Sweetheart!
"Curtis Shan Berk fell in love with an aide he met in the Royal Guard, and they're getting married!"
Public opinion was wildly divided. Not only was the aide from the trashy Navy, but her family background was incredibly humble. A hereditary title, sure, but a mere 1st-Class Honorary Knight? Some praised it as a humble move fitting for a war hero, while several nobles openly wondered in public, "Has Grand Duke Berk lost his mind?" However, most of the high nobility, well aware of Grand Duke Berk's standing within the Kingdom of Ivanes, kept their mouths shut. The commoners were simply fascinated by the news that his partner was a semi-noble aide. Wherever one went, Curtis Shan Berk's marriage was the only topic of conversation.
Reporters swarmed the Royal Guard headquarters. They ranged from the official royal gazette to daily newspapers of all sizes, and even trashy tabloids. Unusually, the royal court did not close the Guard's doors for this matter. Their attitude was practically inviting them to report whatever they wanted. However, since Chloe Amboise had naturally not shown up for work, there was nothing to be gained.
The journalists targeted the Guard members, but they couldn't squeeze any stories out of them either. Most of the guards were utterly dazed. After some relentless tailing, one tabloid managed to publish a few words slipped by some dazed squad leaders.
"Even if His Highness the Crown Prince got married twice, it wouldn't be more shocking than this..."
"Our Chloe marrying His Grace... Isn't this a workplace hazard?"
For the record, the tabloid in question was shut down for lèse-majesté because of the former comment.
In the end, the reporters went back to hunting down the nobles who had attended the banquet that night. After much effort, they finally succeeded in securing an interview with an anonymous noble who had been in the drawing room when the Grand Duke announced his marriage.
That was the headline of the interview. Through the print medium, the anonymous noble spilled everything about the audacious and cunning affection Chloe Amboise had displayed toward Grand Duke Berk. They also added that while the King had initially chided Grand Duke Berk out of disappointment at not having such major news shared with him as a brother, he had ultimately blessed the couple's marriage.
In some circles, rumors arose that Chloe Amboise was pregnant with an illegitimate child. The speculation was that the marriage had been announced so hastily because she was carrying his baby. However, that hypothesis died down faster than expected, thanks to Chloe Amboise's overtime schedule provided by an anonymous Guard member.
"That schedule would cause a miscarriage even if she were pregnant," added the Guard member who leaked the timetable.
Crude jokes about the two of them staying glued to each other every day under the pretext of overtime also became popular in the noble salons. But those, too, quickly faded. After all, weren't the members of the Royal Guard the sons of prestigious noble families? Instead, a theory secretly gained traction in some corners: "Chloe Amboise is a masochist." The logic was that unless she was out of her mind, there was no way she could love a boss who worked her like a dog.
And what was the Royal Guard's official response to that?
[OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE ROYAL GUARD]
"For the proud peace of the Kingdom of Ivanes, every member of the Royal Guard serves His Majesty the King day and night, and we consider this duty to be our greatest honor."
People began to pity the Royal Guard.
It was only natural that the King was furious.
"What absolute absurdity!"
With a sharp smack, the newspaper in the King's hand hit the floor. The chief court attendant, reading the room, quickly picked it up. Printed on the pages was Curtis Shan Berk's interview from the previous day regarding his marriage. The insolent statement read as follows:
Immediately following that, the Grand Duke announced that he would hold the wedding next week.
"Does he think a royal wedding is some kind of joke?!"
A royal marriage involved immense, complex procedures. Even the King himself could not push one through overnight. Yet, according to the interview, Crown Prince Frederick, who was close friends with Grand Duke Berk, was actively assisting with the wedding preparations. The King was absolutely livid.
"Listen here! Ban Grand Duke Berk from entering the royal palace for a week!"
Marriages of immediate royal family members typically took place in the royal palace. The King intended to throw a wrench into Grand Duke Berk's unilateral declaration. Yet, even after issuing the ban, his anger remained unappeased, and he burst out in frustration once more.
"How dare the Crown Prince throw mud in his own father's face! What on earth am I supposed to do about this?"
"My deepest apologies. It seems I have unintentionally caused discomfort to the royal family of Ivanes."
The one who replied to the King was the beautiful woman sitting before him. Her light brown hair was intricately braided, and her gentle yet captivating features were absolutely flawless. Her elegant, lavish attire made it clear that she held an extraordinary status. She was none other than the Duchess of Glintland, Isabelle la Glintland.
She had traveled a long way to Ivanes for a potential marriage with Curtis. The King had planned to show Curtis her portrait on the day of the diplomatic banquet before arranging an actual meeting between them. That was why the banquet had been referred to as a matchmaking meeting. However, on that very day, Curtis had declared his intention to marry his aide, causing the banquet to fall apart. Isabelle had been forced to return from the event empty-handed.
"I am deeply embarrassed. I only wished to show consideration to you, Duchess, after your long journey, but I never imagined things would turn out this humiliating."
Since morning, the King had deliberately met with her, putting on a grand show of fury. It was his way of trying to dispel the embarrassment of being outwitted by Curtis and committing a diplomatic discourtesy toward Glintland.
"Please, do not say that. Thanks to your hospitality—though perhaps not in the way intended—I have had a wonderful rest."
At Isabelle's gentle reply, the King feigned a sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Thank you for your broad-minded understanding, Duchess of Glintland. Even at the pinnacle of a nation, not everything goes according to my royal will."
Since Isabelle was officially acting as a diplomatic envoy, she couldn't simply say, So what? even if she saw right through the King's cheap theatrics. Instead, she offered a sympathetic smile.
"I understand, Your Majesty. Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince also felt that since the Grand Duke's lover has been made public, it would look far too unseemly for the entire royal family to oppose the marriage."
"I don't care about appearances! How dare a member of the royal family openly declare that he doesn't care about the national interest!"
Isabelle smiled bitterly at the King's words. It was highly ironic for someone who claimed not to care about appearances to lecture others on royal duty. After all, wasn't this very King of Ivanes, who now prated about the national interest, the one who had sidelined a man of Grand Duke Berk's caliber within the palace out of petty jealousy?
Yet, it was precisely because of that pettiness that Isabelle was able to stand here today. Otherwise, her life would have been spent rotting away in some rural corner, consumed by hatred. Feigning a comforting demeanor, she spoke to the King in a sweet, gentle tone.
"So, in a way, isn't this actually a good thing for the royal family?"
"What? Are you mocking me, Duchess?"
The King's eyes widened at her words. Suppressing the urge to scoff, Isabelle explained calmly, step by step.
"Prioritizing personal desire over the national interest is hardly a virtue in a ruler."
The King's expression softened slightly.
"Thanks to His Grace's hot-headed actions, the people of Ivanes will only look up to Your Majesty's nobility all the more."
At Isabelle's words, the corners of the King's mouth twitched slightly. The sole reason he kept Curtis in check was his constant envy of his half-brother's superior talent and popularity. Even after ascending the throne, he had spent his days in anxiety, fearing that Curtis Shan Berk might covet his crown. But Isabelle was subtly suggesting that if a war hero also possessed a sense of duty to the national interest, he would be far more threatening.
"Furthermore, though it is somewhat awkward for me to speak of this..."
As Isabelle pretended to hesitate, the King urged her on. "No, please, speak freely."
Isabelle covered her mouth with her fan as if shy, whispering softly.
"I hear that although the woman who is to become the Grand Duchess is technically a noble, her status is far too lacking to be the wife of a ruler."
"...Indeed, it is."
"By nature, people tend to look down on those who rise above them when their origins are humble."
It was a truth Isabelle herself had experienced all too painfully. She smiled brightly, subtly placing her hand on the King's arm. At the sudden touch of such a beauty, the King's face flushed red.
"...Ahem. That is why I tried to arrange such a blessed match with a Duchess for my brother. *Cough*."
The King had been the one to first request a royal marriage from the weaker nation of Glintland, only for things to end up like this. All Isabelle had to do now was save the King's face. Only then could she obtain what she truly wanted.
"It cannot be helped. Since he already has someone he loves, what can I, a stranger he has never met, possibly do?"
"He prattles on about love, but who knows if that love is even real."
"Even so, there is no room left for me to squeeze in now."
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say there was no room for Glintland. However, in matters like this, men like the King were always wary of women who appeared even slightly too intelligent. Thus, Isabelle behaved merely like a woman from a distant land who had looked forward to a marriage with a handsome Grand Duke, only to be disappointed.
Yet, she had absolutely no intention of giving up like this.
She leaned in slightly closer to the King, whispering in a low voice. No man of his sort ever disliked a beautiful woman closing the distance. Isabelle knew her own beauty better than anyone. She knew exactly how fragile and pitiful she looked when she furrowed her shapely brows in sorrow.
"By nature, royalty must sacrifice their personal lives for the national interest. My own embarrassment loses all meaning before the greater good of the state."
She was comforting the King while subtly disparaging Grand Duke Berk. She offered a faint, wistful smile.
"Since things have turned out this way, I must sincerely congratulate His Grace on his blessed marriage."
"Congratulate him? Bah. Once that fool sees your beauty, Duchess, he will regret his choice to his dying day."
As he spoke, the King of Ivanes himself could not tear his eyes away from her face and rounded shoulders. He seemed utterly oblivious to how pathetic he looked.
Perhaps this one would be faster than the Grand Duke.
But Isabelle immediately banished the thought from her mind.
"I am deeply flattered by your kind words. Your Majesty is truly a man of great magnanimity."
Isabelle carefully chose words calculated to please the King, knowing full well his bitter relationship with his brother. After spending some time catering to his ego, a warm smile finally spread across the King's face.
"Since you are already here, why not stay in Ivanes a little longer? After all, the formal diplomatic events have barely even begun. There are plenty of decent young men in Ivanes besides that fool."
Hearing him ramble on, it seemed the Duchess of Glintland's flattery had worked quite well on him. It was a relief. Isabelle had no intention of returning immediately just because the marriage negotiations had fallen through anyway. She replied with a serene smile.
"It would be my honor."
"If you ever require my assistance during your stay in Ivanes, do not hesitate to ask."
"I am already enjoying a most comfortable stay, all thanks to Your Majesty."
They conversed a while longer. Rising to leave in high spirits, the King spouted one last piece of nonsense.
"I have seen the Grand Duke's fiancée, and she cannot even hold a candle to you, Duchess. They say young people who marry for love these days part ways just as quickly as they meet..."
It was utterly ridiculous. Was he suggesting she wait around for the Grand Duke to get a divorce so she could become his second wife? Of course, she didn't show her derision openly. She merely bowed with demure grace.
"I shall take my leave now. Today's meeting was most delightful."
With a satisfied expression, the King finally left the drawing room. The heavy door slammed shut.
The moment he was gone, Isabelle violently hurled the fan in her hand.
"Damn it!"
It was a harsh, violent gesture, completely at odds with her gentle appearance.