I’m Not the One Who Seduced the Grand Duke Chapter 47

“Isabelle? Lady Isabelle Mercier?”

“That’s right. Do you know Isabelle?”

“Who doesn’t? Of course, I’ve never met her personally.”

At Leon’s question, I replied as though he had asked something painfully obvious.

There were only two ducal houses in the Orden Empire.

She was the young lady of House Mercier, one of them.

On top of that, she was the Emperor’s fiancée.

Though, if I remember correctly, she’s currently recuperating in her territory for health reasons.

Wasn’t that why her marriage had been postponed and she had remained the Emperor’s fiancée all this time?

If there was anything unusual about it, it was that the future Empress had disappeared from the capital’s high society for quite a long time.

I didn’t know the exact details, but I had heard that she had been physically frail since childhood and had been avoiding public activities.

For the record, I had heard all of this from Sylvia and her followers.

That’s why Sylvia had been able to run wild even more.

There were two young ladies in the ducal family, but one had married into the neighboring royal family long ago, while the other had secluded herself.

On top of that, I, the only Marquess’s daughter, had no interest in high society, so naturally, the social hierarchy among the young ladies had shifted downward.

The problem was that this had become poisonous.

When people of roughly equal standing began competing over superiority and forming factions, everyone only became more twisted.

Maybe that was why Sylvia had been so wary of me entering high society.

After all, a huge rock had suddenly rolled into the environment she had painstakingly built.

There was no way I wouldn’t look like an eyesore.

But now, on top of that, the Emperor’s long-forgotten fiancée was making an appearance?

This is going to be an even bigger mess.

“If you find it bothersome or don’t want to meet her, you don’t have to.”

“How could I? It’s His Majesty’s request. And you said she’s going to prepare my engagement party. Ah, of course, I do wonder why we need something as pointless as an engagement party in the first place.”

“Then shall we just have the wedding right away? I actually think that would be the best option, too.”

“I suppose it’s better to follow the proper procedure. I’m one thing, but Leon is a member of the Imperial Family. Especially since everything has already gotten so tangled from the beginning and there’s been so much gossip, being old-fashioned is actually quite nice.”

Step by step. Let’s try maintaining these outdated conventions for once.

I smiled sweetly.

For now, I’ll keep watching.

I was sorry, but I still didn’t trust Leon Obsidian one hundred percent.

Of course, the more I observed him, the harder it was to believe that he was someone capable of committing treason.

But still.

There was always the possibility of something happening.

For now, I intended to watch him from the position of his fiancée.

If I decided he was trustworthy, then, well.

There’s no reason I couldn’t do it. Get married.

We were already engaged. What difference would getting married make?

Besides, as everyone had said, marriage was something I would have to do eventually anyway.

If that was the case, it was better to marry someone who would be the most helpful to me.

And if he could benefit House Zaherette as well, then there was nothing more I could ask for.

It had taken me a long time to reach this point, but once I had actually made my decision, accepting it was surprisingly easy.

“Hmm. I suppose most people will look more toward the right? Would this hand be better…….”

“…….”

I was deep in thought when I felt a ticklish sensation at my fingertips.

I lowered my gaze slightly and saw Leon’s elegant hand fiddling with mine.

Wow. Even this man has pretty hands.

I sighed and looked away.

There were plenty of people coming and going around us, yet he didn’t care in the slightest about anyone else’s gaze as he continued rubbing and playing with my hand.

We were currently at a jewelry shop on Roden Street in the capital.

It was the boutique of a famous jewelry designer who had gained considerable fame even in foreign countries.

The purpose of our visit was simple.

“Is there a design you like?”

“Hmm. I’m still deciding.”

“If you don’t like any of these, shall I bring out everything from the back as well? We have many other designs.”

“Yes. Show me everything.”

Leon’s eyes sparkled like the gemstone in the ring currently on my hand.

Seeing how much more enthusiastic he was than I was, I let out a hollow laugh and looked at the colorful rings now filling all five of my fingers.

Every single one had such a large, dazzling gemstone that they were almost overwhelming.

The problem was that, for something as trivial as this, Leon was being so serious that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

“I really don’t mind just getting anything.”

“No. And don’t forget, Erna. This isn’t a gift for you. It’s a gift for me. I asked what you wanted as a commemoration for taking the position of Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

Then you should be looking for a ring to wear on your own finger. Why are you trying every single one on mine?

“Then shouldn’t we find one that suits you?”

“Of course I’ll wear one too, but if possible, I’d rather choose one you like. That way, you won’t take it off.”

He gave me his signature dazzling smile, saying he would choose one I would love so much that I would never take it off.

Then he rested his chin on his hand again and stared seriously at mine.

Fine. Do whatever you want.

I eventually gave up.

“Oh my, Marquess. What a pleasure to see you here. Have you been well?”

I had my head drooping as I waited for this moment to pass as quickly as possible when I heard an unfamiliar voice.

Several noblewomen I had met a few times approached and greeted me.

I think I met them at the tea party the other day.

I exchanged a few appropriate words with them and returned their greetings.

But their gazes were already focused somewhere other than me.

Right on the face of the man sitting across from me.

Of course.

Although they exchanged polite pleasantries with me, their eyes had no intention of leaving Leon.

Their cheeks and earlobes had turned red.

Their shoulders trembled, and their hands were tightly clenched.

Their blatant reaction, as though merely looking at him was enough to make them deliriously happy, made me chuckle.

Do they really like him that much?

“Um, Your Grace, have you also been well……”

“…….”

“Your Grace?”

“I like this one. I’ve decided.”

Leon, who had remained serious the entire time regardless of what was being said around him, suddenly lifted his head.

“Let’s go with this one. I think it’s the prettiest.”

He pointed to the ring with a blue aquamarine gemstone on my index finger and even planted a light kiss on it.

The spectators turned red with embarrassment at his blatant display of affection, completely unconcerned with whether anyone was watching.

“Ahem. It seems you were on a date. Oh my, I suppose we interrupted you.”

“T-Then we’ll be going. I hope we can meet again at another occasion, Marquess.”

The noblewomen who had been doing everything they could just moments ago to catch even a single glimpse from Leon hurriedly retreated, unsure of what to do.

Poor things.

“Have you chosen the one you like?”

“This one. Can we take it right away?”

“Of course. Ah, but we’ll need to measure your finger for the men’s size. I’ll assist you in the back.”

“Just give me whatever size you have. As long as it fits on any finger, I don’t mind.”

“What?”

He had spent ages trying different rings on my fingers, yet he was saying his own could be any size.

The designer’s eyes widened.

Apparently, his pride as a designer simply could not allow that.

When he heard that a ring should fit properly so that he wouldn’t lose it, Leon reluctantly agreed and stood up.

The sight of him being dragged toward the measuring station looked incredibly troublesome.

Though I soon realized why.

As soon as Leon stood up, the people wandering around the shop approached him as though they had been waiting for precisely that moment.

They really won’t leave him alone.

“I heard you were appointed Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

“Congratulations.”

“His Majesty must feel very reassured.”

And so on.

All kinds of praise and greetings poured out.

Leon greeted them with his characteristic gentle smile.

But only for a moment.

As soon as the people finished greeting him and turned away, the smile vanished from his face as though it had never existed.

He simply stood there with a sullen expression.

Ah. Now I can finally see it. That empty look in his eyes.

Everyone had been completely enchanted by that brief public smile and gone wild over him.

For some reason, seeing the backstage side of a famous stage actor felt strangely amusing.

And I think I’m actually pretty satisfied with this situation right now.

Perhaps it was because the series of incidents that had happened recently had finally been sorted out to some extent.

I felt like I finally had some room to breathe.

Yes.

That was definitely it.

 

***

 

“What? Isabelle Mercier? That woman is a witch. You must be careful!”

“That’s right. Especially since you’re the Marquess, you need to be even more careful!”

The excited noblewomen exclaimed as they clattered their teacups down.

What is this supposed to be now?