[Chapter 187] The Person Who Fits with Megara

Marriage did not require the Emperor's permission, and the Emperor and Empress showed little interest in the newlyweds themselves. The Duke and Duchess were simply there to perform the formalities of greeting.

So, after exchanging a few brief words, they had completed their official duties in the palace.

"I heard there was a misunderstanding between you and Adrian. It's a matter among the high nobility, so the rest can be discussed in the noble council."

Neris's long-standing murder allegations were almost stripped away by the Emperor's words.

The nobles did not want to miss the Duke and Duchess. Wasn't that Duke someone who rarely came out of his own land? Moreover, the Duchess had many intriguing aspects.

It would be beneficial to engage in conversation and get acquainted. As the Duke and Duchess headed towards the entrance of the hall, people subtly crowded around them.

However, the royal etiquette of not speaking casually to those of higher rank hindered the nobles. How should they approach them? Should they bow down before them?

Just as various thoughts were about to be put into action, Neris stopped in her tracks.

"Oh my."

The first person to pretend not to know the new Duchess privately in the palace. People's eyes widened to see who it was.

It wasn't hard to figure out. The person who made eye contact with the Duchess was a lady who was already receiving attention in the palace.

"Your Highness."

With glossy smooth honey blonde hair and sweet purple irises like pansies, Megara Lycandros smiled gently and bowed.

Coincidentally, both of them had hair and eye colors that were noble in the empire. Bright golden hair was a beautiful trait that came from a noble lineage, but the purple eyes added to it.

Unlike the Duchess who was famous at the academy, everyone present had seen Megara since she was young. Perhaps wondering why she was so doll-like pretty, or how she looked so aristocratic... Everyone praised Megara to no end.

However, with the two of them standing together, it was inevitable that Megara seemed lacking in some way. Her hair appeared closer to common brown, and her eyes looked more like blue.

It was unfortunate. The Duchess's extremely bright platinum blonde hair was so rare that it was almost nonexistent even in the palace. It was only natural that her own appearance was lacking.

If it weren't for the Duchess, Megara would have undoubtedly showcased her 'very noble lineage' flawlessly. The problem lay in the comparison.

In appearance, Megara was more dazzling. Truly a beauty that anyone could have seen in their dreams. However, perhaps due to her young age, she seemed fresh and had a hint of youthful exuberance. She had not yet developed the heavy dignity close to nobility like the Duchess.

It wasn't Megara's fault. It was strange that the Duchess, who had perfectly mastered her emotions at a young age, was the one being compared.

However, onlookers unknowingly felt the image they had of Megara as a perfect lady, akin to an angel, was starting to twist.

Megara was sensitive to the gazes of those around her. She was feeling uneasy.

That's why she didn't want to see Neris today. How dare she, Neris Trued, dare to become the Duchess by marrying the Duke?

A future Duchess, of course, even higher in status than a Duchess. Moreover, even if Colin were to become a Marquis instead of his brother someday, the highest position Megara could aspire to would be a Marquise at best.

Of course, a Marquise was an absolute authority figure even among ordinary nobles, but to Megara at the moment, she felt insignificant.

That meant living a life where one couldn't even speak to Neris, Megara, without permission, and had to bow and step back when Neris appeared.

Pretending to know her first, Neris remained silent for a long time even in response to Megara's polite greeting. Instead, her gaze slid over to Colin Ganielo, who was standing beside Megara.

"Lord Ganielo."

Although they were not yet engaged, Colin stood confidently as if he were already Megara's husband.

Just a while ago, he seemed indifferent to the idea of a lower noble becoming a Duchess and speaking to him like this. However, he responded politely for the time being.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Long time no see. Getting engaged to Megara?"

"Yes. It's happening soon."

"Congratulations. It's a happy occasion to be with someone who suits you."

Colin simply nodded, considering the Duchess boasting about marrying a Duke despite his low status. However, Megara's expression hardened.

So, I'm supposed to be with the Duke, but I'm more suited to the Marquis's second son?

It could be an exaggerated interpretation. However, Megara's instinct was screaming that Neris had precisely meant that insulting implication.

"Thank you."

It was because Colin's insincere gratitude was about to make her burst.

As if the business was done, Megara coldly watched Neris leave the hall gracefully.

The Duke had already been cool towards Megara before. Moreover, he was a man who was difficult to read.

So, strange beings like that can be taken by Neris.

But if Megara thought she couldn't rise above that, it was Neris's misconception.

❖ ❖ ❖

"Do you think Megara Lycandros will not marry Colin Ganielo?"

Having greeted the Emperor and Empress, the pretense of fulfilling the duties as a noble was over. However, since they had decided to visit the noble council today, Cledwin and Neris did not leave the palace immediately.

Cledwin asked in a low voice, facing one of the palace libraries where the nobles usually gathered.

Neris replied calmly.

"Did I sound like that?"

"Your expression seemed so. As if you think the two don't match."

"You read my expression well."

"It's my wife's expression. I see it best, who else would see it well?"

With that, Cledwin winked.

Spring had suddenly arrived in the palace gardens as well. The sunlight filtering through the flower buds and their fluff shone like a backdrop to Cledwin's smile.

Feeling embarrassed, Neris turned her gaze away and said,

"Megara is pretty, smart, and her family is decent enough. It's a waste to marry someone like Colin."

"She could become a Marquise later, couldn't she?"

"Colin's brother won't just die easily. How much money do you think Marquis Ganielo spends to keep his son alive?"

"Of course, he won't die easily. But people don't always die just because they're in pain."

"Colin might use his brother against him? It would be difficult. Colin pretends to be smart but is actually a fool who can't handle things properly. The Marquis has raised his son that way. To prevent him from coveting his brother's position."

Megara immediately understood Neris's meaning earlier, but Colin was dumbfounded, lost in thought. He seemed to be floating on air at the thought of being engaged to the social circle's most beautiful woman.

"Interesting analysis, but I don't like calling Colin by that name. It's another man's name."

Cledwin occasionally made such irrelevant remarks. It was fortunate if he only babbled, but adding a pitiful sigh made it sting. Neris rolled her eyes.

Thankfully, Cledwin's attitude towards her remained the same even after the events of last night.

"So, what should I say? Lord Ganielo? It's confusing. Colin's brother is also Lord Ganielo."

"Can't I just call him that guy?"

Another mischievous smile. Neris knew that he could never truly be 'pitiful' with such quick changes in expression, but she let it slide again.

"Let's go with that when it's distinguishable."

"Thank you."

He quickly took her hand, playfully kissed her palm, and lightly brushed his cheek against it. There were passersby, though not entirely absent.

The passing middle-aged maidservants averted their eyes awkwardly.

"Don't do this in front of people. We're almost there, so behave appropriately."

"People shouldn't know that I get along well with my wife."

Grumbling, he released her hand as Neris desired. Then, he politely linked arms with her, assuming an escorting posture.

At the end of the grand corridor, a library with wide-open doors appeared. As they approached, the middle-aged man who had extended his face from the library brightened slightly upon seeing Cledwin.

"Duke, aren't you?"

"Marquis Ganielo."

Initiating the conversation with Cledwin first was likely a calculated move to assert his authority at his age, but Marquis Ganielo held a position where he could afford such adventures. He was a vassal lord, but he also held the status of a foreign royal.

Following Elendria and Grunehalz, Marquis Ganielo occupied one of the positions among the Empire's three major marquisates. Satisfied with Cledwin's acknowledgment, he nodded approvingly.

"I heard you've arrived. Are you on your way to see the Empress?"

"That's right."

"This person..."

Although he knew all about it, the Marquis looked at Neris as if she were unfamiliar.

"My lord, this is Marquis Ganielo. Haven't you met? Marquis, this is my wife."

"Pleased to meet you."

They met at the right moment. Neris gracefully greeted him.

The Marquis was quite familiar with Neris. Being in a position where he could hear more than just common rumors, he bowed to Neris with a gentle face but revealed a sharp and shrewd gaze.

"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Grace. Is this your first time at the noble council?"

"That's correct. I've heard that if you don't look after me, you won't even get a snack at the noble council. I'm counting on you."

Neris mentioned this because Marquis Ganielo was in charge of the finances of the noble council.

Even the Duke was aware of the structure of the noble council and the roles of key figures. So, he might have instructed him to speak to his wife in this manner.

Her speech maintained a perfect balance between familiarity, as if she were addressing a relative, and the utmost refinement revered in the highest social circles. Her voice, neither too loud nor too soft, and the finely restrained pride commonly displayed by the aristocracy.

Moreover, her impeccable pronunciation, reflecting the precise social etiquette tastes instilled in her since a very young age, was truly impressive.

Such refinement cannot be imitated with a brief education. Marquis Ganielo burst into laughter with a much more intimate demeanor than before. It was a sense of camaraderie within the same class.

"Haha! Even if the noble council is poor, they dare not offer a single snack to the Duchess. Come on in."

It meant that she was fully accepted by the nobility despite her background. Neris and Cledwin followed the Marquis's guidance and entered the library.

The old library, adorned with heavy colors, was a small space where up to twenty people could sit, even if chairs were brought in as much as possible. However, the atmosphere was intense enough that if an assassin were to enter, the mere presence of any of them could paralyze the empire's administration.

Although they appeared to be middle-aged individuals chatting casually with vague eyes, and indeed they were, the only ones allowed to sit in this place were some of the highest-ranking nobles in the empire.

As the Duchess, guided by Marquis Ganielo, entered, the nobles who were already inside looked at her strangely. However, they soon sensed the familiarity in her demeanor, just as the Marquis had mentioned, the innermost circle of the social elite.

Although no one openly mentioned it, they were aware that the decision regarding the Duchess's murder allegations, which had been transferred from the imperial court to the noble council, had arrived.

And indeed, although no one openly mentioned it, they silently agreed that there was no need to dwell on forced allegations.

Perhaps by tonight, a notification would arrive at the Duke's residence stating that the allegations had been completely cleared. Neris, who had faced these very individuals in her previous life and had grown tired of seeing their faces, skillfully sensed this fact.

The task was done. Neris left the corner of the library, where she had been left to converse with the Grunehalz Duke, who casually inquired about the price at which Cledwin would sell Maindlandt's goods.

As she counted the titles of the books on the shelves in the library, as she suspected, Marquis Ganielo approached her.

"Are you bored, Your Highness?"