The low, subdued voice was so chilling that Ione almost forgot to breathe. Still, she managed to come up with a plausible response.
"As a citizen of the Empire... it's an honor to assist His Grace, the Grand Duke."
"...Unlike the Grand Duke, you are not allowed to remarry after a divorce."
I know.
If someone who had entered the imperial registry were to divorce and then marry another noble, the family lineage would become hopelessly entangled.
Her path to marriage had effectively been cut off in an instant, but for Ione, that wasn't what mattered most.
"Will you not regret this?"
"Regret, Your Majesty? Even if only for a short while, being by the Grand Duke's side will remain the greatest honor of my life."
Ione responded calmly, doing her best not to let her excitement show at the Emperor's seemingly approving tone.
"Young Lady."
It was the moment the Emperor called her with a subtle nuance in his voice.
"Hah?!"
The Grand Duke, who had been watching their conversation like a bystander, suddenly scoffed.
"And how exactly am I supposed to take all of this?"
As both of their eyes turned toward him, the Grand Duke slowly crossed his legs and murmured coldly,
"Thinking of running away before we're even married…"
"A bride, is it?"
His icy blue gaze, sharp as a finely honed blade, pierced straight through her.
"...."
Ione felt a pang of unease under the weight of his stare but forced a harmless-looking smile.
If she showed even a hint of hesitation here, it would be over.
"I'll do my best for the Grand Duke over the next three years."
A smile free of ulterior motives and a sweet, sincere promise,it was more powerful than a hundred excuses.
"I give my permission."
At last, the long-awaited approval came from the Emperor.
"Then while the warp formation is being prepared, it would be best for the future Grand Duchess to rest a bit and enjoy some refreshments."
At first glance, it sounded like a considerate suggestion—but it was clearly a polite dismissal.
Ione didn't protest and quietly stepped back.
She didn't want to stay caught between the Emperor and the Grand Duke any longer, and besides, she was tired.
*****
"Do you have a preferred tea, my lady?"
Just as Ione was about to sit on the sofa arranged in one corner of the reception room, she perked up at the maid's question.
At dawn, the Emperor's envoy and a maid had suddenly stormed into her home and whisked her away before she could even respond with more than a dazed "Huh?"
By the time she came to her senses, it was already noon.
Now that she had made it past one hurdle, the tension began to lift, and with it came the exhaustion and hunger.
But tea and tea snacks, of all things!
"What kinds of tea are available?"
"We can provide anything you desire, without lacking."
The cold voice and haughty tone were like thorns.
As she adjusted the hem of her dress, Ione instinctively glanced at the maid.
The maid's expression was composed, her posture impeccable as she waited for an answer.
"..."
Ah. So this is the imperial palace.
Eone accepted the maid's arrogance as part of the royal package, then resumed fixing her dress while considering her order.
If nothing is lacking, then instead of tea… I'd really like an iced Americano.
An iced Americano that chills you all the way down to your stomach.
Just one cup of coffee and a slice of sweet cake would be enough to blow away all this fatigue and drowsiness in an instant!
Unfortunately, this world didn't have coffee.
"Then could you prepare some chilled black tea and sweet tea snacks?"
"With plenty of ice."
At Ione's added request, the maid's composed smile twisted ever so slightly.
What was that just now…?
The drowsiness that had been weighing on her like a heavy fog instantly vanished, replaced by a strange prickling at the back of her neck.
"Is there no ice available?"
"That's not it… it's just that… this is the first time I've encountered a request so... out of season."
At the end of her sentence, the maid even let out a quiet sigh.
Oh? Is that how it's going to be?
So basically, asking for something like iced tea in this season—when no one else is drinking it—must have come off as absurd. Is that it?
Ione furrowed her brows.
She couldn't quite understand why the maid was being so rude to her.
But then, a flash of realization struck her.
"Ah..."
Of course—why even question it?
This was just the kind of narrative reserved for the villainous ex-wife who was supposed to throw tantrums and stir up drama.
And any seasoned reader of K-romance fantasy would know: when faced with a thorny path like this, the smart thing to do is step aside.
Of course, she didn't forget to feign ignorance while tossing in a little jab.
"Oh my, there's no ice, is that it? I must have been unaware of the circumstances…"
"No, my lady. I'll have it prepared right away."
The maid, who had been acting arrogantly all along, seemed as if she'd just been deeply insulted by Ione's subtle jab questioning the standards of the imperial palace. Scowling, she stormed out of the room.
Once the door had closed, Ione scrunched up her face and threw a fist into the air.
"Ugh!"
So annoying!
How could a maid act like that toward a guest of the Emperor—toward the woman who was to become the Grand Duchess?
Unacceptable!
Absolutely unacceptable!
"Whew…"
Even though her temper flared, she had to keep it in check.
She couldn't let herself get caught up in the original storyline that was so eager to cast her as the villainess.
Count Harbert was the one who recommended you as the Grand Duchess!
Ione vividly remembered the look of surprise and awe on Baron Clarke's face.
Baron Clarke had excitedly gone on to explain who Count Harbert was, but to Ione, or rather, in the original story; he was a complete unknown.
"Harbert, Garbert, whatever..."
Who he was didn't matter to Ione.
What mattered was that the story was clearly determined to push forward, even going so far as to drag in characters who hadn't even existed in the original plot. It was the overwhelming force of the narrative at work.
The thought still gave her chills, and she rubbed the back of her neck uneasily.
Sure, the maid's arrogance had been annoying, but swallowing that insult wouldn't kill her.
Letting her guard down and getting swept away by the original storyline, though?
That could.
Ione firmly resolved not to give the Grand Duke any reason to catch her slipping.
Her life was on the line, after all—and as long as she survived, her future was looking bright.
The rewards promised by the Emperor weren't just immunity or protection; they included staggering benefits.
For example, what felt like a personal fortune deposited through the imperial bank.
"But how much is 300 million gold in Korean won…?"
She didn't know the exchange rate.
Tilting her head, folding her fingers thoughtfully, Ione smiled to herself.
"Whatever the exact amount, it's definitely a huge sum."
There's nothing like financial therapy in the world.
Her anger cooled instantly, and motivation surged up in a flash.
Her anger cooled instantly, and motivation surged up in a flash.
Now that it's come to this, I will definitely survive!
*****
"Don't kill her."
"What do you mean by that?"
With a cold expression and a voice devoid of warmth, Adrian erased the trained smile from his face the moment Ione left and he was alone with the Emperor.
Without the usual polite smile, he looked like a sharply honed blade, terrifying enough to intimidate anyone.
Yet the Emperor, who had known him for many years, smiled gently without the slightest sign of hesitation and continued speaking.
"Poor thing."
Adrian found it difficult to understand the Emperor's sudden words.
He wasn't sure if it was mercy shown simply because he was the Emperor, or if it was concern stemming from seeing himself as a monster.
"Of course I wouldn't have sent just anyone to you. She was the only one recommended, but if she hadn't been suitable, I would have sent her back."
"..."
"She's clever and kind. And quite cute, too, don't you think? She seems to have a strong spirit. I figured she was better than those other young ladies."
While Adrian savored the aroma of his tea, the Emperor continued praising Ione.
"They said the Baroness has an illness, but it's not hereditary."
Even after their cups were refilled, the conversation didn't cease.
It was far too long and tedious.
This wasn't a conversation he should have to listen to quietly, let alone one the Emperor should be having.
After all, the person he was speaking about was none other than Adrian van Preses's own wife.
"It would be best to stop."
Though Adrian clearly warned him that he was overstepping, the Emperor shook his head.
"Promise me, Adrian. Promise that you will do your best for three years. Even if you welcome someone new after those three years, you'll let Lady Clarke go safely."
"..."
"Adrian, there's no such thing as fate or love in this. So put all your effort into it, alright?"
Adrian's expression was desperate as he looked at the Emperor who was making his requests.
The Emperor, whom he had known his entire life, suddenly felt very unfamiliar.
The man spoke with the same face, the same voice as himself, but now, he irritated him.
Adrian quietly rolled the empty teacup in his hands.
Yet, he wasn't sure why it annoyed him so much.
Was it because the Emperor's authority was being challenged by a mere "van" of his name…?
Or was it that the interference of family had become too bothersome…?
"..."
Lost in this vague discomfort, Adrian was called again by the Emperor.
"Would you like another cup?"
"This is sufficient for now."
"Adrian, having one more cup of tea isn't such a difficult thing."
"But two teapots is clearly too much."
It had started as a tea time with the simple instruction to have just one cup.
Yet, with the Emperor's endless encouragement of "just one more," it had somehow become two full teapots.
He could feel the tea sloshing at the back of his tongue.
The conversation hadn't been pleasant, and since it had already been well over an hour, Adrian felt this was enough effort to show the Emperor.
"I should be going back now."
"Why can't you stay just a little longer?"
"Wasn't it because of the Grand Duchess issue that you were summoned here so many times? If you want, the Grand Duchess can be—"
"You're right. Now we have to clean up the mess in the North."
This was no exaggeration.
The North was literally in chaos.
Before the cold season began, Adrian usually toured the North to take care of areas showing early signs of trouble.
If he didn't, the monster wave the North would face in the dead of winter would be enormous.
But this time, he hadn't been able to do so—because the Emperor kept calling on him without rest.
The knights did their best, but they were still just knights.
No one could compare to Adrian, the empire's only magic swordsman, stepping in personally.
At this rate, the North might face an unprecedentedly harsh monster wave this winter.
"It's not even midwinter yet...!"
"But we've already found monsters that have hatched from their eggs because the situation wasn't handled in time."
"Adrian!"
Rising from his seat, Adrian bowed to meet the Emperor's gaze.
The so-called tea time was partly to conclude the discussion about the Grand Duchess, but more precisely, it was to wait for the Emperor's fiancée.
Knowing that, Adrian no longer wanted to linger in this gathering.
"Or should I put it this way? I don't want to spend any more time on Your Majesty's 'fiancée.'"