"The delegation arrived earlier than expected."
After checking his appearance in the mirror, Cabelenus immediately began walking.
"I heard they used a newly developed carriage."
Gazeff quickly followed his superior.
Despite it being late at night, the interior of the castle was brightly lit due to the sudden arrival of guests.
"A carriage?"
"The magic of the Christie Kingdom is exceptional."
Gazeff said no more and firmly shut his mouth.
The emperor didn’t send the princess of the Christie Kingdom for no reason.
Schwarhan had magic stones but lacked the technology to make full use of them.
If an alliance could be formed with the Christie Kingdom, they would be able to see farther into the future.
"The key challenge will be figuring out how to persuade them."
Cabelenus's eyes gleamed.
It was clear what Zerpheus’s intentions were, but there was no need to follow his brother’s lead.
This opportunity could simply be used as a chance to form a connection with the Christie Kingdom.
"For now, I’ve prepared the conditions that the Christie Kingdom would desire.”
"If that were enough, the deal would have been made long ago."
"It can't be helped. Magic is more important to the Christie Kingdom than anything else. Unless the terms of the deal are exceptional, they won't accept it easily."
"Besides, right now their stomachs are quite full, so they’ll be even harder to deal with."
The Christie Kingdom had always rejected Schwarhan's proposals.
The fact that they now sent a delegation to Schwarhan likely meant they had received something of equivalent value in return.
"As Your Highness anticipated, His Majesty has recently revised the trade terms for the Isla region. With the new terms in place, the Christie Kingdom stands to gain significant benefits."
"To give up the Isla region, His Majesty must be determined to see this marriage deal through."
Cabelenus clicked his tongue briefly.
"If it succeeds, it will benefit both sides. With the technology of the Christie Kingdom and the resources of Schwarhan combined, the Blanche Empire will become an even more powerful nation."
"A powerful nation. That’s a topic His Majesty would surely appreciate."
"His Majesty has always wanted to create the perfect Blanche."
"'For me,' that is."
Cabelenus briefly scoffed.
In the distance, the firmly closed door of the drawing room was visible.
"From this moment on, we must be even more cautious about Alicia’s safety."
"I’ve asked my aunt to keep the young lady’s existence as hidden as possible. However, this is not a problem that can simply be hidden."
"That being said, it's not something we should intentionally reveal either. As long as we can hide it, it's better to keep it hidden."
Cabelenus spoke firmly.
Even if they already knew of Alicia's existence, it wouldn't matter as long as they couldn't find anything to use against them.
"I will make sure to eliminate any elements that could potentially cause problems."
"Instead, we must make sure Alicia doesn't catch on until the very end."
"Wouldn’t it be better if the young lady knew as well?"
"No. Keep her in the dark. It won’t solve anything even if she knows."
Alicia still occasionally had nightmares.
She would appear to be sleeping well, but then sometimes wake up, check if Cabelenus was beside her, and only then fall back asleep.
There was no need to burden her with unnecessary worries and make her anxious.
It was best to settle things as quickly as possible and return to her.
Without hesitation, Cabelenus took a step forward.
Gazeff quickly gestured to the guards stationed in front of the drawing room so that Cabelenus could reach the room without stopping.
"Finally, I’m meeting the famous Grand Duke of the North."
As soon as they entered the room, a clear, ringing voice was heard.
Cabelenus instinctively turned his head toward the sound.
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness, Grand Duke of Schwarhan. I am Veloa Christie, the third princess of the Christie Kingdom."
The moment their eyes met, the greeting was immediately exchanged.
"Cabelenus von Schwarhan Blanche. Grand Duke of Schwarhan."
Cabelenus skillfully responded to Veloa’s greeting and quickly exchanged pleasantries with the rest of the delegation who accompanied her.
"It’s my first time meeting Your Highness up close."
Veloa smiled softly as she brushed the flowing strands of hair behind her ear.
Gazeff instinctively observed Cabelenus’s expression.
When he first heard the rumours that she was the most beautiful woman on the continent, he wondered if they had been exaggerated, but now that he saw her in person, he felt that the rumours were actually an understatement. The foreign princess was an extraordinary beauty.
However, contrary to Gazeff’s concerns, Cabelenus appeared to be unmoved, showing no particular reaction.
“Thank you for your efforts in travelling such a long distance. Was there any inconvenience in coming here?"
"The unfamiliar terrain caused our arrival to be later than expected, but because of that, we were able to achieve some unique experimental results, which, in its own way, had a certain charm."
More than anything, it gave her the opportunity to meet His Highness.
Veloa looked up at Cabelenus with intrigue.
A row of perfectly aligned white teeth gleamed between her gracefully curved red lips.
"To be honest, I was a bit surprised. I had expected the land of snowfields to be barren, but this place is truly remarkable. I suppose it's because this land is governed by the Imperial Crown Prince of Blanche.”
"I am merely the Grand Duke of Schwarhan."
"Noble blood shows itself no matter where it is. Just like Your Highness."
"..."
"Did I speak too bluntly?"
Veloa tilted her chin slightly.
She had already heard of Cabelenus’s notorious reputation, but if she cared about such things, she wouldn’t have volunteered to be part of the delegation in the first place.
She knew her worth well.
As long as Cabelenus needed her, there was no reason for her to lower herself.
"No, it’s fine. I, too, don’t particularly like speaking in circles."
"In that case, I can speak more comfortably."
Veloa’s smile grew a little wider.
"I’ve come here with the premise of an engagement to Your Highness."
"I think it’s a bit too early to talk about such matters."
"Of course. No matter how favourable the terms of the marriage may be, if the future is uncertain, there’s no reason to invest in it."
To put it politely, she was bold; to put it less kindly, she was rude.
Gazeff observed Veloa’s words and actions from behind Cabelenus, assessing her character.
Veloa was the central figure of the delegation.
Considering the negotiations ahead, it would be best to get a clear grasp on her.
"That's an amusing thing to say."
A faint smile lingered on Cabelenus’s lips.
"To be honest, I’ve come here to test Your Highness."
Veloa didn’t miss the opportunity to move her lips.
"Test me?"
"...I don't think this is the appropriate place to talk about that."
Cabelenus’s gaze shifted to the delegation standing behind Veloa.
They, too, seemed caught off guard by her unexpected behaviour, their faces showing signs of discomfort.
"It’s not a topic we can’t discuss, is it? Your Highness is truly going to become the ruler of the continent."
Cabelenus’s eyes narrowed slightly, but Veloa didn’t seem to notice.
Gazeff, undeterred by the surrounding tension, clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched the confidently smiling Veloa.
She was still too young.
She wasn’t at the level to sit at the negotiation table yet.
It seemed that the emperor had made a mistake since he had hastily chosen a bride for Cabelenus.
"I don't settle for anything less than the best. If Your Highness can't give me the best, I don't want this engagement."
Watching Veloa hold her head high, Gazeff leaned the scale toward rudeness rather than boldness.
If Veloa had been a skilled negotiator, she wouldn’t have even thought of committing such rudeness right in front of the Grand Duke of Schwarhan.
Cabelenus wasn’t incapable of attacking the Christie Kingdom by force. He simply chose not to.
It wasn’t that he lacked confidence in victory, but attacking a well-established, solid nation would come at a considerable cost.
However, there was no need to make Veloa aware of that fact.
The enemy’s careless attitude was nothing but an advantage.
"How do you intend to test me?"
Cabelenus answered calmly, matching the rhythm of Veloa's challenge.
"Well, I plan to stay in Schwarhan and think about it slowly."
Veloa, interpreting Cabelenus's response as a sign of favour, let her smile rise even more.
The negotiations had only just begun.
・・・・・
"I'm happy to be able to continue lessons with you, my lady."
"Likewise. I’m happy too."
Alicia smiled shyly.
James smiled back, unpacking the drawing tools he had prepared.
However, his mind was more complicated than his outward appearance suggested.
Alicia, under the Grand Duke's protection, seemed far from ordinary, but he intentionally didn’t focus on it.
He knew better than anyone that getting involved in noble matters usually led to trouble.
However, even knowing all that, the fact that Alicia was Cabelenus’s lover was still quite a shock to him.
The Grand Duke of Schwarhan was always at the centre of rumours, but when it came to women, he had always been known for his indifference.
It even led to wild speculation that the young Grand Duke’s tastes might not be entirely conventional.
‘...I wonder, could she be his mistress after all?’
James’s brow furrowed slightly.
Due to the nature of his profession, he had a keen eye for detail.
At first, he thought Alicia was just unfamiliar with Schwarhan’s culture, but as time spent with her increased, he couldn’t help but be certain.
She wasn’t a noblewoman.
‘Of course, it’s not my problem to worry about.’
James tried hard to clear the distracting thoughts from his mind, but he couldn’t help the lingering sense of pity that kept creeping in.
If she were a woman secretly confined in a secluded wing of the castle by someone in power, her situation was all too clear.
Nobles did not treat commoners as equals.
For the time being, she was given fine things, but once his interest waned after a brief indulgence, the life that awaited Alicia was all too predictable.
A mistress, who was no longer loved, was discarded without a second thought.
After all, mistresses were people who existed but were never truly acknowledged.
Though they were commonly called mistresses for convenience, the laws of the empire, which recognised only one husband and one wife as a legitimate couple, did not acknowledge the existence of mistresses at all.
"Have you done any drawings for the homework I assigned?"
James smiled gently, making an effort to hide his true feelings.
Even if Alicia was actually Cabelenus’s mistress, it wasn’t James’s place to meddle.
He was simply the person teaching Alicia how to draw.
“I did try drawing, but I’m a little embarrassed…”
"It's just a drawing. There's no need to be embarrassed."
At James’s gentle smile, Alicia hesitated for a long moment before carefully handing him her sketchbook.
It was the sketchbook James had gifted her some time ago.
"His Highness, the Grand Duke.”
James exhaled sharply as he looked over the sketches in the sketchbook.
"That’s right. It’s His Highness.”
Alicia’s lips curled up as she glanced at the sketches in the sketchbook.
James stared at her intently.
It was impossible to miss her emotions when looking at that face.
Bright, shining eyes, flushed cheeks, and a smile that appeared naturally.
Just mentioning Cabelenus brought a bright excitement to her face — anyone could see she was completely smitten with love.
James couldn’t shake the feeling of unease and pity that the truth stirred within him.
But Alicia, unaware of James’s thoughts, simply fidgeted with her fingers and smiled shyly.
“You told me before — to try drawing whatever I wanted.”
"..."
“As expected, I ’m still pretty lacking, right?”
Alicia asked cautiously, misunderstanding the silence.
James’s hand instinctively tensed at the innocent look in the woman’s eyes.
That woman probably didn’t understand anything.
She didn’t know how many commoners were tossed aside as toys by nobles.
The luxurious clothes she wore, the expensive accessories, the lavish treatment — none of it truly belonged to her.
"Are my skills really that lacking?"
"...No. You did well. The features are well captured."
"Really?"
James felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on his chest.
He tried his best not to speculate about Alicia’s situation as he flipped through the sketchbook.
But that was a mistake.
Despite the short amount of time, the accumulated sketches fully captured Alicia’s emotions, which only made him feel more uneasy.
Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and closed the sketchbook.
“It might be a good idea to transfer these onto canvas and try painting them properly.”
“No. I don’t want to do that.”
Alicia quickly shook her head from side to side.
“Are you feeling pressured about painting it properly?”
“No, it’s not that. I just want to practice a bit more first.”
Alicia looked at him with a determined expression.
"What kind of practice?"
“I want to paint it properly and give it as a gift. This time, without relying on anyone else’s hand, with my own, completely.”
"..."
“Of course, that will take quite some time. But if I keep practising hard, don’t you think it’ll be alright?”
Despite receiving so much from Cabelenus, she hadn’t been able to give anything back.
There wasn’t much she could do for him, but she could at least paint his portrait with her own hands.
Even if she couldn’t openly reveal her feelings, giving him a painting as a gift would still be okay.
Alicia smiled softly, feeling her heart pounding in her chest.
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