I Stole The Duke - Chapter 21

“Don’t you think… she might even be more beautiful than Lady Espensen?”

The guests, unable to take their eyes off the stars of the reception, whispered among themselves.

“Perhaps.”

No single feature of the Duchess could be singled out as the most striking. Yet there was something dreamlike in the balance of her features, a kind of wistful charm that stirred a gentle longing in the hearts of those who beheld her.

While the noble ladies whispered discreetly, the men, in stark contrast, stood silent—mouths shut tight, swallowing hard each time Eliana’s delicate white ankle peeked out from beneath the hem of her dress.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Oh my, Your Grace, you’re absolutely stunning. Congratulations.”

As soon as the waltz that marked the beginning of the reception came to an end, waves of well-wishers began to flood in.

“Thank you so much for your kind words.”

Overwhelmed by the sea of people, Eliana was barely keeping herself together as she offered polite thanks again and again.

“Thank you…”

Afraid of being swept away by the current of congratulations, she tightened her grip on Michalis’s arm.

“Congratulations on your marriage. I’m the Countess of Cedros. My son serves in the Second Order of Knights, you know.”

Some, like her, introduced themselves in detail. But with so many faces and names swirling around, Eliana wasn’t sure how much she’d actually remember.

“Hahaha, will you not make room for me?”

The voice, though not loud, rang out clear and deep—shaking her dazed mind back to reality.

“Ah… We greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

“My apologies for the delay. I hope you’ll forgive the discourtesy.”

In perfect unison, the surrounding guests swiftly stepped aside, opening a path.

“We greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

For the first time that evening, Michalis bowed his head.

“We greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

Eliana lowered her head as well, momentarily forgetting how to breathe. The owner of that voice—he was the one. The one and only reason she had entered this unfamiliar world.

The Crown Prince.

“No need to be so stiff. Raise your heads.”

Following the soft timbre of his voice, Eliana lifted her gaze and looked upon the Crown Prince’s face.

“……”

She was speechless.

Truly the most handsome man in this world’s setting—and her exact type.

His honeyed blond hair held a soft wave, catching the light with a subtle warmth. His gently sloped eyes held amber irises, kind and gleaming.

If Michalis had the rough, brooding beauty of a wolf, the Crown Prince exuded a gentle charm like spring sunlight. If one were to compare them to dogs, Michalis would be a Doberman—and the Crown Prince, a Golden Retriever.

“Duke Ascher, Duchess. Congratulations on your marriage.”

His eyes curved into crescent moons as he smiled, a look that could give anyone heart palpitations.

“We are humbled by your honored presence.”

“We are truly honored, Your Highness.”

Still a bit stunned, Eliana managed to regain her senses thanks to Michalis’s steady voice beside her.

Get a grip, Eliana.

The heat that had flushed her face cooled quickly. Michalis, sensing the tremble in her voice, gently covered her hand with his, offering quiet support.

“No need to be nervous. I’m here simply to extend the imperial family’s congratulations.”

The Crown Prince’s lips curved into a warm, generous smile.

“This is a gift from His Majesty the Emperor to the new shield of the Empire.”

At his signal, two attendants stepped forward, carrying a large box. As they opened it, its contents were revealed.

“We are humbled by the grace of the Sun.”

“We are deeply grateful for His Majesty’s generosity.”

The Duke and Duchess bowed in perfect harmony. Inside the box lay a deep navy uniform—formal wear for the Admiral of the Southern Navy—alongside a dress designed in the same hue.

“My goodness…”

A hush fell over the crowd that had been watching from a respectful distance. The admiral’s uniform, true to its nature, was sleek and restrained in its design. But the accompanying gown was a spectacle—so dazzling it drew every eye even from afar.

“His Majesty seems quite determined.”

“Indeed.”

Guests quickly recovered their composure and whispered among themselves.

The gown sent by the Emperor was crafted from a navy fabric with a gentle sheen, embroidered densely with cornflowers—the imperial emblem. Each cornflower, varying in color from crimson and pink to violet, was stitched with threads of matching hue, turning the dress into a breathtaking work of art.

But that wasn’t all. As if the Emperor had decided to spare no expense, each embroidered blossom was adorned at its center with delicate gold filigree and tiny diamonds, creating an opulence that left the crowd speechless.

“I hope you’ll wear this to the upcoming investiture ceremony.”

Once the murmurs began to die down, the Crown Prince spoke again.

“We shall humbly obey the Sun’s will.”

“We are honored to accept.”

Eliana, face pale from the unexpected pressure, hurriedly bowed her head alongside Michalis.

……

She felt as though she were suffocating beneath the weight of a responsibility she hadn’t seen coming.

The Emperor’s gift had made one thing clear:
He intended to bring House Ascher into his political fold—openly and unmistakably.

But why?

The former Duke of Ascher had steered clear of the headaches of central politics his entire life.

Now, with a generational shift, the imperial family was attempting to draw House Ascher into the capital’s political sphere? Why now? No matter how much Eliana tried to reason it through, the question floated like mist, never coalescing into anything concrete.

—May the blessing of the golden sands and the abundance of the lake be upon the Little Sun and the Shield of the Empire.

As Michalis straightened his back from his bow, a deep, slightly rough voice rang out in a foreign tongue—clearly spoken with intent.

—Please forgive me, my Imperial tongue is lacking.

A man dressed in the traditional attire of the Kingdom of Kantur stepped forward, joining the Crown Prince.

“This is His Highness, Prince Maksim Masud Asluhan, the Second Prince of Kantur.”

An interpreter standing beside him translated into the Empire’s language.

Second Prince?

Michalis’s expression tensed slightly. According to intelligence reports, Prince Maksim already held the reins of power in Kantur—effectively king in all but name. For someone of that status to attend a wedding in person, rather than sending a simple envoy, was significant.

—May the blessing of golden sands and the abundance of Lake Bakar be with you.

Hiding his discomfort behind a composed expression, Michalis returned the Kantur-style greeting.

—I was deeply moved by your wedding. I have brought a humble gift. Please accept it.

At a subtle nod from the prince, two attendants stepped forward and opened a large box.

—It is a token of respect for the Shield of the Empire.

“……”

As the box was fully opened, the contents stunned the room into silence: a massive shield, forged entirely of pure gold, gleaming with imposing grandeur.

—I accept it with gratitude.

Michalis responded in fluent Kanturian, though his voice had gone cold.

A shield made of gold—what a pointed provocation. To the uninformed, it might seem like an extravagant gift. But Prince Maksim’s offering would never carry such a simple message.

In the deserts of Kantur, the warriors’ favored weapon was the spear. And a golden shield—soft and easily pierced—was all but useless against one.

It was, in every way, a deliberate insult wrapped in courtesy.

—What use are spear and shield on the boundless ocean?

Given the setting, Michalis simply laughed it off. Kantur’s naval strength, no matter how much they blustered, was no match for House Ascher. Even the sharpest spear wouldn’t reach land before being shattered at sea.

—The Shield of the Empire exists in the form of warships and cannons.

Michalis’s calm, pointed reply drove the meaning home: the golden shield was nothing more than a decorative trinket—and it would be melted down without a second thought.

—Ah, what a fearsome jest.

The prince’s smooth smile didn’t falter, but his eyes met Michalis’s with a glint of steel. Calm met cold.

—Thank you for your congratulations, Your Highness.

Michalis turned his attention away from the golden provocation, brushing aside the Second Prince’s smug air with grace. This was no ordinary man—he had nerves of steel. If the prince had come to measure the new Duke of Ascher, now was the moment to give him nothing in return.

—Ah, but in this exchange between men, we’ve kept the lovely Duchess waiting far too long.

Now, the prince’s gaze turned toward Eliana. Having tested the Duke, he now seemed intent on assessing the Duchess herself.

—Had I known silver could be so beautiful, I would have turned away from gold long ago.

—Silver, no matter how rare, cannot surpass gold. Your words honor me too greatly, Your Highness.

The Second Prince visibly flinched. Eliana had replied—in flawless Kanturian.

Eliana…?

Even Michalis looked momentarily startled. Her pronunciation was flawless—without the slightest hint of hesitation.

—You speak Kanturian?

—I was raised in a merchant family, so I studied a little.

Of course, that wasn’t true. It was thanks to the system’s automatic translation function.

—That is far beyond “a little.” The Duchess is truly blessed with beauty and wisdom alike…

In the prince’s eyes, a flicker of greed emerged.

Fertile lands, warm climate, breathtaking women—Ascher had always been a land worth coveting. But if House Ascher could be claimed, then the entire Empire would soon follow.

—Your Highness, we have received your well-wishes in full.

Before the prince could speak further, Michalis interjected, his tone carrying a warning.

The prince, who had been openly staring at Eliana, slowly turned his gaze back to the Duke.

—I was simply in the middle of congratulating the Duchess.

—That will suffice.

“Why don’t we leave it at that, and have a word with me instead, Your Highness?”

Just as the air began to chill, the Crown Prince stepped in, diffusing the tension.

—Ah, my apologies for offending the Empire’s Little Sun.

For someone who claimed not to understand Imperial, the Second Prince responded rather swiftly—and smoothly—bowing toward the Crown Prince.

“Ahem. Finally, my turn has arrived.”

As the Crown Prince guided the Kantur prince away, another man stepped forward from a short distance behind.

“Congratulations on your marriage, Duke Ascher.”

His Imperial was slightly accented, but not unpleasant to the ear.

“I am Bassen ve Erden, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Zypen.”

If it wasn’t one mountain, it was another—now came the heir to Zypen.

“May the blessing of the Sea God be with the couple just starting their life together.”

As a prince of a defeated nation in the war thirty-one years ago, he chose to speak the Empire’s language as a gesture of courtesy.

“We are honored by your visit.”

“It is only natural to attend such a grand occasion for the Shield of the Empire.”

If the Second Prince of Kantur had the powerful air of an Arabian warrior, Crown Prince Bassen looked like a striking blend of East and West—like the blood of two worlds flowed through him.

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