Chapter 2 (Part 5)

“How about this one?”  

“That looks too much like children’s clothing.”  

“Women’s clothes are utterly confusing.”  

The expression on Theodore’s face as he looked through the catalog in the tailor’s shop was far from ordinary.  

“To be honest, all the dresses in that catalog are far too gaudy.”  

“Damn it, they said these were the most popular dresses…”  

“You’re picking only the tackiest ones from the selection. Commander, your taste in women’s dresses is seriously lacking.”

Heldor’s words caused Theodore to harden his expression and glare at him. Just moments ago, he had been smiling so brightly, but now, with his face stiffened, he looked utterly menacing.  

“That aside, did you properly deliver the marriage permission form?”  

“Yes. I handed it directly to the Emperor. He said he would respond within a week…”  

“And today is the last day of that week, isn’t it?”  

“H-ha ha ha ha… Commander, it seems you really dislike me.”  

“If you did something worth liking, wouldn’t I like you?”  

“Maybe I should take lessons from the lady!”  

“I’ve thought this for a long time, Hel, but it seems you’re determined to die by my hand.”  

Despite the playful tone of their conversation, Theodore didn’t seem to be in a bad mood at all.  

‘It must be the lady’s influence,’ Heldor thought as he enjoyed the noticeably brighter atmosphere in the office.  

At that moment, a scream rang out from outside.  

“Kyaaaaaah!”  

“Reinis?!”  

It was unmistakably her voice.  

Theodore and Hel shot up from their seats and ran toward the source of the scream.  

There, they found Reinis being supported by a man.  

The man, who was helping Reinis walk from the garden toward the manor, raised his hand the moment he saw Theodore.  

“Oh! Theo! Long time no see!”  

That voice, that face.  

Theodore frowned deeply and sighed as he muttered under his breath, 

“Trouble has arrived.”

***

“Um… Emma, does my face look that strange?”  

Reinis, who had been strolling through the garden, slowed her steps and asked.  

“No, my lady. You look lovely as always.”  

Emma responded with a kind smile.  

“You always say such nice things, Emma, so I can’t believe you… Me? Lovely? That can’t be true…”  

Reinis muttered to herself, lowering her head in embarrassment as she noticed the gazes of the Duke’s manor staff watching her from afar.  

Ever since the day she returned victorious from her confrontation with Earl Plarad, those eyes had followed her.  

They weren’t malicious, nor were they watching her to keep tabs on her.  

Occasionally, when their eyes met, some of the younger maids would squeal and jump around, but it wasn’t as if they were mocking her.  

Unaccustomed to receiving such kind and admiring gazes, she couldn’t understand what they meant.  

“Did I do something wrong…? I’m sure I won the fight against the Earl perfectly…”  

Muttering to herself and failing to focus on her stroll, Reinis caught Emma’s stern gaze as she looked toward the staff.  

The staff, who had locked eyes with Emma, quickly came to their senses and reluctantly returned to their respective tasks.  

Reinis was a star among the Duke’s manor staff. With her beautiful face, jewel-like aurora-colored eyes, and her endearing actions, she had captured everyone’s hearts.  

In a manor that had previously been filled with gruff men who reeked of sweat, the arrival of a small, adorable young lady was more than enough to monopolize their affection.  

There had even been a major argument among the staff over who would get the chance to serve her more closely.  

Since she was still recovering from her injuries and spent most of her time in her room, whenever she came out for a walk, crowds would gather like this.  

The fact that she was completely unaware of this only made her all the more charming.  

“My Lady, since the weather is nice today, how about enjoying some tea over there?”  

“Really?! Can I?!”  

Reinis clasped her hands together and exclaimed with joy, her reaction causing the maids secretly watching from afar to let out shrieks of excitement.  

“Emma, it sounds like someone got hurt. I hear screams.”  

“That’s nothing for you to worry about, my lady. I’ll prepare a spot for you over there.”  

Emma responded with a gentle smile, as if nothing were amiss, before turning around to glare at the maids who had been squealing.  

‘Hurt? It’s just those foolish maids squealing nearby. I’m worried the lady might get concerned. I’ll have to call the attendants and give them a stern talking-to after today’s work is done.’  

While Emma knew there was no malicious intent, she couldn’t help but worry that the attention directed toward Reinis—who had yet to fully adapt to this unfamiliar place—might end up being harmful.  

“While I prepare the table, you can enjoy looking at the flowers, my lady.”  

“Oh, yes! Then I’ll look around with Yuria!”  

With that cheerful reply, Reinis headed a bit further into the garden with Yuria. 

Once they had gone deeper into the garden, Reinis looked up at a well-maintained tree and remarked, 

“Come to think of it, isn’t this garden incredibly vast?”  

“Yes! It’s not just a garden—it feels like a forest!”  

Reinis nodded vigorously in agreement.  

“Yes! It really does feel like a forest!”  

Reinis’s cheerful demeanor lifted Yuria’s spirits as well.  

The people at the Duke’s manor were exceedingly kind to Yuria, who was Reinis’s maid. Not only did they take great care of Reinis, but whenever the staff gathered in their resting quarters, endless praise for her could be heard.  

Knowing that so many people recognized her lady’s charm filled Yuria with pride. Everyone adored Reinis.  

When she first heard that Reinis was to marry Theodore, she almost foamed at the mouth in shock. But what was even more shocking was the fact that the two of them had already sent a marriage approval request to the Emperor.  

‘Of course, my lady is charming enough to make anyone fall in love with her at first sight, but how could they send her off to marry the Commander without knowing what kind of person he is?!’  

That thought didn’t last long. When Yuria saw the love practically dripping from Theodore’s eyes as he looked at Reinis, she decided to give them her blessing.  

“Oh! When I asked Emma the other day, she told me that all the places I’ve been walking around in aren’t even one-tenth of the Duke’s manor, including the inside of the estate!”  

“Wow… I’d heard rumors about how vast it was, but is it really that big? There must be people who get lost inside the Duke’s manor!”  

Words have power. That was something they should not have said.  

‘I really did get lost….’  

The garden was so well-maintained that no matter where she went, every corner was filled with beautifully groomed trees.  

There wasn’t a single area that appeared untouched by human hands. The uniform perfection of the garden only added to Reinis’s confusion as she wandered aimlessly, her legs beginning to ache with a dull pain.  

“Ugh…”  

Reinis let out a small groan without realizing it, and Yuria’s face immediately stiffened.  

“Are you in pain?! Oh no! It seems like we walked too much! Your injury hasn’t reopened, has it?”  

“No… I’m fine. If I rest here for a little while, I think I’ll be able to move again.”  

Despite Reinis’s reassurance, Yuria’s expression grew distressed, and she covered Reinis’s ears tightly with her hands.  

Reinis blinked, her eyes wide with confusion, as if to ask what was going on. She soon understood, as even with her ears covered, a thunderous voice pierced through.  

“Where is everyone?! The lady is lost!! She is over here!!”  

A booming voice echoed, reverberating through the air. Even after the shout had ended, Yuria, still restless with worry, looked at Reinis and spoke.  

“Miss, don’t worry and wait here! I’ll go find the way or bring someone back!”  

Without giving Reinis a chance to stop her, Yuria dashed off like an arrow.  

Left alone in the forest-like garden, Reinis felt a little scared and couldn’t just stand there waiting. Dragging her aching leg, she slowly walked in the direction Yuria had run.  

At that moment, she heard a rustling sound behind her.  

‘That’s not the sound of leaves swaying… It’s definitely the sound of someone stepping on leaves.’  

Every time she took a step, the sound followed her, step by step.  

She didn’t think it was Yuria or anyone from the Duke’s manor. If it were, they would’ve surely called out to her.  

The thought sent shivers down her spine.  

‘Could it be… Did Earl Plarad send an assassin to take revenge for the humiliation I caused him?’  

The chilling thought made her freeze in place momentarily.  

‘I need to get to where people are….’  

Focusing on the sound, she suddenly heard faint voices of people talking in the distance. Without thinking about her injury, she ran. The only thought in her mind was that she couldn’t let whoever was behind her catch her.  

She sprinted with all her might.  

The sight of the mansion building came into view. Just as she was about to break through the towering garden trees, a hand landed on her shoulder.  

“Kyaaaaaa!!”