the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 236: v2 Chapter 55: a father’s concern III

The Duke did not go to the palace immediately.

He needed a moment to collect himself.

The knowledge that Marian was already staying there had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. Still, he refused to let it show.

He had come to see his daughter.

That was all.

The carriage brought him to the Imperial Palace shortly afterward.

The palace was busier than he remembered. Servants moved through the corridors carrying documents and invitations, while officials hurried from one meeting to another. Everywhere he looked, there were signs of the preparations already underway.

The Empire was moving.

The Duke was announced shortly after his arrival.

Rather than being taken to the usual guest apartments, however, he was escorted deeper into the private section of the Imperial Palace.

The Duke noticed.

He said nothing.

The palace was enormous. There were countless rooms in which an important guest could be received, and he initially assumed that Marian had simply been given one of the private suites reserved for distinguished visitors.

Then the corridor changed.

The number of servants diminished.

The guards became more discreet.

The atmosphere quieter.

More personal.

The Duke slowed slightly.

This was not the part of the palace where visiting nobles were usually lodged.

He glanced at the attendant walking ahead of him.

The man remained perfectly composed.

The Duke said nothing.

He had a sinking feeling he already knew the answer.

The attendant stopped before a set of doors.

”This room has been prepared for Your Grace.”

The doors opened.

It was a private sitting room.

Elegant, comfortable, and unmistakably part of the Emperor’s personal apartments.

The Duke stepped inside.

His eyes moved around the room.

A vase of flowers.

Several books resting on a side table.

A shawl draped neatly over the back of a chair.

Small things.

Personal things.

Not the impersonal arrangement of a guest suite.

The Duke stared at the flowers for a moment.

Then slowly exhaled.

Of course.

He turned toward the attendant.

”Lady Marian will be joining me?”

”Yes, Your Grace.”

The Duke nodded.

”Very well.”

The attendant bowed and withdrew.

The doors closed.

The Duke stood alone.

For a moment, he simply looked around.

His daughter.

In the Emperor’s private apartments.

Before the wedding.

He rubbed his forehead.

He was beginning to understand why the entire journey had felt like one unpleasant surprise after another.

A few minutes later, the doors opened again.

Marian entered.

”Father.”

The Duke turned.

His expression was perfectly calm.

Too calm.

Marian knew that expression.

She stopped.

”Oh.”

The Duke raised one eyebrow.

Marian glanced around the room.

Then back at him.

”You noticed.”

”I am not blind.”

She pressed her lips together.

The Duke looked toward the adjoining doors.

”These are the Emperor’s private chambers.”

”Yes.”

”And you are staying here.”

”Yes.”

A pause.

Marian offered him a small smile.

”Please don’t be angry.”

”I am not angry.”

”You look angry.”

”I am trying to decide whether I should be.”

Marian laughed softly.

The Duke sighed.

”Marian.”

”I know.”

”You are not married yet.”

”I know.”

”And this is the Emperor’s private residence.”

”I know that too.”

He stared at her.

She gave him an apologetic smile.

”I didn’t think you’d be pleased.”

”You thought correctly.”

She stepped closer.

”But Father...”

The Duke looked at her.

Marian took his arm.

”Please.”

He sighed.

”When you were a child, you were much easier to manage.”

Marian smiled.

”I was obedient.”

”You were.”

”And now?”

”Now you give me headaches.”

She laughed.

”But you still love me.”

The Duke looked at her.

”That is precisely the problem.”

Marian hugged him.

The Duke’s stern expression finally gave way.

He placed an arm around her.

”I missed you.”

”I missed you too.”

They remained that way for a moment.

Then Marian pulled back.

Her expression softened.

”I know this must all seem rather strange.”

”It does.”

She lowered her eyes.

”I didn’t intend for things to happen this way.”

”I believe you.”

”I only wanted to be with him.”

The Duke was quiet.

Marian looked up.

”And I am happy.”

He studied her face.

This time, he didn’t ask whether she was certain.

He could see it.

”I am glad.”

Marian smiled.

”Really?”

”Yes.”

She took his hand.

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

Then a small smile returned to her lips.

”So...”

The Duke glanced at her.

”I have your blessing?”

There was a teasing note in her voice.

The Duke stared at her for a moment.

Then sighed.

”You’ve had it from the beginning.”

Marian smiled.

”Good.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

”Thank you.”

The Duke shook his head.

”You really have become troublesome.”

”You said that already.”

”And it remains true.”

She laughed.

For a little while, they simply sat together.

The Duke let himself enjoy the moment.

But the questions remained.

He still did not know what Adrian wanted from Marian.

Perhaps he still loved her.

Perhaps the feelings that had once seemed so certain had survived after all.

Or perhaps they had become something else.

The Duke could not know.

There were too many things he had seen over the years, too many things he had never been able to prove, and now this strange turn of events that seemed to make the past even harder to understand.

Adrian had not merely asked Marian to marry him.

He was going to make her Empress.

He had brought her into his private chambers before the wedding.

If this was vengeance, it was a strange form of it.

And if it was love, then the Duke could only wonder what that love had become.

He had no answer.

So he looked at his daughter instead.

She was happy.

That was what mattered.

For now.

The Duke squeezed her hand.

”But if you ask me whether I am completely at ease with this...”

Marian’s smile faded slightly.

The Duke shook his head.

”I won’t lie to you.”

”I understand.”

”You have chosen him.”

”Yes.”

”And I will not stand in your way.”

Marian nodded.

”But I want you to remember something.”

She waited.

”You once hurt Adrian very deeply.”

Her eyes lowered.

”I know.”

”I’m not reminding you of that to make you feel guilty.”

”I know.”

”I only want you to understand that people are not always unchanged by that kind of hurt.”

Marian was quiet.

”Whatever he feels for you now,” the Duke continued, ”it may be exactly what you hope it is.”

He paused.

”It may even be stronger.”

Marian looked at him.

”But don’t assume that nothing changed.”

She considered his words.

Then nodded.

”I don’t.”

The Duke watched her.

”I know I hurt him.”

A pause.

”And I know that I cannot expect everything to simply return to what it was before.”

The Duke’s expression softened.

Marian squeezed his hand.

”But Adrian forgave me.”

”You believe that?”

”Yes.”

Her answer was immediate.

”I do.”

The Duke nodded slowly.

He still had his doubts.

But Marian understood what he had asked her to understand.

That was enough.

She leaned against his shoulder.

”I’m really happy, Father.”

The Duke rested his hand over hers.

”I know.”

He looked down at his daughter.

And for all the questions he could not answer, he could only hope that the happiness in her eyes would remain there.

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Tbc