The Archduke’s Flower Is in Danger - Chapter 14

“Lady Idel.”

“Ah! Sir Gregory.”

“His Grace wishes to see you in his study.”

“Is something the matter?”

Idel Fleure asked, smoothing her startled expression. Gregory whispered in a voice small enough to be heard only by her.

“He wishes to discuss the terms of the marriage contract. I believe he intends to draft the formal document.”

“I see.”

Seeing how discreetly he brought it up, it seemed Gregory was the only servant who knew the truth of their contract marriage. Idel nodded.

“Understood. I shall go at once.”

She surmised that the Grand Duke had met with her father, Count Fleure, and discussed the marriage. Even the part about the contract marriage.

Idel’s gaze grew resolute. It was better this way, to have the contract drafted. That document would serve as proof that her relationship with him was merely business.

When Idel entered the study, Kaeron Roman de Helios gestured toward a seat.

“Sit here.”

Taking the seat across from him, Idel looked at the document on the table.

“Is this the marriage contract?”

“Yes. In addition to the standard clauses of a noble marriage contract, it includes the specific terms you and I discussed.”

Idel examined the document carefully. Generally, a marriage contract between nobles was drafted to formalize mutual responsibilities and the arrangement of assets.

‘The parties agree to a mandatory divorce three years after the marriage, regardless of the cause.’

The difference here was the inclusion of the pre-negotiated divorce clause. Idel nodded, agreeing to the content.

“I have no objections to the written terms.”

“Have you truly checked everything? While your interest lies in the mutual divorce clause, I suggest you look closely at the other articles as well.”

“Aren’t the other articles just the basic obligations included in any marriage? I am aware of those.”

“Basic obligations. Are you certain you can fulfill those duties?”

Kaeron asked with a meaningful look. Idel found his repeated questioning a bit strange. If it was the duties of a Grand Duchess, she had already grasped them from the guidebook.

“The Grand Duchess has the duty to manage the household staff and resources, but beyond that, there is the obligation to produce and raise an heir.”

“I am aware of that as well.”

Idel nodded confidently. At her reaction, Kaeron’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you agree to the matter of raising an heir as well?”

“Of course. I am confident I can do my best.”

At those words, Kaeron’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. To see her speak so plainly with such a clear face about doing her best to raise an heir.

Kaeron thought that despite her delicate appearance, she truly was a bold woman. His deep blue eyes sparkled with interest.

“I shall look forward to it then. Your best efforts.”

He had nothing to lose. To be honest, he had asked in advance because he suspected she might try to avoid sharing a bed for the sake of an heir. To possess a woman who was always busy fleeing from his gaze, binding her under the pretext of a Grand Duchess’s duty was the best method.

Of course, he had no intention of making her bear an heir since she would be divorced in three years. It would be enough if he could sufficiently quench his thirst for her.

“I will do my best.”

Meanwhile, Idel made a firm resolve as she signed the contract. Looking at the codified agreement, she vowed she would no longer be shaken by him. She decided to focus solely on her duties as a Grand Duchess, just as stated in the contract.

Performing administrative tasks as she was doing now was no problem. In fact, she enjoyed learning new things by applying what she had only known through books.

‘I will be able to handle the matter of the heir well, too.’

She resolved to share the knowledge and experience she gained while managing the household administration to help raise the heir. Though she wouldn’t be able to teach the heir personally since she would be leaving in three years, she could pass it on if she left everything documented.

It was a dangerous discrepancy—a naive flower who had no idea that “raising an heir” carried the underlying meaning of “production,” and a man who intended to use that pretext to savor the flower to his heart’s content.

They could not have known then how great a storm this difference in perception would cause on their wedding night.

Warm early spring sunlight filtered into the octagonal glass gazebo. The long fingers of a man brushed across the pages of a book, the letters becoming vivid under the light.

Dressed in a light linen shirt and lounging in a recliner, the man looked peaceful, as if time had stopped.

“Ranian!”

A woman rushed into the gazebo, breaking the slow-moving silence.

“You’re here, Ophelia?”

“Is this any time to be so leisurely?”

Ophelia frowned slightly, displeased by his calm face which contrasted with her own ragged breathing. Ranian put down his book, his gaze landing on her hair, which was disheveled from her hurried run. He stood up and tenderly smoothed the light brown hair that matched his own.

“You ran here in your dress again, didn’t you? This is why you’ve earned the nickname ‘The Imperial Filly’.”

“Filly or whatever! Do you think I could help but run?”

Ophelia clenched her fists in indignation.

“Why is it you who has to go? Why are they bothering you when you’re living so quietly?”

Ranian looked at his twin sister. His pale blue eyes were as hazy as a lake shrouded in mist. In contrast, though his sister had the same eyes, his own were as calm as a still pond.

“Don’t be upset. I am fine.”

“This is all because of the Empress! She must have whispered something in His Majesty’s ear!”

She wiped her eyes roughly, her face twisted in a scowl.

“It doesn’t matter if the First Prince or the Second Prince becomes the Emperor, so why must you be the one to suffer?”

“Well, I actually think it turned out for the best.”

Ranian, the Third Prince of the Lysandro Empire, turned his head to look at the main palace where the Emperor resided. He had been wanting to leave this suffocating Imperial Palace anyway.

As the time for succession drew near, the invisible power struggles within the castle were swirling like a whirlpool. Having never had interest in the throne, he had lived apart in the detached palace since childhood. It seemed he was still a significant enough threat to the Empress’s faction for them to go this far.

“To think an Imperial Order was issued for you to study abroad at the Jupiter Imperial University so suddenly. How does it make sense to tell you to leave next week? Besides, it will take three years until graduation!”

Three years. That was enough time for the succession to be settled. Ranian gave a short laugh, thinking the Empress had found quite a clever excuse.

The Jupiter Empire and the Lysandro Empire shared a border. Being close neighbors, they maintained friendly relations and frequently dispatched envoys to one another. While it was common for nobles to study abroad, it was the first time a member of the Imperial Family would do so.

“I wanted to experience the culture of the Jupiter Empire. Personally, I prefer their culture more.”

He particularly liked the monogamous culture of the Jupiter Imperial Family. At least there wouldn’t be the headache of half-siblings like him.

Unlike the Jupiter Empire, which had long since declared itself an empire, the Lysandro Empire, formed from several kingdoms, had a shorter history as an empire. To stabilize the Imperial power, marrying into old royal families was the most effective method. As a result, the Imperial Court had an Empress and several consorts from various families, and he and Ophelia were the offspring of one of those consorts.

“What will I do if you leave? Should I follow you instead? If I ask His Majesty, he might let me go!”

“The Grand Duke of Helios is in the Jupiter Empire. Will you be alright with that?”

At the mention of the “Grand Duke of Helios,” Ophelia froze. Recalling the man as cold as ice, her eyelids trembled.

Kaeron Roman de Helios.

The most noble and overwhelming, yet infinitely arrogant and cold Grand Duke of the neighboring empire. Now, the thumping of her heart when she thought of him was not excitement, but fear.

“…I’m not going. You go alone.”

Ophelia changed her mind instantly, as if she had never pestered him about going together. She shook her head violently with a heavily scowled face. She must have lost her mind for a moment because Ranian was leaving. She had forgotten that the Grand Duke of Helios was one of the people she would inevitably encounter if she went to the Jupiter Empire.

“You really must hate that Grand Duke.”

Ranian laughed out loud, finding her pouting expression cute. Ophelia protruded her lip and glared at him.

“Don’t laugh. You don’t know anything.”

“Why do you hate him so much? You used to like him.”

A few months ago, Ophelia had indeed fallen in love at first sight with the neighboring Grand Duke who visited as part of an envoy. She had hovered around constantly while he stayed at the Imperial Palace.

Ranian also clearly remembered the Grand Duke he saw for the first time at the banquet. He was a man as handsome as a sculpture, drawing all eyes even from a distance. Thanks to him, the gazes of the noble ladies who usually swarmed Ranian had shifted away, which he had welcomed.

Among the many ladies who didn’t know what to do with themselves when looking at the Grand Duke of Helios was his sister, Ophelia. She, who usually ran through the palace with a tomboyish personality, became infinitely docile in front of the Grand Duke.

However, at some point, Ophelia became busy avoiding the Grand Duke. She had stayed locked in her room until the moment the envoy departed.

“Did you perhaps confess and get rejected?”

“Hah! Confess?”

Ophelia gave a self-mocking snort.

“A confession of love to a man like that? He is a man who knows nothing of the emotion of love.”

She thought he would be like that forever. Until she heard the shocking news from the Jupiter Empire recently.

“For a man like that to be married…”

“The Grand Duke of Helios is getting married?”

“You didn’t know? Everyone is in an uproar about it. The women who fell for his appearance without knowing his true nature are crying and making a fuss.”

“Who is he marrying?”

“The House of Count Fleure in the Jupiter Empire. I heard he’s marrying the eldest daughter. Apparently, her face isn’t known because she never participated in social activities.”

Ophelia slapped her hands together as if remembering something.

“Ah! Come to think of it, I heard that prospective Grand Duchess is entering the Jupiter Imperial University!”

“The Imperial University?”

Ranian’s eyes widened at the news that a noblewoman—especially a prospective Grand Duchess—was entering the university in the strict and conservative noble culture of the Jupiter Empire.

“And she even passed the Administration Department entrance exam at the top of her class. Honestly, as a woman myself, I think she’s cool.”

Ophelia’s eyes sparkled with favor as she thought of the prospective Grand Duchess she hadn’t even met. Then she quickly frowned in regret.

“Why would a woman like that marry a man like the Grand Duke of Helios? Living with a man like that, both her body and heart will freeze solid.”

Recalling those deep blue eyes that froze others without emotion, Ophelia wrapped her arms around her shoulders and shuddered.

“A Grand Duchess entering the Imperial University. She certainly is an extraordinary woman.”

Ranian stroked his chin with curious eyes. He felt a desire to meet her at least once when he got to the Imperial University. A soft smile, like a gentle breeze, brushed across his lips.