Episode 68

Chris merely gazed at Jade with deep, unreadable eyes.

“…….”

“Even setting aside young knights like us, the mainland in the North has elder retainers who have been loyal since previous generations. Those individuals are…”

Chris, observing Jade choosing his words carefully, spoke softly.

“They haven’t forgotten.”

“…….”

“Neither have I.”

Chris traced the old scars that occasionally surfaced in his memory. Bitterness filled his mouth. Jade spoke cautiously.

“If rumors spread that Your Grace cherishes a daughter of the Reinhardt family, it could cause fissures in the North…”

“I assumed I was the kind of lord capable of maintaining unity despite that.”

“Of course! But still, it’s better to quell dissatisfaction in advance…”

“Jade.”

Jade clamped his mouth shut, realizing there was no point in continuing further.

“…You’re serious about Lady Mindia Reinhardt, aren’t you?”

“Does that disappoint you?”

“…No. If anything, I’m relieved that you neither deny nor hide it.”

“…….”

“Your Grace is not someone who would abandon the North for love.”

And she too considers the North.

Chris recalled Mindia, who had promised, as though clinging to him, the Grand Duke of Elzerian, that she would propose an engagement herself.

She had shown no concern for rumors or gossip as a noblewoman, stating she was willing to become a lighthearted woman for the sake of the North and him. That gentleness she revealed only to him.

“…….”

While staying in the courier town, sending a letter to Mindia, Chris pondered over old memories and places—those that had become agonizing scars.

And he thought suddenly:

If he went to the North with her and laid bare his most painful memories,

he wondered how she would respond.

Would she ask if it still hurt? Apologize? Or perhaps confess once more that she, too, had simply wanted to live?

Or maybe, with that smile that suited the North so perfectly…

Chris silently lifted his gaze to the sky.

* * *

“Do you truly believe the Grand Duke cherishes you so deeply? That he loves you?”

Asad curled his lips into a smirk.

I met his gaze directly, refusing to answer his question and instead speaking sharply.

“If you don’t believe me, then why don’t you use that famous network of yours to speed up His Grace’s return?”

“Oh?”

“And when he does return, we’ll see whether or not he listens to me.”

“…….”

“His Grace has enough discernment to recognize Cor’s value. After all, I chose him.”

“Bold, aren’t you?”

“Just answer me: can you do it or not, Guildmaster? And don’t forget—I’m testing you just as much as you’re testing me.”

“Noted.”

“Well, your answer?”

“Very well. I’ll be in touch soon, future Grand Duchess.”

I left the labyrinth with Asad’s mocking tone echoing behind me.

Asad lightly bowed in mockery, laughing as he watched my retreating figure.

‘It doesn’t matter. I’ve secured the Cor seeds, after all.’

I had just turned down the corridor leading to my room, suppressing a sigh, when I spotted someone frantically searching the floor.

“Marie?”

At my call, Marie looked up with a stricken expression, as if she were on the verge of tears.

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Isn’t it time for the servants to either rest or have their meals now that all the packing is done?”

“My lady, my lady…”

Marie, pale as a ghost, looked at me like she wanted to cry. I pulled her into my room.

“What on earth happened? Why are you like this…?”

“Please punish me.”

“Marie. Calm down and tell me what’s going on.”

Still looking disoriented, Marie whispered faintly.

“I was carrying a letter addressed to you.”

“A letter?”

I asked, startled, and Marie’s voice cracked as she explained.

“It was from His Grace, the Grand Duke. His handwriting was on the envelope—written To Lady Reinhardt…”

I was so taken aback that I momentarily lost my words.

“You’re sure you weren’t mistaken?”

“I’m certain. I know His Grace’s handwriting well. I’d just received it from the courier a short while ago.”

An odd feeling crept over me.

‘He did say he’d write to me right away. It seemed like he wanted to leave something behind for me again this time…’

I had heard earlier that a letter was coming.

Still, I hadn’t truly expected him to send anything.

‘It took me two weeks just to receive the invitation and make my way to this summer villa.’

Chris had said it would only take him a week to reach the courier town, so he must have written to me the moment he arrived. That letter had finally reached me.

Even after hearing what I had to say, he still sent his thoughts and concern my way.

A surge of emotion welled up in my chest.

“I didn’t expect the letter to arrive so quickly either. That’s why…”

Looking at Marie’s reddened eyes, I could easily picture how excited she must have been to bring the letter to me.

“I had just seen the courier off and was hurrying to deliver it to you when…”

It happened while Marie was carrying the letter.

She said a clumsy attendant had been walking toward her with a large pile of luggage.

Just as she thought, He’s going to trip any second now, the attendant really did stumble—straight toward Marie.

“Were you hurt?”

“Not at all. But…”

Marie shut her eyes tightly, as if the memory was unbearable.

“When I cleared away the luggage and got back up, the letter was gone. No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find it.”

“…….”

“I even went through the piles of luggage he was carrying, but the letter wasn’t there.”

“Were there others around you at the time?”

“Oh, yes.”

Marie nodded anxiously.

“While I was on the ground, a few servants and maids came over to help.”

“That must have been when it happened.”

“I’m so sorry, my lady…”

Marie’s voice quivered as she apologized. I shook my head lightly and let out a sigh.

“Honestly, I don’t want to blame you for this.”

“My lady.”

“If the letter was deliberately taken, then perhaps the collapse of the luggage was orchestrated as well.”

“Such a thing…”

“What I’m worried about now is just one thing.”

If, by chance…

“If His Grace wrote something meant to be shared only between us…”

I unconsciously bit my nail.

“No, he wouldn’t have done that.”

Chris was a cautious man.

Surely, he would know what should and shouldn’t be written in a letter.

I could only hope the letter contained words of concern or kindness.

Even so, a strange ache spread in my chest at the thought.

Even if the letter didn’t contain anything dangerous, the fact that it had been taken from me didn’t feel any less painful.

After all, it was a letter he had written for me—a letter meant for me alone.

And now, I would never even get to read it.

‘I was the one who insisted we shouldn’t exchange letters, knowing something like this could happen.’

I let out a bitter laugh.

“I have a pretty good idea who might have taken it.”

“…….”

“Among the servants and maids who came to help you… was one of them Aria’s maid?”

Marie’s face turned pale at my question. That reaction was as good as confirmation.

“If it really was her, then there’s no chance of getting it back.”

“But, my lady… If you speak to her directly, perhaps she’ll return it? There were misunderstandings with the maids over the lemon incident and the brooch before. If you clear it up this time…”

A misunderstanding.

‘Were those incidents really just misunderstandings caused by the maids?’

A bitter smile escaped me before I quickly corrected my expression. After all, this was only my suspicion and not something I could confirm.

“Lady Aria has already taken gifts meant for you before, hasn’t she? I can’t imagine she’d do something like this again…”

“She could easily make the same excuse as before. ‘I thought Lady Reinhardt meant me,’ or something like that.”

Marie’s expression remained uncertain, torn between doubt and disbelief.

I understood her hesitation.

Even I hadn’t expected Aria to act this way, and I still wasn’t certain whether she was acting with malicious intent or not.

‘In the original story, she never did anything like this.’

Even if she denied my accusations in public, she had never caused me direct harm.

“Either way, it’ll be difficult to address this matter.”

“My lady…”

“And it’s not as if I can write him a reply. In a place where Aria has so many followers, there’s always the chance another letter could be intercepted. Let’s just assume I never received this one and leave it at that.”

I let out a small sigh.

‘What could she even do with the letter, anyway?’

At most, Aria probably just wanted something that belonged to Chris—just like she had coveted my brooch before.

All I could do was hope Chris wouldn’t send me another letter.

* * *

At that moment, Aria locked her door behind her, clutching the letter with a pounding heart.

Even the weariness she had felt from dealing with the young lords and ladies who fawned over her seemed to fade, at least for the moment.

‘My lady, it might have been meant for you.’

One of her maids had hurriedly brought her the letter.

The maid was one of those who, even after a younger maid had been dismissed, still assumed that whenever someone mentioned “Lady Reinhardt,” they must be referring to Aria.

“My lady.”

Just as Aria was about to open the letter, another maid, who had been quietly bowing her head in the corner, spoke up hesitantly, as though to stop her.

This maid had been one of those who, after witnessing the younger maid’s dismissal, decided she must properly report matters to Aria to avoid any trouble.

In her mind, part of her duty was to offer advice whenever it seemed that things might go awry—so her kind mistress could avoid unnecessary complications.

This letter, too, was undoubtedly a mistake, erroneously delivered to Aria.

The maid tried to caution her.

Normally, Aria wouldn’t do such a thing.

“This letter is likely meant for Lady Mindia…”

Rip.

Before the maid could finish her sentence, Aria tore open the seal. Her movements were deliberate, filled with a strange resolve.

“Ah…”

She began to read the letter with sweet, shining eyes. Her gaze was so fervent that, if it were possible to lick the words off the page, she might have done so.

The maid promptly closed her mouth.

“Go fetch paper and a pen,” Aria instructed.

“…….”

“I must write a reply to His Grace, the Grand Duke.”

“My lady…”

“And while you’re at it, bring me something written by Mindia as well. Something where her handwriting is clearly visible.”

The maid tried to suppress the unease rising within her.

“Quickly.”

“…Yes.”

Once the maid left, Aria softly ran her fingers over the letter.

“What a delightful letter you’ve written, Your Grace,” she murmured.