The Duchy of Arden (2)

Eight young ladies heard this advice, but only two were the first to act on it. Then, one after the other, they declared their guilt.

This was the moment when Rosetta was completely exonerated.

“Even Princess Carulias could not have predicted this.”

Annette replied in a calm tone. Isabelle had spoken to save her family and her life, but her misdeeds had cost her the support of commoners and nobles alike.

Until that incident, half of the people had not been suspicious that Princess Carulias would do such a thing.

Now, however, most people harbored animosity toward her. Even the aristocrats who had been calling for Duke Carulias’ release had quieted down.

“…You can take Princess Carulias’s head, but executing Duke Carulias and his staff will be a different matter.”

Even if public opinion didn’t favor Carulias now, the nobles would remember this.

Annette, of course, had no intention of letting Isabelle live, not when she was suspected of having murdered Lydia.

She couldn’t do it again.

She wasn’t going to leave anything behind that might interfere with Michael’s marriage.

“Why don’t we exile her? It will not be easy for her frail body, but with a temper like hers, she will cope.”

His words were soft, but the idea was to send her to a place with harsh conditions, where she would slowly wither away.

“Also, Duke Carulias, I would suggest that you confiscate most of his property and reduce his title to marquis. That should quiet the nobles.”

Even the so-called imperialists usually spoke with one voice on such matters; they were sensitive about taking away or downgrading titles.

Though she had harmed a member of the royal family, Rosetta did not technically have imperial blood in her veins. And she hadn’t lost her life, so that would be considered lenient.

“Hmph. Raul Carulias is not a resourceful man, so he will fall.”

Alexis assumed that Carulias must have stashed some funds. Isabelle Carulias might be able to rebuild their family on it, but the Duke of Carulias is not up to the task.

Duke Carulias’s arrogance was something that had served him well; but his very presence would be a poison to Carulias.

“Are the remaining concerns the disposition of the others?”

Those who had declared themselves remorseful had played relatively minor roles in Isabelle’s plot.

Those who had played a leading role were unwilling to take the blame.

Partly because they were bullies and partly because they were afraid of how they would be treated by society, even if the bullies were from a noble family.

“…For now, we’ll have to make them pay Count Whirsen monetary damages.”

They succeeded in scattering them so they couldn’t unite. Each of the young ladies who had harmed Iris and framed Rosetta would be punished, in ways both great and small.

?

He had already informed the Duchy of Arden that he would be returning with his summoned beast.

Instead of descending directly to the manor’s courtyard, Michael had the summoned beast fly over the duchy. He wanted Rosetta to see what would become their land.

She could see huge mountain ranges and lakes surrounded by forests, and about a third of the land was farmed. With cities and towns large and small, it already resembled a small kingdom.

Given the size of the empire, the duchies of the five dukes of the Rastan Empire could be called small kingdoms.

The Duchy of Arden was large. The Emperor had graciously added a mountain range to the duchy for Michael’s magical studies.

“It’s all yours, including me.”

As his arm wrapped tightly around Rosetta’s waist, Michael whispered in her ear.

And that was the end of the duchy’s tour. The summoned beast made a sharp turn and headed for the duke’s estate.

The pointed-roofed castle of the Duchy of Arden seemed to rival any imperial castle in size and beauty. It was an extravagant castle that Rosetta, a Count’s young lady, felt she did not deserve.

It was divided into four smaller castles, the largest and most magnificent being the main house. Michael had the summoned beast land in the forecourt of the main house.

It descended slowly, creating a gust of wind around it, just as it had in flight. When the wind died down and the creature sharpened its wings, the waiting hired hands came into view.

‘The Duke’s servants.’

She’d met them in the villa near the capital, but this was the first time she’d seen them in their home. Rosetta’s cheeks tensed, and Michael’s hand came to rest on hers.

“You’re nervous, that’s cute.”

Rosetta blushed at the small talk. Michael let Rosetta slide off the summoned beast’s back first, then himself.

The hired hands stood at attention, waiting for him to turn around. He dismounted and stood at Rosetta’s side.

“Duke. My Lady.”

The man who stood a couple of paces ahead of the others addressed them. He bowed politely.

“I am Herbert, your butler.”

The greeting was meant for Rosetta, as he and Michael had already been acquainted for some time. Herbert took a step to the side and looked at the middle-aged woman standing beside him.

She smiled a friendly smile and turned to Rosetta.

“I am Jenna, your handmaiden. Nice to meet you, my lady.”

Rosetta nodded, almost as if she could see Michael from the way she bowed her head thoughtfully. Only a few of the more important members of the Duke’s household then introduced themselves before Rosetta.

There were so many people who worked within the Duchy, it was impossible to remember them all at once. Jenna first recommended the maids who would attend to Rosetta’s needs.

Since she knew nothing about them at the moment, Rosetta accepted.

“Now, let’s go in, Rosetta.”

Michael said, taking Rosetta’s hand and leading her away. Rosetta nodded. She walked side by side with Michael to the Duke’s mansion, when suddenly he pulled her into a quick hug.

“Michael?!”

“It’s your first time in this house, and I want to carry you to our bedroom.”

He didn’t give her a chance to argue, and he stomped off toward the mansion’s door. The door was already wide open.

The Duke of Arden had already made it clear to the castle’s hired help that no one would do anything to Rosetta, but it was important to impress upon the servants that the Duke’s heart was firmly with his wife.

“Well, it’s still…. it seems a long way to our bedroom.”

“I assure you every night that my stamina is unimpaired. Have I not done enough?”

Rosetta pinched his bicep in response to his blunt answer, but he didn’t even show any sign of pain. He looked like he would have showered her face with kisses if there weren’t other people around right now.

He didn’t falter as he walked across the porch and up the wide staircase. Even when she was wearing a heavy wedding dress, he carried her to the bedroom. There was no way it wasn’t tiring.

‘What a romance novel male lead….’

Fortunately, the layout of the main house seemed to be similar to the cottage they had visited, only many times larger and more spacious. As they climbed the stairs to the main living quarters of the Duke and Duchess, she noticed that the decorations were more ornate.

It wasn’t until they reached the bedroom that Michael set Rosetta down on the bed. He leaned in and kissed Rosetta on the lips as her eyes watered.

“Do you want me to prepare the bath water first? Or do you want to eat first?”

Rosetta realized that he intended to continue the pampering he’d been doing to her since their honeymoon. She wondered if it was okay to be like that, but she also wondered if anyone could argue that she liked it.

From now on, this was their manor, their home.

“Bath first.”

“As you wish.”

As if a light kiss wasn’t enough, Michael grabbed Rosetta and kissed her long and hard before whispering. Rosetta pressed her lips against his as she watched him leave to call for the maids. She had a premonition that she could be happy.

?

‘I can’t stay like this!’

The Emperor’s brother, the Duke of Arden, a man so high up that she couldn’t even look at him unless he approached her first, but she wasn’t entirely without a chance.

She is a saint.

‘There is only one way.’

The temple had already requested Iris’ return several times. In a world of six competing denominations, Iris was the only saint. She had the holy power of a pope, and they were desperate to have her back.

Although Iris was a member of the temple, her title as the Empire’s only holy saint gave her imperial protection, so the temple had no say in her whereabouts.

She met her current foster parents and became their daughter, thanks to the care of Michael, who showed up at the Emperor’s request.

With the imperial family protecting Iris in so many ways, the temple was keeping a close eye on her.