The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 88: The Distance Between (IX)

“All the remnants of black magic in the Imperial Palace have been cleaned up.”

The majority were people who did not know how to use black magic.

Most of them were just bought off for information.

That’s why it wasn’t even noticeable.

“As the two of you said, they were planted even in unexpected places.”

If the information had not been obtained through Marquis Lateran, proper ousting would not have been able to start.

“They may try to bribe again when we refill the staff we have lost due to this.”

Heinricion mentioned the danger ahead.

“I guess so. So we have to be careful so that the same thing never happens again.”

The emperor was already working on it.

By dividing the work in detail, he made it difficult for each person to know information other than what he himself was doing, and also, he ensured that traces were left through the process whenever information on different tasks was needed.

Of course, he had guards stationed everywhere to monitor any potential secret transactions.

“I won’t move recklessly for a while. I plan to organize it before then.”

The emperor tried to reassure Eristella as much as possible, but in all honesty, she wasn’t too worried.

“Now that my health has recovered to some extent, I’m thinking of holding a banquet.”

A show to announce that the emperor was alive and well was absolutely necessary, even if it was a lie.

“It’s necessary. You better do it quickly.”

Strangely, however, throughout the conversation, the emperor’s gaze did not fall away from Heinricion.

“Grand Duke Adelasia. I heard there are a lot of people looking for you these days.”

For some reason, the corner of the emperor’s mouth twitched. Heinricion frowned the moment he realized the emperor’s meaning.

“Have you recently been proposed to?”

A meaningful smile appeared on the emperor’s face. As if he had been itching to say this.

However, it was Eristella who responded first to the emperor’s question.

“How did Brother know that?”

Eristella wondered out loud. She thought it must be such a hot topic in social circles that even the emperor cared about it.

“I couldn’t not know. Recently, the marriage proposals to the Grand Duke of Adelasia has been the biggest topic of conversation. Besides, there were people who sneakily asked me about it.”

Apparently, there were people trying to figure out the emperor’s intentions, since the Grand Duke of Adelasia was linked to the princess.

“That’s right. A marriage proposal came, and from that, more came one after another as if it had been planned. I think they’re all piled up on Cion’s desk right now?”

Eristella nodded to herself, inwardly admiring what had been happening to Heinricion lately.

“The Grand Duke of Adelasia is a marriage partner everyone would want. Besides, he stood out even more thanks to the recent black magic incidents. It’s only natural that everyone covets the empty grand duchess seat.”

The emperor praised Heinricion and directed his words towards him.

“Grand Duke. Since the imperial family is going to host a banquet soon, how about meeting the people who proposed to you then?”

If it’s a banquet, they could naturally meet in a way that was not burdensome to the each other.

It was a trick the emperor came up with because Heinricion wouldn’t move otherwise.

“Thank you for the thought, but I’m fine.”

Heinricion politely declined.

“I’ll step up and show my support, you won’t need to be conscious of the imperial family.”

Therefore, it meant that he should not refuse and meet the ladies well at this banquet.

While sticking to a considerate attitude, the emperor has been discreetly pressuring Heinricion.

It was a time when a subtle war of nerves flowed between Heinricion and the emperor.

Heinricion’s mouth, which had been frozen, slowly opened.

“Since you care so much, I’ll consider it.”

‘…Huh?’

With a bewildered face, Eristella stared at Heinricion the entire journey back from the Imperial Palace to the Grand Duchy of Adelasia.

‘What is he thinking?’

Eristella knew that Heinricion would show great resistance to the emperor’s idea. So, she was thinking of intervening after observing the situation.

However, Heinricion accepted immediately after the refusal as if he had waited out of courtesy.

‘Are you looking forward to it…?’

Badump, badump—

A change began to take place in the inside of Aristellar, who had been watching with interest rather than being shaken even after reading numerous marriage proposals.

*******

Eristella was curious about Heinricion’s thoughts, but it was ambiguous to ask.

Did he just say yes because he couldn’t refuse the emperor’s favor?

The possibility was high, but the Heinricion that Eristella knew was not someone who would lie to avoid an immediate situation.

However, the moment they reached the grand ducal mansion, Heinricion summoned Rowen and Serian to explain the current situation. It was like he was sincere in what he said to the emperor.

‘Are you serious?’

Eristella’s heart felt like it was sinking.

On the other hand, the people of the Grand Duchy of Adelasia welcomed Heinricion’s decision.

“Good idea. Once you get to know them, you might think differently.”

Rowen, in particular, was beaming.

The fox reflexively glared at Rowen sullenly.

“I should pay attention to this banquet.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to have a specially tailored tailcoat?”

Serian posed the question with shining eyes like he had been waiting.

It was a golden opportunity for Serian, who always regretted that he couldn’t create a brilliant work because Heinricion always insisted on sticking to the basic tailcoat.

“That would be nice.”

“This is an opportunity that has come after a long time. Ahahaha!”

Excitement was evident on Serian’s face. He was estatic at the thought of using his skills on Heinricion’s tailcoat.

“Making Your Excellency’s tailcoat will be fun, but I’m a bit disappointed.”

Serian hummed happily and muttered as if talking to himself.

“What are you sorry about?”

“It’s not that the other ladies are lacking, but there’s no way a visual match as wonderful as Her Highness the Princess will appear.”

While living in the grand ducal mansion, Eristella learned quite a bit about its employees. And the most unexpected person was Serian.

As a fashion designer, he had a great sense of aesthetics, but it was so excessive that all his standards were governed by beauty.

He was in favor of the princess because the sight of Heinricion and Eristella standing side by side was dazzling.

“But it can’t be helped because she’s not here anymore…”

With a tinge of sadness in his voice, Serian moved to work on the tailcoat.

He took out paper for sketching and pulled out all the sketches of the tailcoats he had made for Heinricion in the past. Every stroke of the pencil was filled with resolve.

The servants of the Grand Duchy of Adelasia were united in their determination not to waste this opportunity and were fully arranging for the upcoming imperial banquet.

Unlike before, Heinricion prepared for the banquet with great care.

He checked all the marriage proposals that he hadn’t even bothered to look at before, and also looked into the young ladies separately.

The fox’s heart hammered as it watched him.

‘If Heinricion meets a good partner this time and decides to marry… What should I do?’

—Heinricion. I’m all for the idea that you meet a good person. So think carefully.

‘Should I say this?’

A deep wrinkle formed between the animal’s fluffy forehead. Somehow, it didn’t like it.

It was at the time when the fox’s face became more and more grumpy.

Rowen was reporting about the banquet to Heinricion.

“The Imperial Palace sent me a list of attendees for this banquet. I think it means that Your Excellency should know and refer to it in advance.”

It seemed that the emperor was determined to show proper consideration to Heinricion.

‘Brother, why are you doing this?’ Eristella grumbled inwardly and brought her eyes to the list that Heinricion had spread out.

A variety of families would be attending, from the most famous families in the empire to the royal families of foreign countries.

The fact that so many people attended a simple banquet that was not even a national event meant that their purpose was Heinricion.

‘Their’ didn’t just include the families that officially sent marriage proposals, but also families that haven’t sent them yet. They wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity.

It was while Eristella was looking at the list very carefully, with her eyes narrowed, and with the will to engrave each one in her head.

“This is not the list of families that sent a marriage proposal, but it’s a summary of the prominent people among the attendees of this banquet. Among them, Viscount Diaclen has been attracting a lot of attention lately.”

“Viscount Diaclen. Just like in the last donation event, his actions these days are attracting attention.”

Rowen continued, presenting a report on Viscount Diaclen.

“In addition, he is playing a central role in the recent upstarts. Although he is from an unremarkable place, he is expanding his business at a rapid pace, bearing skills that are said to be uncommon.”

Thinking back to the donation meeting, yes, indeed. Even prestigious families approached and greeted him first.

“It’s showing remarkable growth to the extent that there’s word that it will probably become a different family in a while.”

“I guess so. If there are no problems.”

These significant words were muttered as Heinricion checked the report on Viscount Diaclen.

“What else? Is there anything else I should look at?”

Heinricion naturally asked, thinking that the report regarding the banquet was over.

“I’m not done reporting.”

But as though it should have been obvious, Rowen continued to speak, listing the families which had sent him marriage proposals.

Ame: It’s raining proposals kekekekekek