Chapter 002. The Grand Duke’s Spoils (2)

Rosalyn gestured with her chin to the chamberlain at the hall’s entrance.

“Yes, yes.”

Despite her arrogant demeanor, the chamberlain’s eyes were filled with fear and admiration, as they always were when anyone faced her.

For some reason, it was tiresome. Sickening, even.

‘Yes, those eyes are much more to my liking.’

Rosalyn recalled the hatred and hostility reflected in a man’s icy blue eyes. Strangely, they stirred her emotions more.

A corner of her mouth lifted at the thought of that person.

“Princess Rosalyn de Hernia and the victorious generals are entering.”

She had never returned expecting great rewards or the throne.

‘After all, once the victory parade is over, it will all be in my hands. There’s no need to be impatient.’

She only desired a little peace and the man who constantly appeared in her mind.

“Princess Rosalyn de Hernia and the victorious generals are entering.”

With the chamberlain’s loud announcement, the heavy doors swung open smoothly. The nobles inside the hall turned their gazes to the opening doors.

“……”

Despite the suffocating attention, Rosalyn’s bored eyes remained unshaken. She was naturally bold, but the valerian tea she drank before coming made her even more languid than usual.

“Let’s go.”

At Rosalyn’s word, her knights resumed their steps.

The sound of their footsteps harmonized with the soft music of the banquet.

The fresh scent of the outside air mingled with the stuffy atmosphere of the hall as Rosalyn and her party entered.

“…You have finally arrived!”

The Emperor greeted the imposing conquest unit with a smiling face.

However, he was undoubtedly seething inside. Not only had she survived the battlefield where he had sent her to die, but she returned as a war hero.

“I present myself before His Majesty, the sun of the great Hernia Empire.”

Rosalyn smiled sweetly at her half-brother, whom she hadn’t seen in seven years, hoping it would make him feel even more bitter.

“I report that your loyal sword has finally placed the southern Feitan Kingdom beneath your feet.”

Rosalyn knelt on one knee to show her respect.

“For the eternal glory of Hernia and His Majesty the Emperor.”

“For the eternal glory of Hernia and His Majesty the Emperor!”

All the knights standing behind her echoed in unison, also kneeling.

“Oh, I am truly proud and delighted. My sword has brought me glory.”

Emperor Lucas feigned a joyful voice.

“Surely, the conquest unit deserves appropriate titles and rewards?”

As soon as Lucas finished speaking, the chamberlain stepped forward with a cushion bearing the imperial sword.

“Now, Rosalyn de Hernia, step forward.”

It seemed the first honor would go to Rosalyn for her contributions.

“To my sister, Rosalyn de Hernia, who participated in the war as a member of the imperial family, I bestow the northern territory of Anata and the surrounding regions of Keter, Nadap, and Hozen. And to match this, I grant her the title of Grand Duke.”

The emperor tapped her shoulders and head with the imperial sword.

“From now on, you are the Grand Duke of Anata.”

With the emperor’s declaration, the hall buzzed with whispers.

It was no wonder, for Lucas’s words seemed like a simple bestowal of title and land, but in reality, it was far from that.

“No recognition of her merits. He’s not even acknowledging her as a war hero.”

The emperor referred to Rosalyn affectionately as his sister.

However, he did not mention her contributions at all. It was as if he was commending her solely because she was royalty.

This was starkly different from the usual praise given to knights, recounting their exploits. As a result, Rosalyn’s achievements would not be officially recorded.

“I didn’t expect to be treated as a hero, but this is almost like being treated as a criminal. Giving her Anata as her territory?”

“But isn’t she being given the title of Grand Duke?”

“What good is that if it’s Anata? It’s a place with such harsh weather that barely anything can be harvested.”

“That’s not the worst of it. The northern tribes often invade the place. It’s not called ‘Anata’ for nothing.”

Anata meant “death” in an ancient language. The emperor had effectively attached death to Rosalyn’s name.

“Live as if you are dead.”

The emperor gave his half-sister the same command he had given her when sending her to the battlefield.

“Granting her the title of Grand Duke is essentially exiling her from the Empire. As the ruler of the Duchy of Anata, she won’t be able to interfere in the Empire’s affairs anymore.”

The murmurs reached Rosalyn’s ears. However, the emotion that briefly crossed her face was nothing more than boredom.

‘Not surprising at all.’

Or perhaps, it was slightly surprising that everything was unfolding exactly as expected.

The emperor likely didn’t want to risk public backlash by killing a war hero with high popular support. Minimizing her achievements and exiling her to a harsh place was the best solution her half-brother could come up with.

‘Anata.’

Rosalyn silently mouthed her new domain’s name.

It might not be so bad. On second thought, there was no name more fitting for her.

And right now, anywhere was better than the imperial palace or the battlefield.

However, if she was to leave, she had to take what she needed. Rosalyn’s eyes glinted momentarily.

“I am infinitely grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”

She bowed her head without showing any displeasure, causing the emperor to finally relax and smile.

It seemed the bestowal of Rosalyn’s title would end peacefully.

“But I have one very small request.”

If not for Rosalyn’s next words.

“A request…?”

“If you grant this request, I will pledge my eternal loyalty under the name of Anata.”

Pledging eternal loyalty under the name of death. It was a promise to live as if she were dead, as per the emperor’s command.

“Ho.”

And nothing could entice the emperor more.

‘Is she saying she’ll never covet the name of Hernia again?’

However, the emperor still had his suspicions that the cunning Rosalyn might have other intentions. He asked cautiously.

“What is your request, Grand Duke of Anata?”

“Give me the fallen prince, Sionne Feitan.”

“Sionne Feitan?”

“Yes, I wish to spend my remaining days captivated by his beauty. Who knows? Perhaps that prince will bring me the ‘Anata’ that Your Majesty has wished for me for seven years.”

The hall fell silent. Her words were shockingly blunt and insolent.

The imperial knights behind the emperor placed their hands on their sword hilts, ready for action.

“…Hahahaha!”

Lucas, staring intently at Rosalyn, burst into laughter and waved his hand dismissively. The knights stepped back at his signal.

However, Lucas’s face, after his laughter subsided, appeared somewhat twisted.

‘Unchanged, as always.’

His half-sister’s words balanced precariously between insolence and jest, just as they had seven years ago. Reacting angrily would make him look foolish, yet ignoring it entirely made his insides boil with rage.

‘Damn girl.’

“Haha, my sister’s jest about her ‘Anata’ has grown more amusing over the past seven years!”

Lucas chose to maintain his composure over his anger.

“But as for Sionne Feitan…”

Information about Sionne Feitan ran through the emperor’s mind.

Aside from living as a commoner until the age of 18, there was nothing particularly notable about him.

Was his appearance remarkable? Recalling his memory, Sionne was indeed handsome.

However, it seemed unlikely that Rosalyn, of all people, would be infatuated with a man’s looks. Reports about her had never mentioned her being close to any man.

‘What’s her game?’

Was she planning to use the prince to form an alliance with the remaining forces of Feitan? But to Feitan, Rosalyn was an even more unacceptable figure than he was.

There was no way such an alliance could happen.

Lucas’s head ached from trying to solve this puzzle.

“He is scheduled for public execution in three days.”

“Executing the king and queen of Feitan should suffice to demonstrate the Empire’s might. By killing the king and queen, you show the Empire’s strength, and by accepting the prince as an imperial subject, you show its mercy.”

Her response was smooth, almost as if her tongue had been coated in oil.

“So, what does having him by your side grant you, Rosalyn?”

Lucas ultimately opted for the direct approach.

“Having him as a servant by day will be pleasing to the eyes, and having him as a lover by night will be pleasing to the body, wouldn’t it?”

Rosalyn chuckled like a commoner at a tavern.

“I will be living in the cold north from now on. If he warms my bed, what greater pleasure could there be?”

Rosalyn seemed genuinely delighted, as if that were the entire truth.

The nobles in the hall sighed inwardly. What had happened in those seven years? The noble and intelligent princess had changed into a different person.

The emperor scrutinized her, searching for any signs of deceit, but she remained convincingly amused and unperturbed.

“If that is your wish, then so be it. I grant you Sionne Feitan.”

The decision was made. The emperor, feeling both relieved and troubled, waved his hand, signaling the end of the discussion.

Rosalyn bowed gracefully.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall ensure he serves well in my new domain.”

As she rose, she caught a glimpse of Sionne being escorted into the hall. His eyes, icy blue and filled with defiance, met hers. She smiled, a gesture that held both triumph and promise.

The hall buzzed with a mixture of shock and curiosity as the nobles whispered among themselves, pondering the true intentions behind Rosalyn’s bold request. Meanwhile, the princess prepared to leave, her mind already strategizing the future moves in her intricate game of survival and power.

The fate of the fallen prince and the newly minted Grand Duke of Anata was now intertwined, setting the stage for a new chapter in their tumultuous lives.