“What do you mean, Siani?”
The duke had an expression of hearing something absurd.
“Luna, why would that kind child do such a thing…”
Indeed, to the duke’s eyes, Luna was innocent and kind.
“Because she spread a skin disease in the duchy. If she didn’t want to get caught, she had to blame someone else.”
“What?”
Despite my calm tone, the duke could not hide his astonishment. It was natural for him to be surprised by this unheard-of side of Luna.
“Why would Luna spread a skin disease in the duchy.”
“Well.”
I looked at the duke, my hands wrapped around a teacup. Other stories had the head of the family noticing first and dealing with it swiftly. But it looks like this place was really clueless about such matters.
“It’s because then my ointment would come under suspicion.”
“…How could that…”
“But it’s been proven not to be because of my ointment, so now she need someone else to blame.”
The duke looked as if he was hearing a foreign language. “Luna wouldn’t do that. How scared she is of you.”
Scared? I couldn’t help but scoff.
“So you mean you don’t believe my word.”
“That’s not what I mean. Siani, is there clear evidence that Luna did it?”
Moreover, the duke seemed unable to bear, or rather, believe my words.
“Of course, Luna has been under my care, though not comparable to my own daughter.”
I became even calmer. I had no intention of complaining how could he not believe his own daughter. That’s noble of him. I’ve met trash who would sell out their own daughter without feeling wronged or resentful.
“I knew from the beginning that Luna was the culprit behind the skin disease incident.”
After all, there’s no disappointment if I don’t expect anything.
“I even gave Luna time to confess to me herself.”
Then, as I continue my words,
“Luna has been spreading useless rumors. If you need a witness, I can bring Aeron to testify right now.”
The duke’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Wait, so you had someone follow Luna?”
“Yes.” My voice was emotionless.
“Siani, even so, having someone follow and spy on her.”
That was not the issue at all right now. But to the duke, it seemed like an unforgivable issue. After all, to him, Luna and Irik were ‘family.’
“Father, Luna tried to blame me for spreading the skin disease.”
“…”
“You know. The vassals who attended the vassal meeting said such things in front of me.”
I started to get irritated, though I didn’t show it outwardly.
“Just because I’ve been cleared of the blame doesn’t mean it’s over. We need to find out who the real culprit is.”
The duke seemed at a loss for words about that.
“If not, I’ll continue to be wronged.”
“…”
“If Father is not interested in going that far, then I have to protect myself.”
The duke inhaled sharply. My words seemed to have struck him quite hard.
“Alright. I understand what you’re saying, but Siani.”
After taking a moment to collect himself, the duke looked at me again. “If Luna had made this claim to me, I would have said the same thing.”
“…”
“But there’s no evidence that Luna did it.”
That damn evidence… If he weren’t the duke, I would have grabbed him by the collar for not understanding me by now.
“Evidence…”
Of course, I was used to being betrayed, to the extent of installing a video sphere in the underground castle ceiling. There was no way I would have said something like this without any evidence.
“Then, Father, please promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“If proper evidence comes out, please send Luna away from the duchy.”
For a moment, the duke’s eyes shook greatly.
“…Alright. If everything you say is true.” But then he firmed his jaw and responded. “I can’t keep Luna here. She has betrayed my trust.”
It seemed like we were finally getting somewhere. The duke might be lenient towards his people, but he was mercilessly rational when needed. His attitude towards the original Siani was proof enough. Then,
“Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting, but Sir Obelo has arrived.”
“Obelo, suddenly?”
At the servant’s words, the duke looked towards the door.
“Obelo, what brings you here?”
“Your Grace, I apologize for the sudden visit.” Obelo entered the office and greeted the duke.
“I heard from Sir Aeron…” Then he looked at me. “Princess has called me here.”
If Luna thought she could threaten me with something as trivial as burdock… She was sorely mistaken.
* * *
“That day, Lady Luna went to the Grand Duchy Benio.”
Obelo snapped his notebook shut.
“Even if Lady Luna is under Your Grace’s guardianship, her official status is that of Baron Lev’s daughter.”
This was the notebook that had brought a storm in the original story.
“Suddenly running to the grand duchy to have a private meeting with the grand prince himself isn’t something that can be done easily.”
A notebook that could claim to contain all the corruption in the grand duchy.
“Then, who could have secretly helped Lady Luna enter the grand duchy?”
“…”
The duke’s expression had completely cooled.
“It must be one of the Felicite’s vassals who have been pushing Lord Irik as the successor.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his words.
“In other words, there’s a secret communication route between a Felicite vassal and the Grand Prince Benio.”
It seemed he had been waiting for this moment, ready to do his duty.
“So, the reason Luna secretly went to the Grand Prince Benio…” The silence filled the office as the duke trailed off.
“Yes. She must have gone to ask the grand prince for help.” I broke the silence. “Ash would be in a position to frame me.”
“…Ha, how could Luna do such a thing?”
The duke, staggering in shock, looked at Obelo. “Why haven’t you told me about this before? Shouldn’t I have been the first to know?” Anger tinged his gaze, more piercing than ever.
“While Your Grace was away, the internal affairs of the duchy have been a mess.”
“…”
“Even the sole direct descendant, the princess, has been troubled by the vassals and your adopted children. Even if I had told you, what would have changed?”
Obelo’s words were quite disrespectful. But he wasn’t wrong.
“The head of a family must choose fairness and rationality over personal emotions and loyalty.”
The duke had loyalty but was swayed by emotions and cared for his people yet was not always fair.
“The previous duke knew your temperament better than anyone, Your Grace. That’s why he left me here.” Obelo’s gaze slowly turned towards me as he spoke without hesitation. “But now that the princess has grown up, and also…”
Following Obelo, the duke’s gaze on me turned complex.
“It seems she’s seeking her position as a direct descendant of Felicite, so I brought out this notebook.”
The duke must have been feeling an enormous sense of shock and betrayal, as well as shame.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Also, he must have felt as if the trust he had placed in Luna over the years was being completely denied.
“Luna hasn’t been in the duchy for just a day or two.”
“Yes. So, sending her away now would not look good to the public.”
It was a natural outcome. In reality, nobles supporting orphanages and becoming guardians were for their own image. But to kick out an adopted child as they come of age… That would be fatal for Duke Felicite.
“Ah, by the way, Father, Luna will become an adult after her birthday this year.”
I smiled nonchalantly. “You should find her a good marriage partner now.”
“…A good marriage partner?”
“The Grand Duke Benio’s family.”
“What?”
The original story had already twisted.
“You know how much Luna was looking forward to Ash’s welcoming party.”
Then…
“Ash also came here personally to see Luna.”
I had to find my way in the changed flow.
“Ash and Luna would match very well.”
As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
* * *
“What?”
“Why? Did you plan to live with Luna forever?”
“That’s not it, but it’s just so sudden…”
“A lady from a fallen baron’s family rising to the position of the grand prince’s wife, shouldn’t you be happy?”
Irik’s eyes shook greatly, perhaps surprised by my words.
“Luna would be very happy too. With her ambition, she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she became the crown princess.”
The crown princess, I laughed lightly to hide my true thoughts.
“Our empire doesn’t have a ‘crown prince’ yet.”
Why isn’t there? Our Rere is whining even today.
If things went as in the original story, Redian would be the crown prince, and Luna would be the crown princess. Luna earned her position by handing over Obelo’s notebook to Redian and playing a part in the destruction of the Felicite family.
Even if I raise Rere well and survive… If Luna, as the crown princess, tried to threaten the duchy or me, there would be no way to stop her.
“But whether Ash Benio would accept that.”
“Benio will accept.”
Because that man would do anything to provoke me. Besides, Luna was exactly the type of woman he had been looking for.
“Siani, no, Sister. If Luna becomes the grand prince’s wife, her position will be higher than yours. Then…” Irik spoke urgently but hesitated for a moment. He seemed unable to say outright that Luna would harm her.
“Well, who knows what will happen to the Grand Duke Benio’s family in the future.”
“…What?”
I thought about Ash’s weaknesses, which I had carefully collected. The moment Rere becomes the crown prince, I would hand them all over to Redian. Whether Grand Duke Benio’s family falls or not is none of my business.
“You should worry about your younger sister. You don’t need to worry about me.”
The crown prince of this empire is my child. What’s there to fear? Besides, the emperor, the empress, and the royal princess are my close friends, so what a soon-to-fall grand prince’s wife to me?
“Older Sister!”
At that moment, the door to the parlor burst open.
“What was all that about just now?”
“Oh my, Luna.”
Having heard the news, Luna glared at me.
“Marriage? That’s ridiculous. You’re just trying to drive me out of our duchy!”
“Well…”
I smiled kindly at Luna.
“You should have listened when I spoke nicely.”
“What do you mean, Siani?”
The duke had an expression of hearing something absurd.
“Luna, why would that kind child do such a thing…”
Indeed, to the duke’s eyes, Luna was innocent and kind.
“Because she spread a skin disease in the duchy. If she didn’t want to get caught, she had to blame someone else.”
“What?”
Despite my calm tone, the duke could not hide his astonishment. It was natural for him to be surprised by this unheard-of side of Luna.
“Why would Luna spread a skin disease in the duchy.”
“Well.”
I looked at the duke, my hands wrapped around a teacup. Other stories had the head of the family noticing first and dealing with it swiftly. But it looks like this place was really clueless about such matters.
“It’s because then my ointment would come under suspicion.”
“…How could that…”
“But it’s been proven not to be because of my ointment, so now she need someone else to blame.”
The duke looked as if he was hearing a foreign language. “Luna wouldn’t do that. How scared she is of you.”
Scared? I couldn’t help but scoff.
“So you mean you don’t believe my word.”
“That’s not what I mean. Siani, is there clear evidence that Luna did it?”
Moreover, the duke seemed unable to bear, or rather, believe my words.
“Of course, Luna has been under my care, though not comparable to my own daughter.”
I became even calmer. I had no intention of complaining how could he not believe his own daughter. That’s noble of him. I’ve met trash who would sell out their own daughter without feeling wronged or resentful.
“I knew from the beginning that Luna was the culprit behind the skin disease incident.”
After all, there’s no disappointment if I don’t expect anything.
“I even gave Luna time to confess to me herself.”
Then, as I continue my words,
“Luna has been spreading useless rumors. If you need a witness, I can bring Aeron to testify right now.”
The duke’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Wait, so you had someone follow Luna?”
“Yes.” My voice was emotionless.
“Siani, even so, having someone follow and spy on her.”
That was not the issue at all right now. But to the duke, it seemed like an unforgivable issue. After all, to him, Luna and Irik were ‘family.’
“Father, Luna tried to blame me for spreading the skin disease.”
“…”
“You know. The vassals who attended the vassal meeting said such things in front of me.”
I started to get irritated, though I didn’t show it outwardly.
“Just because I’ve been cleared of the blame doesn’t mean it’s over. We need to find out who the real culprit is.”
The duke seemed at a loss for words about that.
“If not, I’ll continue to be wronged.”
“…”
“If Father is not interested in going that far, then I have to protect myself.”
The duke inhaled sharply. My words seemed to have struck him quite hard.
“Alright. I understand what you’re saying, but Siani.”
After taking a moment to collect himself, the duke looked at me again. “If Luna had made this claim to me, I would have said the same thing.”
“…”
“But there’s no evidence that Luna did it.”
That damn evidence… If he weren’t the duke, I would have grabbed him by the collar for not understanding me by now.
“Evidence…”
Of course, I was used to being betrayed, to the extent of installing a video sphere in the underground castle ceiling. There was no way I would have said something like this without any evidence.
“Then, Father, please promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“If proper evidence comes out, please send Luna away from the duchy.”
For a moment, the duke’s eyes shook greatly.
“…Alright. If everything you say is true.” But then he firmed his jaw and responded. “I can’t keep Luna here. She has betrayed my trust.”
It seemed like we were finally getting somewhere. The duke might be lenient towards his people, but he was mercilessly rational when needed. His attitude towards the original Siani was proof enough. Then,
“Your Grace, I apologize for interrupting, but Sir Obelo has arrived.”
“Obelo, suddenly?”
At the servant’s words, the duke looked towards the door.
“Obelo, what brings you here?”
“Your Grace, I apologize for the sudden visit.” Obelo entered the office and greeted the duke.
“I heard from Sir Aeron…” Then he looked at me. “Princess has called me here.”
If Luna thought she could threaten me with something as trivial as burdock… She was sorely mistaken.
* * *
“That day, Lady Luna went to the Grand Duchy Benio.”
Obelo snapped his notebook shut.
“Even if Lady Luna is under Your Grace’s guardianship, her official status is that of Baron Lev’s daughter.”
This was the notebook that had brought a storm in the original story.
“Suddenly running to the grand duchy to have a private meeting with the grand prince himself isn’t something that can be done easily.”
A notebook that could claim to contain all the corruption in the grand duchy.
“Then, who could have secretly helped Lady Luna enter the grand duchy?”
“…”
The duke’s expression had completely cooled.
“It must be one of the Felicite’s vassals who have been pushing Lord Irik as the successor.”
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his words.
“In other words, there’s a secret communication route between a Felicite vassal and the Grand Prince Benio.”
It seemed he had been waiting for this moment, ready to do his duty.
“So, the reason Luna secretly went to the Grand Prince Benio…” The silence filled the office as the duke trailed off.
“Yes. She must have gone to ask the grand prince for help.” I broke the silence. “Ash would be in a position to frame me.”
“…Ha, how could Luna do such a thing?”
The duke, staggering in shock, looked at Obelo. “Why haven’t you told me about this before? Shouldn’t I have been the first to know?” Anger tinged his gaze, more piercing than ever.
“While Your Grace was away, the internal affairs of the duchy have been a mess.”
“…”
“Even the sole direct descendant, the princess, has been troubled by the vassals and your adopted children. Even if I had told you, what would have changed?”
Obelo’s words were quite disrespectful. But he wasn’t wrong.
“The head of a family must choose fairness and rationality over personal emotions and loyalty.”
The duke had loyalty but was swayed by emotions and cared for his people yet was not always fair.
“The previous duke knew your temperament better than anyone, Your Grace. That’s why he left me here.” Obelo’s gaze slowly turned towards me as he spoke without hesitation. “But now that the princess has grown up, and also…”
Following Obelo, the duke’s gaze on me turned complex.
“It seems she’s seeking her position as a direct descendant of Felicite, so I brought out this notebook.”
The duke must have been feeling an enormous sense of shock and betrayal, as well as shame.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Also, he must have felt as if the trust he had placed in Luna over the years was being completely denied.
“Luna hasn’t been in the duchy for just a day or two.”
“Yes. So, sending her away now would not look good to the public.”
It was a natural outcome. In reality, nobles supporting orphanages and becoming guardians were for their own image. But to kick out an adopted child as they come of age… That would be fatal for Duke Felicite.
“Ah, by the way, Father, Luna will become an adult after her birthday this year.”
I smiled nonchalantly. “You should find her a good marriage partner now.”
“…A good marriage partner?”
“The Grand Duke Benio’s family.”
“What?”
The original story had already twisted.
“You know how much Luna was looking forward to Ash’s welcoming party.”
Then…
“Ash also came here personally to see Luna.”
I had to find my way in the changed flow.
“Ash and Luna would match very well.”
As they say, birds of a feather flock together.
* * *
“What?”
“Why? Did you plan to live with Luna forever?”
“That’s not it, but it’s just so sudden…”
“A lady from a fallen baron’s family rising to the position of the grand prince’s wife, shouldn’t you be happy?”
Irik’s eyes shook greatly, perhaps surprised by my words.
“Luna would be very happy too. With her ambition, she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she became the crown princess.”
The crown princess, I laughed lightly to hide my true thoughts.
“Our empire doesn’t have a ‘crown prince’ yet.”
Why isn’t there? Our Rere is whining even today.
If things went as in the original story, Redian would be the crown prince, and Luna would be the crown princess. Luna earned her position by handing over Obelo’s notebook to Redian and playing a part in the destruction of the Felicite family.
Even if I raise Rere well and survive… If Luna, as the crown princess, tried to threaten the duchy or me, there would be no way to stop her.
“But whether Ash Benio would accept that.”
“Benio will accept.”
Because that man would do anything to provoke me. Besides, Luna was exactly the type of woman he had been looking for.
“Siani, no, Sister. If Luna becomes the grand prince’s wife, her position will be higher than yours. Then…” Irik spoke urgently but hesitated for a moment. He seemed unable to say outright that Luna would harm her.
“Well, who knows what will happen to the Grand Duke Benio’s family in the future.”
“…What?”
I thought about Ash’s weaknesses, which I had carefully collected. The moment Rere becomes the crown prince, I would hand them all over to Redian. Whether Grand Duke Benio’s family falls or not is none of my business.
“You should worry about your younger sister. You don’t need to worry about me.”
The crown prince of this empire is my child. What’s there to fear? Besides, the emperor, the empress, and the royal princess are my close friends, so what a soon-to-fall grand prince’s wife to me?
“Older Sister!”
At that moment, the door to the parlor burst open.
“What was all that about just now?”
“Oh my, Luna.”
Having heard the news, Luna glared at me.
“Marriage? That’s ridiculous. You’re just trying to drive me out of our duchy!”
“Well…”
I smiled kindly at Luna.
“You should have listened when I spoke nicely.”
