Chapter 9. Not a Villain, But a Decent Person

At one time, Rudfelix needed to meet a woman qualified to become the Grand Duchess. Though he didn’t need to marry immediately, it was the former Grand Duke’s directive, worried about his son who showed too little interest in women.

The former Grand Duke told his son to meet and choose a woman he liked, and Rudfelix did not prevent women from approaching him.

He met all women who came to him without discrimination. However, in most cases, they couldn’t communicate well, so they would just talk past each other before parting ways.

He split his work hours to devote time to these women, but the longer these meetings went on, the less time he had to rest. When he hadn’t entered his bedroom for over a week, only leaving his office after finishing work, the former Grand Duke stopped bringing women to him.

[If you’re not going to live alone forever, shouldn’t you pay attention to women.]

The frustrated former Grand Duke scolded Rudfelix, asking why he wouldn’t give his heart to any woman.

[We don’t communicate well.]

Rudfelix said he couldn’t communicate well with anyone he had met so far.

[What did you expect from them? It would be enough if they bore healthy heirs.]

[Did you marry Mother for the purpose of bearing an heir?]

[Aren’t you different from me? You don’t show interest in anyone from the start.]

[If that’s the kind of partner I want, is there any reason to be selective about who qualifies to be a Grand Duchess?]

[If you’re not going to live alone, some compromise is necessary. How long will you wait for someone who meets your standards? Does such a person even exist?]

Since even aides except Quiet kept leaving, the former Grand Duke shouted at him to do as he pleased and never called for women again.

“Your Highness, surely you’re not just coming in now?”

Quiet, who had stopped by the office, was shocked by the smell of night emanating from his superior who entered behind him.

“Shut up.”

Rudfelix ignored Quiet, who had been squawking since morning, and went to his place.

Feeling the comfort against his back, he closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

He wasn’t tired from staying up just one night. However, his companion had alternately loosened and tightened his nerves, consuming much of his mental energy.

“Were you alone before coming here?”

Though he didn’t answer, Quiet asked again.

“Should I postpone today’s schedule?”

“I’ll be leaving soon.”

“I’ll wait.”

Sensing his superior needed time alone, Quiet left the office. He would probably stay nearby to wait for the Grand Duke, not knowing when he might emerge.

Once alone, his closed eyes slowly opened.

“I found someone who meets my standards.”

A deep smile played on Rudfelix’s lips as he suddenly recalled the conversation with his father.

The only woman he could communicate with had greatly shaken his heart.

* * *

“Mmmmm.”

“Miss, you said you needed to wake up.”

Elena, who had returned home in the morning, had emphasized to Ginny that she must be woken up as she needed to return to the imperial palace.

When Ginny pulled down the blanket, Elena held it firmly to prevent her from taking it.

“Just five minutes.”

Ginny hung the pressed clothes to the side and tightly closed the curtains.

“What time did His Highness the Grand Duke say you should arrive?”

At Ginny’s question, Elena’s eyes slowly opened. It was strange how her eyes, which had been glued shut just moments ago, suddenly opened.

“I’ll get up.”

The fear of the Grand Duke chased away her sleep. As Elena raised her upper body, her untied hair fell in disarray.

Roughly pushing back the hair that fell over her face, Elena stared blankly into space for a moment before muttering.

“I don’t know what kind of scolding I’ll get if I’m late.”

Though he wasn’t the type to speak harshly just because he was born a noble, when she received something resembling a scolding from him, it hit harder.

Having such a person as her superior had the effect of reducing her sleep.

“I wish today would pass quickly.”

Thinking she could go back to sleep after returning quickly, Elena forced herself out of bed. Though the blanket still pulled at her body, she shook it off without regret.

“Miss, where did you put those items you brought earlier?”

Meanwhile, Ginny, who was tidying the room, touched every corner as if searching for treasure. Standing in front of the full-length mirror gathering her hair, Elena looked at Ginny through the reflection.

“I’ve hidden them somewhere out of sight, so don’t ask.”

Her pronunciation was muffled as she spoke with the hair tie in her mouth.

“Miss.”

Ginny approached in alarm and took the hair tie.

“I told you not to put hair ties in your mouth. I’ll tie it for you today.”

“I could have tied it quickly.”

When trying to do something herself that could be done by others, she habitually put things in her mouth, which Ginny disliked. Perhaps she didn’t like seeing her mistress trying to do things on her own when she should be serving her.

“What’s wrong with doing everything myself when I’m out?”

“Here, you’re the precious daughter of a count who deserves to have everything done for you, and more.”

Despite Ginny’s attitude being problematic for treating her like a friend, Elena let it slide today as well.

“Miss, a visitor has come for you.”

“For me?”

As she turned her head, some of her hair escaped from Ginny’s grasp.

While Ginny recaptured the stray strands of hair, the maid standing outside the door looked at Elena.

“Yes. She said she wanted to meet you. Actually, this isn’t her first visit. She came some time ago too.”

At those words, Ginny seemed to catch on and added an explanation.

“She came shortly after the ball ended, but you became busy after leaving the Count’s office, so I couldn’t mention it.”

“I see.”

It was strange that someone would visit now, when she would normally be at the imperial palace.

“Should I tell her to come back another time?”

“A short visit is fine.”

Since it wasn’t just once, she felt she should meet the visitor. And she asked the first question that came to mind.

“Who is it?”

“She said she’s Baroness Roina Cecil.”

At the name Roina, Elena’s head turned again.

* * *

“I’m sorry for barging in like this.”

Roina, who had been waiting, stood up at the sound of the door opening and immediately apologized. Soft pink hair flowed gently over her shoulders.

Indeed, it wasn’t someone else with the same name.

“It’s fine. But this is our first meeting, right?”

Elena sat down in front of her and casually asked if they had met before. It was a question she could ask as a host to a visitor, but Roina slightly bit her lower lip.

‘Why is she acting like that?’

She wondered if asking whether they had met before was an awkward question, but couldn’t think of any reason it would be.

‘We didn’t even speak at the ball, so this is our first meeting, but perhaps we met when we were young?’

Elena thought about the time before she entered this body. It was occasionally inconvenient when such things weren’t mentioned in the novel because they weren’t important to the story.

“Yes, this is our first meeting.”

Roina took a large sip of tea as if her lips were drying, swallowed, and then answered.

“Then let me introduce myself again. I’m Elena Jellisto.”

Elena bowed slightly and greeted her while making eye contact. Roina nodded shyly.

“I heard this isn’t your first time coming to see me.”

After giving her an opening to explain why she had come, Elena watched as Roina closed her mouth for a moment and rolled her eyes around.

‘She’s cute.’

Her hesitation and struggle to speak were evident on her face. With her cute face and pure mannerisms, she was the kind of young lady who made you smile just by looking at her.

“I lost something at the ball before. It’s a precious item I must find, but it’s in a place I can’t go alone. I came because I heard you work as an aide to His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Wouldn’t it have been better to find someone else rather than waiting for me if it’s such a precious item?”

“I haven’t been in the capital long, so I don’t have close friends yet.”

Roina drank her cold tea like water, seemingly embarrassed. With half her face hidden behind the teacup, her eyes kept glancing at Elena.

‘Now I understand why she came.’

She must have asked others for help but was rejected, so she finally came looking for me, not knowing when we might meet.

Even if she waited and ended up leaving without meeting me, at least the opportunity wouldn’t be completely lost.

“Where did you drop this item?”

Elena guessed it must be somewhere in the inner palace, as Roina could enter the outer palace alone. Moreover, considering where the ball was held that day, there weren’t any restricted areas.

“I’m not sure exactly. But I think it was near the Crown Prince’s palace.”

Elena pushed aside her cold tea and picked up a freshly served cup, nearly dropping it in surprise at Roina’s words.

Her hand trembled, causing some tea to spill over the rim.

“Are you alright? Here, wipe it with this handkerchief. What if you got burned?”

Elena abruptly grabbed Roina’s hand as she bustled about in confusion. She looked up at the woman who had suddenly frozen like an ice statue.

“I’m fine. But where did you say it was?”

“I was walking along a familiar path when guards told me it was the Crown Prince’s palace and that I shouldn’t come any closer.”

Looking at Roina’s distressed expression, Elena checked the wall clock.

If she skipped lunch, she could probably stop by and still make it.