The Archduke’s Flower Is in Danger - Chapter 16

On the billiard table, a ball made of the finest ivory spun powerfully and collided with another. Shade let out a low whistle as he watched the brilliant trajectory.

“As expected, Your Grace is impossible to beat.”

Kaeron Roman de Helios straightened up, finishing the stroke that sealed his victory. Shade held out a glass of whisky from the table.

“To the cold-blooded Grand Duke, who shows no mercy even to a friend returned after a long absence.”

At Shade’s playful remark, Kaeron gave a short laugh and took the glass.

A party was being held at the Hillborn Ducal Townhouse to commemorate the return of the young Duke, Shade Hillborn, who had just finished his Grand Tour. Knowing Kaeron’s difficult temperament—he loathed noisy crowds—the two were catching up in a private billiard room.

“You haven’t changed at all since before you left for your tour.”

“Not changed? I’ve learned so much. Specifically, I’ve realized that the world is vast and beautiful women are many.”

Shade grinned, his eyes crinkling. The future head of the House of Hillborn was a sophisticated and captivating man, but he was also famous as a libertine of high society who never turned away a woman.

“It seems the number of Count Hillborn’s gray hairs increases in direct proportion to the interest you pour into women.”

“My father is too healthy for his own good. Anyway, please tell me in detail about that news that forced me back early from my tour, Your Grace.”

Shade was dying of curiosity about the prospective Grand Duchess who had captured his long-time friend. Unlike himself, Kaeron was a man who showed absolutely no interest in women. He rejected even those who approached him with a coldness that made onlookers tremble.

As a Grand Duke with status and wealth that left nothing to be desired, there was no reason for him to enter a political marriage… unless he wanted an heir, Shade had assumed he would live as a bachelor for life.

When the news of the Grand Duke’s marriage reached the Lysandro Empire, where Shade was finishing his tour, he could not believe his eyes. He had packed his bags the very next day and decided to return to the Jupiter Empire, even though he had quite taken a liking to Lysandro’s social circles.

That lady was a bit of a waste, though.

Shade felt a lingering regret thinking of the Viscounts daughter in Lysandro, whose skin was exceptionally soft. The way she acted like a docile cat but turned into a sharp lynx in bed had been quite a stimulating and enjoyable sight.

“Because of the sudden news of your marriage, I even left behind a lady I cherished in Lysandro.”

“Would such a woman exist only in Lysandro? I’m sure there was one in every country you passed through.”

“Haha. Am I not a philanthropist by nature? Unlike me, I’m curious to know who captured the Grand Duke, that notorious egoist.”

The unknown eldest daughter of Count Fleure… the name Idel was different from the Lady Fleure he knew. Shade recalled the Lady Fleure who made her debut at the Foundation Festival two years ago, just before his Grand Tour. At the time, the sixteen-year-old lady was as fresh as a newly bloomed rose, just like her name, Roseline. Though he hadn’t seen her since leaving the Jupiter Empire, he heard she had grown up to become a flower of high society.

“The only Lady Fleure I know is Roseline. I heard the prospective Grand Duchess is her older sister, but why have I never seen her in social circles?”

“According to the Countess, it is because she is very shy. It was likely because she did not desire it herself.”

“Very shy? It wouldn’t be… because her appearance is so poor she’s reluctant to go out, would it?”

Hardly. The Grand Duke, who himself possessed the form of a perfect creation, had an excellent aesthetic eye. Shade had even held a reasonable suspicion that Kaeron’s standards were so high that no woman but himself could ever satisfy them.

“Tell me already! I’ve been dying of curiosity since not a single photo was published in the papers.”

“Do not concern yourself with it.”

Looking at the pestering Shade, Kaeron cut him off with a cold gaze. Shade narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin.

“Hmm. It’s the first time I’ve seen Your Grace so defensive.”

Defensive. There was no word less suited to the Grand Duke.

Shade and Kaeron had been together since Kaeron was a Prince. He knew better than anyone how Kaeron had reigned as a powerful apex predator among noble peers since his youth. From riding and shooting to billiards, chess, and cards, Shade had never seen Kaeron lose. Later, as an adult, Kaeron rarely participated, perhaps finding winning every time tedious. He only played if Shade urged him, and even then, his face was usually full of annoyance.

I’m truly becoming curious about her. The prospective Grand Duchess.

Seeing Kaeron, who lived without knowing the concept of defense, react so sensitively to even a small bit of interest in his bride was fascinating. It was as if he were thoroughly guarding something that was his. Shade decided he would visit the Grand Ducal residence soon under the pretext of delivering a wedding gift. He smiled, thinking that a time when Kaeron was conveniently away on business would be most appropriate.

“I thought she must have an extraordinary personality to decide to enter the Imperial University. Being very shy is unexpected.”

“She is a woman with many unexpected sides.”

Kaeron recalled the time they drafted the marriage contract. Every time he remembered her confidently saying she would do her best to “produce an heir,” his body would tighten involuntarily. He often mocked himself for feeling like a heated novice, anxious for the wedding night to arrive.

He wondered, and waited to find out, if this blind thirst would finally be quenched when he truly held her in his arms.

“An unexpected woman is good.”

Shade nodded, thinking of the Viscount’s daughter he left in Lysandro.

“It’s most thrilling when those docile women become active in bed.”

Shade whispered secretly with a smooth smile. Kaeron’s eyebrow shot up.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“I misspoke. It’s terrifying when you look at me like that.”

At the sharp glare, Shade laughed good-naturedly and changed the subject.

“Ah, anyway, I heard the Third Prince of Lysandro is coming to study at the Jupiter Imperial University.”

“The Third Prince?”

“Don’t you remember from the last envoy? The twin prince born to the Imperial Consort.”

Kaeron thought back to his time in the Lysandro Empire. He remembered Princess Ophelia, who had stood in every path he walked while he stayed at the Imperial Palace. There was a Prince who was her twin brother.

“Didn’t he even tie with you in the shooting competition? He looked like a bookworm who only read, so everyone was shocked back then.”

At those words, he remembered clearly.

Ranian Biel de Lysandro.

The Third Prince, born to a consort, who reportedly lived a quiet, muffled life without participating in the race for the throne. When he first met him, Kaeron also thought the soft-looking Ranian was a man of weak temperament, as the rumors suggested.

However, in the shooting competition held for friendly relations, Ranian had suddenly transformed, shedding his sheep’s clothing to reveal a predator’s teeth. Every time Kaeron’s shotgun hit a target, Ranian hit his with equal precision. The match ended in a draw only when the prepared blue pigeons ran out. When Ranian approached to shake hands after the match, his usual gentleness had completely vanished, replaced by a fierce intensity.

He had spoken in a low voice while applying pressure to the hand he held.

—That was indeed excellent skill. However, I would appreciate it if Your Grace considered that someone might be unintentionally wounded by a shot fired carelessly.

—What do you mean by that?

Ranian had looked silently toward a spot where Ophelia had been secretly watching the competition. She flinched and hid herself when Kaeron’s gaze landed on her. It was a marked difference from her previous attempts to cross his path. Thinking back, the Princess had not appeared before him lately. The point at which she changed…

Was it then?

There was a certain Marquis’s daughter who had pursued him relentlessly since his arrival with the envoy. She had pleaded before him, staking her life on it, saying it would be better to die if he did not accept her this time.

—Please, accept my love. I might die once Your Grace leaves.

—Is your life worth only that much? Pathetic. I have no interest in whether such a cheap life lives or dies.

The shocked Marquis’s daughter had collapsed, but he turned his back heartlessly. And then he had discovered Princess Ophelia watching him and the girl. Her face was deathly pale, looking as wounded as if she were the Marquis’s daughter herself. From then until the moment he left Lysandro, the Princess had avoided him.

Kaeron’s gaze became as sharp as a needle.

“A sudden study abroad… it seems the succession race in Lysandro has become fierce.”

“Exactly. It seems the Empress’s side made a move. Even though the Third Prince lived quietly, he must have been a nuisance.”

“Indeed. He is more suited for the throne than the First or Second Princes, who are either arrogant or lecherous.”

Kaeron nodded, recalling the overbearing First Prince and the philandering Second Prince. In contrast, Third Prince Ranian appeared harmless but was a predator crouching in silence. He was a man who, if he simply stood up, could sufficiently exercise imperial leadership.

Predators recognize each other by their gaze alone. Kaeron was curious if such a man would continue to live while hiding himself.

“Keep a close watch on the trends in the Lysandro Empire. If the Emperor changes, the situation will shift.”

“Don’t worry, Your Grace. Isn’t that why I’m suffering like this?”

In truth, while Shade had left on a Grand Tour under the pretext of gaining experience, he was actually investigating their political climates and reporting back to Kaeron. As a high-ranking noble of Jupiter, it was easier for the young Duke to infiltrate the social circles of neighboring countries. Women would often relay secret stories of major families to the charming and sociable young Duke without hesitation.

“The Third Prince is more formidable than he looks. If he comes to Jupiter, plant spies around him.”

“I shall obey. But… Your Grace.”

Shade’s playful eyes suddenly turned serious. He asked in a deeply lowered voice.

“How long do you intend to play only the role of kingmaker?”

To Shade, Kaeron was a friend, but also the lord he truly believed in. Because he was a man more suited for the throne than anyone, Shade still could not accept that he had stepped back and given the crown to his younger brother. It was Kaeron who stood as the pillar behind the young and inexperienced Emperor Pascal. From the peak of the Council of Nobles, there was no part of domestic politics or foreign diplomacy he did not touch.

“The time is not yet right.”

Kaeron shook his head quietly. His blue eyes, lost in thought, grew dark.