TGDHC Chapter 91

Chapter 91. The Uninvited Guest

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“…What?”

“At the lakeside. You said you had to leave first—that was because your symptoms started, wasn’t it?”

Loic pressed his lips shut.

“You should have asked me for help instead of just going back like that.”

“That’s because…”

“What, you didn’t even want to say one little word of request to me?”

“It’s not that. I just… didn’t want to burden you.”

“Burden? If I were in pain and asked you to help me, would you think it was a burden?”

“Of course not. If anything, I’d be upset if you kept it from me…”

Loic trailed off as if realizing something, lips pressed tight.

“I was really upset too.”

“…”

“So at least while I’m here, let me help you.”

“…All right.”

“I can hold your hand anytime.”

If that wasn’t enough, hugging too…

No, wait, hugging might be too much.

Just thinking about waking up this morning made my throat go dry.

When I first opened my eyes, I had been pressed against his firm chest, his heavy arm wrapped around my shoulders. For a while I couldn’t even believe it was real.

And when I lifted my head, I saw those long lashes trembling slightly and his lips faintly red and closed. I was so startled.

Even then, I couldn’t bring myself to move right away. I just stayed in his arms for a long time.

The thought that we had slept clinging to each other—like a real married couple—made the heat rise again.

‘Maybe I’m getting too immersed in this life…’

Helping Loic’s pain was one thing, but I should keep a bit of distance too.

My throat felt parched, so I quickly gulped down some tea—just as Perel walked into the sitting room.

“Ah, Your Grace the Grand Duchess is here too.”

He gave me a slightly awkward smile, unlike usual.

“What is it?” Loic asked.

Perel leaned in and whispered something to him.

“What?”

Loic turned to me with an uncomfortable look.

“Why? What happened?”

“Well…”

After hesitating, he spoke.

“Your mother has come to visit.”

“…What?”

I asked dumbly.

“My mother?”

But Annette’s birth mother had died giving birth to her.

Don’t tell me…?

“The Marchioness of Fasie. Her carriage is waiting outside the castle walls.”

Damn it.

So that’s why the Marquis had been quiet lately.

Now I had to suddenly meet a mother I’d never seen before.

* * *

“Oh my, Annette! How long has it been?”

The “mother” I met looked far too young.

They’d said the age gap between her and Ferdinand was less than ten years, and indeed she looked it.

If she hadn’t spoken to me first, I never would have guessed this was the Marchioness.

‘Why is she acting so friendly?’

I awkwardly accepted her embrace.

Dark brown hair, jade-colored eyes—no resemblance to Annette at all.

“Ah, I should call you Your Grace the Grand Duchess now.”

She smiled sweetly.

I forced an awkward smile back.

I had gone all the way to the castle gates to greet her.

Well—more like to inspect her.

Even without an invitation, there was no way we could just send the Marchioness away after she came this far.

Loic looked conflicted.

Of course he knew my relationship with the Marchioness wouldn’t be good. He couldn’t just warmly welcome her, but it was also awkward to reject her outright—since she was technically my stepmother.

And honestly, I felt the same.

Back when I stayed at the Marquisate, she had lived apart with her youngest son Raphael, near the Academy.

‘She didn’t seem close to the Marquis either.’

She probably wasn’t close with Annette, Ferdinand, or Ladriel either.

She was the stepmother who entered after Annette’s birth mother died—of course the relationships were strained.

But for someone in that position, she treated me surprisingly warmly, like meeting an old friend.

Maybe it was just an act for Loic’s sake.

Her entourage was excessive.

Compared to the shabby carriage I’d ridden to the North, this was grand enough to look like a bridal procession.

‘She brought a whole parade of maids and knights.’

Behind her stood a familiar maid—Janet, who had been at my wedding.

‘Wow. It’s been a while—kind of nice to see a familiar face.’

But Janet turned her head sharply before I could acknowledge her.

Then I noticed—two carriages?

Behind the Marchioness’s was another one.

Puzzled, I watched as its door opened. A boy with dark brown hair peeked out.

‘Who’s that?’

Instead of stepping down, the boy just stared at me with wide eyes—almost glaring, but with a rather cute face.

“Raphael!” the Marchioness scolded.

Raphael? The youngest son of the Fasie family?

‘He came too?’

“R… Raphael?” I greeted awkwardly.

He just stared, studying me. His pale freckled face looked soft and youthful.

“Raphael, come out and greet Her Grace the Grand Duchess!”

But he pouted, then slammed the carriage door shut.

“Oh dear…” The Marchioness forced an awkward smile.

“He must be shy since it’s been so long.”

Clearly that wasn’t it—but I had nothing else to say, so I nodded stiffly.

Well, it would be stranger if half-siblings were affectionate.

Still, for the Marquis’s son, he was unexpectedly cute.

“The Marquis was so worried,” she said, snapping her fan shut.

“He kept insisting I come check on his beloved daughter in this rough northern land. He was so impatient I couldn’t even wait for an invitation.”

She gestured toward the mountain of luggage.

“I thought the North might lack many things, so I brought what I could. That’s why the retinue is so large.”

Her tone implied I’d better not think of sending her away.

The knights of the 1st Division frowned at her words.

I sighed inwardly.

‘Please don’t ruin the reputation I worked so hard to build…’

“Oh, Mother. The North is full of rare and wonderful things. Father must have stayed too long in the capital to forget that,” I said sweetly.

At this, the knights of the 1st Division lifted their chins proudly.

Ha.

The Marchioness gave a stiff laugh and glanced around, trying to end the awkward conversation.

“Well then, shall we continue inside the castle? We shouldn’t keep Her Grace standing here.”

Trying to slip past me, huh?

“Wait a moment, Mother.”

I stopped her naturally before she could climb into the carriage.

“This won’t take long—please wait here. The knights need to handle the transfer.”

“Transfer?”

“Yes. Since your knights must return, we’ll take all the luggage here.”

“Return? What do you mean?”

She frowned.

“You didn’t know? No other noble house’s knights can enter the Ducal Castle. And the maids and servants you brought must also go back.”

“What? Then only the two of us can go in?”

“Sir Demechi,” I called. “Please handle the transfer carefully. The Marchioness surely brought many fine things—make sure not a single item is missed.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Demechi boomed.

The 1st Division knights, relieved, moved forward confidently.

“You heard her. Not a thing is to be overlooked.”

“Yes, sir!”

As they advanced, the Fasie knights blocked the way in alarm.

“This is absurd! We can’t just let the Lady go alone.”

“We were tasked to guard the Marchioness and Young Master Raphael,” their captain barked.

“What, you don’t trust us?” Demechi growled, towering over him.

The difference in physique was overwhelming. And Demechi had brought all thirteen knights of the 1st Division—outnumbering them too.

The Fasie’s captain puffed up as if to resist, but his slender build was no match. His men hesitated, realizing they were outmatched.

“Annette—no, Your Grace,” the Marchioness coaxed softly.

“These knights have guarded you nearly twenty years. Isn’t it too heartless to send them back now?”

“Mother, this is for your own good.”

I smiled sweetly.

“Only royalty may enter the Ducal Castle without invitation. If word spreads that the Fasie household—and even its knights—received royal treatment, that would be troublesome, wouldn’t it?”

Her lips shut tight.

“Besides, wasn’t that law proposed by Father himself?”

“But surely, if family longs to see each other, such small issues can be resolved later, can’t they?”

She meant Loic could just issue an invitation afterwards.

“Of course. I couldn’t possibly send you back after you came all this way, Mother.”

I hid a smirk behind my hand.

“That’s why we need to be discreet. If this entire retinue marched inside, everyone would notice. So no, I cannot take in your knights as well.”

So what will it be?

Will you all go back together and face the Marquis’s anger?

Or will you at least enter yourself—and avoid the shame of being turned away by your own stepdaughter?