“I intend to keep the contract in a safe that no one can touch. I’m going to hide it in a place that only you and I know. We will bring out the contract again the day you and I end our relationship.”
Irene nodded at Noel’s words. The contract was to be kept in a secret safe hidden in the corner of Noel’s office.
“It’s a fault with five magic spells on it. Even if a powerful wizard comes, they will never solve it. You can set the password for it.”
Irene had a perplexed face upon hearing what he said. When she was told to set a password, she couldn’t think of anything. Then Irene, who had been struggling to wrack her brains and think of a password, cautiously said.
“The night of the ball. I think we could use that. The first day we met.”
“Okay.”
Noel and Irene set the code and then left Noel’s office and returned to Irene’s room. Before leaving Irene looked around the office with a curious glance. The room felt like Noel, simple, neat, and tidy.
Then, when they arrived in the room, Irene sat in the bed, the bed had a soft texture and subtle scent from fresh sheets. After that, Noel handed over tea to Irene. Irene liked the sweet aroma from the jasmine tea. Irene thanked him whilst smiling.
“Thank you.”
“Of course. Oh, and about the wedding announcement.”
“Ah, yes.”
Irene, who was enjoying the tea, stopped, and sat upright at his sudden words. Hearing ‘wedding’ felt more realistic to her than when she had written the contract before. Noel sat in a chair by the window. The sunlight that passed through the window fell on his silver hair.
“A banquet will be held here soon.”
“A banquet?”
Irene asked back curiously. She was surprised by the news of the sudden banquet. She had never heard of the Grand Duke of Kristen holding a banquet.
Unlike other families, not many people knew about the Kristen’s Grand Duke. Secrets inspired awe, and the Grand Duke’s people enjoyed that. That was why many Grand Duke’s people rejected and detested Noel, who was a discredit to their reputation.
“In a month, the Grand Duke of Kristen will celebrate the Kristen family’s 700th anniversary. We are going to make a wedding announcement there. Of course, all the leading figures in the empire are expected to gather at that event.”
“…”
Irene, who had thought that it would be a simple banquet, stopped drinking her tea.
“…What?”
Irene doubted her ears.
“700th anniversary banquet.”
Noel spoke in a clearer voice, as if to confirm the information. Apparently, Irene did not mishear that the 700th anniversary banquet was to be celebrated.
It doesn’t make sense.
Irene wanted to deny that fact.
“The scale was too big.”
It’s not just a simple banquet, but a 700th anniversary party. One would know how important the banquet was even if they were to ask a random child on the street. Not to mention that they would be the mention of the wedding announcement at the 700th anniversary banquet, which had a long history and reputation.
Rather, it seemed more realistic to announce the wedding at the imperial banquet.
“That day, the members of the imperial family, representatives of each media company, and important nobles and collateral relatives will all gather. Of course, my grandfather will also be there.”
“Wait, wait a minute, Noel.”
Irene placed down her teacup first to avoid spilling the contents and looked to Noel with a stiff face.
“I know that it’s ridiculous. We haven’t even received my grandfather’s full permission yet. But if you make a wedding announcement in such a place, there’s no turning back…”
Irene looked at Noel with a surprised look at his statement.
Noel smiled at her, and Irene said with doubt.
“Don’t tell me you’re making it like that so no one can protest…”
“Our marriage will be recognised by the Emperors and many key figures in the Empire, and the news will spread across the empire overnight through each media. So, no one can stop the marriage because things have gotten so big that it can’t be handled.”
“…I see. I understand your reason.”
Irene gave a half-hearted nod. Obviously, Noel’s plan was reckless, but rather, it made it impossible for another person to prevent them from making a grand announcement.
Especially those who oppose Noel becoming the Grand Duke.
For example, the other relatives of Grand Duke and there was also the Young Count, Ascardo Rixis.
So far, they did not know that Irene had touched the Great Kristen’s heart. But one day, they would notice something amiss and try to make a move. There was a high probability that they would target someone.
…It’s me.