I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 64

“There’s no particular magic on the bracelet itself. Either the Emperor is still upset about you not wearing it to the last masquerade, or he has some hidden agenda we can’t yet discern,” Count Kiara said matter-of-factly.

Regardless, it wasn’t worth risking the Emperor’s ire by not wearing it. We had already decided I would put it on just before entering the palace, and my outfit had been tailored to complement the bracelet.

“What about the bracelet we received earlier? Where did you put it?” the Duke asked.

“I tossed it into a corner somewhere,” I admitted.

Well, more like shoved it aside. I had even sent the Emperor a carefully packaged copy of my completed portrait, which depicted me wearing the bracelet. I thought that would suffice, but apparently, it hadn’t.

“Truly, his persistence is beyond words,” Ryol said with a smirk. His expression was priceless. I couldn’t fathom why Ryol harbored such disdain for the Emperor, but his dislike was palpable. Even the latest invitations had been sent to Hassein’s king, crown prince, and two other princes. The Rubes Merchant Guild had received their invitation via Ryol’s deputy.

Though, how this man managed to call himself the guild leader while spending so little time actually running the guild was a mystery. He claimed his deputy was exceptionally capable, but I couldn’t help wondering if Ryol had been ousted for meddling in trivial affairs.

Time flew by, and the day before our departure to the capital arrived. That’s when the problem occurred: a monster had appeared at the border again. It was a massive creature, one that would be nearly impossible to subdue without the Duke’s power.

The Duke frowned deeply as he received the report while we were together.

“It must be the Emperor’s doing,” he muttered.

“…But you can’t avoid attending, can you?” I asked hesitantly.

“That’s the problem,” he said with a rare sigh, lowering himself slightly to meet my gaze directly.

“You remember all the safe locations we discussed, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

We had prepared several hideouts in advance, places within the capital where the Duke’s influence could reach. There were five locations in total. If I couldn’t reach any of them, Plan B was to seek refuge at a Rubes Guild property. Not all their locations were secure, but Ryol had designated a wine shop with a basement storage room and an art gallery with a secure vault.

“Nothing will happen,” the Duke reassured me.

“I hope so,” I replied, though unease churned in my chest. The Duke might speak confidently, but I knew he was uneasy about leaving me behind, just as I was anxious about him. Something about this monster felt off. What if it truly posed a serious threat? What if something happened to him?

The Duke must have been thinking the same. I reached out, cupping his face with both hands, and stood on my tiptoes to kiss him. Though I had grown a bit over the past three months, it was still difficult for me to initiate a kiss unless he leaned down.

“Yuraine,” he murmured.

That innocent kiss deepened into something more, a wordless exchange of our shared worries and affection. After some time, I suddenly remembered something and broke away.

“Yuraine?” he asked.

I opened a drawer in my desk and retrieved an embroidered handkerchief that had been crumpled in a corner. I couldn’t help but smile at it before bringing it to him. The slightly wrinkled handkerchief passed from my hands into his.

“I didn’t have time to make a new one… It’s a bit creased, but please take it with you,” I said, shaking out the fabric to smooth the wrinkles. Though it had gathered dust from being tucked away, it was better than nothing.

“When did you make this?” he asked.

“When you left for your second campaign. Back then…”

“Back then?” he prompted.

“I heard Reya would be accompanying you, so I decided not to give it to you and kept it instead,” I admitted sheepishly.

The Duke chuckled.

“Did you prepare anything else?”

“A letter…”

“And what did it say?”

“Just the usual things—wishing you good fortune and a safe return,” I replied, slightly embarrassed.

“And the letter?” he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

“I burned it.”

The Duke laughed again, his gaze warm and amused, as though he found my jealousy endearing. Slowly, he lifted the handkerchief to his lips and pressed a kiss to the fabric.

“For my Yuraine, I promise—I’ll return safely, no matter what.”

“Please, do.”

“I’ll handle this as quickly as possible and join you soon. Hopefully before the banquet begins, but at the latest, I’ll make it in time for the middle of it.”

“I’ll wait for you, Your Highness,” I said with a smile.

I reached out and wrapped my arms around the Duke’s waist, wishing that he would make it to the capital safely and come to find me without incident. His warmth was comforting.

The Duke and his knights departed first to subjugate the monster. Not long after, it was my turn to board the carriage and begin the journey to the capital. Accompanying me in the carriage were Count Kiara and Ryol, while Sir Leon led the escort at the front of the procession. Reya, still officially a commoner, hadn’t even received an invitation.

As far as I knew, the evidence proving Reya’s legitimacy as the true heir of the Barony of Ceres had been in Millen’s possession. However, despite the investigation into Millen’s death, no such evidence had surfaced. It was likely now held by his mother.

Erma’s execution had been decided, though it had yet to be carried out. He was currently imprisoned in the capital. While Baron Ceres had quietly accepted the decision, his wife hadn’t. She remained furious, convinced the Duke was hiding something, and continued to lash out publicly.

I would likely encounter her at the banquet—yet another reason to dread this trip to the capital. To calm my nerves, I ran my hand over the soft, glossy blue wolf pelt folded neatly beside me. Its luxurious texture was soothing, almost like stroking a living animal.

“Petting it like a puppy, Your Excellency?” Ryol teased with an amused grin.

“Yes, it’s incredibly soft. Would you like to try, Count?” I asked, ignoring Ryol’s quip.

“Why offer it to the Count and not me?” Ryol muttered, though I paid him no mind. Feeling slightly guilty for using the Count as a distraction, I noticed Kiara’s usually stoic expression turn faintly red.

“…May I?” the Count asked hesitantly.

His reaction caught me off guard. Moving closer, Count Kiara carefully ran his hand over the pelt and let out a soft gasp of admiration.

“They say well-treated blue wolf fur is exceptionally smooth, and this certainly proves it. A single misstep in its preparation could ruin this texture. His Highness must have been meticulous in ensuring its care,” he said.

Count Kiara wasn’t one to flatter, and seeing this softer side of him was rare. Somehow, his reaction eased some of my own tension.

For a fleeting moment, I wished for something as trivial as a carriage accident to interrupt our journey, but we arrived at the capital without incident. The smooth motion of the carriage through the palace gates felt almost mocking.

As we alighted from the carriage, Ryol offered me his hand for support. Count Kiara followed closely behind. Ryol, ever playful, gave me a mischievous wink as he remarked, “You feel heavier than usual today, Your Grace.”

“…”

He was referring to my elaborate attire. I ignored his comment, though Ryol didn’t seem to mind. Despite his teasing, he, too, was dressed impeccably, presenting himself as a fine and respectable man. If only his demeanor matched his appearance. Even when treated curtly, he remained unbothered, which only made his tolerance more infuriating.

Slyly, Ryol reached out and stroked the blue wolf pelt. His mouth opened in awe, and his reaction made me chuckle despite myself.

Count Kiara had also exchanged his usual formal attire for a dress, preparing for whatever criticisms the Emperor might direct at the Duke’s representatives. His escort for the evening was Sir Leon.

“Be cautious. Anything could happen,” Sir Leon advised.

“You should be careful too, Your Highness,” Count Kiara replied.

“Me? What’s there to worry about? I’ve managed just fine in my homeland so far, haven’t I?” Ryol said with a shrug.

“That makes your homeland sound rather dangerous,” Kiara observed pointedly.

The comment piqued my curiosity, and I glanced at Ryol. As the third prince of Hassein, Ryol had lost his mother at an early age. Her origins remained a mystery, and she had lived quietly in the palace until her death. Lacking any political backing, Ryol’s position seemed precarious. Yet Hassein’s royal family was known for its stability, with the crown prince’s ascension assured and the second prince uninterested in the throne.

Still, even in a stable royal family, Ryol’s position must have been fraught with danger. He shrugged again.

“Danger is everywhere… Do you remember the safe locations we discussed?” he asked.

“Yes, all of them,” I replied. After a brief hesitation, I added, “Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Don’t mention it. Now, shall we?” he said, gesturing ahead.

The carriage had arrived at the palace hosting the banquet. The lights outside the palace illuminated the night like a second sun, the grandeur overwhelming. If the exterior was this magnificent, the interior must have been dazzling. Feeling slightly dazed, I entered the banquet hall.

As I stepped inside, the room fell silent for a moment before murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“I heard His Grace the Duke couldn’t attend…”

The whispers reached my ears. As expected, the Duke hadn’t made it. According to the message I received via courier bird, the monster subjugation was taking longer than anticipated. Still, he assured me he was safe and unharmed.

While I was relieved to know he was well, my own situation weighed heavily on me. Tonight, I would have to face the Emperor, and I couldn’t predict what he might do at his birthday banquet. I glanced down at the ornate bracelet on my wrist. Count Kiara had confirmed it bore no magic, but I still felt uneasy. I had kept it in its box until the last possible moment, fastening it to my wrist just before stepping out of the carriage.

Sir Leon, not yet officially titled, couldn’t accompany me into the hall. He waited in the designated area for escort knights. For now, my only companions were Count Kiara and Ryol. Others quickly recognized them and began approaching.

Count Kiara, who rarely attended social gatherings, maintained his usual stoicism as he fended off inquiries. Eventually, a group of scholarly elders managed to corner him, leaving me with Ryol.

“If you stick too close to me, people will get suspicious. Go mingle,” I told him.

“And who would bother with the third prince of a minor kingdom?” he retorted, half-joking.

“Those young ladies over there seem eager for your attention,” I said, nodding toward a group eyeing him curiously.

Reluctantly, Ryol moved away. While I would have preferred him to stay, I knew it couldn’t be helped.

Left alone, I began to feel a pang of uncertainty. As I pondered what to do, a familiar voice rang out:

“Count Airdren and family have arrived!”

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