I Will Never Give Up on the Grand Duke
I will never give up on the Grand Duke. The road to the Northeast. I opposed the idea of traveling with a massive entourage just because it was the Northern Grand Duke on the move. For one thing, I didn't want to flaunt any authority on this long-overdue trip to the Northeast.
The procession to the Northeast had to depart the very next day after the second, just as Hexon had insisted. The castle was already in an uproar. Marriage preparations? Already?
"We've already notified the Northeast. You're ready to depart whenever you are."
"Good. Let's do that."
"Shall we head out now?"
"Everyone seems thrilled that I'm going on vacation, huh?"
"You have no idea how sad we are, Your Grace."
"Should I not go, then?"
"Well..."
"I get it. I'm going."
I slipped into my travel attire. Draping myself in clothes made from wyvern leather, I strolled slowly outside. The servants were bustling about noisily. Daniela said she'd change into something else and hurried off to another dressing room. That'll take a bit.
I went ahead and opened the castle gates, waiting at the small reviewing stand out front.
"The black carriage."
"Ah, have you seen it before?"
"Looks expensive. How long did it take to make?"
"The previous Grand Duke had it prepared ages ago, in case you'd ever need it."
"It's over twenty years old, but it's in pretty good shape."
"We've kept it maintained, Your Grace."
The black carriage, adorned entirely in black, pulled right up in front of me. Daniela emerged slowly from beyond the gates. No dress this time—she was dressed like a true Northerner. It resembled a uniform, all black from head to toe. With pants tucked into boots and a belt cinched tight. Her short blonde hair only amplified that rugged Northern vibe.
"You look totally like a Northerner today."
"Because I am a Northerner?"
"Duh, obvious. You're stunning today."
"Thank you, my lord."
We boarded the black carriage, and it set off toward the Northeast. The Grand Duke's flag slowly descended from the castle, and beside it, the Grand Duchess's flag came down too. A sign that the Grand Duke was away from the castle. I'd barely returned from the South, and now Winter Castle's banners were coming down again. The Northerners would think their Grand Duke was off having the time of his life.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Hmm. Probably wondering if the people think the Grand Duke's slacking off too much?"
"No, my lord. They know how much you've already done for the North."
"You think so?"
As we headed Northeast, I observed the people. Through the window, the city around Winter Castle came into view. Winter was finally ending. We passed by the Central Forge Reactor, watching folks hurrying about. They had fields to tend, goods to sell. Memories of the past flickered by.
"Back in the day, if you came out this far from the castle, you'd find plenty of frozen corpses."
"Really?"
"Yeah, people with nowhere to go, freezing to death."
"You don't see that anymore, right?"
"I hope not."
Clack-clack—the sound of the carriage drew waves from the Northerners. At least things were better than before. Soil fertility had surged; with farming underway, we'd have a bumper crop. The harsher the winter, the better the spring and summer yields.
"What plans do we have for the spring hungry gap?"
"Your Grace, we've already mapped out monthly food distribution plans."
"Even if it means dipping into military stores, let's make sure no one starves."
"No need to worry. We've buffered beyond projections to hold out comfortably."
"Now that I think about it, spring's going to be busy too."
"Your Grace, we'll handle your concerns. Please, enjoy your vacation."
Nothing left to say. The staff had learned not to burden me with work talk. Any question I asked got shut down with, "Enjoy your vacation, Your Grace."
That left me bored.
"The scenery outside is beautiful, my lord."
"What do you think of the North's outskirts?"
"Like a painting. A bit chilly, though."
Winter hadn't fully retreated yet. Spring was coming, but until then, the cold days would drag on. But this was the most beautiful time. Frost blanketing the North in serene silence, melting into glistening droplets. Unfrozen roads racing past majestic mountains.
"It is beautiful. It'll be even more so at harvest time."
"I think I prefer this over the South's warmth."
"I'm grateful for that, Daniela. Coming from you."
"No, I'm the grateful one."
I took Daniela's hand and gazed out quietly. The era of a cold, harsh, starving North was over.
"Your Grace, a quick look at the carriage wheels?"
"Something wrong?"
"Just a check since we'll be traveling far. Please wait a moment."
The aide stepped out. Suddenly, the carriage held only Daniela and me. That's when courage struck. A question about the past. Even if we knew enough about each other, asking directly mattered.
"Do you really want to be the Grand Duchess, Daniela?"
"Come on, my lord. It's all decided, isn't it?"
"You never know. Being Wintergard's Grand Duchess isn't just any role—it could be a burden."
Daniela gazed at me steadily, pondering like she was studying the landscape. Almost as if observing me.
"I think I get your heart a little now."
"My heart?"
"Yes. Why you've put off marriage so long."
Me? In a society where marriage and heirs were paramount, I was probably the only ruler who'd delayed this long. At least the South wasn't like that—I'd seen it firsthand. The North's vassals felt the same. Leor, James, you name it.
"Because you love the North."
"Y-yeah. It's like my homeland."
"And you love its people, its lands."
"I'm the duke. Gotta do my job."
"That's why, my lord."
What did she mean? I asked Daniela again. That I'd delayed marriage out of love for the North?
"From what I've seen, you've shouldered so much weight. Because you love the North, you want everyone happy."
"It's the duke's duty."
"Exactly. You know that weight all too well. You didn't want to burden anyone else with it."
It stung. Hit too close to home. Daniela's words nailed it perfectly. She was right. I'd tried to bear it all alone. I knew too well the agony of Northern lives. I wanted to change that. Let them live past forty, at least. Spare them losing families to war, despairing in ruined hometowns. If I worked harder—if the duke played his part—maybe they'd live happier. That was my thinking.
"Saying this might make you jealous."
"What?"
"I always tried to guide Crown Prince down the right path."
Ugh, already disliked it. The thought of Daniela placating him made my skin crawl. Like facing a loathsome bug.
"Even at the academy, whenever I met the Crown Prince, I tried to lead him right."
"Didn't work out."
"True. It ended that way. Probably no loyal retainers left by his side now..."
The Bosch family was slowly infiltrating the imperial house. And the already rotten core seemed poised to collapse. Long ago—my great-great-grandfather's era—the Empire had real power. But now? Just endless strife.
"I realized it the other day in the South, seeing the Crown Prince."
"What?"
"Even if I'd been in Cartina's place, it would've been hopeless. I couldn't change him."
"No, Daniela. You would've succeeded."
Daniela gripped my hand. Her blue eyes burned fiercely beside me. The hottest part of a flame, blazing pure azure without a hint of red.
"No. I couldn't have changed the Crown Prince. Because I would've given up on him."
"Daniela..."
"But meeting you, my lord... I realized I'll never give up on you. I can't."
Daniela's face drew near. Outside, the wheels rattled noisily, but inside the carriage, silence reigned. Sweet silence. I wished this moment would last forever.
"Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I love you that much."
My heart pounded. Maybe I'd thought of the Grand Duchess role too politically. Someone to walk beside me, share my pillow.
"Is that it?"
"Of course. I'll never give up on you, my lord."
"Because you love me?"
"Yes."
I'd held back long enough. Without thinking, I kissed Daniela. Long, so very long. When we finally broke for air, we clung to each other.
"Your Grace! We're ready to depart!"
"Uh, y-yeah. Good."
The carriage slowly rolled forward.
"Daniela."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Not 'Crown Prince Highness.' Just the Crown Prince."
"Jealous, are we?"
"...He's beneath me."
Some things had to be said.