Evelina lowered her head, the picture of modest grace, "The world peace is what matters, Your Majesty. Not the name on the water wells."

The Empress felt a lump in her throat. For years, she had dealt with greedy ministers and vain concubines.

Now, standing before her was a woman who was essentially a Saint of Humility. A woman who worked in the mud with laborers and turned down the highest honor in the land just to avoid the distraction of fame.

"I have misjudged you," Aelia said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. She stepped forward and took Evelina’s hands in hers, "I thought you were building a power base to threaten the throne. But you happy being a servant of the people. Dedicated people like you... are so rare in this Empire, Evelina."

Evelina gave a small, saintly smile, "I only do what must be done, Your Majesty."

"No," the Empress corrected, her eyes shining with fervor, "You are a Goddess of Humility. If you will not take the title, then I shall ensure the Crown protects you with everything it has. You shall have your peace, Duchess. The palace will handle the other issues. You can simply... continue your miraculous work."

The Empress left shortly after, her gait lighter than it has been before. She was already planning to draft a decree that would grant Evelina total control, convinced that giving her more freedom was the only way to honor such a selfless soul. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

As the heavy oak doors clicked shut, Evelina’s saintly expression vanished instantly.

She slumped back into her chair, leaning her head against the cool wood of the table.

[System Notification!]

[Empress’s Favor: +500 (MAX BOND REACHED)]

[New Title Unlocked: The Saintly Lady]

[Note: The Empress now believes your soul is made of pure light and selfless devotion. She is currently writing a poem about your modesty in her head.]

"_"

Evelina let out a long, tortured groan.

"I just don’t want the extra paperwork!" she shivered just thinking about it, "Do you have any idea how many forms a Grand Duchess has to sign? The diplomatic dinners? The embroidery circles? The seasonal galas?"

She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

"And the assassination attempts! If I’m a Grand Duchess, the radical faction stops sending letters and starts sending assassins with poisoned needles! I just want to manage my patents, finish my work, and keep the royalty checks coming in without hassles. Why would I let them control me in any way? And why would I make life more difficult for myself by taking up the extra work?!"

[System: Host’s ’Lazy merchant’ traits are clashing with ’Goddess’ reputation.]

At this moment, the door opened and Ace walked in, looking suspicious. "The Empress just looked like she was about to cry. She told me I was blessed to walk in the presence of a living light. What did you do to her?"

Evelina looked up at him, her eyes tired and her hair slightly disheveled, "I mean... if she said that, where is the lie?"

Ace: "_"

...

The smell of grease and coal smoke had been wiped off the Alvarez Estate, replaced by the intoxicating scent of thousands of imported red roses.

Ace had spent the last three days personally overseeing the arrangements in the glass conservatory.

He had banned all talk of pressure valves, discarded the stack of tax exemption requests, and most importantly, he had hidden Evelina’s favorite fountain pen and ledgers.

Tonight, there was a lace-covered table, flickering silver candelabras, and a rare bottle of vintage wine.

"Is this going to work, Liutenant?" Ace mumbled, visibly nervous as he fiddled with a rose in his hand.

"You have personally gone through all the romance novels that maidens in our kingdom prefer, Your Grace," Ace’s second in command, Marcus had an expression of cluelessness on his face.

Ace looked at the rose and sighed for the umpteenth time.

"Shall I arrange for more novels?" Marcus asked, noticing his expressions. Who could have known that this was the same person who couldn’t stand Evelina’s presence for minutes?

"No...’’ Ace hesitated, "Just in case, get them and keep them somewhere else. They will be useful later."

Marcus bowed and left .

Ace stood by the glass wall, looking out at the Northern night. He was wearing a suit of midnight-blue velvet, his hair swept back, looking every bit the legendary God of War that had graced a thousand bards’ songs.

Yet, his hands were holding tightly onto the red rose to hide the slight tremor in his fingers.

The doors opened, and Evelina walked in. She wore a gown of deep emerald silk that shimmered like the northern forests she had saved.

Ace’s breath hitched. Seeing her here, in the soft glow of the candlelight, made his heart hammer against his ribs with a force no enemy army ever could.

"I thought you had some important work?" Evelina asked, her eyes twinkling as she surveyed the room.

Ace placed the rose aside and stepped forward to pull out her chair, "Tonight, the Duchess is strictly forbidden from doing business."

Evelina arched a brow but then she wordlessly took a seat at the sight of food.

The dinner was a blur of high-end delicacies, but for the first time, Evelina found it difficult to focus on the quality of the service.

Ace was... different. He was attentive, his voice low and unusually gentle as he shared stories of his childhood in the North.

As the dessert was cleared, the air between them grew heavy. Ace didn’t reach for his wine but rather, he leaned towards Evelina, his eyes incomprehensible.

"Evelina," he began, his voice sounded raw as he spoke, "I ignored you. I treated our marriage like a burden, and I have done... nothing else than wronging you over time."

He reached across the table, his large, calloused hand covering hers. He didn’t pull away when her fingers twitched but rather, he just enveloped it gently.

"But over the time that I spent with you, I realized something very important," Ace held his breathe as a hint of nervousness crossed his eyes. But that didn’t stop him from continuing, "I can’t imagine my life without you anymore, Evelina.’’