Chapter 3: It became a northern anti -aircraft

Helena Celestia. The eldest daughter of the Celestia family, one of the four renowned ducal houses of the Empire.

She was also a villainess who had made a name for herself in high society, even known in this remote northern land.

I rarely attended high society events unless it was the Crown Prince’s birthday party, so I wasn’t well-versed in the happenings there.

However, I’d heard rumors that she had poured champagne over the head of a certain countess’s daughter who was making her debut in society for the first time.

And that the Crown Prince had protected that lady, and that Duchess Celestia, who was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, had been publicly shamed by the Crown Prince—was that it?

Well, the Crown Prince’s personality was trash anyway, so it wasn’t much different. I frowned, recalling the obnoxious Crown Prince’s face.

‘By the way, this was a world from a romance fantasy novel.’

The Crown Prince, the villainess, the countess’s heroine, and even me, the Northern Grand Duke. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t help but think it was a romance fantasy world.

I shuddered at the world-building I had only realized after 21 years.

So, I wondered if I was like a second male lead, opposing the Crown Prince, who was the male lead, and the heroine, shrugging my shoulders.

It was a truly amusing situation.

But what a pity, author. I have no intention of being captivated by that countess’s daughter, who I assume is the heroine.

Hmm. If she were pretty, I might be captivated, but I had no desire to oppose the Crown Prince.

‘…If she’s really pretty, maybe I’ll even stage a rebellion.’

As I forcibly suppressed the laughter that threatened to escape while having such foolish thoughts, I waved my hand at Sai, who was looking at me with a bewildered expression, as if to say it was nothing.

As if he read my intentions, Sai redirected his gaze to the maid.

He truly was a loyal old retainer of our family. Even if I laughed like a madman by myself, he’d pretend not to notice.

I withdrew my pleased gaze and refocused my attention on the maid.

The maid, directly meeting my gaze, seemed to tremble slightly, but it must have been my imagination.

I felt unnecessarily sorry for her.

I could understand the maid’s reaction. Especially if she was a newcomer like that maid.

Our family rarely had visitors, and being in the cold and harsh North, colder than the capital, we’d never had female guests, let alone male friends.

Regrettably, I hadn’t had any male friends of the same gender either. Because I had no friends.

As I subtly frowned, feeling unnecessarily gloomy, I saw the maid trembling like a small animal facing a predator.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

Anyway, to reiterate, in such a situation, a person of ducal standing visited the Rostain family mansion without any prior contact.

Naturally, the mansion would have been in an uproar, and the servants must have been utterly flustered.

Since I was considerably flustered myself, I could understand the servants’ predicament.

‘They must feel like their feet are on fire.’

I rested my arms on the desk and propped my chin. At the same time, I tilted my head slightly and asked,

“So, where is the Duchess now?”

“S-she has been escorted to the guest reception room.”

“Is that so? Well done. Lead the way.”

As I smiled, a slight curve forming on my lips, I felt the maid’s trembling subside a little. She calmly bowed her head and said,

“Y-yes! This way.”

I looked at Sai with a calm expression and said casually,

“Then I’ll be off, to see the rumored villainess.”

At my words, Sai looked at me with a worried expression.

“…Forgive this old man for overstepping, but are you truly alright with this? She came unannounced and rudely, so it wouldn’t matter if you sent her away.”

“She’s still a Duchess, old man. It wouldn’t do us any good if Duke Celestia, that doting father, got upset because his daughter’s feelings were hurt and decided to oppose us, would it? Though I wouldn’t have anything to lose either.”

“You jest…”

‘I’m not jesting.’

Of course. Cutting ties with one or two dukes wouldn’t stop me from being the Empire’s No. 2. In reality, my power was stronger than the current Crown Prince’s.

To the extent that if there were no Crown Prince, I might have seized the imperial power and become Emperor.

If anyone were to oppose me, Duke Celestia would be the one to suffer the loss for opposing me, the Grand Duke.

He knew this, so it was obvious that even if I sent his daughter away, he would only fume by himself and couldn’t say anything, and it was clear that the Duchess’s image in high society and the newspapers would plummet even further than it already had.

The image of a Duchess who trespassed into the Grand Duke’s home without permission and was then expelled would follow her for life, making her a laughingstock among other nobles.

It was a circulating joke, but there were even rumors that the Prince I supported would become the next Emperor.

Therefore, I didn’t want to deliberately create such a situation.

“Besides, I’m curious to see the face of that brazen Duchess.”

Honestly, I was curious just how wicked her personality was to be called a villainess.

As I slightly raised the corner of my mouth and added that, Sai nodded, pressing a hand to his forehead. The maid calmly bowed her head and took the first step, indicating she would guide me.

Although I knew where the guest reception room was and could find it myself, sometimes it was nice to be guided.

Wearing a satisfied smile, I followed the maid who had already stepped outside.

Anyway, I don’t know what her purpose was in seeking me out, but I wouldn’t be easily swayed.

Even if that villainess had come to poison me, I was confident I could overcome it.

Solely to become the Grand Duke, I had developed an immunity to poisons from a young age, and I had a certain level of resistance to even the most potent toxins obtainable not only in the Imperial Capital but also in the black market.

How could I possibly be defeated by a woman with no combat prowess?

As I was opening the door to step out, I suddenly looked at Sai and said,

“And.”

“Yes?”

“If she’s a villainess, my nickname isn’t to be trifled with either, is it?”

‘The Emperor’s Watchdog,’ my enemies always called me that.

When I said that with a smile, Sai momentarily wore a bewildered expression, then awkwardly nodded.

****

Walking down the corridor, I finally arrived in front of the reception room where Helena Celestia was.

“The Duchess is waiting inside.”

“Well done.”

“Then I shall withdraw.”

After finishing her guidance, the maid bowed respectfully, and when I nodded and told her to withdraw as I wished to be alone, she quietly withdrew as instructed.

‘Now, it’s my turn.’

—Creak.

As I opened the door and entered, her hair was the first thing that caught my eye. Her long, clean green hair, beautiful enough to be described as holding a forest, inadvertently captivated my gaze.

Her skin was so white it was pale, but it gave no impression of being sickly.

Above all, her large, sharp amber eyes, reminiscent of gold, were quite striking and impressive.

She was like a cat.

And what about her distinct features, her prominent nose, and her delicate lips? They further enhanced her beauty.

The dress she wore suited her well. Her figure, which the dress couldn’t fully conceal, added another unique charm.

Moreover, thanks to the tears welling at the corners of her eyes, she seemed frail… wait, tears?

“…Duchess? Are you crying?”

“H-huh?! G-Grand Duke? N-no, this is—!”

“It’s fortunate you recognize me.”

Helena, who only then seemed to hear my voice, stopped sniffling, her shoulders trembling, and slowly turned her head.

And the moment her eyes met mine, she widened them and vehemently denied it, waving both hands.

‘I wonder if she knows how ridiculous she looks.’

“Well, this is rather embarrassing.”

“…”

“The rumors said she was a villainess with no blood or tears, but contrary to rumors, she cries a lot.”

Glancing at Helena’s tears, I casually muttered, then pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and placed it in her hand.

She stared blankly at it, then ignored her tears and looked at me.

I, too, met her gaze directly and asked,

“I don’t know why you’re crying, but it doesn’t seem like something I can help with.”

“…That.”

I watched her hesitate, sighing inwardly.

Then I sat down first and began,

“First, shall we introduce ourselves, Duchess? I am Douglas Rostain, head of the Rostain Grand Ducal family. You came to see me, did you not?”

At that, she hastily stood up and, holding the edges of her dress, offered a bow. It was a truly clean and impeccable greeting.

“Forgive me for visiting without prior notice, Your Grace. Thank you very much for agreeing to a meeting request that might sound rude.”

“Hmm.”

I nodded vaguely, then narrowed my eyes as I watched Helena sit down again.

Her actions, and even her somewhat cold demeanor, didn’t suit the description of a villainess at all.

‘Was she eighteen? Or nineteen?’

Contrary to her cool demeanor, she seemed somewhat immature at the moment.

In the first place, Helena and I had no particular connection.

She clearly had some purpose, but if it were about inter-family matters, the Duke would have contacted me first. Or perhaps she had another request and came for that?

To this Northern region, which was ranked number one among places women preferred not to visit? To meet a Grand Duke she might not even be able to see?

On one hand, I was dumbfounded, so I deliberately provoked her with a probing tone, trying to uncover her purpose.

“By the way, you’re different from the rumors. I heard you wouldn’t exchange a single word with anyone other than the Crown Prince, yet here you are, having sought me out. Has there been a change of heart?”

“…Th-that. That’s not, me—!”

Helena, hastily denying my words, gritted her teeth and said that to me.

‘Huh. An immediate denial, then.’

“If it’s not the Duchess, then who exactly is it? I’m curious. This is a story that has reached even this North. You weren’t interested in me before, were you?”

I asked in a cold voice, glaring at her with eyes full of suspicion.

Then, as I smiled wryly, Helena, tightly clutching her dress, looked at me and said coldly,

“It seems Your Grace believes all the baseless rumors spread by fools?”

At her sharp retort, I paused momentarily and looked at the woman, who was wearing a triumphant smile.

‘Well, well, look at this.’

I stared at her, unable to hide my subtly trembling lips.