IHDOE Ch 96

The dark green handkerchief was standard issue for imperial palace knights. Though unremarkable, the cloth inexplicably grated on Lexion's nerves.

Grand Duchess Duskel greeted Satina with a warm smile just as Lexion was about to speak.

[Dc. Duskel] "Welcome, Lady Satina. It has been a while since you last met His Highness, hasn't it?"

She seated Satina right beside Lexion and beamed approvingly at the pair.

[Dc. Duskel] "Though betrothed, you two have kept your distance far too long. Seeing you together like this, you make a splendid match."

Satina instantly understood why Lexion was sitting there.

So Grand Duchess Duskel engineered this.

The Grand Duchess had summoned her today to request a favor and provide a recommendation letter in return. Yet she had gone a step further, summoning Lexion to curry Satina's favor.

In the past, Satina had been hopelessly devoted to Lexion, desperate for even a passing glance. The Grand Duchess assumed arranging such a meeting would leave her overjoyed.

Now, it's the exact opposite.

Far from delighted, Satina didn't even want to glance in his direction. Lexion seemed to feel the same way, his expression grim ever since she arrived. Grand Duchess Duskel was the only one enjoying the gathering.

A maid approached the Grand Duchess.

[Maid] "Your Grace, a maid sent by Her Imperial Majesty the Empress has arrived."

[Dc. Duskel] "Oh, is that so? My apologies, Your Highness. I must excuse myself for a moment."

She departed with her maid under a transparent pretext to give them privacy. Before long, only Satina and Lexion remained in the garden.

Fearing he might jump to arrogant assumptions, she spoke first.

[Satina] "This was Her Grace's doing. I never asked to meet you."

Lexion set his teacup down with a sharp clatter, the rough gesture laying bare his foul mood.

[Satina] "You should have accepted when I asked to annul our engagement. Then we wouldn't be entangled like this."

Indeed, looking back, it was entirely his fault. Had he agreed to break the betrothal immediately, she wouldn't have been forced to toil for recommendation letters, nor would they be sitting together right now.

[Satina] "I even offered to send the official annulment papers in my family's name. Why did you refuse?"

Her anger flared as she spoke. Only then did Lexion break his silence.

[Lexion] "Ah, that was certainly surprising. Even with Duke Bersabet missing, I never expected Sharlan to consent to it. What trick did you use?"

[Satina] "Does that matter? You were sick of me anyway. If sitting beside me revolts you this much, wouldn't an annulment be better?"

[Lexion] "We still have to marry."

[Satina] "Marry someone else. If you asked to reconcile right now, Coraline would gladly take you back."

[Lexion] "Not her."

[Satina] "Why not?"

[Lexion] "Is it not obvious how tiresome she would be once married?"

[Satina] "Then do you actually want to marry me?"

[Lexion] "Does that matter?"

[Satina] "You don't love me anyway, so why are you trying to marry me?"

He replied nonchalantly, stating it as though it were as self-evident as the sun rising in the sky.

[Lexion] "Because you love me."

Satina was left utterly speechless by his audacity. True, she had acted like a fool in the past, making a spectacle of herself out of devotion, but this was absurd.

I shouldn't hit the Crown Prince, right?

She stifled her fury with great effort and spoke.

[Satina] "Ah, right. Well, I don't love you anymore either, so let me go."

[Lexion] "And what will you do once we part ways?"

[Satina] "We'll be strangers then, so why does that matter?"

He leaned toward Satina and stared down at her hand.

[Lexion] "Are you trying to meet another man? For instance..."

He seized her wrist and pulled it closer to his face. At close range, his suspicion solidified. Faintly beneath the metallic scent of blood lingered a man's cologne and distinct body heat.

[Lexion] "...the owner of this handkerchief, perhaps?"

When Lexion had seen Satina at Marchioness Riermont's party earlier, he had dismissed the idea of her seeing another man as preposterous. Yet as he stared at the handkerchief bound around her hand now, Tyron's past words flashed through his mind.

[Tyron] "She might have someone she likes."

Certainly...

Lexion slowly scrutinized her face. Objectively speaking, Satina was stunning, with fair skin and soft, delicate lips reminiscent of summer rose petals.

Her relationship with Sharlan, currently acting as head of the family, seemed amiable, and her recent quiet demeanor had significantly improved her public reputation. Whatever her past standing, she was now a highly desirable candidate on the marriage market.

And she knows it.

That was why she could cast aside her past tears and pleas for his affection, demanding an annulment with a cold, rigid expression. It irked him inexplicably.

Unaware of Lexion's inner thoughts, Satina wondered what nonsense he was spouting now.

[Satina] "What kind of non—"

Just as she was about to dismiss his absurd claim, an epiphany struck her. While she had no idea why Lexion assumed she had another man, he clearly didn't know the handkerchief belonged to Tyron.

What if I exploit this misunderstanding to make him think I'm having an affair?

That would put an end to his nonsensical claim that she still loved him.

Satina made a swift decision. She softened her posture and spoke in a sweet, tender tone as if describing a token from a cherished lover.

[Satina] "You caught me. How did you know I was seeing him?"

[Lexion] "Ha."

[Satina] "We're still just getting to know each other with fond feelings, but I'm far happier than when I'm with you. He cherishes me deeply."

[Lexion] "Did you not once claim that seeing another person while betrothed was the pinnacle of shamelessness?"

[Satina] "I've seen you kissing other women in front of me more than once or twice. I assumed you preferred an open relationship."

She continued with a bright smile.

[Satina] "So I would appreciate it if you annulled our engagement quickly so I can see him openly."

Lexion's gaze grew distinctly sharper.

[Satina] "Even if you refuse to annul our betrothal, I will continue seeing him. He promised to love me even if I become your wife."

[Lexion] "..."

[Satina] "If my behavior displeases you, just break the engagement."

[Lexion] "...Who is he?"

[Satina] "Why on earth would I tell you that?"

[Lexion] "Speak."

He tightened his grip on her wrist. Pain flared, yet Satina remained nonchalant.

[Satina] "Knowing what you might do to him? No, thank you."

[Lexion] "Do you think I can't find him?"

[Satina] "Believe whatever you like."

[Lexion] "Right. You had better hide him well."

He pressed his thumb directly into the scrape on her palm, tearing open the partially clotted wound so blood seeped through the handkerchief.

[Lexion] "It should prove quite entertaining to see what becomes of anyone who touches imperial property."

He released her wrist.

Just as the air between them turned icy, the Grand Duchess returned.

[Dc. Duskel] "Have you two been enjoying your chat..."

Lexion interrupted before the Grand Duchess could finish and rose to his feet. He glared at Satina once before storming out of the garden. His hostility was so intense that even the Grand Duchess didn't dare stop him.

The moment Lexion exited the garden, he issued an order to his waiting chief chamberlain.

[Lexion] "Find a man for me. He belongs to the Imperial Guard."

No matter how carefully Satina tried to hide him, no one could evade the imperial intelligence network. It was irritating enough when someone tried to snatch an item before he had even discarded it. It was far more revolting when that item was a creature that had clung to his side, gazing solely at him for so long.

If another man had seduced Satina, he would pay dearly for tampering with what belonged to Lexion.

---

The Grand Duchess appeared flustered as Lexion abruptly departed without a proper farewell. She knew full well he harbored little affection for Satina, but she had not expected him to fly into such a rage after merely ten minutes together.

[Dc. Duskel] "Ahem. Well, His Highness is always a busy man."

[Satina] "Indeed."

[Dc. Duskel] "In any case, I called you today because I have a favor to ask, Lady Satina. Truthfully, my family could resolve it easily, but considering you may become a fellow member of the imperial family in the future, I am placing my trust in you."

She let out a heavy sigh, as if the mere thought gave her a headache.

[Dc. Duskel] "Of course, this matter must remain strictly confidential. If resolved cleanly, I will write you whatever recommendation letter you desire. But should anyone else discover this, you must be prepared for the consequences."

[Satina] "I understand."

Still anxious, she extracted multiple promises of secrecy from Satina before finally broaching the topic.

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