TSMMT Ch 70

Grand Duke Blake

The lineage of the House of Blake traced back two generations. Prince Blake, the younger brother of the former king, surrendered his personal order of knights to the sovereign of Lodbrog and chose a life of seclusion. The prince lived as a scholar rather than a blade-wielding warrior, wishing only for a peaceful existence. As a reward for his compliance, the title of Grand Duke descended upon the gentle brother.

Grand Duke Blake avoided central politics. Instead, the first Grand Duke wanted to grow flowers in a brutal kingdom of steel. The house desired to raise scholars and artists who held pens and read books.

Searching for a blueprint, the first Grand Duke studied the academy established by the King of Panborough and modeled Neust Academy after its system. The King of Lodbrog provided complete support for his younger brother's endeavors. To the monarch, potential rivals reading books posed far less threat than those wielding swords.

Graduates who mastered advanced culture began to lead the kingdom's high society. Grim households and clothing shifted to embrace aesthetics, while the rigid speech of the knights softened to a honeyed sweetness that charmed the people.

Everyone emerging from the academy was highly refined. Consequently, heirs to noble houses soon enrolled there as well. Under the guidance of Neust Academy, the Kingdom of Lodbrog transformed from a savage realm of blood into a cultured society. They were no longer barbarians.

Adelheit Blake. The young Grand Duke, currently twenty-seven years old, stood as the third-generation descendant of the ducal house. Seven years ago, at the age of twenty, he lost his father and inherited the title of Grand Duke.

Everything within the ducal house was built on love—a mother's warmth, a father's kindness, loyal vassals, and the academy they managed together. Everyone praised the young master, calling him Young Lord Adel. Yet an unspoken emptiness plagued Adelheit.

His only living relatives belonged to the royal family, yet the ducal house naturally avoided contact with royalty. Furthermore, to remain completely detached from succession struggles, the House of Blake chose noblewomen from foreign nations as grand duchesses, making interaction with maternal relatives virtually nonexistent.

He had no siblings either. Perhaps out of concern for succession, his father had been an only child, and Adelheit remained solitary too. He lived in a state of isolated boredom. Although loved by all, he was fundamentally alone. Knowing his complaints stood as an excessive luxury, he withdrew even further into his own world.

In that isolation, Dian appeared. The memory remained vivid. It happened when the hidden prince who slew the dragon, Guiscard Lodbrog, ascended the throne.

Guiscard was planning the conquest of Panborough. A woman covered in wounds arrived carrying a recommendation letter from Panborough royalty. Adelheit had previously crossed paths with Prince Philip of Panborough in the territory of Kilcos. Despite their brief acquaintance, the letter contained a desperate plea for shelter. Adelheit accepted Dianna Brienne.

Wounds covered her frame. Fearing dark rooms, Dianna lived with every lamp lit. The clanking sound of chains caused her to flinch in terror. When a servant accidentally dropped a silver candlestick during cleaning, she let out a piercing shriek.

Dianna dreaded the approach of any man and ate only tiny amounts of food. Adelheit easily deduced what horrors she had endured. As a lord, he had witnessed deeply broken victims before. For that reason, his vassals failed to comprehend the intense attention Adelheit showered upon the woman.

Yet he wished to observe Dianna from a closer vantage point. He approached her by slow degrees. To match her disguise, he dyed his striking silver hair brown, softened his footsteps, and avoided any large physical gestures that made his frame loom large.

Dian and Adel. Their relationship relied on mutual deception, yet to him, the bond offered an entirely sweet and novel experience. His whole mind focused on the woman—he bordered on complete madness. Both dyed their hair brown and addressed each other by false names. The dynamic was profoundly enchanting.

Eventually, Dianna began to wear clean clothes and tie her hair neatly. Though her emaciated frame remained a constant worry, she gradually looked healthier.

The moment her silver-gray eyes locked onto Adel and she offered a bright smile, a sudden wave of emotion washed over him. He recognized it as a petty sense of pride. Nevertheless, the realization that he could be useful to someone drove him to madness.

A few months later, the King issued a warrant for Dianna's arrest. Not only had Adelheit sheltered an individual recommended by the defeated Panborough royalty, but the woman was now actively hunted by the crown.

Grand Duke Blake was legally bound to demonstrate loyalty to the royal house. Several vassals insisted on surrendering Dianna immediately. Yet Adelheit chose the opposite path.

Was it because intense pity consumed him? Or was it for the woman who had only just begun to smile at the friend named Adel?

Adelheit lingered around Dianna, observing her. Though she occasionally grew sharp or displayed sheer terror toward her surroundings, she remained gentle and soft.

He considered Dianna. A deep affection soon outgrew friendship, until an uncontrollable love consumed his heart.

[Adel] "Bride?"

He narrowed his eyes. His violet gaze turned sharp and cold.

Dianna stared at Adel in sheer surprise. Because he usually behaved like an idle wanderer, she had never witnessed such intense gravity from him.

[Adel] "What is the meaning of this, Dian?"

He completely ignored Guiscard, focusing his entire attention on Dianna instead.

[Guiscard] "Dian?"

Guiscard muttered the false name. An intense wave of displeasure radiated from the King.

[Dianna] "Exactly what it sounds like."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Dianna] "I am marrying His Majesty."

As if hearing the most horrific joke, Adelheit's face contorted into a mocking scowl. He faced the sovereign standing before him and spoke.

[Adel] "Did you issue a kingdom-wide warrant for this lady's arrest merely to force this upon her?"

[Guiscard] "……."

[Adel] "This is a monstrous act."

Guiscard's eyes turned murderous. Dianna's body went perfectly rigid at the terrifying atmosphere. Adelheit's bright purple eyes tracked her fear.

[Guiscard] "This place doesn't serve as your front courtyard, Grand Duke."

[Adel] "Yet this nation happens to be my kingdom as well."

He spoke with a defiant edge. Guiscard locked eyes with the clear violet gaze of the Grand Duke. Adelheit offered a soft smile to Dianna.

[Adel] "I came to reclaim my employee."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Adel] "Dian, let us go home."

Home.

Dianna's lips parted at his words. Home—did a sanctuary like that even exist for a creature like her?

[Adel] "I have accumulated a vast collection of new books. I desperately need someone to organize them."

He spoke as if he would grant her that reality instantly if she only wished for it. Just then, Guiscard delivered a low growl.

[Guiscard] "Neust Academy deliberately harbored a fugitive hunted by the crown. Am I to interpret this insolence as open rebellion against the King?"

Dianna snapped back to reality at the terrifying charge.

A hunted fugitive? Me? And Adelheit hid me all this time?

This was an utter disaster. The House of Grand Duke Blake had survived only because they maintained a small military force relative to their vast wealth and consistently demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the crown.

[Dianna] "What are you talking about, Adel?"

[Adel] "……."

[Dianna] "I am not leaving."

She forced a smile, reaching back to grip the hand of the man standing behind her. Guiscard's massive, calloused hand pressed against hers.

[Dianna] "Where would I go when my wedding stands right before us?"

His fingers instantly tightened around hers. Dianna gestured a refusal as she locked eyes with Adelheit.

An open conflict between Adelheit Blake and Guiscard Lodbrog must never occur.

[Dianna] "We shall converse another time. Please return to your estate today."

She spoke firmly, pulling Guiscard's hand to lead him away. Contrary to her expectation that the rigid King would resist, he complied with her touch without resistance. She walked toward the main palace.

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[Guiscard] "Do you share an acquaintance with the Grand Duke?"

[Dianna] "Yes."

[Guiscard] "By what means?"

[Dianna] "I came to know him while executing my duties."

Dianna released his hand as sudden awareness struck her. Guiscard directed his gaze down toward his empty palm. Perhaps his fingers felt stiff, for he clenched his fist tightly before opening it again.

[Dianna] "Do you intend to punish him for treason?"

She questioned him in a trembling voice. Guiscard studied Dianna's pale features illuminated by the sunlight. She looked on the verge of collapsing at any second.

[Dianna] "If you must execute judgment, please punish me first."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Dianna] "He merely extended sympathy because my condition was wretched."

[Guiscard] "Wretched?"

Realizing her slip, she opened her eyes wide and quickly averted her gaze.

[Dianna] "I endured significant hardships while escaping my family estate, after all……"

His gaze darkened into a freezing chill.

As the atmosphere turned hostile, terror gripped her. She had witnessed Guiscard wield his blade ruthlessly multiple times. What would happen if he executed Adelheit as well? A cold shiver ran through her frame.

[Dianna] "Please, don't punish him. I beg of you, Your Majesty."

Guiscard stared intently at her face. After an absolute silence, his response finally came.

[Guiscard] "Of course, provided you never consider the academy your home, I shall forgo all charges."

[Dianna] "……."

Unable to restrain himself, he gripped her hand tightly and spoke.

[Guiscard] "You are my wife, and your only home must be this palace."

His face neared hers until their lips almost touched. Yet the only sensation brushing against her skin was the rush of his burning breath.

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