Episode 85

Bang! Bang!

Light fireworks burst here and there. It was a familiar scene for this time of year in the capital. Priests from the temple handed out bread and wine all around.

The streets were filled with people dressed in yellow, symbolizing the harvest.

The most bountiful month in the Empire had begun — the Harvest Festival was underway.

“I hear we’ve had an unprecedented bumper crop this year.”

“That’s truly wonderful news.”

“…It’s thanks to you.”

“Yes, my lady!”

Marie, listening to my conversation with Chris, beamed with heartfelt joy. I understood her feelings well — she had a sick younger brother in the North.

“You’ve no idea how much it means that the North can finally enjoy abundance this year.”

Rumor had it that Kor was successfully taking root in the North.

In Ulrico, Kor had been seen as a troublesome weed — it grew rapidly, spoiled quickly, and multiplied excessively. But in the cold northern climate, it had become a reliable staple crop with impressive yields.

[Let’s see the results, Lady.]
[You’d best remember how much I paid for this.]

I recalled the note Assad had sent with the Kor seeds and couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

‘He got paid and still acts like I owe him.’

After the fairy wing cloaks sold like wildfire, I had paid him a fair price with the profits.

And yet he’d sent that note, as if he still expected something more. No doubt he hoped to wring something grander out of me.

‘Not that it’ll work.’

Assad only acted that way because I seemed destined to become the Grand Duchess of Elzerian, but the truth was — I didn’t know how things would unfold.

‘…Since I’ve already decided to leave.’

Even now, I hadn’t asked Chris if he still wished for that.

I simply hadn’t discarded the possibility that I might have to go. Even if the North no longer resented me, Chris still had to remain the flawless Grand Duke of the North.

If I thought about it that way, standing by his side while bearing the name Reinhardt didn’t seem fitting.

‘Unless I could cast off this name…’

But that was likely impossible.

In truth, remaining a member of House Reinhardt was convenient if I wanted to continue helping Chris.

Even if the Duke grew suspicious, he wouldn’t suspect me. As long as, in his mind, I remained the foolish adopted daughter.

‘Anyway, the North’s food self-sufficiency is starting to rise.’

That alone was worth it. It eased Chris’s burden and safeguarded the North’s survival.

Chris continued in a calm voice.

“We’re now discussing improving Kor and bringing in seeds from other regions of Ulrico.”

“Already?”

“Some of our agricultural overseers are quite capable. I’ve appointed them.”

Chris’s composed tone revealed the presence of a true lord responsible for his lands. I finally understood why he had the support of the North.

“…After hearing your suggestion, I looked for similar crops in other regions. There are a few.”

“That’s good news.”

It wasn’t just his lineage — given the chance, he had all the qualities of an excellent leader. They’d remained hidden only because he had spent so long on the frontlines, evading the imperial family’s interference.

“So, I plan to send several overseers to external regions under the name of the North.”

“Your Grace, that’s…”

“I can’t rely on you alone for everything.”

“But if you’d trust me just a little more…”

“This isn’t a matter of trust.”

Chris firmly interrupted and gently placed his hand on my shoulder. I stood still, accepting his touch.

“You may not realize it, but you’ve lost weight again.”

“That’s…”

Startled, I looked at him. It was true — I hadn’t been eating properly.

It wasn’t that I had no appetite, but I hadn’t had the time. Accustomed to tasteless food, I often picked at whatever was available, stopping as soon as I felt full.

Eating seemed less important than lightening Chris’s burden.

“I know it’s because you’re taking on things I should be dealing with.”

“…No. These are things I should be doing.”

“My lady.”

There was, of course, a reason I’d been working so hard.

‘If Chris personally leads efforts to raise the North’s self-sufficiency, the Imperial family will surely take notice.’

It wasn’t just about the Kor issue. There were also matters of acquiring mines, packaging and selling the North’s specialty products…

“…The Imperial spies still remain in the North. It’s better that I handle this.”

That part was somewhat problematic.

Rumors that an illegitimate child of the Emperor resided in the North seemed to have greatly agitated the Empress Dowager.

Even though there were now rumors that the Saint of Ansha, who prophesied the next emperor, had left for elsewhere, the Empress Dowager’s spies remained in the North, still hunting for the possible illegitimate child.

Her reaction was far more extreme than I had anticipated.

‘It wasn’t like this in the original story.’

In the original timeline, the Empress Dowager didn’t obsess over the Emperor’s illegitimate child to this extent.

Perhaps it was because the matter involved the Saint of Ansha, and the Crown Prince’s popularity had been plummeting day by day.

‘…By this point in the original, the Crown Prince had been recognized by the Emperor as the sole heir.’

But things were different now. His reputation had only worsened with time, and the Emperor didn’t seem keen on acknowledging him.

Lately, he hadn’t been seen at all, holed up in the Crown Prince’s palace.

‘I don’t know if that’s good… or bad.’

I wanted to consider it more deeply, but just then, Chris used the arm he’d rested lightly on my shoulder to pull me fully into his embrace. My body was gently drawn against his.

He murmured softly,

“I am not so weak that I cannot handle the Imperial court’s attention or pressure.”

“I know that. But still…”

“No. You treat me as if I’m someone who could shatter at any moment.”

I saw Marie’s eyes widen in surprise. From her perspective, that probably sounded odd.

“…Isn’t it Your Grace who treats the young lady like she could shatter?”

She couldn’t help but blurt it out, and Chris quietly looked at her. Marie stifled a laugh and excused herself.

Now alone in the room, Chris leaned in and looked into my face.

“I wasn’t joking.”

“……”

“You act like I can’t afford a single misstep, like I can’t bear even the slightest pressure. Even though you know that’s impossible.”

“It’s not impossible. If I could, I…”

“My lady, I’ve lived as the Grand Duke of Elzerian since I was ten.”

His voice was firm, but laced with unexpected gentleness. I looked up at Chris, almost mesmerized.

“Before I could even understand the weight on my shoulders—before I understood the meaning of what I had to protect.”

“……”

He spoke as he gently stroked my back.

…Chris already saw me as someone belonging to the North — as someone precious, someone to protect.

That realization sent a quiet shiver through me.

“I’ve been under pressure since then. Watched so closely that I had no life of my own.”

“Your Grace…”

“Even now, if I am watched again… I am used to it.”

“Even if you’re used to it, the burden is still—”

“I am no longer overwhelmed by it, nor hurt by it.”

His embrace was inexplicably warm. Leaning against his solid chest, I looked up at him.

“……”

“There are people who trust me — people I can trust. People I can speak to, work with, and share burdens with.”

“……”

“Because of that, I won’t fall.”

Something warm swelled in my throat at those words. Just as I tried to respond—

Ding… dong… Ding… dong…

The bells rang, signaling 2 p.m. I startled and pulled away from Chris’s arms. He let me go without resistance.

“It’s time for the auction.”

“…Yes.”

Even after I hastily withdrew, Chris approached and draped a newly tailored robe-cloak over my shoulders.

“It suits you.”

The weather had finally turned chilly, and the cloak’s collar was lined with feathers from a winter bird found only in the North. The white feathers tickled my face.

Chris smiled gently, and I fidgeted with my fingers.

“We’ll have to sit separately at the auction.”

“What a pity.”

“We have to keep attention divided. Today, you’ll be the bait.”

No one would dare ask the Grand Duke of the North to act as bait in an auction — except today.

‘It’s the Harvest Festival auction.’

Special items were always released during this event. Auction houses withheld rare goods to present them during the festival.

Especially land auctions — the most anticipated item this time was a sapphire mine in the South, being sold after the owner’s death.

Chris intended to bid on it. And I…

“Will you still not tell me what you’re bidding on?”

“You’ll know soon enough.”

“The sapphire mine…”

“Bid only what you can afford. You don’t have to win it. It’s just to draw attention.”

Looking toward the distant auction house, I glanced at Chris, his hand wrapped around mine. His eyes met mine — clear, steady, as if telling me he’d trust me no matter what choice I made.

I burned that gaze into my mind and whispered a silent vow:

‘I’ll return it to you.’

What you should’ve had from the beginning.