Chapter 157

It was a perceptive observation that hit the mark of Richard’s intentions.

Recently, Richard had indeed been more careless than before.

It was because he had to face too many situations he hadn’t anticipated.

Where did it all go wrong?

Richard quietly clenched his teeth as he traced back to the beginning of the problem.

When he ordered Iona to marry, he had been prepared to calmly accept the union with the Duke.

He had no intention of being publicly bound to Iona, and in that regard, arranging a match for her that met his conditions wasn’t a bad option.

He didn’t want to see her developing romantic feelings for another man without his knowledge.

If she had to marry anyway, it was better to maintain a nominal relationship under his sanction.

The problem arose when the husband he had carefully chosen began to rebel against his methods.

At first, the Duke seemed to comply with Richard’s intentions, but at some point, he blatantly started approaching Iona.

As if he had never received any warning from Richard.

The Duke began doing inappropriate things like gifting clothes to Iona or escorting her to balls, and eventually, he even presented her with a ring in front of everyone.

Richard didn’t believe the Duke was sincerely courting Iona, but he still felt anxious.

He was fiercely unpleasant at the thought of them being regarded as a well-matched couple by society.

He had believed he had Iona in the palm of his hand, but that feeling was gradually fading.

At any moment, if he opened his hand to check, it seemed like there would be nothing left.

So, when Iona came to him asking for help, he felt a sense of relief.

In her moment of need, she thought of him first.

That day, Iona confessed that the only person she truly trusted and relied on was him, and for her, Richard gladly discarded the loyal vassals who had served the royal family for a lifetime.

As he bestowed the usurped title upon Iona, Richard was filled with a sense of elation.

This was something only he could do, and he could continue to give her many things in the future.

By doing so, Richard told Iona she could live ignoring a mere titular husband.

The thought that they had reaffirmed their special bond with each other perhaps made Richard a bit excited at that time.

Was that why?

He tried to ignore the fact that his process of helping Iona had been extremely unnatural.

‘Could it be that this ultimately displeased Mother?’

Considering she was summoned on the day she inherited the title, it was not a wrong assumption.

Richard felt an impulse to immediately confront the Empress about this issue, but he couldn’t act on it.

Provoking the Empress here was not a wise choice.

When she approached Iona back then, the Empress’ intention might not have ended with just a warning.

If he tried to bring this issue up, the Empress’ retaliation would once again be directed not at Richard, but at Iona.

Just as Iona had paid the price for Richard’s momentary loss of focus.

“…What did Iona say?”

A low voice escaped from Richard.

Saskia remained silent, waiting for him to clarify what exactly he was asking.

Even amidst the turmoil caused by Iona's absence, Richard did not lose his composure.

He asked again, his tone defensive.

"After hearing Her Majesty the Empress' words, did she misunderstand my true intentions?"

"I wouldn’t know. I didn’t ask about that."

Saskia feigned ignorance, avoiding a direct answer.

It seemed Richard was curious whether Iona had realized his feelings because of this incident.

Saskia couldn’t understand why Richard was so intent on hiding his true feelings.

Even without the legal complications, Richard could have made Iona his lover without much difficulty.

Things might get a bit noisy around them, but it would be much better than sending her off to another man and regretting it later.

His approach to Iona was never ordinary.

'It's not like he wants Iona to love him back or anything so embarrassing.'

Saskia was sure of it.

If Richard had reached out first, Iona would have taken his hand.

She would have done so without expecting anything in return.

Whether Iona loved the Crown Prince as a man or not wasn’t the issue here.

'That’s just how she is. If it were before she met the Duke, it could have been easy to change her mind...'

Yet, Richard chose the hard way, enduring this struggle. Why?

If Richard had treated Iona casually as a mistress, the Empress wouldn’t have been so seriously concerned about their relationship.

Saskia shot Richard a questioning look.

Did he interpret it as a response to his previous question?

Did he think she genuinely didn’t know Iona’s true feelings? Richard didn't press the issue further.

As if his business was concluded, Richard turned to leave, but Saskia impulsively grabbed his arm.

"Are you leaving?"

"Is there more to say?"

His attitude suggested he had gleaned all the information he needed and saw no reason to linger.

While Saskia was relieved not to prolong the conversation with Richard, there was one last question she wanted to ask.

With a serious expression, Saskia spoke.

"Your Highness, do you cherish Lady Iona as a woman?"

Richard's steps halted.

He slowly turned to look at Saskia.

His gaze drifted downward, landing on the sword that had fallen to the floor.

Saskia was certain.

If he had been standing as close as before, he would have picked up the sword and aimed it at her neck again.

As Saskia unconsciously took a step back, Richard dismissed her with an icy voice.

"That's an impertinent question."

"Considering I almost got a sword through my neck while delivering the resignation, I think I’m entitled to know at least this much."

Internally berating herself for her dangerous curiosity, Saskia stood her ground.

This was something she had wondered about for a very long time.

Richard's actions were always casual and ambiguous, contrasting sharply with the transparent possessiveness in his eyes when he looked at Iona.

Saskia wondered if now, with Richard having lost his usual composure, she might get a definitive answer.

With that hope, she discreetly wetted her dry mouth with her tongue.

Seeing her, Richard gave a faint, sardonic smile.

"…No."

As soon as the word left his lips, the smile vanished without a trace.

Richard added in his usual cynical tone.

"As if that could ever be the case."

Then the door slammed shut violently.

The tension in the room gradually dissipated as his footsteps faded away.

Saskia, still staring at the spot where Richard had been, sighed and picked up her sword.

"He's thoroughly twisted…"

***

Iona felt a creeping sense of crisis.

"I've received too much."

At Iona's sudden declaration, Marsha looked at her with sleepy eyes.

She was curious about the reason behind such an out-of-the-blue statement while they were riding in the carriage.

Marsha glanced sideways at the window Iona had been looking out of, but it revealed nothing but the same mountain road as before.

"…What do you mean all of a sudden?"

Iona hesitated for a moment before sighing.

She couldn't exactly say that she felt it was difficult to repay Leroy for all the kindness he had shown her in her previous life.

Instead, she chose to give a somewhat modified version of her thoughts, omitting the fact that she had come back in time.

"I had originally agreed to pass on the Modrov estate and marry him."

"Ah, yes, that's right."

"But when I actually inherited the title and tried to transfer the assets, he refused."

"Oh… I had a feeling he might do that."

"Then what should I give in return for this marriage?"

Iona asked in a serious tone, almost as if talking to herself.

Marsha, who had been staring at Iona with a blank expression, scratched the back of her head and spoke in an embarrassed voice.

"Um… Do you really have to give something? It's a marriage, after all."

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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