The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Side Story 1

One night in June, three years later, when the grapes were ripening.

In the splendid banquet hall of the imperial palace of the Richert Empire, a grand celebration was being held for the twins’ third birthday.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress will now enter.”

After the herald’s call, Louid and Emilia, arms linked, entered the hall.

Louid was wearing a tailcoat designed by Emilia. The ivory dress Emilia wore was also her own design.

She was no longer active as the designer Roe, and only designed clothes for her family herself.

“Next, today’s main guests, His Highness Prince Gerard and Her Highness Princess Elea, will enter.”

Dressed in adorable tailcoats and dresses specially designed by the retired designer Roe, the children appeared, toddling along while holding the hands of the head maid Helen and their nanny.

Gerard was the name of Louid’s father, the former emperor, and Elea was the name given by the children’s godfather, Duke Asher.

Waa-

At the sound of applause filling the vast hall, the children looked around in confusion.

“Oh my, how cute.”

“They’ve grown so much.”

At the squirrel-like adorable appearance of the prince and princess, the attendees gathered in the hall burst into laughter.

“The older they get, the more they resemble His Majesty the Emperor.”

“That’s true.”

There was a reason for the guests’ admiration. The emperor, prince, and princess looked identical, as if stamped from the same mold. The prince and princess had jet-black hair and red eyes like embedded rubies.

“But that dress is pretty. Who made it?”

The ladies’ attention naturally shifted to the dresses worn by the empress and Elea.

“I asked Madame Bella, and she said Roe designed it.”

“Is Roe not active again?”

“I guess not yet.”

“That’s a shame. The dresses Roe designed were so beautiful….”

“Exactly.”

The ladies, covering their mouths with their fans, were busy talking about Roe.

“His Majesty the Emperor will now deliver a speech.”

At the chamberlain’s guidance, the hall fell silent.

“Distinguished guests who have attended the birthday celebration of the prince and princess today. Welcome.”

Standing at the front, Louid began his speech, while Emilia stood a little apart from him and smiled quietly.

There was a reason Louid held the children’s birthday celebration on such a grand scale. It was to completely eliminate the perception that families who bore twins were cursed.

Before coming to the banquet, they had first greeted the citizens of the empire from the balcony. The people of the empire gave generous cheers and applause for the twin prince and princess in their arms.

If the emperor and empress continued their efforts like this, the discriminatory perception toward twins, including Gerard and Elea, would disappear soon.

“I hereby proclaim Prince Gerard as the Crown Prince of the Richert Empire.”

Waaah-

At Louid’s sudden announcement, applause and cheers erupted once more.

When Louid finished his speech, Emilia approached him, embraced him, and kissed him. The children, each holding Helen’s and the nanny’s hands, stretched out their small hands toward their parents as if asking for kisses too.

“Next will be the cake-cutting ceremony.”

Louid and Emilia each held one child and stood in front of the large cake. When the two of them blew out the candles, the children puckered their lips and mimicked blowing them out.

Waaah-

Applause broke out again.

“Next will be the birthday song.”

The chamberlain called out loudly.

“Hello. I’m Romi. Happy birthday to His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess.”

The person who appeared to sing was the minstrel Romi.

He worked as a choir member at the Grand Temple and was often invited to sing at state events as well. Today, instead of the emperor’s favorite song, “The Lover of Peric Harbor,” he sang a birthday song for the prince and princess.

Along with the orchestra’s performance, Romi’s song echoed throughout the hall. It was a beautiful voice that could enchant even fairies living in the forest.

[Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

Beloved Prince and Princess.

May beautiful days unfold before you.

Listen well to the words of your parents who brought you into this world.

Grow up strong and healthy.]

Waaah-

When the song ended, cheers and applause rang out. Gerard and Elea also clapped their small hands along.

Gerard, in particular, looked deeply moved.

“It seems he understands the meaning of the lyrics,” Emilia whispered to Louid, who was standing beside her.

“It seems so,” Louid also whispered back with a proud expression.

“He takes after you.”

“Haha.”

She also liked music, but Gerard especially seemed to have taken after Louid’s taste, who loved Romi’s singing.

Next was the presentation of birthday gifts. Louid and Emilia had informed the attendees in advance not to bring gifts. Instead, they gave the children the presents they had prepared one by one.

After the gift presentation ended, Helen and the nanny took the children and left.

“Your Majesty, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Louid and Emilia spoke with the guests in attendance with bright expressions.

“Sister, congratulations.”

A refined man in a black tailcoat approached her and spoke. Damian now called her sister.

“Thank you. Where’s Simon?”

Emilia looked around Damian.

“He fell earlier and said his leg hurt. So I couldn’t bring him.”

“Oh no, I should go visit him at the ducal castle sometime.”

Emilia’s face darkened. To both of them, Simon was like family.

“That would be good. He’s not seriously hurt, so don’t worry too much.”

“Alright.”

***

Three years ago, Louid said something unexpected to Damian.

“Damian, go to Keros Island. Someone you’ll be glad to see is waiting there.”

Keros Island….

The moment he heard the name of the island from Louid, Simon came to mind. When Simon helped him escape, he had told him to go to Keros Island.

‘Simon, you were waiting for me.’

His eyes reddened. After informing Emilia of his destination, he immediately rode off toward Keros Island.

After being delayed for several days due to rough seas, he finally arrived. Keros was a small island with very few inhabitants.

“May I ask something? Is there someone named Simon here?”

After getting off at the port, Damian asked a fisherman nearby who was sorting his nets.

“Simon? You mean the one who came from the mainland? He lives in a small house up on that hill.”

“Thank you.”

So Simon really was waiting for me.

Damian’s eyes grew moist. He hurried toward the hill.

At the small house on the hill, an old man with white hair was sitting in a chair. He was staring blankly out at the sea.

Simon’s eyesight was dim and his strength was gone. His hair had turned white, and his back was bent. But Damian recognized him at a glance.

“Simon.”

When he called out, Simon slowly turned his head. Simon rose from the chair and reached out his hand toward him. He looked as if he couldn’t tell whether what he was seeing was real or an illusion.

“It’s me, Simon.”

When Damian called out once more, Simon’s expression finally brightened.

“Young master, you’re alive.”

The two embraced and cried for a long time.

“Thank you. I was able to survive thanks to you.”

“No, young master. Please, come inside first.”

Simon still retained the habits from when he had served as the duke’s butler. He bowed politely and guided Damian into the house.

Sitting across from each other at the small table, the two shed tears and smiled as they caught up.

Damian thought back on the past.

If Simon had disobeyed the orders of the Duke of Berthe, Emilia and I might have been killed by our grandfather. Because Simon followed the duke’s orders only as much as necessary while still looking after us, Emilia and I were able to grow up safely, even if it was in the tower.

Then, when our lives were in danger, he helped me escape and told Emilia to marry if she had to, just to leave the ducal estate.

“It’s not like I did anything. I’ve always been sorry that I couldn’t provide more for you.”

Simon shed tears of regret. He had tried to raise the children well, but he had to deceive the Duke of Berthe’s watchful eyes, so he couldn’t treat them as well as he wished. After his wife, who had helped care for the children, passed away, things became even more difficult.

“No. I know you did your best, and Emilia knows it too.” Damian comforted him gently.

“Is Lady Emilia alive? I believed that both the young lady and you had passed away.”

At the news that Emilia was alive, Simon covered his face with both hands, deeply moved. Damian waited quietly until he calmed down.

Simon told him about how he’d wandered aimlessly after learning that something had gone wrong with Emilia and Damian.

“When I had lost all hope in life, I met someone who was wandering even more than I was. He was searching for his wife. He told me not to lose hope and to return to the island.”