Obey Me Now

January 18, 2021

“I’ll make you cry. Miserably so.”

Mesarina’s expression hardened, but Amelia continued, a cold smile curling on her lips.

“What was meant for you—I’ll take it instead.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“I’m saying I’m very much looking forward to tomorrow’s banquet. See you then.”

Amelia brushed past Mesarina with a frigid air, leaving her glaring daggers at Amelia’s retreating figure.

“Is she doing this because of the marriage announcement with His Grace, Grand Duke Bastiyan? Thinking she stole him from me? Does she still not realize? She’s being used! What a fool.”

Mesarina spat out the words she had suppressed for so long, the bitterness dripping from her lips. Betrayal? Regret? She owed Amelia nothing. She was the one who loved Edzov first. He was merely using Amelia, and their love had ensnared that foolish woman in its web. Family? Nonsense. From the very beginning, Mesarina had despised the detestable Amelia.

“A scandal? Don’t make me laugh. I’m his true lover! As long as I give him what he wants, you’ll be irrelevant!”

Amelia would be gone soon anyway. Once she disappeared, Mesarina would claim her rightful place. She would undoubtedly become the perfect daughter of Count Cesaret and even the matriarch of the Fioré ducal house.

“You’ll have nothing. Nothing at all.”

Amelia’s expression as she turned away was colder than ice.

“Never look weak again. Never.”

Everything they had tried to trample on and steal from her—she would take it all back herself. As she approached the waiting maid, Amelia spoke with quiet determination.

“I will see the Duke.”

At last, Amelia stood before Belvan, the current head of the Fioré ducal family. Her maternal grandfather, Duke Belvan Fioré, was once the most distinguished musketeer in the empire’s history, a general who had safeguarded the Solar Empire. Although age and declining health had forced him to step back from the military, his presence remained commanding.

“Amelia.”

Belvan’s voice carried a hint of joy.

“Thank you for meeting with me.”

“Not at all. On the contrary, I’m grateful to see your face like this. Who knows when it might be the last time?”

“Please don’t say such things.”

“The more I see you, the more you remind me of Ailey.”

Belvan’s eyes grew misty as he looked at Amelia, recalling his beloved daughter, Ailey. Perhaps the real reason he had agreed to meet her was the fleeting memory of his daughter she brought back to him.

“Ailey must have always worried about you. I should have protected you.”

“No, Grandfather. I’ll protect myself. I will protect what is mine.”

Belvan nodded at the strength he saw in Amelia’s gaze, a stark contrast to the timid girl he once knew.

“I don’t have much time left. That’s why I need to find a successor for the ducal house quickly. Tomorrow’s banquet is crucial for that.”

“Speaking of the banquet, I must mention something. His Grace, Grand Duke Clio, is currently here at the estate.”

Belvan’s eyes widened in astonishment at her words.

“H-How is that possible…?”

“He is my guest. We intend to make an important announcement together at tomorrow’s banquet. So, I ask for a bit of your trust and patience.”

“What on earth are you saying? What connection could you possibly have with His Grace…?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow. For now, please officially permit him to stay within the estate.”

“If he’s already here, I have no reason to refuse.”

“Thank you. And I have one more request—my first and last.”

Amelia’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, betraying her nerves.

“I want to participate in the trial to become the head of the Fioré ducal house.”

Belvan’s face, already filled with confusion, froze entirely.

“What?”

“I wish to inherit the Fioré ducal house.”

“What are you saying? You know as well as I do that the head of the Fioré family must be skilled with firearms.”

The Fioré family judged its members solely by their abilities. Handling firearms wasn’t just a matter of knowing how—it had to be done with such precision that even the family’s musketeers would recognize it. That was why Belvan, despite wanting to bring Amelia into the ducal house, hadn’t done so. No one in the family would acknowledge someone as frail as Amelia, let alone someone incapable of wielding a firearm.

“I understand. I’m not asking for it to be handed to me. I’ll take the test like everyone else. All I ask is for the opportunity. Please.”

Amelia pleaded sincerely before leaving the room. Left alone, Belvan exhaled a deep sigh.

“She wants to take the headship trial? What on earth is she thinking?”

Firearms weren’t something one could master through practice alone—they required innate magic. Musketeers didn’t use ordinary bullets; they created them from mana, the source of which was the heart itself.

“With her weak heart, there’s no way she can wield a firearm. And what connection does she have with Grand Duke Clio?”

Could it be true that the Grand Duke would appear at tomorrow’s banquet? The same banquet Grand Duke Bastiyan was set to attend? Belvan could feel the winds of chaos beginning to stir.

The next morning, Amelia was busy preparing for the day as Mami helped tighten her corset.

“Miss, what’s going on? I was too overwhelmed yesterday to ask, but I need answers!”

“I’ll explain later. What matters now is that His Grace will escort me to tonight’s banquet.”

“My goodness! Truly? Does that mean he’s accepted your proposal?”

“Yes, he has.”

Amelia’s voice was calm, almost unnervingly so, as if she were speaking about someone else’s engagement. Mami noticed the lack of emotion but chose not to comment, instead letting her excitement spill over.

“This banquet will be the talk of the social world!”

“That much?”

“Absolutely! His Grace has never once shown his face in society!”

“Edzov will be stunned. I can’t wait to see his reaction to my little announcement. And Mesarina’s, too.”

Amelia couldn’t suppress a shiver of anticipation. Once she had finished dressing, she decided to visit Eclite’s room. Mami, however, looked uneasy.

“Miss, even though he’s a Grand Duke, you’re not married yet. Shouldn’t you let the maids sent by the Duke take care of him?”

“He’s my guest.”

“That’s true, but still…”

As Mami hesitated, Amelia had already arrived at Eclite’s door. She paused briefly, steadying her voice, though a slight tension remained.

“Not that we’re going to be a real couple anyway.”

With a composed knock, she announced herself.

“Your Grace, it’s Amelia. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

“Good morning, Your Gra—ah!!”

“Oh my!”

Amelia let out a startled gasp, while Mami’s voice was filled with awe. Standing before them was Eclite, shirtless, his skin glistening from a recent bath. The light caught the droplets on his damp skin, emphasizing his lean, well-defined muscles, honed through years of swordsmanship and combat. Though his body bore scars, each one only added to the commanding aura of strength and power he exuded. He turned toward Amelia, his brow furrowing in confusion at her frozen state.

“Lady Amelia?”

His voice snapped her out of her stupor. Mortified, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

“I-I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to look! You told me to come in!”

It wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t been indecent—he had invited her in! Behind the door, Eclite’s voice carried a hint of awkward apology.

“Ah. My apologies. It’s a habit.”

He sighed. In the northern regions, he preferred simplicity, often going shirtless while at home to avoid unnecessary encumbrances.

“There are far too many rules of decorum in the south,” he thought to himself.

Mami leaned closer to Amelia, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained excitement.

“Did you see that? I’d heard northern men had bodies like works of art, but wow!”

“Mami, quiet!”

Amelia could no longer endure the embarrassment and quickly dragged Mami away. It was the first time she’d ever seen a man’s bare body, and the image lingered, making her cheeks burn. Mami wasn’t wrong, though—his muscular physique was like a sculpture, each line of his body exuding strength and power.

“No, stop it. Don’t imagine it. Don’t think about it!”

The idea that going shirtless was just a habit of his made her uneasy about their impending not-really-a-marriage.

“Making me emperor means you’ll be responsible for teaching me everything from start to finish,” he had said.

“Wait… Is this what he meant? What exactly am I supposed to teach him, and where do I even start?!”

No, it didn’t matter. Their marriage was only for show.

“It’s not like we’ll actually be living together. Right?”

By the time they arrived at the garden, Amelia had managed to push thoughts of his bare chest out of her mind. Mami, however, was still deep in thought, her expression unusually serious.

“But his body… it’s incredible,” she muttered.

“Mami, please, stop!”

“Still, he can’t exactly attend the banquet shirtless.”

“What are you even saying?!”

Mami’s face suddenly turned determined.

“This is important, miss. His Grace is about to make his debut in society, and let’s be honest—his appearance is intimidating. He’s already going to draw attention at the banquet!”

“Is that so?”

“This is no time to be complacent! We can’t let that old witch Mesarina gain the upper hand. And compared to Grand Duke Bastiyan, His Grace can’t afford to fall short—not even in appearance!”

“Grand Duke Clio has his own appeal, doesn’t he? There’s… a ruggedness about him.”

“Miss! This isn’t about blind loyalty!”