âHe said Lady Artizea is the master of the Marquisate Rosan, so he would tell her about what happened.â
Miraila stood up once more.
âTia is the master? You just stood there listening to him?â
âIt was the Grand Duke Evron. How could I dare to answer him? He could have slit my throat at that very moment.â
âHa.â
Miraila felt her throat burn and reached out her hand. Bill quickly offered her a glass of cold water.
Miraila drank the glass of water, sighed and sat back down on the couch.
âItâs strange. Where did she meet the Grand Duke Evron?â
She had a hunch.
When it came to relationships between a man and a woman, Mirailaâs hunches had always been right.
Rationally, she thought there was no way an unattractive girl like Artizea could catch the Grand Duke Evron. There was no way they could have met anywhere.
But her hunch told her otherwise.
Somehow she felt a little unpleasant, no, she was really in a bad mood.
Artizea was an ugly girl. Miraila thought that from the bottom of her heart.
âArtizea doesnât resemble me at all. Sheâs 18 years old, but she doesnât have any feminine traits, not even a charm. She could only live with me, because Iâm her mother. She has no chance of getting married, right?â
Thatâs what she thought, but not the Grand Duke Evron.
However, Miraila also believed that all girls were the same. Even with the odds against them, they would find a way to seduce men.
âMaybe Iâm overthinking it.â
At that point. A servant knocked hastily at the door.
Bill offered a small apology to Miraila, and went to open the door.
âHead Butler, Grand Duke Evronâs squire is here.â
âHis squire? What for?â
âApparently, after attending the ball at Count Endaâs estate, the Grand Duke and Miss Artizea went somewhere in her carriage. His Grace asked the squire to wait for him here.â
âWhat?â
Bill glanced sidelong at Miraila, her face was turning fierce.
Just then Lawrence appeared.
He had just returned home after going out for some fresh air. He was frowning, like he was upset about something.
âYoung Master, did you enjoy your outing?â
Bill bowed his head politely. The servant knelt quickly on one knee.
Lawrence used to stare at Bill, the Head Butler, when he was in a bad mood.
And now, it seemed to be the case.
âBill. Grand Duke Evronâs squire is out there. Whatâs going on?â
âOh, that isâŚâ
âLawrence, my prince, welcome home.â
Miraila left her room with a bright smile, wearing a coat over her thin robe.
Lawrence looked at his mother with an annoyed expression.
âDid any trouble happen with the Grand Duke Evron?â
âNo. How could I have a problem with the Grand Duke? He is a warrior who goes from one battlefield to another. He only came to visit Tia this afternoon.â
Miraila grumbled. Lawrenceâs face contorted.
âAre you angry about something?â
âYou havenât been disrespectful to the Grand Duke Evron, right?â
âI havenât even seen him. When the butler informed him that Tia had gone to the ball at Count Endaâs estate, he went over there.â
âI understand. If he comes back, donât interfere. Stay out of it. Iâll take care of it.â
âWhy?â
âMother, Grand Duke Evron is a man of integrity. Itâs been a while since Tia did anything useful, but if someone like you interferes, itâll all be ruined.â
âWhat do you mean by that?â
Miraila reacted startled. Lawrence said coldly.
âMother, the Grand Duke despises you. You talk as if you donât know that. And unfortunately, he despises me, too. For that very reason, my father has not been able to trust me with the seat of the Crown Prince.â
The hidden meaning in his words was obvious. Mirailaâs face turned pale.
However, she did nothing.
With Artizea, she acted like the greatest tyrant in the world. But with her son, she was an understanding and submissive mother.
***
Marcus hesitated bitterly for a long time when she asked him to return to the Marquisate Rosan and help her.
Although he had accepted Artizea as the heir apparent, returning to the Marquisate Rosan was another matter.
ăI will marry soon, and I will retrieve the Marquisate Rosan from my motherâs clutches. Iâll need Mr. Hanson then.ă
It had been almost 18 years since he had last been to the Marquisate Rosan.
Currently, all employees of the Marquisate Rosan in relevant positions, serve Miraila.
the estate of the Marquisate Rosan was large and its wealth enormous. It would be difficult to fight them all at once.
ăI want to prevent the Rosan Familyâs assets from being stolen and get it all back. Mr. Hanson, you know all about the Marquisate Rosan. Besides, you know most of the former employees, right?ă
ăWell, thatâs true, butâŚă
ăSo I donât think itâs difficult for you to understand and control the situation. It would be even better if the entire Hanson Family could come and help. Please, return to your rightful position and help me.ă
ăBut my family has been accused of poisoning the direct descendants of the Marquess Rosan, so how can we return?ă
ăIt was 18 years ago. Right now, poisoning has become a thing of the past. His Majesty intervened to clarify the situation, but the real culprit could not be identified.ă
Artizea continued.
ăMy mother tried to incriminate the Hanson Family, but not only did she have no evidence, but no one believed her. So she thought, it would be better to leave it at that.ă
ăHeir apparentâŚă
ăAnyway, Iâll make sure that incident doesnât affect you.ă
It was a great incident, since it had caused the Rosan Family to be exterminated. The fact that the perpetrator had not been identified was very burdensome for the Emperor.
ăIn case this incident comes out again, this time, as the successor, I will be by your side, so letâs fight together until the end. If you are still worried, you can change your name and hide your identity until everything is resolved.ă
ăI lived in the manor house of the Marquisate Rosan for 60 years, of which 45 years I served at master Michaelâs side. Not only employees, but many of the aristocrats know about it.ă
ăWhy not do the same thing my mother did? It was because everyone was blindfolded that she managed not to be convicted of the poisoning incident.ă
Artizea spoke with dignity.
ăI will become the Marchioness Rosan, Mr. Hanson. As sole heir, I can handle matters relating to the Marquisate Rosan at my discretion. As long as Mr. Hanson is willing to return, I will take care of the rest of the problems.ă
However, Marcus could not immediately nod his head. The wound was too deep.
But he didnât shake his head either.
Back in the carriage, Cedric was the first to speak.
âI am amazed, Lady Artizea.â
âPardon?â
âThe best way to reach a personâs heart is to move it, right? Lady Artizea, although you are still young, you seem to know this very well.
âI did not intend to move Mr. Hanson. I was just trying to give him a valid excuse.â
âAn excuse?â
âMr. Hanson is struggling to make ends meet. He also has his 14-year-old granddaughter in his care. Iâm sure he must have wanted to get out of Reve Street for a while now. But without a suitable excuse, he would not take my hand.â
Said Artizea. And she apologized for that.
Cedric chuckled. Artizea blushed slightly.
âWhy are you chuckling?â
âLady Artizea seems to consider herself as a villainess.â
ââŚBecause itâs true.â
For Artizea, that was as true as the morning sunrise.
âAnyone who remembers honorable moments would want to escape disgrace. And that can only be determined by oneself. Lady Artizea, you did not give Hanson an excuse, you only made him remember honorable moments. So he will return for you.â
âFor me?â
âYes. Because he loves the Marquisate Rosan, and you are the only heir.â
âHowever, I am not Michaelâs biological daughter.â
âHe used to be the head butler, so he probably knows who your biological father is. You are a direct descendant of the Marquess Rosan. Otherwise, he wouldnât have accepted you.â
âI see. I never thought of it that way.â
Cedric asked.
âArenât you curious to know who your father is?â
âNo, thereâs no point in knowing. Whoever my biological father is, at first glance, is an immoral person who committed adultery with the wife of the Marquess Rosan. But more than that, heâs an idiot who slept with the Emperorâs concubine.â
Artizea said, biting her lips.
When the wheels of the carriage began to move, the vibrations of the rattle were transmitted to their bodies.
Then Artizea was silent, and Cedric said nothing either.There was only silence inside the carriage until it reached the front of the manor house of the Marquisate Rosan.
Once again, Cedric got out first and helped Artizea.
Artizea bowed her head to him.
âYour Grace, thank you for escorting me. If it were not for you, Mr. Hanson would not have trusted me. He would have thought that Mirailaâs daughter had gone to plot against him.â
âYou are welcome. I understand well the importance of todayâs meeting, for Lady Artizea and the Marquisate Rosan. I am grateful that you have invited me and allowed me to be present. If you need anything else, please donât hesitate to let me know.â
âIf you say that, Iâll really feel free to ask him for anything. Even though I have no power, no wealth, no people right now.â
âBut you have this, right?â
Cedric tapped his temple with his index finger.
Artizea smiled.
âFrom now on Iâll have to show you whether itâs really useful or not.â
âIâm counting on it.â
Thatâs when Cedricâs squire appeared, leading a horse by the reins.
Bill was following the squire in a hurry. He had left by order of Lawrence.
âWelcome, Your Grace. How was your outing, miss?â
Artizea tilted her head and looked at Bill.
Bill had spoken nervously.
He didnât think Cedric would listen to him, since heâd made him angry earlier.
However, Lawrence was strict when he gave an order, so he had no choice but to convey his message.
âYour Grace, young master Lawrence has told me that he would like to invite you to dinner.â
Cedric narrowed his eyes as he looked at Bill, putting on the riding gloves his squire had given him.
He wanted to rebuke him again, but in the end he decided not to.
âIt will be another time. Unless, Lady Artizea invites me.â
Artizea smiled.
âAs an unmarried woman, I am a little reluctant to invite a man who is not a relative into my home at this hour.â
âI knew youâd say that. Then I apologize. Next time Iâll visit you with Olgaâs Heart.â
Cedric bade farewell with a deep bow. Artizea also bowed politely to him.
As Cedric mounted his horse to leave, Artizea called out to him when a sudden thought crossed her mind.
âOh, now that I think about it, can I ask you something?â
âGo ahead.â
âWhy do you act so formally with me? The other day, you werenât acting that way.â
Artizea gazed up at Cedric.
Cedric thought her turquoise eyes were bright and deep, rich in colour.
âI must respect you, not because you are Mirailaâs daughter, but because you will be my future wife.â
Cedric said and turned on his horse.
Artizea lowered her head, feeling her whole face blush.\n