Let's Duel
Marquise families from across the continent were arriving one by one at the Bosch family's territory. We were among the last to show up—higher than marquises, in fact.
The meeting was held at a villa in the Imperial Palace, surrounded by dense woods. Leor had briefed me on the place. It was originally an unused annex that they'd suddenly expanded. Because of the rushed construction, there were spots here and there that weren't quite finished. But from the outside, it looked magnificent, like the emperor's own retreat.
"His Highness the Grand Duke Wintergard and His Highness Marquis von Bart have arrived!"
A guard spotted our carriage and banners and shouted the announcement. From inside the rattling carriage, I peered out. Several coaches were parked like in a lot, each emblazoned with their family crests. Is that what they call a procession? It reminded me of something I'd overlooked back in Bart territory.
The carriage halted before the villa's main gate. Guards stood in formation, a red carpet rolled out before them.
"Well then."
"Oh my."
Daniela sounded a bit flustered, but she quickly composed herself to match her station. As expected of my Grand Duchess.
We could have been the stars of this procession, but I'd changed my mind. Someone else was meant to take center stage.
"Father-in-law, please go first. We'll follow behind."
"R-Really?"
"This isn't a place for formalities anymore, is it? And please, speak casually."
"Ah, alright. I'll go ahead then. S-son-in-law, Grand Duke?"
"Just call me whatever feels natural."
Son-in-law Grand Duke? Either I'm the Grand Duke or your son-in-law.
Marquis Roland von Bart slowly stepped out of the carriage. Tension radiated from his back as he placed one foot, then another, on the red carpet and started forward. Daniela and I walked alongside him. Music blared, and the guards saluted. We stepped onto the carpet, proceeding slowly. Leor followed two paces behind.
"Can I stick a little closer?"
"Of course."
Daniela pressed right up against me. Marquis von Bart reached the door first; the doorman swung it open. We took our time. He waited inside without entering fully, holding for us. Finally, as Daniela and I reached the threshold, we all stepped into the villa together. The door closed, and the music faded.
Everyone who mattered must have arrived by now. But the real battle of wills was just beginning.
Marquis von Bart was visibly tense, and Daniela's hand trembled slightly—unlike in the carriage. No need to be so nervous.
"Where do we go?"
"Your Highness, please follow us."
I asked a servant first. In the end, Marquis von Bart walked at my left. Ironic. Left arm linked with Roland von Bart, right with Daniela. Felt like the Bart family had me in custody. Though really, they were the ones caught.
The villa's hall was decked out lavishly, dozens of golden lion statues gleaming everywhere.
"Gaudy for no reason."
"I-I heard the Cr-Crown Prince brought them from the Imperial Palace."
"That idiot. Got it."
At the far end of the hall sat a scrawny man in the head seat. I knew that punchable face. One I'd tried to forget but couldn't. And objectively, he was handsome. Where northerners embodied robustness and boldness, the Crown Prince was the picture of refinement and elegance.
Standing beside him was the Bosch family's lady.
As we reached the end of the hall, Marquis von Bart knelt first.
"What are you lot doing?"
Doing what? I stared at the seated Crown Prince. Daniela glanced between us, gauging the mood. Marquis von Bart was in the most awkward spot, peeking up at me, then the prince.
"Long time no see."
"What? 'Long time no see'? How rude!"
"Didn't you get the message?"
I had. I'd assumed the imperial side knew about the agreement between the crown and the North. Did the Crown Prince not?
Reviewing noble ranks: Duke highest, then marquis, earl, viscount, baron. The Crown Prince outranked other nobles, sure. But the emperor's agreement took effect the moment I signed—and that was ages ago.
"Who should be in the head seat right now?"
"What nonsense is this fool spouting? Bow to his noble self at once!"
It was complicated; maybe too much for the prince. The agreement's endpoint: Treat the North as an independent state, with Wintergard as its sovereign. We'd repay 15 years of unpaid subsidies indirectly somehow. But mentioning independence and duchy made things awkward with the prince. The emperor might not care, but...
Was the Crown Prince superior? Or the North's duke? Grounds for debate.
"Leor? What are you doing?"
"Sh-Shall I drag him down?"
"Beat some sense into that idiot...? No. I'll handle it."
Daniela and I climbed the steps—thud, thud. The fool in the seat looked flustered. With each step, he pointed and yelled.
"Stop them! Now!"
"Who dares block Grand Duke Wintergard's path?!"
The guards rushed forward but froze at Leor's booming voice. My ears. Don't shout right behind me.
The guards were problematic too. They should've at least pretended to obey and approached for a standoff.
"Let me give you a lesson. Listen up."
"Wh-Who do you think you are, lecturing?!"
"You know the North has a new status, right?"
The Crown Prince avoided my eyes, glancing at the Bosch girl behind him. She probably didn't know either. Proof of how disconnected the imperial family was.
He was the heir, yet sidelined from empire politics? The emperor didn't value him much.
Anyway, who deserved the head seat here? Simple: Sovereign of a sovereign state.
"The North has become a duchy—independent. We just haven't held ceremonies yet. That's all."
"F-First I've heard of it. Still, how rude! Even if, His Imperial Majesty granted you your title..."
"So what rights do you have?"
He fell silent. I propped my foot on his chair. Right between his legs—not stomping, but close. Hand on the backrest, I loomed over him, crushing him with my gaze.
"Your Highness...!"
"Stay put. Can't you hear the Grand Duke?"
"What? Daniela. You!"
"Don't call me Daniela. It's Grand Duchess Daniela."
A side skirmish was brewing too. Sovereignty was key. Even if the prince nitpicked later, the duchy-empire ties were ambiguous enough.
For equal nobles, seating hinged on factors. I'd led with ruling an independent realm—its sovereignty not nominally under the empire.
I wasn't just governing the North; I was its duke sovereign. Equal to the Crown Prince.
"I'm a duchy's leader now. How am I below you?"
"Th-That's..."
"You know it. Equals? Then I take the seat."
"Absurd! I am—"
"I know. Crown Prince. But I'm a sovereign duke! Independent rulers rank just below emperors."
"Never got word."
Didn't make his rudeness forgivable. Tradition offered one classic way to settle seats.
"A duel then? If you want."
"A duel!"
Most traditional—and flashy. Come to think of it, not our first rodeo.
I glanced sideways. The academy duel. The humiliation he'd inflicted on Daniela.
"What do you say? Right here?"
"Ha! I accept!"
The Crown Prince shot up. Everyone around panicked—the Bosch girl, Daniela. But the most shocked? Probably still-kneeling Marquis von Bart.