Chapter 65: [Chapter 065] When you break free from your uncle's influence
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Noevian watched Blier eat in silence. He felt strange, an indescribable feeling rippling beneath his skin. As if sensing his gaze, Blier looked up at him, and he involuntarily lowered his eyes to his plate. The moment his sight was filled only with the plate and not Blier's face, Noevian berated himself for acting like a lovesick teenager. Forcing down the unappetizing food with water, he met Blier's gaze again.
"As you know, your reputation isn't very good."
Blier shrugged as if she already knew, and continued eating. His gaze followed her hand as it touched the cutlery, napkin, and edge of the plate. Unconscious of how intently he was staring, Noevian opened his mouth again.
"To be precise, no one approves of our union. At least, not among my retainers."
"..."
"So, I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from going out until the Grand Duchess's funeral is completely over."
"Alright."
Her reply was surprisingly light and obedient, quite unlike the furious anger he had felt towards her before. Noevian narrowed his eyes for a moment and examined Blier's expression, but he saw no malice or resentment. Perhaps that was why...
"If you can just get through this period, I'll do my best to get you a title in the family as soon as the funeral is over."
It was highly unusual for Noevian to say something like that. It was a promise about something that wasn't even a definite plan yet. Blier, who had been moving busily, stopped her fork. She swallowed what she had been chewing and took a sip of white wine. Noevian watched as she smiled brightly, a smile he hadn't seen since Adrienne died.
Noevian couldn't take his eyes off her face for a long time. Even though he thought of her as a substitute, he had never equated her with Adrienne before. But after seeing the vision of Adrienne yesterday, she looked so much like Adrienne it was as if Adrienne was actually standing in front of him.
"If you're going to answer me like this, I want to study hard and become your strength too."
"Well, you don't have to study that hard for a bride-to-be."
"I think I need an office where I can study the basic duties of a Grand Duchess."
"..."Think about it."
He couldn't avoid her vibrant green eyes.
'I want to get healthy as soon as possible and become your strength too.'
It felt like Adrienne was making the request, and he couldn't possibly refuse.
"Talk to the butler first."
And strangely enough, he found that he didn't mind having this kind of conversation while eating together.
However, his improved mood didn't last long. After feeling satisfied watching Blier retreat to her room without a word, he was greeted by retainers who looked like they were about to go to war as soon as his meal was finished. Since the Crown Prince had urged him to meet with his retainers, he couldn't ignore them any longer. He dismissed most of the servants in the annex and lit a cigar. He didn't usually smoke indoors, but he couldn't drink or take drugs in the middle of the day, could he? It was the least he could do to defend himself while dealing with them in a sane state of mind. Although the words on the papers they presented were very polite, their demeanor was quite aggressive.
"What is all this?"
"Look carefully."
It was a list of names, from familiar noblewomen to countesses. All of them were names with the surnames of the vassals who had suddenly gathered.
"Are you trying to ask for a favor?"
"These are the candidates we have in mind for the next Grand Duchess."
"It's heartwarming that my vassals are so concerned about my bed."
A few of the vassals' faces turned beet red instantly. It was true that there had been rumors among them that Noevian had gone completely mad over a mediocre widow.
"As you all know, I am remarrying. Do you want to push your precious daughters into a position as a second wife for someone as old as me? I wonder if your daughters would feel the same."
Earl Railon, who had the most heated eyes among them, did not hide his anger. He was the most powerful among the vassals, and he had placed the name of his daughter, Kanna Railon, at the very top of the list.
"You're not even thirty yet, Your Grace. Are you joking?"
Railon did not hide his anger.
"Two years ago, we all agreed when you suddenly brought in a Grand Duchess from the East. Not because we knew how much you loved the countess, as the rumors say, but because she was of a suitable class."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"She was a princess. Princess Pireta, who was once a candidate for the Crown Princess. That's why we put up with minor complaints. We thought you were drawing a big picture for His Highness the Crown Prince."
Doris Castagna from the West was the Crown Princess, and Adrienne Pireta from the East was the Grand Duchess of Trovika, the Crown Prince's faction. Who could say anything when they could catch two birds with one stone?
"But a widowed commoner? A Grand Duchess with no roots?"
"The position of Grand Duchess cannot be filled with love alone."
"Don't you know how much that position means?"
"Why would you throw away the biggest card for His Highness the Crown Prince because of such petty emotions?"
These people, who were in name only vassals but in reality were old-fashioned, were allowed to rant freely. Noevian cut the lit cigar and let them speak their minds. He couldn't tell them about his plans for Castagna Duke and split the Crown Prince's faction between the East and West. That's why he had decided that the position of Duke of Trovika, who was madly in love and married someone of an unsuitable class, was better. But why?
'You said you couldn't understand my thoughts, didn't you? I always told you. I just want to be by your side because I love you.'
'Do well when I'm interested in the position of Grand Duchess.'
'If you answer me like this, I want to study hard and become your strength too.'
Blier's voice, which he had heard that morning, sounded closer to him than the voices of these people who were yelling without knowing the facts. He felt like Blier's sparkling green eyes were still lingering in his chest.
"Think about it. So don't blame your lord too much and just go back now."
"But..."
"Or you could pay your respects one more time."
Even they seemed to think it was too much to nag their lord while he was in mourning, and most of them bowed their heads and left. However, Earl Railon and a few others remained, adding a final plea to think carefully before they left. Noevian knew that was Railon's warning, but as he watched the carriages leave one by one in front of the annex, he couldn't help but sneer.
"If they only knew that my will is the will of Bardenaldo, what expressions would they make."
Bardenaldo, the Crown Prince, has no interest in their profit sharing. That's why they, not knowing that, are daring to pressure him in the name of the Crown Prince.
"I can only hope they'll realize someday that all their struggles are in vain."
A strong cigar was completely burned in a short time. Noevian threw the last part out the window without even cutting it. He knew that such a small spark was insufficient to burn down the dukedom.
***
The Duke of Castagna, a powerful noble known as the King of the West, the father of the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince's father-in-law and right-hand man, was a grand duke who could not be fully described in a single sentence. Having finally gained an audience after requesting one for several days, he did his best not to despise the Crown Prince, who was merely showing him around the garden and telling him the names of plants, despite the anger burning within him. He forced a trembling smile and reluctantly lowered his eyes, unable to look at the Crown Prince. However, when he heard that Noevian Trovika had chosen Blier Acacia, a maid, as his Grand Duchess, not because of his recommendation but because of a 'new love', his patience reached its limit. Even though he had already heard about this from Doris once, the shock was no less severe.
"That snake Noevian Trovika has finally played his hand."
Having finished his unpleasant walk, the Duke of Castagna returned and realized it was time to speak directly to his son-in-law, whose face showed no sign of worry.
"I hear that Prince Epero in Elacon is homesick."
Ignoring the Crown Prince, who offered him tea as if nothing was wrong, the Duke of Castagna dropped his prepared bomb.
"...Duke?"
The Crown Prince's innocent expression, as if asking why he was unhappy despite getting what he wanted, twisted his insides. He finally began to understand why Doris, who was known for being kind and gentle, was stressed while living with him. It was because the man was kind-faced but drove others crazy. He was his son-in-law and the Crown Prince of this country.
"The Empress misses her son too."
"Don't you realize how much the Duke has conceded this time?"
"What I wanted was to establish a new relationship with the Duke as a supporter and patron of that noblewoman. Your Highness may pretend not to know because you are a clean person, but the Duke is not. He must know and did it anyway."
The Duke of Castagna watched as the Crown Prince drank the wine as if it were power.
"If your faith in God is only that much, then I have no choice but to make this serious request."
"...Are you saying you want to bring the Ninth Prince back?"
"No. As you said, since the Duke has conceded so much this time, I must make a different request."
The Duke smiled with the confidence that he would not be able to escape this time.
"Please have a child with the Duchess."
"!"
"If I could hear good news by the end of this year, what more could I ask for?"
He had been patient until now because he knew that the Crown Prince's private life was exceptionally clean. But to gain assurance from the Crown Prince who couldn't let go of his uncle, he needed insurance as well.
"You are both very young, and wouldn't most couples have two or three children after living together for that long? If there are no health problems, how embarrassing would it be for the people of the empire to know that you are keeping the Duchess in a lonely state?"
"Duke, that..."
"The Castagna family is very particular about their bloodline, so for the sake of seeing my grandson... I might have to change Doris's husband."
It was clearly a very threatening statement. Seeing that Bardenaldo could only open and close his mouth, the Duke of Castagna smiled.
"It's time for you to break free from your uncle's shadow, Your Highness."
"I should have done this sooner. I've been too lenient."
The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.
The Duke of Castagna realized that he had been too forgiving of Noevian Trovika all this time. He couldn't allow Noevian, who had been blocking the West's path as an advisor to the Emperor and was now enjoying power as an advisor to the Crown Prince, to continue in such a position. A member of the royal family who should have been eliminated or sent far away long ago, together with the Emperor's other brothers. If he couldn't place Noevian Trovika under Castagna's control...
"It would be cleanest if you simply let him go."
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