Alex chose to stay in the Capital, prompting the Emperor to appoint him as the Head of the Finance Department. The position had previously been held by the late Duke, making Alex's appointment seem only natural. The news spread quickly, infuriating the Central nobles as Alex regained influence.
Upon hearing this, Marquise Morgan called a meeting of the Central nobles. During the discussion, everyone sought ways to undermine Alex, but no one had a clear plan. Suddenly, one noble stood up and asked, "Marquise, is the wedding happening or not?"
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him, awaiting the Marquise's response. He hesitated, recalling the numerous rumors surrounding Oliver. The others noticed his reluctance, but seeing this as the only way to slow Alex's rise, he finally said, "Give me some time to think about it."
After the meeting ended, Marquise Morgan sat alone in his office, staring at a portrait of his late wife, who had passed away fifteen years ago due to illness. He whispered, "My dear, what would you do in my place? I don't want to make a decision I'll regret later. I want both of our daughters to have a happy family." Tears welled in his eyes. After wiping them away, he made his decision.
The next day, he called Maria to his office and said, "My dear, every father wishes for his daughters to have a good life, to be married and live peacefully. But the situation is slipping out of my control, and there is only one solution: one of you must marry Oliver."
His voice wavered as he looked away. Maria noticed the emotion in his expression and softly replied, "I understand, Father. I will do whatever you ask." With that, she left, and the Marquise felt an ache in his heart, realizing he might regret this decision in the future.
Marquise Morgan sent a letter to the Ferdinand family regarding Maria and Oliver's marriage, and they quickly agreed. A meeting was arranged to finalize the details. Everything was set in motion, but Oliver seemed reluctant.
"I would like to spend some time with Lady Maria first," he said. "I want to understand her—her likes, dislikes, and everything else."
Initially, both the Morgan and Ferdinand families opposed this, wanting to hasten the wedding. However, Oliver was persistent, and in the end, they agreed to postpone the wedding by six months.
Oliver met Maria and requested to spend more time with her, as agreed by both families. Meanwhile, Alex was occupied with his duties in the Finance Department. After the previous head's passing, no one had wanted to take on the burdensome role, which required extensive paperwork, budget planning, and seeking the Emperor's approval. If a proposal faced opposition, the process had to start over from scratch. Alex dedicated himself to mastering the responsibilities, taking nearly fifteen days to fully understand the system. Within a month, the department had stabilized under his leadership.
During this time, Maria and Oliver continued meeting as scheduled. At first, rumors about their relationship circulated, but as time passed, the gossip faded. Oliver tried to build a connection with Maria, but she remained indifferent. A month passed with no significant progress between them.
Then came the Empress's birthday, and the Emperor decided to host a grand masquerade ball, inviting all the noble families.
At the event, everyone wore masks, concealing their identities. Oliver and Maria arrived, dressed in matching colors as instructed by the Marquise. Among the guests, a particular gentleman caught the attention of every lady present. He wore an intricately designed mask and had dyed his hair, making him unrecognizable. His striking appearance and tall, commanding presence captivated the room.
The Emperor and Empress were also in attendance. As the music began, the guests took to the dance floor, unaware of whom they were paired with. The energy of the night was infectious, and the air buzzed with excitement. Oliver and Maria danced together while the mysterious gentleman danced with another woman.
As the music's tempo increased, the movements on the dance floor became more fluid and intense. Suddenly, as the music shifted, partners unknowingly switched places. Maria found herself before the unknown gentleman, while Oliver ended up dancing with the woman who had been with him before.
At first, Maria paid little attention to her new partner, but as their dance continued, she became aware of his movements—how effortlessly he matched her steps, how familiar it all felt. Curious, she finally looked into his eyes, and in that moment, something inside her stirred. She had seen those eyes before.
The world around her faded as she became lost in his gaze, so entranced that she didn't even realize the music had stopped. When she finally became aware of her surroundings, she found herself standing in the middle of the ballroom, still holding onto him. The room erupted into applause, enchanted by their mesmerizing performance.
As the clapping continued, Maria quickly regained her composure, glanced around, and bowed politely before stepping away. Just as she turned to leave, the mysterious gentleman leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
"My Swoon."
Maria's breath caught in her throat. She quickly walked away and found a seat on a nearby couch, needing a moment to collect herself.
Oliver, who had seen her dance with the unknown man, approached with a drink. He studied her expression before asking, "Are you alright? Would you like something to eat?"
Maria barely registered his words, still replaying the moment in her mind—his voice, the way he moved, and that single phrase.
Later that evening, after dinner, they met with the Emperor and Empress, exchanged well wishes, and then left. Maria, exhausted, closed her eyes in the carriage.
Oliver sat across from her, his gaze never leaving her. He had seen it—the way she looked at that stranger, the way she reacted when he whispered to her. He wanted to ask about it, but seeing her asleep, he remained silent.
The night had ended, but for Maria, something long buried had been awakened.
The party ended, but that unknown person was still in the news; many young ladies were still talking about him, but no one knew who he was. And how does he look?
After working for over a month, Alex realized that the Finance Department required additional personnel. Seeking a solution, he met with the Emperor and explained the situation. The Emperor agreed and granted his permission to proceed.
The next day, a notice from the Finance Department was circulated throughout the Empire.
At Marquise Morgan's mansion, a servant delivered the paper to him. As he read it, he noted its contents:
"The Finance Department is seeking talented individuals to join its workforce. Regardless of status, anyone may apply. Applicants must possess at least basic knowledge of mathematics. The time and date for the examination will be announced soon. – By order of the Head of the Finance Department."
Marquise Morgan saw this as an opportunity to infiltrate the Finance Department. He immediately called a meeting. Once gathered, the nobles read the notice but were uncertain about its implications. Marquise Morgan explained, "This is the perfect opportunity for us."
The others remained confused. Marquise continued, "If we send our people into the Finance Department, we will receive constant updates on their plans. With this information, we can adjust our strategies accordingly."
Realizing the advantage, the nobles agreed enthusiastically and began preparations.
A week later, a new notice was published by the Finance Department:
"Applicants must first register before appearing for the exam. The exam will consist of basic mathematics questions. Those who pass will undergo two months of training, followed by a final exam. Based on their results, personnel will be selected. Registration will take place at the main Finance Department office and will remain open for 30 days."
As preparations began, a problem soon arose. Numerous letters flooded the Finance Department with similar concerns:
"We are from the countryside and have no place to stay in the Capital during training. What arrangements will be made?"
"We come from humble backgrounds and cannot afford accommodations in the Capital. Is there any assistance available?"
After reviewing the letters, Alex devised a solution. Another notice was issued:
"Candidates who pass the first round and are selected for training will have their stay sponsored by the Finance Department. Those who pass the final round will be provided with official quarters."
When the registration day was announced, a large number of applicants came forward. The Central nobles also sent their candidates to infiltrate the department. Maria was selected from Marquise Morgan's household, and many others also participated. Seeing Maria register, Oliver decided to apply as well.
From the Southern Ducal family, Lilian Windsor, the current Duke's sister, entered the competition, while from the Mountbatten family, Lily Mountbatten, their youngest daughter, also participated. Nobles from the countryside, merchants, and commoners registered in large numbers.
By the end of the month, nearly 430 candidates had registered. Given the overwhelming response, the Royal Grounds were chosen as the venue for the examination. Ten tents were set up behind the Royal Palace to accommodate the candidates, ensuring that everyone had a place to stay.
The exam date was announced, and given the large number of registered candidates, the Finance Department implemented strict measures to prevent misconduct. Each candidate was assigned a registration number, and their seating arrangements were determined accordingly.
On the day of the exam, candidates entered the examination hall in an orderly manner. To ensure fairness and prevent cheating, the selected examiners were unaffiliated with any faction and were loyal to the Royal Family.
The exam commenced, consisting of 70 questions—40 on basic mathematics and 30 on foundational English concepts. After three hours, the exam concluded, and candidates began leaving the hall. Outside, discussions filled the air:
"How was the exam?"
"It was okay."
"Let's wait for the results."
After 15 days, the results were announced, with nearly all candidates passing. A week later, the training phase began.
On the first day of training, everyone gathered on the training grounds. Alex addressed the candidates:
"For the next two months, you will study Finance—covering Taxation, Financial Management, Budgeting, Accounting, Auditing, and more. At the end of this period, you will take another exam, so use this time wisely and study diligently."
Due to the large number of trainees, they were divided into 10 groups, each consisting of 43 candidates. Each group was assigned a mentor to guide them.
Many noble candidates remarked, "This is easy for me; I've already learned these subjects." Indeed, children from noble families had been exposed to these topics from a young age.
The next day, training began in full swing. The first week focused on theory, covering basic accounting rules, financial laws, ledger reading, and more. Initially, many found it easy, but as the training progressed, the complexity increased.
The training soon transitioned into practical exercises. Candidates were each given a ledger and a rough book and tasked with reviewing the documents, identifying errors or missing sections, and rewriting them in the correct format. They had three days to complete this assignment.
At first, they thought this was plenty of time since they had no other tasks. However, the next day, they were summoned to the Finance Department and faced an overwhelming sight—mountains of paperwork needing to be sorted.
As the candidates began organizing the documents, they noticed that everyone except them was leaving the room.
One candidate asked, "Sir, where is everyone going?"
A mentor replied, "We are heading to a meeting."
Concerned, another candidate inquired, "If you're all in a meeting, who will assist us if we encounter issues?"
The mentor smiled and responded, "You must solve them on your own. Just remember—finish this by today, or do you want to be stuck here all night?"
A candidate asked in shock, "What do you mean by today?"
Without another word, the mentors and Finance Department officials left the room, leaving the candidates to manage the task themselves.
The candidates began working in silence, trying to make sense of the documents. Three hours passed, but they had yet to establish a clear system for sorting.
Maria was struggling, and the lack of teamwork made the task even more difficult. Lily faced similar challenges, but Lilian managed to categorize some documents, though it wasn't enough to make significant progress.
Half a day passed, and frustration settled in. Unable to continue alone, Maria approached Lilian and asked,
"Miss Lilian, have you found a way to organize these documents? If so, could you share it with us?"
Everyone turned to look at Maria, surprised by her request.
After a brief pause, Lilian responded, "Yes, I think if we examine the documents closely, we'll see the time and date printed on the bottom left corner. We can use that to organize them. The problem is, we have too many documents, and checking each one individually will take too long."
Maria nodded in agreement. "You're right, doing this alone is tough. Would it be possible for us to work together?"
Upon hearing Maria's suggestion, the candidates started discussing it among themselves. They ultimately decided to collaborate, but another challenge arose—how to finish sorting everything before the day ended.
Suddenly, a candidate stood up and suggested, "Since we're already divided into 10 groups, why don't we use the same grouping system to organize the documents?"
Some candidates looked confused, prompting Maria to ask, "Could you explain your idea further?"
That candidate was Count Barton's son, Oliver Barton. He explained everything, and upon listening to him, everyone realized that working individually consumed more time and showed no progress, whereas teamwork allowed them to complete tasks more efficiently. They all agreed to work together. However, by the time they made this decision, the entire day had already passed.
When the mentors and officials returned, they were met with a sight that left them speechless—nothing had changed. The candidates were still there, exactly as they had been in the morning. Not a single task had been completed.
A cold silence hung in the air before one of the mentors exploded, his voice sharp and filled with disappointment.
"What have you all been doing this whole time?"
The candidates remained silent, lowering their gazes.
"It's been an entire day," the mentor continued, his tone turning scornful. "An entire day wasted! Do you truly believe you can stand among us with this kind of attitude?"
The other mentors joined in, their words cutting like blades.
"You are all disgraceful."
"Effort like this won't get you anywhere."
"This is an insult to the opportunity you've been given."
The candidates did not argue. They accepted the scolding, knowing they had no excuse.
Then, breaking through the oppressive atmosphere, a voice rang out from among them—steady, unyielding.
"Don't you think you're also at fault?"
The room froze. A sharp tension crackled in the air.
A mentor's eyes darkened. "Who said that?" His voice carried the weight of command. "Step forward."
But no one moved.
The silence deepened, thick with suppressed defiance. The mentor's patience snapped.
"So be it. No one is leaving this room until the work is completed. You will stay here, no matter how long it takes!"
A scoff broke the stillness. Then another voice, colder, sharper.
"Do you really think you can stop us?"
This time, the mentors were watching closely. Their gazes darted through the crowd, sharp as hawks. A hand shot out, gripping the wrist of the speaker before he could fade back into the group.
"So, it was you."
The candidate struggled against the iron grip, his face twisting in anger.
"Let go of me!" he barked. Then, with an air of arrogance, he sneered, "Do you even know who my father is?"
A flicker of recognition crossed one of the mentors' faces. His grip tightened.
"You're Marquise Clod's son," he said, his voice laced with cold amusement. "The Head of the Infrastructure Development Department." His gaze hardened. "Your name is—"
"Francis Clod." The young man yanked his arm away and straightened his posture. "Now that you know who my father is, release me. Otherwise, you will regret it."
A sudden voice sliced through the thick air, cutting off the growing commotion.
"Who is going to regret?"
The room fell silent.
The mentors and officials, who had just been exerting their authority, immediately straightened as a single realization dawned upon them. Their expressions shifted in an instant—from dominance to submission.
The voice belonged to Alex.
As if on instinct, every mentor and official fell into a proper stance, their voices ringing in unison.
"We welcome you, Sir."
The candidates, who had just witnessed these very mentors scolding them like merciless overseers, were now wide-eyed, watching them bow their heads with absolute obedience.
One of the mentors shot a glance at the candidates, gesturing for them to do the same. Though hesitant, they quickly followed suit, lowering their heads.
Alex barely acknowledged the greeting as he repeated, "Who is going to regret?"
Francis, still oblivious to the power that stood before him, pointed at Alex and sneered.
"I will make all of you kneel before me."
A dangerous silence followed.
Alex leaned back in his chair, his movements deliberate, exuding an aura of unshakable authority. His gaze, calm yet unreadable, locked onto Francis.
"How?" he asked, his voice void of amusement, yet filled with something far more chilling—undeniable control.
Francis smirked, mistaking Alex's composed demeanor for weakness.
"Just wait here!" he declared arrogantly. "I'll call my father, the Head of the Infrastructure Department."
Alex didn't move. His fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, his expression betraying nothing. Without looking up from the documents before him, he simply said,
"Okay, I'm waiting."
Francis stormed out, his confidence unwavering.
The moment the door slammed shut behind him, a heavy silence gripped the room.
The mentors and officials were frozen, their faces pale. They knew. They understood the mistake Francis had just made.
Alex, unfazed, glanced up. His sharp eyes swept over them like a blade.
"Why are you all standing around?" His voice was calm—too calm. "Get back to work."
The unspoken warning was clear.
Without hesitation, the room burst into motion. The candidates, who had spent the entire day making no progress, suddenly worked with synchronized urgency. Fear was a great motivator.
Time passed.
Then—a knock at the door.
"Come in," Alex said.
The door opened, and in stepped Marquise Clod, his face unreadable, followed closely by Francis, who carried the same smugness as before. The young man pointed a finger at Alex.
"Dad, it was him!"
Without a moment's hesitation—SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed through the chamber.
Francis staggered, clutching his cheek in shock.
Marquise Clod's face was stony, his voice firm.
"Silence."
The entire room was deathly still.
Then, with a deep breath, the Marquise turned to Alex and bowed his head.
"I sincerely apologize, Your Grace, the Duke."
The room tensed.
The candidates, the officials, even the mentors—all of them inhaled sharply.
Duke Alex Luxembourg.
The weight of that name crashed down on them.
Alex set the papers aside and looked directly at Marquise Clod. His gaze was impassive, yet his presence alone filled the room with an undeniable force.
"Marquise, why are you standing? Have a seat."
Marquise Clod hesitated before slowly lowering himself into a chair, his body rigid.
"Don't worry," Alex continued smoothly. "I'm not angry." His gaze flickered toward Francis. "He's just a child. And children make mistakes."
Francis, still holding his cheek, swallowed.
"But," Alex's voice sharpened slightly, "I cannot overlook his disrespect toward my colleagues."
Marquise Clod's expression turned grave.
Alex let the silence stretch, letting the weight of his words settle over them. Then, after a deliberate pause, he spoke again.
"I will forgive him," he said. "However, he will receive extra work."
Francis stiffened.
"For the next fifteen days, he will assist in managing and organizing the documents alongside the others."
Francis's mouth opened—then shut.
No one dared to protest.
The room remained silent as realization dawned upon Francis—his arrogance had led him straight to this moment, and there was no escaping it now.
And as Alex's cold gaze met his, he understood one thing with absolute certainty.
He had just made an enemy of the wrong man.
Two hours had passed, but the candidates were still busy and hadn't finished their work. Seeing them still engaged, Alex said, "Okay, everyone, let's stop here for today." The candidates looked up at him as he continued, "I'm impressed by how you all worked as a team, helping and supporting each other regardless of status."
However, the candidates were still worried. The work isn't finished. Does this mean we'll have to stay the whole night? What about the task we were given? When will we get time to complete it?
Noticing their tension, Alex reassured them, "For now, you can all rest, but I want this work completed by tomorrow."
Hearing this, the candidates sighed in relief. "Now we can finally get some rest," they murmured to each other before saying in unison, "Good night, Sir." Alex nodded and left.
As everyone started preparing to leave, the mentors commented, "You're all lucky that Sir was in a good mood. Otherwise, no one would have been allowed to leave before finishing their work."
That night, after dinner, Maria lay on her bed inside her tent, lost in thought. Didn't his voice sound just like that unknown person from the banquet?
Everyone woke up early, determined to complete their unfinished work. They reached the office as soon as possible, and upon opening the door, they found stacks of scattered papers. Without wasting time, they began organizing them. After two hours, nearly half of the work was done.
As mentors and officials arrived, they were surprised to see the candidates working together so smoothly. In just half a day, the work was completed. The mentors checked everything and found it in order. Impressed, they praised the candidates for their effort.
Maria glanced around but didn't see Alex anywhere. Curious, she asked one of the mentors, "Sir, isn't Sir Alex here today?"
The mentor replied, "Sir Alex is with His Majesty."
With that, the day's lessons began.
After dinner, Maria didn't feel like sleeping, so she decided to take a walk. Oliver noticed her leaving and, out of curiosity, followed her. However, he lost track of her and began searching.
Maria wandered into the garden, her thoughts a whirlwind of memories, when Alex noticed her. She stood under the moonlight, dressed in white, her hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of silk. The glow of the night made her look almost ethereal—like a vision from a dream, one he had cherished and lost.
Alex wanted to call out to her, but hesitation gripped him. Would she even want to talk to him after everything that had happened? Just then, as if sensing his presence, Maria turned and met his gaze. Her eyes, deep and filled with unspoken emotions, held him captive.
"Your Grace, how are you?" she finally asked, her voice soft yet distant, as if she were speaking to a stranger.
Alex took slow steps toward her. "Madam, I am the same as when you left me."
A heavy silence settled between them, charged with the weight of the past. The memories of stolen glances, whispered promises, and a love once burning bright filled the space between them.
Hiding behind a statue, Oliver finally spotted them. Why are they sitting together? He wondered. I know they were once husband and wife, but they're divorced now. What could they be talking about? He strained to hear, but the words drifted too softly in the night air.
Alex finally spoke, his voice laced with something Maria couldn't quite place—pain, longing, or perhaps love that refused to fade. He gently took her hand, his thumb brushing over her skin as if memorizing the touch once more.
"Madam," he murmured, "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"
Maria swallowed, her heart aching at the way he looked at her. "Yes, it is absolutely beautiful!" But deep inside, she knew they weren't talking about the moon at all.
They sat together in silence, hands entwined as if time had reversed, as if they were once again the lovers they used to be. Alex wanted to stay like this forever—to hold her hand, to watch the moonlight dance in her eyes, to forget the years of distance and pain between them. But reality was cruel, and this moment, like all the others before it, would eventually slip away.
After a while, Maria whispered, "Your Grace, I think I should leave."
Alex's heart clenched. He felt her slipping away, just like she had before. He had let her go once, and it had shattered him. But this time, even though he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't help himself.
Before he could stop, he reached for her. His arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her close.
Maria gasped. "Y…Your Grace?"
His voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried all the emotions he had suppressed for so long. "Just a moment… let me hold you just a moment longer."
Maria froze, feeling his warmth against her back and his heartbeat steadiness. Her hands hovered in the air, unsure whether to push him away or hold onto him. Every fiber of her being screamed that she should walk away—but her heart begged her to stay.
She slowly turned, and their eyes met once again. Neither of them spoke. Words weren't needed. The ache in their gazes, the way Alex's fingers tightened ever so slightly around her waist, the silent plea in Maria's eyes—it all spoke of a love that had never truly died.
But love alone wasn't enough. Not anymore.
Maria gently pulled away. Alex's arms loosened, but his longing remained.
Without another word, she turned and ran toward her tent, her heart pounding, her face hidden in her hands.
Oliver, still hidden behind the statue, watched in silence. He hadn't heard a word—but what he had seen was enough to send doubt racing through his mind.
Maria was hiding her face… Did the Duke do something to her?
But he would never know that the only thing Alex had done was hold onto the woman he loved for one fleeting moment, before watching her slip away once again.