~Chapter 6~
Delfina arrived at Rohaim Grand Duke’s castle and stayed in the reception room with the people of House Lycaeon. Normally, she would meet her fiancé Elkaian immediately, but that wasn’t possible.
He had just returned from a subjugation mission.
Because of Delfina’s abilities, they arrived at the castle earlier than expected.
The maids from House Lycaeon began whispering as if waiting for this moment.
“Looks like even the Grand Duke’s people are avoiding Delfina already.”
“Who would like someone who’s been dumped?”
Sophia was the most excited to mock her.
“Hmph, acting all proud just because she can cook. She’ll live no differently here.”
Delfina let their words pass in one ear and out the other. Their insults no longer affected her.
Although they spoke sharply, the maids looked like beggars.
Their faces were gaunt, covered in dust, and they looked filthy.
This was because the knights, empowered by Delfina’s food, had marched at a faster pace, leaving the maids exhausted and dishevelled.
Even at the castle, they couldn’t rest comfortably. While Delfina was given warm blankets and tea, they were ignored.
Delfina glanced sideways and saw Sophia glaring at her, trembling.
She sipped her tea calmly.
‘Delicious.’
The taste relaxed her tense body.
Seeing this, Sophia’s face twisted even more.
<blockquote> Sophia’s inner thoughts appeared in the system window: > ‘She knows exactly what state we’re in and pretends not to notice. I’ll tell Lady Ivelina everything she did today. Does she really think anything will change just because she’s in the North? Her situation will remain the same.’ </blockquote>
Delfina found it interesting – this was the most detailed system window she had ever seen of someone’s inner thoughts.
Sophia was a maid favoured by Ivelina and trusted by Duke Lycaeon. That’s why she was sent to accompany Delfina to the North – to watch her.
At that moment, the door opened and the Grand Duke’s butler entered.
He walked slowly towards Delfina and bowed deeply.
Then he spoke:
“Thank you, Lady Delfina of House Lycaeon.”
The maids’ eyes widened in shock.
Delfina was equally surprised. Why was the Grand Duke’s butler thanking her?
Though he wasn’t a noble, his presence exuded dignity – it felt like a reflection of the Grand Duke’s house itself.
“I heard from the knights. They said you helped them greatly.”
He smiled gently.
Delfina understood the situation.
‘They must have told him everything I did. And in a good way, too.’
The butler continued:
“The knights are very grateful.”
Delfina’s face turned red.
She felt happy knowing she had helped someone.
“Lord Elkaian is waiting for you.”
The butler politely guided her.
Delfina glanced back.
The maids, including Sophia, were staring at her in disbelief.
At that moment, another system window popped up above Sophia’s head.
<blockquote> > ‘What… what is happening?’ </blockquote>
Delfina examined Elkaian standing before her. His face was hidden behind a mask, and he was extremely tall.
Even among Northerners, who were larger than Southerners or Centrals, he was exceptionally tall.
She had to tilt her head back to look at him, making him feel overwhelmingly imposing.
‘They say he just returned from a monster subjugation.’
Perhaps that was why – she felt like she could still smell blood from him.
If this was before she regained her past life memories, she might have been terrified.
‘I probably would have screamed upon our first meeting.’
However, the Delfina of her previous life had worked countless part-time jobs and had become resilient. After experiencing all sorts of hardships, her mental strength had naturally developed.
Because of that, Elkaian didn’t feel scary to her now.
He approached her and took her hand, gently kissing the back of it.
It was a Northern-style greeting.
Delfina nodded and returned his greeting.
Yet she felt awkward.
Having lived her entire life in the South, she was used to Southern greetings.
Her former fiancé, Kasen, used to kiss her forehead when they were children.
‘Of course, once he entered the academy, he never did it again… perhaps because of Ivelina.’
She shook her head quickly. Thinking of Kasen in front of Elkaian felt disrespectful.
After their greeting, Elkaian looked at her and spoke.
“You’re smaller than I thought.”
Delfina frowned.
Because above his head, the system window revealed:
<blockquote> Elkaian’s inner thoughts: > ‘She’s still so… small. Is it okay for someone to be that small?’ </blockquote>
‘Still small? What does that mean?’
Delfina was taller than the average Imperial woman. Perhaps in the North, she was considered small.
‘Does he dislike that I’m small?’
She stepped closer to speak with him.
Elkaian stepped back, as if avoiding her.
Delfina stopped, puzzled.
But soon she understood why, as another system window appeared.
<blockquote> Elkaian’s inner thoughts: > ‘She’s so small… if I touch her, I might break her.’ </blockquote>
His face remained expressionless despite such thoughts.
Delfina let out a small laugh at the gap between his inner thoughts and outer expression.
But thanks to the system, she understood one thing for sure.
‘He’s not a bad person.’
He didn’t seem to dislike her, unlike what Duke Lycaeon had told her.
Elkaian felt awkward.
He hadn’t spoken much with Southerners since childhood.
‘I never attended the academy either.’
Imperial nobles were required to attend the academy, but as the Grand Duke of the North, he was exempt.
Even so, he had seen Delfina once at an academy party.
Though he didn’t attend the academy, he went to the graduation party upon First Prince Johannes’ invitation.
At that party, everyone’s eyes were focused on one place.
Kasen and Ivelina, dancing while holding hands.
Delfina, Kasen’s fiancée, watched them from the corner.
The academy students snickered at her. Delfina blushed and lowered her head.
Her eyes were red, ready to cry at any moment.
Standing beside him, the First Prince spoke.
“Delfina is the only one who doesn’t know what kind of man her fiancé is.”
Elkaian remained silent.
“We need to do something about House Lycaeon and that fiancé of hers. How dare they treat our Delfina like this!”
The Prince’s voice was filled with anger.
Eventually, Delfina couldn’t endure her sorrow and ran out of the hall.
At that time, Elkaian never imagined he would one day be engaged to her.
‘She doesn’t look as sad as she did back then.’
He was surprised.
He thought she would be grieving, having been broken off by Kasen whom she loved.
But the Delfina standing before him now looked nothing like the sad girl at that party.
She didn’t look sad or broken-hearted at all.
