Upon belatedly noticing the presence of Emperor Ludwig, Kaidrich swallowed hard.
“Y-Your Majesty… since when have you been standing there?”
“Tell me, Count Valentine—have you always spoken so freely when you thought I wasn’t watching?”
Ludwig stepped forward with a shadowed smile, slow and deliberate.
“I don’t recall ever granting you permission to act in such a manner.”
With each step the Emperor took, Kaidrich’s face grew paler.
“N-no, Your Majesty. You’re mistaken.”
“Ah, then you’re saying I—
the Emperor
—am simply mistaken about you?”
The Emperor’s crimson eyes glinted coldly, dark like dried blood.
“How amusing.”
“……”
“It seems I haven’t shown you properly what it means to stand before the might of the throne.”
Ludwig was the sort of sovereign who brooked no disrespect to his imperial dignity.
If his authority was challenged, even by accident, he would not hesitate to spill blood—innocent or not.
And Kaidrich knew this better than anyone, having silenced countless political rivals at Ludwig’s side.
He immediately bowed his head, desperation tightening his voice.
“It is my fault, Your Majesty. I acted recklessly. The blame is mine alone.”
As Ludwig drew near, he gave a light tap to the medal on Kaidrich’s shoulder—the sigil of the Imperial Sword Division Commander, the
Felsitium
.
“You think such groveling is enough, Count? Especially while bearing the rank of Knight Commander?”
“I… I…”
“There’s something else you should be confessing to, isn’t there?”
A bead of cold sweat ran down Kaidrich’s back.
His Majesty knows everything…
This was always going to come to light eventually.
Iris had submitted an official protest. Cedric had issued a formal challenge to Orchid.
It was all out in the open now—including the lie Kaidrich told the Emperor regarding Iris.
At last, Kaidrich dropped to his knees and pleaded again.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. Matters with my daughter Iris have… not gone well.”
“It’s not Father’s fault, Your Majesty. It’s Lily’s.”
Lilliana interrupted in a tearful voice.
“It was Lily’s failure for not stopping Sister Iris sooner.”
Though disheveled and soaked, her voice cut through the murmurs like discordant chimes.
“L-Lily! What are you doing?!”
Kaidrich recoiled, alarmed by her sudden intrusion.
She doesn’t know anything! Why now?
The dealings with the Emperor were something Lilliana had no part in. She wasn’t supposed to even be aware of them.
“No, Father. Lily knows now. Lily understands everything.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she knelt beside her father, hands folded.
“So if punishment must be dealt… let it fall on me. Please, don’t scold Father any longer.”
Ludwig glanced at her, and his gaze—serpentine and pitiless—froze her breath.
I must not fear him.
Ludwig, with his lustrous golden hair and cold, deep red eyes, was a sovereign sculpted like a blade.
He was breathtaking to behold. And as Lilliana looked upon him, her heart pounded, unable to distinguish awe from infatuation.
Other noble daughters cower before him, but I’m different.
He was known to be merciless, even wiping out entire noble clans for the sake of consolidating power.
Despite that, Lilliana believed she could see what others could not.
I can feel it… inside those blood-red eyes lies a pain no one understands.
A loneliness… that’s why he hasn’t taken an Empress.
Surely, he was waiting for someone kind—someone to cradle that hidden wound.
With that thought, even the sharpness of his features seemed tinged with sorrow.
“Please, Your Majesty,” Lilliana pleaded, trembling in her soaked clothes, “allow Lily to remain by your side and atone for this disgrace.”
Ludwig looked down at her with a cold sneer.
“And who exactly… are you supposed to be?”
“…Huh?”
“For some young lady I’ve never even seen before to speak so freely—
Did I appear
that
approachable to you?”
With a swift motion, Ludwig kicked her kneeling form.
“Ah!”
Pain shot through Lilliana’s knee, and she recoiled.
But worse than the pain was what followed.
He doesn’t even know me?
She was the famed flower of high society, daughter of the loyal House Valentine.
How could he not…
But Ludwig’s eyes held nothing for her. Only irritation.
“To think
this
is how the Count educates his daughter.”
“M-my deepest apologies, Your Majesty…”
Kaidrich dared not even lift his head.
And at last, Lilliana’s expression went pale.
Did I… do something wrong?
With wide, tear-brimmed eyes, she looked up at the Emperor once more.
“Y-Your Majesty… I only wished to take responsibility…” “You still don’t understand.”
The emperor placed a firm hand on the kneeling count’s shoulder.
“I mean for you to shut your mouth.”
Then, drawing the sword at his side, he thrust it hard into the count’s shoulder.
Unaware at first, the count’s eyes snapped open in pain, his body trembling.
Though the shoulder plate and pauldron softened the blow, the blade had pierced through flesh.
Blood splattered onto Liliana’s cheek from her father’s wound.
“Before I tear that mouth of yours apart.”
Ludwig spoke with a mocking, cold tone.
Liliana trembled violently, tears streaming down her face, but she nodded vigorously.
“Fools only understand when shown.”
Watching such foolishness befitting the Valentines, Ludwig’s thoughts unexpectedly turned to Iris.
The woman married off to Cedric.
And the one who created the Hellis Wheel to sabotage his plans.
Iris Leontheim.
Ludwig had never forgiven those who obstructed his schemes, yet strangely, he found himself curious about Iris.
Soon enough, I’ll meet her.
Bound by her title as Duchess of Leontheim, there was no avoiding an eventual encounter.
Shaking the sword lightly embedded in Kaidrich’s shoulder, Ludwig said kindly,
“I do not intend to concern myself further. Let the count deal with his own affairs.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Kaidrich spoke through clenched teeth, struggling with the pain.
“Then let today’s banquet end here.”
The emperor turned his back on the uproar and left the hall.
Nothing pleases me.
From the foolish Valentines to Cedric’s rude departure before the emperor’s arrival—everything blocking his path.
Perhaps arranging a political marriage to bind Cedric was a mistake.
He had ordered it thinking it would grant leverage over Cedric’s new weakness.
But the more he observed, the more he doubted his judgment.
The duchess seems quite different from the Valentines.
How someone like her could emerge from such a foolish sword-wielding clan was beyond him.
For some reason, I keep thinking about her.
In Ludwig’s mind, Liliana did not even exist.
Iris and Cedric walked out of the banquet hall.
Outside near the fountain, the crowd had thinned.
Cedric stood by the fountain and cautiously asked,
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It was bound to happen someday.”
She truly seemed okay.
Yet, as always, Cedric found something in her that stirred his heart painfully.
I wish you’d lean on me more.
Though he had hurried to meet the emperor, it had taken longer than expected.
At least, longer than he had thought.
Driven by concern for Iris, Cedric had ignored the emperor’s words and rushed to her side.
Returning to the banquet hall, he found exactly the scene he had feared.
Damn those Valentines.
Honestly, Cedric was disgusted that the Valentine family lingered near Iris.
He had already noticed the abuse she suffered at their hands.
Worse, the Valentines insulted her openly.
That arrogance like it’s only natural.
He saw Iris handling them with grace that made her stand out among her kin.
Though she appeared composed, Cedric felt deep pity watching her surrounded and forced to face them.
What hurt most was
how accustomed Iris seemed to it all.
To Cedric, Iris was precious beyond words—so precious he dared not even touch her recklessly.
Yet they insulted her so casually, and she seemed all too familiar with that pain.
She was obviously hurt, yet seemed as if she did not feel pain at all.
Cedric felt his killing intent flare uncontrollably.
“Iris. You are truly precious.”
He spoke her name, not her title. Iris’s sky-blue eyes widened in surprise.
“So don’t grow used to insults. Get angry for me.”
“...Duke.”
“There’s no need to feel burdened. This is merely my vow.”
Cedric clasped her hands tightly.
“I will stay by your side for life, angering myself in your place whenever you refuse to get angry.”
Only Cedric existed in that moment.
With his jet-black hair striking against his blazing red eyes, radiant like the sun, his presence was undeniable.
Iris quietly asked,
“Duke, don’t you find me frustrating?”
“You, Iris?”
Cedric tilted his head in confusion.
“You’re not as free as I am. I think to you, I must seem quite foolish.”
Iris had never truly liked herself.
“I wanted to change, too.”
But no matter how hard she tried, the paths open to her were limited.
Like a sword qi she would never be able to wield in her lifetime, she was someone with clearly defined limits in this world.
So even if it was someone like Cedric, she thought there must be moments when he found her lacking.
No one can love
every
aspect of a person—especially not someone as perfect as him.
“Besides, I’m… not of much help to you, Your Grace,” she said quietly, gently tightening her grip on his hand.
“All I did was stir up trouble—enough to make you request a formal duel.”
“You’re wrong.”
Cedric’s voice was firm, unwavering.
“I know that Iris walks a path that belongs solely to her. And I respect that path deeply.”
“Respect…?”
She hadn’t expected that word from him. Her eyes widened, surprised.
“On the contrary,” he continued, “I’m worried you judge yourself too harshly. Constantly.”
“…That’s not entirely true.”
If it were, she wouldn’t still be by his side.
“You may not realize this, Your Grace… but I’m actually a very selfish person.”
“Then that’s perfect,” he replied with a soft chuckle. “I have quite the reputation for selfishness myself. Aren’t we well-matched, then?”
A breeze blew gently between them.
Cedric looked at Iris with a smile so boyish and radiant, it softened everything around him.
Iris’s eyes grew damp.
It was too beautiful a moment—too bright, too tender.
“…Then maybe we
are
well-matched.”
“See? Even you’re starting to admit it.”
Still gazing at her, Cedric murmured his vow.
“I want to remain at your side for the rest of my life.”
“…Because we’re married?”
“That too. A marriage vow is sacred. Breaking it brings calamity.”
He said it with playful gravity, then cupped her small hands in his large ones, completely enfolding them.
“But I don’t want us to remain together simply because we must. I want us to share our lives because we cherish each other.”
It looked almost like he was praying.
“May I stay by your side for the rest of your life?”
Iris felt her heart ache.
His sincerity was blinding—piercing her like light through a fragile shell.
“…Thank you.”
Why didn’t I see this man’s heart sooner?
“I… actually, there’s something I’d like to hear instead of ‘thank you.’”
“…What is it?”
“Whenever you feel grateful, call my name. Say ‘Cedric.’ That alone will be enough for me.”
Iris blinked slowly, a bit startled.
That look on her face was so endearing that Cedric leaned in with a grin and gently bumped his forehead against hers.
“Go on.”
Their faces were now just inches apart.
“…Cedric.”
A flush bloomed on her cheeks like a spring blossom.
The smile on Cedric’s lips was that of a beast thoroughly satisfied with its prize.
But this alone won’t be enough.
Hearing his name from Iris’s lips was sweet beyond measure.
But the desire to draw closer, to claim more of her, only intensified.
Still, I can’t rush her. She’s not ready.
A dark, burning hunger for his delicate, snow-pale wife stirred within him—
A heat so deep and consuming that her innocent heart would never comprehend it.
So lovely… my Iris.
Even just watching her gaze up at him made his chest tighten.
He wanted nothing more than to cherish her completely—
Like one would cradle a fragile blossom yet to bloom.
Suppressing the rising desire, Cedric smiled gently.
They were husband and wife already. Legally bound.
There was no longer any barrier between them.
As long as I don’t do anything foolish.
Smart as he was, Cedric was fully aware of his own emotions.
All he needed to do was give her time—
Time, and the right moments, both of which were on his side.
Slowly, Cedric lifted his head and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
And from now on, there would be countless moments
when Iris would have to call his name—
“Cedric.”
The next day, Cedric and Orchid faced each other in a duel.
Chapter 63