Even with a curated list, it was difficult to remember everyone’s personal details. So she first checked the families she should prioritize knowing. As she turned the pages one by one with her slender fingers, she saw several familiar families.

“Soppen……”

“I heard Miss Selena Soppen of the Soppen family just returned. She left for her studies just as you were getting married and couldn’t attend the wedding ceremony, but you might see her face this time.”

Selena was the only daughter of the current head of the Soppen family. The family, a relative of the imperial family, had been rising in prominence since the current empress’s ascension.

Since the precious only daughter had been absent from public for as long as a year, she would now begin public activities to fill that gap.

“So Selena has returned.”

“This will be your first time meeting her, right?”

“I saw her on my way back from the imperial palace last time. I only saw her in passing, so we couldn’t exchange greetings.”

The Soppen family controlled the empire’s diplomacy and trade, and their merchant group played a major role in attracting foreign capital. That’s why the family head was open to his daughter’s studies abroad.

Selena Soppen’s arrival meant that Lorendis and Selena’s reunion was approaching. The connection that had briefly crossed in the capital is now intersecting again.

“I’ll send letters to the close vassal families first. Try having a light meeting first.”

She replied to do as Nancy advised.

“The tea is getting cold, my lady.”

“Oh my, it’s already cold.”

“I’ll have it reheated.”

As one maid went to boil the tea again, Catherine closed the noble registry.

“What’s the reputation of Lady Soppen like?”

“She’s beautiful and intelligent enough to be called the flower of social circles. She’s the niece of the current empress. She’s quiet and careful, but sometimes knows how to make bold decisions, befitting a child of the Soppen family.”

“The Soppen family was a large merchant family, right?”

“Yes. They grew formidably by accepting foreign capital. The current Duke of Soppen is particularly adept in that area. He’s the empress’s brother.”

They are nobles among nobles. That summed it all up. A child raised with love in both the imperial family and the Soppen family as relatives of the imperial family, and a woman who became a model for nobles through the education of the strict Lady Soppen—that was Selena.

“But it’s truly surprising.”

“What is?”

“She resembles you overall. The quiet atmosphere, the delicate body….. I heard that Miss Selena was also weak from childhood. That’s why there were many rumors that her recent studies abroad were actually for recuperation.”

If she was raised as a precious child in the Soppen family, she would have received especially more care due to her weak constitution. With flowing blonde hair, a slender body, and fair skin. Just imagining her appearance gave a strong impression of fragility. Having only seen her briefly, that impression was blurry, but perhaps it was because her impression wasn’t delicate.

“And while writing invitations, I’ll write one more.”

“Yes. Please tell me….. This person?”

Nancy carefully asked again, but Catherine answered with a smile.

“Please handle it as instructed.”

“If that is my lady’s wish, I shall only follow.”

Nancy quietly let it pass, assuming her lady had some deeper meaning.

“Then, should I get permission from Lorendis too?”

“What permission are you referring to?”

“It’s just my first time inviting guests…… Would Lorendis be in his office?”

Nancy smiled brightly.

“Then, shall I escort you to his office?”

“I’m worried. Whether I can do well.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. The vassals would gladly accept the lady’s invitation.”

Catherine smiled bitterly despite Nancy’s sincere words.

“Let’s go see my husband.”

It was time to open the inner castle gates that had been firmly closed. The walls built with bricks were solid, and their majesty remained unchanged.

The walls served to both confine and protect Catherine. Until now, she only needed to face the people here, but from now on, she would have to deceive the vassals and their children too. Suddenly, Catherine felt overwhelmed by such a future.

* * *

“That’s not something you need my permission for.”

Lorendis gave his permission willingly.

“You’re the Lady of Helen. The inner castle has always been your domain.”

The inner castle is Catherine’s domain. She has been governing the inner castle all this time. It does seem strange to ask someone else for permission…..

“I suppose that’s true.”

“You have unexpectedly peculiar sides. Did you come just to get permission for that?”

“Not really. I came to see your face. Things seem to have become awkward between us lately.”

Catherine awkwardly fiddled with her nape while looking at Lorendis. I’ve seen your face now. I came to see your face and have a conversation.

She came to check because things had been strange between them for days, but it didn’t seem like something Catherine needed to worry about too much.

“Am I disturbing you?”

“Why do you think that?”

“I wonder if I came at a bad time while you were working. Your advisors all look busy too. I’m not disturbing you, am I?”

Lorendis frowned as if Catherine’s quiet presence bothered him again.

“There’s no place you shouldn’t come. There’s also nothing you shouldn’t do.”

“For someone who says that, you’ve been telling me ‘you can’t do that’ and ‘keep your mouth shut’ quite often lately……”

“That’s because you often say nonsensical things.”

Lorendis was about to raise his voice as if scolding her, but seeing her clear face, he sighed. Even couples who marry with affection often fight. They hadn’t been close even after marriage, and since they didn’t understand each other, the noise when they clashed was inevitable.

“I’m not angry with you.”

“You look frustrated.”

Lorendis pressed his forehead and sighed.

“Why did you come all the way here when you’re not well? Dr. Dennis told you to rest until he returns.”

Lorendis, who had been speaking bluntly, seemed to realize his mistake and corrected himself.

“I didn’t mean to be sarcastic. I meant that since you’re ill, you should take better care of yourself. And there’s no place you can’t come. It’s right for you, the mistress, to govern the inner castle of Helen. Lady Helen. Do you keep forgetting your position because no one calls you by that name?”

Lorendis wasn’t the type of person to be so careful as to correct and clarify his words. He was direct and bold, sometimes even daring. Because he was such a person, he must have wandered through those harsh battlefields with ease until now.

“Since I’m here, let me tell you something.”

Catherine tilted her head slowly.

“Please speak.”

“I’ll be away from the inner castle for a while.”

Lorendis spoke dryly as if it was already a decided matter.

“It seemed like you were staying put for a while this time, but now you’re leaving.”

What could be making him leave at this time? As Catherine pondered and tilted her head, Lorendis answered smoothly.

“I’ll be away for about a week. I need to visit the capital, but since I’m going alone this time, it should take about that long even if I return quickly.”

Lorendis is leaving again. Since it wasn’t just a matter of a day or two, people in Helen considered it nothing unusual when he left.

How many days has it been since he returned? If he goes to the capital, I probably won’t see him again. Of course, I know it’s a quick trip and a schedule that will end soon.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Instead of sending me off so indifferently, couldn’t you ask about the circumstances?”

So that’s what I should have asked first. Catherine belatedly realized and asked.

“Why are you going?”

As Catherine fiddled with her thin hair and tilted her head, his gaze settled on her fingertips. Small and delicate. Those hands were clean and fair. As those fingertips wrapped around her hair, his gaze followed along.

“The imperial family sent an imperial edict to receive a medal. I just need to go briefly alone, and I’ll be back soon anyway. Stop those strange thoughts right there.”

“You seem like someone who can read my mind.”

“You have an expression like you want to give up on everything. I’m saying this because you look like you’d disappear and abandon everything if I were to vanish from your sight right now.”

“Sometimes you’re frighteningly persistent yet sharp.”

Lorendis looks like he wants to pull out and read every detail inside her. It seems he doesn’t do so because he’s afraid she might really run away somewhere. Just from his crooked expression, she can feel how displeased he is.

“It won’t take that long.”

“Have a safe trip. It’s not like I’ll disappear just because you’re away for a moment.”