The child warmed her hands by the fireplace, lay on the living room carpet, and played with her rabbit doll, spinning around.
She then explored her own room across the way, laughing gleefully.
“Here! Cherry’s room has such a soft bed-”
“Yes. It’s the same pink as our daughter, isn’t it?”
“Right! It’s the same pink as Cherry!”
Overexcited, Chevelyn bounced on the bed.
Watching Chevelyn, Hilane also slowly walked around, taking in the surroundings.
‘They must have made a hole on purpose to create Chevelyn’s room across the way. I like it.’
It was evident that Aachen had put a lot of thought into it.
The blackout curtains made of soft silk caught her eye.
Nearby, a gracefully engraved cabinet displayed luxurious tea sets and rare tea leaves from various countries, filling the air with a pleasant aroma.
“This… these are those tea cups made by an Endique craftsman only once every two years?”
The furniture in the master bedroom was also of the highest quality.
Chevelyn, who had returned, was struggling to climb onto a chair that was much taller than herself.
“I wish Cherry’s legs could grow tall like trees… It’s too high for Cherry…”
Taking a deep breath, Chevelyn sighed deeply. Seeing this, Hilane lifted Chevelyn and seated her on the chair.
“Now you’re up, right?”
“Mom, you know, with you here, Cherry doesn’t need to grow like a tree. Cherry thinks it’s okay.”
Chevelyn tapped the desk and smiled bashfully.
“…Yes. That’s right. You have Mom.”
“Mom, Cherry will work hard here, just like you! How do you think? Isn’t Cherry amazing?”
Hilane, kneeling to meet Chevelyn’s eye level, couldn’t hide her smile.
“Chevelyn, it’s warm now, so we don’t need the cloak anymore.”
Just as she was about to untie Chevelyn’s cloak, someone knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, it’s me.”
[ It’s Elisha! ]
The child, who had been speaking normally just a moment ago, suddenly became silent upon sensing the presence of someone else.
How could it not be heartbreaking?
‘How long will it be before you can speak freely to others?’
Gently stroking Chevelyn’s hair, Hilane stood up and replied.
“…Come in, Elisha.”
“Your Highness, the servants will move the luggage. They were very kind.”
“Is that so? Was there any trouble on the ride?”
As Aachen had said, all she needed to do was wait patiently, matching Chevelyn’s pace.
* * *
“I must be cautious with my words in front of Her Grace, the Grand Duchess…”
Using the other stairs, Gaeren paused for a moment, holding onto the banister.
Throughout his conversation with Hilane, he felt as if he were facing Aachen.
Her ability to find holes in casual remarks was just like his.
In terms of qualifications, Hilane seemed fully capable of becoming the true mistress of Hestur Castle. Her every action was graceful and composed.
Even when he had rushed out to greet her, she showed no sign of irritation or displeasure.
‘What are they doing gathered there? They’re maids allowed access to the third floor, but why are they gathered?’
“His Grace went to his study, and did the lady-in-waiting of Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, really go up to the third floor, Daisy?”
“I’m sure of it. How many times are you going to ask, Lily?”
Having descended to the first floor, he found the maids, who he thought had returned to their respective posts, gathered together.
“Isn’t the Grand Duchess adorable? I know it’s not appropriate to say this, but her back looked like cotton candy.”
Lily, recalling the tiny Chevelyn, blushed.
“Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, is also so beautiful. She had silver hair that perfectly matched Belzette.”
Daisy, standing beside her, commented on Hilane’s first impression.
“Did you hear what she said to us? She was so kind.”
“What’s more surprising is that His Grace was so gentle.”
“Isn’t that because Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, is a princess of Peztaine?”
“Lily, have you ever seen His Grace being kind just because of high status? He didn’t even glance at Lady Rosanna, who was chasing after him.”
Daisy imitated Aachen and mimicked his expression.
“Now that I think about it, unlike usual, His Grace carefully chose his accessories several times this morning.”
Recalling the morning’s events, Lucy, who had been silent, spoke up.
“Really, Lucy?”
“Y-yes.”
“He must have wanted to make a good impression on Her Grace, the Grand Duchess! Oh my, could spring finally be coming to this barren Belzette?”
With Lucy’s testimony, Lily dramatically pretended to swoon.
“I could die happy right now.”
“Lily. If you die now, you won’t be able to serve Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, and the little princess.”
Hearing that, Lily quickly grabbed one of the suitcases in the hall as if nothing had happened.
“That won’t do. Anyway, let’s do our best to serve both of them from now on. Let’s move these bags.”
Concluding their conversation, Gaeren found himself nodding in agreement, almost unconsciously.
‘It was only two months ago that His Grace ordered the master bedroom to be completely remodeled.’
Aachen’s behavior had been unusual in more ways than one.
He had visited the master bedroom several times, making sure everything was just right.
He had even sent away a few servants who harbored resentment toward Peztaine.
‘Is that all? Earlier, he kept smiling while looking at Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.’
Aachen’s gaze was anything but ordinary, far from a mere political marriage between two nations.
Seeing him with such an expression was only the second time.
‘Was it eight years ago? Since his return from the Principality of Bawentawin, it’s been a long time.’
From a young age, Aachen had never opened up to anyone, always keeping his distance, as if surrounded by thorny brambles.
‘When he accepted the marriage proposal with the princess of Glazé, I could hardly believe it wasn’t a dream.’
It was clear that the cold, distant Aachen was melting for Hilane.
How long had it been since Hestur Castle was filled with such warmth?
Overwhelmed with gratitude for the newfound peace in the once bleak and gloomy castle,
Gaeren smiled broadly as he headed towards Aachen’s study.
—
“How is the Lady?” Aachen’s hesitant question made it easy to guess his meaning.
‘He’s asking if the Grand Duchess liked the room.’
As Gaeren poured tea into Aachen’s cup, he recalled Hilane’s face and answered.
“She seemed pleased that the room stayed warm, and that the Grand Princess’s room was located across from hers.”
“…Really? It was good to have the renovations done.”
Aachen smiled, but his expression stiffened when he noticed Gaeren looking at him.
“Oh, did you inform the Lady about the dinner banquet tonight with the vassals?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I’m worried about the banquet.”
Aachen massaged his knuckles, clearly uncomfortable.
The vassals invited to the banquet were mostly former knights who had survived harsh environments, making their manners rough.
“I’m concerned they might speak disrespectfully to the Lady…”
Although they acted meek in Aachen’s presence, it depended on whom they were dealing with.
He was also worried about how the vassals’ wives would treat Hilane.
One of them, in particular, had previously been rude to the former Grand Duchess, Rose.
‘Of course, Rose was a commoner, and the Lady is a princess of Peztaine, so they probably won’t act the same way, but… one never knows.’
He wished he could cancel the banquet, but doing so might harm Hilane’s reputation in Belzette.
He could already imagine the rumors that would spread, and it gave him a headache just thinking about it.
‘If worst comes to worst, I could just silence them all.’
Aachen clenched his fist so tightly that his veins bulged.
♡♡♡
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