The Great Wish - Chapter 34: The Last Dream (1)

The Duke of Bless visited the Silver King’s Palace, and Sienna welcomed the familiar guest with warmth.

The Duke arrived in a mobility chair and, upon seeing Beth in an identical chair, burst into laughter.

“So it was you, Countess! His Majesty said there was someone special he wanted to gift it to, so he took my spare chair.”

Beth smiled in response.

“I heard from His Majesty that you kindly offered it. I’m using it well, and I can’t express how much easier it has made moving around.”

“If it ever breaks down, let me know. Not just anyone can fix it, you know.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Duke.”

Sienna watched their cheerful conversation with satisfaction.

Once everyone else had left, leaving Sienna and the Duke alone, the mood shifted.

“It’s been a while, Duke Bless. Have you been well?”

“Oh, you know me, just managing. It’s a joy to see you again, Your Majesty. You’ve grown even more radiant since I last saw you. Your face is practically glowing!”

The Duke exaggeratedly widened his eyes in mock surprise, making Sienna chuckle.

“I heard you set off for the capital a month ago, yet you arrived later than expected. Was the journey difficult?”

“No, not at all. It’s just that once I started traveling, so many people kept stopping me along the way.”

As the Duke continued his story, Sienna could easily guess what had happened. It seemed he couldn’t pass by any issues in his domain without stopping to help, which extended what could have been a one-week journey into twenty days.

Typical of Duke Bless, Sienna thought.

“Where did you hear I was coming? Was it Andre?”

“Yes.”

“That rascal, I hope he hasn’t been too awkward and rustic now that he’s in the capital.”

“Not at all. I’ve heard that Lord Bless is quite popular at social gatherings.”

“And what about you, Your Majesty?”

“Pardon?”

“What do you think of my son?”

The Duke grinned, cutting straight to the point without any pretense.

“When I said you should take my son, I wasn’t joking, Your Majesty.”

Sienna smiled without saying a word.

“From what I’ve heard, there’s no one suitable in the other ducal families as a marriage candidate for you. It’s not just because he’s my son, but he’s a fine young man. He spends all his time between the house and the training grounds, never wasting time on frivolities.”

“Duke, I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure someone better will come along for Lord Bless.”

The Duke’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Your Majesty, are you refusing him? Even if you intend to turn him down, shouldn’t you at least say you’ll think about it first? You’re not just turning down my son; you’re overlooking the fact that the Bless family stands behind him.”

The Duke’s tone remained light, but his words carried significant weight. He was advising her to think politically.

“Duke, I have no intention of marrying Lord Bless. If I were to string you along, knowing I would refuse in the end, it would be dishonest of me, wouldn’t it?”

The Duke furrowed his brow.

“Your Majesty, I know your character well enough, but if you’re too rigid, you’ll break.”

Sienna smiled softly.

“Duke, even without a marriage alliance, I’m sure we can find a point of agreement that will satisfy both of us.”

“There’s no alliance as strong as marriage.”

“I’ve never understood why the ducal families fight so fiercely to make their offspring my spouse. I would never grant special privileges to my husband’s family. In fact, I’d distance myself from them to avoid any abuse of power. Do I seem like the type of person to be swayed by emotions? Especially for a marriage rooted in political necessity?”

Duke Bless let out a deep sigh. One can never fully know the depths of a person, but with Sienna, she was almost too clear. It wasn’t that she lacked depth, but rather that her convictions were so firm that persuasion was futile.

“Then, Duke, if you wish to have an open dialogue with me, we must avoid a marriage alliance.”

The Duke gave a wry smile, shaking his head.

“I admit defeat, Your Majesty,” he said with a hint of regret, smacking his lips.

What a hopeless fool, the Duke thought to himself, silently chiding his youngest son. I sent him to the capital early to make a good impression, but he’s still failing.

“As his father, may I ask—did my son fail to meet your expectations?”

“Lord Bless is a man without fault.”

“Then perhaps you should keep him close and observe him a little longer….”

The Duke’s attachment was persistent, not because of a hunger for power, but because he genuinely desired Sienna as his daughter-in-law.

“Duke, I cannot hold two people in my heart at once.”

The Duke was left speechless. He had heard the rumors about Sienna and Marquis Raad, but he hadn’t expected her to acknowledge it so openly.

Marquis Raad? The Duke mused, surprised. He wasn’t from a noble house, nor was he even a citizen of the Empire. How could such a relationship have a future? Still, he didn’t point it out. Sienna was surely aware of the challenges, and love-struck individuals rarely listened to outside counsel.

Perhaps there’s still a chance, he thought. Even the most intelligent young ruler like Sienna would eventually learn that life didn’t always follow one’s will.

“Your Majesty, there’s something important I’d like to discuss. I will need your assistance.”

“Oh? You’re getting straight to the point?”

“I thought you disliked beating around the bush, Duke. I assumed we shared that trait.”

The Duke chuckled heartily.

“What will you offer me in return?”

“I’ll consider that once I see what you can offer me, Duke.”

The Duke laughed again, deeply amused.

“Even if you were to take everything I have, how could I refuse? After all, you’re the one who will lead this empire in the future.”

Sienna’s expression darkened. She wanted to correct the Duke’s misunderstanding, but it wasn’t the time. She couldn’t reveal the Iron King’s true origins before the secret was exposed. Though she trusted the Duke wouldn’t spread the news recklessly, a secret shared with even one person ceased to be a secret.

“Duke, are you aware of what’s happening in the Duchy of Rimone?”

Sienna watched the Duke’s face, quickly realizing that this wasn’t unfamiliar news to him.

“The Duke of Rimone is in a tight spot.”

“Is it that serious? I wasn’t aware of the full details….”

“The Emperor is behind it.”

The Duke’s eyes widened.

“Are you certain of that?”

“Yes.”

Sienna then laid out the details of what was happening in the Rimone duchy, based on the information Kuhn had provided.

The Duke let out a heavy breath. The explanation was thorough and detailed, leaving him impressed. The Silver King has quite the powerful source of information, he thought.

So much for the rumors that the Red King and the Rimone family had blocked her ears and eyes.

“What is it you wish me to do?”

“Help the Duke of Rimone.”

The Duke’s eyebrow twitched, but he didn’t react hastily. He knew Sienna wasn’t asking for assistance out of personal emotion or loyalty to her maternal family.

“Tell me your reasoning.”

“If the Rimone family has committed a crime, they should be punished through proper channels. If the family crumbles like this, the Duchy of Rimone will become another Acheron Duchy. You know as well as I do how much the people of the Acheron territory have suffered since losing their lord.”

“So, you know what happened between Acheron and Rimone in the past,” the Duke murmured with a grave expression.

“Yes, I do.”

“I had a hand in those events, so I feel no sympathy for what the Duke of Rimone is going through.”

Sienna silently nodded in acknowledgment.

“But you are right, Your Majesty. His Majesty seems intent on repeating past tragedies. And as always, the ones who suffer most are the innocent commoners.”

“I knew you would understand my position, Duke.”

“Are you planning to put the Duke of Rimone on trial?”

“I don’t believe there’s enough evidence for a formal trial. If there were, the Emperor wouldn’t have taken these steps.”

“Hmm….”

“I intend to hold the Rimone family accountable in another way.”

Sienna had thought long and hard about this. The Rimone family had to atone for their past sins, but without hard evidence, they would never willingly admit guilt. Rather than waste time drawing out an insincere apology, it was better to negotiate compensation for the victims.

The Rimone family would have to scrape together all the wealth they had amassed over the years. Even if it left the family coffers empty, they would have to pay for their crimes. For those who were as greedy as the Rimone family, losing their fortune would be the most painful punishment.

That night, their conversation continued late into the evening.

A few days later.

The Emperor announced the death of the King of the Peroh Union. The Union was on the verge of civil war over the next succession, and emissaries from the Union had requested assistance from the Empire to stabilize the chaos.

For most nobles, it was their first time learning that Marquis Rad, the Empire’s envoy to the Union, had already left for the desert.

People murmured, “So that’s why we haven’t seen him lately. I was starting to hear rumors that he was gravely ill.”

Following the Emperor’s decree, an emergency state council was convened to discuss sending troops to the Union. The council swiftly decided to dispatch the Imperial army, including knights.

Within just a few days, ships carrying the Empire’s forces set sail from the capital’s harbor.

***