Chapter 5
As soon as dawn broke, Sertia tore through every corner of the room like a person searching for lice and soon shouted.
“I found it…!”
Having truly forgotten about it, her memory was hazy, but after a long time, she finally held the land deed in her hands.
“Anna, bring me something to write a letter with, quickly.”
As Sertia urged her while sitting on the sofa, Anna bustled about to prepare the writing materials.
With a quill pen in hand, Sertia slowly began to write.
The letter contained an earnest plea asking if she could meet with him because she had something important to discuss.
Honestly, she wouldn’t blame him if he ignored it.
Sertia scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Is this really okay?”
Still, it felt better to do something rather than sit idly by, so she sealed the letter and handed it to Anna.
“Make sure to send it under my name only. You understand, right?”
“Yes. I’ll deliver it myself.”
“Huh? Are you sure?”
Anna patted her chest confidently, signaling that there was no problem.
“Yes. I have to go out anyway to run an errand for the head maid. I won’t get caught.”
Sertia wanted to ask why Anna had to do that, but she held her tongue.
As she watched Anna step out the front door, Sertia whispered softly.
“I’m sorry… Just wait a little longer.”
One year.
Sertia intended to propose a temporary engagement to the Duke of Dicatherion.
In a year, she could save enough money to secure at least a two-room place and distance herself somewhat from the grip of Duke Ellione.
Of course, she would have to work tirelessly to achieve that, but right now, the most important thing was gaining the Duke of Dicatherion’s favor.
“Well, the terms aren’t bad.”
Sertia lifted the land deed from the desk.
Although Duke Ellione still considered it barren land, she knew the true value of that place. She had walked those grounds with him once before.
At the time, she hadn’t understood why he brought her along, but now she realized—he had taken her because, unlike his usual self, he recognized that her magical skills surpassed most wizards.
The first memory they shared had been nothing more than a call for the sake of the Ellione family’s business.
“There’s no point in being sad about it now.”
With heavy eyelids, she waited impatiently for the gift Anna would bring back.
However—
When Anna returned from the Duke of Dicatherion’s estate, her expression was strange—peculiar and unreadable.
How to describe it? Like a squashed peach?
“Hm.”
Letting out a short sigh, Sertia narrowed her eyes and shook Anna lightly, careful not to hurt her.
“Why do you look so dazed?”
“…My lady.”
“Yeah?”
After a brief silence, Anna finally spoke.
“He was kind. Strangely kind… almost too kind.”
Sertia gave her a look as if she were spouting nonsense and quipped playfully.
“What, did you meet your ideal man or something?”
“My lady is my ideal type.”
“Wow, that’s a dangerous statement.”
At her teasing remark, Anna turned her head away with a pout.
…Wait, was she serious?
Sertia instinctively took a step back. She doubted Anna meant it that way, but still, she felt like keeping some distance.
“Then, what is it? Hurry and tell me.”
Sertia crossed her legs and asked as she settled back onto the sofa. Anna sat across from her.
“You said you had no prior relationship with the Duke of Dicatherion, right?”
Sertia gave a small nod to confirm.
“So, I was prepared to be kicked out, but the moment he saw your name on the letter, he welcomed me enthusiastically!”
Sertia, watching Anna’s eyes sparkle with excitement over something so trivial, rubbed her forehead, exasperated.
“That’s probably just because he knows I’m the daughter of Duke Ellione.”
It made sense. A family as prestigious as the Dicatherion Dukedom would naturally know who she was.
However, Anna shook her head fervently as if that explanation didn’t sit right.
“No, it wasn’t like that! You have to believe me—he treated me like I was someone sacred!”
“…Uh, really?”
“Yes! I even met the famous Duke of Dicatherion in person!”
“W-what? Seriously?”
Sertia’s face twisted in disbelief.
And for good reason—Duke Dicatherion wasn’t someone even she, a lady of the Ellione family, could meet easily.
Yet, Anna had met him in person with just one letter—without any formalities. She would’ve been grateful just to receive a reply written by the head steward.
‘Did he fall for Anna?’
Well, considering how cute and lovely Anna seemed even to her, why wouldn’t the Duke of Dicatherion feel the same?
Sertia chuckled softly, her gaze lingering on Anna’s fiery red hair.
The complete opposite of herself—dark hair as black as ink and sapphire-blue eyes.
Her looks weren’t particularly striking, which might explain why she had never been popular in her past life. She hadn’t even secured a basic engagement, let alone a marriage.
‘Sigh, what a fate.’
Lost in idle thoughts, Sertia snapped back to attention when Anna blurted out:
“He kept asking if I was really there on your behalf. I was shaking as I confirmed it, and then… he personally invited me to speak in the drawing room!”
“Wait, isn’t the Duke known to be terrifying? People call him the Demon of the Battlefield, a monster, and all kinds of scary things. But my lady—”
“What?”
Even as Sertia stiffened, Anna blushed and gushed in awe.
“All those ridiculous rumors are worthless. Seeing him in person… He was dazzling—too dazzling to even look directly at!”
“Calm down, Anna.”
Sertia waved her hand, trying to ground her, but Anna was already lost in her fantasy world.
Just how handsome was he?
Leaving the excited Anna behind, Sertia opened the Duke’s reply.
“Anna… Are you sure the Duke himself wrote this?”
“Yes! I watched him write it with my own eyes. Is something wrong?”
“No… It’s just…”
The content was strange.
Rubbing her tired eyes, Sertia read aloud in disbelief:
“‘Lady Sertia, I have received your precious letter. I always welcome a meeting with you, so please feel free to visit…’”
A shadow of concern crept across Sertia’s face.
Did he really fall for Anna?
Hesitation didn’t exist in Sertia’s vocabulary.
At dawn the next day, she headed straight to the Duke of Dicatherion’s estate.
Duke Ellione would find out eventually—it was only a matter of time.
So today, she planned to settle things once and for all.
Even if the Duke hurled insults at her, she was prepared to cling to his legs and beg.
But—
Something about the Dicatherion estate was… very strange.
Everyone seemed a bit unhinged, like screws were loose.
For example:
“Lady Sertia, welcome to the Duke of Dicatherion’s estate!”
The head steward’s unusually excited voice.
And—
“It is an honor to meet you…!!”
The rows of staff lined up at the entrance, bowing as if greeting royalty.
This couldn’t be right.
And it wasn’t just that.
Even the mustached chef made a dramatic appearance.
“If there’s anything you dislike, please let us know. We’ll cater to your tastes without question…”
Sertia, guided by the head steward, was already debating whether to turn back and run.
Just as she was deep in thought, the head steward stopped in front of a door.
“My lady, we have arrived.”
Lost in thought, Sertia didn’t slow down in time and bumped into the steward’s back.
“Oof…”
Blushing in embarrassment, she quickly straightened herself.
The moment the door swung open with a loud crash—
Sertia froze.
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