As my father had declared, the next day we left the capital and headed towards the Grand Duchy. It was the start of another long journey.
During this trip, my father personally taught me swordsmanship. He seemed to be displeased that I had been threatened twice.
He believed that when I eventually became the Grand Duke, I should at least be able to protect myself. I agreed with him. Even though it was frustrating, I needed to maintain a minimum level of strength.
“Put your weight on your lower body and draw the sword.”
I diligently followed my father’s instructions. He was quite a good teacher. His explanations were concise and precise, leaving no room for confusion.
My mother questioned whether such things needed to be taught, but in reality, my father was right. How could I protect others if I couldn’t even protect myself?
However, every time I saw him excitedly rolling me around under the pretext of teaching me swordsmanship, I couldn’t help but doubt his true intentions.
By the time we arrived at the Grand Duchy, the season had completely changed.
True to being a place where winter arrives first, it was already experiencing full winter weather. My breath came out in white puffs. The wind had also become fiercer, creating a buzzing sound.
“We’ll arrive in Clanovice tomorrow,” my father said while we were basking in the warmth of the fireplace at the inn.
Clanovice was the name of the city where the Grand Duke’s residence was located. It was the place where my grandfather had settled alone after being driven out of the Castoria Palace long ago.
“Though it’s not as grand as the capital, Rosen, Clanovice is a wonderful place. I hope you like it, Ar.”
My father seemed worried that I, having first experienced the well-developed city of Rosen, might dislike Clanovice, so I smiled at him.
“I’m looking forward to it. I want to go quickly.”
The city of snow and wind. That’s how Clanovice was described in the original story.
To be honest, I wasn’t very impressed with Rosen, so I was actually more excited about Clanovice. I had always wanted to go to Clanovice. I wanted to see the Grand Duke’s mansion with my own eyes, a place that was said to be both lonely and extremely beautiful.
“Grandma Eleanor must be waiting for us a lot.”
At my father’s words, my mother froze and shuddered. She cautiously spoke to my father.
“Have you informed the madam about our marriage?”
“Yes, I sent a letter, so it should have arrived by now. And stop calling her ‘madam.’ That title is unnecessary now.”
In their conversation, I realized that I had overlooked a significant issue.
There was still a major obstacle remaining for our family.
That obstacle was Countess Eleanor Portman.
She was my father’s maternal grandmother. Like Jas, she was from the northern feudal nobility, and her daughter had married my grandfather, giving birth to my father.
In the original story, there were several cringe-worthy moments, and the part that readers found most unbearable was when Grandma Eleanor appeared.
She disliked my mother from the moment she first saw her. Treating my mother as a girl who had stolen her grandson’s heart, she constantly tormented her.
However, my father was completely unaware of this. At the time, consumed by revenge, he couldn’t pay attention to the details of the Grand Duchy.
Moreover, Grandma Eleanor was practically the power behind the Grand Duchy. With the position of Grand Duchess vacant, all the household affairs were managed by her. As a result, the employees of the Grand Duchy were thoroughly obedient to her and participated in tormenting my mother.
When my father was absent from the Grand Duchy, they would deliberately withhold meals, and even when they witnessed Grandma Eleanor verbally abusing and slapping my mother, they never informed my father.
Thus, throughout her time in the Grand Duchy, my mother endured gaslighting, and after coming to the capital with my father, she suffered heartache due to the original female protagonist.
What would happen when my mother went to the Grand Duchy?
I could easily predict the next developments.
My kind-hearted mother would undoubtedly try to forgive that wicked old woman. She would likely brush aside past events and treat her with the utmost respect as a senior member of the family. Then that old woman would become arrogant and continue to torment my mother from behind.
My parents’ wedding was scheduled to take place a few months later when spring arrived. Perhaps Countess Portman would try to drive my mother and me out before that. To her, we were like thorns in her side.
Hmph, do you think I’ll let that happen?
I smiled a chilly smile. Even if dirt got in my eyes, I would never allow that to happen.
The next day, I called my father aside and whispered in his ear.
“I’m going to go to Clanovice first, so you and Mom should have some quality time together.”
At my sudden suggestion, my father looked puzzled.
“Quality time?”
“You just reunited with Mom after a long time, but you haven’t had any time alone because of me.”
He had a very troubled expression, as if wondering what I knew to say such things.
I reassured him with a very childish expression to dispel his confusion.
“I mean, you should give Mom lots of kisses and hugs when you’re alone together.”
When I pouted and pretended to give kisses, he burst into a big laugh.
“Ar, are you really okay going alone?”
“I’m fine. Grandma Eleanor will be at the Grand Duchy too. Oh, I can’t wait to meet her. She must be a wonderful person!”
In truth, that meant I was going to confront Grandma, but he had no way of knowing my true intentions.
“Okay, thank you.”
He smiled while ruffling my hair.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
In the end, the two of them decided to stay at the villa for a week.
When I said I was going to the Grand Duchy alone, my mother vehemently opposed it, worried about what Grandma Eleanor might do to me.
However, when Jas said he would go with me, she eventually allowed it. She seemed to think that as long as Jas was there, Grandma Eleanor wouldn’t dare to do anything bad.
Thus, on a day when fierce winds were blowing, I arrived at the gates of the Grand Duchy in Clanovice. The guards quickly opened the door upon seeing us.
As Jas and I entered the castle, all the employees lined up on both sides to greet us.
“Welcome, Lady Arcadia.”
Their faces, bowed low, clearly showed signs of tension.
And rightly so. Many of them had participated in tormenting my mother.
Soon, an elderly woman with her white hair tied up appeared. It was the final villain, Grandma Eleanor.
“Sir Jas…”
“It’s been a long time, Countess Portman.”
After a polite greeting, Jas turned to me and said,
“Say hello, Lady Arcadia. This is Grandma Eleanor.”
She looked at me.
At first, my father’s gaze upon me was cold, but it paled in comparison to hers. While my father’s look was merely devoid of affection, her gaze was one of disgust, as if looking at a repulsive insect.
Instead of meeting her gaze confidently as usual, I hid behind Jas.
This was a deliberate calculation. I intended to appear as gullible as possible. That way, they would think I was truly naive and reveal their true nature. The sooner they showed their true colors, the easier it would be to drive them out.
“Lady Arcadia?”
Seeing me act uncharacteristically, Jas looked confused.
“Jas… I’m so embarrassed.”
As I buried my face behind Jas, countless question marks appeared on his face. It was clear he was thinking, Why is she acting like this?
Meanwhile, Countess Portman’s face displayed the expression I had anticipated. It was one of condescension.
“So, you are Arcadia. I’ve heard the general circumstances in the letter.”
Her sharp gaze swept over my clothes.
“But I heard you were a girl. Why are you wearing boy’s clothing? And what’s with your hair? Have you perhaps changed your gender? Sir Jas?”
“No, Lady Arcadia is indeed a lady. Due to certain circumstances, she has been dressing as a boy, and for the time being, until her hair grows out, she will continue to wear boys’ clothes…”
“What kind of absurdity is that?”
Suddenly, she shouted angrily.
“If she’s a girl, she should dress like one! How can you put her in boy’s clothing? Did the Grand Duke allow this?”
“Of course, the Grand Duke approved…”
“Tsk tsk!”
She clicked her tongue sharply and then looked at me as she said,
“This is why a household needs a strong adult. If I weren’t here, who would correct the mistakes of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess? Now, Arcadia, come here.”
She spread her arms and called me with an awkward smile. It must have been the kind of smile a witch uses to lure a child into a candy house.
