Chapter 17
The Current of Change
A special guest had arrived at the Queen’s office.
Sir Cunningham, Speaker of the House of Commons, came from a prestigious family of renowned legal scholars. Because of his family’s long-standing ties with Duke Trier—who belonged to the same field—he had assisted the royal family several times over the years.
Eventually, Queen Adelhardt II herself had knighted him.
In other words, he was Duke Trier’s closest friend—and, beyond that, the Queen’s openly acknowledged loyalist.
Feeling the heavy atmosphere settle over the table where the three sat together, Sir Cunningham swallowed dryly.
What in the world could require this level of secrecy…?
“I have a matter I would like discussed in the Commons.”
Right then, Duke Trier quietly slid a document envelope across the table.
A shadow crossed Cunningham’s eyes as he looked at it.
He could tell instinctively.
Whatever lay inside that thin envelope possessed enormous consequences.
With obvious tension in his expression, he carefully glanced toward Adelhardt II.
The graceful way she lifted her teacup resembled nothing more than a leisurely afternoon gathering—but the razor-sharp pressure radiating from her presence told an entirely different story.
This is the Queen’s will.
And not merely a casual suggestion.
No—this was the kind sharpened like a blade.
Clearing his throat softly, Cunningham accepted the envelope.
The moment he pulled out the papers inside, he could feel both the Queen and Duke Trier silently watching his reaction.
His eyes moved rapidly across the pages.
Then, after finishing the surprisingly brief contents, a low groan slipped from between his teeth.
“Your Majesty…”
His complexion darkened visibly.
“The opposition within the Commons will be severe.”
Clink.
Without answering immediately, Adelhardt II elegantly lowered her teacup onto its saucer.
A smooth smile curved her lips.
Yet despite the gentle expression, not a trace of warmth existed within the eyes fixed upon Cunningham.
“I know.”
Then, in the voice of a cold and absolute ruler, she delivered an order far firmer than usual.
“That is why persuading the Commons shall become your responsibility, Sir Cunningham.”
Golden afternoon sunlight fell across the elegantly lettered signboard.
The popular tea room in the bustling district overflowed with fashionable ladies and gentlemen gathered in small groups.
Among them sat Ariel, who had come after accepting a date invitation.
“Kelt would make a nice place for our newlywed home, wouldn’t it?”
At Valentin’s question, Ariel stirred her tea awkwardly with a spoon before forcing a smile.
“I’m not sure. Shouldn’t we discuss that with Father first?”
“True. I wonder which business he plans to teach me.”
“Mm.”
Murmuring softly, Ariel lowered her gaze.
The conversations between the two families had, for the most part, already been settled.
In the end, Erich had expressed concern about the Cayenne family’s business shares becoming too fragmented. Heinz had understood the concern and instructed Valentin to begin learning the Rosenberg businesses instead.
Which specific branch of the vast empire spanning countless industries he would be assigned to remained uncertain.
The marriage had been decided.
Their relationship had already entered the current of change.
And yet Ariel still could not picture herself becoming Valentin’s wife.
She still couldn’t even successfully imagine kissing him.
“Ariel.”
“Huh?”
Lost in thought, she startled and looked up abruptly.
Only then did she realize she had dropped a slice of lemon cake into her tea instead of bringing it to her mouth.
Staring blankly at the ruined tea, she heard laughter from across the table.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“It’s nothing. I think I’m just tired.”
“You haven’t been sleeping well?”
“Of course not. In this situation, can you sleep?”
“No.”
Valentin grinned mischievously in agreement.
“I can’t sleep because I’m too excited. The thought that we’re going to become husband and wife still feels unreal. It’s hard to believe I’m not dreaming.”
“……”
Their reasons for sleepless nights sounded similar, yet were entirely different.
Looking at Valentin practically glowing with happiness, Ariel had no idea what she was supposed to say.
“Thank you for accepting my proposal.”
That’s not true.
I never accepted your proposal.
She had merely accepted the bouquet forced into her hands and then failed to speak up while their parents enthusiastically discussed marriage plans.
Somehow, that had become interpreted as acceptance.
“Shouldn’t you be going soon?”
Unable either to deny it honestly or falsely agree, Ariel hurriedly changed the subject.
Fortunately, time came to her rescue.
“Didn’t you say you were meeting Father at the company?”
“It’s already this late?”
Reluctantly, Valentin rose and extended his hand politely.
As Ariel took it and stood, she secretly swallowed a sigh.
Today’s date had been short enough.
But she worried about the future.
The moment Valentin entered the Rosenberg headquarters in the city district, a busy, chaotic atmosphere wrapped around him.
Watching people hurry across the grand hall, he unconsciously straightened his collar stiffly.
A soldier cannot become the Rosenbergs’ son-in-law.
At those words from Heinz, Valentin had resolved to abandon the life of a soldier and walk the path of a businessman instead.
There were still official procedures required before leaving the Imperial Guard, but mentally, he had already left the military behind.
In the near future, he would stand among these people.
He had believed she would reject him.
That the proposal had merely been an attempt to preserve Ariel’s dignity after becoming the subject of ridicule for receiving no offers at all.
Never in his dreams had he imagined things would end like this.
To think they would permit a second son with no significant inheritance to marry into the family.
Valentin intended to give everything he had in return for such generosity.
“Swear that you will learn the Rosenberg businesses and expand them even further. That is my condition for permitting this marriage.”
Whether people realized it or not, Heinz believed a new era had already begun.
The new standard dividing society would no longer be bloodline.
It would be capital.
Considering how desperately proud but impoverished nobles struggled behind closed doors merely to maintain appearances, it was not an entirely incorrect assessment.
“You must ride the new current,” Heinz had repeatedly insisted.
And so the next generation of Rosenbergs needed to be more devoted to earning money than anyone else.
More than anyone.
“Does Lord Cayenne not involve himself in the family business?”
“That is simply the fate of a second son.”
The conversation he’d once shared with the Duke of Devonshire in the cigar room flashed through Valentin’s mind.
That bastard who had approached him out of nowhere, leaving behind only a strange sense of defeat.
“A family as wealthy as the Cayennes should at least pass down one business venture.”
Valentin had understood perfectly well what the man had truly been testing him for.
It had been a provocation.
A question asking whether some second son soldier truly believed he could stand beside Ariel.
As Valentin crossed the marble floors, his eyes turned cold.
Once he married Ariel and entered the Rosenberg business world, he intended to devote every ounce of strength he possessed.
He intended to uphold the promise he had made to Heinz for the rest of his life.
And if, at the end of it all, he could witness the twisted expression on the Duke of Devonshire’s face—
Even better.
“I’ve come to see Count Rosenberg.”
“Did you arrange an appointment?”
When Valentin nodded, the guard stationed in the hall summoned a messenger boy and quietly instructed him.
Soon afterward, the boy returned from upstairs looking deeply troubled.
“The Count will not be returning today, sir.”
That can’t be right.
A crease formed between Valentin’s brows.
“My apologies, but you’ll need to reschedule.”
Only then did Valentin fully notice the unsettling atmosphere permeating the hall.
A dark premonition crept over him as he slowly looked around.
Chessmore—the homeland of Devonshire.
Though this so-called second capital possessed countless wonders, nothing rivaled the fame of Elysis, the Devonshire family’s country estate.
On occasion, certain halls were opened to the public as acts of charity to encourage cultural education. Those fortunate enough to view the sculptures and paintings displayed within never failed to leave in awe.
It was widely praised as an artist’s paradise.
“Master, the Queen’s Gallery has requested that the transport of the exhibition pieces be moved forward by two days. Accordingly, we’ll need to adjust the schedule for opening the halls to visitors. And also…”
Gustav Turner, the butler responsible for overseeing the vast Elysis estate, followed behind Leonardo while delivering reports that had accumulated during his absence from Chessmore.
Ascending the stairs at an unhurried pace, Leonardo nodded occasionally to show he was listening.
Handling work as usual.
Checking on the artists he sponsored.
Maintaining active social connections.
On the surface, the Duke of Devonshire appeared no different than ever.
In truth, however, he had been irritable the entire time.
The moment he dismissed Gustav and entered his office alone, Leonardo roughly tugged loose his tie.
With his other hand, he sorted through the newly accumulated invitations.
The invitations arriving in Chessmore have nothing to do with that woman.
Repeating the obvious fact to himself, he let out a bitter laugh.
Ariel and Valentin’s marriage.
Now that it had become practically an established fact, the countless pointless social gatherings he had attended over the past few months suddenly felt unbearably ridiculous.
The telephone rang just as he undid another button of his shirt.
There truly wasn’t a single moment of peace.
Though this had always been his normal routine, the schedule he once managed effortlessly now felt strangely exhausting.
Still unable to erase the image of Ariel leaning against that soldier bastard’s shoulder in the nighttime garden, Leonardo lifted the receiver.
“This is Devonshire speaking.”
Suppressing his irritation beneath a calm voice, he listened for a moment.
Then his expression darkened.
Not long afterward, Daniel burst into the room with urgency written across his face.
“Your Grace, an emergency report!”
