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Chapter 53

She was worrying about all the wrong things.

As if I could ever love another woman.

She had him so firmly in her sights that he couldn't even look elsewhere—and yet she worried about such an absurd possibility.

Still, the reason he'd agreed to her ridiculous request was because she'd worn an expression he'd never seen on her before.

And Kayden knew that expression all too well.

From his mother, who always seemed lonely.

Marriage, huh...

Kayden's expression hardened as he looked down at the contract.

Whenever his vassals subtly brought up marriage, he'd always brushed them off without a word.

The reason was simple.

He had no examples to follow for being someone's husband.

So he'd never imagined his own married life—not even once.

Kayden touched his lips in mild frustration.

He wasn't sure he could pull off the role of a husband without a hitch.

---

The next day, nobles filed into the grand council chamber one by one.

"What on earth is the urgent matter?"

"Who knows."

The nobles, hastily summoned by the imperial messenger, wore clear expressions of annoyance.

They murmured with curiosity, but most weren't particularly interested.

Even if some foreign tribe crossed the border, as long as their own businesses and territories weren't affected, it didn't matter.

Among them was Count Ernst.

He, too, had been forced to cancel a cozy date with his wife to attend today's meeting.

Oh, for goodness' sake.

Just as the Count was sniffing in displeasure—

The council chamber doors opened, and a tall man entered.

The chattering crowd's gazes naturally converged on him.

Count Ernst also turned to look.

It's the Duke of Valen.

The young head of the House of Valen, representing the north.

Somehow, he had a way of drawing people's attention.

And his striking good looks played no small part.

When he'd first appeared in high society, how many young ladies had fallen ill?

He's a man to be coveted in many ways.

The Count also particularly appreciated the Duke's composure—uncommon for a young man.

It was clear he wasn't the type to cause the kind of trouble young men usually got into.

Whereas my own son...

Comparing him to his own son of similar age made his head ache.

The boy had abandoned his family and become a knight to the princess.

Who on earth did he take after?

Just as the Count was sighing to himself, Kayden approached, and he offered a greeting.

"You've come, Your Grace."

"It's been a while, Count Ernst."

Kayden took a seat beside the Count.

The Count saw this as an opportunity.

Unfortunately, he had no daughter—so he planned to introduce his niece.

Just as he cleared his throat to arrange a meeting—

"...?"

He noticed something unfamiliar on the Duke's finger.

What is that?

The Count narrowed his eyes for a closer look.

It was a ring.

Unexpected.

He'd never seen the Duke wear any jewelry before.

Not only that—

The position of that ring...

Just as the Count was about to ask about the ring on Kayden's ring finger—

"Her Majesty the Empress arrives!"

The chief attendant's booming voice came from outside the chamber.

At the same time, the doors reserved for imperial family members opened, and the Empress appeared.

She wore a dress densely embroidered with jewels.

A number of nobles frowned at her excessive attire—this wasn't a ballroom.

But they all quickly hid their true feelings and bowed.

Seated in the place of honor, the Empress looked around at the nobles with a smile.

She loved these moments—standing in for the Emperor.

The very same old nobles who had once lectured her with their heads held high now had to bow before her.

Once her son became Emperor, it would be even better.

Her smile deepened.

"Then shall we begin the meeting?"

---

"Your Majesty."

As the ordinary meeting dragged on, one noble cautiously spoke up.

"Yes? What is it?"

The Empress leisurely turned her gaze.

"I was wondering if there was a separate reason for convening the grand council today."

After all, compared to the trouble of summoning the nobles to a grand council, they'd only been handling trivial agenda items.

"Of course. Did you think I'd call you all here without reason?"

She smiled and affirmed.

"The matter I wish to discuss today is something even the Duke of Valen knows about."

With that, the Empress looked at Kayden seated to her right.

All eyes in the chamber turned to him.

Kayden raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean by that?"

But the Empress only smiled leisurely.

Then her red lips slowly parted.

"What else? I'm speaking of the child at the Duke of Valen's residence."

The Duke's lips tightened.

Seeing that, the Empress wanted to burst out laughing.

The Duke looked so much like the man she had once loved.

Always composed and expressionless, which only made him remind her more of the former Duke—and now he seemed quite flustered, which was deeply satisfying.

She was sure his reaction would only grow more entertaining after her next words.

Just then, the Duke spoke in a sharp tone.

"I fail to see how affairs of my house are a subject for this council."

"Haha."

At that, the Empress couldn't hold back her laughter.

He clearly knew who she was talking about, yet he clenched his teeth and feigned ignorance—it was amusing.

"Affairs of your house? That hurts my feelings, Duke."

The nobles in the chamber listened breathlessly to the cryptic exchange.

"The Duke is my nephew, after all. If you think about it, we're family."

Just as the Empress, thoroughly enjoying herself, was about to expose her husband's shame—

The Duke suddenly lifted the corner of his mouth and met her gaze.

...What?

A sense of unease struck the Empress.

But there was no way her plan could have reached the Duke's ears.

Even if it had, it didn't matter—there was no way he could hide the child.

However, the next words from his mouth left the Empress frozen in place.

"If you put it that way, I suppose I must confess. I got married recently."

"Wh-what?"

Kayden added as if to elaborate.

"So now I have a wife."

He dropped the bombshell with a remarkably composed demeanor.

"D-did the Duke just say what I think he said?"

"Married?"

The nobles who had been watching their exchange began to murmur.

Meanwhile, the Empress's face twisted as she barely managed to ask.

"...What are you saying, Duke?"

But Kayden only asked back, as if genuinely puzzled.

"Didn't you bring this up because you'd heard of my marriage?"

The Empress gritted her teeth at the unexpected turn.

What kind of trick is this?

She scrambled to make sense of the Duke's absurd announcement.

Just then, Kayden slowly continued.

"Since Her Majesty seems so interested in my household, allow me to add one more thing—"

And he raised the corner of his mouth in plain view.

"My wife has a child she adores, and I have taken that child as my official heir."

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