Your Majesty, I’m Not that Man - Chapter 6: Days and Nights of Bliss I (1)

How dazzling Albert would look in these clothes!

Hans, who was unaware that Albert had infiltrated the palace in an attempt to escape with Lavinia—or that he had even come face-to-face with the Emperor—was lost in blissful excitement. While Maxim trembled in fear of the Emperor, unsure of what to do, Hans found that fear to be baseless.

The Emperor was ruthless to those who defied him but otherwise indifferent to those who posed no threat.

Maxim was the sort of man who would prostrate himself to the point of humiliation in front of the Emperor. Hans believed that the Emperor, if anything, might mock him, but wouldn’t bother dirtying his hands by killing someone like Maxim.

Still, one thought lingered uneasily in Hans’ mind:

“Could Lavinia have been pulling strings behind the scenes?”

Until now, the Emperor hadn’t cared whether Maxim adopted Albert or not. While it was unusual for someone to be disowned and then re-adopted, Hans couldn’t imagine the Emperor taking enough interest to summon them over it.

Then again, if Lavinia had interfered, the Emperor wouldn’t have summoned them in the first place. He would simply have refused permission for Maxim to adopt Albert, and that would have been the end of it.

As Hans patted down Albert’s prepared attire with satisfaction, his thoughts wandered. He couldn’t help but imagine how striking Albert would look in the outfit.

Then a troubling idea occurred to him: the Emperor was rumored to favor men. What if Albert caught the Emperor’s eye and was taken as a concubine?

“No way. Lavinia wouldn’t let such a prize slip through her fingers like that.”

Meanwhile, in the Duke’s chambers, Maxim groaned in misery, still lying in bed, paralyzed with anxiety. Hans, oblivious to Maxim’s turmoil, hummed a cheerful tune as he meticulously brushed imaginary dust off Albert’s suit.

＊ ＊ ＊

“In the end, not a single word from her! Has heaven abandoned me?”

Maxim groaned dramatically, refusing to get out of bed. He wanted to feign illness to postpone his meeting with the Emperor. However, an audience with the Emperor was not something that could be delayed on a whim. Unless he broke a leg—or was genuinely gravely ill—he would have to crawl there if necessary.

“Should I just break my leg?”

The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he quickly dismissed it. It would hurt far too much. Maxim remembered the time when he had only fractured his arm, and that alone had been excruciating. To actually break a leg? No, that wasn’t an option.

“Lavinia, how could she be so ungrateful! The Emperor dotes on her so much, yet she can’t even lift a finger to help with something as small as this… Ah, my miserable fate! Is this what happens when you’re cursed with ungrateful children?”

Maxim’s resentment toward Lavinia burned fiercely, but there was nothing he could do about her now. She was no longer under his control, having entered the Imperial Palace. As long as she had been the Wendell family’s princess, he might have had some authority over her, but now? Nothing.

The most he could do was cut off Wendell’s family support for her—but even that was difficult. The Emperor cherished Lavinia, and Maxim couldn’t risk upsetting him. Besides, Lavinia had hardly relied on the Wendell family’s support to begin with.

“Could it be that she’s upset because the support I provided was too little?”

But no, Lavinia herself had made that decision. She had foreseen that once she entered the palace, Hans would start whispering behind her back or that Jelenka might try to skim off funds by cutting her assigned budget. Rather than endure such nonsense, Lavinia had chosen not to rely on the Wendell family’s money at all.

Maxim, of course, had a different perspective.

“Or is she angry that I didn’t stop her from becoming the Emperor’s concubine?”

For someone who had never cared about Lavinia’s feelings, Maxim found himself suddenly consumed by such thoughts now that she had secured the Emperor’s favor. He was well aware that he had been a neglectful father, indifferent to his own child.

The matter of Albert, however, left him particularly unsettled. If Lavinia had discovered Albert’s origins—that he was a commoner and Hans’ illegitimate son—she would have been outraged. No father in the world would ever think to marry his daughter to the son of his mistress.

“But that was all Hans’ fault! I never really intended for Lavinia to marry Albert.”

Maxim had only agreed to the arrangement to placate Hans. His plan had been to pretend to betroth Lavinia to Albert, only to dismiss Albert when the time was right. As the Duke of Wendell, manipulating such things would have been easy.

Of course, he knew Hans wouldn’t give up so easily. The process would likely tarnish Lavinia’s reputation. But still, Lavinia was the daughter of the only ducal house in the empire. Maxim believed her worth wouldn’t diminish so easily. That thought reassured him, albeit feebly.

“Surely Lavinia didn’t tell the Emperor about Albert’s origins, did she?”

If she had, it would be the end. Lavinia could claim that the Duke had wrongfully deprived her of her rights and exposed Albert’s commoner background. The very thought made Maxim’s vision darken with despair, filling him with regret for his actions.

Part of him had been jealous of Lavinia’s abilities. Watching her resolve in hours what would take him days had often left him seething.

Lavinia reminded him of her late grandfather, Maxim’s father, in those moments. The very man who had held Maxim in contempt while pridefully embracing their shared lineage. That resentment had fueled Maxim’s twisted desire to pair Lavinia with Albert, as if to take revenge on his father through her.

In truth, Albert wasn’t entirely lacking. He had demonstrated remarkable talent in swordsmanship, even becoming a Sword Master, and his appearance was undeniably striking. He clearly admired Lavinia, even if he didn’t openly express it.

His clever and capable daughter—so much like the father Maxim had feared and hated—would have been well-matched with Albert. Or so Maxim had convinced himself. Lavinia’s fairness toward commoners had even led Maxim to believe, in his warped logic, that she wouldn’t mind marrying one.

Of course, Lavinia might have been fine marrying a commoner—if that commoner weren’t Hans’ son.

“But still, I’m her father! This is too much, even for her! I may not have been the most attentive parent, but I ensured she lacked for nothing!”

It was the butler, Robert, who had ensured Lavinia lived without lacking anything, and it was the Wendell family’s wealth that made it all possible. However, Maxim didn’t spare a single thought for either of these facts.

Even though he was an incompetent man who did nothing but deplete the ducal household’s resources, he was the one who had inherited the Wendell family’s title. Thus, in his mind, everything belonged to him—as long as he didn’t divorce Jelenka.

The former Duke, Alexander, had been so disgusted by Maxim’s preferences, even on his deathbed, that he declared: if Maxim ever wanted to share a bed with another man, he’d have to renounce the Wendell name. However, when it became clear that including such a clause in his will would have no legal standing, Alexander had altered his approach.

What Jelenka didn’t know was that if she and Maxim were ever to divorce, the title and estate would automatically pass to their child, Lavinia.

“That wretched, ungrateful girl! I didn’t raise her so carefully just for this!”

Maxim vented his frustration, but the thought of harming Lavinia never crossed his mind. The Emperor who stood at her side was too terrifying for that.

And so, Maxim pulled the covers over his head and ground his teeth in impotent fury, seething beneath the blankets.

＊ ＊ ＊

No matter how much Maxim fumed with resentment, it made no difference to Lavinia.

She had no intention of sending a reassuring letter to Wendell House. Lavinia figured there was no need for her to go out of her way, as Cassion would eventually get in touch with them himself. Besides, for a father who had only now bothered to send a letter about his needs, such consideration was far too generous.

The Emperor’s response would likely reach Wendell House by tomorrow morning, and until then, Lavinia thought it fair for Maxim to stew in his anxiety. She deliberately pretended not to care.

Yet contrary to her expectations, Cassion gave no such orders. It wasn’t because he had forgotten, lost in the joy of spending time with her—he had done it intentionally.

To Cassion, both Maxim and Albert were people unworthy of his regard. Albert had dared to try to take Lavinia from him, and Maxim was the father who had neglected his daughter, only reaching out now in desperation. It infuriated him.

Making them wait a few hours at the audience hall? That hardly counted as punishment by Cassion’s standards. It was simply the treatment they deserved.

Cassion planned to handle them based on Lavinia’s mood. He wanted to learn why Maxim was so adamant about defending Albert. To Cassion, Maxim’s opinions didn’t matter in the slightest. Maxim, in his eyes, was nothing more than a leech clinging to Lavinia, the woman he cherished.

***

The morning unfolded as usual. After breakfast, Cassion attended the governmental meeting, finishing his morning duties just as he had the previous day. Lavinia hadn’t wanted to interrupt such meetings, so she waited patiently for him to finish.

The afternoon, however, was reserved entirely for her.

When the meeting was nearing its end, Lavinia dressed in riding attire as instructed. A servant had discreetly informed her that the Imperial Palace had a riding course exclusively for royalty.

Apparently, half of the western forest was used for horseback riding. The course included rest areas halfway through, and if one ventured further, it became a hunting ground.

“Did he hear that I enjoy horseback riding?”

Cassion might have considered taking her hunting, but since he had promised to spend the entire day with her, Lavinia doubted that was the plan. The real problem was…

“Can I even ride a horse in this state?”

After being thoroughly teased by Cassion, not just during the day but well into the night, she was still feeling the aftereffects of the aphrodisiac. Her intimate area remained sensitive, and though there was no stinging or pain, the lingering sensitivity made wearing pants uncomfortable.

“I can’t afford to let anything… soak through.”

This was uncharted territory for Lavinia, and she wasn’t sure what to expect. Just in case, she swapped into thicker undergarments and opted for leather pants to minimize any potential embarrassment.

The most practical solution would have been to explain the situation to Cassion and ask to postpone the ride. But Lavinia couldn’t predict how he might react—she was certain he would seize the opportunity to tease her further.

“Still, it would be even worse if he noticed while we’re riding together…”

As she debated, the meeting finally concluded. Cassion, flanked by servants and guards, strode toward her in long, confident steps. He was already dressed for the occasion, his riding attire impeccably tailored.

“Lavinia.”

Cassion extended his hand to her. Lavinia hesitated for a moment, gazing at his hand. If her current condition wasn’t merely the lingering effects of the aphrodisiac but a permanent state caused by his persistent teasing, she might never recover.

“If that’s the case… maybe I just need to get used to it.”

Resolving herself, Lavinia reached out and took his hand with a determined expression.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

＊ ＊ ＊

Hans’s hands moved busily as he adjusted Maxim’s attire. As the Duke’s servant, at least in name, Hans was no stranger to such tasks. He had even worked as an actual attendant during his youth.

‘I should be helping Albert, not the Duke…’

Though this thought made him restless, Hans kept it hidden behind a polite smile. Dressed in luxurious clothing, Maxim looked impressive, but his expression was one of doom and gloom, wholly unsuited to his fine appearance. Maxim was a strikingly handsome man in his own right, making his worried face all the more regrettable.

“Your Grace, don’t worry so much. Nothing bad will happen. His Majesty holds Lady Lavinia in such high regard—do you really think he would do anything to harm Wendell House? Surely, he’s only summoning you to review the matter of disowning and re-adopting Albert.”

“D-do you think so, Hans?” Maxim asked, his ruggedly handsome face twisted with worry as he practically clung to Hans for reassurance.

Hans resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead maintained his gentle smile. “Of course. Albert may have made mistakes, but he’s clever. He won’t make a fool of himself in front of His Majesty. So please, Your Grace, stop worrying.”

“How can I not worry? If this was how things were going to turn out, he shouldn’t have left in the first place…”

“Then why did you disown Albert in the first place, Your Grace? I told you he’d return eventually,” Hans replied, his tone light but edged with subtle reproach.

Albert’s quick return, likely orchestrated by someone whose motives Hans had already guessed, added to the tension. Though Hans had his suspicions, he wanted to be absolutely certain.

“Lavinia said… She said there couldn’t even be the slightest suspicion if His Majesty were to take an interest in our family. That’s why I did it… I thought after sending Lavinia off as a concubine, His Majesty wouldn’t pay any more attention to us…”

Maxim glared at Hans, his expression clearly resentful. While Maxim seemed to think Hans was scolding him for disowning Albert, in truth, he believed Lavinia had been right. The Emperor’s recent interest in Wendell House proved her caution had been justified.

Though the Emperor had summoned them to discuss Albert’s re-adoption, it was only a matter of time before he scrutinized Wendell House in its entirety if he planned to elevate Lavinia to Empress. That meant Albert, especially given his suspicious actions, would be thoroughly investigated.

Hans was irritated by Maxim’s accusatory look but reminded himself of the situation. Maxim and Albert would soon have to enter the Imperial Palace and face the Emperor.

“Now, now, relax, Your Grace. You’ll soon meet His Majesty, won’t you? I hear he’s a strict man.”

“Strict? That’s an understatement! He’s the type to have a subordinate’s head cut off on the spot without hesitation,” Maxim muttered in a voice filled with dread.

Hans averted his gaze to hide his smirk. He’d heard countless stories from Maxim about his meetings with the Emperor, and they always sounded the same: terrifying encounters that left the Duke trembling.

“What could he really do? I’m the father of the woman he’s smitten with,” Hans thought to himself with a sly smile.

Stepping back from Maxim, Hans took one last look at his attire. While Maxim couldn’t compare to Albert in Hans’s eyes, he could at least say with confidence that the Duke of Wendell now looked every bit the part of the Empire’s sole duke.

“Your Grace, you look splendid. Truly worthy of Wendell House,” Hans said smoothly, offering just the right amount of flattery to lift Maxim’s spirits.

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