Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: This Marriage Will Definitely Succeed (7)

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7

If it had been like before, she would have done everything in her power to soothe Richardt's displeasure, but her own mindset had changed completely since then.

Iona no longer had any intention of scrambling to play the role of a tongue inside his mouth. That decision had been made the moment she chose to side with the duke.

She planned to make this marriage succeed perfectly without sabotaging it like she had in the past, and that meant going directly against Richardt.

'Even if it means denying my entire previous life.'

As sorry as she felt for her old master, who had never once doubted her loyalty, she didn't feel much regret.

"This is an insult to us. Does it make any sense that they wouldn't even assign us a guide?"

"If there had been a guide, it would've felt like we were under surveillance. This is better."

"What's the big deal about keeping quiet for a bit while we're moving? It's not like it's anything major."

"Yeah, I'm starting to regret it myself. If you'd been with someone else, you might've actually stayed quiet."

Duke Leroy replied without hiding his fatigue.

Yonas, who had been stuck to his side chattering complaints, finally shut his mouth. Then he glared at his lord with eyes full of venom.

That betrayed expression probably meant something like, 'How could you say that to me, who devotes my whole body to loyalty...'

But instead of indulging his subordinate's cute tantrum, Leroy chose to ignore it.

He'd been in a foul mood ever since the sudden marriage decision.

Who could have predicted that the head of the Han Ducal Family—once called the pinnacle of noble houses—would receive such treatment in the imperial palace?

When he thought back on the past, there were many turning points that stood out, but one thing was certain: it had all started with a marriage.

Since ancient times, the Han Ducal Family had maintained close ties with their neighboring Schmidt Count family, keeping good relations as neighbors.

Especially over the past half-century, the two houses had been unusually intimate, even going so far as to pair off their children born around the same time, reading too much into the coincidence.

Thanks to that, Leroy had a fiancée who'd been betrothed to him since they were the same age—more like childhood friends than lovers.

The incident erupted suddenly seven years ago, on a summer day when the rainy season dragged on unusually long.

The Schmidt Count family was suddenly accused of colluding with a foreign power and subjected to intense investigation.

Various ledgers and lists that could be interpreted as treasonous were uncovered, and the count's entire family was executed without warning.

The fallout splashed onto the ducal family due to the engagement.

The imperial family presumed the ducals had lent strength to the count's irreverent plot.

They occupied the private lands under the pretext of investigation and dragged off close relatives for detention. With business paralyzed, the flow of funds naturally ground to a halt.

And then, very abruptly, the previous duke and duchess died in an unfortunate accident.

No one among the ducal household believed it was mere coincidence.

It happened right when the investigation, unable to find solid evidence, was fizzling out. Those who wanted the family's decline must have needed some kind of result.

Without a central figure, the group crumbled quickly, leaving Leroy alone. He'd lost his lifelong family and the people who were soon to become his family.

'What a picture-perfect tragedy.'

Leroy muttered to himself with bitter sarcasm.

He often felt like the tragedy that had befallen him didn't feel real.

That was precisely why, after inheriting the title, he'd been able to pour all his energy into restoring the family's glory.

He was in some abnormal state, and he couldn't live properly without returning it to normal.

Just as the family name, once hushed up by all, was gradually regaining its former prestige, bad news disguised as good tidings arrived from the imperial family.

Pairing him with the imperial family's famous dog? It was clearly an attempt to leash him under the excuse of harmony.

The moment he heard the name of his bride-to-be, Leroy thought this might be less tragedy and more farce.

'Of all people, her.'

Iona Modroff, the woman everyone called Crown Prince Richardt's loyal hound.

Living as a normal couple was impossible from the start, and she'd probably make him worry about his own neck every time they shared a bed.

If he had one question, it was whether her own will had been considered in selecting this bride.

"The Crown Prince will regret treating you this way someday."

Yonas muttered gloomily.

Leroy quietly agreed but reached out an arm to restrain his subordinate, as if to warn him.

He whispered a caution.

"Someone's coming."

Footsteps were approaching from afar.

It would be trouble if their disloyal words leaked out due to carelessness.

Yonas fell instantly silent. The two walked down the corridor as if nothing had happened.

Right on cue, a woman appeared around the corner.

Her blue uniform suggested she was an imperial knight.

But Leroy recognized her not by the attire, but by her mirror-like translucent silver hair.

'Iona Modroff?'

The woman seemed to spot them too and stopped in her tracks with a startled face.

For a split second, Leroy—though it sounded absurd—thought her face flushed with something like joy.

It must have been his imagination. When he looked again after snapping out of it, her expression had returned to perfect neutrality.

Instead of ignoring them and passing by, she strode forward and stopped in front of them.

Then, with unexpectedly courteous manners, she asked:

"Pleased to meet you. I am Iona Modroff of the Imperial Knight Order. Are you on your way to see His Highness the Crown Prince, by any chance?"

Yonas blinked dumbly at her introduction.

He couldn't expect help from his dazed subordinate. Leroy subtly shielded Yonas with his body and replied.

"That's right. I didn't expect to run into you like this again. Good to see you, Lady Iona."

"Have we met separately before?"

"I've entered the capital enough times that it's not impossible."

"I'm sorry I don't remember."

She apologized, not hiding her bewilderment.

She truly seemed to have no recollection of their prior encounter.

In a way, it was only natural, so Leroy wasn't particularly disappointed.

What he was really curious about was why she'd approached him so amiably. They weren't the type to exchange friendly greetings.

Yet Iona acted as if oblivious to the tangled power struggles between them and even offered to escort him.

"I worry I might be interrupting your time, but would you allow me the honor of guiding you to your destination?"

He couldn't read her exact thoughts, but it didn't seem like mere lack of tact.

She had quickly sensed their current predicament and offered help—in a way that wouldn't bruise their pride.

"Thanks, but I'll pass. I know the way well enough and don't want to waste a busy person's time."

Of course, whether to accept that inexplicable goodwill was another matter.

As Leroy, having cleanly refused, moved to bid farewell, something utterly unexpected happened.

His interlocutor expressed clear disappointment on her face.

"I'm not that busy right now, though..."

An awkward silence flowed between them.

At this point, Iona should have excused herself first, but she stood there like a nail driven into the floor in front of him.

She seemed to be hoping he'd change his mind and accept her company.

Unable to stand it any longer, Yonas prodded Leroy in an awkward voice.

"Uh, uh. Should we get going then?"

Only then did Iona realize they were uncomfortable and hurriedly stepped aside.

She saluted Leroy crisply.

"Then I'll see you later. Take care."

Leroy and Yonas passed her by, feeling somehow flustered and awkward.

Once they'd put some distance between them, Yonas finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding.

He muttered to himself in a voice full of utter incomprehension.

"...She's nice?"