“Your Lordship. I have Master Hugo with me,” Ellen announced.
“Pardon me,” I said. Then, without waiting for a response from my father, I stepped into his office.
“I hope you understand what this means, Hugo. Our family’s fortunes are riding on your ability to sell yourself to the archduke.”
“I understand,” I answered, crouching down on one knee with my head bowed.
Ha-ha. There’s no way he could have predicted such a fortuitous turn of events, so why is he acting so pretentious?
“Good. Remember, today is merely a meeting between you and Archduke Woodstock’s esteemed granddaughter. The timing of your entry into their household, should it be approved, will be coordinated between His Grace and myself.”
“I understand.”
“Mm… Then get going.”
“Excuse me,” I said, offering him another courteous bow.
After that, I left the mansion and boarded the waiting carriage.
Despite the rumors about the Woodstock girl’s former suitors, only Ellen came to see me off. What more proof could I need that my family considered me a thorn in their side? Well… At least I needn’t feel any qualms about pushing ahead.
“Master Hugo!” Ellen called out. “When you leave to join House Woodstock, I’ll accompany you as your loyal retainer!”
“Ah-ha-ha… Yes, I see.”
My father clearly intended to keep an eye on me even after I was gone, to make sure I was able to take control of the archduke’s household.
“I’ll be off, then,” I said.
“Do take care.”
I instructed the coachman to head for Archduke Woodstock’s mansion at the center of the imperial capital. Even proceeding slowly, it would only take around thirty minutes for us to arrive.
“Ah-ha-ha…!”
I clenched my sweaty palms in my lap and let out a soft chuckle.
At long last, I’ve escaped House Grenville…!
All that remained was for me to make the archduke’s power my own and eliminate the marquis once and for all.
With that thought in mind, I stared out the window at my father’s estate until it faded from view.
“It’s great to see you, Hugo!”
As soon as I arrived at the archduke’s mansion, the man himself came out to greet me, grinning from ear to ear. Frankly, I was a little taken aback by this welcome.
“I—I’m honored you came to greet me in person.”
“Ha-ha! There’s no need to stand on formality, my boy! We’ll be family soon!” The archduke laughed heartily and patted me warmly on the back.
Wow… He’s acting way more relaxed than the last time I saw him…
“Well, I’m sure she’s anxious to meet you, so let’s be off,” he said.
“Yes, of course.”
The archduke led me into the mansion, then straight to the innermost chamber.
“Is this…?” I asked.
“Mm. Yes, this portal leads back to my main residence.”
Engraved into the floor in the center of the room was a magic circle around six meters in diameter. Four pedestals surrounded it, each topped with a magicite crystal the size of a human head.
How much does a magicite crystal that size cost…?
“Ha-ha. Surprised?” said the archduke.
“Y-yes… It’s incredible…”
“I see, I see.” The archduke gazed at me kindly. “Well, Hugo, my boy—if you join us, this will all be yours.”
…He spoke as if he could see right through me—or rather, through Marquis Grenville’s ambitions.
“Now then, stand in the middle of the circle,” he said.
“R-right.”
The stewards and maids standing around the room bowed reverently.
“Have a safe trip, Your Grace, Master Hugo.”
The next moment, the magic circle filled the room with a blinding light—and our surroundings were replaced with those of an entirely different residence.
“Welcome back, Your Grace. And Master Hugo—welcome.”
A different set of stewards and maids bowed their heads.
“Hmm… Is Mel keeping well?” the archduke asked the group.
“Yes, she is in good health,” a steward answered.
“Yes, yes. Good, good.” The archduke nodded.
“Excuse me, Your Grace… By ‘Mel,’ do you mean the lady I am to meet?”
Based on what I had just heard, I was 90 percent sure he was referring to her, but I had to make sure.
“Oh, your father didn’t tell you? Meltreza of Woodstock is my granddaughter.”
“I see… Please excuse my ignorance…”
“No, no. If no one told you, it’s only natural to ask.” The archduke laughed, brushing off my apology.
Though I wasn’t sure why, when I saw his friendly reaction, I couldn’t help averting my gaze.
“All right. It’s time for you to finally meet her, then,” the archduke said, leading me out of the room and up a long staircase farther into the mansion.
At long last…I was to meet his granddaughter, Lady Meltreza. Clenching my fists, I followed the archduke all the way to the mansion’s highest room.
“She’s in here,” he said.
The archduke’s gentle demeanor of a few minutes ago had completely dissipated, and his words came out sharp and intimidating.
Once I stepped inside, there would be no turning back. I would either join House Woodstock, or I would be erased.
That warning seemed to lurk beneath the archduke’s words.
I knew what I had to do.
“Then I will go introduce myself to the lady,” I said, relaxing my expression.
The archduke seemed puzzled for a moment, then his face suddenly brightened. “Bwah-ha-ha! Ah, yes, quite right! Enjoy yourself, then!” he said with a hearty laugh, slapping me on the back in amusement. Perhaps he had realized just how serious I was about this.
With one last nod to the archduke, I placed a hand on the door handle.
“Excuse me…,” I called out, stepping inside. “…?!”
The moment I opened the door and walked in, my breath caught in my throat.
The windows were tightly shuttered, plunging the room into a night-like darkness. The only illumination came from candelabras, set here and there throughout the space. In the center of this strange scene, a girl stood facing the wall, her back turned.
There could be no doubt—this was Lady Meltreza.
…She seems so mysterious…
Her long, jet-black hair fell all the way down to her waist, and her skin was so pale and white that I could make it out even in the sparse candlelight.
From her appearance alone, it was hard to believe anyone would call her a demon or a madwoman as the rumors implied, let alone a monster. If anything, she came across as fragile and delicate, like a piece of porcelain that might break at any moment.
“…I’m Hugo Grenville, Marquis Grenville’s eldest son,” I said in greeting, dropping down to one knee and bowing my head.