SMTLIEACM Chapter 18

Chapter translated by Gon.

 

The next day, after spending a night at the inn in Laksen, Etisha stood in front of the Warphtel with a new mindset. It was finally time to head north.

 

“I’m ready.”

 

Etisha took a deep breath. As Kaiyen stood beside her, the magical circle on the floor activated and began to glow brilliantly.

 

“Everyone has been waiting for us since yesterday, I hope they’re not too worried.”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ve contacted my aides separately.”

 

“You did?”

 

“Yes. They should be picking us up by now.”

 

Soon the magic circle was completely white.

 

There was a flash of light, and she felt as if she were flying. It was as if her entire body was shedding its physical restraints, leaving only her pure spirit to float.

 

The next moment, she opened her eyes and saw a white snowy field in front of her.

 

A big snowy field.

 

“Ah……!”

 

An admiring sigh spat out of Etisha’s mouth. The air was cold and the wind was sharp because the temperature had dropped. 

 

Her shoulder were shaking.

 

Etisha reached out her arm and caught a snowflake that was floating by. The pure white snow melted in her hands, a feeling of happiness she hadn’t felt since being in the busy Imperial city.

 

“This is the Wintel Duchy……!

 

The breathtaking scenery and the stubborn northern weather finally made it all sink in.

 

‘I’m so far away from Heinz Manor.’

 

Etisha looked around with wide eyes, amazed at her surroundings. Every step she took was new: footprints in the snow, Kaiyen at her side.

 

‘No one can hurt me here, not my sister, not my parents.’

 

When she thought about it, even the stones on the side of the road seemed new and special to her.

 

‘I will never go back to that house again.’

 

Suddenly, her heart was pounding with excitement.

 

Etisha gazed out at the endless snowy field and felt a sense of freedom. For once, she was truly free.

 

“Miss Etisha. You’re cold, come here.”

 

Kaiyen called to her, but She was too transfixed to notice the cold. Her expression of pure joy was exactly like the one she’d seen in the candy store yesterday.

 

“…….”

 

To think she was so happy over something as simple as this. Kaiyen stared at Etisha, his gaze fixed on her. Just then, Valdebram, the aide who had welcomed them, appeared from behind.

 

“Duke. You have arrived.”

 

And then another. A blond, long-haired Judith rushed up to Kaiyen and hugged him.

 

“Kaiyen, you’re late, I’ve been waiting for you.”

 

Judith gazed at Kaiyen with a gleam in her eye. It was a look that would have mesmerized any normal man.

 

“I’m glad you’re finally here. Let’s go to the castle, the banquet is already ready.”

 

“What do you mean by banquet?”

 

“The Madame arranged for a banquet as soon as she heard about your marriage.”

 

“..Mother did?”

 

“Yes. The guests will be arriving in a little while.”

 

Judith turned toward Etisha and said proudly.

 

“And, Kaiyen. You should be happy. I’ve finally been allowed to attend today. Mother has invited me.”

 

Etisha turned her head at the sound of the excited conversation. Her eyes locked with Judith’s, and she stopped walking.

 

‘Judith……?’

 

She looked so radiant and beautiful in Kaiyen’s arms.

 

‘When did she get here, and how does she look like that…….?’

 

Etisha looked at them both silently, then lowered her head. The tiny buds were nowhere to be seen, and once again her heart felt heavy. 

 

‘Yes…… yes, the Duke give me details.’

 

Etisha felt like a fool.

 

She hadn’t meant to meddle in their relationship, and she’d known this was coming from the start.

 

‘I know everything but why did I wish to be with him? Why did I ever wish for that?’

 

It was foolish.

 

‘I shouldn’t have, I’m supposed to be just  pretend, fake Duchess…….’

 

Etisha wiped the bitter smile off her face and shook off her discomfort. The sweet taste of the candy in her mouth was long gone, and now her mouth felt rough like she had chewed on a leaf.

 

Seeing the look on Etisha’s face, Kaiyen left Judith’s side and approached her.

 

“Lady Etisha.”

 

“……Duke.”

 

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but my mother is hosting a banquet tonight.”

 

“A banquet……?”

 

“Yes. Normally, she would have had a day to prepare, but since we arrived a day late, she must have gotten on a tight schedule. Lady Etisha will need to attend, is that okay?”

 

Kaiyen asked, looking at her face. She also studied his face as he looked down at her, then slowly closed her eyes.

 

“Yes……. It’s okay.”

 

After all, She was about to die.

 

It was Kaiyen and Judith who would be left on this earth, not Etisha.

 

‘Yeah, I’m fine with that. I just want them to be happy for a long time instead of me.’

 

Etisha’s stomach churned, and she couldn’t tell if it was from another burst of magic, or just because of her heart breaking.

 

‘Rather, I should be grateful to Duke Kaiyen and Judith.’

 

The snowy field and the sense of freedom…….

 

It was only because of their love that Etisha was able to get this opportunity. If the Duke of Kaiyen didn’t have a mistress, so he didn’t need to get a fake Duchess, and if he couldn’t have a contract marriage…

 

‘I still wouldn’t have gotten out of the Heinz mansion.’

 

She was grateful to him, to Judith, to all of them.

 

They were like lifesavers to her.

 

Etisha closed her eyes and let out a faint sigh. Her foggy breath warmed the cold air.

 

“I will attend the banquet, as the soon-to-be Duchess of Wintel.”

 

She would do it flawlessly.

 

Etisha steeled herself.

 

* * *

 

Shortly thereafter, Etisha boarded a carriage and traveled to House Wintel.

 

The Wintel estate was located in the north, but it wasn’t in the front of their property, so they had to travel by carriage. 

 

During the carriage ride, Etisha couldn’t take her eyes off the window. The snowy landscape, the capital city, and the other buildings were all so interesting that she never got bored.

 

“The walls surrounding the manor are very high.”

 

It’s almost twice as tall as the imperial palace in the capital. And there wasn’t just one wall. The walls were triple-layered and seemed to bear the marks of a war that had ended.

 

“And is that Mount ……?”

 

A rugged black mountain stood tall in the middle of Wintel’s property, with a snowy white peak and a dark base where it touched the ground.

 

”I’ve never heard of a black mountain before.”

 

Etisha asked Kaiyen.

 

“Duke, what is the name of that mountain over there?”

 

Kaiyen followed Etisha’s fingertips as she pointed out the window, and instead of answering, he let a small smile play across his lips.

 

“You’ll find out when we get closer.”

 

Amd he was right; Her question was quickly answered as they got closer and Etisha’s blue eyes shone with wonder.

 

“Oh my God!!!…….”

 

What appeared to be nothing but a black, tall mountain from a distance became clearer as they drew closer.

 

A black castle towering into the sky.

 

It was the Wintel Castle.

 

Etisha pressed a small clenched fist to the corner of her mouth and blinked her round eyes. As they passed the guards and entered the Wintel Castle, there was so much to see that it was hard to know where to look.

 

Embroidered banners was fluttering throughout the castle. Trained knights standing at attention in single file. A front yard so vast and open that it felt more like a forest than a garden…….

 

Everyone passing by the castle was sharp-eyed and well-dressed. Not only the knights, but also the servants and maids, seemed to have undergone proper training to keep themselves in good shape.

 

“We have arrived, Duke. I’m afraid it’s time for you to change into your banqueting attire.”

 

As the carriage stopped in front of the castle, Valdefram opened the carriage door. The way he fiddled with the collar of his uniform suggested that he was more nervous than usual given the impending banquet.

 

“Yes, I hope nothing happened while I was away.”

 

Kaiyen asked Valdebram as he stepped out of the carriage, his tone uncharacteristically relaxed.

 

“Yes, everyone has been following the Duke’s orders.”

 

“I see. Come to me after the banquet, I have orders for you.”

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”

 

With that, Kaiyen extended his hand to Etisha. It was to escort her out of the carriage. But before Etisha could get to her feet, a white, slender hand grabbed his hand.

 

“Thank you, Kaiyen.”

 

Judith smiled and took Kaiyen’s hand. Etisha hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the carriage, unescorted and alone.

 

Kaiyen watched her for a moment, but she didn’t seem to notice his gaze.

 

“Hoo hoo, now everyone should go get ready, I need to get dressed as well. Kaiyen, your mother bought me a new dress.”

 

Then she looked back at Etisha and whispered;

 

“The Madame takes such good care of me, sometimes it’s like she treats me like her own daughter, and I’ve been indebted to her…… forever.”

 

“…….”

 

“Oh, let’s go. We don’t have time for chitchat. Well, Baroness Etisha, I’ll see you at the party in a bit.”

 

Judith brushed past Etisha and strode into the castle.

 

Her easygoing nature made it seem as if she was at home in the Archduke Wintel’s castle. This beautiful and majestic place, still a stranger to Etisha, seemed very familiar to Judith.

 

[The Madame take such good care of me……..] Her voice echoed in Etisha’s head.

 

Does that mean that she was favored by the  Wintel family?

 

She was a commoner, after all, and yet she was invited to a banquet hosted by the Wintels……..

 

‘I wonder what’s going on. I’m still not sure.’

 

Kaiyen had said that Judith was the Wintel’s mistress, but to hear her tell it, her mother, the former Duchess, seemed to care for her.

 

‘Well……. I’ll find out when I attend the banquet. About Judith, and about kaiyen’s mother.’

 

Etisha’s blue eyes narrowed as she composed herself.

 

Though Judith was on her mind right now, it was Mrs. Cyrille, Kaiyen’s mother, was a more important matter.