“He’s out on a trip.”
“…Really?”
Even in that brief sentence, Nanisa could sense her mistress’s displeasure. Damn it. Overwhelmed by self-loathing, she bit her lip again. She lied, and for the Grand Duke, no less.
No, that wasn’t it. This wasn’t for the Grand Duke. Nanisa corrected her almost mistaken intent.
She was lying purely for her mistress.
So that her delicate mistress’s feelings wouldn’t be wasted.
The princess spoke then.
“But I haven’t heard anything about it?”
Despite their cold relationship, the Grand Duke always sent a message if he had to leave the estate, detailing everything from his destination to the duration.
Nanisa was aware of this as well.
She hadn’t realized that her mistress knew too.
Once again swallowing hard, Nanisa replied, “He left late at night and didn’t have a chance to inform you in advance.”
“I see.”
Ah, it seemed that answer didn’t please her either. Nanisa resisted the urge to squeeze her eyes shut. I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ll bear this sin willingly someday.
However, her mistress, unable to read her thoughts, simply turned her head away.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the Crown Prince arrived, and her mistress’s mood improved.
Nanisa watched as the princess leaned into the warmth of her family, recounting recent events. Her cheeks flushed like cherry blossoms, and her sparkling green eyes made her look like a young girl.
She used to always look that way when she was in Rosenta. Nanisa shook her head after briefly recalling those golden days. What use is there in thinking about the past? Yet, it was undeniable that this land had made the girl sick.
Still, it was fortunate that His Highness the Crown Prince arrived last night.
Nanisa didn’t know how a man who should have been in the capital of her homeland could come all the way here, but she was glad for his visit. Her master was extremely happy. The siblings had always shared a special bond.
“So, brother, when I looked at that painting, I thought…”
The way her mistress clapped her hands lightly while speaking was truly endearing. Nanisa was sure she wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
His Highness the Crown Prince smiled as he looked down at his sister.
“What did you think?”
“I wondered if the sea really looked like that.”
Is everything really that beautiful? Isn’t it strange? It wasn’t the first time she’d seen a painting of the sea, yet in that moment, she felt particularly that way.
At her words, Nanisa recalled a painting that had been cast out of the room. For someone who felt that way, she had been quite harsh in discarding it. She could still vividly remember her mistress’s voice, telling them to get rid of it because she couldn’t stand the sight of it.
The Crown Prince, unaware of the circumstances, simply seemed to find his sister adorable.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The way the blue and gold blended was really beautiful.”
“But no matter how beautiful it was, it can’t compare to you, my dear sister.”
“Oh, brother, don’t tease me.”
“I’m not joking. To my eyes, which have seen both, you’re far more beautiful.”
Well, of course, he would say that; he’s her brother. Her mistress replied with a small smile, as if it were obvious. Seeing that pure, joyful smile, Nanisa thought, How kind he is. As someone who often felt like strangling her own family members, Nanisa found the siblings’ affectionate relationship fascinating.
It was then that the Crown Prince, gazing lovingly at his sister, spoke up.
“So, where is that painting now?”
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Juliet paused for a moment, surprised by the unexpected question.
Driene might not know, but that painting had long since left her bedroom. It was because one day, when she saw it, she got annoyed.
Juliet still remembered what she had said.
“Don’t leave it in the room. I can’t stand the sight of it.”
The painting she had been describing a moment ago disappeared with that one sentence. It had bothered her while it was there, but now that it was gone, she thought of it. However, Juliet didn’t ask for the painting to be brought back. It was a matter of her pride.
Noticing her sister’s silence, Drien added, “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to say anything.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that it’s not in the room right now.”
It was too distracting, so I told them to take it away. Even to her, her tone sounded awkward, and Juliet averted her eyes.
In any case, it wasn’t a lie. She really couldn’t stand the painting at that moment.
Fortunately, Driene didn’t press further. Instead, with a calm tone, he changed the subject and gently brushed her hair aside.
“Was there anything else you liked?”
“I don’t know.”
Since coming to the man’s land, Juliet hadn’t truly liked anything.
It wasn’t that there was nothing to like, but there were too many things holding her back from openly enjoying something.
Instead, she missed her homeland. The royal palace of Rosenta became her ideal and paradise.
As she fervently longed for that one place, naturally, other places didn’t satisfy her.
The same went for the mansion she lived in. Juliet knew that the man had lavishly decorated the annex, but that was it.
Gold didn’t satisfy her, and pearls and amber didn’t seem beautiful either.
But talking about such things would only make both of them feel down. Juliet took Driene’s hand, which was still holding hers, and tried to change the subject.
“Let’s talk about something else. How is Rosenta?”
“It’s always the same. Father is strict, and Iasonia always sides with him.”
It seems like she lives to tease me. Driene grumbled, but his eyes were filled with love for his family.
Juliet thought of her sister-in-law, who was always calm. She often made jokes in a quiet tone without changing her expression, which confused the listeners.
Nonetheless, Juliet liked Iasonia because she was kind and gentle. There weren’t many people in the world who could care for a younger sister-in-law so attentively.
“How about Ludvel? Is he doing well?”
Ludvel was the son of Iasonia and Driene. Since he was close in age to Juliet, she often felt like he was more like a younger brother to her.
“Yes, he’s doing well. He’s fourteen now and still talks about you often.”
“Really?”
“He thinks you’re his sister.”
Even if I tell him you’re my sister, he won’t listen. Thinking about his lively son gave Driene a headache, and he frowned.
“Anyway, I don’t know who he takes after. I’ve spent more time playing with him, but he only listens to Iasonia.”
“But he’s cute, isn’t he?”
“Cute? No way. You should remember how you were at that age. He’s already as tall as a pole, and he’s so strong that I can barely handle him when he runs at me.”
But beneath all these complaints, Juliet knew that Driene loved his son dearly. He was a man who knew how to cherish his family.
“I’ll prepare a gift for him. Please take it with you when you go.”
“There’s no need for that. But if you do give him something, he’ll probably like it a lot more than what I give him.”
Driene grumbled softly and held onto his sister’s hand.
“Why are you so thin? You’re all bones. Are you eating well?”
“Well…”
“Don’t even try to deny it. I can see how you’ve been living. You’re probably only eating half a meal again, aren’t you?”
That was a bit unfair. Juliet quickly added, “I’ve been eating more than that.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Driene said this firmly, furrowing his brow as he looked at the hand he was holding. Juliet, anticipating the nagging that would follow his observation, mumbled to herself, “It’s true. I’m still human, after all.”
“Who said you’re not human? I said you’re not eating as much as a person should.”
She had mentioned this in her letter, but it didn’t even reach his ears. Juliet frowned at Driene, who was scolding her in an unusually angry tone.
“But I was sick.”
“The sicker you are, the more you should eat.”
“How can I eat well when I have no appetite?”
“It’s better than not eating and getting sicker.”
“It doesn’t really change anything if I eat a little less anyway.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t change anything? You… Never mind. I won’t say anything more. We haven’t seen each other in a while, and I don’t want to make you angry.”
Juliet wouldn’t hate him for that, but she didn’t bother to deny it. Maybe it was because she had heard it so often since she was young, but she really disliked Driene’s nagging.
When he wasn’t around, she missed that, but that was a truth no one would know if she kept her mouth shut.
Feeling a bit disappointed by his sister’s silence, Driene expressed his discontent softly but didn’t nag further.
Instead, he fiddled with her hand and asked, “Is the food not to your taste?”
“No.”
It was true. Somehow, the meals prepared were the same as those she used to eat in Rosenta.
In fact, the mansion was filled with such things. The garden statues, bedding, and decorations—all of it. Even the carpets under her feet were mixed with the style of her homeland.
She just rejected them with all her being.
However, it seemed Driene felt differently.
He looked at her with worried eyes for a moment and said, “If the food isn’t to your taste, let me know. I’ll…”
“I’m really fine.”
Before he could say anything more stern, Juliet quickly interrupted. Driene had a tendency to take matters into his own hands, so she needed to be careful.
