“You said I don’t need to reply. Then, I hope you will visit the imperial palace soon, and I will take my leave.”

“Crazy bastard.”

The aide, who seemed to have known the contents of the letter and was satisfied with Antes’s irritated response, returned with a happy smile.

Until then, Luna had been frozen in shock without uttering a word. Laura, who had been tilting her head, picked up the fallen letter and asked,

“Miss, what does it say that you’re so upset? Why is Lord Antes so angry?”

It was truly puzzling since, after dealing with the Duke’s family, these two had been in good spirits almost every day.

“Our family…! Our family…! Our faaamily!”

“…Yes?”

Luna tried to answer by pointing at the letter, but she couldn’t articulate her words.

What on earth does it say that she’s so flustered? Laura sneaked a glance at the letter with a furrowed brow.

“…Eek?!”

She then looked at Luna, equally shocked, and stuttered:

“The, the, the Baron Peils family will be, be, be promoted to a Viscount?!”

Luna nodded weakly. The servants around them, who had been doing their own tasks, gathered with wide eyes. The promotion of the family?

“It seems so…! They recognize our contribution to the recent event!”

Specifically, they recognized their efforts in uncovering a massive tax evasion and the corruption of related officials.

Despite the good news, Antes didn’t look happy.

“What about the Emperor? What does his letter say? Surely he didn’t send the same information to us?”

Even if they were lovers, it wasn’t customary to send such news to both. And if it was that news, Antes wouldn’t have been so upset.

When Luna asked, Antes brushed back his hair roughly and replied with a deep sigh.

“They’re expelling me from the Empire.”

“What?!”

Suddenly? Luna, taken aback, read Antes’s crumpled letter.

“Defying the Emperor and if not accepting the title, you will be expelled…”

It was true. There was a warning that if Antes refused the title, he would be expelled from the Empire, and even short visits wouldn’t be allowed.

“Why…?!”

Why would the nation suddenly want to expel him and kick out such a great fortune?

“I don’t really know. Maybe they’re just crazy.”

Antes was visibly disturbed by this unexpected twist.

They couldn’t just sit and let this happen. Luna firmly held Antes’ hand.

“We should go to the imperial palace.”

“…”

“They asked you to visit, so let’s go and clarify things. Ask them what they’re thinking, whether they’ve gone mad.”

Without waiting for a reply, Luna stormed out:

“Ena! Prepare the carriage! We’re going to the imperial palace!”

“Yes, Miss!”

Upon Luna’s call, Ena rushed to prepare the carriage.

“You don’t want to?”

Noticing Antes’s reluctance, Luna gently probed. He sighed and said:

“I doubt going will change anything. In fact, I have a feeling they might force the title upon me…”

Given Callion’s personality so far, Antes couldn’t help but infer such a possibility.

Didn’t he leave a significant message even when standing in court, saying, ‘Can you really leave without receiving a title?’

Antes couldn’t think of this incident as anything other than an extension of that.

Making a visit to the imperial palace and not liking it? Alright, then let’s change the law.

Leading to the worst-case scenario of being swept away and forced to accept a title in the midst of all the discussions about changing the law.

“What’s going on?”

Since Luna and Antes had been absent for quite a while, the Marquis couple came looking for them. Seeing that their expressions weren’t particularly good, the Marquis and Marchioness looked puzzled.

Luna explained the situation, and in the meantime, Ena arrived driving the carriage she had prepared. Followed by the Marquis and Marchioness’s concerned voices.

“Oh my, my goodness… Shall we accompany you?”

“It’s okay. We’ll handle it well, so don’t worry too much. I apologize for suddenly going out when you visited. We appreciate your kindness.”

“No need to apologize. Our business is done anyway. We were grateful for your willingness to fulfill our unreasonable request. Please go ahead and take care.”

After bowing deeply to the Marquis and Marchioness, Luna and Antes boarded the carriage. Fortunately, the journey from the mansion to the imperial palace was relatively short.

Hopefully, things will work out well. If they genuinely intended to exile Antes from the Empire, she decided that she would leave the Empire along with the mines.

* * *

“No.”

Upon meeting, the Crown Prince Callion immediately declared ‘No.’

Luna frowned.

“So, you really intend to exile the young lord?”

“Right. Sorry, but I think I’ll have to put on the shackles of a Duke. Do you know why such a law even exists? It’s because they’re scared that someone with immense power might rebel. So, accept it.”

Callion admitted without shame that Antes’s power posed a threat to the imperial family.

In fact, after experiencing Antes, who fell from the third floor and was fine after a few coughs, it made sense.

A body and power capable of facing hundreds of enemies alone. If he set his mind to it, rebelling wouldn’t be that hard.

“Why are you refusing such a good thing? If it were me, I’d gladly accept.”

Callion continued to persuade, to which Antes replied with annoyance.

“Then you do it. Why should I inherit such a garbage title?”

At that response, Callion, who had been leaning back, sat up straight, looking incredulous.

“…You’re saying you don’t want it because of the ‘Roadrian’ name? Then just change it.”

Antes was about to answer that he didn’t want to inherit the title of Duke in the first place, although his family name was also an issue, but Luna asked Callion even before he could.

“Is that possible?”

“Why not? Change it. I’ll allow it.”

“Great! That’s wonderful, young lord!”

Antes rubbed his forehead as Luna, with sparkling eyes, looked at him. Callion was one thing, but now even Luna was getting ahead of herself.

“But what will you change the name to? The ‘Vincent’ name is supposed to be inherited by Lady Rosemary, right?”

Regardless, Luna was already pondering which name to use.

Meanwhile, Callion, seeing Antes still seriously contemplating a refusal, responded with a triumphant smile.

“How about ‘Peils’? The two of you marry, and Antes takes the name. Then it gets promoted to a Duke. Ah- is it not possible because another name is still active? Then make a new one. Just say you’ll accept a title and I’ll wait.”

“Wha- What are you talking about?!”

Luna reacted very sensitively, as if she would’ve slapped Callion’s arm if he were nearby.

“Anyway, you mean we can create a new name? Then it’s settled, Right, young lord?”

“If you’re dissatisfied, just say so. I can find a way to give you some of the assets if you want. After all, the entire wealth of Duke Roadrian wasn’t accumulated by him alone.”

His tone was such that he seemed willing to change even the laws for Antes. It was the leisure of someone with power.

Under normal circumstances, Antes might have gotten angry, but for some reason, he just glared at Callion for a long while, took Luna’s hand, turned around, and left his office.

“I’ll take that as a yes and proceed with the procedures!”

From behind them, they could hear Callion’s excited voice. Antes responded with a gesture, and then quickly walked down the hallway.

“…Do you know what he meant by that?”

“I don’t. But considering the expression like Lady used on Fersen, it must have a very negative meaning.”

Luna seemed to have picked up on some harsh slang from Antes.

“But other than the last name, was there another reason why you didn’t want to inherit the title?”

Her eyes were filled with regret, as if wondering if she had acted thoughtlessly.

Seeing her face, Antes took a deep breath and asked in return:

“Do you want me to inherit the title? I’m already so busy, and if I inherit the title, I might really not have time to see the young lady.”

“Then I’ll come to you. Or, young lord, you could move closer to my mansion. Close enough to visit on foot.”

Luna smiled, saying she had been sad that Antes hadn’t had the opportunity to visit her mansion so far.

“That’s why I’d like you to accept the title. It was originally yours, but was taken away. I wish for you to reclaim everything that was taken from you by the treacherous schemes of Duke Roadrian, even if it makes life a bit more inconvenient.”

She added quietly that if it didn’t work out, they could just give back the title and be exiled from the Empire. If he’s Exiled, she’d willingly join, so he wouldn’t be bored.

Hearing her reply, he couldn’t object any longer. Antes’s eyes, which had been filled with displeasure, now showed a complex emotion.

Really, she was someone who wouldn’t let go, even if he tried to push her away. Of course, he never intended to let go in the first place.

“You have to take responsibility for everything you just said, without missing a single thing.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not the kind of woman who’d let her lover to be exiled alone.”