Slow Life in the Frontier with the Villainess (Completed)

By the time both Dietvelde and Celestina had finished their tea, an attendant entered the room with impeccable timing, pushing a cart laden with a communication device.

The table was quickly cleared, leaving a pristine surface where the device was placed with a heavy thud.

The communication device resembled a small pendulum clock. The “clock face” was a circular glass pane, the pendulum slot housed a cavity for a power crystal, and the sides were adorned with intricate gears.

It functioned much like a video phone, allowing real-time voice and visual communication through the glass pane. However, its operation required a significant amount of magical energy from power crystals, making it an expensive luxury. Only nobles or wealthy merchants could afford to own and use such a device.

For commoners, accessing one meant visiting the Temple of Avilti-Fareth, the god of knowledge and authority, where they could rent a device for a fee.

Celestina inserted a power crystal into the pendulum cavity, gently setting the pendulum swinging before turning the gears on the side to align the frequencies.

Soon, the glass face began to shimmer, and a faint image materialized, gradually sharpening into the figure of a man.

He was an impeccably dressed gentleman, his golden hair gleaming like spun gold and his blue eyes as clear as a summer sky—a striking resemblance to Celestina, leaving no doubt of their familial connection.

“Father!” Celestina greeted warmly.

Dietvelde’s eyes widened in surprise.
(This is the Duke of Sanctrenar?)

The man on the screen was none other than Duke Gustave de Sanctrenar—Celestina’s father, the empire’s Lord Treasurer, and the head of the La Mer Trading Company.

Despite his role as a statesman and the father of an adult daughter, his youthful appearance defied his position. It was difficult to reconcile his image with the weight of his titles and responsibilities.

The Duke’s elegant brows knit slightly, his expression tinged with worry.
“Ah, Tina, you’ve finally contacted me. I was growing concerned after you left the capital without a word.”

“Oh, Father, we parted only this morning. Don’t be so dramatic,” Celestina replied, her tone casual as she scrutinized the image. “You didn’t go to the palace today, did you?”

The Duke sighed deeply, his voice heavy with emotion.
“How could I, when my beloved daughter has been cast out of the capital and sent to the frontier? How could I possibly focus on work? In truth, I wanted to abandon everything and accompany you myself.”

His lament revealed the depth of his sorrow over Celestina’s abrupt departure. It was apparent that he had even skipped court duties, perhaps as a subtle protest against the Crown Prince’s actions.

And yet, despite his words, there was an odd lack of anguish in his tone—a dissonance that Dietvelde couldn’t ignore.

The Duke’s gaze shifted to Dietvelde, and a faint smile curved his lips.
“Ah, you must be the second son of the Marquisate of Savignac—Dietvelde, is it?”

Dietvelde was startled that the Duke knew his name. While his family was known to have two sons, he was usually referred to dismissively as “the second son of the frontier.”

“Yes, my lord. I am Dietvelde d’Oveare de Savignac,” he said, placing a hand over his chest and bowing deeply.

The Duke chuckled softly.
“You must have been shocked by these sudden developments. I certainly was. Who could have anticipated such an outrageous move from the Crown Prince?”

His tone was light, even amused, and his expression betrayed no real grief over the situation.

(He doesn’t seem nearly as distraught as he should be…) Dietvelde thought, uneasy.

“Setting the Crown Prince’s recklessness aside,” Gustave continued, his voice growing warmer, “it is a stroke of fortune that Tina has become close to the future Marquis of Savignac. I trust we’ll have a strong bond as in-laws.”

The Duke’s smile was disarming, a blend of divine grace and veiled cunning.

Dietvelde hesitated but spoke up respectfully.
“It is a great honor to be engaged to Lady Celestina, but I must admit, I find it surprising. To marry someone of her stature—once considered for the role of Crown Princess—into my family… Is that truly acceptable?”

The Duke’s brows rose in amusement, and he let out a low chuckle.
“How refreshingly modest. You’re nothing like your father. That old fox could learn a thing or two from you.”

Dietvelde’s lips twitched into a wry smile. His father, the current Marquis of Savignac, was often described as a cunning figure who deftly navigated the political landscape of the empire while maintaining control over the frontier. He was known in noble circles as “The Western Fox.”

Incidentally, Gustave, the Duke of Sanctrenar, was his father’s most frequent adversary and often referred to by him as “The Eastern Fox.”

“I must admit,” Gustave said, his tone turning contemplative, “I wasn’t entirely opposed to Tina going to the frontier. In fact, I’d say it was rather… fortuitous.”

Dietvelde frowned.
“Fortuitous? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” the Duke replied with a cryptic smile. “Things have unfolded just as I initially planned.”

Dietvelde blinked, struggling to process the Duke’s words.
(He planned this? But how could he have foreseen the Crown Prince’s actions?)

Celestina, too, seemed uneasy.
“Father, please, let’s not discuss this,” she interjected, her voice tense.

“Tina, there’s no need to hide it. It’s better for everyone if we’re upfront,” the Duke said smoothly, turning his attention back to Dietvelde.

“Dietvelde,” he began, his tone almost casual, “you may not be aware, but Celestina was always meant to become your fiancée.”

“What?!” Dietvelde exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

Celestina shot her father a sharp glare. “Father, please stop! There’s no need to dredge up unnecessary details.”

But Gustave was undeterred, his smile growing wider.
“Oh, come now, Tina. Don’t act as though you weren’t in agreement. This is the perfect time to lay all the cards on the table.”

Dietvelde could only stare, his confusion growing by the second.
(What on earth is going on?)