“Is that true?”
Upon hearing Tessa’s report, Lukas jumped to his feet.
“Are you certain?”
Jackson, too, looked stunned, unable to believe what he was hearing.
“It’s real, Your Grace. It’s salt! Actual salt!”
Tessa unwrapped the cloth and revealed a chunk of salt. The knights who had just left the conference room heard the commotion and came rushing back in.
“Salt?”
“Real salt?”
“Wow! We’ve finally found it?”
“Damn it, I knew it!”
“Our Duke really is blessed with good fortune.”
“Ugh…”
Lukas broke off a piece of the salt and popped it into his mouth. The intense brininess hit his tongue, and he immediately grimaced. One by one, the others followed suit, each taking a pinch of salt from Tessa’s hand and tasting it.
“Ugh, it’s real.”
“Gods, that’s salty…”
“Ha! Hahaha, it really is! It’s unbelievably salty. It’s salt!”
Despite their previously grim expressions, the knights’ faces began to light up—saltier than the salt, and brighter than ever.
Salt.
They had finally discovered a real salt mine.
The records had been true.
“How much is there?”
“We’re not sure. According to Hector, the area seems vast. If we dig further into the cave, there might be an enormous amount of salt buried there.”
“Ptui… Ha… I suppose death’s not in the cards for us after all, Your Grace.”
Jackson spat out the salt, his tongue still tingling, and smiled at Lukas. Despite the long scar running down his cheek that normally made him look fearsome, he now appeared strangely gentle.
“We’ll need to dispatch more laborers. Split the garrison in two—send one half there, Jackson.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Jeord, see to the workers. Make sure transport is accounted for as well. Prepare as many horses and carts as you can—quickly.”
“Understood, Your Grace.”
Jeord, who had followed Tessa into the chamber, answered with a flushed face, energized by the discovery.
____________𔒝 ࿆ ꫂ ၴႅၴ __________
[Is it true, Yuria?]
When Yuria rushed into the library with the news, Adrienne’s eyes grew wide.
“Yes, Your Highness! They finally found the salt mine! I heard the knights talking about it on their way out of the chamber. They said it’s real!”
[That’s truly wonderful. His Grace must be pleased as well.]
“He is! It’s such good news, Your Highness. Even the knights looked so happy!”
Yuria clapped her hands and bounced in place.
“Ena, get up! Will you dance with me?”
“Dance…?”
“Yes! Dance! This is a moment to celebrate! You’re still too young to understand how important this is.”
Excited, Yuria pulled Ena to her feet, grabbed her hand, and hopped about. Ena, still dazed, clumsily followed her in circles—until a laugh burst from her lips.
Too fortunate.
Adrienne watched them fondly, her expression softening.
[Here you are, Your Highness.]
At that moment, Tessa entered the library.
[Yes. I was reading the book you found for me the other day. Ena was keeping me company.]
Adrienne gently stroked Ena’s hair. The girl looked up and smiled sweetly.
[If there’s anything you need, just say the word.]
[Just the offer alone is appreciated, Tessa.]
Adrienne had grown fairly accustomed to life in Rantschka, but the two she still felt closest and most comfortable with were Tessa and Jeord.
The members of the Black Order were still a bit intimidating to her. But at least, unlike in the beginning, they no longer openly disrespected her.
[We found the salt mine, Your Highness. I’ve already reported it to His Grace.]
[Ah, I just heard from Yuria as well.]
“I overheard the knights talking as I passed the meeting hall.”
“I see…”
“Isn’t it just wonderful? Now Rantschka will finally flourish too, won’t it, Tessa?”
Yuria beamed brightly at Tessa, who gave a small nod.
“It’s still early to say, but things will definitely improve—maybe not prosperity yet, but certainly better than before.”
They wouldn’t run out of supplies. The people of the estate wouldn’t have to worry about starving through the bitter winter. Especially with the potato crop failing this year—it truly was a stroke of luck.
[You must be getting busy.]
[Yes, Your Highness. We need to set up proper mining equipment before winter arrives.]
[I heard Hector is an expert.]
[That’s right. We found him through contacts in Franz after discovering the records about the salt mine.]
[I’m glad to hear it.]
[Everything seems to be going smoothly ever since Your Highness arrived.]
“Quite deliberate, aren’t you?”
At the cold voice, Tessa turned his head. Lukas and Jeord stood at the library entrance.
“Your Grace.”
“Tessa, if you use sign language with Adrienne, none of us can understand what you’re saying.”
At Lukas’s sharp tone, Tessa’s expression stiffened. Adrienne, who had been reading his lips, also looked flustered, unsure of what to do.
“That’s only because Her Highness knows sign—”
“My wife reads lips. Isn’t that right?”
Lukas’s thick brows twitched with disapproval. Jeord stood beside him, observing with quiet interest.
“In my castle, nothing should happen without my knowledge.”
Lukas’s cold gaze shifted from Tessa to Adrienne. She flinched, shoulders trembling, and bit her lip in alarm.
“I simply came to report the news about the salt mine.”
“And you had to come all the way here to do that?”
“I just wanted to share the joy…”
“I came for the same reason. It’s good news, after all—and you were part of it, weren’t you, Your Grace?”
Jeord finally stepped in to mediate. Lukas seemed even more sensitive than usual today.
“Jeord was going to report it. I just came along. There’s no place in this castle I cannot go.”
Lukas gave a small, dismissive laugh.
“Since Tessa has already delivered the message, I’ll take my leave with him. Ena, if you’ve finished your reading, come along now.”
“Yes, Steward.”
Ena, who had been half-hiding behind Yuria, stepped forward.
“Yuria, you too.”
“Huh? Me?”
“There’s something I need you to deliver to His Grace’s chambers.”
“Oh—yes, of course.”
Yuria shot Adrienne a nervous glance, then quickly followed Jeord out of the library.
“You really are careless.”
Once the four had left, Lucas took a seat with a sigh. Adrienne hesitated, then followed and sat beside him.
“You’re still a stranger here. Just because people seem kind doesn’t mean they truly are.”
[…]
“Tessa is young—and unmarried.”
— That is uncalled for, Your Grace.
Adrienne understood exactly what Lucas was implying. But even he should know what not to say.
Tessa was his man. And he was simply someone who had helped her navigate life in this unfamiliar place. Not to mention, Tessa was one of the few Lukas trusted the most.
“Uncalled for? Me? There are many people in this castle besides us. And some of them love a good story—no matter how small. Did you think Rantschka was some united front? Was everyone aligned in the Therese Castle where you came from?”
Of course not. There had been factions—constant struggles between them.
“Wherever people gather, rumors spread. And those rumors don’t have to be true.”
[…]
“From now on, don’t sign with Tessa in private. That’s an order.”
— Understood.
The truth wasn’t what mattered most. Adrienne agreed with that much. Rumors could be cruel.
If Tessa’s goodwill were misinterpreted, it wouldn’t just hurt her—it would hurt him, too.
And Tessa was essential to Rantschka. He still had a long way to go before becoming a grand mage, but there was no one else here who could do what he could.
If a rift formed between them because of her, it would be disastrous.
“You’re upset.”
Lukas spoke, eyes fixed on her.
[…]
“Do you think I’m being unfair?”
— Your concerns are reasonable, Your Grace.
“So you do think I’m unfair.”
Lukas gave a shrug, glancing at the writing on the parchment before him. Yet in his eyes, there was the faintest glint of mischief.
Why…?
Adrienne stared at him, puzzled.
What is that?
She could’ve sworn his cheeks had turned slightly red…
“Shall we go? Unless you planned to keep reading?”
Adrienne slowly shook her head after reading his lips.
“Then let’s go down together.”
She nodded in agreement.
“By the way, I plan to have dinner with you tonight. I’ve started to grow concerned about how others look at us.”
He turned back to her with a slight smirk, just as he began to take a step forward. Adrienne, about to follow, froze in place, dazed.
She was suddenly reminded of the look Lukas had given her that first evening they dined together—cold and cutting like a blade.
