Chapter 6 (Part 4)

Their voices trembled. Unable to meet her eyes, they bowed their heads.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but your voices were quite loud, so I heard.”

“We’re sorry.”

They still couldn’t meet her eyes. Seeing them apologize in front of her, it didn’t seem like they were completely out of control.

After calming herself, she spoke sincerely.

“I haven’t done anything wrong to you, so the mocking was unpleasant. Please be careful in the future.”

Her voice trembled at the end. Brienne hadn’t encountered such a situation before, and there was no need for her to assert authority.

She had been too busy running away from creditors.

“We’re truly sorry. We’ll be careful with our words to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Hearing that, she didn’t have much more to say. As she was about to pass by, one of the maids spoke urgently.

“Could you please not tell the Duke about this?”

Even though they had made a slip of the tongue in front of her, why were they afraid of Cardin? 

Brienne was genuinely curious.

“Why?”

The maid quickly continued.

“Because the Duke trusted us and sent us here, I feel like we’ve disappointed him.”

Fear briefly flickered in their eyes. Cardin didn’t seem like someone who would treat servants harshly. Judging by how he treated her, he didn’t seem like someone who would mistreat servants.

As she remained silent, the maids bowed their heads, apologized, and withdrew. Come to think of it, there was something she was curious about among the things they had said.

Roquek. Who exactly was he? 

Brienne spoke to the hurried maid.

“Do you know who Roquek is?”

One maid looked at her in surprise. As she stared, the maid bowed her head and answered.

“He’s the Duke’s cousin.”

Then she quickly bowed her upper body and fled down the corridor. Cousin. Ultimately, that meant he was family to Cardin.

‘I don’t think I saw him at the wedding.’

Moreover, Cardin hadn’t mentioned Roquek to her. 

Were they on bad terms? 

Pondering this, she lifted her head.

Come to think of it, she had come down to find Melin. Belatedly, she looked around, and the door right in front of her opened.

Startled, Brienne turned her head and stopped in her tracks.

“Cardin.”

He approached with a smile.

“Am I late?”

Cardin naturally kissed her cheek. He was just as gentle as the day before.

“Why are you so late?”

Cardin was about to kiss her, then looked at her. As their eyes met, he embraced her tightly.

“Because of work.”

Work. Cardin always said it was because of work. She was genuinely curious.

“What kind of work?”

“The carriage wheel broke.”

Suddenly, she smelled cigarette smoke on him. It was a scent she hadn’t noticed on Cardin before. It was unfamiliar yet intriguing, as if she was encountering a different side of him she didn’t know.

“Did it take that long?”

“The metal pin was deeper than I thought. It needed special equipment to remove it, and I only just managed to get it and come.”

Cardin held her waist tightly and exhaled for a moment.

“Coming to you feels great. The road was rough.”

His gentle breath tickled her neck. Amidst it all, she caught a faint scent of cigarettes. She muttered softly.

“You smell like cigarettes.”

Cardin immediately stepped back. His eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Sorry, is it strong?”

“It’s not strong, but…. Did you always smoke?”

“Sometimes.”

He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

“I’ll make sure to get rid of the smell from now on.”

“Don’t smoke. It’s bad for your health.”

Cardin responded with a bright smile.

“I will.”

At that moment, a small cough echoed. Turning to the side, she saw Cardin’s aide, Damon, standing there. As she belatedly greeted him, Damon smiled warmly and bowed his head. A voice, unusually low, resonated.

“Isn’t the urgent matter over now?”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Something came up suddenly.”

Cardin ran a hand through his hair irritably. He then turned to her and spoke kindly.

“Brienne, just wait a little longer.”

He kissed her cheek and walked to another room with his aide. Brienne watched his back for a moment before slowly turning around.

Staying here didn’t seem to reduce his workload. Whether she stayed here or returned to Devok, Cardin seemed busy either way.

‘In that case, it might be better to just go back to Devok.’

She swallowed her bitterness and went upstairs to her room.

* * *

Just before lunch, Cardin entered the room.

“Sorry, am I late?”

He naturally kissed her cheek and sat across from her. She could feel Cardin’s gaze. She should have smiled back at him, but strangely, her lips wouldn’t move as if her heart was hardened.

She knew Cardin was busy, and it wasn’t anything new. The problem was that he kept apologizing.

If anything, she felt more apologetic. Feeling uncomfortable, she spoke up.

“How about we go back to Devok today?”

“Why? Are you uncomfortable here?”

“It’s not that, but you seem very busy.”

Cardin placed a glass of apple juice in front of her with a relaxed smile.

“I’ve almost wrapped things up, so it’s fine.”

He served a generous portion of salad onto her plate. As she stared at the piled salad, he spoke.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.”

Cardin watched her intently. Despite his gaze, she continued to look at the salad. She was grateful and cherished even these moments, yet she couldn’t shake the sinking feeling. Perhaps because she simply wanted to be with Cardin, but something was off?.

Then Cardin’s voice resonated.

“This time, I won’t be busy for real. I’ve sorted everything out so I can focus only on you.”

“Are you really not busy anymore?”

“Yes.”

He smiled as he spread butter on white bread. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Cardin’s eyebrows slightly tensed.

A voice came from outside the door.

“Your Grace, a telegram has arrived from the royal palace.”

Cardin put down the butter knife. The brief anticipation deflated instantly. Nevertheless, she forced a smile.

“Cardin, let’s just go back.”

Cardin drank from his glass of water. After placing the glass down, he looked at her for a moment. As she silently ate her salad, he spoke.

“Shall we go back right away, then?”

She nodded. He seemed to have more to say, but he didn’t. Neither did she, so she just ate her salad.

After lunch, they boarded the carriage. There was no need to pack her belongings separately. Melin and a few servants stayed behind to pack and return later.

Cardin sat across from her.

“Next time, let’s go to the lake. I won’t be this busy then.”

His tone was incredibly gentle. It melted away her lingering unease in an instant. He smiled and met her eyes.

“Okay?”

There was nowhere she wouldn’t not go with Cardin, so she nodded. Though she wasn’t sure if she’d still be by his side then.

* * *

As soon as Cardin returned to Devok, he was busy. It wasn’t surprising since she had expected it. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret toward Cardin.

Brienne couldn’t predict how long this marriage would last, yet he was always busy. Moreover, knowing no one in Devok, she felt a hollow loneliness when alone in the mansion.

Fortunately, the mansion had many books, but even reading them was becoming tedious. She had just closed a book and was staring out the window at the garden when it happened.

“Madam, Lady Hernes has sent a letter.”

Melin approached with a bright face, holding an envelope that shimmered with a subtle golden hue. Brienne absentmindedly opened the envelope.

To Brienne,

I heard you returned from your trip early.

I’ll stop by the mansion for a moment.

– Hernes Messerode

What could she want to say? 

Even though she had seen Hernes a few times, Brienne felt strangely tense.

Melin cautiously watched her expression. She handed the letter to Melin and said,

“Mother-in-law says she’s coming. Please prepare.”

Melin smiled broadly, took the letter and envelope, and left. After staring at the garden for a while, Brienne stood up.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t sent a single letter to Kelle.

‘She’s the only one who might be curious about me.’

Brienne immediately headed to her room. On the desk in the room were always a prepared quill pen and subtly golden paper.

She picked up the quill and began writing a letter without hesitation.

To Kelle,

Kelle, have you been well?

I’ve returned from my trip and come to Devok.

This place is bigger and wider than Peroy, but strangely, I miss the soil and herbs I touched back then.

How is Peroy?

Are you still doing well making medicine?

Are you not too busy?

I miss that place a lot.

I’ll be waiting for your letter.

– Brienne

Looking at the written letter, she missed Peroy. She thought she wouldn’t think of other places when she was with Cardin.

After staring at the letter for a while, she called Melin.

“Please send this letter.”

Melin nodded warmly and left. A moment later, Melin returned, looking slightly surprised.

“Is something wrong?”

“Lady Hernes has arrived.”

She’s already here. 

Without hesitation, Brienne went downstairs.