HPBUY Epilogue 2

The more Ricata’s affairs succeeded, the more solid it seemed to become in the eyes of others.

Sienna smiled and agreed with Lady Kershaw’s suggestion that they should at least enjoy tea time together since things had turned out this way. While exchanging light conversation and lifting her teacup, Sienna’s gaze briefly drifted to the lush green trees visible beyond the corridor.

The rich greenery flourishing under the hot summer sun was remarkably brilliant.

It’s already summer.

She suddenly realized how busy her daily life had been, without even having time to notice the passing seasons.

As she stared intently at the swaying green leaves, Sienna placed her hand on her now quite prominent belly. As if feeling the warmth, there was a responding wiggle beneath her palm.

“So. When is he coming again?”

Sienna looked at Lady Kershaw with a puzzled expression, not properly understanding the question. At this, the corners of the Lady’s mouth turned up mischievously.

“That man, I mean. I hear he’s been gaining tremendous influence in the Empire lately, but it’s soon going to be summer vacation season, isn’t it?”

Lady Kershaw shrugged.

Sienna lowered her eyes pretending to know nothing, even as her face turned unmistakably red.

“I can’t believe you’d jump to such conclusions.”

Lady Kershaw burst into laughter upon seeing Sienna’s face, apparently not really wanting an answer.

“Well anyway, it seems you’re handling things better than expected, which is fortunate. I think even His Majesty wouldn’t worry anymore if he saw you like this.”

Unlike Sienna, who still couldn’t calm the heat in her face, Lady Kershaw quickly returned to her nonchalant expression. Having properly teased Sienna, her attention soon turned elsewhere.

Because her office in the palace was located right next to hers, she had naturally begun frequenting Sienna’s office recently.

From what she had heard, there had been a major reshuffling at the Imperial palace as well, but for some reason, a tower of letters from the Empire always occupied a corner of Sienna’s desk. It wasn’t difficult to guess who had sent them.

They were on the same type of stationery, and the territory written on the outside was the land ruled by “that man.”

Observing closely, she had figured out the pattern of communication between the two.

Recently, Sienna, who was spending an extremely busy time with business matters of the territory, would send a letter asking about his well-being whenever she found a moment in between her official duties. He would reply within days. And with letters several times the length of hers at that.

Though being the regent of the Empire, the man must be spending days just as busy as Sienna’s. From what she had heard, it didn’t seem like he was neglecting his work either.

“I’m heading straight to Ricata this afternoon.”

The sudden voice broke Lady Kershaw’s reverie. She quickly looked up to see Sienna tilting her head, apparently having misunderstood her reaction.

“Didn’t I mention I’d be staying in Ricata for this holiday?”

“Ah……”

At her delayed response, Sienna stared at her with a puzzled expression. Lady Kershaw hurriedly nodded.

“I think you did. Have a good trip.”

Only then did Sienna smile and begin elaborating on stories about her territory.

Her usually calm face seemed somewhat excited today, probably because the mansion was finally nearing completion. Listening to Sienna’s words, the Lady thought to herself.

She wasn’t sure about anything else, but she certainly knew which of the two was more infatuated with the other.

Lady Kershaw kept up with Sienna’s chattering appropriately while inwardly clicking her tongue.

It was a shame that despite finally discovering the Grand Duke’s weakness she had been eyeing for so long, it turned out to have no useful value.

****

Having gone to bed early on her first day in Ricata from Parma, Sienna headed to the small garden attached to her bedroom as soon as the sun rose the next day.

Thanks to most of the work being complete, there were no inconveniences for living, but the garden she would personally use had not yet been fully organized.

Since strolling through the garden on sunny days had been one of her few hobbies since her days at the Imperial Palace, she was putting great care into the garden of the Ricata mansion as well.

Unlike the front yard garden, which she had completely left to a professional gardener, she was personally involved in every aspect of the small garden attached to her bedroom, even going so far as to open gardening manuals.

She had planted lilac trees around the perimeter and all sorts of seedlings in the center. Not satisfied with just that, she had placed decorative items here and there.

But perhaps because she had spent her entire life in the annex at the Imperial Palace, somehow the more she decorated it, the more it resembled the palace garden, which strangely didn’t appeal to her.

‘Maybe I’ll just get rid of the fountain.’

She had heard that doll houses modeled after real mansions were popular among nobles with children in the capital these days—perhaps it would be better to put in children’s toys instead of a fountain.

A swing, perhaps. Or maybe even create a small sandy beach.

“What are you pondering so deeply?”

An unexpected presence made itself known behind her as she was lost in thought. Sienna instinctively turned her head and was startled.

“When did you arrive?”

Declan, who was walking toward the garden, cocked his head.

“I sent a letter. Haven’t you received it yet?”

“I did, but… didn’t you say you’d arrive around the weekend?”

“I did.”

“But today is Tuesday.”

Sienna’s right eyebrow raised slightly. As her suspicious gaze didn’t subside, the corner of Declan’s mouth curved obliquely.

Looking at him skeptically, Sienna eventually withdrew her gaze and said:

“From what I heard, you seemed quite busy, but it appears that’s not actually the case.”

“Do you really think I’d be the kind of man who couldn’t even reply to letters on time?”

At his gently reproachful tone tinged with laughter, Sienna briefly blushed. When he wrapped his arm around her waist, she hastily rolled her eyes to scan their surroundings. Being still daylight, there were quite a few servants passing through the garden.

“There are other people around.”

“So what?”

The employees who recognized Declan’s identity showed a lot of interest in his visit while pretending not to, whether that interest was positive or negative.

But he truly didn’t seem to mind as he intertwined his fingers with hers despite her cold rebuke. What was even more absurd was that she herself was blushing at such a minor contact.

“…Let’s go inside.”

With her face flushed red, she pushed him toward the door, and a faint laugh escaped from between his lips.

Upon entering the bedroom, a pile of luggage filling one side of the room immediately came into view. It was Declan’s luggage, already moved in by a servant.

“That’s a lot of baggage for a short stay, Your Grace.”

Sienna looked at the luggage and sarcastically remarked, her voice still tinged with lingering resentment. Declan sat on the sofa, resting his arm on the backrest and nodded.

“More like bribes than luggage, perhaps.”

It was quite an arrogant tone, but Sienna brightened instead. If not his own, then it must be meant for someone else, meaning they were gifts for her.

“Did you bring them from the Empire? Can I open them right away?”

The stark contrast in her tone was so lovely that Declan smiled unconsciously.

“Regrettably, they’re not for you.”

At the unexpected answer, Sienna’s eyebrow quirked up.

Declan smiled somewhat enigmatically and pulled Sienna’s hand. As they got close enough for their legs to touch, he leaned forward and whispered lowly, as if divulging a great secret.

“They’re offerings for the future heir, so don’t be greedy.”

His voice was quite stern. Finally realizing who the gifts were for, Sienna couldn’t help but laugh.

“What an excellent father you are.”

It was admiration mixed with a degree of sarcasm. Still seated in the chair, he released her hand and gently pulled at her waist. As Sienna perched on the armrest, he lightly rested his face against her.

“It will be difficult for me to come before autumn.”

Finally understanding his meaning, Sienna grinned.

So, since he wouldn’t be present for the birth, he was apologizing in this way. She gently stroked his head and kindly defended him.

“It can’t be helped given the situation. It’s alright.”

The person who would probably be most concerned was likely himself, so she didn’t feel resentful. Despite her understanding response, Declan still showed no reaction.

Like a child, holding her while quietly feeling the hand stroking his head, Declan only raised his head after some time had passed.

“Come to think of it, I do have one gift for you.”

Sienna’s face suddenly lit up. Declan silently gestured toward somewhere among the luggage. Having quickly followed his gaze, Sienna’s face fell slightly.

“…You mean that smallest one over there?”

“Why don’t you open it?”

Sienna approached the luggage with a face that already showed complete loss of interest. Her fingertips, showing no anticipation, picked up the box and untied the navy blue ribbon.

Seeing what was inside the box, Sienna froze.

“It’s impossible right now.”

When she looked up, he had somehow approached her and was smiling faintly.

“But someday, when I step down as regent and our child is old enough to inherit the title, then, let’s start over from the beginning.”

Only then did Sienna realize she was crying as his hand brushed her eyes.

“But… I can’t become a Grand Duchess.”

“I’m not asking for that either.”

There was not a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“This time, I’ll live as the husband of the Duchess of Ricata.”

As Sienna’s confusion increased, Declan lightly nodded toward the items placed in one corner of the room. The corners of his mouth curved pleasantly.

“Didn’t I call them bribes?”

As she stared at him in shock, the child, who had been quiet all along, suddenly kicked as if protesting. Having belatedly realized the meaning of his words, Sienna couldn’t hide her amazement.

“…I take back what I said about you being an excellent father.”

Declan laughed awkwardly. He brought his forehead against hers affectionately, as if asking for her understanding.

“So what’s your answer?”

Perhaps because they were so close, his urging voice seemed to reverberate particularly low.

But was there even a need to ask? Sienna accepted. Even after giving a definite affirmation, it didn’t seem enough, so she kept nodding.

She pulled away from his forehead and looked at his face from a slight distance. Despite her teary eyes, a clear smile spread across her face.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his lips, she whispered words of love, and he too smiled brightly.

It was an afternoon like that of any ordinary couple.

~Fin~