About two months after Banessa had left for the Empire, an unexpected piece of news reached the Principality.
“Banessa became a duke in the Empire?”
“That delinquent?”
“Has the Imperial Emperor gone mad?”
Everyone who knew Banessa couldn’t believe their ears. The idea of *that* Banessa becoming a duke was so absurd that rumors spread, suggesting the Empire’s downfall was near.
“I heard he wiped out a group that was plotting a rebellion.”
“They say he infiltrated the group and lulled the leader into a false sense of security.”
“On the day they were planning their uprising, he captured the leading duke and his allies and handed them all to the Emperor.”
“The Emperor granted him a title as a gesture of gratitude.”
“Well, that makes sense, I suppose…”
“But how did that simpleton even notice the rebellion?”
“He reassured the leader? Are they saying that mad dog was capable of something so delicate?”
“It’s enough to make you believe in ghosts.”
There were two things the people of the Principality, who knew Banessa all too well, were unaware of.
First, it wasn’t Banessa who noticed the rebellion—it was Duke Alt who approached Banessa.
Second, on that particular day, Banessa was brimming with ambition for a title.
Third, the easiest way to become a duke in the Empire was to swallow an existing dukedom whole.
Lastly, Duke Alt sealed his own fate by badmouthing Dana in front of Banessa.
“Sir Banessa. How has life in the palace been treating you? You haven’t faced any inconveniences, have you? Has Her Majesty’s care been sufficient for you?”
From that moment, everything fell into place surprisingly easily.
Banessa gathered every bit of his potential and subtly led the duke into a trap.
Though Banessa had never lived a life of deceit or pretense, he realized this was not the time to be picky.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become Dana’s husband and Callisto’s brother-in-law.
He had to focus every ounce of his energy on acting the part.
Thanks to his desperate efforts, Duke Alt revealed the shocking truth.
The duke had been plotting a rebellion!
“Next month, there will be a grand banquet at the palace. That’s when we’ll strike.”
The moment Banessa heard those words, fireworks of joy exploded in his head.
Thank you, you fool.
You’re dead now.
I’ll graciously accept that dukedom!
A broad smile spread across Banessa’s face. His crimson eyes gleamed with affection as he looked at the duke.
Of course, that affection was more akin to the predatory gaze of a beast eyeing a rabbit on a plate, but Duke Alt couldn’t have guessed that.
He thought Banessa was entirely on his side and eagerly shared his plans.
“It seems you’ve been harboring some resentment toward the royal family as well, Sir Banessa. It’s only natural. As a proud knight of the Principality, you’ve been treated as nothing but a scapegoat.”
“Hahaha.”
“Why… why are you laughing like that?”
“Heh. It’s nothing. Please, continue.”
“I’ve heard that Prince Callisto has left for the Magic Tower. We must take advantage of that. We need to overthrow the Emperor and seize the palace before the prince returns.”
“Before brother comes back… Perfect.”
It meant that he could solve everything perfectly, including the title.
“The upcoming banquet is said to be extremely luxurious, as it’s being held in celebration of the Founding Festival. It will be the Emperor’s last grand event.”
“A lavish banquet, that’s a nice touch.”
The plan was to capture the duke and his conspirators during the banquet and present them to sister, alongside a proper marriage proposal.
Not like before, where he’d recklessly ask her to take responsibility for him—this time, it would be a formal proposal.
After becoming the Empire’s top hero for rooting out traitors, there would no longer be a need to worry about public opinion.
And, most importantly, if he accomplished such a monumental feat, even Callisto would have no choice but to acknowledge him.
“Of course, we’ll have to keep this from His Majesty.”
It was going to be a surprise proposal, after all.
“My heart is already racing. I can hardly wait for that day to come.”
“As am I.”
Duke Alt smiled brightly, completely unaware that he was planning his own doom.
Everything went exactly as Banessa had planned after that.
Blinded by love, Banessa deceived the traitors with flawless acting.
On the day of the Founding Festival banquet, he revealed all the evidence he had gathered in front of everyone.
The knights who had been arranged beforehand stormed in and subdued the traitors.
Realizing he had been tricked, Duke Alt screeched in fury and cursed Banessa.
After gracefully knocking the duke unconscious with a blow to the back of his neck, Banessa walked through the crowd of stunned onlookers and approached Dana.
With Dana speechless in astonishment, he knelt on one knee and proposed.
“Please marry me, sister.”
And that was how it happened.
It was a proposal that would go down in Imperial history.
In the end, Dana accepted Banessa’s proposal.
For his role in dismantling the duke’s conspiracy, Banessa was granted the title of duke.
The crimes of Duke Alt and his cohorts were so heinous that no one objected to the Emperor’s decision.
One month later.
Callisto, having restored the crumbling Magic Tower in record time, returned to the Imperial Palace.
What awaited him was none other than…
The news of Dana’s pregnancy.
Chapter 9: The Children’s Choice
“Princess!”
“Princess, where are you?”
Hiding behind a bush, Lehira slowly opened her eyes.
The silver wolf at her feet perked its ears.
“Where could the princess have disappeared to?”
Though the voices calling out for her were near, Lehira didn’t move.
She glanced briefly toward the source of the noise before leaning back against the tree.
The silver wolf, Behemoth, with ears still perked, gazed intently at Lehira.
She was eight years old this year.
Lehira was the cherished princess of the Genos royal family, the apple of everyone’s eye, and the goddaughter of Ahwin, its master.
“Princess!”
The voices were getting much closer.
Behemoth, the silver wolf, glanced toward the noise and then back at Lehira.
‘Shouldn’t we go out?’
Though he couldn’t understand exactly how Lehira was feeling, the people outside the bush cared deeply for her.
Surely Lehira wouldn’t want to worry them either.
Hesitating, Behemoth carefully nudged Lehira’s hand with his nose.
Lehira wrinkled her nose slightly, pretending to ignore him, but then the wind blew, ruffling her long black hair.
It was Behemoth’s doing.
Finally giving in, Lehira let out a soft sigh.
“Behemoth. I’m not going out.”
「…….」
“I already told you.”
Her cheeks, still round with baby fat, puffed up in frustration.
Biting her lip, she glared in the direction of the voices.
Then she pulled her knees close to her chest and buried her face in them.
“I don’t want to go out. I don’t want to see anyone.”
「…….」
“If you keep telling me to go out, I’ll chase you away too. I won’t ever play with you again.”
「Whine…」
Behemoth whimpered, clearly disheartened.
Though Princess Lehira was usually a little angel, there were times, like today, when her temper flared.
Most people didn’t know why, but Behemoth understood.
It was because of the dream.
The silver wolf’s dark eyes looked up at Lehira with concern.
It seemed that the little princess had a particularly upsetting dream last night.
Wondering whether to comfort her or not, Behemoth carefully rose to his feet.
Having watched over Lehira since she was very young, he knew that time was the only thing that could help in situations like this.
Once Princess Lehira made up her mind, she never changed it.
Just like when she’d stubbornly pulled Ahwin’s hair and forced Noel and Ahwin together.
She had a tremendous will.
So, instead of trying to convince her, Behemoth cautiously slipped out from behind the bush.
After checking to see if anyone was nearby, he pushed off the ground and soared into the sky.
Soon, beneath the clear blue sky, a familiar building came into view.
It was the temple within the Genos Imperial Palace, where Ahwin was staying.
Ahwin, who had been picking tomatoes in the garden, sensed the presence of the spirit and looked up.
“Behemoth? Where’s the princess? Don’t tell me…”
Behemoth quickly nodded. There was only one reason why the spirit, tasked with guarding the princess, would come to him alone. Ahwin clicked his tongue softly.
“She’s had *that dream* again, hasn’t she? Understood. I’ll speak to the others. I’ll tell them the princess needs some time.”
Relieved, Behemoth wagged his tail. After setting down the basket of tomatoes, Ahwin spoke to the wolf.
“Behemoth. Lord Julios is at the temple. Go inform him of the princess’s situation.”
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