"I’m not entirely sure," Ian Niño replied, shaking his head with a humble smile. "I believe I should win the Princess’s heart on my own merit. I am merely grateful to you, Duke, for your appreciation and for granting me this opportunity."
"A manly answer," Duke Altsbeit said, his eyes scanning Ian’s lean but strong frame. He’d heard Ian was a master of diplomacy and trade, but he looked capable of holding his own in other ways as well. "I will trust you then. This has been one of the most pleasant mornings of my life."
The Duke rose to leave but stopped at the door, turning back to Ian with a seemingly casual look.
"I heard you decided to lend money to the Duke of Lemut."
Ian’s expression didn't flicker, though his eyes widened slightly in feigned surprise. "The rumors are true then—your ears can hear things from a thousand miles away. But that... that was a decision made by my father. We make it a point to distinguish between our public business and our private lives."
Duke Altsbeit’s brow wrinkled. He didn't like the vague answer, but Ian quickly smoothed it over.
"You needn't worry, Duke. Our goals are ultimately the same."
"And what do you think my goals are?"
Ian gave him a soft, innocent smile. "I’d rather ask this: since I have your permission, can I assume that if I win the Princess’s heart, our families will be united?"
"Her heart is irrelevant," the Duke said coldly. "But if you can manage her, it would certainly make things easier. My only goal is the prosperity of the Altsbeit family."
The Duke chuckled. He didn't care what Charlize thought; she had no power to go against him. But if Ian could keep her quiet and happy, it would save him a lot of "whining."
"One last thing," Ian said. "What about the engagement between the Princess and Duke Lemut?"
"You were at the banquet, were you not?"
"I was."
"Then you know Askin Lemut insulted my family. Do you really think I’ll let that pass?"
The Duke walked out with a cold finality. Ian accompanied him to his carriage, holding the umbrella himself as a gesture of respect.
"Lemut will lose his territory soon," the Duke said as he stepped inside. "The Altsbeit flag will fly over his lands, and Askin will have no choice but to beg for my mercy. If he continues to rebel, he’ll spend the rest of his life as a landless slave."
The carriage door closed, and Ian remained bowed until it disappeared from sight. A smile, completely different from the one he’d shown the Duke, slowly spread across his face.
* * *
Back in the Altsbeit mansion, Charlize’s room was stiflingly hot, yet she was shivering under a mountain of blankets. She was unconscious, her body racked by a high fever.
The three maids—Susan, Beth, and Anna—were frantic, but nothing they did seemed to bring her temperature down.
"My... my..." Charlize murmured, her voice cracked and dry.
"Princess? Can you hear me?" Susan asked, leaning in close.
"Is she awake?" Beth whispered.
"No... she’s saying something."
They all leaned in, trying to catch her words.
"My... co... mon... eda..." (My... co... in...)
"Nose? What does she mean by 'nose'?" Susan asked, confused.
Charlize’s eyes flickered open for a second, but they were unfocused, looking at something the maids couldn't see. She muttered a few more unintelligible words before slipping back into unconsciousness.
The door burst open, and Duke Altsbeit walked in. He looked around the sweltering room and frowned.
"Why is she still in bed? Where are the healing mages?"
"They... they’ve already treated her, sir," the Duke’s personal physician stammered, bowing low.
"Then why isn't she awake?! Is she faking it?"
"No, Duke! She has a dangerously high fever. We’ve already used as much mana as her body can handle. If we inject any more, it could do more harm than good. She needs rest."
The physician looked at the pale, shivering girl with a flicker of genuine sympathy. The news of how she’d been publicly rejected by Askin Lemut had already spread through the capital. Everyone thought she’d finally broken under the pressure of her own "vicious" personality.
"Hmph," the Duke snorted. "To think she’d fall ill at a time like this. She’s becoming a liability."
He ground his teeth. If the Imperial family found out she was sick, they’d use it as an excuse to move her back to the palace. He couldn't let that happen.
"Listen to me carefully," the Duke ordered the room. "No one is to know that Charlize is ill. If a single word of this leaves this room, I will personally see to it that the person responsible never speaks again. Do you understand?"
Everyone in the room bowed their heads, trembling. The Duke took one last look at his granddaughter and walked out.
* * *
Throughout the night, the three maids took turns changing the cool towels on Charlize’s forehead. At 2:00 AM, it was Susan’s turn.
'What am I going to do with you, Princess?' Susan wondered, watching Charlize toss and turn.
The rumors about the banquet were everywhere. Even the servants in the mansion were talking. They all thought Charlize was devastated because Askin had finally had enough of her.
Susan remembered the day Charlize had asked for hangover pills—the day she’d seemed like a different person. She hadn't forgotten the "Vicious Princess" of the past, but she chose to believe that the woman she’d seen lately was the real Charlize.
"Please get better soon," Susan whispered.
The rain was still hammering against the window. Susan reached out to adjust the towel when Charlize’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
"...mon... eda..."
"Princess? Are you awake?"
Charlize’s eyes were wide and bright with fever, but she didn't seem to see Susan. She was lost in a dream.
"Mom... Dad..." she whispered, her voice breaking.
Susan froze. She felt like she was seeing something she wasn't supposed to. It was forbidden for a maid to sympathize with her master, but seeing the "Vicious Princess" crying for her parents like a lost child was more than she could handle.
Tears ran down Charlize’s temples.
"...brother..."
Susan wiped the tears away with her apron. She knew Charlize’s parents and her original brother were long gone. She’d heard the stories of the tragic Altsbeit family.
"Puppy..." Charlize murmured softly.
Susan paused, her hand mid-air. Puppy?
She stared at Charlize, wondering if she’d heard correctly. Little did she know, Yoon Ji-hoo was dreaming of a life that had nothing to do with this Empire, of parents and a brother—and a pet—from a world far, far away.