The Duke’s Fake First Love - Chapter 6
Chapter 3.2
“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”
“Well.”
The Emperor lazily waved his hand, his expression showing how much he couldn’t be bothered.
‘He wants me to skip the pleasantries and get right to it.’
If I didn’t have to bother with unnecessary formalities, that would also be fine with me.
“Your Imperial Majesty, the reason I requested this audience today is because I have something I wish to say.”
“As long as it’s not about calling off your engagement, I’ll hear it.”
He preempted me.
“Oh. Of course, if you already have a lover, maybe I’d reconsider the engagement to the baron.”
Such impeccably crafted nonsense.
In this situation, what kind of fool would possibly admit to being involved with me?
‘Who in their right mind would risk falling out of Your Majesty’s favor just to claim me?’
There was only one person who would do such a thing.
Hearing him toss out such a ridiculous proposal as if he were being generous made me want to sneer, but I kept my composure.
“But, of course, any suitor must be a noble within the Etrian Empire. It would be a national loss to send someone like you abroad.”
“…Pardon?”
“I heard your sister is leaving to study overseas. Until you’re married, shouldn’t you stay with the Count to keep him company?”
Unbelievable.
In other words, he was forbidding me from leaving the country until I got married.
The Emperor smiled, wrinkles deepening at the corners of his eyes, and hammered his point in.
“Plenty of people come back from studying abroad with wild notions. A responsible citizen of the Empire should marry, raise children, and build a family.”
“….”
“Surely you aren’t foolish enough to spout nonsense about living independently, are you?”
Although he had seen straight through my intentions, I managed a polite smile and shook my head.
“What Your Majesty is concerned about won’t happen.”
It looked like I would have to change my plans.
“You said earlier that as long as I wasn’t asking to break off the engagement, you’d grant my request, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, please allow me to choose Marquis Rigen’s next fiancée.”
For someone like the Emperor, going back on his word would be nothing, though I thought he would at least grant me this much.
But surprisingly, he seemed to hesitate.
“Even as emperor, I can’t undo a broken engagement.”
“That’s not what I want either.”
I did my best to act as if I still had lingering affection for my former fiancé.
“With what heart do you think I broke off the engagement with the Marquis in the first place?”
Just as I expected, the Emperor looked at me with sympathy. It might not be sincere, but the fact that he was even pretending was what mattered.
“Diego is my own son, but he’s always been reckless. I know you suffered greatly because of him.”
Diego Rigen.
There was a time when just hearing his name made my heart flutter, but now, it was almost shocking how little I felt.
“I hope the Marquis achieves what he desires.”
Diego, the Emperor’s illegitimate son, had always dreamed of becoming emperor one day.
“But I’m not what he needs to reach that goal.”
I was essentially saying that I broke off the engagement because I finally realized that.
‘Whether the emperor actually believes me or not is another matter.’
But even if he didn’t, it didn’t matter.
No one would suspect that someone who overlooked countless scandals and devoted over a decade to Diego out of love would suddenly stab him in the back.
“As you said earlier, Your Majesty, I’ve heard that in foreign countries, there are plenty of people who ensnare others with sweet lies.”
“And?”
“We couldn’t allow such a person to become the Marquis’s fiancée.”
The Emperor laughed, amused at having his own words mirrored back to him.
“I would like His Majesty to choose Marquis Rigen’s fiancée from among the nobles within the empire.”
I had no idea who was even being considered as a candidate for Diego’s next engagement. However, it was certain that the most likely choice within the Empire was the daughter of Count Branto.
How do I know that?
‘Because in the original story, she was the one who got engaged to Diego after I died.’
Even without interfering, there was a high chance she would end up engaged to Diego, but you never know. I’ve already twisted the original plot.
That was why I needed at least this much insurance.
“Do you know who the candidates are when you make this request?”
“No, that lies beyond my authority. Whoever it may be, I believe it will be the will of the gods.”
“Even if it’s the daughter of Marquis Branto?”
There was something strange in the Emperor’s tone. It seemed like he thought I didn’t like her.
‘Ah. Come to think of it…’
Diego had often abandoned me, his fiancée, under the pretense of some greater cause, just so he could escort other noble ladies.
‘The Marquis Branto’s daughter was among them.’
But there were so many women Diego flirted with that it would be pointless to resent her for that reason alone.
‘This isn’t bad.’
At least this way, it wouldn’t look like I was trying to push her as his next fiancée on purpose.
“Your Majesty’s will is divine will. I’ll trust your decision and wait patiently.”
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kimih
Ohhhhhh, this novel is looking interesting!