CHAPTER 23
“Because it’s the couple’s bedroom.”
The moment Cayenne finished speaking, the two arrived on the third floor. Standing in front of the massive door, Ethisha couldn’t even close her gaping mouth.
‘Couple’s bedroom? What does that mean? Does that mean the duke and I will share the same room?’
She recalled the “marital quarters” she’d seen back when she stayed at the capital mansion.
Back then, her room was next to Cayenne’s. There was a wall and a door separating their two rooms.
They could enter each other’s rooms if they wanted, but fundamentally, they each had their own private space.
But here…
‘Why is there only one door going in?’
Was the layout of the mansion and the castle just different?
Surely… they wouldn’t be sharing one bed, would they?
Ethisha couldn’t bring herself to open the door and hesitated.
Just then, Cayenne politely withdrew the hand with which he had been escorting her.
“Then, I’ll be heading to my office. I must hear Valdebram’s report on the affairs that occurred while I was away from the North.”
Cayenne gave Ethisha a courteous nod and turned away, walking down the stairs. Ethisha quickly called out to him.
“Your Grace!”
“…?”
“Just a moment, I have something I want to ask.”
Ethisha took a breath to calm herself. She was curious about the structure of the couple’s chambers in Wintel Castle, but there was something far more pressing she needed to address.
“This is important.”
Since coming to the North, Ethisha had gone through many things in a short time.
She had been thrust into unfamiliar circumstances, experienced much, and faced unexpected incidents one after another.
‘I’ve gotten through things so far with a bit of luck… but I can’t rely on luck forever.’
With Dite, with Madam Cyrilleze…
Because she didn’t truly know who they were, misunderstandings kept happening—and so did unnecessary heartache.
Ethisha didn’t want to stay like that. She wanted to grow.
“I realized—if I’m to become the Duchess of Wintel, there are people I absolutely need to understand. Like Dite and Madam Cyrilleze… People I must know.”
Ethisha looked at Cayenne, thinking of one person in particular.
Kailles Wintel.
Cayenne’s father. The former Grand Duke of Wintel.
If he was someone she would eventually have to face, then she wanted to be prepared ahead of time.
As if thinking the same thing, Cayenne’s expression shifted slightly.
“…If you’re referring to my father, he isn’t currently at Wintel Castle.”
He looked into her pale face with dark eyes as he spoke.
“He left the castle temporarily on diplomatic business. He’ll return before the wedding, but you likely won’t encounter him before then.”
“I see… So he’s gone far.”
“Yes. If he had been here, he would’ve attended the celebration. But it’s best not to have high expectations of him.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Cayenne slowly shook his head.
“My father only ever shows kindness to my mother. To no one else. Not even to me—or to Dite. He simply doesn’t care.”
“……”
“He won’t care about this marriage either. And even if you meet him, he probably won’t say much.”
Now that he mentioned it… she had heard something like that before.
That Cayenne Wintel, the current Duke, was the spitting image of his father, Kailles Wintel…
‘Cold. Cruel. Merciless. The Northern Blade.’
Suddenly, Viscount Heinz came to her mind.
Her own father—Viscount Heinz. The verbal abuse she endured, the beatings she suffered… they flashed through her memory. She didn’t know why that sorry excuse for a father suddenly came to mind.
‘But the Duke… he’s not like that at all.’
If he were truly merciless, he wouldn’t have helped her so much.
‘If Duke Cayenne takes after his father, then maybe… maybe his father isn’t such a bad man either.’
Ethisha decided to let go of her prejudice against the former Duke.
Still, despite her resolve, her heart pounded erratically.
‘Father…’
The pain on her back and legs from Viscount Heinz’s beatings seemed to resurface.
Her chest felt suffocating, as if someone were squeezing it tightly.
‘No… the Duke’s father isn’t the same as mine.’
Rumors were just rumors. No need for assumptions until she met the man herself.
Ethisha forcibly calmed her racing heart and shifted the topic. She didn’t want to dwell on her own father any longer.
“Then… is there anyone else I should know? Like someone important in high society? I met so many guests at the party earlier, I’m a bit overwhelmed.”
Fortunately, Cayenne didn’t resist the change in subject.
“Yes. There are two people you should be cautious of.”
“Who are they?”
“The first is Countess Montmad. She’s the source of almost all gossip and scandal in these parts. Don’t get too close. And be careful with every word you say around her.”
“Oh. Okay. Got it.”
That one made sense.
If Madam Cyrilleze was the queen ruling over the social scene with dignity, then Countess Montmad was undoubtedly the underworld boss controlling the shadows.
“And the second…”
Cayenne warned with a firmer tone.
“Marquis Hexion. Don’t let your heart be swayed by him.”
“…?”
“He’s dangerous. A man who loves to toy with women. Every woman who’s become entangled with him has had her life ruined.”
With those words, Cayenne gave Ethisha a light bow. It seemed he truly was headed for his office now.
Ethisha didn’t stop him this time.
‘Countess Montmad… and Marquis Hexion…’
Ethisha recalled the faces and names of the nobles she’d met at the party and turned to push open the massive doors on the third floor.
As she walked down the long corridor, she passed several dressing rooms, private quarters, and bathing areas.
At the very end was the bedroom. It was enormous.
And in the center of the room—just one bed. But it was huge.
Big enough for not just Ethisha, but Cayenne as well, with plenty of space to spare.
At that very moment, in the tower at the edge of Wintel Castle, a secret meeting was taking place.
Under the moonlight of the Tower of Stars—
“Here. Come in.”
Dite wiped her tear-stained eyes as she let Marquis Hexion into her room.
“Are you sure it’s okay to drag me somewhere like this?”
“There’s only me here anyway.”
“Hah… Looks like Madam Cyrilleze really did raise you like a hothouse flower. If you want to play at being the duke’s lady, don’t ever say things like that again.”
Marquis Hexion roamed around Dite’s room like it was his own garden. His eyes scanned every corner, his fingers tapping at various objects.
“You weren’t trained like a noble, but everything you use is first-class.”
“Those were all gifts from Madam. Don’t touch them carelessly.”
“That dress too?”
“Yes. She gave it to me for the banquet today.”
Hexion eyed Dite from head to toe. The simple pale-green dress matched her blonde hair and gave her a sweet, innocent air.
“I see. That explains it.”
“Explains what, exactly?”
“How Madam Cyrilleze sees you.”
“Huh?”
As Dite tilted her head, confused, Hexion stepped closer. Then he whispered in a voice smooth as honey:
“There’s an old story… about the Emperor’s canary. Have you heard it?”
“…?”
“Guess not. One day, the first emperor went up a mountain and saw a hawk with golden feathers. Captivated, he captured the bird and raised it himself. He named it, fed it, and cared for it dearly.”
“But you said canary—”
“Just listen.”
Hexion flicked the end of Dite’s long golden hair. The same careless touch he’d used on the objects in her room.
“The hawk was cherished, of course. The servants, fearing harm might come to it, locked it in a cage and doted on it every day. Time passed, and the hawk’s feathers grew even more beautiful.”
“So what? What’s your point?”
“Well, one day the emperor wanted to see his hawk fly again. So he took it out of the cage… and guess what? It couldn’t even spread its wings. It just cried like a baby bird.”
“……”
“Because it was raised so delicately, it was no longer a hawk. Its talons dulled, its eyes lost their sharpness. It had become nothing more than a yellow canary, chirping sweetly.”
Hexion brushed aside Dite’s hair again and flicked the hem of her dress.
“You’re just like that canary now. It’s no wonder she treats you like a pet.”
Dite shook her head, resisting his words.
It wasn’t Madam Cyrilleze who treated her like a pet—it was the noblewomen who looked down on her.
“No… That’s not true. Madam is kind. She took me in when I had nowhere to go. If not for her, I’d still be suffering in some orphanage.”
“Sure. You were lucky. Being noticed by Madam Cyrilleze was fortunate. But that’s all it is.”
“……”
“A lucky bird who happened to get caged by the emperor.”
Hexion laughed darkly, as if the entire situation amused him.
“N-No… Madam truly thinks of me as a daughter…”
“Oh please. Have you already forgotten what you said earlier?”
“You keep saying such awful things about Madam!”
“Enough. You’re the one who begged me to tell you how to become the duke’s lady and Cayenne’s mistress. Then face reality.”
Moonlight cast across the marquis’s face, highlighting his chilling features.
His pure silver hair, pale skin, and two ruby-like eyes gleamed hauntingly.
He was the very embodiment of a devil who played with people’s hearts.
He must be cayenes rival and one of the villains. Otherwise I don’t get why he’d go out of his way to do this…. he seems like a trouble maker who just wants to cause havoc and watch everything burn to the ground.
And/or one of those who likes offering people exactly what they need to destroy themselves, just to see if they will.