Noisy lot.”
The cadet nobles fell silent, careful not to further offend Sylvia’s mood.
“Do not worry too much. I have always been merciful to you all. This time will be no different.”
A glimmer of hope spread across the faces of the bound cadet nobles.
Sylvia nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Now, I will grant you a chance to break free from Tran. Show the full extent of your abilities.”
“L-Lady of the Tran clan!”
Her words meant banishing all the cadets present from the Tran House.
“Of course, all the privileges you once enjoyed in Tran will be gone. But your bodies remain strong.”
Sylvia’s gaze swept over the cadet nobles like a cold blade.
Only then did they recall the legend of Sylvia in her youth.
‘The Lone Widow of Tran.’
The great matriarch with ebony hair and regal violet eyes who could intimidate any opponent.
“But there are those who cannot be spared.”
Sylvia gestured towards the pale-faced Duke Huttledum and his son, and then to the other cadets who had conspired with them.
Nearby servants forcibly lifted their heads to meet Sylvia’s piercing gaze.
“Unfortunately, my mercy cannot reach everyone.”
Though she could have locked them away in prison for life and let them perish miserably, these few could not be allowed such fate.
The thought of them harming and trying to kill Iris made her blood boil with rage—she wished she could tear them apart.
So Sylvia decided on a special course of action.
She could have executed them officially for the crime of attempting to kill a direct royal descendant, but she chose not to.
Of course, she intended to purchase that right with money later, so she could dispose of them at will.
“Do not worry, though. Fortunately, none of you will have to become ‘old’ like me.”
Sylvia tied a completed bouquet of roses with a ribbon, her face expressionless except for a slight smile curling her lips.
“You won’t have time to grow old.”
As the cadet nobles were dragged away, their screams pleading for mercy echoed through the garden.
Some would surely become excellent fertilizer for this beautiful rose garden.
After sending all the cadets off, Sylvia withdrew a pendant from her bosom.
Inside was a cherished miniature portrait of Violet, sent by Cedric.
“…That brat.”
Violet smiled happily in the lilac manor.
On a brilliant summer day, Violet’s joyful smile seemed to look back at Sylvia.
‘Violet, you were happy.’
Sylvia, reluctant to part with the painting, fiddled with the pendant, then suddenly noticed something strange.
‘This painting resembles Monterra’s style...’
Since Violet had been painted before marriage by a discovered artist, it couldn’t have been Cedric.
But imitating that unique brushwork would be difficult.
One fleeting thought crossed her mind.
‘So that’s it, Violet.’
If the unknown Monterra was actually Castro,
and if their meeting—though previously unrelated—had begun that way...
“I should have talked to you more.”
A warm smile appeared on Sylvia’s lips.
‘I won’t avoid it anymore, Violet.’
Having reached the brink of death, Sylvia had nothing left to fear.
“Tania.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“What of the documents I asked you to prepare?”
Tania handed Sylvia the papers she had ordered ready.
“There were items related to the Emperor in this transaction list.”
Sylvia narrowed her eyes and twisted her lips into a crooked smile.
“Pay whatever penalties are necessary and cancel all of them. And end all future dealings with the Emperor.”
Sylvia had lived her entire life to protect Tran.
Tran without the people she ought to protect was no longer the Tran she had guarded.
Even if it meant clashing with Emperor Ludwig and causing Tran’s downfall, she cared not.
“I heard our child recently suffered troubles with some northern noblewomen.”
Thanks to Iris’s deft handling, the incident had been resolved smoothly.
Yet some noble ladies tried to spread slander against her daughter for the disgrace.
‘Such matters must be crushed swiftly and early for a clean end.’
“We cannot allow such rabble to enjoy Tran’s art.”
Sylvia’s violet eyes mercilessly stared down the families of the rude noblewomen.
“Add them all to Tran’s blacklist. True art shines only for those who appreciate it.”
Once on Tran’s blacklist, all sponsorship and benefits granted by Tran would be denied.
This blacklist extended even to trade guilds backed by Tran’s investments.
“And inform the capital as well.”
Sylvia slowly rose from the tea table and gazed toward Leonthaim’s direction.
“Tell them I have a cherished heir now.”
It seemed like the long-held resentment had finally begun to unravel, for recently Cedric’s aura had grown noticeably weary.
“Master! Stop right there!”
“No.”
“I said stop!”
“If I stopped just because you said so, would I have run away before?”
Though his exhaustion was greater than ever, he only ran away more desperately.
Behind Iris, who smiled with a helpless expression, Hanna shook her head.
“Men, huh.”
In her hands were a pale violet envelope and a bouquet of roses.
Iris looked at the flowers and letter and asked,
“Is this from the Grand Matriarch of Tran?”
“My, how did you know? Yes, it is.”
Hanna turned the envelope over with a surprised expression.
‘Strange, there’s no name written anywhere.’
“It’s a secret.”
Iris smiled gently and took the letter.
The roses.
This was a secret signal between Sylvia and Iris alone.
When they first created the secret, Iris hadn’t realized it, but now hiding it from others made her heart beat strangely.
Carefully, she sliced open the letter with a paper knife and began to read.
Sylvia’s heavy and refined handwriting was neatly arranged on the page.
The word that caught Iris’s eye most was ‘youngling.’
Since they had exchanged messages through letters and communication stones a few times, Sylvia had begun calling Iris ‘youngling.’
Though the embarrassing title made Iris blush, she didn’t dislike it.
“His Excellency the Count’s eyesight has nearly fully recovered.”
“Oh, finally healed! When I heard the Count was ill, my heart nearly stopped.”
Since Hanna also knew Sylvia, she had been shocked hearing about the illness.
Iris gave her a small smile, relieved, and continued reading.
“And—”
Iris’s sky-blue eyes sparkled with surprise.
[Youngling, if it’s all right, I would like to invite you and Cedric to Tran. Would that be agreeable?]
Sylvia added a postscript saying her gallery tour was over, so she had plenty of time.
She also confessed that she was currently feeling quite lonely.
“Hmmm...”
Iris couldn’t take her eyes off that sentence.
Indeed, there hadn’t been much time to reconnect with Cedric; maybe she had been too complacent.
“What should I do...”
“What do you mean?”
“Good grief!”
Startled by a black figure appearing at the window, Hanna threw the documents up.
Papers fluttered down as Iris turned to look back.
Cedric stood silhouetted against the sunlight; his beauty was so dazzling it was hard to adjust, but the situation itself felt familiar.
“This.”
“Hmm—”
Squinting, Cedric read the letter Iris handed him and smirked inwardly.
Lonely, huh.
Though they had been apart for a long time, she was still his blood.
If she had been lonely, she wouldn’t have earned the nickname ‘Tran’s Lone Spider.’
Cedric sensed this was just a bait to lure Iris.
Sure enough, his affectionate wife was already worrying.
Probably.
She was blaming herself for being too complacent or coming back too hastily.
It was obvious without even looking.
But whatever.
With a smirk, Cedric pulled Iris into an embrace and rested his chin atop her head.
“Shall we go then?”
When else would he have the chance to hold Iris like this?
Iris looked up at Cedric, who shamelessly acted as if it were nothing.
He loved it most when Iris looked up at him from his embrace.
“Is that—okay?”
“As I said at the gallery, why wouldn’t it be? I’ve done nothing to that aunt of mine.”
That was obvious, but every time Iris wondered if she was just bad at speaking or if Cedric’s reasoning was too flawless to argue against.
As Iris struggled with pointless worries, Cedric lightly pinched her nose and asked,
“Does your lady not wish to go?”
A simple, to-the-point question that blew away all unnecessary doubts.
With her nose held, Iris blinked and slowly shook her head.
She wanted to go. With Cedric.
Pressing his lips gently to her now honest forehead, Cedric smiled, showing his teeth.
“That’s all that matters.”
Trying to hide the pounding of her heart, Iris lowered her face and burrowed deeper into his embrace.
She could hear the steady beat of Cedric’s heart by her ear.
She was running at a pace similar to mine.
‘It’s not that far anyway.’
As Cedric had said, the journey eastward didn’t take long.
Even though we left a little after noon, the sun had yet to set.
Perhaps because this was the empire’s second most prosperous region after the capital, the roads were well-paved and comfortable to travel.
‘Truly, such a beautiful place.’
If the North carried a rugged, unrefined aura, the East dazzled with its splendor.
Every cobblestone and flower lining the path burst with vibrant colors.
‘This must be the culture radiating from Tran and Hill.’
The harmony between Tran’s emphasis on art and Hill’s devotion to craftsmanship was nearly perfect.
Lately, the nobles of the capital—except for Valentine—were said to pale in comparison to those of the East.
“Do you like the road?”
Cedric asked offhandedly as Iris inspected the bricks beneath her feet.
Blinking, Iris tilted her head.
“Why?”
“If you say you like it, I’ll have them taken up for you.”
“No! That’s private property.”
“I see. Then I must become Count of Tran.”
When others joked like that, it was easy to dismiss. But from Cedric, the words held weight.
Quickly, Iris replied, “No, I was just admiring the colors.”
She hadn’t yet guessed that the crimson-eyed beast was scheming to hoard periwinkle-colored accessories and dresses in his arms.
After traveling a bit further, the carriage came to a stop.
As Cedric escorted her down, Sylvia, waiting to greet them, welcomed Iris warmly.
“Welcome. Was the journey difficult?”
“Not at all. The scenery was so beautiful, it distracted me.”
“Is that so? Then take it all with you. No, better yet, lay it all on the path to the North.”
“Huh?”
What had she just heard?
Iris thought only Cedric spoke such recklessly absurd things.
Sylvia instructed a nearby steward to make sure everyone had heard, then smiled as she took Iris’s hand and led her away.
“This way.”
“No, wait—”
Before Iris could refuse, something orange was pressed into her arms.
Looking down, she saw a child with golden eyes gazing up at her brightly.
“Jana!”
“...Long time no see.”
Jana clasped Iris’s hands tightly and rubbed her face against hers.
Soon after, Tania came over, smiling warmly.
“Grand Duchess, Grand Duke, it’s an honor to see you again! Please make yourselves comfortable at Tran.”
“Long time no see, Tania. But we’ll only be having dinner today—”
“Coachman, quickly park the carriage in the stable. I’ll guide you.”
Without breaking her smile, Tania rushed to the coachman and took charge of the carriage.
Anyone watching might think Iris was trying to escape, given her swift action.
Iris retracted her awkwardly outstretched hand with a weary smile.
“Can’t be helped.”
Patting Jana’s head, Iris was about to step inside when she glanced back at Cedric.
He lightly stroked his chin, deep in thought, then narrowed one eye and asked,
“Did you really want it?”
“What?”
“That road.”
‘Huh? What does he mean?’
Iris blinked several times before Cedric clicked his tongue with slight irritation.
“I gave that to your aunt. I’ll gift you another road you saw on the way here.”
“Really?”
“Oh, and the periwinkle set is separate.”
What on earth was that?
Lost in thought, Iris didn’t hear Cedric’s remark—“I won’t take no for an answer”—before he strode inside.
Left alone, Iris suddenly understood everything and raised her voice late.
“No, I said I didn’t!”
But Cedric’s stubbornness was unstoppable.
Escorted lightly into the mansion, Iris shared tea with Sylvia in the parlor.
Sylvia wished to refresh her palate slightly before dinner.
“Madam, that road is truly beautiful, but no need. I was just admiring it.”
“Hm, if you think it’s pretty, then I must give it. No need to refuse.”
“I noticed first.”
Cedric grumbled as if his gift had been snatched away.
‘Good grief.’
Why was he so competitive here?
Flustered, Iris blushed and poked Cedric playfully.
Cedric caught her finger and, teasing, placed her hand atop his.
Of course, Iris quickly withdrew her hand and ran off first.
Sylvia, watching her nephew and his wife bicker with a joyful expression, suddenly opened her mouth as if an idea had struck her.
“By any chance, are both of you free in two days?”
“Ah, yes. Nothing scheduled yet.”
“That’s fortunate. Then there’s a place I want to invite you to.”
She handed over a small invitation made of paper.
Strictly speaking, it was hard to even call it an invitation.
It looked like a child had scribbled it crookedly on the paper with crayons.
“What is this?”
“Do you remember the orphanage I mentioned before?”
Iris could never forget.
That trap hidden among gifts had almost dragged Sylvia into ruin.
As Iris’s face darkened, a warm sensation spread through her.
Sylvia held her hand gently, wearing a tender smile.
“To repay that gift, they hold a small banquet for the children around this time. Such opportunities are rare.”
“Ah...”
That’s right.
It wasn’t the children’s fault.
It was the sinning adults who tried to take advantage of their small kindness.
And Sylvia was still here, breathing warmth beside her.
Just changing the future where Cedric endlessly wept after losing her was a miracle.
As if responding to Sylvia’s comfort, Iris placed her hand atop Sylvia’s.
“If it’s alright, would you come with me?”
“...Of course. I’d be glad to.”
Nodding with a smile at Iris’s words, Sylvia then turned to look at Cedric.
“And Cedric.”
“Yes?”
“Please step outside for a moment.”
Cedric raised an eyebrow.
“No, I read in the papers that wives often clash fiercely with their husband’s family. I won’t stand to see that.”
“I won’t scold this child. Maybe you, but not her. Now step outside.”
Sylvia’s firm command to dismiss him made Cedric narrow his eyes as he looked at her.
Sylvia raised one eyebrow and met his gaze—
A look that said,
What will you do if I refuse?
This hardly resembled the awkward tension they had not long ago when meeting each other’s faces was uncomfortable.
“...Alright, alright. But no crying.”
“Would I ever do that? Iris, youngling, if you feel like crying, come here. Understood?”
“Ha ha...”
As Sylvia released Iris’s hand, Cedric lightly kissed the ring he had given her.
He wanted to linger longer, but feared he’d really be dragged out if he did.
Dragging his reluctant feet, Cedric finally stepped outside, and Sylvia’s gaze shifted.
“It’s nothing else, just something I need to ask.”
“What is it?”
“It concerns those brats.”
Iris knew exactly whom those harsh words referred to.
Cedric’s cousins.
Her knuckles clenched tightly, whitening with anger.
But Sylvia, who looked at Iris with more than just pity, gripped her hand with a heart breaking for her.
“Don’t worry. I’ve dealt with those brats. I can’t leave the ones who betrayed me and hurt you to run wild.”
“Ah...”
“But those brats tried to be clever, secretly hoarding wealth.”
Though it was a mere handful.
Yet for the empire’s greatest magnate, even a handful was enough for an ordinary citizen to live in luxury for generations.
Still, Sylvia didn’t need to say it outright.
It truly was just a handful to her.
“I want to give all that wealth to the person who has helped me the most.”
Sylvia’s violet eyes shone with trust and gratitude.
“I’m curious to hear that person’s opinion.”
Chapter 95