For once, the Grand Duke returned earlier than the knights.
Because of that, we ran into each other just as I was coming back from my own little outing.
“Your Grace? You’re already back?”
“And you… I have no words.”
The Grand Duke looked at me, then shifted his gaze past my shoulder with a mixture of disbelief and exasperation.
Only then did I remember the obvious evidence behind me. The wagon was stacked full of desserts. Embarrassed, I tried to block it with my body.
Worried he might think I planned to eat it all myself, I hurriedly made excuses.
“No, it’s just… they were too delicious! I bought a lot so I could share them with everyone!”
“…”
“Don’t worry! I used my own money. Not a single coin from what the steward gave me!”
I deployed my best ‘I bought it with my own money, got a problem with that?’ skill.
The Grand Duke said nothing and simply strode into the mansion.
Leaving instructions with Julia to share the desserts with the staff, I scampered after him.
“Were there not many monsters today? You finished so quickly.”
“This season, they usually lie low to prepare for breeding and laying eggs.”
“That’s true. Winter is just around the corner.”
Not long after, Garnet hurried over from afar, clearly rushing when he heard the Duke had arrived earlier than expected.
“Did you return alone, Your Grace?”
“The others will be here soon.”
“I’ll see to the bath.”
“Oh, right. I bought some desserts for you too, Steward. Julia will have them ready.”
“You even thought of me? I’m grateful, My Lady.”
Smiling warmly, Garnet excused himself to order hot water for the Duke’s bath.
I beamed. “Your Grace must also be looking forward to tonight’s shrimp dish, right?”
“…”
“That’s why you came back so early, isn’t it?”
“…Something like that.”
So he does like shrimp after all.
Acting all indifferent, yet his taste buds betrayed him. Feeling oddly pleased, I continued trailing after him.
“I was also looking forward to it. That’s why I only ate two slices of cake today.”
“…I didn’t think you had such self-restraint.”
The Grand Duke sounded genuinely surprised. It made me reflect on my eating habits. To be fair, I did usually eat at least three slices by default. No wonder he was impressed.
Flustered, I tried to change the subject—only for the Duke to halt suddenly.
“Tell me. Just how long do you plan on following me?”
“Eh?”
I blinked up at him, then realized where we stood: right in front of his chambers.
“Oh.” I quickly took a couple of steps back.
“I’ll see you at dinner.”
What a pity. Sneaking a look into the room of a handsome man would have been nice.
But he slammed the door with deliberate finality, leaving no room for argument.
“Tch.” Clicking my tongue, I turned away reluctantly.
The spirit at my side piped up.
– “So this is what humans call being turned away at the door?”
No. Not quite the right context.
– “Well, still. Lize is dangerous. Sometimes she’s perverted!”
– “Clearly that man realized how perverted she can be—”
“You three. Do you want me to send you back to the Spirit Realm?”
– ‘Eh? If we go back, we can’t eat cake anymore… or see the handsome Duke’s face…’
When I bared my teeth in a menacing grin, the sylphids shrank in terror and immediately shut their mouths.
ִֶָ___________𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָﾒ ་༘࿐__________
“My sister really is too much.”
Theo sighed heavily, his pen pausing mid-signature.
“Your Majesty, please don’t stop. You still have mountains of paperwork to sign.”
At Severed’s sharp reminder, Theo bit back further complaints and resumed writing.
But before long, he threw his pen down in frustration.
“It’s been ten days since my sister left for her vacation! Not a single word from her!”
“Wherever the Marchioness has gone, I’m sure she’s eating well and enjoying herself.”
“Severed, you’re too naïve.”
Theo gave him a pitying look and leaned forward with genuine worry.
“Even the newspapers are silent. Normally she’d have caused some sort of scandal by now. Yet not a single mention of her anywhere in the Empire’s press.”
At that, Severed fumbled for the drawer where he kept his headache medicine.
With the Marchioness gone, her presence was so missed that one almost forgot she was the Emperor’s elder sister.
“Truly… I can’t help but worry.”
Theo, his speech now flavored with the authority of the throne, sighed deeply.
Severed accidentally nodded in agreement—then immediately flinched at himself. Somehow, the Emperor’s worry sounded convincing.
“Isn’t it a good thing she hasn’t caused any trouble?”
“How can you say that?”
“…Pardon?”
Theo’s voice turned sharp with indignation.
“If my sister hasn’t caused trouble, then something must be wrong. She might be sick, or something could have happened! Isn’t it natural to worry?”
Severed rubbed his temples. How easy it was to forget that these siblings were far from ordinary.
“Please rest assured, Your Majesty. She was born under nature’s blessing. She will be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“At least with the Marchioness away, paperwork has been cut in half. No petitions, no complaints, no appeals. Isn’t this moment of peace something to be savored?”
It was true—the absence of the Marchioness meant far fewer grievances landed on the imperial desk.
But Theo only looked more sulky.
“I’d rather she made small mischief here and there, just so I’d know she’s alive. At this rate, I fear the day she returns… she’ll cause some massive catastrophe.”
A chill ran up his arms as goosebumps broke out.
“Your Majesty, don’t even joke about such things!” Severed shuddered.
“I pray it’s only my imagination.” Theo spoke gravely.
Severed found himself trembling at the thought of a disaster that hadn’t even happened yet.
“Still… when she returns, we should host a ball.”
“That’s an excellent idea. By then the urgent matters will be settled, and since Your Majesty has never held a banquet since ascending the throne—”
“Have the Chief Lady-in-Waiting and the Chief Steward see to all preparations.”
“Yes, sire. And it should be as grand as possible. It will be the first imperial celebration of your reign.”
At that, Theo’s expression softened. He looked as though his sister might walk through the doors at any moment.
“Perfect. She adores extravagance. Let it match her tastes.”
“As you wish. But in the meantime, Your Majesty, please pick up your pen again.”
Theo grimaced but reluctantly resumed signing papers.
Ah, if only his sister would come back soon. He missed her terribly.
ִֶָ___________𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָﾒ ་༘࿐__________
“Julia, don’t they ever hold parties in the North?”
I asked this as I rubbed my very full stomach after dinner.
Julia, tidying my room, tilted her head.
“Parties are rare in the ducal household.”
“But the Northern nobles must exist, right?”
“His Grace seldom attends social gatherings, so invitations rarely reach us. No one wants to risk displeasing him.”
A week of confinement in the ducal estate was making me restless.
He said he’d show me the North. When exactly?
Waiting around for him to return from hunts was driving me crazy.
As someone who loved parties, I couldn’t understand his hermit-like lifestyle. But fine, that was his nature.
Still, if there were no parties, what else could I do? Then it hit me. Since arriving, I hadn’t had a proper drink.
Other than a few sips of wine at meals, I’d been dry. Back home at the Marquis estate, I drank every night before bed.
And tomorrow, the Duke wasn’t even going on a hunt. No need to see him off. Why not drink tonight?
But the idea fizzled quickly.
Drinking alone was just sad.
“Julia, want to drink with me?”
“With you, my Lady? I’d be fired on the spot.” Julia almost choked at the suggestion.
“Maybe I’ll coax the Duke into drinking with me instead.”
At that, Julia’s eyes lit up with suspicious enthusiasm.
“That’s a wonderful idea.”
“…That look is unsettling.”
“Night, wine, two adults… heh heh.”
“You can laugh like that?” I gawked.
Julia just continued drying my hair with a sly grin, saying nothing.
Something told me I didn’t want to know more.
“Bring me my bag.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
Julia fetched my bag from the wardrobe shelf, curiosity written all over her face.
“This isn’t some kind of Doraemon pouch, you know.”
“Ta-da.”
“…Wine?”
“Mm. A gift. And my favorite, too.”
It was from Countess Estelle, one of the few nobles I considered a real friend.
A married woman from her debut, she had once been one of villainess Lizebrion’s followers. Now, she was a staunch ally of mine.
With her quick tongue and refined wit, she often smoothed over my more outrageous moments in society. In short, she was my accident-cleanup expert.
She was also the only friend Theo openly approved of.
“Are you really going to see His Grace like that?” Julia asked, eyeing me.
“What about it?”
“…You’re in your nightgown. Maybe throw something over it?”
“Oh.”
Right. At home, wandering around in sleepwear was no big deal—though Molga had nagged me constantly about it. But this wasn’t my home.
“It’s just a simple nightdress. Not even revealing.”
“The North is very conservative.”
“…Fine. Bring me a shawl.”
Julia draped one over my shoulders.
“Have a good night, my Lady.”
“…Why does that sound like it means something else?”
“Just your imagination.”
I rolled my eyes, but she pushed me gently toward the door with a cheery “fighting!” fist pump.
Wine bottle in hand, I was shoved into the corridor.
For a second, she reminded me of Lora. But surely that was just my imagination.
