The empire’s heir is dead and alive at once.

Knowing this confidential information gives me the burden and responsibility to get involved with imperial matters despite hating it.

Throughout numerous years, Herzoyona Eskal has managed to maintain its neutrality, even while existing under the dominion of the Ruivenfiere Empire. In contrast to other Ruivenfiere dukes assigned to previously independent kingdoms, the empress inexplicably permitted me to inherit my parents' legacy, despite the unsettling truth that she was responsible for their demise.

It was as if to say that, even if the empire is ruled by Izavenes, there’s one former kingdom being ruled by a human, except that the ruler is loyal to the empress.

Loyalty, my foot.

Although I understand the narrative that the message they intended to convey was one of Herzoyona Eskal being labeled as "a Ruivenfiere region in the northeast," my perception of it remains unchanged. In my eyes, Herzoyona Eskal will always be a kingdom, and I, once a prince, was destined to occupy this very position. Perhaps not as a king, but certainly as a grand duke within the empire, at the very least.

I let out a sigh as I stared at my study’s window, and pulled out the letter coming from the imperial palace – a letter that contains information that Heloise Adira Ruivenfiere has retired from being the empress and crowned her daughter, Eviona Charlioni Ruivenfiere to take her place.

It’s nothing surprising. It has been common for Ruivenfieres to kill each other to sit on the throne, and I’m sure Eviona did something similar if she didn’t kill the second prince. They say that the standard isn't about who's firstborn, but whoever is most powerful. The dowager empress disliked this idea out of favoritism, but she must have her reasons why she chose a banished princess, Eviona, to replace her.

It can also be because the real heir is missing.

Eviona rising as an empress sparked concerns about the implications for my land. Her selection raises questions and doubts, hoping she would follow the previous dowager empress's disinterest in Eskal. However, the anticipation of a fleeting peace is overshadowed by the certainty that our paths will inevitably cross.

I crumpled the letter as hard as I could and threw it into the fireplace.

“Your Grace, her ladyship, Louvienne of House Halvekia has arrived,” my butler said, and the door was opened, letting the lady with golden hair and silver eyes walk in. She raised the sides of her red dress and curtsied with elegance.

“It’s an honor to be summoned by you, Your Grace. Thank you for the invitation,” she greeted.

“Right,” I responded, and shot a daggered glance at the Poudrettite Izavenes standing outside the opened door.

“Leave us alone, all of you. I don’t want anyone to eavesdrop either. If I find out anyone doing so, that person will pay for a price,” I warned, and they bowed down to acknowledge the order.

On second thought, it would be better if I’ll show it, instead of just telling.

“Louvienne, cover your ears,” she raised her head with widened eyes, and her face was drained of blood as she heard the loud sound of the gunshots from the gun that was attached to my belt a few seconds ago.

A resounding thud echoed through the air as two figures collapsed to the ground. The nearby maids, though gripped by fear, maintained their composure, their faces devoid of any visible reaction. In the midst of the macabre sight, a slight twitch in my butler's lip betrayed the knowledge that such grim incidents had become all too familiar, rendering shock an unattainable luxury.

“Hah,” I let out a sigh as I ran my fingers through my hair, and Louvienne stared at me with worry, instead of those who died. “Clean up those dead bodies and make sure the empress or any Izavene spy won’t find out about this. I’m getting sick of Izavenes reporting internal matters to the empress.” My male servants carried the bodies, while the maids started cleaning up the floor shed with blood.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The butler finally closed the door, leaving Louvienne and me in private.

“That was oddly relieving,” I walked away from my desk and sat on the couch, leaning my back on the cushion.

“Wow, that’s a terrifying way to welcome a lady. Did you do that on purpose?” Louvienne commented, and I kept my mouth shut. "Even so," her voice turned into a higher tone – in just a second, she became a giddy person, as if nothing happened.

She went behind the couch and playfully threw her arms to partly embrace me from behind, and whispered in my ear as she rested her head on my shoulder.

“I don’t fear you, Ral. You still have a bad temper as usual, but that will never be a reason for me to hate you. In fact, I’ll feel the safest when I am with you.”

Her endearing nature had always been a constant presence, and I found myself at a loss when it came to detaching from her without causing harm. Despite reaching her adulthood, my perception of her remained rooted in memories of a child brimming with uncontainable anticipation for our encounters.

Still, it won’t change the fact that people will get the wrong idea if they see us like this.

“I didn’t call for you here to cuddle with you or play around. Let’s stop beating around the bush and sit across me." Which she did as soon as I requested.

“It sounds to me like this isn’t a normal problem. You may be good at looking calm from the outside, but you must be disturbed about something.”

“You’re not wrong. I’m disturbed by many things at once, so I want you to stay here for three days to discuss all those matters just like what I wrote in the letter.”

“Don’t worry, my luggage is a two-week worth of clothes so I’ll be fine. I’ll be volunteering to become your grand duchess anyway so I might as well get used to this place.”

I placed my palm on my face as she brings up the topic again. Her words may sound like a joke coming from a child, but she meant it literally.

“Give it up. This isn’t the time to pick with me because I’m serious here,” She pouted as she heard my cold words, which was supposed to intimidate her. But as she said, it’s not going to work because she knows me well more than anyone.

“I rejected tons of marriage proposals from different nobles and kingdoms just to be with you. Can’t you be a little considerate? We’ve been together during those days when we both had nothing. You’re not supposed to dismiss a girl’s feelings just like that. This dull place would be so much brighter with me around,” Her confidence is sure as high as the skies above.

‘… we’ve been together during those days when we both had nothing.’ Those words began ringing bells in my ears as she reminded me of our past reality. She made a point though that we know each other too well for us to even consider other people.

We both get marriage proposals and we both reject everything. We both had nothing, and now we have everything a normal human would want to have.

But then, we also have the same approach to decision-making. The reason for pushing her away is not because I dislike her, but because she deserves someone better – someone who won't pull out a gun out of the blue and shot servants dead. I have the same excuse even to other women.

More importantly, I know that most of them are after a marriage of convenience and I'm against it.

“Luvi, I’m not –”

“… I like that you call me ‘Luvi’ when we’re alone, Ral.” She paused. “I hate formalities when it’s just the two of us,” she looked at me intently, with an amused grin written on her face.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as I wonder if I summoned the right person. Her affectionate personality around me can be disturbing. I know, however, that she cut me off because she knows what I’ll say.

“Okay, I’m done teasing you. The reason why I’m playing around is to make things less serious here. I can’t stand it when the room is full of tension. So, what do you want me to do? I’m just a Count’s adopted daughter, someone in the middle of the social hierarchy. What do you expect me to do? I’m not as powerful as you. Though you’re called a grand duke, the entire region recognizes you as their king.”

“That’s exactly the reason. Because you might help me get out of the situation I’m stuck in. I despise Izavenes wholeheartedly because they killed the former king and queen – the only people who saw my value. The crown prince is missing, and I got involved unintentionally.”

Louvienne’s facial expression turned from bright to dark.

“So, you want to use me because you want to save your face," she said, her voice low, but loud enough for me to hear.

I couldn’t deny it, but I couldn’t admit it either. She's not fully aware of where I'm coming from, but at this point, I can imagine her making assumptions about how bad things can be, and that I sound afraid. It's not about being afraid, however, but more of I simply don't want to get involved with the imperial family. But it would be foolish to deny that fact.

“Ral, I was a red diamond Izavene, and I was once in the same situation according to some sources,” my skin crawled at her unexpected words, making me think twice if I heard it right. “Now tell me, will you despise me as well after knowing that fact?”