EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 109

Chapter 109

 

‘Wait… did we really make eye contact?’

At first, I thought our eyes met, and I panicked, but now I wasn’t so sure.

Maybe he was just glancing around absentmindedly. Or perhaps he had been looking at the room next to mine.

In hindsight, I regretted closing the curtain so hastily. If anything, that probably drew more attention.

Blaming my overly quick reflexes, I carefully peeked through a small gap in the curtain.

Lucio had already mounted his horse, seemingly ready to depart.

Watching his figure grow smaller without anyone seeing him off, I suddenly realized how long it had been since I last saw him properly.

Ever since he returned from the academy, the only time we actually spoke was when I went to return the library key.

I only caught glimpses of him at breakfast now and then. The rest of the time, he was buried in his work.

And that wasn’t going to change.

Lucio would only get busier, and once I was fully prepared, I would leave the duchy as well.

Of course, because of Diana, we wouldn’t completely lose contact, but keeping this kind of distance felt more comfortable.

“For some reason, this reminds me of the past.”

Back then, I used to observe Lucio from afar under the pretense of tracking noble affairs.

But now, strangely, I felt closer to him than before.

‘It’s probably because I know one more of his secrets now.’

Honestly, I didn’t care who ended up as emperor. But I trusted Lucio’s judgment.

Besides, after meeting Princess Serphin last time, I got a bad feeling about her. Nicholas seemed like the better choice.

Lucio would probably handle it well on his own, but if he used Darel’s influence properly, making Nicholas emperor shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Come to think of it…”

Before, I had been so convinced that Terencium was the best information guild that I never considered anything else.

But thinking about it now, the Marquis of Diapel wouldn’t have relied solely on Terencium.

‘He must have sought out Darel as well.’

It was even possible that Lucio had already made a move, considering his friendship with Ascart.

And yet, they still hadn’t found her…

“I guess Master was right after all.”

I let out a sigh.

It would be wonderful if I could help Ascart and the Marquis find the Grand Princess they so desperately longed to see again.

Even though I knew there was no solution, I seriously pondered if there was any way to help.

Back then, I had no idea.

That the solution I thought was beyond my reach… would soon reveal itself.

 

***

 

“Wow, it’s snowing!”

A thick layer of snow had settled overnight.

Excited at the sight, Diana threw her arms up and dashed outside.

“Don’t run, my lady! You might fall!”

“I’m fine!”

“My lady, really… Aren’t you cold?”

“Not at all! This is nothing compared to the duchy!”

Her chin lifted proudly, as if showing off, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

To someone like Diana, who had spent her entire life in the frigid climate of the Elard Duchy, this kind of cold was probably nothing.

“Besides, my brother got me these!”

At her proud declaration, my eyes instinctively scanned her from head to toe.

During her recent outing with Lucio, Diana had received a set of gifts: a warm hat that covered her ears, a scarf, gloves, and fluffy boots.

Ever since that day, she had worn them every time she stepped outside, clearly delighted by her brother’s gifts.

“Are you cold, sister?”

“I’m warm too.”

I smiled shyly, touching my earmuffs with my gloved hands.

Lucio may have paid for them, but Diana had happily given them to me as a gift. The earmuffs, scarf, gloves, and boots all made me feel warm from the inside out.

Satisfied with my answer, Diana grinned before eagerly resuming her play in the snow.

As I watched her with a fond smile, a cold snowflake landed on my cheek.

Rubbing my face, I looked up.

Snow was falling in thick, endless waves from the sky.

‘I used to be terrified of the snow.’

Now, wrapped in warm clothes, I no longer feared the white landscape.

But in the past, I had hated winter more than anything.

I had no warm clothes—just thin, tattered garments worn all year round. My hands, exposed to the biting cold, were always red and frozen.

If I stood still for even a moment, my toes would throb in pain, forcing me to keep moving.

For a brief second, that old fear washed over me, making me shudder. I turned to Diana and said,

“My lady, let’s go inside now.”

Once we got to the marquis’ estate, I would ask for a cup of hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream and marshmallows.

Even though I had come here to take care of the marquis, I was already thinking about food. I could practically see him sighing in defeat and giving in to my request, which made me chuckle.

“Oh? Young Lord!”

We had been walking hand in hand through the snowy path toward the estate’s entrance when Diana suddenly called out.

Ascart had hurried outside, looking troubled when he saw us.

“You’re here already? I just sent word to the duke’s estate telling you not to come today.”

“Huh? Why?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

Just yesterday, when we parted ways, the marquis had invited me over after lunch to let me try his estate’s famous cake.

“Did his condition worsen?”

Now that I thought about it, the atmosphere around the estate seemed a little tense.

Ascart had rushed out as if something urgent had happened, and it wasn’t just to greet us.

Noticing my concerned expression, Ascart quickly reassured me.

“No, it’s not that… My parents are arriving soon.”

“Oh.”

That made sense. It had been a while since we heard that Bianca had set out on her journey.

During a meal, the duke mentioned that the grand duke and his wife would be arriving in a day or two.

I had been so caught up with meeting the marquis that I’d momentarily forgotten about it. But now that Ascart brought it up, my heart pounded in excitement.

‘And I was curious about Grand Duke Belus, too!’

I didn’t know much about him, but he was the only grand mage on the continent.

Suppressing my growing anticipation, I nodded.

It was a little disappointing that I wouldn’t be able to check on the marquis’ condition and have tea with him, but that could wait.

Since the grand duke’s family was close with the Duke of Elard, they would surely be invited to the duke’s estate at some point.

Even if I couldn’t dine with them, I would at least be able to see them up close.

Just as I turned to head back and inform the duchess of their arrival, I heard the sound of galloping hooves.

A large white carriage entered the estate.

At the front, leading the group, was Bianca on horseback.

She must have spotted me as well because her eyes widened.

When I saw the faint warmth in her gaze, the corners of my lips curled up instinctively.

“Young Lord, it has been a while.”

Bianca dismounted and respectfully greeted Ascart, shifting her attention away from me.

“You must have had a tiring journey, Lady Marietta.”

Ascart gave a stiff nod before quickly turning to the carriage behind her.

Standing beside him, I could feel the tension radiating from his body.

Then, the carriage came to a stop, and its door slowly opened.

‘…Wow.’

I barely managed to swallow my gasp.

So the rumors were true—there were bards who once sang of Grand Duke Belus’ beauty.

Under the brilliant sunlight reflecting off the freshly fallen snow, golden hair and dazzling green eyes came into view.

For a brief moment, my mind went blank.

Lucio had inherited much of the duke’s features, but Belus and Ascart were like mirror images…almost as if one had been molded after the other.

I could already picture Ascart looking exactly like this when he got older.

“Ascart.”

The grand duke stepped down from the carriage and immediately spotted his son.

His deep, gentle voice carried an undeniable nobility, reflected in his posture, attire, and every movement.

For some reason, standing before him made me feel embarrassed, and I fiddled with my fingers.

Diana tilted her head, looking up at me curiously.

As I forced a small smile at her, the grand duke turned to the carriage and extended his hand.

“My love.”

Hearing his soft voice, I turned my head as well.

I had been eager to see the grand duchess just as much as I wanted to see Duke Belus.

Not only was she Ascart’s mother, but she had also been childhood friends with the Duke of Elard. I had always wondered what kind of person she was.

“…!”

In that instant, my mind went blank.

It was as if time had stopped.

The woman stepping out of the carriage was breathtakingly beautiful—almost unreal.

Her pale complexion, which made her seem even more like a porcelain doll, was so delicate that I feared it might shatter with a single touch.

Her fine, elegant features, cascading waterfall-like hair, and especially her radiant eyes resembled precious jewels.

She was mesmerizingly beautiful yet fragile, as if she could break at any moment.

And with her cold expression, an air of reserved grace surrounded her.

“…Haa.”

But what truly left me breathless, what turned my thoughts into complete chaos, wasn’t just her beauty.

In the middle of this white winter landscape, the soft pink hair and deep rose-colored eyes of the woman before me burned into my vision.

She looked exactly like…

My own reflection in the mirror on the day I came of age.

You know me dear Jean, I am feeling mischievous, so …*hehe*

I will leave you all with this cliffhanger for a few hours before updating the rest.