Episode 33
After the walk, Ludwig escorted me all the way to the ducal palace.
As I stepped out of the Karsian carriage, holding Ludwig’s hand, I saw a familiar face.
“Oh? Father!”
The person I saw in the distance was undoubtedly my father.
He also spotted me and quickly approached us in a single step.
My father had recently been sent to the west on my grandfather’s orders.
Due to the Dranian’s family issue, my father went as a representative of our family.
It was also a way for my grandfather, who was slowly preparing for succession and the transfer of power, to determine whether he trusted Orzen or my father more.
“You’re back already? Weren’t you supposed to stay in the west for at least a month?”
“I’ve taken care of important matters. I heard news about you and came straight away.”
He was worried about my safety first.
“I won’t ask if you’re okay, as you’ve probably heard that question dozens of times already. Just saying I’m relieved is enough…”
Nestled in the warmth of his embrace, I too smiled.
Then, my father finally noticed Ludwig standing behind me.
“Your Grace?”
Letting go of my arm, my father alternated his gaze between me and Ludwig as he spoke.
“Why did you two return home together in the carriage? What kind of relationship has developed in my absence…?”
“His Grace was invited for a meal. We had made a promise before… It’s nothing more than a close friendship.”
As I turned to Ludwig and spoke, he also nodded in agreement.
“It’s a stage of getting to know each other as friends.”
“I see.”
No wonder he couldn’t shake off his suspicious gaze.
I awkwardly smiled, taking my father’s hand.
“It’s chilly out, let’s go inside. Thank you, Ludwig, for accompanying us despite your busy schedule.”
“No problem. I’ll look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“We’ll meet again soon? Just the two of us?”
“Yes, there’s a reason for that. I’ll explain it to you later.”
I chuckled, waved to Ludwig, and led my father towards the mansion.
As we climbed the stairs together, my father spoke.
“Why do you only act like this towards Ludwig, when you don’t seem to mind Arzen spending time alone with you?”
“I just have a gut feeling of being cautious.”
Perhaps it was because they confronted each other in the original work, but was it instinctual to be wary of each other?
“His gaze was definitely not as innocent as Arzen…”
It was as my father muttered these strange words that we reached the room.
“Serkhan, have you returned?”
“My lord.”
“Only call me that in the presence of outsiders. In private, you will be your usual self.”
“Yes, father.”
Grandfather patted father’s shoulder and said, “I heard you handled things well in the west. It was your first task as a family representative, and you did splendidly.”
“No, I only did as you commanded, father.”
“Haha, nonsense. More importantly, it’s been a while since you last had quality father-daughter time. I mustn’t disturb. Go rest for now; there might be some remaining tasks after dinner.”
“I will do as you say.”
Grandfather playfully tousled my hair and continued walking.
Pretending not to know, I remarked to my father, “He once adamantly refused to let anyone else handle the family’s affairs, but it seems grandfather trusts you greatly.”
Before taking on the weighty duty of family representation, both my father and Orzen had their own family matters to attend to. (Uncle)
Orzen squandered the money meant for improving the knights’ worn-out equipment on gambling.
Recalling grandfather’s fury at the time, I shuddered.
If I were in charge, I would pass the succession to my reliable eldest son rather than the reckless second son.
In truth, the heir in his heart was already clear.
However, the reason for delaying the succession without making a decision was probably because of me.
‘It must be because of me.’
A fragile, sickly eldest daughter, whose condition could deteriorate at any moment.
Grandfather understood my father, who would undoubtedly collapse if something were to happen to me, far too well.
As a patriarch, one must always be resolute and unyielding like sturdy roots.
My father was the epitome of a perfect patriarch in every aspect, except for one, his sole weakness.
I had once fallen seriously ill.
It was before the incident when I accidentally drank Dragas wine and collapsed, even before that.
My body wasn’t originally this weak.
When I was five years old, I suffered so much that it was almost an understatement to say that I almost lost my limbs.
I was said to have been bedridden for almost a month.
My small and fragile body couldn’t withstand the agonizing pain I experienced for the first time in my life.
In the process, I lost all memories before the age of five.
Even now, if I try to remember, my head goes blank as if it were empty.
Anyway, since that incident, my health deteriorated, and I acquired a rare disease called Lisbeth.
I only heard about my condition at that time, but it seemed to be serious enough to require supervision of my food and drink.
Therefore, despite Serkan Drenian being rational and composed in all matters, he had not yet been recognized as the heir due to his fatal weakness.
If any problems were to arise after I became the duchess, it would greatly disrupt the management of the Drenian duchy.
In the original work, although the ailing Thergon Drenian eventually passed the duchy to my father, Serkan Drenian, he appointed Orzen as the acting duchy representative in case of unforeseen circumstances.
It was his own measure in preparation for any eventualities.
“Father, you also want to inherit, don’t you? You can be a bit more ambitious.”
Father loved the Drenian he was born and raised in.
He wouldn’t want his foolish younger brother to ruin the family.
I desperately hoped that father wouldn’t be hindered by me.
As I spoke, father’s surprised expression gradually turned into a smile.
“It seems that even in my daughter’s eyes, I haven’t been proactive enough. Well then, I’ll have to work hard not to disappoint my daughter’s expectations.”
I walked with my father to the room, sharing conversations we hadn’t had before.
“Rest well then.”
“Yes, you too, Father!”
As the door closed with a thud, I undressed with Nella’s help and changed into indoor clothes as if shedding a burden.
Somewhere, Viet appeared with a playful smile.
“Miss.”
She spoke with a subtly expectant expression.
“How was the ‘method’ I mentioned? Did it work? I’ve managed to assess the intentions and lure in eight men using that method.”
“Well, that…”
I told her about what had happened on the carriage ride in the morning
“I just completely dried up, didn’t I?”
“Oh my, I didn’t expect Miss to actually do as Viet suggested.”
Behind Nella, who spoke as if finding it cute, Viet’s expression turned serious.
“…It seems Your Grace is not an ordinary opponent. Nevertheless, you didn’t seem entirely indifferent.”
“What do you mean?”
“The important thing to note is the regretful remark you casually uttered!”
Huh…?
“When someone you’re romantically invested in begins showing proactive behavior, only to abruptly withdraw, it’s inevitable to feel regret. Unintentionally, Lady, you expressed your own feelings.”
Viet chuckled confidently, saying her intuition was right this time too.
“Do I seem like someone who wouldn’t know?”
Her twinkling eyes shone uncomfortably.
Episode 33
After the stroll with Ludwig, he escorted me all the way to the ducal estate.
As I held Ludwig’s hand and stepped down from the Karsian carriage, a familiar face greeted me.
“Oh? Father!”
The person I saw in the distance was undoubtedly my father.
Upon spotting me, he walked towards us in one stride.
My father had recently gone to the western region under my grandfather’s orders.
He had gone there as a representative of the family due to the Drenihan clan issue.
It was also a way to gauge whether Grandfather trusted me or my father more as the heir, as he was starting to nominate a successor and initiate the succession process.
“Already back? Weren’t you supposed to be in the west for at least a month?”
“I’ve resolved the important matters. I heard your news and came back immediately.”
My father was concerned about my well-being.
“I must have heard the question ‘Are you okay?’ dozens of times, so I won’t ask. Just glad you’re safe.”
I smiled as I embraced him warmly.
Then, my father finally noticed Ludwig behind me.
“Your Grace?”
Releasing me from the embrace, my father alternated his gaze between me and Ludwig.
“Why did you both return home together in the carriage? What’s going on while I’m away?”
“We were invited to dine with His Grace. It was something we had promised earlier… There’s nothing going on, just close friends.”
As I turned to Ludwig and spoke, he also nodded in agreement.
“We’re in the process of getting to know each other as friends.”
“Oh, I see.”
Somehow, he couldn’t shake off the suspicious gaze.
I awkwardly smiled, took my father’s hand, and said, “It’s chilly today, let’s go inside now. Thank you, Ludwig, for accompanying me despite being busy.”
“No problem. I’ll look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Are we going to meet again soon? Just the two of us?”
“Yes, there’s a reason for it. Let me explain.”
I waved my hand to Ludwig with a smile and led my father towards the mansion.
As my father and I climbed the stairs together, I spoke.
“Why are you only so wary of Ludwig spending time alone with me, while you didn’t say anything about Arzen?”
“I just instinctively feel cautious.”
Was it because they were characters who confronted each other in the original work that my father instinctively guarded against Ludwig?
“His gaze didn’t have the pure intentions like Arzen’s…”
It was when my father was mumbling strange words as we headed towards the room.
“Serkhan, have you returned?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Call me that only when there are outsiders present. Act as usual in private.”
“Yes, Father.”
Grandfather tapped my father’s shoulder and said, “I heard you handled the matters in the west well. It was your first task as the family representative, and you did splendidly.”
“No, I just followed your orders, Father.”
“Haha, nonsense. Rather than disturbing the ladies who finally have a peaceful time, I might have interfered. Go rest for now; there must be more work to report after dinner.”
“Understood.”
Grandfather playfully tousled my hair once and continued walking.
Pretending not to know, I said to my father, “You had firmly refused to take the role of family representative, but it seems Grandfather trusts you very much.”
Before being entrusted with the weighty duty of family representative, both my father and Arzen had been given various tasks to handle within their respective families.
Arzen had squandered the money allocated to improve the outdated equipment of the knights at the gambling den.
Remembering the displeased look on Grandfather’s face at the time, I shivered.
If I were the family head, I would pass on the succession to the dependable eldest son rather than the irresponsible second son.
In fact, the successor in my heart was already clear.
However, the reason why the succession was being postponed day by day without being decided was probably because of…
‘It must be because of me.’
A fragile daughter whose condition could worsen at any moment.
Grandfather knew my father, who would undoubtedly collapse if I were to deteriorate, all too well.
As the family head, one always had to be composed and unwavering like solid roots.
My father was the perfect successor in every aspect, except for one, a single weakness.
I had fallen seriously ill once before.
It was before I even drank Dragenus wine by accident and collapsed.
Even before then, my body was not naturally this weak.
When I was five years old, I was in such excruciating pain that it was no exaggeration to say I was at death’s door.
I was said to have been on the brink of death for almost a month.
My small and delicate body couldn’t withstand the unbearable pain like dying for the first time.
During that process, I lost all memories before the age of five.
Even now, if I try to remember, my head goes blank as if it’s empty.
Anyway, since that incident, my health deteriorated, and I ended up with a rare disease called Rizvera.
Although I had only heard about my father’s condition, it seemed to have been serious enough for him to give up eating and drinking.
Therefore, Serkan Drenihan, who was always cold and rational, had not yet been recognized as the heir apparent due to his fatal weakness.
Because if anything were to happen to me after I became the family head, it would cause significant disruptions to the operation of Drenihan Duchy.
In the original work, Tergon Drenihan, who had become elderly, eventually passed the duchy to my father, but in case of unforeseen events, he appointed Arzen as the acting family head.
It was a precautionary measure for any unforeseen events.
“You also want to inherit, Father. You can be a bit more ambitious.”
My father loved the Drenihan family where he was born and raised.
He wouldn’t want his foolish younger brother to ruin the family.
I fervently hoped that my father wouldn’t be hindered by me.
As I said that, my father’s surprised expression gradually turned into a smile.
“So it seems that even in our daughter’s eyes, I haven’t been proactive enough. Alright, I’ll work hard not to disappoint the expectations of the family head.”
I walked with my father, sharing the stories we hadn’t been able to tell each other before, until we reached the room.
“Now rest comfortably.”
“Yes, Father!”
The door closed with a thud, and Nelra, who came in right after, helped me change into indoor clothes as if removing a burdened garment.
Somewhere, Viéte also appeared with a playful smile.
“Miss.”
She said with a subtle expression of expectation.
“How was the ‘method’ I suggested? Was it effective? I’ve identified the intentions of eight men by using that method.”
“Well, that…”
I recounted what had happened while riding in the carriage in the morning.
“I was completely drawn in.”
“Oh my, Miss, I didn’t know you would actually do as Viéte said.”
Behind Nelra, who spoke as if she found it cute, Viéte’s expression turned subtly serious.
“…It seems you’re not an ordinary noblewoman, Your Highness. But you weren’t completely relaxed either.”
“What do you mean?”
“The important thing to note is the regretful words you casually uttered!”
Huh…?
“If someone you’re interested in suddenly becomes proactive and then suddenly withdraws, it’s inevitable for feelings to be hurt. Without even realizing it, Your Highness, you expressed your regret, revealing your true feelings.”
Viéte chuckled, confident in her intuition once again.
“I think I know what you mean.”
Her twinkling eyes gleamed with a hint of embarrassment.
