The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 47

Small groups of people were beginning to gather at the Imperial Palace. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the grand banquet hall slowly started to fill with guests.

Instead of being set up for dancing, the hall was arranged with a large dining table. The long table stretched from one end of the room to the other and was beautifully decorated with all kinds of flowers. The guests began to settle into their seats one by one.

“Do you think he’ll show up tonight?”

“He always does. I’m sure he will again.”

“With that woman stuck to him? I hope he comes alone, but that seems unlikely.”

“As far as I know, only Duke Ignote was officially invited.”

“Oh my, where did you hear that?”

Before taking their seats, a few noblewomen had gathered to whisper among themselves. It seemed to be a shared topic of interest. One started the conversation, another joined in, and soon their quiet chatter was spreading.

At that moment, a large door at the back of the banquet hall opened. It was not the main entrance where the other nobles had been entering. From behind it appeared the Emperor and Midienna.

The Emperor walked casually toward his seat, while Midienna followed more slowly with graceful steps. As she walked into the hall, her eyes swept over the group of noblewomen who had been gossiping near the entrance.

“Shh, they’re here.”

“Oh my.”

Realizing their presence too late, the women quickly closed their mouths and silently returned to their seats. At the same time, as if slipping in through the lull, a young noble couple entered the hall.

“Wow… this place is amazing.”

“Careful, there’s a step here.”

“Thanks, but I can see it.”

Their quiet conversation made them seem more like a couple on a casual outing than guests attending a royal banquet. While most of the nobles and their wives had gone all out with their formal outfits, this pair looked surprisingly relaxed. Many guests could not hide their shock as they watched them walk by.

The last to enter the hall were Duke Kyler Ignote and Lady Sasha. Without hesitation, they walked directly to the two seats placed beside the Emperor.

What shocked everyone first was Kyler himself. The Duke of Ignote was known for his cold stare and expressionless face, as if his very presence could chill the air.

He was a man of few words, always appearing tense and sharp. Physically, he overwhelmed most men with ease, and his emotionless expression only made him feel more distant and intimidating.

“Oh, my goodness… am I really seeing this right?”

A noblewoman seated near the center, across from the Emperor and in a perfect position to see Kyler up close, whispered those words. Her reaction was the beginning. The soft murmurs at the table began to spread again.

“No, it’s definitely Duke Ignote… right? That’s him, right?”

“But he’s talking to a woman?”

“Look at his face. It’s not that usual icy, unreadable look.”

“They’re not just talking. Can you feel it? There’s something between them…”

While the women whispered in shock, Kyler pulled out a chair for Sasha, the woman he had arrived with. Her smile was bright as she sat down, and only then did Kyler take his own seat.

Most of the noblewomen watching were left speechless. Some dropped their jaws without realizing, while others hurried to cover their surprised expressions with their hands.

Kyler and Sasha, completely unfazed by the attention, politely bowed to the Emperor and Midienna after sitting down.

“I didn’t expect you two to come together,” the Emperor said with a smile in his voice.

Sasha almost let her expression show her annoyance, but she managed to keep it in when she noticed the playful sparkle in the Emperor’s eyes. Kyler simply replied that it had worked out that way, then turned his head slightly from the Emperor back toward Sasha.

“It’s been a while, Kyler. How did the monster hunt go?” Midienna asked, her voice calm.

The soft murmurs continued at the far ends of the hall, but near the Emperor and Midienna, the atmosphere had suddenly turned cold and tense, as if ice water had been poured into the room.

Midienna had spoken directly to Kyler Ignote, who was seated on the other side of the Emperor. She used his name and asked how he was in a surprisingly friendly tone.

Neither the Emperor’s smile nor Kyler’s calm expression faltered. But Sasha could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere around them.

“The monster hunt went well. He only returned yesterday,” Sasha answered instead. She had seen Kyler press his lips together and knew he wouldn’t respond.

The Emperor’s eyes sparkled behind his gentle smile as he turned toward her. Sasha looked straight at Midienna, not avoiding her gaze. It was as if she understood the intention behind Midienna’s words.

“I see,” Midienna replied softly. She looked as though she wanted to say more but paused. In the end, she seemed to choose restraint, likely aware of the many eyes watching them. The tension between the two women was so strong that the nobles nearby could almost hear eyes rolling.

“Now then, I thank you all for joining us today. It is through moments like these that we strengthen our bonds and keep the Empire running smoothly. Let us enjoy this fine lunch and take the time to speak freely with one another,” the Emperor said warmly.

As always, his words were simple and without pretense. He spoke as if inviting close friends to dine with him.

The moment his speech ended, the attendants and servants, already prepared behind the scenes, began to move swiftly.

As they served the food, nobles seated at the long table began to eat. The dishes, as expected from the palace, were refined and elegant. But despite the fine cuisine, everyone’s attention was fixed on the couple from House Ignote.

“This is really delicious,” Sasha said quietly as she took her time tasting each bite. She wasn’t rushing. She was focused on every dish, enjoying the flavors with a genuine curiosity and appreciation.

“How did the Duchess end up attending this banquet?” someone asked.

It was Lydian. He had been glancing her way while picking at his food and finally saw an opening to speak.

It was as if he had been waiting for the perfect moment to catch her off guard. Sasha set her fork down and finished what was in her mouth before lightly covering her lips with her hand and raising her head.

The Emperor almost chuckled. Her expression was just like that of a young noble lady who had been caught doing something bold.

“Kyler… I mean, His Grace seemed very tired.”

“What? Really? Kyler couldn’t shake off his fatigue in just one day? That’s surprising,” the Emperor replied with a light smile, teasing her a little. He seemed to enjoy poking fun at her intentions. Somehow, in front of the Emperor, she always felt a strange fire stir inside her.

“I heard that monster hunting is incredibly difficult. He went on two missions back to back, and now he’s being summoned to the palace the very next day. I was worried he wouldn’t get the rest he needed.”

Sasha chose her words carefully. She spoke confidently but made sure not to sound critical or disrespectful.

“Oh? Kyler, are you tired? If you had said something, I would have reconsidered asking you to attend today’s banquet,” the Emperor said, testing him with a playful tone.

As expected, Kyler did not answer carelessly. He simply continued eating in silence, focused on the food in front of him.

“I told him to rest. I tried to stop him. But he insisted on coming, so I came with him,” Sasha said firmly.

The Emperor could already tell why she was puffing up her cheeks in frustration. He found it oddly charming that someone so delicate would be this openly irritated in his presence.

“You dare speak to the Emperor like that…” Midienna suddenly began, her voice sharp as she prepared to scold Sasha.

Tension filled the room. The nobles nearby stiffened, bracing for what might come next.

But before Midienna could continue, the Emperor raised a hand and gently stopped her.

“You believe he needs rest, do you?” he asked with interest, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Sasha.

Kyler sat between them, a tall and stoic figure, but the Emperor could see Sasha clearly. Her shoulders were slightly leaned forward in determination.

“Of course. How could anyone not need rest after that? They say monsters don’t die from a single strike. He must have been stabbing and slashing nonstop until he could barely stand. Oh, pardon me. I forgot we’re still eating,” Sasha said with an apologetic smile, quickly softening her tone and glancing around at the other guests.

“It takes days just to travel to those regions. On top of that, he’s expected to hunt monsters and return to court immediately. That’s exhausting, don’t you think? Could Your Majesty handle that yourself?”

“No, I could not,” the Emperor replied with a chuckle.

“Exactly. Which is why he should rest,” she said, nodding with conviction.

To others, this exchange was absolutely shocking. Her casual tone, her confidence, her way of speaking directly to the Emperor, it was all far from what they expected.

Especially Midienna, who sat with wide eyes and a tightly closed mouth, silently watching the conversation unfold.

“Well then… what should we do about that? He doesn’t usually report to me unless absolutely necessary,” the Emperor said with a thoughtful tone.

Sasha hesitated for a moment. She understood that if something had to change, someone would have to take the initiative.

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