The knight guarding the front of the Grand Duke’s manor in Renigrad greeted Ella politely.

Ella responded gracefully. Her black dress shimmered subtly, reminiscent of the deep night.

It was rare for Ella to wear a black dress. Black was a color that did not show dirt, often used for clothes given to orphanage children, and it was also worn to funerals.

Not only Ella, but all the knights passing through the corridor were in black uniforms. The mansion exuded an even more solemn atmosphere today.

Everyone silently commemorated the anniversary of the death of Grand Duchess Judith, who passed away on the night of the full moon.

“Lady Ella, have you arrived? The Grand Duke is inside.”

The knight guarding the Grand Duke’s office saluted Ella. Though she was known in the capital merely as an excellent boutique designer, Ella was a cherished talent by the Grand Duke and the young master of Renigrad.

The wishes of the great master and the young master of Renigrad represented the will of the North, so everyone in the Grand Duke’s manor treated Ella with respect.

“Thank you. May the peace and rest of Yutasha be with you.”

“May the peace and rest of Eutasha be with you.”

As the office door opened, the Grand Duke, who had been looking out the window, turned his body.

“Greetings to the Grand Duke of Renigrad.”

“You’ve come?”

“May the peace and rest of Eutasha be with you.”

“…May the peace and rest of Eutasha be with you.”

The Grand Duke muttered bitterly. Eutasha was believed to be the afterlife where the dead of the North returned. It was especially a phrase used to honor the imperial family or high-ranking nobles.

“I must be getting old. I keep thinking of the past.”

“She was a good person. I keep thinking of her too.”

“I should never have met her.”

“It was fate. How did you first meet her?”

Ella listened calmly to the Grand Duke’s words. He was always like a steadfast mountain, shielding Renigrad and the North from the icy snowstorms.

However, today, just for today, she felt that even such a person could crumble.

“At that time, I was an arrogant and presumptuous man. She was a woman who kicked my groin for being rude the moment we first met. It was the first time in my life I had bowed my head to someone after being knocked down.”

The Grand Duke, lost in reminiscence, tapped his index finger on his clasped hands.

“When I asked if she would take responsibility if I became infertile, she said she would heal me with her holy power if I dared to show her. I thought she was crazy. But when I saw that crazy woman in the dawn prayer room, I truly thought she was a saint. She was so different.”

“Did you fall for her then? Is that why you proposed?”

“No, because she was beautiful.”

The Grand Duke extinguished his cigar.

“She was the most beautiful woman in my life.”

“She was a beautiful person.”

The Grand Duke closed his eyes gently and opened them. Deep within his heart, an unresolved and unforgettable loss swelled.

“This old man talks too much nonsense. More importantly, I called you today because of this.”

The Grand Duke of Renigrad took out a reply sent by Arne.

“It arrived today. It says she will attend the banquet now that she has recovered. She thanked me for the gift I sent and said she would send a small return gift. Read it. It’s interesting.”

Ella’s pupils gradually widened as she read Arne’s reply.

There was nothing special about the content, except for the last sentence.

“To the Grand Duke of Renigrad… May the peace and rest of Eutasha be with you.”

Moreover, the letter was written on Cheonhyang tree paper. The Cheonhyang tree, which only grows in the North, is rare and precious because it is believed that burning letters written on its paper sends the fragrance and heartfelt messages to the heavens.

Due to its significance in honoring cherished people and its unique luxurious fragrance, Cheonhyang tree paper was used when showing great respect.

‘It’s incredibly difficult to obtain in the capital unless prepared in advance, so how could this be?’

The Grand Duke’s eyes gleamed with interest, as if he had read Ella’s expression.

“I’ve noticed for a while that Lady Ronia is quite familiar with the customs of the North. Or she is very considerate, contrary to the rumors circulating. What do you think of her after meeting her in person?”

“She was different from the rumors. Her manners were impeccable, and she felt even more dignified than the Duchess of Ronia.”

Moreover, Arne unconsciously used the Grand Duchess’s manners at that time. It might have been a mistake, so it was too early to report to the Grand Duke, but it would be revealed at this banquet.

“You seem to have more to say.”

“The Lady’s position within the ducal manor is very unfavorable. It seemed she had almost nothing she could do within the ducal manor. I will investigate further and report back.”

“An orphan and labeled as the Empire’s mad villainess, her life must not have been easy.”

The Grand Duke fiddled with Arne’s reply.

“She says she will give me a small return gift at the banquet, but honestly, I don’t expect much. What can a despised young lady do?”

Ella remained silent in agreement. Given Arne’s circumstances, without the help of Cedric and the Grand Duke, she wouldn’t even have a dress to wear to the banquet.

“I just want to meet her once. She is a very interesting young lady. We will find out when we meet. Arrange the banquet as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I understand.”

* * *

The person who entered through the open door was the headmaster.

“Arne, why are you here?”

“I came to distribute cookies to the inner castle too….”

With the headmaster’s shout, heavy footsteps echoed.

“What on earth were you doing here?”

“I was waiting for you. There is something I want to discuss… Ugh.”

The headmaster grabbed Arne’s wrist. His eyes were filled with murderous intent as he looked down at Arne. Considering the humiliation he had suffered, it seemed he wouldn’t be satisfied even if he punished her right then and there.

“Do you think I don’t know your intentions? You came here to steal something, like a rat.”

“Headmaster, watch your words. I am no longer the orphan from this orphanage who couldn’t say anything when you treated me poorly.”

Those eyes again. The headmaster found Arne’s straight and unwavering gaze unbearably annoying. A bitter smile spread across his lips.

“It’s laughable. Do you think you have really become the Lady of Ronia? You can never leave this place. Your birth is different.”

Then he squeezed Arne’s wrist as if to break it, watching her face contort with satisfaction. He roughly dragged Arne.

“What did you steal?”

He dragged Arne around the management office by her wrist.

“Here? Or here?”

But there was no place in the management office that was disordered.

“This can’t be. You’ve already stolen it.”

This time, he grabbed Arne’s handbag.

“Let go!”

“This is it!”

As Arne desperately held onto the bag, the headmaster’s eyes turned over. When he roughly pushed her shoulder, Arne rolled on the floor. The headmaster sneered as he opened and emptied the bag.

Thud.

What fell with a short, thick sound was a badge. Other than that, there was nothing that suggested it was the bag of a noble lady.

“Headmaster, what on earth are you doing?”

“This can’t be….”

Arne triumphantly took the bag and the badge from the headmaster’s hands. The headmaster’s eyes, which had turned red with anger, completely changed.

“I need to search your body.”

“What?”

“How do I know what you might be hiding under those tightly wrapped clothes? I trained you myself.”

“Do you dare to lay a hand on a noble lady’s body?”

As the headmaster took a step closer, Arne took a step back. At that moment, a servant came running urgently.

“Headmaster! There’s a big problem. Young Master Renigrad says the Lady has disappeared and if we don’t find her immediately, he will personally search this entire place. The inner castle too!”

“I’m busy right now, make up some excuse.”

“Headmaster! This is Cedric Schopendha de Renigrad! How am I supposed to stop him? Even now, barely… Aaargh.”

Thump.

They could vividly see a large tree falling outside the window. The servant muttered in a daze.

“……If you don’t make way, he said he will create one.”

Only then did the headmaster, realizing the severity of the situation, shout in frustration. Arne stood in front of the headmaster with a cold smile.

“I will not forget this rudeness.”

Arne slowly turned her steps. Her white dress rippled elegantly.

Despite his curses, the headmaster had no choice but to follow Arne. If he incurred the wrath of Renigrad, his life would be over at the hands of both the Grand Duke of Renigrad and the Duke of Ronia.

The servant anxiously pleaded with Arne.

“Lady, please walk a bit faster, won’t you?”

Arne lazily handed a packet of cookies from the cookie box to the servant.

“Oh, do you want a cookie? I came to distribute cookies to the inner castle, but it turned out like this, which is very unfortunate.”

“Lady! Please!”

Arne smiled languidly. Once the servant’s gaze left, she bit her lip tightly.

The weight of the cookie box caused pain in her wrist and ankle again. The headmaster must never notice why she couldn’t walk quickly. Arne maintained a composed smile.

‘Just hold on a little longer. I must not let them find the ledger.’

As they left the inner castle, the sound of people murmuring could be heard. The ground was torn, and trees had fallen as a result of the aura blade’s impact.