“Your Highess, I must report something….”

“What is it now?”

The uneasy Grand Duke asked his father-in-law.

The envoys, including Duke Smirnov, were quite peculiar. Why bother using the term ‘Your Highess’ in front when they could simply refrain from speaking at all?

“If you go to any country, there is no place where a ruler’s father-in-law lowers his speech. It seems impossible for a commoner like me to do so without violating the law.”

“Seems impossible? Does that mean you’re not entirely sure?”

“I apologize, it is indeed impossible. The Boyanins are supposed to be exemplary in society, but I don’t want to flaunt our friendship by breaking the law just because I am the Grand Duke’s father-in-law. If I were to show off my power in that way, it would inadvertently create factions, which would not only undermine the foundation of society but also lead to the public perception that His Highnes is being used as a pawn.”

Pavtisky, who had stayed away from factional struggles all his life, added his two cents, risking his life against the tyrant who was rumored to even kill aristocrats from the Boyanin class.

Nikolai nodded slowly.

There was not a single wrong word in his explanation.

“A tyrant has no rule of law. If he doesn’t like something, he overturns it at will.”

However, Nikolai’s nod was merely a gesture of understanding. It did not signify agreement.

“I am not ignorant of the Duke’s perspective. It’s just that there’s a saying about father-in-law’s love…”

“Your Highess, it’s not the father-in-law, it’s the mother-in-law…”

Luka interjected in the middle but immediately sealed his lips when he felt the sharp gaze.

Katya looked back once more on how she had come to this situation.

In fact, today’s schedule was not planned in the first place.

Originally, it was the responsibility of the mistress of both families to help the bride and organize the wedding.

Both the bride and groom do not have mothers, so Pavtisky and Bianca were helping with the preparations for the ceremony.

Usually, there were two things the groom did before the wedding.

Preparing a wedding ring in advance to put on the bride at the ceremony, and making a final decision after trying on several suits chosen by the mothers or the bride.

But Nikolai was different.

“It’s you and me, our marriage, and I cannot leave everything to you. Let’s decide anything together.”

Even more, they chose the menu for the wedding dinner together.

It was a wedding that was held without the knowledge of the northern city as well as other southern cities.

To announce the wedding in the capital would have given Grand Duchess Oksana and the Duke of Oblonsky every reason to sabotage it.

They would not have welcomed the daughter of Duke Smirnov, who had fallen out of favor with their faction, as they were planning to plant a masked mole at Nikolai’s side.

In fact, there was also a case where the registration was enforced.

Since the wedding registration was carried out through the government offices in the south, the northern region was completely unaware of this.

By the time this news reached the North, the two would have already completed their honeymoon.

Katya wanted to keep the ceremony as simple as possible, as only the members of the duke’s family gathered in the duke’s residence.

After all, when she goes up to the capital, she is supposed to pay for a state marriage.

But Nikolai is a man who does not know moderation.

This was the first and last time they would be able to organize the wedding exactly as they wanted.

In any case, it was clear that restrictions would inevitably follow.

Just as Katya was scratching her cheek, looking back and forth between her father and her husband with her troubled face, she heard a knock at the door.

It was Boris who appeared like a savior in the drawing room, escorted by the Duke’s butler.

“I brought a present from His Highness the Grand Duke to Duke Smirnov.”

He opened the large scroll, like an emperor’s edict, and began to read through it.

“Archetian ice magic tools to maintain freshness in the food warehouse, herbal medicines and pottery from the eastern continent, silk from Ecuador,”

The eyes of the people of the Smirnov family simultaneously widened at the endless list.

Luka, who had watched him since he was a child, was equally surprised.

Originally, the Grand Duke’s family was reputed to be the richest among the royal families in the world, but even so, there was a sense of exaggeration.

It was a feast of expensive items comparable to the list of gifts prepared by the Grand Duke’s family when delegations were sent to each country.

“What did you prepare so much for?”

As the reading continued, Katya asked Nikolai in a low voice.

“Because I don’t have a good place to brag about my money.”

Here was a groom who wanted to show off the most money in the world to his beloved in-laws.

There was a lot of intention to be properly loved by the father-in-law, and it was a perfect plan that was comparable to Nikolai himself.

After all, isn’t it the human heart that melts like spring snow to a gift.

“Eh, and lastly, black tea carefully selected from the tea leaves grown on the farm owned by the Grand Duke of the North.”

Wham!

Pavtisky, who was already pale from the word ‘black,’ dropped the teacup he had been holding as soon as he heard ‘tea.’

Oh my goodness. Seeing her father’s face, Katya pressed her temples together.

The expression on her face indicated that the Grand Duke must have commanded to kill, without anyone knowing.

“Bla… prepare the black tea…”

Poor Pavtisky was trembling even in his hands.

What Boris brought was the finest black tea supplied only to royal families of each country.

The special grade was extremely rare and not readily available in the market, but Nikolai had set aside a separate quantity, thinking of the craftsmen.

However, by now, he noticed that something was wrong.

“I never asked for black tea to be prepared.”

“We ordered exactly as you wrote in the past, so is there any problem?”

As Nikolai handed him the order slip, the oblivious Boris countered.

Even though Luka vigorously shook his head next to him, he couldn’t understand.

“It seems you confused the black tea I ordered for myself.”

“Your Highness, this much by yourself? It’s all in the middle of the day, you won’t be able to finish all of this during your mourning. Didn’t you order it to be packed so that you can give it as a gift to the servants and the Duke’s attendants?”

To think that even the servants are given the tea of death without anyone missing out.

Could this be the infamous lethal tea they had only heard about?

The misunderstanding of the family patriarch Pavtisky Smirnov only deepened.

“The workers are unloading the presents from the wagon and loading them onto the carts right now. Where should we move them?”

“Ah, you can talk through me about that. I will guide you.”

The duke’s butler quickly noticed and took Boris out.

What a shame the aide was so clueless.

Nikolai watched the door close and shook his head.

In retrospect, it was a shame.

Still, he felt that he had been able to open up to his father-in-law during his short time in the South.

No matter how much he had done in the north, he wondered if it was something to be misunderstood with tea like this.

For some reason, it felt more distant than when it was a normal monarch-subject relationship.

Katya, noticing the awkward air between the family, changed the subject.

“How’s Bianca doing in her ancient languages class these days?”

“Yeah. The material is difficult, but I keep it interesting, so she’s learning well. The lute is also fun.”

“You are also talented.”

Katya spoke to Luka, who was sitting still in her straight posture.

In fact, the people of the Duchy of Smirnov didn’t know it, but he was able to debate with a professor at the Hersen National Academy, so it would be hard to find anyone who could surpass Luka in terms of his skills.

“That’s too much. Since the princess is so intelligent and follows her well, there is no difficulty in teaching.”

Luka smiled and then closed his mouth again.

He was originally a very sociable and friendly person no matter who he was with, but somehow he used to get very nervous in front of Duke Smirnov.

He was the father of his crush, so he might not have been.

Pavtisky, Nikolai, and Luka.

In a tense atmosphere filled with hostility and simmering animosity, the three men remained silent.

All three of them, when alone, were far from reticent.

“Father, if sister gets married, I’ll stay in the north for a while.”

Bianca, feeling a sense of responsibility to help lighten the mood, broke the awkward silence.

“What are you talking about?”

“His Highness, no, my brother-in-law has allowed me to stay in the palace.”

She quickly added, fearing her father’s opposition.

“Why would you trouble His Highness–”

“I suggested it because I thought it would be good for Tia to have some family around while she adjusts to life in the Grand Duke’s palace. Once one of the young ladies who was idling about in this spacious house disappears, you will not be as uncomfortable either.”

Even though he hadn’t offered her permission to stay at the palace, Nikolai was happy to accommodate his sister-in-law.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”

Luka winced at the mention of the north.

If she stays in the North, they will have no choice but to meet again someday.

What if Bianca finds out her true identity?

“Bianca, then do it.”

“Thank you, Father!”

“I should thank His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Thank you, brother-in-law!”

Sitting down, Nikolai shook his head as he watched his sister-in-law gather her hands and bow with a deep nod, as if making a formal greeting.

“Well, you might as well find someone suitable in the north to be your partner.”

Pavtisky said, as if it was a good idea.

“I heard there’s a very popular young man in the northern social circles. He’s rumored to be the top choice for not only young ladies but also among noble families with daughters.”

“Is that so?”

“He’s quite an outstanding figure with impeccable manners. I even heard he was exempted from customary marriage proposals. Ah, he was from a certain noble family… I’m sure I heard about it…”

The Duke remembered something and snapped his fingers.

“Oh! He’s the youngest son of the Oblonsky family. Luka Oblonsky!”

“Yes!”

Caught off guard by the sudden mention of his name, Luka, the ‘well-mannered young man,’ promptly stood up and responded.