The Archduke’s Flower Is in Danger - Chapter 6

“I have something to say.”

It was during the dinner banquet following the afternoon tea. Idel Fleure broke the silence, her voice calm and steady.

The others were already dying of curiosity to know what she had discussed during her private audience with the Grand Duke. The Marquis of Chalet, the Countess, and Roseline all watched her with glinting eyes.

The Grand Duke, seated at the head of the table, maintained a relaxed expression. He looked at her with a gaze that seemed to encourage her to do as she pleased.

“I am requesting the annulment of the engagement with the House of Chalet.”

“What?”

The faces of the Marquis and the Countess crumpled simultaneously in sheer disbelief.

“Lady Idel, what is the meaning of this? Do you think a marriage between families is a joke?”

The Marquis of Chalet glared at her, speaking in a condescending, lecturing tone. The Countess was also surging with rage, but mindful of the Grand Duke’s presence, she refrained from screaming and instead scolded her sharply.

“What insolence is this? To suddenly decide on an annulment by yourself!”

“I do not wish to marry the Marquis of Chalet.”

Her gaze and tone were unwavering. Idel’s steady eyes fixed upon them as she clearly conveyed her intent.

“You… you do not wish it?”

The Marquis’s body trembled violently, his face turning beet-red with fury. He was incensed by the defiance of a woman he had assumed was submissive and docile. Had they been at his estate, he would have whipped her with a riding crop until she wept and begged for mercy. It was his greatest regret that they were not currently at the House of Chalet.

Under the Marquis’s stinging, whip-like gaze, Idel bit her lip. Recalling what the Grand Duke had told her earlier, a wave of nausea washed over her.

—Do you intend to marry the Marquis of Chalet knowing what kind of man he is?

—What kind of man is he?

—He is very fond of equestrianism. So much so that he owns a stable in his territory second in size only to the Imperial stables. They say he takes particular pleasure in personally taming newly purchased horses. It is rumored he even possesses a collection of riding crops of various leathers and sizes.

—Is that a reason not to marry him?

—The Marquis does not use those crops only to tame horses. It is said he uses the same methods to tame the wives he practically buys with his wealth.

—My God! How horrific!

The Marquis of Chalet was a pervert with sadistic sexual deviance. It was easy to guess that the mysterious deaths of the previous Marchionesses were not unrelated to his lashings.

Yet, the Countess and Roseline had encouraged this marriage. Since they had always wished for her misfortune, there was no way they were ignorant of this truth.

Idel felt the last shred of lingering attachment to these people—no, to this entire Countship—evaporate. She wanted to leave this place immediately, even if it meant taking the hand of the inscrutable Grand Duke.

“You are young and seem not to know, but a marriage decided by the family cannot be broken so easily.”

The Marquis wanted nothing more than to slap Idel’s cheek right then, but he barely restrained himself before the Grand Duke. He spoke through gritted teeth, his expression menacing.

“I have the right to decide my own marriage.”

“What right! It seems you don’t understand when I speak kindly…”

“Imperial Decree Article 67, Section 2. A woman who has reached the age of majority at nineteen may register a legal marriage without parental consent. Imperial Decree Article 140, Section 1. A marriage registration made by force without mutual consent can be declared null and void.”

“Wh-what? Imperial Decree, what?”

The Marquis stammered in shock at the sudden citation of the law. Watching her precisely point out the statutes once again, the Grand Duke let out a laugh.

“She is correct. Lady Idel, who turned twenty this year, possesses the right to decide on her marriage according to her will, and she cannot be forced into an unwanted union.”

“Wh-what is this…”

The Grand Duke, the Chief Justice of the Empire, had driven the final nail into the coffin. The Marquis’s face, previously red with rage, turned deathly pale with bewilderment.

“Are you saying you will do as you please without your parents’ permission? After all the grace we showed in raising you!”

This time, the Countess stepped forward. She could no longer endure seeing the marriage she had carefully prepared fall apart because of laws Idel had picked up from who-knows-where.

“Even if you are an adult, do you think you can survive without the protection of the Count’s House? Even the dress you are wearing belongs to this house! Do you wish to be thrown out with nothing but your bare skin?”

“Countess, the Grand Duke is present. Be careful with such unpleasant language.”

Gregory warned in a cold tone as he watched the Countess point fingers and spew harsh words.

To think such a talent grew up under a mother like this.

Gregory shook his head at the huffing, excited Countess. In contrast, seeing Idel’s calm face—as if this were a daily occurrence—allowed him to picture the treatment she had endured. Kaeron, seemingly thinking the same, asked with a frown.

“Thrown out with nothing… Lady Idel, is there anything you need to take from here?”

“No. Nothing was ever given to me from the start.”

“Good. Then let us leave immediately.”

As the Grand Duke stood up, Gregory handed him his coat. Idel, startled by the suddenness of his words, stood up as well.

“Wh-what does this mean? Your Grace is now…”

The Countess asked with a face full of shock as the Grand Duke prepared to leave the estate with Idel. Roseline also knit her brows, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Since you are throwing her out, I intend to take her gladly.”

“Th-that makes no sense! She is to be the Marchioness…”

The frantic Marquis finally found his voice and shouted. Cutting him off, the Grand Duke spoke in a chilling tone.

“Marquis of Chalet. Do you wish for me to take an interest in the deaths of the previous Marchionesses that occurred at your estate?”

“!”

“I have no particular interest in you, Marquis. Provided, of course, that you do not disturb my peace.”

The Marquis of Chalet trembled like a cornered rat, unable to move. The Grand Duke’s deep blue eyes pressed down on him as if he already knew everything.

“Even if you are the Grand Duke, you have no right to take Idel.”

The Countess spoke in a fading voice, as if she couldn’t let it end like this. She feared the Duke, but by what right was he taking Idel, whom he had presumably met for the first time today?

“I have the right. For she will be my Grand Duchess.”

“The Grand Duchess!”

The eyes of the Countess and Roseline filled with horror. The same went for the Marquis of Chalet, who had been silenced by the Duke’s aura.

There was one more person who was shocked: Gregory the aide. He stood with his mouth agape at the Grand Duke’s bombshell announcement.

How did an aide suddenly become the Grand Duchess?

The original purpose of visiting the Count’s estate was to deliver the acceptance certificate and scout Idel as an aide for the Grand Ducal House. Gregory understood the situation Idel was in and knew the Duke was helping her escape. He assumed she would be taken as an aide; he could not hide his confusion at Kaeron’s declaration. However, as a capable aide, he quickly regained his composure.

“S-Sister! Suddenly becoming the Grand Duchess… is this true?”

The sister who was supposed to become the toy of a perverted Marquis was now to become the only noble Grand Duchess in the Empire. Roseline could not accept this. Her eyes turned pale with envy and jealousy as she barked at Idel.

“It is true. I have promised to marry His Grace.”

At Idel’s answer, Roseline swayed as if she might faint. The Countess also sat in a daze, murmuring “this makes no sense” over and over. Seeing them like that, Idel felt a strange sense of relief in her heart.

“Let us go.”

The Grand Duke draped his coat over her shoulders. It was a gesture of consideration for the cool outside air. The large coat wrapping around her felt like a solid protective shield.

Kaeron extended a hand to escort her. After a moment of hesitation, her small, white hand rested gently upon his. At the soft touch of her hand, a satisfied smile bloomed on his lips.

“The Grand Ducal House will take the prospective Grand Duchess first. I will speak with Count Fleure directly regarding the marriage, so let that be known.”

It was a sharp jab at the fact that they had proceeded with the Marquis’s marriage behind the Count’s back. The Countess, utterly distraught, could say nothing and could only watch their backs as they left the dining room.

“Lady Idel!”

Just as Idel was about to exit the front door with the Duke, her maid Bien came running with a bag. Idel had no lingering attachments to this house, but Bien was the one person on her mind. As the daughter of a vassal family, Bien was tied to the Countship. Idel had intended to draw a line and leave her behind for her own sake, but.

“Take this with you. I packed the books you enjoyed and some simple clothes.”

“Bien…”

“My Lady, you must be happy.”

“Thank you, Bien.”

It was a brief farewell, but they could understand each other’s hearts just by looking into their eyes.

Gregory, who had been watching the two, took the bag from Bien and led the way to the Grand Ducal carriage.

“This way, please.”

As Idel left the Count’s estate, a whirlwind of emotions crossed her mind. Once she escaped the space that had been strangling her, the tension broke, and her body momentarily swayed. Kaeron firmly wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah… thank you, Your Grace.”

Idel clutched the edge of his coat, feeling a sensation slowly spreading from deep within her chest. A feeling she had never felt before, a sense of stability coming from another person’s presence. Even though she knew his actions toward her stemmed from a “contract.”

You passed this year’s Imperial University entrance exam. As the top of the Administration Department.

My God! Is it true?

It is too early to celebrate. Even if you graduate, according to the law, professional activity for noblewomen to earn a living is only possible after a divorce.

Pardon? Is that true? To think such a law exists…

It is understandable you wouldn’t know. It is a decree established in the early days of the Jupiter Empire’s founding. However, the nobility still exists, and this law remains valid. Even with a degree, it will be difficult for you to hold a job unless you are a divorced woman.

That cannot be!

I will give you the divorce papers you need. Provided you serve as the Grand Duchess for the three years it takes to graduate.

The Grand Duchess? Me?

Yes. I highly value your learning. If you handle the administration of the Grand Ducal House during the contract period as the Grand Duchess, I will support your attendance at the university and grant you the divorce you desire after graduation.

To think that divorce was the only way for a noblewoman to have a career and independence. She felt as though she had hit a dead end after aiming only for graduation. To her, the contract to be the Grand Duchess was an irresistible proposal.

Her keen senses were warning her. During their conversation, she saw his deep blue eyes flicker as he looked at her. She still could not decipher the meaning behind that gaze, hot as blue lava.

Knowing this, she still had no choice but to take his hand. The flower, exhausted from the wind and rain, leaned into the hand that firmly embraced her.