Because of the sudden arrival of Lady Katriona, the chancellor’s attendants shrank back as if they had committed a crime.

“Where is Lord Pieri right now?”

“A… After attending the council meeting earlier, he hasn’t returned yet.”

“The meeting should have been over long ago!”

“From what I heard, he left with the elders. Since he didn’t say anything, I… I don’t know where he went…”

Before the man could finish his sentence, Katriona spun around and strode swiftly down the corridor.

She was tall, with platinum-blonde hair shimmered like silver in the light. Her pale skin was as white as clay, devoid of any warmth. Her expression was cold and emotionless, yet her beauty was so striking it was almost intimidating.

With the force of her fury, she seemed like a northern windstorm, ready to freeze everything in her path with every step she took.

“Ugh, she’s even scarier than usual today. What’s got her so angry?”

After she left, the servant rubbed his arms as if the air had suddenly turned colder.

There was a reason Katriona’s anger was boiling over today.

She had heard something utterly outrageous.

That morning, she had noticed the mansion’s servants bustling about unusually early. Curious, she had asked why, only to be told—

“What? Some stray mutt has rolled in from who-knows-where?”

It was enough to make her lose her mind.

She had already heard about the naïve little girl from Stern but never imagined that wretched girl would actually set foot inside the main castle.

It was infuriating enough that the brat hadn’t been eaten by wolves, but now she dared to enter the castle?

The idea that a Stern girl dared settle into Hellevant Castle was ridiculous.

Katriona was furious at Maxim as well.

How could he even consider letting a Stern girl into the castle after seeing what had happened to his mother?

Maxim Lankert had to have lost his mind.

Beyond anger, Katriona felt betrayed.

Who had raised him into adulthood after he lost both his parents at such a young age?

“After everything I’ve done for him, this is how he repays me?”

Abandoning her search for her husband, Pieri, Katriona made her way straight to the main building where Maxim’s office was located.

Since the day the castle had lost its mistress, there was not a single corner that hadn’t felt Katriona’s influence.

The tableware, the curtains, even the colors of the servants’ quarters—she had chosen them all.

And now another woman dared to step in?

Katriona felt utterly humiliated as if her domain was being invaded overnight.

***

“Everything is going as planned, I assume?”

“Yes. I followed your orders, but I still don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

Maxim responded to Jansen’s comment with a question of his own.

“Does a marriage need a reason? I uphold my alliance, I get a lady of the house—shouldn’t that be something to celebrate?”

“But, Your Majesty, it’s not as if you’re marrying her out of affection. Honestly… I’m worried history will repeat itself. The duke and Lady Katriona won’t stay quiet about this either.”

Jansen almost mentioned Olivia Lankert, Maxim’s mother and the former queen—Duke Marcus’s daughter—but he quickly changed the subject.

“Talking about love in front of me? That’s laughable.”

“I know, but… I just hoped Your Majesty would marry someone you truly want so that—unlike the late king—you could build a happy family…”

“Jansen. Don’t overstep your bounds.”

“My apologies. But Your Majesty! Do you truly believe that Stern girl can handle this position?”

“She’ll figure it out.”

Maxim’s voice was indifferent as he flipped through the documents as if he didn’t care. Jansen tilted his head in confusion as he studied his master.

“Still, Your Majesty, you seem to be enjoying yourself. Meanwhile, I’m worried sick.”

“Do I?”

Maxim chuckled. Jansen, unable to make sense of his lord’s thoughts, could only sigh deeply.

A knock came at the door as they spoke, and Freddy entered.

“Your Majesty, letters for you.”

Freddy placed a silver tray before Maxim, who casually sifted through the envelopes and set them on his desk.

Then, his hand paused on one letter.

Frowning, Maxim looked up at Freddy.

“This one’s for that woman. Why did you bring it to me?”

Freddy blinked, looking flustered, unsure how to respond.

“Since it came from Stern, I thought I should report it to Your Majesty first.”

Maxim casually tossed the letter back onto the tray and spoke without looking at Freddy.

“Take it to her. And from now on, there’s no need to report every letter addressed to her to me.”

“Have you already come to trust her that much?”

Jansen asked in surprise.

“We still don’t know if she’s a spy sent by Kasiax or exactly why she volunteered to come here.”

Jansen shared similar suspicions about Rosé Etoile as Maxim.

No matter how one looked at it, it was odd that a noble lady from a respectable family in Stern would voluntarily come to this place.

However, his lord’s sudden change in attitude was bewildering.

What had happened between them for his thoughts to shift so drastically overnight?

“Both of you, keep this in mind. Since she is to be my wife, from now on, she is to be treated with the utmost respect as the lady of this castle.”

“Of course, we will do so without question, but I wonder if the servants under Lady Katriona’s influence will recognize her as their mistress…”

“Jansen. That’s not your concern. She will handle it herself. You just do your part.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jansen bowed his head in acknowledgment of the command.

Maxim then turned his gaze to Freddy, who immediately straightened up and replied with tension in his voice.

“I will bear that in mind!”

***

“A letter came for me?”

Rosé stared at Freddy, who stood neatly at the door, holding a silver tray.

As she approached, she saw a single envelope resting atop purple velvet.

Her heart swelled with emotion as she recognized the Etoile family seal pressed into the red wax.

Since arriving here, she had written letters home countless times, only to tear them up before sending them.

She had accumulated a stack of unsent letters in her drawer, fearing that sending them might weaken her resolve.

Rosé carefully picked up the letter, holding it close to her chest like a treasure.

“Thank you. You may leave now.”

As soon as Freddy exited, she rushed to the window with the letter in hand.

At first, she had felt nothing but joy, but now, as she prepared to open it, an ominous feeling crept up her spine.

‘Surely nothing has gone wrong at home because of me…?’

With unease tightening around her heart, Rosé carefully tore open the envelope.

[To my beloved sister, Rosé,

Are you safe?

We waited for your news, but since we received none, I’m writing first.

After you left like that, our home has been in complete turmoil, as if a storm has swept through.

Mother has completely withdrawn from social life, and Father wanders about like a man who has lost all joy in life.

Ian was so shaken upon hearing the news that he nearly dropped out of school and returned home, though Father barely managed to talk him out.

Do you realize what kind of disaster you left behind?

Every day, from the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep, we worry about you—yet we still don’t understand why you made such a choice.

We can only hope that the day comes soon when you explain it.

Mother cries every day since you left.

She sits at her desk, intending to write to you, but ends up weeping so much that she never manages to put pen to paper—so in the end, I had to write this letter myself.

Thankfully, your friend Helen visits our house every day.

She’s been comforting Mother in your place, keeping her company (Ah… Rosé, she truly is an angel. I have never met anyone with a purer heart than hers).

Father, meanwhile, has locked himself in his study, burying himself in work, but he looks thinner by the day, and I can’t help but worry.

Maybe it’s just my imagination, but things with the royal family have felt strangely tense ever since you left.

They haven’t severed ties with our family, but recently, the Mundo family has been behaving oddly, and I can’t help but be wary of them.

You know what kind of despicable people they are.

Of course, they could never stand against us, but their sudden increase in visits to the royal palace has caught my attention, and I’m keeping an eye on them.

Anyway, I probably shouldn’t be rambling on about this to you.

Mother enters your room every day, clutching your dresses and belongings while crying, so we’ve decided to send everything to you instead.

A carriage carrying your things will be leaving soon.

I wish I could deliver them myself and see you, but with Ian already away, I can’t leave home right now—things would fall apart entirely.

Our parents still regret sending you away hastily without adequately preparing your dowry. They keep worrying that you might struggle over there, facing resentment or mistreatment.

We’re considering ways to support you, and we’ll discuss that in detail later.

Every moment of every day, we pray that you are safe and well.

My beloved sister Rosé, never forget that we love you more than anything.

Don’t forget that Mother is eagerly waiting for your reply.

—Hans.]