When I turned around, I saw a beautiful man smiling gently. He had long honey-blonde hair tied back elegantly and looked at me with deep blue-violet eyes.
"I don't know if you remember me."
He was so handsome and his expression so gentle that I could almost see white roses blooming behind him as he smiled.
There was no other handsome man in the novel besides Cedric... Who is this person?
The man looked a little nervous as he adjusted the white cravat at his collar, complementing his stylish gray suit.
"This is Adrian Monter, the butler of the Mansion of Darkness."
Adrian, having introduced himself, bowed slightly and naturally took my hand.
Ah, because the Mansion of Darkness barely appeared in the original work, I've never seen the butler...
The moment I thought that, a soft, clean sensation touched the back of my hand. When I suddenly came to my senses and looked down, I saw Adrian kissing the back of my hand. He straightened from his bow and smiled softly.
"I have been waiting a long time for Your Highness to visit."
Adrian's blue-violet eyes were full of sincerity when he said that. I couldn't help but stare at him in bewilderment.
"Thank you. I didn't know you'd be this happy to see me... I really didn't expect it."
Adrian was unexpected in many ways. I didn't know why, but he seemed genuinely thrilled that I had come to the Mansion of Darkness.
"Do you have a request? Whatever it is, I would be glad to fulfill it."
Adrian took a long breath, his face slightly flushed as he spoke.
"Oh, it's not a request, exactly."
I turned toward Mina to hand over the desserts I'd prepared. But Mina was just staring at Adrian with dreamy eyes.
So the famous person Mina mentioned was Adrian.
I cleared my throat a couple of times, but it was useless. It wasn't until I finally poked Mina's forearm lightly with my finger that she snapped out of it. Her face turned bright red—an added bonus.
"I feel like I've been too indifferent to the people who work in the Mansion of Darkness. I've prepared desserts that are perfect for break time."
"Your Highness... You did?"
Adrian blinked slowly, as if he couldn't believe it. I might have expected some suspicion given my friendly attitude, but it seemed Adrian wasn't fully aware of Rebecca's past temperament. After a moment, he smiled warmly again.
"Everyone who receives them will be very touched."
"Well, the Grand Duchess gave them, so I suppose they should at least act impressed in front of their employer. Even if they curse me behind my back afterward."
"Haha, how could that be? We will gather the staff immediately. They'll be even happier knowing Your Highness personally came here to present the gifts!"
"Huh? No, you don't have to go that far..."
Adrian quickly walked toward the main gate of the mansion, his face still flushed with excitement. Then he smiled gently as he swung open the front door.
"Welcome to the Mansion of Darkness, Your Highness."
It was the first sincere welcome I'd received since arriving in this world.
At the same time, at the imperial palace of the Western Empire.
Cedric had arrived in the capital early that morning. It usually took about five hours by carriage to travel from the north to the capital where the imperial palace was located.
However, for Cedric, who owned a special carriage developed with demon realm technology, the journey took only about two hours. It happened to be the day of a meeting at the imperial palace regarding the special carriage manufacturing technology agreement. Having been forced to stay in the conference room all morning, Cedric had just arrived at the Emperor's Hall.
Someone standing in front of the Emperor's Hall spoke first.
"His Highness the Grand Duke of Twins has also arrived on time, I see."
It was High Priest Diat. His face was blunt as always. However, Cedric could read the subtle disgust that flashed across High Priest Diat's expression every time they encountered each other. But as usual, the priest greeted Cedric with polite indifference.
"Thank you for coming at my request, High Priest Diat."
"Strictly speaking, it is not the request of His Highness the Grand Duke, but the request of the Emperor. And an order from the Pope."
The expression on High Priest Diat's face as he lowered his eyes seemed somewhat arrogant. It had been six years since the exchange between the human world and the demon world—severed since ancient times—had been reconnected with the founding of the Western Empire.
Although there had been many changes, there were still people in the human world who were wary of or looked down on demons.
Yet he's so obsessed with acquiring demon realm technology!
Cedric had recently heard a rumor that High Priest Diat had lost a considerable fortune after investing in the futures market for demonic materials. Cedric's mouth twitched at the thought.
Just then, a message came from within the Emperor's Hall, permitting their entry. Grand Duke Cedric entered first, and High Priest Diat naturally followed.
"Oh! You both arrived right on time."
As soon as they entered, Emperor Letitz, backlit by bright sunlight streaming through the windows, greeted them warmly.
"Especially you, Cedric. I thought you'd be late since the meeting ran long. Everyone, sit down, please!"
Emperor Letitz, who had just entered his forties, was the person who had led the unprecedented movement to resume exchanges between the human world and the demon world.
Just six years ago, this young and clever emperor had been merely the king of a small country in the northern part of the Western Continent. It was around that time that Emperor Letitz had personally visited the Twins family—who had lost their status as royalty in the human world and had been living only as the imperial family of the demon realm since ancient times.
After persistently persuading the head of the family, Cedric, Emperor Letitz had finally unified the Western Continent with the help of the mixed-blood demons. To him, Cedric was an invaluable ally who deserved every favor he could grant.
"Yes, of course I can help you, but..."
Emperor Letitz, who was reading a document while wearing a gold-rimmed monocle, frowned slightly.
"...Your first request is a secret divorce. Really?"
Emperor Letitz lightly tossed the document he'd been reading onto the table.
Cedric, High Priest Diat, and Emperor Letitz—the reason they had gathered at the Emperor's Hall today was because of Cedric's unusual divorce request. Cedric wanted the divorce finalized with the permission of the Emperor and the Vatican as originally intended, but to postpone the detailed administrative procedures for six months.
During that time, the Twins Grand Duke's divorce would be kept secret. Though it was originally an impossible request, the Emperor had decided to persuade the Pope to grant Cedric's wish. So today, before the couple's signatures were even written on the divorce papers, Emperor Letitz was about to hand over the Emperor's Hall and the Vatican's seals of approval. It was a decision worthy of Letitz, the unconventional emperor.
"All right. I'm going to do it... but is it true that the Grand Duchess actually agreed to this?"
Emperor Letitz believed Cedric's words, but he couldn't help asking about this particular detail.
"I'll help you with a secret divorce, but as you know, I cannot allow a divorce without the other party's consent."
Cedric, silent for a moment, eventually nodded. Emperor Letitz's eyes slowly widened.
"Even most nobles know that the Grand Duchess loves you so much she can barely breathe..."
"The Grand Duchess is really going to divorce you?"
High Priest Diat's curious gaze also turned toward Cedric. It was clearly an incident that intrigued even the usually expressionless High Priest Diat. Such a reaction was natural—it was something even the parties themselves could scarcely believe.
"...She said she would."
As Cedric spoke in his characteristically low voice, Emperor Letitz lifted the monocle he was wearing and tilted his head.
"That's very strange... Why did the Grand Duchess suddenly change her mind?"
Cedric was also curious about Rebecca's true feelings. On that night, Rebecca had been crying and clinging to him desperately. Then, when things didn't go her way, she'd announced the divorce, and for the first time ever, she'd slapped him across the face and started raving like a madwoman. After that, everything had changed.
"I don't love you anymore."
As her red lips appeared in his mind, a faint crease formed between Cedric's brows.
Love. He'd never once felt Rebecca's actions as genuine love. She must have been using love as an excuse to hide her dark intentions.
Yes, he'd definitely thought so...
"Ah... I get it. That's it."
Emperor Letitz's voice suddenly rang out, breaking through Cedric's thoughts. Cedric abruptly raised his head and looked at the Emperor. Emperor Letitz, nodding with his arms crossed, noticed his gaze and leaned slightly toward Cedric.
"You know, the more intensely you love someone, the colder your feelings become when they finally fade—and there's no turning back."
"The Grand Duchess loved you so deeply that now she has no regrets left! Haha! How's that? I think I've figured it out."
Emperor Letitz burst into cheerful laughter, as if he'd solved a complex scientific problem. At the sight, High Priest Diat closed his eyes with a gloomy expression. He thought it was clear that Emperor Letitz had devoted all his talents to fields like science and technology, and in doing so had lost his ability to empathize forever. Otherwise, he wouldn't be smiling so brightly while watching Cedric's expression darken at the mention of "the Grand Duchess's love cooling."
"That's actually better! Weren't you distressed by the Grand Duchess's obsession? She's clearly broken free and made up her mind, so she won't cling to you even after the divorce!"
Emperor Letitz hurriedly searched for his seal with a relaxed expression, as if his curiosity had been satisfied.
"High Priest Diat, you also prepared the seal of the Holy See, correct?"
"Yes? Yes... I brought it as instructed."
"Stamp it first. Here."
There was a momentary attempt to place the Vatican's seal of approval in the designated spot.
High Priest Diat raised his eyes toward Cedric, as if in warning.
"Six months, as promised. After that, not only will administrative procedures need to be carried out, but the former Grand Duchess's residence will also need to be relocated."
The reason the Pope had initially opposed this secret divorce was because he considered it blasphemous for a divorced couple to continue living together. Cedric nodded silently.
"Understood."
Thud.
The Vatican's seal was finally placed on the Twins Grand Duchess's divorce papers. At that moment, Cedric was overcome by an unfamiliar, subtle emotion.
At last... Is this really the end?
He couldn't tell whether the feeling was relief or sadness.
Thud—!
A second seal was stamped in quick succession. When the startled Cedric raised his head, Emperor Letitz smiled excitedly and handed him the document. Seeing that, High Priest Diat closed his eyes tightly once more.
However, Emperor Letitz looked proud of himself for preparing the gift his friend wanted.
"Now all you need are the Grand Duchess's signature and yours, and your marriage will be over!"