Grand Duke Roygar returned home.

The mansion was empty.

Guards were still guarding the gardens and entrances. Some investigators remained.

But the house was empty.

Grand Duke Roygar first went to find his children’s room.

The room was empty. Toy boxes and bookshelves were turned upside down, and all the wallpaper was torn. That’s what the investigators did.

‘Ah…….’

It meant that the children had escaped, not taken away.

Considering that Garnet walked into the palace on her own in a calming manner, it was probably Marchioness Camellia who took the children.

Because if it weren’t for her, Garnet wouldn’t have such a firm faith.

With that in mind, Marchioness Camellia did not betray him.

It’s just that she was not loyal to Grand Duke Roygar from the beginning.

Grand Duke Roygar took a lamp in his hand and trudged around the mansion.

Neither the butler nor the familiar employees remained.

Instead, he was followed by servants sent from the Imperial Palace to serve as surveillances.

Grand Duke Roygar didn’t even care about that. Now, whether to monitor him or not, what does it mean?

There’s nothing left.

He didn’t even have the energy to think about how it happened.

The interior was clean. Unlike the children’s room, there didn’t seem to be anything to search for.

Well, Garnet confessed. The evidence that she had committed a crime was enough from the jewelry box.

As the Emperor had tried to save him, it would be rather difficult if more evidence came out.

Grand Duke Roygar entered Garnet’s bedroom.

Servants split on both sides and lit the bedroom.

Grand Duke Roygar saw a velvet box on the table.

He slowly walked towards the table. When the lid of the velvet box was opened, the tiara and necklace radiated a brilliant light.

Garnet was just 18 when she walked into the wedding hall wearing this tiara and necklace.

Until then, Grand Duke Roygar had only regarded her as cute.

Since they were engaged, he treated her as a fiance. But she was too young to be seen as a woman. Although her actual age was the same as her mental, there was also an aspect of Garnet herself acting younger as she grew up pampered.

He was worried as he entered the newlywed room. He was old enough to have to see his successor quickly.

The presence of children would solidify the alliance.

But he couldn’t even imagine that Garnet would become a mother.

“Honey!”

In the newlywed room, Garnet said so with an innocent smile instead of being shy.

“I will call you that now.”

Grand Duke Roygar was awkward. He wondered if Garnet understood the meaning of being married.

Realizing that he was awkward, Garnet tilted her head and said.

“Since we’re married now, that’s right, isn’t it?”

“Right.”

“Then, call me that now. Now, I am the Grand Duchess, not Lady Luden.”

It seems that she had kept in mind what Grand Duke Roygar used to call her from an early age.

It was a honeymoon that was like a child’s play.

Grand Duke Roygar treated Garnet as the Grand Duchess, but he did not differ much from how he treated his six-year younger fiance.

He loved his wife, but the form of love was not so different from when he saw the cute Lady.

But Garnet walked into the Imperial Palace truly as the Grand Duchess.

Grand Duke Roygar dropped the box.

He was still afraid, and he still wanted to live fiercely even now.

But when his first child was born, he was determined to live differently now.

He didn’t live to survive, he would live for his family.

However, he himself drove his wife into a limbo and, without taking any responsibility for his children, saved his life and he returned to an empty house.

It was a life that he only lived to survive.

＊＊＊

Seeing Mielle trying to hold Leticia, Hazel said,

“Then, you’re going to say that your arm hurts again at night.”

“Still.”

“Still not.”

When Hazel stopped, Mielle made a shriveled face.

“Boooo.”

Leticia made a sound to herself, and laughed, as if it was funny to see her lips quivering.

Mielle looked into the face and she felt relieved in no time.

“Look, Father. The Princess laughed really well, right?”

“Right.”

Keshore chuckled.

He was worried.

Although investigators said they could not enter Grand Duke Evron’s residence, the treason case was still in full swing.

No matter how much Cedric guarded and Artizea cracked down on it, there was no way there would be no commotion inside.

However, there was no news from Mielle.

Even if she stayed in the Grand Duke’s residence as she was Artizea’s lady-in-waiting, she said she would go home and sleep two days a week.

Because of the circumstances, even if she can’t move, and she stays in the Grand Duke’s residence, she should send a letter.

In the end, Keshore decided to visit in person. It was a difficult time to get the Emperor’s permission while he was busy.

But Mielle is enjoying herself in the nursery with such a bright face.

“You should have sent a letter.”

Keshore muttered to himself. Hayley, who was serving him tea, made an apologetic face.

“A lot of people at Mielle’s age, forget that her parents are waiting for her.”

“I’m sorry to bother you. Even if I visit suddenly like this, you welcome me and even let me see the Princess.”

“Sir Keshore’s visits are always welcome, Her Grace said. And she wanted to show you that Mielle is doing well.”

Keshore looked at Hayley and smiled. Hayley would have been nothing but Mielle’s older sister, but she was already mature.

“Mielle always liked babies. She always volunteered for the caretaker role when relatives brought a baby. Still, it’s the first time she’s ever been so engrossed.”

It was sad. If she were in the body to get married and have a baby, Keshore thought that Mielle would have lived very happily.

Hayley understood his heart.

“It seems like they are more affectionate as they are not parting after a few days. Our princess is also following Mielle well. Thanks to her, the mood is always bright.”

As they were talking like that, Artizea came in.

Keshore stood up.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Your Grace.”

“Sorry to have you come all the way here while you are busy, Sir Keshore. I have made you concerned for Mielle.”

“No. Seeing her doing well gives me peace of mind. Well, she’s old enough to bother her parents.”

“I wrote you a letter last week.”

“Your mother and I wish we could see you more often.”

“Really. If something had happened, Father would have known sooner.”

“There’s no way I want to hear the news that way, right?”

“Everyone says something big is going to happen, so they keep the access to a minimum and take care of themselves, so how could I send someone out to send you a letter?”

“I think it would be good to go home at that time, Mielle.”

Mielle could do that anyway.

She was frail and Artizea would have no particular doubt of what she would have done, and she was the daughter of Keshore.

Mielle spoke slowly as she bit her mouth,

“I don’t want to.”

Keshore looked at Mielle with astonished eyes. Artizea smiled.

“I think the time has come to stop overprotecting.”

“…… I know.”

Keshore said sadly.

Mielle stood up with a slightly sulky face. Hazel gave Keshore a slightly sorry face.

Artizea asked,

“What about the Imperial Palace? I even heard yesterday that Grand Duchess Roygar had gone to plead her sins.”

“Did the Grand Duke not say anything?”

“He couldn’t come home. Sir Keshore just visited us, so I would love to hear from you.”

Artizea’s words were vague of whether or not she was aware of what actually happened.

It wasn’t particularly secretive, so it wasn’t something Keshore couldn’t tell.

Anyway, the Emperor would have known that this conversation would happen when Keshore asked for a rest because he wanted to go see Mielle.

“Grand Duchess Roygar was very determined.”

Keshore said without hiding his admiration.

“Those who have followed her seem to have expressed the injustice at first, but they all shut their mouths and decided to share their fate with Grand Duchess Roygar.”

“That is the power of the Eastern noble families.”

In front of the sake of family prosperity and perpetuity, personal sacrifice is natural. To honor it is a noble attitude.

Artizea thought that Garnet would not have had such a thought. Maybe she did it for her family.

But by doing so, she secured the future of the Eastern aristocracy.

‘People are very difficult.’

She hadn’t known before.

When Grand Duke Roygar was purged, the entire family was executed together. Garnet drank the poison without going mad or crying.

At that time, Artizea had never met her personally. All that remained was an impression that Garnet had neither the strength nor the ability to resist.

Has she changed? Or did she resolutely accept her death even then?

It was unknown to her now.

Keshore said,

“His Majesty has also ordered Grand Duchess Roygar to be treated with courtesy.”

“His Majesty likes dignified people.”

“Yes, really.”

Of course, whether Grand Duchess Roygar would be honored to the end was another matter.

Hayley asked,

“Since His Majesty has accepted it, so will the matter of the agreement be different now?”

“Yes. In order to save Grand Duke Roygar, the agreement must be justifiable.”

In reality, most of the parties had already collapsed.

Starting with the ladies-in-waiting close to the Grand Duchess, there was no significant difference when it came to the fact that the faction nobles became involved in treason.

The upper forces will be able to move on safely. But it will be greatly reduced.

The Emperor would have a plan to make it his own.

It was then.

A knock was heard on the door.

Surprised, Leticia burst into tears.

It was a young knight under Freil who came. He said hurriedly,

“Grand Duke Roygar committed suicide.”

Aaaah, this is one of the chapters that surprised me terribly!

We always see Roygar as some annoying competitor than needs to be eliminated asap, but this chapter gave us some insight into his ‘humane’ side.

And I never would have expected him to commit suicide, I always thought he would die in battle (as in the competition), so the last line is really something!

What do you readers thought? ^^