STLECM 13

CHAPTER 13

“No, I said no! I have to bring Tisha!”

“Yes, Larienne. I understand. Leave it to your mother. You just stay quietly in your room.”

“No! I said no! I’m going! Let me go…!”

As Larienne thrashed about, the door shut and locked, as if to ignore her struggles.

Lady Dorothea, visibly concerned about her daughter, had already instructed the head chef to prepare a sweet dessert. Then she looked at Viscount Heinz with a worried murmur.

“Dear… What should we do now?”

“Sigh. That’s what I’m wondering. At this rate, not only can we forget about expanding to the North, but we’ll end up being ignored by the capital’s nobles as well…”

“What? No, I mean about Larienne. Larienne’s so desperate to see Etisha—shouldn’t we bring her here?”

“What? Bring her here?! Are you out of your mind? Do you not understand the situation? How could we possibly bring Etisha here right now?!”

“Why are you yelling again?”

“Good grief, you and Larienne are the same. I’m the only one who worries about this family.”

“And what about you? I’m the only one worrying about our daughter! Can’t you show a little concern for her too?”

“Quiet! You don’t even understand what’s going on…!”

“Are you going to keep this up? Stop yelling already!”

“You—!”

“…”

After their fiery argument, a chilling silence settled over the viscount’s mansion.

Viscount Heinz and Lady Dorothea both fell silent, each lost in thought.

What should we… What can we do…

No matter how much they racked their brains, no solution came to mind.

There was no way to restore the Heinz family’s fallen prestige, and no way to bring Etisha—whom Larienne so desperately wanted—into their house.

Thus, the dark night passed.

When they returned to the villa, the familiar maid, Marin, was waiting in the central hall.

“Welcome back, Your Grace. My lady.”

Marin took Etisha’s coat and led her to her room. But the room’s location seemed odd.

“Wait a moment, shouldn’t I be going to the guest room on the second floor?”

“Oh, starting today, your room has been changed to the mistress’s bedroom. After all, Miss Etisha is the duchess-to-be.”

Kayan added casually.

“Yesterday, the mistress’s room wasn’t fully prepared, so we showed you to the guest room instead. It should be ready now.”

“Ah… I see.”

“If it’s uncomfortable, you may return to the guest room. Please do whatever feels best for you.”

“No, I can’t refuse after you went to the trouble. I’ll take the mistress’s room.”

“As you wish.”

Etisha followed Kayan up to the third floor. As they walked down the hallway, their paths matched exactly.

How far is he walking with me…?

That question was answered only when Etisha stopped in front of the room.

Wait—it’s next door?

The duke’s bedroom. And next to it, the duchess’s bedroom.

The two rooms were right beside each other. Practically touching.

Just as Etisha stood there in surprise, Kayan opened the door to the duke’s bedroom and went in. Now she couldn’t even say she wanted to switch rooms.

“My lady, shall we go in?”

“Y-Yes… let’s go.”

Marin opened the door and led Etisha inside. As Etisha adjusted her dress and stepped in, she was left speechless by what she saw.

This is a bedroom?

It looked even more beautiful than the imperial palace she had just visited. The room was mainly decorated in crisp white, accented with gold—real gold, it seemed, not gilding.

“I sleep here?”

“No, my lady.”

“Ah, I thought so.”

Something was definitely off.

It looked more like a banquet hall than a bedroom. Marin must have taken her to the wrong place.

“This is the sitting room. The bedroom is further inside. Let me show you.”

“Huh?”

“This way, please.”

Inside the duchess’s suite were several doors. Marin opened one of them, revealing a room with a large bed.

“This is the bedroom. Over there is the dressing room, and on the other side, a small private study. That door over there—”

“No need to explain.”

Etisha shook her head and stopped her. She’d be leaving for the North tomorrow anyway. This was just the villa… Wait, villa?

If this is the villa, then what does the main residence in the North look like…?

Etisha stopped thinking right there.

“Anyway, could you help me out of the dress? I’m tired and want to sleep early.”

“Yes, my lady.”

With Marin’s help, Etisha took off her dress. Her shoes and jewelry were removed as well, leaving her in a thin white chemise.

“Shall I put away this pendant too?”

Marin pointed at the pendant around Etisha’s neck.

It was a gift from Emperor Ignivan, bearing a lion’s head insignia with an open mouth at the center.

“No, I’ll keep that. Just put away the rest of the jewelry. No need to remove the Wintel ring either.”

Once everything was settled, Marin exited the room, probably to organize the items in the dressing room. Left alone, Etisha lay on the bed, gently touching the ring.

So soft, warm… and it smells nice, too…

The guest room she slept in yesterday was pleasant, but this felt even more comfortable—like being wrapped in someone’s arms.

This is the duke’s villa… so maybe like being wrapped in his arms…

Wait—what?

Etisha blinked, startled by her own thoughts.

What was she thinking just now?

Blushing, she covered her cheeks with her hands and burrowed into the blankets.

Why am I thinking about him like this? About the duke?

Etisha tossed and turned under the covers.

Could it be… I like him? No. No way. We only just met. That can’t be it.

Etisha didn’t know what love was. Not even the basics of liking someone.

Larienne had kept her too tightly in control. She’d never built relationships with anyone.

She’d barely spoken a word to other young noblewomen, let alone men her age—her romantic experience was that of a ten-year-old.

He’s just been kind to me… I’m just grateful, that’s all.

She let out a soft breath. Yes, she did feel a certain fondness for Kayan—but love? No, not that.

And even if I did like him, what would it matter? He already has a beloved mistress. And a child.

Just because she wore his ring, stayed in the room next to his, and accepted his help—didn’t make her the real duchess.

Etisha was a fake.

A thoroughly planned, intentional fake.

It’s better this way. Better that I don’t like him. Because I’m not supposed to.

She had agreed to a marriage that would make her a duchess in name only. She couldn’t fall in love with him as if it were real.

She was to live quietly, like air—barely noticed—until her time was up.

Sigh… I should stop thinking like this.

She turned over in bed, trying to block out her thoughts. By now, it was deep into the night. Through the darkness, Etisha’s eyes adjusted, and she quietly scanned the room.

And then she noticed—there was another door inside the bedroom she hadn’t seen before.

…What’s that door?

It was covered by a thin curtain. Curiosity stirred in her.

Maybe I’ll open it?

She hadn’t been interested in the room earlier, but now—wanting to clear her mind—she decided to take a look.

She gently rose from the bed. The hem of her thin chemise swept the floor as she walked to the door and carefully grasped the handle.

“….”

Click.

The door opened with a soft sound. And what she saw on the other side made her gasp in surprise.

“…Miss Etisha?”

There was Duke Kayan.

Shirtless.

Lying on his bed.

He sat up and picked up a silver candlestick from his nightstand. Using its flame, he lit a nearby lamp, casting a warm glow around the room.

“I—I’m so sorry! I didn’t know the rooms were connected…”

“Master bedrooms are built this way.”

“Oh…”

Etisha had never seen the Heinz couple’s bedroom, so she didn’t know.

“Well then, excuse me. I’ll be going now…”

As she turned to close the door, Kayan called out to her.

“Wait. Please.”

“…Yes?”

“There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”

Etisha hesitated, looking at him. Even from across the room, his bare chest gleamed in the firelight.

Oh no…

Broad shoulders, muscular chest, thick arms… She’d never seen anything like it.

Not knowing where to look, Etisha lowered her gaze to the floor and replied.

“What is it?”

“Maid Marin said she wishes to follow you to the North. It seems she wants to keep serving you.”

“Marin? But the North is far… once she goes, it’ll be hard to return…”

“Marin has no family. She won’t miss the capital.”

“Still… why me?”

Etisha looked concerned. Even if it was Marin’s own decision, being her lady-in-waiting was another matter entirely.

I’m going to die soon.

If Marin followed her to the North, and Etisha died within a year, the girl would be left all alone. The thought weighed heavily on her.

Sensing her worry, Kayan spoke in a calm, low voice.

“I’ll make sure she’s well taken care of. And it might be more comfortable for you to have someone from the capital with you in the North.”

“Yes… I think I’d like having Marin with me.”

“Then I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Yes, Your Grace. If Marin truly wants to come, let her.”

Etisha looked up as she answered—and once again, Kayan’s bare chest came into view.

Flustered, she quickly stepped back—only to step on the hem of her chemise.

“Ah!”

She stumbled. Kayan immediately rose from bed and rushed to her.

“Miss Etisha, are you alright?”

In the blink of an eye, he crossed the room and caught her, wrapping one arm around her waist.

She was practically in his arms.

Etisha, dressed only in a thin nightgown. Kayan, bare-chested.

The two stood, bodies pressed closely together.