TMWSH 09

~Chapter 09~

Life Held in Mortgage 

The next day.

Irina woke up before Casey came to wake her.

She pulled the bell cord to summon her maid and began her morning preparations with a look of firm resolve.

“Casey. How long have you been working here?”

“Me, ma’am? It hasn’t even been three months yet.”

“I see. And was it the same master back then?”

Casey nodded.

She said that even the longest-serving worker in the estate had only been there about a year.

So he must’ve become the head of the house around that time.

Irina fell into thought for a moment, when Casey cautiously asked,

“Miss Cosat, the waist is a little loose—may I make a small adjustment?”

“Oh. Sure, like this? By the way, why are there so many dresses here? Mm, not an important question.”

Casey didn’t say anything, and Irina hastily added, almost as if embarrassed by her own curiosity.

“A designer came by right before your arrival, miss. He said they’re all made from the finest materials.”

Irina felt Casey tug gently at the dress, gauging the fit.

After a few rounds of loosening and tightening, Casey took out some pins.

“What?”

Startled by her sudden words, Irina turned toward Casey.

“Oh, miss! You nearly pricked yourself!”

“Ah, sorry. But did you say they knew I was coming?”

Casey nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes! I was told I’d be serving you personally. I was surprised—you’re even more beautiful than the master described.”

“He talked about me? You’re sure it wasn’t someone else?”

It was pure curiosity.
Maybe with the faintest hint of jealousy—about the size of a grain of sand in the desert.

“Pardon? Oh, no. He spoke about you, Miss Cosat.”

Casey explained that she hadn’t always been a maid.

Because of her sick mother’s medicine costs, she’d worked mornings at a noble house, afternoons at a restaurant, and weekends doing other jobs.

Eventually, one thing led to another, and she ended up here. She looked at Irina as if she were her benefactor.

But I didn’t even do anything…

Irina thought, though Casey clearly didn’t see it that way.

After a while of standing before the mirror, Casey finally said the adjustments were done, looking very pleased with herself.

“How does it feel, miss? Is anything uncomfortable? I’m still not that skilled yet…”

She’d mentioned once that she’d worked at a dress shop, and indeed, she had managed to alter the dress seamlessly while Irina was still wearing it.

“Not bad.”

“Really? Thank you, miss! I’ll adjust the other dresses to this size in advance!”

Casey clenched her small fists with determination, her eyes shining brightly.

The sight reminded Irina of Riley—someone she’d once grown fond of, whether she meant to or not.

“I wonder if she’s sold all the jewelry by now.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Just… don’t get too attached to people.”

“Eh? What do you mean, miss?”

“Mm… just that. Don’t get too attached.”

Because I’m leaving this place in a year.

Swallowing the words, Irina smiled and stepped out of the room.

Knock, knock.

After finishing her morning preparations, Irina went straight to find Howard.

A voice from inside told her to come in.

When she opened the door, he was already at his desk, busy with paperwork even in the morning.

“Busy already?”

“No, not particularly.”

“I thought about what we talked about yesterday.”

Howard put down the papers and rose from his seat.

“Oh, no need to stand. I’ll just say my piece and leave.”

But he wasn’t the kind of man to disobey courtesy.

Eventually, Irina sat down on the sofa across from him.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Let’s do it.”

She said it plainly, meeting his eyes.

“Let’s get married.”

Howard’s eyes widened slightly.

Seeing his surprise, Irina clarified her words.

“Oh, that sounded odd. What I mean is, I’ll accept your conditions. Of course, that doesn’t mean I suddenly like you.”

Only then did Howard nod.

“You’ve made the right decision.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be this confident, seeing as I was basically sold because of debt—but still, why not? You said you need my help, so let’s give it a try.”

“Yes, understood. Then I’ll prepare the documents immediately.”

He smiled, looking satisfied.

“I’m doing this for myself—for my debt, and my freedom.”

She pointed to herself as she spoke.

It wasn’t for him. Not even a little.

“So, for everything I do from now on, I expect proper payment in return.”

Then she stood up.

“I see. Then I’ll rely on you without hesitation, Miss Irina.”

He rose and offered his hand.

“……”

Irina looked at his hand for a moment before finally taking it.

It’s big.

Their eyes met.

Sunlight streamed through the window, lighting up his gray eyes until they seemed almost translucent.

Just days ago, she could still recall the boy he once was as if it were yesterday—but now that image was harder to summon.

“Well then, let’s do this properly… debt collector.”

Her words amused him; Howard chuckled softly.

“Don’t laugh! I might start to like you.”

“Once the paperwork is done, we’ll announce it formally.”

That was what Howard said as soon as she accepted.

Now there was no going back. The realization made her tense.

“Casey. I need your help.”

“Yes, miss?”

Irina enlisted Casey’s assistance to learn about the high society of Voltier.

She only knew Howard here, so she had no other choice.

Howard had offered to send someone knowledgeable, but Irina didn’t want to just take help—she wanted to earn her way.

Still, honestly…

What an unromantic marriage.

Before her family fell into ruin, she’d imagined she’d someday marry an acceptable man at an acceptable age.

Now, in a year, she would leave this place—not as an Arendor or a Borman, but as herself.

She even planned to stop by a bookstore later to buy some continental texts.

“Let’s go, then.”

Something told her she was about to get very busy if she wanted to pay off her debts.

“There’s been an order for you to report on this matter in person.”

Howard put on his uniform.

Everything else was already prepared.

As expected, a summons from the Grand Castle had arrived quickly.

Though his face remained calm, his shoulders betrayed a subtle tension.

“How fast they move.”

He said it dryly, though it wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“There’s little that escapes her notice,” replied his secretary, Berner, his hands clasped neatly in front of him.

Berner had been with Howard since before he became the head of House Ringester.

Back then, they’d been more like comrades, but Berner had later volunteered to become his personal aide.

There wasn’t much reason beyond that—he simply wanted to be Howard’s right hand. And he’d never once regretted it.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Howard climbed into the carriage bound for the Grand Castle early that morning.

The castle stood at the highest point in Voltier.

Its long central tower and the Arena Tower beside it were called “the twin suns” by the people of Borman.

When Howard arrived, he walked down the long corridor without hesitation.

At the end waited a woman who welcomed him warmly.

“Come in, my boy.”

She greeted him with gentle grace as he bowed deeply in respect.

Arensha Valencia Ringester.

Her light gray hair, cascading in soft waves down to her waist, was unforgettable.

When she was young, people joked that her hair was made of steel—so fierce was her swordsmanship.

Though time had carved fine lines into her face, they only added to her dignity.

Behind her throne stood the great sword she had wielded all her life.

She had once seized the title of the youngest knight commander purely through her own skill.

Not only was she a master of the blade—she was a master of wealth as well.

Borman was the only home she had ever fought to earn with her own hands.

Arensha had a son.

He was the most precious thing in her life.

When her son and his wife married and began thinking of succession, a brief war broke out in Borman.

Small nations, she knew, could grow quickly—but they could fall just as swiftly in times of crisis.

Their lives were in constant danger.

And then tragedy struck again—her son and daughter-in-law died in an unforeseen accident.

All that remained to Arensha was the boy her son had adopted—Howard.

The only thing the two shared was the same gray hair and, perhaps, a sense of loss.

So she raised both him and Borman anew, ensuring neither would ever falter again.

She even bestowed upon him her own name.

The other king who led Borman—
Howard Valencia Ringester.

That was the name given to him.

“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you.”

“I’ll make sure to visit more often.”

“So, did you bring her back safely?”

Her voice was warm.

Howard nodded briefly.

“I see.”

Arensha looked pleased.

Perhaps because she could now give him—and his new bride—the happiness she’d once been unable to give her own son and daughter-in-law.

And, if she were being a little selfish, perhaps because she could finally start to rest.

Arensha rose, her silvery hair glinting in the light like waves, and invited him to share tea with her.