Lady to Queen

Rosemond's face froze at the mention of her father but soon responded calmly.     

"A discussion is not necessary. No way would that man block his daughter's path. If he did so, he would be trash that could not reform himself."     

"…"     

The Duke of Efreni flinched at the harshness directed at her father, but he showed nothing as he nodded. Then he spoke.     

"As you know, Lady Rosemond, adoption in the Marvinus Empire is necessarily accompanied by parental consent. Lady Rosemond's mother has already died, so it would mean that as a lady, you can only become my adopted daughter after the consent of Baron Darrow."     

"I know that, Duke. I am not ignorant of even that. So what do I need?"     

"As I said, it is the consent of Baron Darrow, Lady. Perhaps it would be faster for Lady Rosemond to go directly to the Baron's estate."     

Rosemond's impression turned into a frown at that. She suggested an alternative.     

"Why don't we just send and receive letters?"     

"It would be best to go to avoid later trouble, Lady Rosemond. It is not easy to become an adopted daughter while the father is still living. It is against the Empire's traditions."     

"…"     

Rosemond momentarily thought that it would be easier to just kill Baron Darrow, and the Duke of Efreni quickly added on as if he had caught on to her thoughts.     

"You shouldn't think of unnecessary thoughts, Lady. If what you plan occurs, and I adopted you right after, it would only result in unnecessary gossip."     

"What am I thinking about?"     

She asked him innocently, and the Duke of Efreni did not answer. Rosemond smiled and flopped her hand as if it had been a joke.     

"Oh my, Duke. Would I truly do something like that?"     

Of course, Duke Efreni did not believe her words. She was a woman who could. It was even more possible if the opponent was Baron Darrow. He sighed inwardly and then told her.     

"Anyways, getting His Majesty's permission, and going to the estate will be easier."     

"Then I should go tell him right now."     

Rosemond spoke without hesitation, and the Duke of Efreni was speechless. He left the Vain Palace after telling her to call on him again once she returned from Baron Darrow's estate. After he left, Rosemond asked Glara for another cup of rosemary tea and drank it, while thinking about something with an unreadable expression, and soon got up while setting down the empty cup. She intended to go to Lucio right away to gain his permission.     

The Duke of Efreni left Vain Palace feeling desolate. He wasn't one of the founding members, but he was one of the three Prime Ministers. He was the head of one of the three families that supported this Empire and on the top of the largest market. That's why he was so frustrated because he was trailing helplessly after the mere daughter of a Baron. He couldn't even imagine how much people would laugh at them, and how disappointed his family would be.     

He had never regretted what had gone on in the past but was only resentful that she held his weakness over him. There was no point in regretting what had already passed, but he did dread the idea of being caught by her forever. He sighed deeply and recalled the events of the night where it all began.     

2 years ago.     

At that time, his power was no different from the present. He was one of the largest top-ranking merchants in the Empire, and at the same time, one of the three great Prime Ministers called the pillars of the Empire. For someone like him, it was not funny that the daughter of a Baron, who had only caught the Emperor's eye and entered the palace, requested to meet him. He refused Rosemond's request.     

Shortly thereafter, however, another letter was delivered to him, and he was forced to refine himself and find the place where Rosemond lived.     

'I'm probably the only person who knows exactly what happened 8 years ago.'     

She was mentioning something he was most reluctant about. 8 years ago. How much his bones reverberated with just those words. He quickly went to her place. When not long ago, he had said that a daughter of a Baron dared to request a meeting, and ripped up the letter. He said this as soon as she saw her.     

"A mere daughter of a Baron dares to threaten a Duke?"     

Then she spoke these words, "Duke, I don't think you have figured out the situation yet."     

"What? You dare…?!"     

"I wouldn't dare called for the Duke of the Empire for no reason."     

She laughed comfortably and offered him a seat.     

"Sit down first, Duke. If you look at this, you will have a lot to say."     

Rosemond said this and then threw something in front of him. The face of the Duke of Efreni who inadvertently confirmed what he saw, soon paled. He looked at Rosemond with a trembling face. Where had his earlier spirit and arrogance gone, as he now trembled in fear, and asked Rosemond, "This… How did this…"