Chapter 8

‘The Grand Duke suddenly wanted to see me?’

She hurried back to the mansion, following Donna. The butler’s face noticeably brightened upon seeing her arrive.

“You’ve arrived, Your Grace. We’ve been waiting.”

“Th-the Grand Duke… suddenly called for me?”

She was out of breath from walking quickly, so her words came out tangled. The butler narrowed his eyes at her, panting.

“As expected, you should train with Donna…”

“That’s not what’s important right now!”

“Ah, please come this way, Your Grace.”

Perhaps because she was nervous, her steps grew faster and faster. Her heart pounded with expectation she hadn’t yet let go of. Even as her pride was wounded, a subtle thrill caught in her throat like a thorn.

The butler led her to the drawing room on the second floor. Her tension mounted, and it felt as if her heart might leap out of her mouth. The butler, watching her closely, slowly opened the door. For a moment, she squinted against the dazzling brilliance.

“What is this…?”

The spacious drawing room was filled with mirrors. All sorts of jewels sparkled endlessly, and countless dresses were on display. It looked as if every boutique in the North had been moved here in its entirety.

Merchants stood in a line, watching her. With their hands politely folded, they looked as if they were waiting to be chosen.

“Butler, didn’t you say the Grand Duke called for me?”

“That’s right. All these people were summoned to the mansion by His Grace’s order.”

“Then…”

“Your Grace, it’s an honor to meet you!”

“We humbly greet you!”

As her gaze turned to them, the merchants greeted her in unison like a chorus. She barely managed not to collapse, taking deep breaths.

“His Grace, the Grand Duke, suddenly went out on another subjugation because of a monster that appeared in the city.”

“Again…”

“He regretted that he wouldn’t have time to talk with you for a while, Your Grace, so instead, he…”

“…What does His Grace think of me, exactly?”

The room instantly fell silent, as if doused with water. Not only the butler and maids, but even the merchants looked dumbfounded. Their reaction made a wave of sorrow surge up inside her.

The Grand Duke was completely neglecting her, even though she had come all the way to the far North because of him. Was it really so hard to show his face even once? It seemed obvious to her, but the Northerners acted as if they couldn’t understand a word she said.

“What… do you mean, Your Grace?”

“…Does he even regard me as the Grand Duchess?”

Everyone in the drawing room clamped their mouths shut. She swallowed a sigh and looked around at the dresses and jewelry on display. With every step she took, she could feel the merchants’ tension.

……

Iris’s dressing room was already packed with dresses and jewels brought from the Imperial Palace. The items brought by the Northern merchants, said to be sent by her husband, were less flashy but had no trace of cheapness—in fact, they had a certain dignity. Even the real Iris would have been satisfied with such fine goods.

“Ha.”

‘Was he just trying to pacify a crying child with candy? Was this so I wouldn’t bother him?’

It felt like unspoken pressure not to expect him to act like a real husband.

“His Grace never asks for my opinion, does he.”

“Your Grace, we did our best, but… are you dissatisfied?”

The butler adjusted his glasses as he asked. He seemed to be pretending not to understand her on purpose. She let out a big sigh and glared at the room full of precious gifts.

“Butler, from here to the end…”

A flicker of hope crossed the butler’s face. One of the merchants swallowed nervously.

“Send them all back. What I brought from the Imperial Palace is more than enough.”

“Your Grace! But…”

“And tell His Grace this: from now on, instead of these one-sided messages, he should speak to me directly.”

She didn’t spare the butler another glance and turned away. It was clear now that the Grand Duke had no intention of even seeing her before the wedding. Being rejected by a man she’d never even wanted felt utterly miserable.

“Let’s go, Donna.”

She strode quickly out of the drawing room. Even after storming out, her anger wouldn’t subside, so she stopped to catch her breath. She could sense Donna, who had followed her out, anxiously watching her.

Just then, she heard the butler sigh through the door.

“Still, we only selected the most renowned artisans in the North…”

“It must have been because some ready-made items were mixed in. If we’d had more time, we could have prepared better…”

“She’s from the capital, and the Imperial Palace at that. Of course Northern goods might not suit her tastes. After all, she’s an Imperial Princess…”

Maybe all Northerners had loud voices, because their words rang in her ears. Only Donna seemed to understand her mood, fidgeting nervously.

‘So that’s how they twist my words?’

They clearly saw her not as the Grand Duchess, but as a spoiled Imperial Princess who needed to be coddled.

What kind of fool would think a few gifts could make up for a husband who wouldn’t even show his face? Did they really think she was throwing a tantrum just because she didn’t like the dresses or jewels?

“I-I really thought His Grace was calling for you…”

Donna mumbled as if she wanted to apologize.

“It’s alright, Donna.”

She bit her lip hard to suppress her anger. She had no intention of blaming innocent Donna.

“If His Grace isn’t the least bit curious about me, then I won’t expect anything from him, either.”

She couldn’t just wallow in self-pity. She hurried back to her room.

* * *

As soon as she arrived at her bedroom, she dismissed Donna. Alone at last, her mind began to race.

‘Should I just tell the Grand Duke I don’t care about his relationship with Gisela, so please don’t kill me?’

But there was no guarantee the Grand Duke was the would-be assassin. Whether he was involved, complicit, or completely unrelated—there were no clues in the original story.

Feeling troubled, she naturally drifted to the window. It was already sunset, and the room was bathed in crimson light.

“Oh?”

There was a vase on the windowsill she hadn’t seen before. Three purple flowers, shaped like morning glories, were arranged in it.

“…Demian?”

She instinctively covered her mouth as the name slipped out. There was no one else in the room, but she looked around reflexively. This was definitely the same flower they’d seen together on the night of the full moon. Her heart began to pound.

……

A white piece of paper was sticking out from under the vase. She carefully lifted the vase and unfolded the paper, which was written in hurried but neat handwriting.

Your Grace, the Grand Duchess,

After much deliberation, I take up my pen.

For the past few days, I have been tormented by regret.

No matter how I think about it, there is only one conclusion.

To put aside these feelings that only trouble you, Your Grace, I must leave this place.

Soon, I will leave here forever……

She was reading in a daze when someone knocked on the door. Startled, she crumpled the letter and stuffed it in the nightstand. Just moving quickly made her breath catch.

“It’s me, Donna. May I come in?”

“…Yes, it’s fine. But what is it?”

She barely managed to steady her breath before answering. Donna poked her head in, hesitated, and then approached.

“Your Grace, would you like to take a short walk with me to clear your mind?”

“A walk?”

“It’s cold, but if you bundle up, you’ll be fine. I’ll show you the snow deer.”

She was grateful, but didn’t have the energy to consider Donna’s suggestion. All her attention was on the nightstand with the letter.

‘No one would suddenly open it, right? Demian must have come into my room in secret.’

“But…”

“Yes?”

“Um… did anyone come into this room while I was out?”

“No! No one but me. Ah, when I went to fetch you earlier, Your Grace, I did leave the room for a bit… did something happen?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just…”

Donna started to fidget in alarm. Even as she tried to calm Donna, her mind was filled with thoughts of Demian.

‘So, had Demian come by one last time?’

She hadn’t finished reading his letter, but the message was clear.

Demian was planning to leave the ducal residence, the knight order, and the North. All because of her… Suddenly, she couldn’t sit still any longer.

“I’ll step out for a bit, Donna.”

“Huh? Then, shall I come with—”

“No, I just want some time alone to think. I’ll be in the greenhouse, so don’t worry.”

An instinctive unease flashed across Donna’s face. She seemed to have a subconscious aversion to the greenhouse.

She asked Donna to escort her only as far as the garden. Only then did her maid’s anxious look fade.

* * *

In the greenhouse, as expected, someone was waiting for her.

“Your Grace.”

As if he’d known she would come, Demian didn’t look surprised at all.

“…Sir Demian.”

“I’m glad. That you came out like this.”

“…I only came to water the flowers.”

Feeling as if her true feelings had been exposed, she lied. Demian gave a faint laugh and slowly approached her, close enough that she could see the hint of mockery on his handsome face.

“Of course, Your Grace. If you say so.”

His openly insolent attitude stung. He seemed hurt by her lie.

“Sir Demian, are you going to mock me like that?”

“No. There’s no time now… I don’t have the luxury to be sarcastic.”

Demian answered obediently, then sighed as if suppressing something.

“…If you could grant me one wish, just this once—would you?”

His gray eyes looked desperate, and his earnest voice sent ripples through her. She wanted to close her eyes tightly to hide her wavering heart.