The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 65

Because of his sudden and sweet kiss, that entire conversation ended without any clear conclusion. Sasha, still dazed, didn’t get the chance to ask anything about his ability to “hear” things. She hadn’t found out how strong it was or how it even worked. Now that she knew a little, her curiosity only grew.

“The Duke left for the Uhalin Forest this morning. He said he wanted to check on the situation himself.”

Connie, who had helped Sasha get up and wash her face, passed along the news while Sasha sat blankly in front of the mirror.

Again. He left without a word.

She knew part of the reason she hadn’t asked more was because she had been distracted, but a large part of it was Kyler himself.

At first, she thought he was just shy. After that kiss, he had gotten up and left without saying much. When she followed him, he had gone to the dining room, and they ended up having dinner together. But ever since then, he had been strangely avoiding her gaze.

Why would he act like that? They had already spent several nights together. It didn’t make sense.

Still, she let it go. Later that night, when she visited his bedroom, he had already been lying in bed. He looked at her silently. She had naturally climbed into bed beside him, and he gently held her in his arms as they fell asleep.

So she thought it was fine. Maybe he had just been embarrassed.

“What time did he leave?”

“Sorry?”

“What time did Kyler leave?”

“About an hour ago.”

Once again, he had left while she was still asleep. It wasn’t even early morning. She had asked him before to wake her if he ever went out.

What is going on? Why is he suddenly so quiet and distant again?

He had always been confident and direct in front of others. Why was he avoiding her eyes again? It reminded her of when they had misunderstood each other and avoided talking. That had led to a rough situation during their outing.

But right now, that wasn’t the point.

She thought back to how, on their wedding day, he had caught her as she tried to run and stared at her like the god of the underworld. With his black hair and piercing blue eyes, he had looked terrifying, like a cold and merciless guard of the dead.

Now, something was clearly bothering him. Sasha didn’t know what it was, and that only made her more confused. Still frowning, she allowed Connie to guide her behind the partition. Connie handed her some indoor clothes to change out of her nightwear, glancing at Sasha’s sulking face with nervous concern.

Bang

“Father!”

It was rare for Midienna to enter the Emperor’s office so eagerly. She burst through the door, loudly calling for him.

Inside, the Emperor was seated on a large sofa. Sitting across from him was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and snow-white hair. When the Emperor turned and gave her a small smile, the white-haired man barely glanced her way and frowned.

No one responded to her greeting.

“I’m glad I came all this way. We’ll make up for the tax reduction during the next harvest season.”

Despite Midienna standing there and looking at him expectantly, the white-haired man ignored her and continued speaking to the Emperor.

She stood still, hearing the door quietly close behind her. It was as if the man in front of her couldn’t hear a thing. He didn’t react at all.

“Duke Medilan, you came all this way, and I cannot ignore the fact that you are the Empress’s father. If not me, then who else could listen to this matter?”

Lydian, the Emperor, replied while glancing at Duke Medilan.

After speaking on his behalf, Lydian briefly looked at the opposite sofa, then back at Midienna. Understanding the unspoken message, she bit her lip and stepped forward.

She sat across from her father, facing the Duke of Medilan.

“The Empress has now fully adjusted to the capital. Life in the Medilan territory must have been peaceful, which must have helped her recovery.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lydian smiled gently, but Duke Medilan only turned slightly and looked at her without much reaction. Midienna’s expression, which had held some warmth, quickly faded.

Even with the Emperor trying to guide the conversation toward her, Duke Medilan only glanced over slowly and gave no meaningful reply.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Apparently finished with the discussion, Duke Medilan stood as if ready to walk out. He looked like he would leave without hesitation once the Emperor gave a word.

“Yes. Since it’s been a while, I’m sure you and the Empress have a lot to talk about.”

The Emperor turned to Midienna and spoke kindly.

Lydian had ascended the throne at a young age, and originally, he had planned to delay naming an Empress as long as possible. After the former Emperor and Empress died unexpectedly in an accident, the political situation had become unstable, and Lydian had struggled just to secure his place as ruler.

But he couldn’t delay forever.

The nobles, facing a sudden loss of both Emperor and Empress, did not want to leave everything in the hands of a young ruler. They believed he needed someone strong at his side.

The reason she had been chosen as Empress was to maintain balance between powerful forces. The nobles, seeking to keep each other in check, selected Lady Midienna of House Medilan.

While House Ignote was known as the most prestigious noble family in the empire, long associated with the imperial family of Derma throughout history, the Medilan family had originally been rulers of their own principality. That land had been absorbed into the empire centuries ago, not through force, but through diplomatic integration. Even so, the nobility of the capital still saw them as a force to be watched closely.

By placing Lady Midienna in the role of Empress, they could fill the vacant imperial seat while keeping the Medilan family in check. It was the perfect political match.

Duke Medilan accepted the proposal without hesitation, and that was how the Empress of the Derma Empire was chosen.

But while the arrangement worked for the empire, it was a disaster for the nineteen-year-old lady. For her, the marriage felt like a sudden blow that shattered everything she had dreamed of.

She had to leave behind everything she knew and follow her father’s orders to move to the distant imperial capital. Because of that, she always missed her homeland.

Even though it was difficult to travel back to Medilan, Midienna had hoped to at least see her father while he was in the capital. That was why Lydian had invited Duke Medilan to the palace.

“I must leave soon. There are many matters back home that need my attention.”

But just as Lydian had given her a small moment of hope, Duke Medilan took it away just as quickly. Midienna had felt a flutter in her chest when the Emperor mentioned they must have much to talk about as father and daughter. That warmth disappeared instantly.

“Then, Your Majesty, may I take my leave?”

Duke Medilan stood and bowed respectfully to the Emperor, placing a hand over his chest in the formal greeting of his homeland. He did not look at Midienna once. He left the room without a word to her.

The firm sound of his footsteps echoed in the room. Midienna lowered her head.

But something kept flickering at the edge of her vision. When she looked up, she saw Lydian waving at her with a dramatic expression, signaling for her to go after him. His face looked so exaggerated that she almost laughed.

“You should go.”

Hearing his whispered encouragement, Midienna quickly stood and ran after her father. She saw him just as he was turning the corner at the end of the hall.

“Father.”

Her urgent voice stopped him. She had feared he might ignore her and keep walking, but when he paused, her face lit up with a smile.

She hurried to catch up, breathless. When she stood in front of him, Duke Medilan slowly turned to face her.

Midienna looked up at him, trying to steady her breath. Her smile faded, and the corners of her lips slowly dropped.

“What is it?”

His voice was cold, and his eyes held no emotion. The way he looked at her was sharper than how he might address a servant. It was painful.

“I just… I missed you, Father.”

He was no longer the same man who had once gently patted her shoulder and silently comforted her when sending her away to the capital. Now, he looked down at her with a cold stare.

“Father, I don’t want to go back. I want to stay by your side. Let me stay here in Medilan forever. I’ll take your place as Duke someday. Please?”

“I’m sorry, Midienna. That won’t be possible. This is for the good of the empire. I heard His Majesty is a good man. He’s handsome and not cold like some nobles.”

“I won’t complain about you being cold anymore. I like you just the way you are. I love Medilan. Please let me stay here. I don’t want to get married.”

Her childish refusal and desperate pleas came pouring out. She still remembered the sorrowful face her father had worn the last time they spoke like this. But the man standing in front of her now was different.

“This is for the empire, Midienna. You are a noblewoman. Marriage is your duty. At least become the finest woman in the empire if you must marry.”

She had no choice but to accept that her wishes didn’t matter. She had known that from the moment she arrived here.

Still, she could not accept his coldness. Her mouth kept moving as she tried to respond, but no words would come. She stood there in silence, shocked and heartbroken.

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