ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 75

Chapter 75

I’m Home

At Marican’s words, Charles, who had been standing behind the servants, suddenly threw herself into her arms, speaking through tearful sobs. Clea and the maids surrounded Mercean in an instant.

“My lady, we missed you so much!”

“You’ve grown so thin while you were away! And why cut off that beautiful hair? And why… Why have you grown even more beautiful? Without our care! If you keep getting prettier on your own, once you’ve let us touch you again, His Grace may not even recognize you!”

“B-Becky, haha… that’s an exaggeration.”

Mercian chuckled at Becky, the maid who always handled her massages.

“You’ve all been well, haven’t you? Truly, I thought I might never see you again. To meet like this once more—it makes me so happy!”

“Of course we weren’t well, my lady. How could we be, when you weren’t here? It was cruel of you to leave without a word.”

“I’m sorry. And thank you—for welcoming me back like this.”

She had thought the reunion might feel awkward after so long, but her worries were needless. The ducal household embraced her as if they had only parted yesterday.

Is this what a true family feels like?

Warmth swelled in her chest as she looked at the maids gathered around her, greeting her with genuine joy.

“Steward, shouldn’t we also greet the lady at her side?”

It was Jang, eyeing the chance he and the other attendants had missed, while the maids claimed her first. Edward glanced at the tight circle around Mercian and sighed.

“Jang, I don’t think we could push through them even if we tried. And look at His Grace’s face. He’s already displeased just watching other women by her side—if we tried to approach her, we might not survive.”

“Well, perhaps… but still—”

“There will be time to pay respects after the banquet. Don’t rush. For now, let’s step back.”

“Yes, Steward.”

With a sulky face, Jang retreated a step.

“My, my. So this is why there was such a commotion outside—Mer has returned. Funny, isn’t it? When the master truly died, not a tear was shed, yet here you all are weeping for the one who merely ran away and came back.”

“Aunt Olivia!”

At the familiar voice from behind, Mercian turned, delighted. The servants parted, and Olivia came slowly forward.

“I’ve missed you, dear niece.”

“How heartless of you. If that scoundrel had died, you should have come straight to me. Were you planning to never see me again? You enchanted me for months, visiting every weekend, then vanished without a word?”

“I’m sorry. But truly, once I settled a little, I intended to contact you.”

Though Ruan found me before then…

Olivia shot her a sidelong look, not entirely without affection.

“Really now? And I’m supposed to believe that lie?”

“It’s no lie! I swear, I meant to write to you. I could swear it on the heavens.”

Mercian lifted her hand toward the sky, and Olivia’s sternness melted into a tender smile.

“Very well, I’ll believe you, Mer. But promise me this—if that man causes trouble again, you must come to me. I’ll find you someone far better than him.”

Ruan’s expression soured instantly.

“Aunt, the air is cold. Enough of this nonsense—let’s head inside.”

“Hmph. You think glaring will frighten me? Mer, you don’t know how happy I am to see you again. No wonder I felt compelled to visit that scoundrel—my heart must have known you’d be here. Come now, let’s not linger outside.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

With Olivia on one side and Ruan on the other, Mercian entered the duchy once more. Nothing had changed since she left. She looked around slowly.

“Oh?”

“We kept everything exactly as you arranged it, my lady. We knew you’d return. Soon it’ll be time to redecorate again, so you must help us then too.”

“Yes, Clea. I’ll do that.”

She had only been gone five months, yet within these walls lived those she loved, and those who loved her.

Yes… just as Ruan said, this was truly her home now.

Softly, she whispered, “I’m home.”

Olivia, who had sworn she’d only stay for tea, ended up listening to Mercian’s stories until dinner, and left only afterward, promising to visit again soon.

…

“Ahh… so warm.”

Sinking into the duchy’s bath for the first time in months, Mercian let out a sigh. Charles gently rubbed oil into her skin.

“Your skin has suffered from work, my lady. We’ll have to use plenty of oil to bring back its softness.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Mercian tilted her head, examining her arms. Charles, still rubbing oil across her, shook her head in disbelief.

“It feels like a dream. To have you here before me… even now I can hardly believe it.”

Mercian pinched Charles’s cheek playfully.

“See? That hurts, doesn’t it? Proof this isn’t a dream.”

Charles touched her cheek in surprise.

“Strange… it didn’t hurt at all. What if this really is a dream?”

“What? Charles, you’ve grown quite witty while I was gone.”

Mercian laughed, and Charles began kneading her shoulders.

“My lady, you must never leave us again. Or, if you do, promise you’ll take me with you. Please?”

“All right, I promise, Charles.”

The warmth of the bath, combined with Charles’s massage, lulled her toward sleep.

“Charles, I think that’s enough. I’d better get to bed.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Quickly, Charles finished bathing her, dried her hair, and settled her into bed.

“Sweet dreams, my lady.”

Mercian nodded drowsily, already half-asleep.

…

“My lady?”

“Ruan? What are you doing here?”

Mercian opened her eyes to find him seated on her bed, gazing down at her.

“I worried someone might steal you away in the night.”

“You didn’t… stay here all night, did you?”

“Of course not. But I thought—it would be nice if the first person you saw upon waking was me.”

He smiled, and she blinked in surprise.

Wait. He was watching me sleep? I didn’t… drool, did I?

She instinctively raised a hand to her lips, and his gaze softened.

“Don’t worry, my lady. You didn’t drool.”

“R-Ruan! Don’t tease me.”

She glared, but he only bent and kissed her forehead.

“Come. Get up. I’ve been waiting to have breakfast with you.”

In his words, she caught the scent of food. Looking toward the bedside table, she saw a spread of dishes.

“Huh? Why is there food here?”

“I thought you might be tired, so breakfast in bed seemed better. Pardon me, my lady.”

He lifted her easily and carried her to the table, setting her gently into a chair.

“You needn’t go so far, Ruan.”

“I heard you were so exhausted yesterday you fell asleep before finishing your bath. That magical carriage shortens travel, but it drains the body. So today, rest well. I asked Jang to prepare a strengthening meal.”

Mercian eyed the table, laden with meat and vegetables.

“Ha… steak and stew for breakfast?”

“The steak is tender, and the stew has simmered for over a day until the meat falls apart. Don’t worry.”

“Then Jang must have worked hard. I’ll have to thank him later.”

“Later. For now, eat.”

He filled her plate.

“My lady, I must visit the palace today for the trial in a week. I can’t be with you, but tomorrow, I’ll spend the day by your side.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me. Do your duty. Actually, I had something to ask…”

“Anything. Speak.”

“It’s nothing grand. I just… want to study. Would that be possible?”

“Study?”

She flushed.

“I was a baron’s daughter, yes, but my family wasn’t wealthy. I never learned the etiquette or knowledge expected of noblewomen. At first, with our marriage limited to six months, I didn’t think it mattered. But now… I feel I should. I don’t want my ignorance to burden you.”

In Phenomenon village, such things hadn’t mattered. But as a duchess, she realized she would need at least a foundation.

“My lady, even if you knew nothing of letters, no one in the Empire would dare mock you. But if you wish to learn, I’ll arrange it.”

“Thank you, Ruan. It’s for you—but truthfully, for me as well. I want to learn.”

“Then, of course, you shall. Will you remain at the estate today?”

“No. Winter is coming, and I thought of going shopping with Clea and Charles to prepare.”

“Take the guards. I’ve crushed the rebels, but one never knows.”

At the mention of Hugo’s rebellion, Mercian nodded.

“Yes, I will.”

…

“Winter is approaching.”

It had been winter when she first left; now, another drew near.

In her carriage, Mercian lifted her fan and pulled back the curtain. Outside, leaves once bright with autumn colors were falling.

“This year feels colder than last.”

“Perhaps so,” Clea agreed.

“By the way, why didn’t you bring little Ruan, the puppy?”

“Well… Zelda insisted she’d care for him.”

“Zelda… that was the lady we met, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. She said she’d be lonely if both I and the pup were gone. And besides, the magic carriage is hard on animals.”

“Hm. I wanted to call him ‘Ruan’ in front of our master, just once. Hehe.”

“Charles!”

Clea scolded her, glaring, while Charles turned away, muttering,

“You always said ‘Ruan, Ruan’ too…”

“Enough, Charles.”

“But remember when His Grace found out? He teased us, saying the chicken at my lady’s house was named after me, and the duck after you.”

“What?”

At that, Mercian froze, startled, dropping the fan from her hand.