# 92
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The knight, who was well aware of Jake Decan's evil deeds, quickly knelt down.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I merely recited the introductory text revised by Argon III and handed down to this day; I have never dared to give any thought to the content.”
Then Jake said in a voice mixed with laughter.
"I mean, does it make sense that someone whose job is reciting introductions hasn't even thought about the content?"
"sorry."
The boy, clicking his tongue in disdain, turned his gaze toward Duke Taylor.
“Duke, what do you think?”
"yes?"
“No, you heard. They call the Emperor the master of the Five Streams, and doesn't your introduction also mention being the master of the Lil and Terril Rivers? I am asking what you think about this.”
Duke Taylor's eyes trembled slightly.
I've never thought about it...
“Um… so…….”
While the Duke was racking his brains, Jake smiled leisurely and rested his arm on the armrest. The Empress, who was inwardly worried that Jake's actions might be excessive, decided to wait and see how things unfolded for now.
A moment later, Duke Taylor cautiously opened his mouth.
“Well… isn’t it because I am merely a Duke ruling the southwestern region, whereas His Imperial Majesty rules the entire Decan?”
“Then who is the master of the Lil and Terril Rivers? Is it you, or His Imperial Majesty?”
Cold sweat trickled down Duke Taylor's back. The Crown Prince, who had been nothing more than a child when he saw him three years ago, had grown into a formidable figure in just three years. His father's advice that a single word could mean the difference between life and death came back to him once again.
He swallowed hard and answered cautiously.
“The Lil and Terril Rivers are designated as the property of the Ducal House of Taylor, but since I am Your Majesty’s subject, are they not Your Majesty’s rivers?”
Jake nodded slowly and rubbed his chin. Then, as if he didn't understand, he spoke abruptly.
But why aren't they greeting properly?
"…yes?"
“I sit on the throne in place of Your Majesty, who is bedridden; why do you not kneel before me on your left knee?”
At that moment, Hetby's red lips curled upward. Her pounding heart beat for a different reason. She had been anxious because his puberty had been long, but in the end, Jake was her son.
Duke Taylor was tossed about violently, like a ship caught in a storm. He had absolutely no idea how to act in a situation like this. This was precisely why he rarely visited the capital. He felt comfortable in Taylor, where whatever he did was the law; the capital was simply uncomfortable.
“Ahem. Come on, why are you hesitating so much? It’s something everyone does.”
As Ivanka Tyrien muttered loudly, Duke Taylor's heart tightened even more. Furthermore, the gazes of the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Count of Saxony's family staring intently at him were like blades gleaming beneath their jaws.
Kneel down.
Everyone was saying that.
Duke Taylor's palms grew damp. So, may I kneel? Or not?
Then, the Count of Saxony spoke loudly, his beard trembling.
It seems your left knee is quite uncomfortable from the long journey.
Finally, he slowly lowered himself toward Jake and the Hetbigas, who were seated beneath the black tiger banner, until his left knee touched the red carpet.
Jake looked at the sight with satisfaction.
* * *
In the Deccan, it was not something to be proud of for a married couple to share a room. There was no obligation to do so, and if a couple did share a room, it was assumed that they did so because life was so tough and there was a shortage of rooms.
However, there was one day when the couple absolutely had to share the same room! It was their wedding night.
Mrs. Rexton was thrilled. No, everyone in the room was thrilled!
“Oh ho ho ho—!”
“Kuh-huh, uh-huh.”
Grace had never seen clothes like that in her life. Honestly, they had no practical use as clothing, so they couldn't even be called clothes. As she slowly flipped through them with a dumbfounded expression, Mrs. Rexton smiled slyly and whispered.
“What do you like the most?”
Then Jessie interrupted, raising her head like a fierce cat.
“All of these aren’t clothes!”
However, in Mrs. Rexton's eyes, Jesse's fighting ability was no more than that of a kitten.
Of course, it shouldn't be clothes in your eyes.
"yes?"
“If this looks like a dress to you, then I prepared it incorrectly. Oh, right, Jessie. The Grand Madam has called for you. Go now.”
"yes?"
“The Grand Madam called for you. Hurry?”
“D-Duchess!”
Jesse urgently called for Grace, but there was nothing Grace could do since the Godmother had summoned her. Besides, Jesse was of little help in this situation.
Finally, as Jesse left the room like a cow being led, Mrs. Rexton approached Grace with sparkling eyes.
Grace felt a cold sweat run down her spine. She understood. From the perspective of Mrs. Rexton and the maids, she was indeed a newlywed today.
Grace's gaze fell upon the scrap of cloth disguised as clothing. She felt that even if she died and came back to life, she could never appear before Ares wearing that.
“Mrs. Rexton. I can’t wear clothes like that because they’re too embarrassing.”
It’s just one day in a lifetime.
Besides, I get cold easily. You insisted I wear fur even when going out into the hallway, so how can you expect me to wear clothes like this?
It will get hot soon.
"…what……."
As Grace was left speechless, the married maids around her all gave her lewd looks. One brave maid even stealthily chimed in.
“Then you can just put a fur coat over this—”
Mrs. Rexton looked back at her with wide eyes.
Oh, that's a good idea!
However, Grace firmly shook her head. Honestly, even the scent of perfume wafting from her body was embarrassing.
It still isn't working.
“…….”
Mrs. Rexton and the maids all turned to look at her with narrowed eyes, but Grace held on tight to her stomach.
Take it all and bring it back.
"princess……."
Baroness Rexton.
When Grace addressed her formally, Mrs. Rexton finally let out a long sigh and slumped her shoulders. If Eliza Richmond was a sharp blade, Grace Richmond was deep, heavy water. They were both equally difficult people to deal with.
“Yes. Understood.”
Mrs. Rexton, gathering the outfit she had prepared herself with a dejected look, trudged into the dressing room. However, at that moment, her expression changed. She then roughly set down the clothes she was holding and gestured to the waiting maid.
"Bring it here quickly."
As the maid hurriedly brought the clothes, Mrs. Rexton's sly smile deepened. Puzzled, the maid asked.
“Mrs. Rexton?”
Then Mrs. Rexton whispered in her ear.
“Do you think our Lady would wear clothes like this? She would absolutely never wear them, even if it were His Majesty’s command.”
“Then from the beginning...?”
“Hehehe. If you look at that and then this… you’ll probably think this is fine.”
Once you see the worst, the lesser of two evils looks okay.
“Oh… as expected.”
Hearing the maid's admiration, Mrs. Rexton turned toward Grace. Her sly smile had vanished, leaving only a sorrowful expression on her face.
* * *
Of course, Mrs. Rexton's ambitious plan fell through.
This meant that Grace Richmond could not be dressed in a slip dress with a hemline that exposed her thighs, or a transparent slip that revealed her silhouette. However, Grace could not wear a dress with a raised collar either. After all, it was their first night together, and there were many eyes watching.
She had put on the most modest sleepwear slip available, but the way it clung to her legs with every step felt incredibly awkward. No matter how hard she tried to pull it up, she couldn't prevent her upper chest from being exposed, so she had no choice but to button up the robe draped over her shoulders as tightly as possible. Dressed like that, she walked down a secluded hallway cut off from the outside world. As she spotted a door in the distance, Grace desperately thought about what to do next. Thinking about what to do next was a habit she performed whenever she felt a sense of urgency.
It is just a ritual, like holding a wedding. The night is deep, and it is time to fall asleep soon anyway. When I open my eyes, it will be morning.
The hallway, which I had wished was long, was too short. Mrs. Rexton arrived at the door and bowed her head respectfully.
Well then, I hope you have a good night.
Mrs. Rexton's footsteps faded away behind me.
Grace clutched the gown tightly, as if it were about to flow away. The sensation of it slowly rubbing against her lips seemed to linger like a mark.
I closed my eyes tightly, caught my breath, and thought.
Perhaps at that moment, they were both entranced by something. And wasn't it not their first kiss like that? It is meaningless. And it shouldn't be meaningful.
Grace opened her eyes as she pushed the door open.
A wild, musky scent wafted in along with the soft light. When Grace met the deep eyes of the man sitting stretched out on the sofa, she felt she had entered his territory. She reflexively lowered her gaze and bent down to greet him, but a low voice was heard.
Never mind the greeting.
My heart pounded as if it had sunk. An instinctive sense of crisis raced thrillingly up my spine. I paused and looked up to see a man smiling with a captivating figure. His chest and abs were clearly visible through the unfastened robe.
Good evening, Madam.