Chapter 10: Social

‘We’re almost there.’

I hadn’t realized it while we chatted in a friendly atmosphere, but looking out the window, I saw Duke Celestia’s mansion.

The sight of them looking out in surprise at my words was just like sisters, and I secretly smiled.

Hadn’t they said they grew up together like sisters since childhood? Their actions certainly bore a subtle resemblance.

“…That was fast.”

“His Grace the Archduke is more amusing than I thought, so I didn’t even notice the time passing.”

“Raby.”

As Raby apologized to me with a gloomy expression at Helena’s low, reproaching words, I shrugged.

“It’s fine since I permitted it. Isn’t that more comfortable for the Lady as well?”

At first glance, Raby seems calmer and more cautious than Helena, but no matter how I think about it, it seems to be the opposite.

Helena was silent for a moment at my words, then continued in a weak voice.

“…Still, isn’t it rude to His Grace the Archduke?”

“When I look at the Lady, I can’t tell if she’s bold or timid.”

That’s why she’s interesting, though.

When she’s still, she gives off an impression like the cold snow falling in the North, but when flustered, her constantly changing expressions enhance her charm—does she even realize that herself?

Probably not.

I gazed steadily at Helena, who wore a bewildered expression, then turned my gaze towards the carriage window.

Leaning my chin on my hand, I inwardly pondered how I had come to think such thoughts, and sighed.

‘The Archduke of the North is past his prime.’

Is this what they call love at first sight? Thinking so, I looked out, and the carriage stopped in front of the grand mansion.

“We’ve arrived.”

The guard standing watch at the gate of the mansion looked at my stopping carriage with a wary expression, then raised the spear he was holding.

“Who goes there! I don’t know who you are, but this is Duke Celestia’s private property… H-huh!”

“My apologies for the intrusion. I had no intention of trespassing on the mansion, but I needed to drop off the Lady.”

“…Y-Your Grace the Archduke.”

As I opened the carriage door first and stepped out, the guard initially looked puzzled at my face, but soon his face turned ashen and he gasped.

Feeling pity for him, I deliberately spoke with a slight smile, but the guard merely flinched his shoulders, showing no other reaction.

Only then did he seem to notice the black wolf crest symbolizing the Rostain Archducal family, as he alternated his gaze between me and the crest, then hastily saluted.

I lightly patted the guard’s shoulder.

Observing the guard’s terrified expression, I felt that the surroundings were noisy and slightly frowned.

‘It’s noisy. Is something happening?’

I heard a gulp, the sound of him swallowing, and looked at the guard, who offered an awkward smile. His lips were trembling as if in a spasm; was he alright? Well, it was understandable he’d be nervous with an Archduke suddenly showing up.

“I apologize for the imposition. I’m sorry for showing up without an appointment.”

“No, absolutely not! How could His Grace the Archduke’s visit be an imposition…! I will inform the family head immediately.”

At the guard’s words about informing the Duke immediately, I shook my head.

“No need. It’s already an imposition to show up like this without an appointment. Today, I merely came to drop off the Lady.”

“…His Grace the Archduke, personally escorting the Lady?”

“If the Duke asks, tell him I met the Lady on the street and happened to give her a ride.”

I gave a small nod to the guard’s wide-eyed question, then extended my arm towards Helena, who was quietly observing the situation from inside the carriage.

While Helena, startled, stared at my hand for a long time and I felt utterly awkward, Raby, who was beside her, fidgeted and then called out to Helena.

“Lady, His Grace the Archduke’s hand…”

“……Oh, oh? Ah. My apologies, Your Grace the Archduke.”

“It’s fine, take it.”

Helena’s face, rapidly reddening as if embarrassed herself, was fresh in another sense.

Was she originally a woman with so many expressions? It seemed like she was increasingly showing emotions I hadn’t known she possessed.

Although I hadn’t seen her for many days, I considered this a quite decent relationship.

I helped Helena, who placed her hand over mine, alight from the carriage.

I also tried to help Raby, but Raby, glancing at Helena, politely refused, saying that a servant could not hold a noble’s hand.

Well, it wasn’t incomprehensible.

A servant is merely a servant; some noble families even forbid servants from looking their masters in the face.

Such actions were typical of rigid old-fashioned people, and personally, I didn’t care for them.

“Then, Lady. I shall take my leave now.”

“Yes, Your Grace the Archduke. Please travel safely.”

Her action of fanning her reddened face with her hand to cool it down was cute.

I forced my lips shut, almost smiling.

As I boarded the carriage, Raby closed the door for me.

“You’re looking forward to tomorrow’s social gathering, aren’t you, Lady?”

Before the door closed, I said that with a slight upward curve of my lips, and Helena momentarily looked flustered, then tried to say something, but the door closed, preventing her from speaking.

What was she trying to say?

Just then, someone who appeared to be a servant rushed towards Helena and spoke.

“My Lady! You’ve returned. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent a letter, but it’s…”

The carriage started moving and pulled away, so I couldn’t see clearly, but the last I saw of Helena’s face, it was distorted.

****

The mansion the Emperor personally bestowed upon me was so grand that it wouldn’t fall short even when compared to a Duke’s mansion.

Even though I had said it didn’t need to be built large as it would only be used as a villa or temporary residence, the Emperor had built such a mansion.

While it was partly to show the public how much he valued me, it was also likely to instill in people’s minds that I was the Emperor’s loyal subject, thereby keeping other high-ranking nobles in check.

After all, there would be no better card than me to further strengthen imperial power.

Conversely, one might think I could threaten imperial power at any time, but the Emperor surely believed that a mere pup stuck in the North couldn’t do much, even if he tried.

A foolish, complacent woman.

Unaware that I could stage a coup at any moment if she were to betray me first, the Emperor still considered me the ‘Emperor’s faction,’ leading various nobles.

My father had been part of the Emperor’s faction, and I, too, had no intention of vying for the throne, so as I’ve said many times, I am merely content with this position.

If I had decided to seize the throne, I would have taken it by force, even if it meant bloodshed.

Even if it meant a storm of blood swept through the empire.

I rarely had occasion to visit this mansion in the capital, perhaps once or twice a year, but the servants permanently stationed there managed it, so there were no inconveniences.

The day after dropping off the Lady yesterday evening and returning to the mansion, the day of the social gathering dawned.

As it was a grand banquet attended by all sorts of high-ranking nobles of the Empire, as well as the imperial family and even the Emperor, I changed into my formal wear, listening to the head butler’s words that the palace security was stricter than usual.

“Your Excellency, is the attire satisfactory?”

“It’s not bad.”

“That’s a great relief. We hastily prepared this formal wear after receiving Your Excellency’s letter, so I was worried you might not like it. It’s fortunate.”

As I spoke with satisfaction, the mansion’s head butler let out a sigh of relief.

It was partly my fault for sending the letter late, and they must have gone through considerable trouble preparing new formal wear and managing the mansion, but indeed, he was worthy of being my head butler.

“You’ve worked hard managing this mansion in my absence. I shall see to it that you receive a bonus.”

“…Thank you, Your Excellency. It was thanks to the efforts of the other servants that the mansion could be managed to this extent, so I would prefer my bonus be given to them.”

“When given something, it’s polite to simply say thank you and accept it, so just take it. I will personally take care of the servants’ share.”

At my words, the head butler simply bowed his head without a word.

Raising his head again, the head butler smiled bitterly and continued.

“There are likely few nobles who consider their servants individually as Your Excellency does.”

“I am merely doing what is expected of a superior.”

“This is why I respect and like Your Excellency.”

“I have no need for a man’s affection, though.”

As I tidied my sleeves and chuckled lightly, the head butler paused for a moment, then offered a warm smile.

“You’ve changed a lot since I last saw you. You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“I am?”

“Yes, both yesterday and today, you seem particularly cheerful.”

At the head butler’s words, I touched the corner of my mouth.

In a good mood, indeed, it seemed I was.

Until now, I had reluctantly attended social gatherings and endured boring parties.

While part of it was my disillusionment with nobles exchanging hypocritical remarks, objectively, parties didn’t suit me.

Rather than making friends, I rolled in the snow with bears; I prioritized training over parties or play; and while my peers attended the academy, I participated in wars in the frigid North, sweeping away foreign tribes and barbarians to become an Archduke.

No matter how I thought about it, I had lived a life far from ordinary since childhood, so it couldn’t have been any other way.

Sometimes being alone felt lonely, but once I got used to it, it no longer bothered me.

“…It’s about time to depart.”

Checking the time, it was almost time for the social gathering to begin.

Taking the carriage prepared in advance, I headed towards the Imperial Palace.

After traveling for some time, I saw a grand castle appear, and nobles entering it, which made me tilt my head.

‘Am I a bit late…?’

The crowd entering the Imperial Palace was smaller than expected.

Perhaps because it was a party attended by the Emperor, the security was indeed strict, just as the head butler had said.

“…Isn’t that His Grace Archduke Rostain?”

“Indeed. Why would someone who usually detests parties be here…?”

“It must be because His Majesty the Emperor is attending the party.”

I saw nobles who hadn’t yet entered murmuring as they looked at me, but I cleanly ignored them.

I showed my invitation to the guard standing at the gate, and he nodded, then saluted.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace Archduke Douglas. Your identity has been confirmed; you may enter. Please enjoy your time.”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

After a brief encounter, I stepped inside, and bright lights illuminated my surroundings.

So much effort had been put into the lighting that my eyes stung.

‘Your Majesty, just how much attention did you pay to the lighting?’

The image of the Emperor smiling in my mind made me grimace.

The surroundings were boisterous, and everyone seemed to be having a good time, but I noticed a particularly large crowd gathered in one spot.

“Kyaak!”

“Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince! What are you doing?!”

Just then, a woman’s scream and a middle-aged man’s urgent voice echoed, and I turned my gaze that way, twisting my face into a grimace.

There, the Crown Prince was gripping Helena’s wrist as if to bruise it, and beside the Crown Prince, a woman with pink hair was whimpering, champagne dripping from her head.

“Ha.”

Gauging the situation from that sight, I swept back my bangs.

My head began to ache.