Chapter 36: Become My Eyes and Ears  

Jude, who had returned to the palace, couldn’t sleep and spent the night wide awake. Every time she laid down to rest, her conversation with the Crown Prince replayed in her mind, one thought leading to another.  

‘Is it because of Xavier Auguste?’

“Ugh.”  

Jude abruptly sat up in bed. Her back was drenched in cold sweat.  

‘No, it’s not that! His Grace has nothing to do with why I cried!’  

Arthur, the Crown Prince, nodded with a gentle smile.  

Jude felt a sense of relief, thinking he believed her words, but then he said something else.  

‘I need the Saintess. You must assist me.’  

‘Pardon?’  

‘Didn’t you understand? I know your heart very well.’  

‘I don’t understand what you mean, Your Highness.’  

As Jude tried to turn her head away, pretending not to understand, Arthur mercilessly grabbed her chin.  

‘You’re terrible at lying.’  

His low voice flowed into her ears, making Jude shrink back.  

‘I want the Saintess, and you want the Duke.’  

She couldn’t deny it.  

“Huff, huff.”  

‘The Duke will discard you mercilessly because of the Saintess. So it would be best for you to decide quickly.’  

Along with his words, the image of her lord smiling brightly like spring sunshine beside the Saintess flashed in Jude’s memory.  

With his golden eyes gleaming, the Crown Prince added one last thing.  

‘General Jude, become my eyes and ears.’  

Jude’s purple eyes, which had stayed awake all night, shone brightly in the dark bedroom. They glimmered ominously, overshadowing the morning sunlight streaming through the window.  

＊  

[Scandal! His Grace Xavier Auguste and the Saintess Yuria Graham  

Last night, an unexpected romantic scene was captured within the imperial palace. At the imperial banquet celebrating the victory, His Grace Xavier Auguste was seen holding Lady Yuria Graham, who has ascended as the Saintess!]  

My hands trembled as I stared at the front-page photo in the newspaper.  

‘I knew this would happen!’  

There it was, a large photo of me in the Duke’s arms.  

“Oh my, hohoho. Dear, our Yuria looks so beautiful in this picture.”  

Mother, is that really what matters right now?  

Lady Naomi, upon seeing the gossip page, was overjoyed, her face practically glowing. She was already in the living room early in the morning, gushing over the news.  

“Haha, it would’ve been better if her partner was His Highness the Crown Prince… but our daughter looks so adorable and charming! Butler, scissors.”  

“Yes, Master.”  

The butler promptly handed over a pair of scissors.  

Wait, why are scissors coming out of his waistband?  

“Ah, Father, what are you planning to do?”  

“I’m going to cut it out. I’ll neatly trim it and put it in the photo album.”  

“……”  

Father began cutting the newspaper with a big smile.  

“Dear, be careful while cutting. That part is crooked.”  

“Alright. The Duke’s unnecessary height cast a shadow over our daughter’s face, tsk tsk.”  

“!”  

The Duke’s side profile and shoulders, embracing my waist, were neatly cut out.  

“Oops, my hand slipped.”  

“Dear!”  

“Did I cut too much?”  

“Yes, you cut too much.”  

Though Mother scolded Father with her words, she was smiling brightly as she carefully placed the trimmed photo of me into the album.  

“Well, Yuria, what is it you want to say?”  

Father, having closed the photo album, looked at me. Mother’s gaze also turned toward me.  

Recalling that I had something to confess to both of them, I straightened my posture.  

“Father, I’d like you to send a reply to Duke Xavier Auguste regarding his proposal.”  

“Ah, have you made your decision?”  

“Is it true?”  

“Yes. I’ll marry the Duke.”  

The two of them froze as if someone had pressed a pause button. Only their eyes blinked.  

“Kyahhh!”  

Mother jumped up from her seat, letting out a shriek of joy. She grabbed Father’s shoulder tightly, her nostrils flaring. Father, who had been blinking in shock, let out a strangled cry and collapsed onto the sofa.  

“Ah, dear!”  

“Ugh, I’m fine.”  

Father clutched his shoulder and lowered his head.  

“I was so happy I lost control… I’m sorry.”  

“Hahaha, it’s fine. I’ve known you long enough to not worry about such things.”  

“Father, are you alright?”  

When I asked out of concern, Father raised his head and smiled.  

“It’s nothing. Your mother’s light touch is no bother! Hahaha!”  

“Oh, dear.”  

Mother blushed. They really do have a great relationship.  

Mother approached me, hugged me tightly, and began to cry.  

“My wonderful daughter! This is such good news!”  

“Yuria, wouldn’t it be better if it were His Highness the Crown Prince?”  

As expected, Father seemed more concerned about the imperial family.  

“Father, don’t worry. His Highness said he respects my decision.”  

“Dear, isn’t Yuria’s happiness more important? Even the Crown Prince is fine with it!”  

“Is that so? Congratulations, my daughter!”  

Finally, Father stroked my back, crying tears of joy.  

“I’ll send a reply to the proposal right away. Congratulations.”  

Though I wasn’t sure if this was something to cry about, seeing my parents so happy lifted my mood as well.  

＊  

The cherry blossom trees along the ‘Cherry Blossom Tree-Lined Road’ in Pins still bore traces of spring. In their place, vibrant green sprouts heralding the arrival of early summer had begun to emerge.  

I grumbled as I gazed out the carriage window.  

‘He said we’d write a contract.’  

Since I had accepted Duke Xavier’s proposal, there was much to discuss, and we had agreed to meet here.  

‘But there are way too many people!’  

The sunny weather had drawn a massive crowd to the street lined with cherry blossom trees. The road was so packed with people that even carriages couldn’t pass through.  

“Miss, there are too many people.”  

“Maya, you should head back.”  

“It might be dangerous if you go alone.”  

“I’m going on a date. Do you still want to follow me?”  

“N-no.”  

Maya blushed and shook her head.  

“The Macaron Café is at the beginning of the street, so it won’t take long. Besides, the carriage can’t go any further. Don’t wait for me and head back to the mansion.”  

“Well… alright. But please be careful.”  

“Got it.”  

I pulled a scarf from my handbag, wrapped it tightly around my head, and left only my eyes exposed. Grabbing the carriage door handle, I prepared to step out when Maya gave one last piece of advice.  

“Miss, don’t stray from the Duke’s side.”  

“I know, I know. Do I look like a child?”  

Maya’s concern wasn’t unfounded. A photo of Duke Xavier holding me at the victory banquet had been plastered on the front page of this morning’s newspaper. In such a situation, my appearance in a bustling street would undoubtedly attract a crowd.  

And, as if on cue, her worries became reality.  

Avoiding the throngs of people, I kept my body low and clung to the walls as I moved forward.  

A few dozen meters ahead, I spotted the ‘Macaron Café.’  

‘Finally!’  

I quickened my pace, but nearby, I overheard the voices of young women.  

“Did you see this morning’s gossip column?”  

“Of course! The photo of the new Saintess and His Grace Duke Xavier, right?”  

“Yes, I was so annoyed when I saw it that I told my fiancé I wanted to break off our engagement.”  

“Oh my, I bet Viscount Harris was in a frenzy.”  

“It worked, though. He’s such a miser, but today he’s treating me to some delicious desserts.”  

‘Viscount Harris? That tacky, multicolored cufflink guy?’  

I recalled the man who had spouted nonsense about a wife’s duty to support her husband.  

“The Duke held the Saintess like this, and did you see the look in his eyes?”  

“Yes, they were dripping with honey.”  

The young lady, who claimed to be Viscount Harris’s fiancée, mimicked being embraced, while her companion squealed and stomped her feet in excitement.  

“Lady Graham is so enviable. Do you think Viscount Harris could ever hold me like that?”  

Hearing that, I pulled my floral scarf tighter and lowered my head.  

“I don’t even have a fiancé, so stop rubbing it in.”  

“Oh, sorry, haha.”  

The two ladies passed by me, chatting animatedly, and parted ways at the entrance of Macaron Café. Only Viscount Harris’s fiancée entered.  

‘I must be crazy.’  

If I went in alone, I’d surely become the center of attention, like a monkey in a zoo.  

As I stood frozen in place, pale-faced, I heard men’s voices behind me.  

“When did those two become so close?”  

“Who knows? Lady Graham must have been smitten with the Duke. Perhaps the heavens took pity on her?”  

“Hahaha. Is that why she became the Saintess?”  

“Pfft.”  

Ugh, those jerks!  

I wanted to rush over and shut their mouths, but I couldn’t. The street was too crowded.  

As I hesitated, stomping my feet in frustration, I crouched behind a large stand near the café entrance.  

‘I can’t go in. Is Duke Xavier not here yet?’  

“Yuria Graham, what are you doing here?”  

“XX!”  

The curse slipped out before I could stop it.  

When I looked up, it was Duke Xavier.  

Perhaps because of the harsh language, his face was slightly pale.  

“Did you just curse?”  

“Your Grace?”  

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of my throat.  

“It’s not that… You startled me! I almost dropped my baby!”  

“A baby? Have we gone there already?”  

“What, what?! What are you talking about?”  

By ‘there,’ did he mean the opposite of ‘here’? Or was he referring to something more risqué?  

Flustered, I stammered and waved my hands, only to meet his mischievous gaze. His eyes curved into crescent moons.  

“…Tsk, can’t you speak properly?”  

When I turned my head away in annoyance, Xavier grabbed my chin with both hands, forcing me to face him.  

“Look at me.”  

“Why, why?”  

“Because I want to see you.”  

A blush spread across both my cheeks. Hastily, I pulled up the loosened scarf to hide my face.  

“I dreamed of you, and when I woke up this morning, I wanted to see you again. What have you done to me?”  

“I-I didn’t do anything!”  

What’s with him? Why is he acting like this after proposing?!  

Flustered, I stood up abruptly, brushing off my dress to regain composure. I couldn’t keep up with the Duke’s pace.  

“Let’s go inside!”  

“Pfft, alright.”  

Smiling broadly, the Duke strode ahead with his long legs and held the café door open for me.  

“Ladies first.”  

“Thank you.”  

As soon as we entered the café, dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward us simultaneously.  

At first, the gazes were directed at Xavier Auguste. But then, their attention shifted to the woman he had brought along, sticking to me like glue.  

They say you meet unpleasant people in unexpected places. And there he was—Viscount Harris, locking eyes with me.