~Chapter 08~
“Uh… well, there’s a bit of a situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
After a brief pause, Mrs. Merriweather responded smoothly.
“As you know, this estate is in a very remote area, the weather is cold, and sometimes there are sikuns* roaming around, so it’s not easy to find people to work here.”
(*Note: “sikun” might refer to some kind of creature in the story’s world.)
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Gloria nodded while looking out the window at the heavy snowfall.
Considering that even passing carriage drivers avoid the place, it must be even harder to find maids to stay here.
“It’s not just maids—it’s the same for male servants, so we don’t have many staff. I hope you’ll understand if things aren’t too convenient.”
“It’s not inconvenient at all.”
Gloria quickly waved her hand.
“It must be hard for you to take care of this huge castle by yourself.”
“It’s not so hard. The Duke isn’t a demanding man, and there’s no lady of the house to look after either.”
Mrs. Merriweather trailed off with a bittersweet tone, then smiled softly at Gloria.
“Though… it seems we might have a lady of the house soon.”
Gloria understood what she meant and slowly shook her head.
“I… I’m not so sure.”
“Not sure about what?”
“About the Duke. Sometimes I feel like he dislikes me, and other times… maybe not.”
“He doesn’t dislike you.”
Mrs. Merriweather gently held Gloria’s hand and comforted her.
“He’s not the type to even look someone in the eye if he dislikes them. If he really didn’t want you here, he would’ve asked you to leave already.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I know the Duke better than anyone. He just finds it hard to open up to people.”
Her wrinkled eyes welled up with tears.
When Gloria handed her a handkerchief, the head maid wiped her reddened eyes and continued.
“He pretends to be strong in front of others, but in reality, he’s very fragile and pitiful.”
“His mother… the Duchess… died giving birth to him. The shock of that turned the former duke into a broken man. So the Duke never got any love from his parents.”
“…”
“The old Duke even blamed the young Duke for her death, saying it was all his fault. He didn’t want to even look at him. So I raised him in a small room with Logan.”
“I see…”
That’s why he and Logan seemed so close.
“And when his father passed away too, he was left all alone. That’s why he’s awkward around people. But that doesn’t mean he dislikes you.”
“So, is that why he said he doesn’t want to get married?”
At Gloria’s question, Mrs. Merriweather smiled knowingly and nodded slowly.
“Yes, that’s probably why.”
Her tone was more confident than ever.
“So don’t give up. Stay by the Duke’s side, okay?”
In the early morning, Asthan rubbed his tired eyes while looking over documents in his office.
For once, he had woken up early and gone straight to work, but there wasn’t much to do.
Colin’s supply report was perfect, and the expense report—which included employee salaries and repair funds for the castle—had no issues either.
Asthan set aside the completed documents and picked up the letters addressed to him.
Among the small stack of mail, the one that stood out most was the emperor’s birthday banquet invitation from the palace.
The showy emperor liked to throw grand parties every year, inviting top nobles to celebrate.
Asthan, being of royal blood, received an invitation every year, but he hadn’t attended since his father’s death.
Of course, the imperial family probably didn’t expect him to come anyway.
Thinking it would be the same as always, Asthan opened the invitation.
Except this time, four words were added that weren’t there last year: Your attendance is requested.
He checked the date—three months from now—then carelessly set the letter aside.
The other letters were just as pointless:
- A donation request from an unknown organization
- A wedding invitation from a noble he’d only heard of
- And even a concert ticket for an event that had already passed
Asthan gathered the unnecessary letters and tossed them into the fireplace.
Another year passing just like this, huh.
The sound of fire crackling was oddly lonely.
He had cut off contact with the outside world ever since his father passed, so he didn’t know why he suddenly felt so lonely.
“…Ugh.”
Asthan groaned as he tidied up his messy desk — a sharp pain pierced into his wrist. The bracelet tightened painfully.
He grabbed his wrist and looked up at the sky. A large moon still hung in the pre-dawn darkness. It glowed with a faint reddish light, just shy of being a full moon.
Not a good sign.
He had managed to get through the last two full moons without incident, so he had assumed this time would be the same. But it looked like he was wrong.
This always happened around this time, and as long as he could endure the next few days, it would pass. But…
The young lady might get scared.
Even if it was a secret, she’d find out eventually; he didn’t want her to know now.
No — if possible, he didn’t want her to find out at all while she was staying in this castle.
He didn’t want to see her innocent face change into one of fear and disgust.
A sigh escaped his lips and vanished into the cold morning air.
How should I explain this?
He had told her to stay in the castle for now, so he couldn’t ask her to leave. Maybe he could say something urgent came up, and he had to go.
But knowing her, she’d probably ask, “What’s so urgent that you have to leave in this weather?”
He needed a convincing excuse…
Asthan frowned, still thinking.
Something definitely felt off this time. Maybe he should loosen the bracelet a bit…
Just then—
“Your Grace!”
Logan, dressed in pajamas and holding a sword, ran into the study. The sharp blade glittered in the early morning light.
Asthan calmly stared at the sword pointed at him.
Logan, eyeing him suspiciously while staying alert, asked,
“…Are you okay?”
“What are you doing this early?”
“As you can see, I’m trying to protect Schultzmeyer Castle and Your Grace. It seems like you’re fine. Ha ha.”
Logan chuckled and quietly sheathed his sword, breathing a sigh of relief.
Tsk.
Asthan clicked his tongue at his attendant’s overreaction but held back his scolding when he saw Logan’s wrist — it had clear marks from the tight bracelet, despite his larger build.
Looking a bit embarrassed, Logan scratched the back of his head and looked up at the sky.
“The full moon’s almost here.”
“When morning comes, clean up the western tower.”
“You’ll be spending this full moon there?”
“Seems like I have to.”
“Understood.”
Logan nodded without protest, then asked seriously,
“What will you tell the young lady?”
“Do I have to say anything?”
“She’ll be upset if you disappear without a word.”
“Let her. It’s not my problem.”
“Really?”
“…”
Cheeky guy.
Logan smirked, having seen right through him.
“Why not just be honest with her? She’ll have to find out eventually.”
“She’s a woman who has nothing to do with me.”
“She had nothing to do with you. That’s not true anymore.”
Logan Merriweather met Asthan’s gaze with a serious expression.
I shouldn’t have given him that bracelet.
Sometimes, knowing each other too well could be a problem.
“You sound just like Colin.”
“Then maybe it means everyone thinks the same thing.”
“What do you think I told Colin?”
“You probably said the exact same thing you’re saying now. You’re not exactly a creative man, Your Grace.”
Logan shrugged and raised his left arm.
“Please consider my situation too. I can’t keep playing the role of your other half forever.”
An amethyst bracelet, identical to Asthan’s, dangled in the air.
“And no matter how much you deny it, I know you like her. You’re terrible at hiding it.”
“You’re talking nonsense. You must still be half-asleep.”
“That’s what you always say when I hit a nerve.”
Despite the glare, Logan kept talking.
“As your friend, not your servant, here’s my advice: don’t let this become something you regret. Hold on to her.”
“Arrogant fool. You’re only two months older than me.”
“Two months is a lot. Do you know how many meals that is?”
“Enough. Get out.”
“You always say that when you’ve got nothing to say.”
“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll use this bracelet—”
“Okay, okay, I’m going!”
Logan stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Damn, guy. He’s got too much energy this early.
Asthan stared at the closed door, then lowered his gaze.
His headache throbbed even worse now.
He thinks I like her?
Even if there weren’t many women in the castle, that was ridiculous.
And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Maybe it had just been so long. So long since anyone had come close to him. It felt unfamiliar.
But even so…
If the young lady ever found out his secret, she’d surely run away.
He rubbed his aching eyes and looked toward a letter lying on the corner of his desk — a marriage proposal.
He remembered the pale face that handed it to him and the whip marks clearly visible on her thin back.
Asthan tried to push those swirling memories aside and reached for his calendar.
Right now, the important thing wasn’t that woman — it was the upcoming full moon.
The night the moon would be full was in three days.
Assuming he stayed in the tower for a week like usual…
“…Damn.”
Asthan let out a quiet groan as he counted the days.
“In the Empire, all adults over twenty can make their own decisions.”
“You’re not twenty yet, are you?”
“What if I ask you again in ten days?”
It was the same day as Gloria’s birthday.
He could ignore it, pretend it didn’t matter — but he didn’t want to.
No one knew better than him how lonely it felt to have a birthday no one celebrated.
“So annoying…”
He muttered under his breath and pressed hard on his throbbing temple.
