Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Translation: godsn
The Ducal House of Claudio.
The lights in the Duke's office remained lit late into the night.
"I've already heard about the Minister of Palace Affairs. While it's regrettable to lose him, Your Excellency made the right decision. One must always extinguish any spark that could set everything ablaze."
Claudio and Laju.
They were allies who had boarded Iason's ship. Their goals aligned perfectly—to make Iason Emperor.
Thus, the Regent would become King of Valdina, and Laju would become a meritorious subject of Kazen.
The Regent's eyes shone with emotion.
"I knew you would say that, Count. That damned son of mine keeps insisting he's right, and my vassals come running to me the moment trouble arises... You can't imagine how lonely it's been, bearing this grand scheme alone..."
"Don't worry, Your Excellency. Now that I'm here, everything will fall back into place."
Count Laju spoke with confidence.
"Our diplomatic mission will refuse Valdina's request for aid. But if Your Excellency intercedes and we agree to provide just a small amount of provisions, how would that be?"
"My mother won't stay quiet..."
"If the Queen Dowager keeps obstructing us, we can use that as an excuse to refuse aid entirely. That will break her spirit. All the blame for the halted aid will fall squarely on the Queen Dowager."
Count Laju reassured him there was nothing to worry about.
"Furthermore, all communications with our diplomatic mission will go exclusively through Duke Claudio, bypassing the royal family entirely."
At this, the Regent's face brightened.
Being the sole channel of communication with the Empire—the value of such exclusivity in Valdina was immeasurable.
Especially now, on the cusp of winter, when Kazen's aid was desperately needed.
If this succeeded, he could rebuild his shaken position.
"That... is an excellent idea. Yes, let's proceed that way."
The Regent's eyes gleamed with relief and joy.
"Count Laju, I won't forget this assistance. During your stay, don't hesitate to ask for anything you need."
The Regent brought out his prized liquor. He didn't begrudge a single drop.
"Between those aboard the same ship, what are such trifles? I too understand how precious a reliable friend like Your Excellency is. It's the warmth of home I could never feel in that cutthroat Empire."
"Of course, how taxing it must be to stand in the Empire as a foreigner, minute by minute. And yet to serve by Grand Duke Iason's side—truly remarkable."
The Regent, a staunch elitist, treated Laju with astonishing consideration, as if the fact that Laju was originally a commoner had never even entered his mind.
As the night deepened, the cups they emptied grew more numerous.
"Count Laju. Truly... you've come... at just the right time... What a blessing..."
Even the Regent, normally too cold-headed to lose his wits, seemed powerless against the relentless flow of alcohol.
His speech grew increasingly slurred. Then—thud—the drunken Duke collapsed onto the desk, fast asleep.
Count Laju, too, seemed overcome by drink, unable to steady himself.
"Your Excellency... Duke Claudio? Tsk, tsk, you can't fall asleep like this..."
No matter how much Laju shook him, the Regent remained dead drunk, showing no signs of waking.
How long did that silence linger?
"......"
Screech—the sound of a chair being pushed back.
Thud, thud.
Count Laju's footsteps as he quietly left the office were now steady, without the slightest hint of his earlier unsteadiness.
The bedchamber of the Duchess of Claudio.
"My lady, shall I prepare you for bed?"
"No need. I'll manage tonight. Go ahead and rest."
She waved her delicate hand, dismissing the maid.
"Don't wake me until I call for you tomorrow."
"Of course. Then, rest well, my lady."
The Duchess was extremely sensitive—once she fell asleep, no one was permitted to enter her bedchamber without permission, no matter the circumstances.
The young maid, well acquainted with her mistress's temperament, nodded and exited the room.
"......"
Catherine sat at her vanity.
Clad in a silk robe that left little of her figure to the imagination, her hair pinned up, she looked agelessly beautiful.
Though she hadn't removed the makeup she'd carefully applied earlier, nor the subtle fragrance of perfume that still lingered about her.
It was just as she was touching her reflection in the mirror—
A rough man's arm reached in, seizing her delicate chin and waist, pulling her close.
"Robbie, you startled me!"
Catherine gasped sharply, her voice shrill as she let out a startled cry before quickly lowering it.
"My love, you remain as beautiful as ever."
Count Laju embraced her and showered her with fervent kisses.
"What about him?"
"What do you think? I slipped a sleeping draught into his wine—he'll be dead to the world until well past noon tomorrow."
A mocking glint flickered in Laju's eyes as he recalled the Regent sprawled disgracefully over the table.
"Still, he is my husband. Don't be too cruel."
"Your husband? Then who, pray tell, is your man? Answer me."
Unable to conceal his jealousy, Laju's voice grew heated. Catherine stifled a silent laugh.
Robert—even after all these years, this man remained as passionate as the first day they met.
They had been lovers for a long time.
Long before Catherine became the Duchess of Claudio, long before Robert became an Imperial Count.
"Cat, run away with me. To the Empire. Just the two of us."
"Robbie... I can't defy my family's will."
The love between a princess and a commoner youth who worked for the ducal house had ended poorly.
Catherine's father, upon discovering their affair, had beaten Robert mercilessly and driven him out.
Lying on a sickbed, he had been forced to listen to the wedding bells ringing from the cathedral where his beloved was marrying another.
"I swore I'd never return to this damned place again."
Blinded by ambition, Robert clawed his way up through the Kazen Empire by any means necessary.
Then, one day, after saving the Late Emperor, his life turned upside down.
With a new surname—Laju—he became the very noble who had once oppressed him. The fruits of success were sweet, yet hollow.
"Count Laju, this is the Duchess of Claudio, from Valdina—"
But the moment he unexpectedly reunited with his first love, the embers of buried passion reignited.
"Of course, Robbie. It's always been you."
Emerging from her reverie, Catherine answered sweetly.
"Exactly. Me too. That's why I brought not just the Grand Duke but even a general here. To make your husband king."
Even as he spoke, Laju couldn't restrain himself, pulling her into his arms and refusing to let go.
"How long has it been? Damn it, it's only been a year, but it feels like decades since I last saw you."
Catherine pushed against his chest, rolling her eyes.
"Hmph, I heard you already have a woman in Kazen. The Grand Duke personally introduced her to you, didn't he?"
"She's just a political match. You know my heart belongs only to you, Cat."
Their tangled bodies tumbled onto the bed. The air in the chamber grew thick and heated.
Click. The soft sound of the bedroom door closing didn't reach their ears, too lost in their fevered embrace.
"Haah... haah..."
Rumpled sheets. The heavy scent of passion lingered as Catherine pulled away, catching her breath.
Unlike her cold husband, her lover was always so fervent.
"Cat, where's my darling daughter? I haven't seen her since I arrived."
Laju affectionately smoothed her disheveled hair.
"I brought a carriage full of gifts for Virna. I can already imagine how delighted she'll be."
"Virna... She's still at the convent because of that Medeia wench."
Catherine gritted her teeth.
"It breaks my heart to think of our Virna suffering in that cold, strict place..."
"Then have her brought back. Etienne is dead—there's no need to tiptoe around anymore."
When Laju dismissed the matter so casually, Catherine gave him a troubled look.
"But... people will talk..."
"What does it matter? If anyone dares wag their tongue about my daughter, I'll gouge their eyes out."
His confident mustache twitched with indignation.
"Cat, your man is someone even the Empire's nobles can't touch. What fool in this backwater kingdom of Valdina would dare defy me?"
He spoke arrogantly.
"Our daughter will receive the finest treatment. Once the Grand Duke ascends the throne, she'll be the Empire's mistress—how could some princess of Valdina even compare?"
A sinister glint in Laju's eyes sent a chill down her spine.
"Don't worry, my love. That princess wench's flesh and blood will be nothing more than fertilizer for our Virna to spread her wings."
Moved, Catherine threw herself back into his arms.
The Princess's Palace.
"Count Laju and my aunt?"
The note from the House of Claudio left Medeia stunned.