Chapter 2 — The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill
“Entry is not permitted at the moment.”
I stared, dumbfounded, at the man blocking my way.
Getting on a train bound straight for the North had been the right call—though I’d cursed the whole time.
Why isn’t there a direct train to the Grand Duchy?!
I’d known that already, but experiencing it firsthand made my blood boil. No wonder the major merchant guilds all avoided the North.
After switching between trains and carriages several times, I finally made it there.
Grumbling under my breath, I grabbed my bag, got off the train, and headed toward the castle gates.
And, as you can see, I was stopped immediately.
“A knight?”
“Can’t you tell? A formally appointed knight who has completed his investiture—”
“Then why is a knight from another house standing at the Grand Duke’s castle?”
When I pointed out that his insignia wasn’t the howling wolf—the symbol of Runein—but that of another family, the smug knight faltered.
“Hah, what’s the point of a commoner knowing that? Anyway, you’re not getting in, so just accept it.”
Nobles usually passed through the gates in carriages, so someone arriving on foot like me must have looked like a commoner.
I let out a scoff, having grasped the situation.
“Call your superior.”
“What did you say?”
“I said call your superior. You said I can’t enter, right? Then I should at least hear the reason.”
A knight from another house—fine, there might be circumstances. I could ask about that myself.
But there was another problem.
He doesn’t recognize me?
Me—Elysia Seton—no, Runein?
It had only been a week since the marriage, but I was still undeniably a Runein now.
Even if he belonged to another house, how could an employee fail to recognize a member of the family that employed him?
“You’re not calling them? I’d appreciate it if you did, soon.”
“Whom are you referring to?”
As we stood in a tense standoff, a familiar voice came from behind me.
I had been standing with my arms crossed in a rather unruly posture, but the low voice brushing past my ear startled me so badly I jumped.
“Good heavens!”
“My apologies.”
As I stumbled, the man gently wrapped an arm around my waist to steady me.
“My lady.”
Still in his arms, I blinked up at him.
“…What are you doing here?”
“This is where I live.”
Ah.
As realization dawned, Shubel Runein blinked slowly and asked,
“Shall I kill him?”
His voice was as soft as a spring breeze.
I was horrified.
“No! I just wanted a bit of satisfying justice, not a funeral?!”
“But regulating myself is rather bothersome…”
“What did you say?”
“Hmm, I see. Very well. Then I’ll handle it… appropriately. In an ordinary manner.”
I didn’t trust that at all.
With a stiff expression, I turned back to the knight.
“Call your superior.”
“…Yes, ma’am!”
What followed was swift and decisive.
The knight who had blocked my way was punished with a one-year salary cut, demotion, and expulsion from the Grand Duchy.
Letting out a sigh at the chaos that greeted me the moment I arrived, I turned back to Shubel.
“Why are there knights from other houses at the Grand Duke’s castle in the first place?”
“Because we don’t have money.”
“…Pardon?”
“Knights belonging to the family are expensive. Their upkeep costs are absurd.”
Well, that was true, but still—
“…Not even one?”
“Not exactly. The First Knight Order still remains.”
However, they were scattered across the North, tasked with maintaining order.
According to his calm explanation, most of them were stationed at fortresses along the borders where monsters frequently appeared.
Even before entering the castle, I was already feeling dizzy.
This is far worse than I thought.
My plan to clear the false charge of treason was simple.
Strengthen the Runein family.
Though their reputation had faded, this was once a house whose name echoed across the entire continent—surpassing even the imperial family.
The great Runein.
If they regained power worthy of that name, then accusations of treason—or anything else—could simply be crushed.
“What about the dowry sent from Seton? That should cover urgent expenses for now.”
“It arrived safely today. Thank you, my lady.”
Shubel smiled softly.
“That was part of our ‘contract,’ wasn’t it?”
I drew a line firmly.
“And could you stop calling me ‘my lady’? It’s giving me goosebumps.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. You are my lady, after all.”
He spoke sweetly, like ice cream melting in the mouth—yet in odd moments, he was unyielding.
Was he like this in the original story…?
I wasn’t sure.
Our married life had barely been described. I had no way of knowing what Shubel had been like before he became a vengeful wraith.
Afterward, he was portrayed as utterly cold and merciless.
A man who executed anyone even remotely connected to the false charge of treason—down to nursing infants.
A protagonist with abilities beyond human limits, and a humanity that seemed almost worn away.
[This is the story of a man who lost everything and seeks revenge.]
The ruthless, absolute being from the original story bore no resemblance to the man before me.
I stared at Shubel.
“Let’s go.”
“…Where?”
He blinked slowly, his pure-looking face tilted in confusion.
I looked at him as if the answer were obvious.
“Your home, of course.”
And now, it would be mine as well.
“Welcome, Young Mas—”
The seasoned butler of this grand ducal household completed his greeting flawlessly, even upon seeing the sole heir enter carrying a sparkling hot-pink bag.
“—ter. And Young Madam. It is an honor to meet you. I am Vikal, the head butler of the estate.”
Impressive. As expected of a butler from a prestigious house—he didn’t miss greeting me as well.
I waved lightly at the servants who were glancing at me with curious eyes.
Yes, hello. I’m Elysia. No longer Seton—now Runein.
Smiling brightly like I was offering fan service, I suddenly paused and turned to Shubel.
“You must have been surprised by my sudden visit, right? I brought a gift since it felt wrong to come empty-handed.”
“A gift, you say?”
It was Butler Vikal who responded with surprise.
As I held out my hand, Shubel obediently handed over the bag.
I opened it and pulled out a thick stack of papers.
“The train station looked far too outdated on my way here.”
Flap—
As I spread them out, the intoxicating scent of money filled the air.
Sitting on the sofa with my legs crossed, I spoke meaningfully.
“So I’m thinking of rebuilding it.”
It was a blank checkbook.
[‘The Empire’s Greatest Heiress’—What is the total cost of her outfit today?]
[An in-depth look into Elysia Seton’s spending habits!]
[A prodigal daughter of luxury and indulgence—can this continue?]
Whenever I appeared, newspapers rushed to publish articles like those.
And if you ask whether they were false—
Not really. What’s wrong with a little luxury?
I liked luxury. I believed that everything I owned and every place I stayed should be the very best.
And naturally, shouldn’t the people around me receive the best treatment too?
From my perspective, this Grand Ducal Castle was a complete failure.
Not even the refined elegance of an old noble house—just a worn-down fortress. Bland servant uniforms. And that chandelier—when was it last replaced? A hundred years ago? Do they still live surrounded by relics from the Millennium War?
In any case, we needed to restore the Grand Ducal family’s power.
I quickly reached a conclusion: everything—from the floors to the ceilings—had to be overhauled.
And the first thing I chose to tackle was the train station.
“Shall we meet the treasurer first?”
At Shubel’s guidance, I followed him to meet the financial officer.
But—
“Here we are.”
The place he led me to was none other than the Grand Duchess’s chambers.
“?”
Caught completely unprepared to meet my mother-in-law, I panicked.
“Wait—just a moment.”
“I’m not ‘wait,’ my lady.”
“……”
“Please call me Shubel. Or perhaps… dear would also be—”
“Shubel.”
“Yes.”
Looking at his annoyingly handsome face as he smiled with crescent-shaped eyes, I clenched my fists tightly.
