautiful that it almost made me look too idealized. But then again, that’s what portraits do, right…?

As I silently stared at the portrait, I noticed one thing that bothered me: the bracelet on my right wrist. A luxurious golden bracelet adorned with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, the kind of jewel a king would favor. It had been a gift from the Emperor when I last visited the capital.

Since it was a gift from the Emperor, even though I usually kept it hidden, it had to be displayed while painting the portrait. While the other jewelry was also lavish, the bracelet didn’t stand out as much. But just knowing it was a gift from the Emperor made me feel uncomfortable.

After the painter took the canvas and left, I glanced at the bracelet again. The weight was heavy, and I found the Emperor’s taste to be so obvious and burdensome. As I raised my hand and looked at it distastefully, I heard a knock, followed by the door to the sitting room opening.

“Your Highness.”

It was the Duke. Normally, he would knock and wait for my response, but today he seemed in a hurry. I tilted my head in curiosity, and he shook a letter in his hand.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a letter from the Emperor. He says he will be attending the banquet.”

“What?!”

There was a small banquet celebrating the late Duke’s birthday in two days. It wasn’t the kind of event the Emperor would attend, and it was so sudden. If the Emperor was traveling by carriage, it would take several days to reach Isser from the palace. That meant he must have already departed and sent the letter in the meantime.

“You think this is suspicious too, right?”

“Yes…”

“This is the first time the Emperor has done something like this.”

That made sense. There had been continued pressure from the Emperor, but what could be the reason for him visiting Isser so frequently?

“Do you know anything about the Emperor? Something from when we visited the capital? Anything, even something small, or something you personally felt? Please, tell me.”

“When we went to the capital, Sir Leon was mostly with me. Nothing particularly strange happened. As for the wolf… I assume Your Highness already knows about that.”

“…I see.”

While thinking for a moment, I recalled something.

“Well, this is really strange, but…”

“Go ahead.”

“I briefly thought the Emperor resembled Erma.”

The Duke’s face became strange. It looked like he was hearing something completely unexpected.

“It was just for a brief moment, that’s all. Hmm…”

Now that I think about it, I probably thought that because I viewed both the Emperor and Erma in such a distasteful way. But to explain that, I would have to talk about what happened with Erma in my past life. The Duke, of course, didn’t seem to remember his past life, so it would be impossible to explain.

“It just seemed like their expressions were similar. I’m not trying to speak badly of the Chancellor.”

Erma was my enemy, but also a close friend of the Duke. I added that in, feeling like I was speaking too rashly, but the Duke shook his head. Then, unexpectedly, he said something.

“From now on, don’t give Erma any important information.”

“…”

“Why?”

“Ah, no, I just thought that since you’ve known the Chancellor since childhood…”

“How long you’ve known someone has nothing to do with betrayal.”

“Still, just based on my words…”

“Because it’s your words. …By the way, is the portrait done?”

I suddenly felt my face heat up. I could only nod in response to the follow-up question about the portrait. If I opened my mouth, I felt my voice would tremble. His words were enough to make my heart race. The Duke was skilled at making me feel fluttered without showing any emotion. The incident in the pampas grass field had long been forgotten.

“You must be tired, so rest a little. I’ll help with the banquet preparations.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll have Erma leave the castle for a while. He’ll return after the banquet. The two of you won’t be able to satisfy the Emperor on your own, so I’ll help.”

“You’re sending Erma away?”

“Yes. Hmm… I’ll have him bring something unusual.”

This meant that the Duke wanted to ensure that Erma wouldn’t have any involvement in the Emperor’s visit to the banquet. I’m sure the decision wasn’t made solely based on what I just said.

‘Erma, Erma… why didn’t I think of that?’

Suddenly, that thought came to mind. Could it be that there was something suspicious with Erma before, and the Duke had overlooked it until now, and that suspicion had lingered until today? If that’s the case, then his sudden change in attitude toward Erma makes sense.

“The conversation is getting long. Take a break.”

Before I could respond, the Duke fluttered his cloak and disappeared.

“Viscount, even a child could figure this out. Is the Duchess of Isser less capable than a child?”

“Ah, but…”

That part was something I hadn’t learned.

“I haven’t learned it yet…”

Barely managing to make an excuse, Viscount Bihen’s eyes grew cold.

“Only a fool needs to be taught to do something. Why are you making me out to be an incompetent teacher? …Chancellor.”

I froze at the voice calling for Erma. Erma, who had been observing the lesson, clicked his tongue and stepped forward. He was holding a light yellow whip in his hand.

“Lift your skirt, Viscount.”

“…!”

My whole body was drenched in cold sweat. The thin nightgown clung to my skin, and my hair was in disarray. I gasped for breath, clutching whatever I could get my hands on.

“Vis, Viscount Bihen…”

“She’s dead.”

“…….”

I lifted my head in a daze. In the dim light, the soft outline of the Duke’s face emerged. He was slightly furrowing his brow, not out of anger, but more like concern.

“Sh-she’s dead?”

“Yes, she died fighting a monster in the borderlands.”

“Ah… then who’s in charge of my education?”

I was still not fully conscious. Only after speaking did I realize that Viscount Bihen had been my instructor in my previous life. The Duke tilted his head and answered.

“Your education instructor is Count Kiara.”

“Ah. Yes, yes… Ah, it’s just that I had a strange dream.”

“…It seems so.”

The Duke slowly moved my hair aside. Gradually, my awareness returned, and I realized I was in my bed, in my room. The Duke had sat down next to me, closer than usual.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

I nodded. Everything about my previous life had been a nightmare. The Duke stretched his arm out. I heard the sound of water being poured and felt a cool metal cup placed in my hand. After slowly drinking the water, my vision returned.

“Did I make too much noise?”

“No, I just woke up because I felt something was off and saw that you looked distressed.”

“I’m sorry, it’s the middle of the night.”

“…Sorry?”

The next moment, I thought my heart had stopped. The Duke suddenly pulled me into his arms and laid down on the bed. With a soft thud, our bodies collapsed onto the plush mattress.

“Since you had a nightmare, you must be scared to sleep alone.”

“Your Highness, I’m not a child.”

“You’re still young.”

Then, the Duke started patting my back. I tried to pull away from his embrace, but his strong arm held me firmly. The sound of my slow heartbeat was so close that I could hear it. I was completely in the Duke’s arms now.

“I can sleep by myself…”

“Then let’s say I can’t sleep alone.”

“…….”

I was losing my mind. I didn’t know what to do with such nonsense. Holding myself back from squirming, I just blinked, unsure of what to do, and before I knew it, the Duke seemed to have fallen asleep. The sound of his heartbeat grew slower. As I listened to it, I too fell into an unresisting sleep.

“The Emperor is here!”

Everyone in the banquet hall bowed their heads in unison. The Emperor, walking toward the Duke and me, said:

“Did I arrive too suddenly at someone else’s feast, Duchess?”

“It is an incomparable honor.”

I’m sure we both knew that the words weren’t sincere. The Emperor kept complimenting the beauty of the banquet hall and the pleasant smell of wine. While it wasn’t the first time seeing the Emperor at a banquet, he looked like a peacock, with his feathers on display, parading around.

At least the Emperor was handsome, comparable to the Duke, so it was bearable. If a common man dressed like that, he would have been mocked.

After the Emperor arrived and the seating was arranged, the orchestra began playing a dance piece. I had mentally prepared myself. Soon, as expected, the Emperor took my hand and kissed the back of my hand. It felt like a bug was crawling on my skin.

“Shall we dance?”

“It would be an honor.”

I greeted him lightly and went to the dance floor with the Emperor. I glanced at the Duke, who was staring at us expressionlessly, watching us intently.

“Duchess.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Does your husband treat you well?”

“Yes, he’s more than sufficient.”

“That’s good to hear. The Duke has always been a bit stoic. His Majesty was very concerned whether he’d even get married.”

“…….”

For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. “Is that so? He’s stoic even normally?” I was still thinking, when I suddenly felt chills running down my spine. The Emperor had lightly scratched the palm of my hand with his fingertips.

“……!”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

He smiled smoothly, clearly on purpose. Trying not to let the Duke notice, I quickly fixed my expression. But at that moment, my hand was grabbed by another hand, and I was swiftly pulled backward.

“…Your Majesty?”

“Duke.”

The Duke stared directly into the Emperor’s eyes.

“Your Majesty, it seems the Duchess is tired, so I’ll take her away.”

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