2. The Rolling Stone

Life in the marquis estate was luxuriously excessive.

It had already been well over a week since Luciella had stayed here.

Whether it should be called unfortunate or fortunate. Marquis Walter was away from the mansion due to a sudden deployment order.

“What on earth is this sudden business?”

“Still, it’s not a big deal……”

“Right, they said it’s just a small friction in the border region.”

It didn’t seem to be a frequent occurrence, so the servants of the estate also seemed quite flustered. Voices worrying about Enoch could be heard from various places.

‘No matter what, this is too much, being called out so suddenly……’

It was a moment when she realized once again that the position given to Enoch was merely a hollow title.

No matter how good a hat they put on him, his treatment was still no different from a dog guarding the house.

Luciella clicked her tongue pitifully while inwardly thinking it was rather good. She wouldn’t have to face him for a while.

* * *

She didn’t have to see the Marquis for a while, but something else made Luciella uncomfortable.

“Oh my, another gift that His Grace the Marquis ordered has arrived today!”

It was the gifts that Enoch, who had been called to the border region, sent every other day. When on earth had he prepared such things……

The items were all jewelry and dresses from salons renowned even in the Empire. Each time one or two gifts arrived, Luciella’s expression hardened with bewilderment.

‘Why on earth is he doing this much for me?’

She couldn’t understand it. She could only think that she couldn’t fathom his intentions.

Looking at the luxury goods piled high in one corner of the room, Luciella didn’t know what to do.

Every single item was quite expensive.

Luciella only opened the items she received once to look at them, but didn’t take them out of the boxes or try them on. She would only check what they were, then carefully wrap them back in the packaging and cautiously stack them in one corner of the room.

Nevertheless, the gifts Enoch had prepared arrived every day.

“His Grace the Marquis has sent another gift today.”

Enoch sent something without fail every day, not knowing that Luciella didn’t even glance at his gifts.

They were probably things he had prepared before being called to the border region.

Luciella’s heart grew as heavy as the piled-up gifts.

‘Uncomfortable.’

And Luciella wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what to do in this situation. The maids were equally uncomfortable.

Their master’s carefully prepared gifts were left crammed in a corner without even being properly unwrapped, so it was understandable they would be displeased.

Looking at the piled-up gift boxes, the maids opened their mouths regretfully.

“How about trying them on at least once?”

But Luciella only shook her head this time too.

“It’s fine.”

“But considering His Grace the Marquis’s sincerity……”

“They’re all things that don’t suit me.”

“Ah……”

Luciella checked the large sapphire necklace contained in the box and closed it again. Then she stacked it to one side the same way.

She couldn’t bring herself to touch them anymore. She was afraid she might scratch the items.

Fortunately, the maids didn’t open their mouths anymore after Luciella’s firm refusal. Though her heart was uncomfortable, Luciella comforted herself that it was rather good.

‘This isn’t the time for me to dare enjoy such things and act frivolously……’

No matter how luxurious the treatment she received, Luciella’s uncomfortable heart didn’t ease.

She could only feel her stomach burn over her unpredictable future.

* * *

“But where on earth did His Grace the Marquis bring that woman from? I heard she’s the Princess of Bert…… is it really true?”

“I don’t know either. We just serve her because we were told to serve her overnight, what would people like us know?”

“Come on, but you’ve been staying quite close to that woman. Haven’t you heard anything?”

“Heard what. She’s so ill-mannered for a rolling stone…… She acts like she’s some empress or something.”

Luciella, who had opened the window briefly to ventilate the room, froze at the voices heard nearby.

“She’s also leaving all the gifts His Grace the Marquis sent piled up in the corner like luggage.”

“Oh my, oh my, really?”

“Yeah, saying they’re not up to her level or something…… Like she thinks she’s on a different level from us or what. When we try to do something for her, she makes a stern face and says it’s fine. She hates even brushing shoulders with us.”

“What’s this about, what’s this about.”

Looking down from the window, she saw three women conversing not far away. One of them was a face Luciella knew.

It was the maid who always brought her the gifts Enoch had sent. She was also the one who had made a fuss recommending she try them on once.

Luciella stood blankly in front of the window looking down at them. The maids continued chattering without even noticing that Luciella was watching.

“Anyway, she’s really disgusting. With that sullen expression…… I can’t understand what she’s thinking while living.”

Luciella closed the window she had opened. Then the noise from outside disappeared like a ghost.

‘Acting like I’m some empress……’

Still, the conversation the maids had been having lingered in her head.

‘That was never my intention……’

Suddenly, a mirror hanging on one wall caught her eye. Luciella shifted her gaze to the mirror. Then she saw her reflection inside.

Long flowing silver hair and translucent skin. Thick eyelashes and round eyes. Beautiful enough that it was natural she had heard she was pretty since childhood.

But compared to that, only her expression was stiffly hardened.

Luciella, who had been quietly looking in the mirror, pretended to force up the corners of her mouth. But that smile, far from being natural, only became ridiculous instead.

‘Never mind, never mind.’

Do I have the luxury to care about such words right now?

Her head was confused.

The truth was, what she was most curious about right now was news about her homeland, the Bert Kingdom.

Luciella sank powerlessly onto the sofa. She rubbed her face for a long time, dry-washing it, then soon forcibly erased her thoughts and closed her eyelids.

‘What will happen to me from now on?’

She had nowhere to return to, and couldn’t return anywhere.

She couldn’t gauge how long this uncomfortable comfort would last.

Everything was uncomfortable.

* * *

Day by day, time flowed meaninglessly.

Whether it should be called misfortune or fortune,

Enoch, who had been called to the border region, returned to the mansion before long. It was a much faster return than expected.

‘Usually when someone is drafted to such places, don’t they stay for months?’

Enoch hadn’t been away for even a full month.

His abilities were certainly remarkable.

She hadn’t been told about his return, but she couldn’t help but know. The marquis estate had been bustling since morning.

The servants were all excited, humming while cleaning every corner of the house more carefully than usual.

Usually when the master returns, they might be uncomfortable. Luciella felt a little curious about their opposite reaction.

“Your Highness the Princess, how about trying on at least some of the gifts His Grace the Marquis sent, just for today?”

The maid who had been combing Luciella’s hair carefully opened her mouth while looking at the dusty boxes.

When she glanced to check the face, it was the maid who had been gossiping about Luciella last time.

“Heard what. She’s so ill-mannered for a rolling stone…… She acts like she’s some empress or something.”

“Yeah, saying they’re not up to her level or something…… Whether she thinks she’s on a different level from us or what. When we try to do something for her, she makes a stern face and says it’s fine. She hates even brushing shoulders with us.”

“Anyway, she’s really disgusting. With that sullen expression…… I can’t understand what she’s thinking while living.”

For no reason, that day’s incident came to mind and Luciella’s expression slightly hardened.

“Sigh…… No, it’s fine.”

Luciella unconsciously let out a sigh. Belatedly thinking ‘oh no,’ she tried to show a kind expression, but it was already too late.

“Ah, yes……”

The maid didn’t speak to Luciella anymore. She just continued brushing halfheartedly with a somewhat displeased face.

Her head naturally throbbed from the uncomfortable situation.

Knock knock.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. And following that came the head maid’s urgent cry.

“His Grace the Marquis will be coming up soon.”

The first place he headed to upon returning to the mansion was her room.

Luciella couldn’t understand at all why Enoch was putting so much effort into her.

Not long after the head maid’s cry, the large door opened without even a knock.

There was only one person in the mansion who would burst open doors and enter like this.

Enoch Walter.

He stood before Luciella’s eyes in a more disheveled state than before he left.

“Have you been well during this time?”

He seemed to have just arrived, as his face showed some signs of fatigue. Luciella hurriedly rose from her seat upon Enoch’s appearance. But Enoch’s steps, which had been striding into the room, paused for a moment. Following his gaze, she saw the boxes piled up in one corner of the room.

“Ha.”

For a moment, an irritated sneer appeared on Enoch’s lips. It was obvious mockery to anyone watching.

“Ah, those things are……”

“It’s fine. I was expecting it.”

Luciella wasn’t even given a chance to explain. Enoch withdrew his gaze with a face that showed no surprise and went to sit on the sofa.

She, who had been observing Enoch’s displeased expression, lowered her gaze and only fidgeted with her innocent hands.

‘Rather, it’s good.’

He might withdraw his marriage proposal if he became upset…….

But Luciella’s wish would never come true. Heaven was clearly not on her side.