My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 102

Episode 102

“Such a beautiful union.”

It was expected that the cursed Duke would be angry about breaking free from the curse. 

Everyone except Dylan and Duke Saboia had question marks above their heads.

Whether to do it or not, the Emperor looked around the ballroom with an enraptured expression.

“Now, what is the orchestra playing?”

The conductor quickly stood up and replied, “Yes, yes?”

“Start the performance for this beautiful couple. A sonnet symbolizing the harmony of a couple would be nice. Oh, and in the Serenade mode.”

Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, the conductor hurriedly began to play the harmonies. 

It was a bit scratchy, but it was a splendid performance.

The Emperor closed his eyes in satisfaction, as if savoring the melody, then opened them with a gentle expression.

“My brother, Grand Duke Dylan Castilla, and Lady Diana Saboia, I am greatly pleased with this beautiful union.”

Nobles gathered in the room began to murmur.

“So, if Your Majesty acknowledges it…”

“…Is he really the Grand Duke?”

Terius anxiously bumped his head, and Shuri’s cheeks turned deep red.

“What have we done?”

“I’m going to die soon…”

Yesterday, they had made a big fuss in front of Grand Duke Castilla, claiming to be commoner knights. 

And the person they faced was the ‘cursed’ Duke!

Of course, they weren’t the only ones in an emergency situation. 

The current young nobles had grown up hearing about Grand Duke Castilla’s terrifying reputation.

Everyone trembled with fear.

“I-I’m so scared…”

“…Listen carefully. We must leave a testament.”

“My last will in the ballroom…”

“Ah…”

Among the delicate ladies, some pressed their foreheads and fainted. 

Elliot, who had been so confrontational, stiffened up like a stone.

But the situation didn’t end there. 

Just then, Claude, who had been like a shadow behind the Emperor, suddenly appeared and spoke.

“Did you say a beautiful union, Your Majesty?”

“Oh, right, Lord Claude.”

As Claude raised an eyebrow, Elliot looked at him with half-hopeful eyes.

Certainly, this situation would be uncomfortable for Claude. 

Suddenly appearing as the commoner-born lady’s husband and even marrying the Grand Duke.

One of the political pundits beside Elliot adjusted his glasses slightly and began to speak hesitantly.

“From the perspective of someone who was regarded as a promising successor in the family like Lord Claude, there might be a sense of threat in the union of the Grand Duke and the lady…”

“If there is anything beautiful, it is Lady Diana in our house.”

…?

Elliot’s complexion grew even paler, and the political pundit hastily closed his mouth. 

All the nobles at the scene stared at Claude with astonished expressions.

Whether he liked it or not, Claude continued to speak unreservedly.

“Diana. The most precious gem in our family, the most beautiful lady in the world, the contract holder of the greatest deity in the current empire, extremely talented, in short, the supreme lady.”

“At least take a breath.”

Even the Emperor, who cherished his younger brother, shook his head with his tongue out.

But Claude didn’t stop.

“Anyway, please say it’s a union between such a supreme lady and the lucky Grand Duke.”

Diana, adorned with all sorts of titles, and the ‘lucky’ Duke. As Grand Duke Castilla, that sentence might be quite uncomfortable.

At that moment, Grand Duke Castilla nodded his head in agreement.

“Yes, my wife is truly remarkable.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Compared to my wife’s brilliance, I’m just a mere natural being.”

A clash between a spear that pierces anything and a shield that blocks anything. At this point, Duke Saboia added a word.

“Our baby shines, just like a star in the night sky, right?”

Not only Elliot, but everyone stared at them with bewildered expressions. However, the audaciousness of the four men surrounding Diana seemed to be quickly tamed, even more than expected.

“…That’s enough now!”

With her face turning red, her small voice cut off all the praise.

* * *

I tried hard to remain composed. 

Everything was going as planned. 

It was obvious that impure forces would attach themselves to the sudden appearance of the lady. 

Especially if the lady was of common birth. 

That’s why I ordered her to show some affection for me at the party.

“A bit, no, maybe a bit too much, but at least some signs of affection should be shown…”

While observing the Emperor and Duke Saboia taking their seats, I refined my expression. 

Thankfully, as they took their places, the situation quickly calmed down. 

Of course, no one dared to argue near me. 

Especially Elliot, who had been confrontational with me, had turned as pale as a corpse.

Well, even someone like me wouldn’t want to approach me… In the chilling atmosphere, Claude looked at me and spoke.

“Oh, I will bring those who will share a drink. No, not that, I will bring them. Wait!”

Naming a few gentlemen and ladies, he forcibly summoned them in front of me. 

They trembled and stared at me with rigid expressions.

“Hello, Lady Saboia.”

“Here is my maid, Miss Rolls, Your Excellency…”

“Nice to meet you all.”

“Um, can you also introduce the lady’s maid…”

Normally, introducing oneself and then introducing the maid was customary in social circles. 

But the maid was my hidden card. 

I couldn’t reveal it right now.

“Oh, I will introduce my ‘commoner-born maid’ at the upcoming party.”

After exchanging a few meaningless words with them, I gently held hands with Grand Duke Dylan Castilla and smiled.

“We know each other’s names now. Shall we dance our first dance?”

As I suggested, his ears turned a bright red.

“It seems Grand Duke is angry.”

“Your ears are red…”

“We’re all going to die…!”

No, it’s just that Dylan’s ears turn red when he’s shy. 

Even now, he’s shaking his fingertips as if embarrassed.

However, the dance started right away, and there was no chance to clear up misunderstandings. 

The first dance as Grand Duke Castilla and Lady Diana Saboia. 

Was it because he was by my side? Dancing wasn’t as difficult as I had thought.

As I took steps, I realized that my cheeks were as red as his. I smiled slightly.

“…It feels good.”

A person everyone is afraid of. 

But still, I enjoyed being with Dylan.

And so, the second day of the ball ended successfully. 

After sharing simple gifts with the nobles who remained in the castle after the ball, the Emperor called me.

“Could you guide me to the reception room of this castle? There’s something to discuss.”

I sensed a subtle tension in his gaze. 

I know this atmosphere. 

Something is about to be revealed, instinctively I felt that danger, that very atmosphere.

* * *

After the ball, in the reception room of the Saboia Castle, the Emperor confronted Ishael.

He asked his brother to wait outside for a moment. The Emperor was quite nervous and a bit excited.

I dressed up neatly for our first meeting. I’ve resolved the crisis that hit both of them. 

Doesn’t this feel like a reliable supporting role in a romance novel? 

Still, Ishael looked at him with a slightly distant expression.

“Your Majesty.”

“Why are you being so formal between us?”

With a surprised expression, Ishael leaned his back against the backrest.

“Yes? What do you mean, between us?”

It was a slightly disappointing reaction.

“Haha, my appearance must be quite strange to you.”

Ishael raised his head and chuckled.

“Why are you using honorifics…”

The Emperor, who didn’t catch her puzzled expression, whispered as if he was sorry.

“When I was Ford…”

“Yes? What’s Ford?”

“Ford. Yes? What Ford?”

“Ford and ‘de’. Combine them, it’s Ford! Haha!”

“What, what are you saying? You…”

Ishael’s mouth hung open.

He looked at her neckline and spoke.

“…Ford?”

The Emperor’s eyes widened suddenly.

“No, you didn’t know?”

“How would I know?”

“I thought you knew!”

“I knew! How could a person possibly know!”

The Emperor’s eyes widened, facing Ishael’s astonished gaze.

Didn’t she know?

I didn’t hope for such a reunion!

* * *

Warm sunlight, a gentle breeze, and a soft, plush bed.

I woke up with a peaceful heart.

In front of me was Grand Duke Dylan, holding my hand tightly.

His pupils were bloodshot.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Of course. Haha.”

“They said you were quite shocked…”

“No, it’s not. Haha. I just had a weird dream.”

“You should rest a bit more. Your face is pale.”

“It was in the dream. The Emperor said he was Ford, haha…”

That curly-haired Ford.

That bespectacled Ford.

My successor Ford, who was always teased!

“Well, that’s…”

Grand Duke Dylan had an awkward expression.

Seeing his awkward expression, I raised my head and smiled.

“Why do you have that expression?”

“…Actually, I just found out.”

For the first time in a while, seeing Grand Duke Dylan’s perplexed expression, the silence, and the Emperor’s awkward smile behind him.

He awkwardly put the ring-shaped magic tool he had held in his hand behind him.

Then his face turned into the familiar curly-haired Ford that I knew.

I looked at him with a cold gaze.

“Ford.”

The Emperor wiped the sweat off his forehead and blinked his eyes.

“Haha, I, I didn’t know you were Ford! Master! And I’m sorry, Brother…”

More shocking than my secret birth, more shocking than Grand Duke Dylan being the Grand Duke Castilla, was the fact that curly-haired Ford was the Emperor.

This world is really deceiving me, no matter how I think…

In a tight spot, the Emperor chuckled awkwardly and whispered.

“I’ll reward you. I will reward you greatly.”

Hearing the word ‘reward,’ my heart felt at ease again.

Yeah, you dirty world.

If you have any hidden secrets, bring them out!

Now I am stronger, that’s right.

“Now, I wouldn’t be surprised no matter what secret is revealed.”

Then Duke Dylan murmured in a very low voice.

“To be honest…”

“Yes?”

“While my wife was sleeping, I learned one more fact.”

…Is there another secret to be revealed here?

At that moment, the door opened gloomily.

Seeing Claude entering with a red book in his hand, I was taken aback.