Chapter 50

I glanced at him nervously.

‘Now, he’ll have to reveal his name too…!’

“These days, is it fashionable to include your family’s founder when you introduce yourself?”

“What, are you uncomfortable because you don’t have a famous ancestor everyone knows?”

The squid gave a smug little snort, but the Grand Duke just shrugged and said, ‘Alright, then.’

And then—

“I’m Iscalion of the Grand Duchy of Akelos, descended from Ristokalan Akelos the First Emperor, a lineage that stretches since the empire’s dawn.”

“What?”

For a moment, everything fell silent. It was as if all the noise got sucked away.

The Grand Duke of Akelos frowned and glanced at me.

“Why do introductions have to be so long-winded?”

I had no idea why he decided to reveal himself all of a sudden, but I answered as best as I could.

“That squid guy… no, I’m sorry, that person has to introduce himself like that or no one would even remember his family. But for you, Your Highness, just your name is enough…”

Iscalion had been in hiding for a long time, and he probably only appeared at social events through Yusril. It seemed he didn’t even bother to switch bodies unless it was an important moment. So, it was no wonder he wouldn’t know the trends of high society. Not that the squid’s introduction was really a trend, anyway

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Just ‘Akelos.’ Everyone knows who you are with a single word.”

Iscalion’s gaze slid back to the squid-faced lord. Then, he introduced himself again.

“Akelos.”

“….!”

“….!!”

Not once, but twice.

Everyone who heard him introduce himself was floored. They were so stunned, they couldn’t even make a sound.

“N-No way! T-That’s impossible! I saw the Grand Duke Akelos from a distance before, and he didn’t look like this at all…!”

The squid, desperate to deny the situation, shouted in disbelief.

‘Yeah, so how is he going to explain showing up as Yusril before?’

I’d barely finished the thought when—

“The carriage is ready, Your Highness.”

Another familiar voice called out.

Yusril, now in full uniform, led two other similarly dressed attendants into the garden. A cape embroidered with the Grand Duchy of Akelos crest billowed behind him.

“Th-that’s the Grand Duke Akelos… but why is he wearing aide’s insignia… huh?”

Yusril, with his hair brushed to one side unlike usual, knelt before the Grand Duke.

“All the retainers of Akelos are overjoyed at Your Highness’s return.”

“Well done, Yusril.”

Yusril bowed deeply, then stood back up. When our eyes met, he secretly winked at me.

‘Aha.’

So, he had really planned to reveal himself completely. That was why he had shown up in person as proof of the alliance, using my status as the lady of the grand duchy to stage his grand reveal. Even Yusril had never gotten involved so openly before, but I supposed that now that things had changed, so had the plan.

“You always know how to make things work in your favor, don’t you?”

At my words, Iscalion’s mouth curved faintly upward.

As we shared that little exchange, the buzz of voices started up again.

“So he really is the G-Grand Duke?!”

“How do the Grand Duke of Akelos and the Lady of Delosif even know each other?”

“That’s not the important part right now!”

Everyone who had been panicking dropped to their knees right away.

“We greet Your Highness the Grand Duke!”

Their voices boomed in unison.

The only ones who didn’t kneel were me, Yusril, the other Akelos retainers, and… 

“…Grand Duke…?”

Mikarin.

Only Mikarin.

“Sister, how… How do you know the Grand Duke?”

Mikarin grabbed my arm, asking anxiously.

Just then, Iscalion reached out his hand toward me.

“Shall we go, friend?”

“Alright… Friend.”

‘This ally, I really like his wit.’

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

Even after Nikaearsha and Iscalion left, the garden was in chaos.

“Oh my god, what just happened?!”

“I can’t believe I missed this chance, you idiot! If my father finds out, I’m dead!”

“My goodness, I actually saw the Grand Duke up close. This can’t be real, right? That unbelievably beautiful man is really His Highness?!”

The garden was practically shaking with all the commotion.

Some people were so excited that they were completely beside themselves, while some people were frustrated about missing their chance.

And then…

“Look at those squids. They’ve become completely dried up. Poor things.”

These were the words of one of Selena’s friends, the lady whom Nikaearsha had always thought was sweet and graceful. Everyone was staring at the ‘squid squad,’ their faces pale and cheeks sunken in defeat.

“They’re probably terrified right now.”

“And what about the one who so boldly said his name? What was it… Pae, Pae… something?”

But it wasn’t just the ‘squid squad’ looking miserable.

Lucvan and Cleas came into the bustling garden and turned their attention to Mikarin.

Lucvan asked.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look like that? Did someone bother you?”

“….”

“Mikarin?”

“…Forgive me. I’m not feeling well.”

With that, Mikarin hurried out of the garden.

Lucvan turned to Cleas, looking confused.

“She was nearly in tears begging me to come, so why is she acting like this? Hey, you there. Did something happen in the garden?”

“U-Uh, well…”

“I can’t stand dawdling, so just spit it out.”

“A guest of the Lady of Delosif came to the garden, and some people made a mistake toward that guest. But then we found out he was actually the Grand Duke of Akelos…”

“What?”

The Grand Duke of Akelos?

Even Lucvan was stunned to hear that name.

Cleas’s expression turned to stone.

‘Nike’s gotten tangled up with that man again?’

“Why would the Grand Duke of Akelos attend a garden party, anyway? Don’t you think so, Cle—”

Before Lucvan could even finish, Cleas stormed out of the garden. He was trying to catch up to Mikarin, who had already left. Soon, he finally saw her ahead in an empty corridor.

Crack!

He yanked Mikarin toward him, slamming his fist against the wall in frustration.

“What now? What happened this time?! Were you one of the people who made a mistake in front of the Grand Duke? Why are Nike and the Grand Duke involved again?!”

“…What do you actually want to know?”

“What?”

“Are you more interested in the mistake I made, or in Nikaearsha and the Grand Duke?”

Mikarin, who had been looking down until now, slowly raised her head. Her light green eyes, usually so gentle, now darkened.

“Are you more curious about my sister?”

She glared sharply at him.

Cleas replied, almost biting out the words.

“Why does that matter?”

“It matters, a lot!”

Mikarin’s voice rose sharply.

“If you’re angry at me, I can understand that. But if it’s because of my sister—!”

That’s something I can’t accept.

Because that would be jealousy.

Cleas’s face twisted like crumpled paper.

“What’s gotten into you? You’re not acting like yourself!”

“Not like me… Yeah, you’re right, this isn’t like me.”

Nikaearsha was the problem.

She kept getting in the way, messing up her plans over and over. All the relationships she had worked so hard to build kept crumbling because of Nikaearsha.

‘But my sister just keeps getting happier…’

Cleas let out a sigh.

“It’s already chaotic enough, so don’t make it worse. Just tell me what happened. What’s going on with the Grand Duke and Nike, and what did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. Like always, I only stepped in to help my sister.”

“Then why does your face look—”

Mikarin gently cupped Cleas’s face with both hands.

“Tell me, Cleas. Does the Grand Duke bother you?”

“That’s…”

“Should I get rid of him for you?”

Mikarin whispered it softly, right into Cleas’s ear.

“If you want, I’ll do it in the most ruthless, vicious way possible. I’d do anything for you.”

“….”

“Just investigate for me what the Grand Duke likes, what he hates, where you can find him, and how to create an opportunity to speak with him alone. Everything.”

“….”

“Then I’ll be the one to slip poison into his cup.”

Cleas fell silent for a long moment, then he finally released a heavy sigh. Resting his chin on Mikarin’s shoulder, he spoke in a much softer tone than before.

“It wasn’t that I was curious about Nike. I just got annoyed seeing her always tangled up with the Grand Duke. It was a matter of male pride.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll have someone keep an eye on him. We’ll find out more soon, so just wait. Go buy that dress you wanted in the meantime.”

“I love you, Cleas.”

Mikarin wrapped her arms around Cleas’s waist.

‘Yeah, use your influence to find out fast.’

That way, I can decide whether to simply separate the  Grand Duke away from Nikaearsha or keep him for myself.

Mikarin and Cleas’s lips met.

The two, lost in each other, had no idea someone was watching from behind the wall. The person who had been secretly watching their messy kiss slapped a hand over their mouth.

“What the hell…”