Chapter 86

Johann had business at the Imperial Palace, and Lia, with a somewhat dazed look, went up to the third floor.

She was completely distracted by Johann’s tears and the talk of engagement.

When he cried and apologized in a way that reminded her of Hart, her heart softened.

‘I’ve always been weak to that man’s tears.’

Come to think of it, she hadn’t asked if he cried like that because he remembered something while talking about the engagement earlier.

“…….”

She stopped in front of her room and looked at her left ring finger.

Johann had taken the ring to have it resized and would return it to her.

But the feeling of the ring remained on her finger.

‘…An engagement and even a wedding, he says.’

She had never imagined she would go through all that with him.

And now he said he would have a better wedding ring made than this one?

She had agreed lightly, thinking it would just be a formality.

‘I thought it was just a reunion for Raffy’s sake, but it feels more serious than I expected, so it feels strange.’

Lia let out a small sigh and had barely entered her room when Isabella came to see her.

“Lia, now that you’re truly part of our family, you need to move rooms.”

“What?”

“Even after moving, you can still live and sleep together with Rafaella.”

Isabella said as she sat with Lia on the drawing room sofa.

“You’re now the Duke of Blumhart’s fiancée and the future Duchess of Blumhart, so it makes no sense for you not to have a proper room. So don’t feel burdened and go ahead and move.”

Isabella clasped Lia’s hands tightly and smiled.

‘…Last time, I refused because I was terminally ill and wanted to stay by Raffy’s side even a little longer, but now that there’s a future, maybe I can move rooms?’

If she was going to keep living here, having her own room would be good for Rafaella, too.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

When Lia answered obediently, Isabella was delighted and moved on to another topic.

“I must call Madame Evelyn right away. Now that I see, you don’t have a single proper dress.”

Isabella looked at Lia’s clothes with some dissatisfaction.

“Uh, I actually have quite a few clothes, Duchess Dowager.”

Lia raised a hand slightly.

“…Well, Lia.”

Isabella gently placed her hands on both of Lia’s shoulders.

“Yes.”

“Once you’re engaged, you’ll have to attend many balls and social gatherings.”

“A ball?”

Attend a ball? She hadn’t even considered that.

“Yes. Johann will probably take you only to the minimum, but there will be some parties you must attend.”

Lia’s face stiffened with tension.

‘Ugh, just thinking about it makes my mind go blank.’

“Don’t worry too much. You can learn everything.”

Isabella smiled reassuringly.

Though it didn’t comfort Lia at all.

“Since you’ll be quite busy, it would be good to select a nanny from among the maids to take care of Rafaella.”

She had thought she would just keep living together as now.

But so many things were changing.

‘Engagement with the Duke of Blumhart… I took it too lightly.’

“…Duchess Dowager, I’m not sure I can do well.”

Lia let out a small sigh and muttered.

“You don’t have to be perfect, just the basics are enough.”

“But if I don’t do well, people will gossip about the Blumhart family, won’t they?”

Her voice was full of worry.

“If anyone does, I won’t just stand by.”

Isabella whispered kindly to Lia, as if comforting a nervous debutante.

“So just do as much as you’ve learned, as much as you know. Johann will help with the rest.”

“Yes.”

Lia gained some confidence from the warm voice.

“Well, I have a lot to do, so I’ll be going.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, right!”

Isabella, about to leave, turned back to Lia.

“We’re family now, so let’s put away that stiff ‘Duchess Dowager’ title.”

“What?”

“I’ll be more casual with you from now on, so Lia, I hope you’ll do the same.”

Isabella softened her eyes and smiled.

“…Yes.”

‘Be casual…’

What should I call her?

‘Mother? Mom?’

Ugh, she really didn’t know what would be best.

After Isabella left, Lia rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought.

A few days later, Isabella came to Rafaella’s room with Penelope.

“Helen will be Rafaella’s nanny.”

“I look forward to working with you. Miss Lia, Miss Rafaella.”

Helen, who came with them, bowed her head in greeting.

“Me too, thank you!”

Both Lia and Rafaella welcomed Helen.

“Lia, your room is all ready, too.”

Isabella called her in a familiar way, just as she’d said she would.

“…Already?”

Lia answered a bit stiffly from awkwardness.

“I gave the maids a generous bonus.”

Isabella took Lia’s hand and hooked it in her arm.

“They only finished the preparations late last night.”

As they left Rafaella’s room, Isabella spoke.

“Johann wanted to see it too, but he had an official meeting early this morning.”

“Yes.”

Isabella led Lia to the central staircase.

“Why the stairs…”

Lia asked, puzzled.

“Penelope is all better now, and since you’re marrying Johann, I thought it was time for the rooms to find their owners.”

Isabella stroked the back of Lia’s hand gently as they went up the stairs.

“Originally, the fourth floor is for the Duke and his wife, so don’t feel burdened.”

Lia was completely bewildered.

‘I thought I’d get a room similar to Raffy’s on the third floor, but it’s the fourth floor?’

Isabella stopped in front of the room she had used.

“Lia, open it yourself.”

Isabella gestured to Lia.

“Mom, open it quickly!”

Rafaella, who had followed, poked her head out and urged her.

She had never even dreamed of it.

‘That I’d have my own room on the fourth floor of this mansion.’

Not only Rafaella’s fate, but her own was heading in an unexpected direction.

It didn’t feel real.

With trembling hands, she grabbed the doorknob.

The drawing room that unfolded before her was different from when she had come to see Isabella.

It was a brighter and softer drawing room, decorated with elegant ornaments.

“…….”

The room felt so welcoming that she suddenly felt choked up.

“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

“Wow, it feels completely different.”

Rafaella and Penelope looked around the drawing room in admiration.

“Do you like it?”

Isabella placed her hands on Lia’s shoulders from behind and asked.

“Yes, I love it.”

Tears welled up in Lia’s eyes.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Isabella gently dabbed Lia’s eyes with a handkerchief.

They toured the bedroom, the dressing room, the bathroom, and even a small study together.

The study was filled with books in fields she was interested in.

Isabella’s thoughtful care was everywhere.

“If there’s anything you don’t like or anything missing, let me know anytime.”

“Yes, but it’s already more than enough.”

Lia waved her hand.

“I paid attention to every detail, but if you ever need anything, say so. You’ll find things missing as you live here.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and since you have your own room now, you’ll need a personal maid, so I called her to introduce you.”

A personal maid.

She really felt like a noblewoman.

“I thought about who would be best, and since you were closest with her…”

Knock, knock.

Just then, someone knocked lightly and came in.

“Hello, Miss Lia. From today, I’ll be your personal maid.”

It was Paula.

“Paula!”

Lia went to the door and greeted Paula.

“It’s my first time as a personal maid, so I may be lacking, but I’ll serve you with all my heart.”

“I look forward to working with you.”

A smile spread across Lia’s lips.

Penelope left first for lessons, and Isabella returned to her room to prepare for an appointment with the ladies.

Before leaving, Isabella told Lia that Madame Evelyn would come from the salon tomorrow.

She advised her to eat a hearty breakfast and lunch, as it would take quite a while.

Lia returned to her daughter’s room, packed her few belongings, and went upstairs.

She entered her own study and sat at the fine wooden desk, opening each drawer to organize her things.

All that was left was the jewelry box, a keepsake from her parents.

She took the jewelry box to her bedroom.

‘Mom, Dad. Please give me strength to get through what’s to come.’

Lia kissed the jewelry box once, then placed it in the nightstand drawer.

“Mom, let’s sleep here tonight!”

Rafaella hugged her from behind.

“Do you want to sleep here?”

“Yes!”

“Okay, let’s sleep here tonight.”

Lia playfully nibbled her daughter’s nose.

“Paula, Helen, you can rest now. I’ll take care of Raffy.”

“Still…”

“Go on, I’ll call if I need you.”

Paula and Helen reluctantly withdrew, and Lia and Rafaella had a light dinner in the fourth-floor room.

At night, Lia and Rafaella flopped onto the new bed together.

The bedding, firm yet soft, embraced her body gently.

‘…It’s so nice.’

She felt embarrassed for ever thinking it would be a burden to accept it.

It was so comfortable she could fall asleep right away.

Lia fell asleep before her daughter, after a brief conversation.

“…Pa …?”

“…was there? Mom is….”

She heard Rafaella talking to someone, but even that faded quickly.

She only felt someone gently stroking her hair with great affection.

Even in her dreams, the gentle touch made her feel happy.