Chapter 104 — An Unexpected Visit
Inside, I was screaming, but I forced myself to smile calmly.
“Not yet.”
“I see.”
Perel might look absentminded sometimes, but he was very sharp.
And now Janet—who used to be my maid—was trying to play the spy by seducing my husband’s aide. Nothing could be more shameful.
‘I’ll cut off any chance she has before she does something even more ridiculous.’
I was pouring more tea for Raphael, thinking quickly, when—
Of course, timing was everything.
Perel was hurrying toward us.
“Sir Perel!”
Janet’s face lit up as she called, but he walked right past her and came straight to me.
“Your Highness, there’s trouble,” he whispered.
“What?”
I raised my voice before I realized it.
“They arrived two days early. The delegation is already at the harbor.”
“What? But they weren’t supposed to come until the day after tomorrow!”
“I don’t know what happened either,” Perel admitted awkwardly.
“The problem is, this delegation represents the authority of the King of Rondoris himself. So we must go greet them accordingly. Normally His Grace would do it, but…”
“Then I’ll go.”
What game were they playing, showing up earlier than promised?
‘Whether in this world or my old one, people pulling stunts like this are all the same.’
I remembered advertisers who’d show up at events way too early just to cause trouble.
Usually, it was to nitpick and find faults.
But somehow, I doubted Loic was their target.
‘Is it me?’
Maybe they wanted to humiliate me—the marquis’s daughter who had “stolen” the Grand Duke they had their eyes on.
‘Perhaps they want to expose me as unfit to be Grand Duchess.’
Whatever their aim, I would not let them scratch my pride.
“Prepare every carriage at the castle to head for the harbor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And send half the carriages from the lakeside shuttle service as well.”
“The shuttles too?”
“They may have brought more people than expected. We’ll need backup.”
I turned to Leta.
“Tell Benet to have all the maids stationed at the guest palace. Air out even the spare rooms.”
Then I stroked Raphael’s hair gently.
“Raphael, maybe you should return to your room for today.”
“Alright.”
My mature little brother nodded obediently.
“Sir Perel, you’ll come with me. I’ll change clothes quickly and meet you downstairs.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Perel bowed.
At that moment, Janet spoke up.
“How can I help? Surely you’re short on hands. I was once Her Highness’s maid—please let me assist.”
‘The best way you can help is by doing nothing at all.’
Even in the rush, I was dumbfounded.
“Ah, Lady Janet…”
Perel suddenly remembered something and spoke firmly:
“Return to your room and do not leave the annex until further instructions.”
“What?”
Though his voice was polite, his order was strict. Janet blinked as if she hadn’t heard right.
“It’s the rule,” he clarified crisply.
“When royal-level guests arrive, anyone not part of the official household must remain in designated buildings without exception.”
“Oh, I see.”
His firm tone was so satisfying to hear.
Catching Cecilia’s eyes, I saw her glance sideways as if to say: See? Didn’t I tell you he has a sharp side?
Perel gave instructions to a guard, who stepped forward.
“We’ll escort you back to the annex, my lady.”
Janet turned away with a twisted smile, clearly unhappy.
I glanced at Raphael—would he be alright? He nodded again.
‘We can’t let our sister get in trouble because of us. I’ll be fine.’
I waved lightly to him and hurried off to change into battle-ready attire.
At the harbor, Count Quann Paccio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rondoris, stood in the salty sea breeze.
“How much luggage has been unloaded?”
“About half so far,” his deputy reported.
“Spread it out as much as possible. Make sure everyone can see that the delegation is stranded here at the docks.”
“Is that wise? Strictly speaking, this is discourteous on our part.”
“Doesn’t matter. Most people here didn’t even know we were coming today.”
Paccio clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the scene.
The harbor guards looked completely rattled.
They had been told the delegation would arrive in two days. Now, suddenly, the ship had arrived early with the flimsy excuse of “favorable winds.” Worse, the group was far larger than the official report.
Paccio was famous across neighboring states for his diplomatic tricks.
And one of his specialties was throwing off his opponents by creating chaos, then seizing control of the situation.
‘The Grand Duchess must be panicking right now.’
Of course, he would later apologize for the breach of etiquette—but it was worth the trouble.
‘After all, it was the Princess herself who asked me.’
— “During this delegation, I want the Grand Duchess’s inadequacy to be fully exposed.”
The princess had been blunt. Her resentment over the failed marriage with the Grand Duke was obvious.
So the moment Paccio learned the Duke was away, he moved the visit forward, forcing the Duchess to greet them herself.
He had no personal grudge, but until the Duke returned, he intended to make things as hard as possible for her.
By now, the luggage was unloaded, and the delegation stood awkwardly in the middle of the harbor, drawing curious stares.
‘It would be even better if the Grand Duchess failed to show up at all.’
Unfortunately for him, a procession of the Grand Duke’s carriages was already approaching in the distance.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Count Quann Paccio, envoy of His Majesty the King of Rondoris.”
Paccio smiled politely and extended his hand.
Behind him stood the delegation; behind me, the castle’s administrators. Dozens of eyes were fixed on us both.
He expected me to extend my hand for a kiss, in the imperial fashion.
But instead, he held his hand out for a Rondoris-style handshake.
‘If she lifts her hand the wrong way, she’ll look foolish in front of everyone.’
But to his surprise, I grasped his hand firmly and shook it with practiced ease.
“Welcome. Since His Grace is away, I must greet you in his stead.”
I tightened my grip slightly.
“You must be tired from the long journey, Count Paccio. Let’s head to the castle right away instead of keeping our guests waiting outside.”
Her straightforward yet dignified words left Paccio no choice but to nod.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
As we began to walk, Paccio’s deputy glanced at Perel behind me and whispered:
“Sir Perel, it’s been a while.”
“Deputy Minister Delon.”
“I must inform you… the delegation is a bit larger than we reported.”
“Oh? Larger in what way?”
“Thirty-two additional people were added after the list was finalized.”
“Thirty-two?!” Perel’s voice rose.
“My apologies, it was a last-minute decision. Naturally, this means there aren’t enough carriages, yes?”
Delon waved his hand magnanimously.
“But don’t worry. The extra people can wait here and take the carriages when they return. If not, we’ll simply hire some wagons.”
“It will be fine.”
At that, I turned my head slightly.
Fine? With that many extra people, the number of carriages was clearly insufficient. What was she thinking?
I gave Perel a subtle look.
“The shuttle carriages will cover it, won’t they?”
Perel smiled knowingly.
“They’re already waiting nearby.”
He passed the order to one of the administrators, who rushed off to carry it out.
‘Shuttle carriages? What’s that?’
Although Blenheim and Rondoris shared a border, Rondoris’s capital lay far to the northwest, deep inland.
News of Blenheim’s new shuttle carriage system hadn’t reached Rondoris yet.
After all, Rondoris was the stronger trading nation; they didn’t bother to watch Blenheim closely.
‘Still, showing curiosity now would only weaken our position.’
Paccio held his tongue.
But then—
“What exactly is a shuttle carriage?”
One of the merchant guild leaders blurted out the question.
