I Seducing the Black-Hearted Duke Wasn't Me - Chapter 37

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 37
“This is absolutely absurd.”
The Emperor brought his hand down hard on the armrest, his voice dripping with menace.
His eyes were already blazing with fury.
Why had the Temple overstepped its bounds?
‘Now that I think about it, ever since the current High Priest took office, there have been whispers that the Temple has been unusually aggressive in checking the Imperial House.’
“What’s the disqualification reason?”
Leon, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up.
The Emperor, who had been glowering at the troublesome notification letter before him, straightened and answered.
“They won’t even disclose that. They claim the disqualification reason is so serious they can’t explain it in writing—or some such nonsense.”
“You’re joking.”
“That’s what I said. But when I pressed the priest messenger, he claimed you’d broken some law of the Temple. Does anything come to mind?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea. In any case, I understand.”
Leon nodded as though he’d heard all he needed to.
“We’ll proceed with the betrothal without the Temple’s approval.”
After all, it’s merely ceremonial—unnecessary, really, Leon said with finality.
Yet the Emperor’s expression remained dark.
“I’m not opposed, but there’s the matter of custom, you see. Especially since you’re a prince—unlike the other nobility.”
“I abandoned that title some time ago.”
“Abandoned it? That will follow you your whole life, whether you like it or not.”
Saying there was no helping it, the Emperor pressed his fingers to his temples.
He too looked weary at this unforeseen turn of events.
“They’ll certainly claim the betrothal is invalid on grounds of propriety. After all, it was the nobility and royal family who granted the Temple the power to witness betrothals in the first place.”
That we are special above all others.
That the Divine witnesses our love.
That our union is thereby sanctified.
This worldview had produced precisely this result.
“So the Temple is holding up this betrothal because they want something?”
“Exactly, Marquis. That’s what troubles me most. The Temple has some scheme in mind—why else would they resort to such heavy-handed tactics?”
The Emperor pointed to a particular passage in the notification letter, saying it proved his point.
There, it was written that if he wished to address the matter, he would have to come to the Temple personally.
How to put it. This was rather….
‘They still regard Leon as a Holy Knight of the Temple.’
As though he were a mere subordinate under their command.
There would be no other explanation for them to order about the Imperial Prince and Grand Duke as they pleased.
The Emperor clearly felt the same way.
“It seems our illustrious High Priest has no intention of letting you go, Leon. Understandable, really—you’ve been the best card in his hand all this time.”
The Emperor muttered darkly, his displeasure evident.
Then he suddenly launched into grievances directed at me, and the tale he told was quite something.
First, the story began when Leon learned Theology and became a Priest.
When he thought about it, while Priests and the Order of Holy Knights were separate entities, Leon had been pursuing both—and that too, it seemed, was orchestrated by the High Priest.
Leon had been studying quietly at the Temple and living as a Priest when the High Priest discovered his considerable talent for Swordsmanship, and recommended him for a position that would best utilize this strength.
Leon, having no objection, had accepted.
(The Emperor shot Leon a pointed look here.)
But there was cunning behind the High Priest’s move.
While Priests served the Divine as clergy with a certain independence within the order, Holy Knights operated under the High Priest’s direct command.
In other words, those who moved at the High Priest’s bidding.
And so, once Leon became a Holy Knight, the High Priest’s influence grew peculiarly strong.
“To the point where he openly voiced his opinions on state matters and dragged you around like some hunting dog, showing you off deliberately at every turn.”
The Imperial Prince obeys his commands.
That was what he wanted to demonstrate, the Emperor said, his anger kindling anew.
“Then why not simply issue an Imperial Decree and extract Leon?”
“I wanted to, believe me. But you see, the Imperial House cannot interfere in the Temple’s affairs. And besides, he held both the rank of Holy Knight and that of Priest. There was nothing I could do except wait for him to leave of his own accord.”
The Emperor voiced his frustration with an exasperated expression.
Listening quietly, it seemed Leon was indeed at fault.
“Every time that old priest came to the Palace for an audience with me, he’d drag you along deliberately. Each time I had to witness that sight, I nearly lost my mind…!”
“Is that important right now? We need to resolve this matter.”
Leon, sensing his position was weakening, interjected.
“Do you have a plan?”
“What choice is there? I’ll do as the notification letter says.”
Leon pointed at the document in the Emperor’s hand and spoke.
“I’ll go myself and handle it.”
“What? You’re serious about this?”
“Yes.”
As Leon nodded, his beautiful blue eyes darkened with intent.
“I can’t let this stand as it is.”
Those eyes said he would do anything if pushed to it.
* * *
“Have you all heard the rumor?”
“You mean about the Temple rejecting the Grand Duke’s betrothal to the Marquis? I was so shocked when I heard it.”
“But is that really so important?”
“Of course it’s important! There’s a disqualification reason, isn’t there? There must be something wrong with the Marquis.”
“True, the Grand Duke has been at the Temple all this time. But if the Temple openly states a disqualification reason……. What could it possibly be?”
Indeed. What could it be? This disqualification reason that stands between Leon and me.
And when will they ever realize that gossiping about others in a place with soundproofing this poor isn’t the best idea?
When the very person they’re tearing apart is sitting in the room right next door.
I let out a quiet sigh and gazed at the newspapers before me.
Orden’s high society was still in an uproar today.
[EXCLUSIVE] The Mark on the Marquis—What Is the “Disqualification Reason” the Temple Cited?
[BREAKING] Betrothal Rejected. Was it truly an unbalanced relationship?
I had no idea what the Temple’s intention was in doing this, but the effect had been considerable.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on the ‘disqualification reason’ included in the Temple’s statement.
Though the Temple hadn’t clarified which of the two had the disqualification reason, people naturally began directing suspicion at me.
“I’d even say it turned out well. Honestly, don’t you all think so? If you can’t have it, you destroy it—something like that?”
“Hehe. How terrifying. You’re too much, Madam~”
“Besides, if you’re going to compete, you should start fair and square from the beginning. Did someone just sit back and watch because the Grand Duke wasn’t tempting enough?”
“Exactly my point. Someone had free time, so they did all these social activities. But someone with so little effort shouldn’t be grasping for such a grand prize.”
Rather, it had turned out well, and they needed to push this momentum into a ‘fair competition’ framework.
Their unified opinion carried over into hushed planning that reached my ears perfectly clearly.
“My, what a commotion.”
“Indeed.”
As I nodded in agreement, Doressa, who sat across from me, clicked her tongue softly.
We had stopped by the Eldbrael Hotel to discuss a business matter briefly, and this conversation was spilling out from the lounge tea room right next door.
“The Marquis must be having a difficult time. The Temple isn’t in its right mind either. To meddle in Imperial House affairs, no less. No matter how much money is at stake.”
“Money? What do you mean?”
“You didn’t know? That’s why those women are like that. How much money have they given to the Temple up until now?”
Money…… given to the Temple? Why?
Wondering if she meant charitable donations, I tilted my head, and Doressa murmured “Oh my” before speaking.
“You really didn’t know? Though I suppose the Marquis doesn’t seem very interested in such matters.”
Doressa nodded as if understanding, then leaned forward across the table.
“I hear there are quite a few noble women who made donations to the Temple thinking only of the Grand Duke.”
“Well, isn’t that a good thing?”
“I suppose it looks that way from the outside, but…….”
Doressa laughed awkwardly and spoke carefully.
“According to what I’ve heard, there are apparently some differential benefits based on the amount of the donation. But the thing is…….”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————