TGDHC Chapter 92

Chapter 92. The One Person

The Marchioness bit her lip, as if finally giving up under my gaze.

“Then at least let me go along!”

From among the servants, Janet stepped forward.

‘Our Janet really loves to follow, doesn’t she. Must be very loyal to the Marquis.’

“Madam will feel so out of place here. She needs someone familiar to wait on her.”

Janet quickly added, as if determined not to miss another chance like before.

“And Young Master Raphael is terribly shy. He won’t tolerate strange attendants near him.”

The Marchioness squeezed her eyes shut like this was her last card.

“At least let me bring one maid.”

Well, Janet was manageable.

I already had a good idea of her type.

“Of course, Mother,” I said with a pleasant smile.

“Welcome to Blenheim, Janet.”

***

Clack.

The carriage door closed, and soon the wheels began to turn.

Inside, opposite me, sat the Marchioness. Neither of us spoke for some time.

“…”

At last, she lowered the fan that had been half-covering her face.

“You’ve grown quite radiant since marriage.”

What, dropping formal speech the moment we’re alone?

It rubbed me the wrong way, but I kept my mouth shut.

Even if she wasn’t my real mother, it still felt wrong to speak back rudely.

So, the warmth she showed earlier had just been an act. Not surprising.

“Seems the Grand Duke knows how to spend money well, doesn’t he?”

“Yes. I used to dress so poorly that His Grace said it was beneath even the daughter of an enemy. He took care to provide me with things himself.”

“Hmph.”

She snorted.

“If anyone’s to blame, it’s the stingy Marquis. I never had any say over household finances.”

“Then why have you come here?” I asked.

“You think I wanted to?” she snapped.

“If you hadn’t caused trouble, I’d be enjoying summer in Märchen right now. But the Marquis was so furious, he sent me straight here a day after I returned to the capital.”

“Trouble? You say that like I ran away in the night.”

“You really have changed.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“They say you lost all shame once you married. The role of Grand Duchess must suit you well.”

She sounded envious seeing a daughter once dismissed now looking respectable in fine clothes and dignity.

Still, there wasn’t much hostility in her tone.

It was easy to guess the old dynamic.

Between Ferdinand’s severity and Ladriel’s temper, Annette had been the only one she could treat casually—someone she could scold without fear.

So her tone was sharp and dismissive, but not cruel.

And Annette had probably never feared her much either.

‘So, why are you really here?’

I stared at her, waiting.

She sighed irritably.

“I don’t know. The Marquis told me to get the knights inside the Ducal Castle somehow, but you blocked that.”

She muttered that if she went back empty-handed, she’d be chewed out.

‘But she looks too calm for that.’

Compared to her fluster outside earlier, she was almost relaxed now.

Surely the Marquis hadn’t pinned heavy hopes on her.

She wasn’t sharp enough for a spy. And Raphael, barely just entered the Academy, couldn’t do much either.

So why send him too?

Maybe to lower suspicion.

Ah. Of course.

If the Marchioness came alone, fine. But with Raphael, she’d need at least one maid to act as a nanny.

The Marquis probably never expected to get the whole entourage in.

Maybe…

‘Was getting Janet inside the real goal all along?’

Perhaps Janet was more important than I thought. I’d need to make sure she was closely watched.

While I thought this, the Marchioness’s eyes suddenly sparkled at me.

“Wh-why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.

“You’ve got money, don’t you?”

“…What?”

Seeing my scowl, she went on fussily:

“Do you know how poor Raphael’s been while at the Academy? It’s almost the ball season, and he hardly has a decent set of clothes.”

She complained that she’d thought Northern dresses would be rustic, but seeing mine, they clearly weren’t.

“So let me order a few gowns too, hm? In return, I’ll put in a good word for you with the Marquis.”

‘This feels less like meeting my stepmother and more like a friend dropping by and freeloading…’

I suddenly realized her stay was going to be very tiring.

I gave the Marchioness and Raphael a small annex on the east side.

I couldn’t bring someone with such obvious motives into the main keep, and with a diplomatic delegation due soon, the guest wing was also out of the question.

‘And of all days, Cecilia isn’t here…’

At least Whitley handled the practicalities, sparing me the fuss of personal arrangements.

Still, so much had happened so suddenly that my head felt muddled.

After a quick dinner, I went for a walk with Leta.

“I heard Morina is buried in orders these days?” I asked.

“Yes, thanks to Your Grace entrusting her with the lakeside signs. She’s so busy I barely see her anymore.”

Leta, who rarely spoke, brightened only when talking about her sister.

We were passing a white flower bed when I noticed a brown-haired head in the garden ahead.

‘Raphael?’

Curious, I went closer.

The boy sat at a table, legs swinging half-heartedly, with a knight beside him.

The knight noticed me and bowed politely. He was from the 9th Division—often seen with Tiern. A rough-looking man, unlike Tiern’s easy charm.

‘Tiern probably picked the scariest-looking knight on purpose.’

Sensing me, Raphael glanced back—then quickly turned away again.

‘Maybe I should just leave.’

I wasn’t in the mood to endure a child’s disdain.

I gave the knight a nod and started to turn away—but then noticed Raphael twitching, glancing back, as if fighting the urge to look at me.

What was that?

Curiosity got the better of me. I walked up to the table.

“Raphael?”

Even when I stood before him, he didn’t lift his head.

“Mind if I sit here?”

Maybe we could talk a little.

Had he always treated Annette with indifference like Ferdinand?

But even after I asked again, he just stared into his teacup.

The knight and Leta both looked uneasy.

‘Forget it. Is this the Marquis’s son, after all?’

I turned to leave, but suddenly he grabbed my sleeve.

“…?”

“Are you just going to walk away?”

He turned sharply, eyes glistening.

“R… Raphael?”

Why was he crying?

“Sister, you’re so mean! Didn’t you miss me at all?”

I stared, stunned, as tears rolled down his flushed cheeks.

“R-Raphael, don’t cry.”

I hurriedly took Leta’s handkerchief and dabbed his eyes.

“I hate you!” he said—but clung tightly to my sleeve.

“I’m sorry, Raphael. Please don’t cry.”

Wait—Annette and Raphael had been close?

But earlier, he wouldn’t even step out of the carriage.

Awkwardly, I patted his back.

After some time, his freckled nose stopped twitching.

“All done crying?”

He lifted his small face.

Oh my…

How had such a sweet child come from the Marquis?

Looking closely, his delicate features made him an adorably handsome boy.

When I stroked his curly hair, Raphael suddenly buried his face in my waist.

“I’m still mad.”

The words didn’t match the action, and I couldn’t help smiling.

“Alright, alright.”

“How could you marry without even telling me?”

So they were closer than I thought.

His muffled voice, pressed against me, was full of hurt.

“I’m sorry, Raphael.”

He pulled back, scowling.

“I know it wasn’t your fault. It was Father’s. But still… you could’ve written to me.”

“Yes. I was awful. I didn’t even think of you, Raphael.”

Agreeing with him, I saw his voice grow sharp with pent-up resentment.

“I came all this way to see you, and you didn’t even look happy!”

Ah.

So he’d been upset because I seemed too indifferent earlier.

“You didn’t even come visit me in my room!”

His eyes grew wet again, and I quickly cupped his face.

“I’m sorry, Raphael. I must’ve been scared you’d be angry with me.”

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“I won’t.”

When he finally nodded, lips pressed tight, I felt strange.

So Annette had at least one person who cared for her.

She’d thought no one loved her—but here was someone.

And strangely, that thought made me want to cry.

I softly stroked Raphael’s warm cheek as he smiled sheepishly.