I Seducing the Black-Hearted Duke Wasn't Me - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 52
“If you have any concerns or questions while preparing, please feel free to ask me, Duke.”
“Your Highness?”
“Yes. Oh, and you needn’t be so stiff about calling me by my title. After all, once you marry His Highness the Archduke, you’ll hold a position far above mine.”
With that, as if sealing an agreement, Bianca smiled warmly and broadly—and every other noblewoman and young lady in the room smiled along, their gazes fixed on me.
Every one of them, that is, except for a single person.
Isabel sat among them like a solitary figure on a bed of nails, utterly silent.
No. This won’t do.
I smiled faintly and spoke to Bianca.
“If we’re going to concern ourselves with hierarchy, I think there’s something a bit odd about it.”
“Odd? What do you mean?”
“According to what you just said, the person in this room who will rise to the highest position isn’t me—it’s Princess Merciel, isn’t it?”
At those words, every eye turned to Isabel. Their expressions made it clear they disliked it, but couldn’t deny it.
The mention of her becoming the future Empress caused Bianca’s brow to furrow visibly.
“And while I appreciate the offer, I’ll have to decline. I’m already receiving considerable help from Isabel. There’s no need to worry—everything is proceeding quite smoothly. Honestly, there’s little for me to do. She’s preparing everything so wonderfully well…….”
……
“So I place my complete trust in Princess Merciel.”
I won’t take your hand, I’m sorry. And even if you all flock here together and scheme, I have no intention of becoming one of you.
Don’t try to shake me with these petty power games. It won’t work.
I packed all of that into my words, and a chilling silence fell over the gathering.
The atmosphere fractured, and her followers hung on Bianca’s every expression.
But when I didn’t flinch and smiled openly at Isabel, they all became even more flustered.
‘They must all be scrambling right now.’
Isabel would become the future Empress of Orden.
And Bianca was a princess of a foreign kingdom.
She was here now, but eventually she would have to return to her own country.
Which side to support was far clearer than they might have hoped.
I simply made that plain.
I could see the pupils of several noblewomen already trembling with doubt.
“Now that you mention it, Duke, I think you’re right. I’m sorry. I think I overstepped. Forgive me, Princess Merciel.”
“No, it’s fi…….”
“But my desire to befriend you was sincere. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m quite a fan of Roar, which you operate.”
Bianca smiled and traced a lazy circle around the teacup on the table with one finger.
“I married into a foreign land at a young age, far from home—and your Roar was my only solace. And while it’s embarrassing to say, I’ve contributed considerably to introducing Roar Tea to Roman nobility. Since I brought your tea to every social gathering, they became quite interested. As a result, most Roman aristocrats now enjoy Roar Tea.”
Bianca subtly took credit for the success of Roar in the Roman market.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely false.
But it wasn’t entirely true either.
“So if I may offer one piece of advice, it’s best to choose your companions carefully. Which people would benefit you, and which would benefit your business. You ought to weigh such things.”
……
“Roar products are beloved by the people of the kingdom. But……you know how it is? Fashions change, and preferences don’t last forever. I could help you. Though of course, the opposite is also possible.”
……
“If I were you, I’d prioritize the mood of someone beneficial to me. What do you think, Duke?”
Her ingratiating tone made my skin crawl—like watching a serpent flick its tongue.
There was no way I could have missed what she meant.
“That’s unpleasant. Are you threatening me?”
“What?”
“If you want to keep selling things in the kingdom, fall in line with me. That’s what it sounds like to me.”
“Ah, no. I was merely…….”
Caught off guard by my bluntness, Bianca faltered.
Her eyes widened and her lips, still curved in a smile, trembled awkwardly.
“You said you wanted to befriend me, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But it seems you haven’t bothered to investigate me properly.”
“……I beg your pardon?”
My sharp words made Bianca’s eyes flicker uncertainly.
Yet her lips continued to curve in what appeared to be a natural smile.
“I understood what you said. Today I’ll discuss it with the administrative head of our company, and we’ll suspend trade with the Roman Kingdom for the time being.”
“Excuse me?”
“The kingdom requested that we increase supplies next year, but if that’s the will of the princess, what can I do? It appears I’ve fallen out of your favor, so I’ll simply have to be careful.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…….”
“I dislike mixing personal feelings into business matters, but circumstances leave me no choice. I’ll inform the Royal Kingdom’s merchant guild that we’ve had a thorough discussion with Your Highness.”
“Wait, please. Duke. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Bianca faltered, uncertain what to say.
And with reason.
‘If rumors spread that the Second Princess returned to her homeland and abused her authority over trade with the kingdom, it’ll be a disaster.’
Worse still, her counterpart was the Emperor’s own brother—Grand Duke Bernstein’s betrothed.
The very act of attempting to win over an imperial princess could be interpreted in ways she couldn’t predict.
“Roar has no intention of parasitizing or submitting to any power under the guise of commerce. I’ll make certain the kingdom understands this point clearly, so please don’t worry.”
“Duke! That was never my intention. Let me explain. Please, just hear me out—”
“No. I don’t think there’s anything more to discuss. I’m afraid we’ll be leaving now. Isabel, shall we go?”
“Oh, yes!”
Isabel, who had been watching the scene unfold in tense silence with only her eyes moving, shot to her feet.
She scurried to my side in a flutter and planted herself firmly against me.
Only then did she release a small, relieved sigh.
“Erna, are you alright?”
“Of course I am. Well, except—”
I answered her concerned question flatly, then stopped mid-step.
Barely suppressing a sharp breath.
“I’m furious. I absolutely despise when people try to manipulate others like that.”
More precisely, it was the act of threatening Roar itself.
Why? Because she knew Roar was my weakness, and she used it anyway.
“How dare you touch Roar? You underestimated me entirely.”
……
“Ah, I’m sorry. There I go getting worked up again. I apologize for showing you such an ugly side of me—”
“No! It was wonderful!”
What?
I’d apologized out of a vague sense of embarrassment, but her response caught me completely off guard.
Not that it was acceptable—she said it was wonderful.
Uncertain what to make of it, I turned to look at Isabel, finding her with both fists clenched firmly, eyes gleaming.
She seemed to be breathing excitedly through her nose.
“It was absolutely magnificent. So confident. You’re my idol, Duke—no, Erna!”
“I… what?”
“And I’m sorry. I kept trying to tell you, but… there’s actually something I never got around to mentioning.”
“Yes?”
“The truth is, I asked His Majesty first if I could take charge of preparing your Engagement Banquet. I wanted to use it as a chance to grow closer to you—”
Isabel tumbled out her words in an excited rush.
Apologizing for her scheming, insisting she’d wanted to do it anyway—rambling almost incoherently, like a colt that had slipped its reins.
And it only intensified from there.
As if she couldn’t control herself.
“I’ve been watching you this whole time—holding fast to your dukedom alone at such a young age, leading Roar! You’ve been absolutely incredible!”
“I… thank you?”
“That’s not all! I’ve read accounts of your achievements in the papers and thought you were amazing. I’ve kept clippings of every article about you. I’ve tasted all the Blending Tea you developed. I even wrote reviews!”
“That’s really not necessary.”
“Of course it is! Because I, I’ve liked you for such a long t—”
That was when it happened.
“This is maddening.”
A sharp voice cut through the air from nearby, and a firm arm wrapped around my waist.
Without hesitation, he pulled me backward.
My back struck what felt like a solid wall with a dull thud, and a familiar scent washed over me.
Followed by a low voice dripping with displeasure.
“This is exactly why I told you to stay away from her.”
“Leon?”
What are you doing here?

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