Chapter 6
His honest thoughts slipped out before he realized it, and the Grand Duke turned his head toward the window in slight embarrassment.
“……More importantly, I heard that Your Grace has a child.”
When the topic of the child came up, he turned his head back from the window and looked at her.
He had one child from his first wife, Lily.
The child had the same hair and eye color as Lily, constantly reminding him of her. Perhaps because of that, most of the women who tried to get close to him disliked the child.
“Yes. Jeremy Lloyd, a five-year-old boy.”
“I’d like to talk about him.”
“……There’s no need for you to concern yourself with that. All I expect from you is to fulfill your public duties as the Grand Duchess.”
All he wanted was for her to shield him from the Emperor’s gaze for a while and maintain an appropriate level of dignity.
“Of course, I intend to fulfill every duty given to me. But first, I’d like to get close to the child. At least to know what he likes and dislikes.”
Felix looked at the woman with a hint of puzzlement.
“……Once again, there’s no need for you to care about the child.”
Felix had no expectation that the woman in front of him would take on a mother’s role toward his son.
“Huh? But……”
“Whatever you’re thinking, I don’t know. But I’d rather you didn’t rush things. I don’t even know what kind of person you are yet.”
He couldn’t understand what her intentions were for saying such things, but for now, she was hard to trust.
“Ah……!”
Momentarily flustered by his words, the woman swallowed a sigh and nodded seriously.
“Your Grace is right. I’m still someone who can’t be trusted. ……I was too hasty. I’m sorry.”
She could have looked displeased, yet she accepted his words very calmly.
“Ahem. Well, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Um…… The position……”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
The woman muttered something. It sounded like words, but her voice was too low to catch.
“N-no, it’s nothing.”
“……”
Silence began to fill the carriage once again.
‘Still, I won’t be a Grand Duchess who just sits and does nothing.’
Elia repeated to herself the words Felix hadn’t heard and turned her gaze away. Just then, the magnificent snow-covered mountains appeared through the window. They were almost at Artizen territory.
‘Finally, I’ve arrived in the North.’
It was the moment she had long been waiting for.
She wiggled her frostbitten toes and calmed her excitement.
‘Young Jeremy…… I can hardly remember.’
Her first meeting with the child had vanished into the depths of memory. Perhaps that was natural.
At that time, Elia had been dizzy from seasickness, chilled by the cold, and suffering from the effects of constant Melanesia medication.
“We’ve arrived. This is my territory—and where you’ll be living from now on.”
“Yes, I see. Look, the people of the territory are gathered.”
Elia blinked and smiled. Between the sturdy walls surrounding the outskirts like a fortress, a large wooden gate stood wide open.
Countless villagers stood there, bustling about as if to welcome Felix and his wife.
‘I didn’t realize it then, but Felix was trusted here.’
Men and women, young and old, gathered with curious eyes. Elia noticed a very small child waving at her, and she waved back, feeling as though she were looking at Jeremy.
“But everyone’s clothes seem so thin. They must be cold……”
“They’re used to this wretched cold. Worry about yourself.”
“Ah……”
Elia nodded as if she understood, but she knew she could never get used to the Northern cold.
‘I need to do something about this harsh weather first……’
Her heart felt heavy.
As she looked around the village with concern, a magnificent blue castle appeared in the distance.
The carriage sped toward it. The coachman shouted while staring at the fortress walls:
“His Grace the Grand Duke has arrived!”
At the coachman’s cry, a massive drawbridge began to descend.
Without it, there was no way into Artizen Castle—because of the waterway that flowed between the castle and the territory. The castle stood as an independent fortress, perfect for repelling invaders.
Boom!
The bridge landed on the ground with a loud thud, making her heart pound in excitement.
This second chance—this time, she would protect those she loved and live a happy life with them.
The carriage passed through the gates of Artizen Castle.
As it stopped, Felix stepped out first and offered his hand to help Elia down.
Holding his hand, Elia stepped forward into the castle she had dreamed of.
Snowflakes were falling thickly. Frost blanketed the ground, making it clear why this land was called the Frozen Territory.
In the bitter cold, the servants stood in a line, waiting for them.
“Welcome. I am Andrew Hubert, the head butler of Artizen Castle. Please call me Andrew.”
“Nice to meet you, Andrew.”
His neatly slicked-back silver hair, smooth forehead, and dark eyebrows stood out.
‘At least in this harsh North, he was the most capable man.’
He was Felix’s informant and handled most of the internal affairs of the North. He wasn’t just an ordinary butler.
‘He practically managed the entire Northern household I had neglected.’
Elia quietly observed his appearance. Despite the cold, Andrew wore a black suit and pristine white gloves, bowing politely with one hand over his chest.
“This is the Grand Duke’s son, Young Master Jeremy Lloyd.”
Andrew quickly stepped aside and brought forward the child who had been standing behind him.
Her eyes welled with joy.
The moment she saw him, Elia wondered if this was all a dream.
The child was smaller than she remembered.
“……Jeremy Lloyd?”
Barely reaching her waist, he was tiny and fragile. Seeing him brought back the image of Jeremy from the past, and emotion welled up inside her.
Elia stopped and took several deep breaths.
“……?”
The child tilted his head, lips pouting as if displeased by her reaction.
His short limbs and faintly pink, chubby cheeks were more than enough to melt Elia’s heart.
“Hello, Jeremy!”
Elia knelt down to meet his eyes. At the sudden closeness, his cheeks flushed, and he turned his head away.
He was so adorable. His green eyes shimmered with embarrassment.
“My name is Elia. I’m so happy to meet you.”
Elia smiled softly and gently stroked his fluffy pink hair.
“Hm? Why is your face so red? Are you cold?”
His face was so red it looked like it might burst.
“N-no, I’m not!”
Just as her hand brushed from his hair to his warm cheeks—
Smack.
Jeremy slapped her hand away and hid behind the butler. Elia hesitated and pulled back.
“Ahem. Young Master Jeremy must be very shy.”
“……He must be startled by a stranger. Then I’ll take it slowly.”
Despite the awkward situation, she smiled.
Her smile made the butler cough awkwardly. Elia’s gaze lingered on the child.
‘He was even cuter when he was little……’
So adorable and precious—she wanted to pinch those plump cheeks.
She regretted the time she had foolishly let slip by without truly looking at this beautiful child.
He had hovered around her, seeking her attention, but she never realized it then.
Even when he entered the academy at thirteen, Jeremy always wrote letters to Elia.
He never once sent a letter to Felix, but he always wrote to her:
“Dear Mother,
Hello. It’s much warmer in the Empire now. The North must still be cold, right? I’ve made friends with a girl here who reminds me of you.
She acts prickly but takes care of me more than anyone else.
I’m doing well. I just wonder how you’re doing. If you have time, please write me a letter.”
This was one of the letters he sent when Elia never replied. Even though she pushed him away, Jeremy kept trying to reach her.
Every time he approached, she remembered how she desperately sought affection from the Marquis back then.
The boy’s actions reminded her of her old wounds, so she avoided him.
It was such a foolish, pathetic thing to do.
“……Enough greetings for now. I’ll have the servants show you to your room.”
Felix’s voice sounded a little subdued. Elia snapped out of her thoughts and tore her gaze from the child.
“Hello, My Lady. I’ve been assigned as your temporary maid. Please take care of me. You can call me Yuri.”
“Nice to meet you, Yuri.”
Yuri was someone she remembered. She had served Elia in her previous life as well.
‘Even back then, I thought she was quite a thoughtful girl.’
Most people in Artizen Castle never looked down on Elia for being sold here. Instead, they treated her with respect.
Elia followed Yuri deeper into the castle.
When she first came here, she had rejected everything, uncomfortable with the kindness shown to her.
‘Because I’d never received such treatment in the Marquis’ household……’
Now she realized the people of Artizen truly cared for the Grand Duke’s family.
The servants were devoted, and the Northerners had deep trust in the Grand Ducal House.
