Chapter 29

Translated by XyeHeart Edited by XyeHeart

Dustin’s territory lay to the east, and Duke Anais lay to the west.

He has no desire for power and prefers to stay in the duchy rather than the capital, so he established an academy to help young people achieve their goals.

Although the Empire had many academies, the Alvin Academy in the Duchy of Anais was open to everyone, noble or commoner.

Selina, Duke Dustin’s vassal, was a professor at the Alvin Academy.

“Are you going back?”

“Yes, an outstanding student is waiting.”

“That place is….”

“I have submitted my resignation letter.” Selina said as she cleaned her room where she was staying.

Despite the fact that her colleague appeared depressed, she knew Selina had no regrets about her time at the academy.

Every year, she produces excellent students, and Selina has progressed from a good student to a good mentor.

She taught students after graduating, but she had yet to meet a student who was above her level.

‘Well, if it’s on the same level, it’d be Princess Juliana.’

They’ve only had a few conversations with her, who locks herself in the academy library and reads her books, but she never fails to receive the highest grade.

And Selina had to leave. It was because Princess Meriel, Dustin’s Grand Duchess, was waiting for her.

“You’re guiding the Grand Duchess? She is said to be a fool.”

“Be careful with your words, Buddy.”

“Why?”

“Should I put things in my mouth that I’ve only heard through rumors and haven’t confirmed?”

“That’s right.”

“You know I’m from the Denver family, a vassal of Duke Dustin, right?”

The teacher bit her lower lip tightly, as if she had forgotten.

When Selina returned to the academy, that was all she heard.

Whether Princess Meriel is truly a fool, how can a Grand Duke marry a fool, and so on.

She went to those who said that and told them that the princess was not a fool and that Princess Meriel had an intelligence that no one could deal with.

But she never listened to Selina.

No matter how good a teacher she is, the story of a foolish princess that has been going on for 14 years has already become a fact in the hearts of many people.

Selina could not undo the story of the foolish princess on her own.

“She is the one I will be serving in the future. Please be more careful with your words and actions.”

She nodded silently, stood awkwardly for a moment, then said goodbye and exited the room.

She was offended by Selina’s cold and blunt words.

Then someone knocked on Selina’s door. As if she was waiting for her to be alone.

“Please come in.”

Selina was perplexed because no one had ever met her except Buddy.

The person who entered through her door bowed and greeted her. She was holding a large luggage bag.

“What can I do for you, student Juliana?”

“I heard you’re returning to Dustin.”

“What does that have to do with you, student Juliana? I’m no longer an academy teacher. Can I still refer to you as a student?” Selina rephrased her own words.

“Well, I don’t mind if you call me a student.”

“..….”

“However, I am no longer an academy student.”

“I understand there is still some time until graduation.”

“I’ve already withdrew.”

She shrugged lightly and tossed her bag to the side. She sat on top of her luggage bag, which she had brought, and looked around the empty room.

“Take me to Dustin Estate as well.”

“I will not.”

“Even if you decline, I will go with you.”

“What exactly are you thinking?”

“All I’m going to do is see my sister.”

Juliana shrugged her shoulders and crossed her legs.

“I couldn’t make it to the wedding, so I just wanted to say hello,” she explained.

“……”

“There’s no reason to refuse to accompany me, is there?”

“Don’t you remember what happened on the wedding day?” Selina abruptly asked.

“I heard it was done by a dimwit named Diana.”

“You mean, you want me to take someone from an imperial family to Dustin estate?”

Juliana smirked at Selina’s cold words.

Selina was the one who was embarrassed by her outlandish reaction.

A woman who had been living in the library came out to see her sister. She never looked for Meriel, even after she went insane.

Meriel, who was discussing her royal family, described Juliana as “I don’t know her.” She didn’t know anything else about her because she hadn’t seen her shadow in 14 years.

Juliana was not at the forced ball where Meriel met Diana. Juliana, left for the academy a year after she became a fool.

“It’s good to be alert, but there’s an old adage about keeping your enemies close. Isn’t it permissible to take imperial information from me?” Juliana stated.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Did I mention? I did it because I wanted to see my sister.” Juliana creased one of her brows.

Selina could tell she was going to Dustin regardless of her feelings. She had already left the academy and had brought her luggage with her.

“All right, but first you must obtain permission from the Grand Duke.”

“I can wait, he’ll probably let me.”

“……”

Selina, who frowned a lot, developed a wrinkle on her brow.

She had no idea what she was thinking. She wasn’t known as the “Ghost of the Library” for nothing.

She put her in touch with the Grand Duke’s through the Correspondent, but the Grand Duke, as she stated, allowed her to come to Dustin.

“Did I just tell you that?”

“Are you familiar with the Grand Duke?” Selina was perplexed.

“I say, is there anyone in the Empire who hasn’t heard of the monster Grand Duke?”

“That’s not the case…”

“This is the first time I’ve seen Selina so irritated,” she chuckled.

“……”

“We used to hang out a lot when we were younger. He used to frequently visit the Imperial Palace to play.”

She gave a bitter smile, as if she was remembering something she had missed. Selina couldn’t help but pick up her luggage, despite her embarrassment.

“There’s a carriage out there.”

“That’s great! Should we go?”

Selina sighed as she saw Juliana standing in front of her.

Juliana seemed to remember the Grand Duke well, unlike Meriel, who doesn’t remember him at all.

‘I probably didn’t like the Grand Duke when I was younger.’

Then she didn’t want her to take her to Dustin even more. Selina preferred Meriel to Juliana. She couldn’t help herself because Meriel was already married to the Grand Duke, and she didn’t want to see Meriel upset.

Despite the fact that it was only a few minutes, Selina was satisfied with the conversation with Meriel. Selina made a deep decision in her heart as she climbed into the carriage.

When she arrives at the siege, she must remain by her side so that Juliana does not bully Meriel.

* * *

The lady in the mirror had lovely orange hair and amber eyes. She liked the length of her light blue dress, which barely covered her knees.

“What are your thoughts?” she asked.

Klaus, who had arrived early in the drawing room, looked in the mirror, then at Meriel, who was spinning, and quietly shook his head.

“It’s too lewd.”

“What in the world do you mean?”

“Your chest area!…Isn’t the top part a little too deep?”

“What do we do with all of this then?”

Apellia has been sewing clothes for Meriel in the dressing room since her wedding gown. She claimed to have found her ideal muse and was sending her outfits every day.

Apellia’s dress appealed to Meriel. Meriel was captivated by her lace-adorned princess-like, moderately revealing gowns.

“Apellia is a fantastic designer.”

“I wouldn’t have left you if I’d known how she’d make such obscene clothes.”

“Klaus, please open your heart.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“It means you’re very narrow minded.”

Meriel turned to face Klaus, who was perplexed and had a distorted expression on the mirror.

“Who is so narrow-minded?”

“The Grand Duke who is currently sitting in that manner.”

Meriel double-checked her appearance and naturally walked over to Klaus’s sofa.

“Are you upset?”

“No,” he said, sighing.

“You realize I’m joking, don’t you?”

“Didn’t you tell Kiyan about my narrow-mindedness?”

“Why are you repeating yourself?”

“……”

“Kiyan is just as narrow-minded as you are.”

“And you have such a light mouth.” ( T/N: This, I believe, is an idiomatic expression.)

Meriel looked disappointed as she picked up the candy from the refreshments that came with her tea. As she looked at him, she gulped down some sweet candy.

In shock, Klaus kept his mouth shut.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never met Kiyan lately.”

“He would have returned to the capital.”

“Without informing me?”

“Does he have any reason to tell you?”

“We’re good friends.”

“Don’t get too close to other men.”

“It’s Kiyan.”

Klaus shook his head, a subtle expression on his face.

“No, you still can’t.”

Meriel gnawed on her candy while staring at him. It was subtle, but his jealousy came through.

‘What is it that you are jealous of in yourself?’

Even that expression was endearing.

Meriel straightened up, convinced that she was firmly in love with Klaus.

She looked lovely in her gown and is now sitting in the reception room because guests have arrived.

“Are you saying Princess Juliana is on her way?”

“Yes.”

“I have no recollection of Princess Juliana…”

Meriel nodded lightly when she learned that Juliana had not been seen because she had gone to the academy.

She had little memory before she became a fool, but the name Juliana did not frighten her. Rather, she was relieved.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you this question for a long time. May I ask directly?” Klaus asked unexpectedly.

“Of course.”

“Do you remember anything before you became a fool?”

“Well…”

Meriel recalled being five years old 14 years ago.

“I recall having fun with my parents.”

“And?”

“I also recall the circumstances surrounding my parents’ deaths.”

“How far back do you recall?”

As if trapped in a fog, Meriel wandered through her hazy memories. Meriel’s head ached slightly because she had to locate the real Meriel’s memory, not her own.

Klaus looked at her with a frown on one side.

It appears that it did. Even when she was young, there was someone who always looked at her with a worried expression.

‘Who was it?’

X♥X

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