CULBE 14
Chapter 14
The Grand Duchy of Luxen
In the heart of Kalchev, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxen, stood the Grand Duke’s estate.
Early that morning, the young Grand Duchess, who was cherished above all by the Grand Duke, came thundering down the stairs and flung herself into her grandfather’s arms.
If Adelind had had horns, even the mighty Grand Duke—one of the greatest magic swordsmen alive—would have been knocked flat onto his back.
Fortunately, nothing protruded from Adelind Lux’s head.
The Grand Duke simply scooped up his only granddaughter as though she were still a little child.
“Hey! Put me down!”
Chuckling, the Grand Duke spun Adelind around once before gently setting her back on the floor.
As she dusted off her skirt, he pinched her little nose and shook it lightly.
“You little rascal. Didn’t I tell you to be careful on the stairs?”
“Oh, come on! I’m your granddaughter. There’s no way I’d fall down a staircase.”
“You say that as though you’ve never tumbled down one before. That’s a shameless answer worthy of my granddaughter.”
“That was when I was little!”
Fourteen-year-old Adelind puffed herself up as though she were already a grown woman.
It wasn’t until she’d finished an entire cup of tea that she realized she’d been completely swept into her grandfather’s pace.
“Oh, right! I heard something absolutely unbelievable today.”
“Hmm? And what was this unbelievable news?”
The Grand Duke deliberately stretched out the question.
Truthfully, there was something weighing on his conscience.
“They said Damian is getting engaged?”
…So she’d already heard.
The Grand Duke narrowed his eyes inwardly.
How did that news reach Adelind so quickly?
His thoughts immediately turned toward her maids.
Where did someone fail to keep their mouth shut?
Completely oblivious to his suspicions, Adelind stamped her feet.
“And it’s to Tiss!”
“Yes. So that’s why you came running over this early in the morning?”
“How could everyone discuss something this important and leave only me out?!”
She stomped around like an indignant rhinoceros.
It was rather intimidating.
Fortunately, the Grand Duke knew exactly how to handle his precious granddaughter.
“My dear Adel… Surely you’re not suggesting your opinion ought to determine Damian’s marriage?”
Adelind pressed her lips together.
“And if we’re talking about Thislin’s marriage, then you have even less say in the matter. This engagement was arranged between me, as Damian’s guardian and teacher, and Count and Countess Hermiz, as Thislin’s parents.”
“…There’s no way Grandpa would have ignored Damian’s opinion and arranged everything himself.”
“Of course not.”
The Grand Duke smiled.
“But regardless, Damian and Thislin’s engagement has nothing to do with your wishes.”
Damian.
Thislin.
Adelind pictured the two people closest to her.
They had practically raised her together like an older brother and older sister.
Yet she’d never once imagined the two of them getting married.
Those two… engaged?
Tilting her head in confusion, something suddenly occurred to her.
She glared at the Grand Duke.
“But even after it was decided, you still didn’t tell me!”
That was true.
The Grand Duke smiled knowingly.
Why else?
He’d wanted to avoid exactly this reaction.
Adelind Lux was still young.
She wasn’t yet capable of keeping her emotions under control.
“They won’t be back until school vacation anyway. There was still plenty of time to tell you beforehand.”
He coughed lightly.
“I’ve simply been busy lately… and forgot.”
“…No.”
What do you mean, no?
Before he could ask, Adelind declared resolutely,
“I’ll go myself! They’re both in Viera anyway. I’ll just visit them!”
“And what exactly do you intend to accomplish there?”
The Grand Duke’s voice turned stern.
“Surely you’re not planning to undo an engagement that’s already been finalized?”
Adelind didn’t listen at all.
The Grand Duke had never once truly scolded his only granddaughter.
Especially not after she’d lost both her parents.
The fact that Adelind Lux had grown into such a bright and healthy girl despite that was nothing short of a miracle.
“This is something huge! I have to see them in person.”
She crossed her arms.
“I’ll stay inside the estate the entire time like I do during vacations. You don’t have to worry.”
“Adelind!”
“I’m going!”
Shouting at the top of her lungs, she stormed out of his office.
The Grand Duke buried his face in one hand and sighed.
He didn’t think he’d be able to win against his granddaughter’s stubbornness.
If one were to rank the authority within the Grand Duke’s residence—
Armart Lux, ruler of the Grand Duchy and one of the greatest magic swordsmen in the history of Luxen and Cashedi-Manorca…
ranked below his fourteen-year-old granddaughter.
Three days later…
Adelind Lux achieved complete victory.
“Yay!”
The Grand Duke sighed.
“You are absolutely not to wander anywhere else.”
“You are not to leave the estate.”
“And even after meeting Damian and Thislin, you are not to convince them to go sightseeing with you.”
“What if Damian comes with me?”
“No.”
His answer was immediate.
“Viera is not Kalchev. Even if Damian is with you, danger can come from anywhere and in any form.”
Wouldn’t staying inside the estate still be dangerous?
Adelind thought so.
Wisely, she kept that question to herself.
If she argued now, the permission she’d fought so hard to obtain might disappear.
“Don’t worry. It’s not like it’s my first time there.”
“You’ll meet Damian and Thislin, then come straight back. Understood?”
She pouted.
The Grand Duke remained firm.
No one knew better than he did how many dangers had surrounded Adelind after she’d lost her parents.
Open attacks.
Hidden conspiracies.
How many unseen hands had reached for his granddaughter beyond his sight?
That was why he obsessed over her safety.
Even knowing she felt suffocated.
Being resented by her…
was far preferable to losing her forever.
“Grandpa…”
Adelind hesitated.
“Did Damian really say he wanted to marry Tiss? Himself?”
“…That’s not something I can answer for you.”
The Grand Duke smiled faintly.
“Ask him yourself.”
“But it’s just… strange.”
The Damian Krasanov and Thislin Hermiz she remembered had never looked at each other.
Their attention had always been focused on her.
So imagining them building a relationship that didn’t revolve around Adelind…
felt strangely wrong.
“They’re mine.”
“Adel.”
The Grand Duke called her name sharply.
“…Ah.”
She quickly shut her mouth.
When she looked up at him with sparkling eyes and an innocent smile, he could only sigh.
“What am I ever going to do with you?”
“Adel… always be careful with your words.”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
“Travel safely.”
Just as Adelind was about to climb into her carriage—
A young noblewoman in a deep navy-blue gown approached from the distance, accompanied by several servants.
She was dressed as extravagantly as a peacock.
Adelind’s eyes, so much like her grandfather’s, narrowed as though sizing up prey.
Countess Sella Fraune.
Once, she had been the embodiment of Adelind’s fears.
Now…
she was nothing.
Wasn’t she forbidden from entering the court?
Since the Grand Duke said nothing, Adelind wisely remained silent as well.
Did Grandpa allow this trip just to keep me from noticing she’s here?
She could interrogate him after returning.
“Your Grace, it has been a long time.”
The countess smiled elegantly.
“Lady Adelind, are you heading somewhere?”
“‘Your Highness, the Grand Duchess,'”
Adelind corrected coldly.
“How dare you.”
Countess Fraune’s picture-perfect smile stiffened.
But the instant she met the Grand Duke’s gaze, it became perfectly graceful again.
“The Grand Duchess is at an age where titles are naturally important.”
She bowed slightly.
“My apologies.”
Adelind’s icy gaze swept over both the countess and the servants accompanying her.
She looked entirely too comfortable here.
Almost as though she still belonged.
“You still think you’re related to the Grand Ducal family—!”
“Adelind.”
The Grand Duke placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
Though her brows twisted in irritation, she held her tongue.
No one understood better than Adelind that her own authority ultimately came from the Grand Duke.
She couldn’t undermine his dignity in front of outsiders.
Just as the matter seemed settled—
Countess Fraune spoke again.
“Are the two of you enjoying a rare outing together, Grand Duke?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“I’ve asked another inappropriate question.”
She bowed deeply.
“I shall take my leave so as not to trouble Your Grace any further.”
“Until next time.”
After curtsying respectfully before both the Grand Duke and Adelind, Sella Fraune departed with her attendants.
Adelind glared after her as though she wanted to run her through with a sword.
“Adelind.”
The Grand Duke spoke quietly.
“You’re not telling me to be polite to her, are you?”
“The people responsible for what happened back then were Marquis and Marchioness Selbot.”
He sighed.
“Would it really be right to humiliate Countess Fraune simply because she’s their relative?”
“But—!”
Adelind spun around angrily.
Marquis Marcion Lux of Selbot was the Grand Duke’s nephew.
His wife, Harta, was Adelind’s aunt by marriage.
When Adelind’s mother, Grand Duchess Asillis, was still alive, they had been nothing more than a minor branch of the ducal family.
But after Asillis died—
leaving behind only young Adelind—
they began coveting the Grand Duke’s throne.
Or perhaps…
they’d desired it long before then.
The Grand Duke had no other children.
Their ambitions were hardly unrealistic.
If only Adelind disappeared.
There was no need to explain just how much of an obstacle the little girl had been to them.
And then…
Six years earlier.
They attempted to poison Adelind.
They failed.
And they were executed.
