Chapter 48

「 To Louis,

How are things at the Winsley estate these days? Are our family members well? I wanted to let you know that Lady Sasha is staying at the Grand Duke’s residence. She wishes to meet you, and you can visit anytime if you’re available. If you’d rather not, I will take care of everything.

– From Laila, who always misses her family. 」

After sending the letter to Louis, Nife stayed longer at the Grand Duke’s residence. Although Julian no longer asked for her to leave, he remained indifferent. Since Nife was also afraid of Julian, they never had the chance to meet, leaving me to shuttle between them busily.

At first, having Nife around was burdensome, but she brought life to the quiet residence over time. She wasn’t difficult to deal with, and the maids found her an easy guest to serve.

The best part was that with Nife around, I had an excuse to ride horses more often, teaching her how to ride.

Today, we planned to go horseback riding, but an invitation arrived early in the morning.

「On the occasion of the season of abundance, a hunting competition will be held at the Imperial Palace. The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Zan are invited to grace the event with their presence.」

As Kazak said, the royal family seemed to be hosting a hunting competition. Princess Abigail must have a plot ready for this event. How can we thwart her plans and completely oust Prince Cain?

Just then, Anna approached me cautiously.

“Lady Sasha is waiting for you.”

“Oh, is it that time already?”

I hadn’t noticed the time passing while considering a strategy to counter Princess Abigail.

“Tell her to wait a bit longer.“

“Yes, Your Grace.”

I hurriedly changed into my riding clothes and went outside. In the hall, Nife, also dressed in riding clothes, was waiting for me.

She smiled brightly at me and waved, only to quickly put on a polite expression after getting scolded by her maid again.

She doesn’t seem like a bad person…

I awkwardly smiled as I descended the stairs.

“How are you finding your stay at the Grand Duke’s residence?”

I asked courteously, and Nife quickly responded as if she had been waiting.

“It’s great!“

“That’s a relief.“

“Everyone here, the servants and maids alike, seem so refined. It’s such a wonderful place.”

Nife walked with a light step, full of energy. Walking beside her, I let out a small laugh.

Nife is probably a good person. However, Louis often said he wanted to marry someone he could learn much from.

Honestly, Nife didn’t seem like someone who could guide another. I considered using her as a fallback option but wouldn’t force Louis if he didn’t want it.

Unaware of my thoughts, Nife seemed happy on our way to the riding arena. She linked arms with me, smiling brightly. Though her maid looked like she wanted to say something, I gestured for her to stay silent.

It wouldn’t be a big deal in a private setting like this. I was never comfortable with the strict manners of noblewomen anyway.

“Looking back, the Grand Duchess has been good at riding since she was young. What’s the secret?“

“Well, you just have to ride.”

Nife pouted at my vague answer.

“That’s what talented people say!”

Her words amused me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing me laugh, Nife became even more animated.

She particularly liked a white horse with gray spots on its rump. The horse also seemed to like Nife, who was friendly towards it. Finding a horse that matched well made learning to ride much more straightforward.

“Good. Now gently tap its rump with your foot.“

“What if it hurts the horse?“

Nife’s concern made me laugh.

“No matter how hard you kick, the horse won’t even feel it.”

Cautiously, Nife tapped the horse’s rump, but it was more like a light touch. The horse didn’t react; it moved its head slightly.

As I was about to say something to the sulking Nife, a servant approached us slowly.

“Your Grace, I’m sorry to interrupt. You have received a letter. Would you like to read it now, or should I take it to your room?“

“Who is it from?“

“It’s from Lethe.”

Lethe? I frowned. The relationship between Shuan and me was practically over. Why would he send a letter now? Was he trying to settle the debt by providing information about Ari? Anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to check.

“Give it to me.”

I stepped away from Nife and opened the letter with little enthusiasm.

「 To my friend,

It’s been a long time. Please forgive me for not being in touch due to some major family events. My younger brother has finally been forgiven by our father. My youngest sibling and mother pleaded with my father every day. But rather than being happy, I’m more worried. I hope my younger brother becomes a better person after this, but that’s just my wish. 」

This letter, written as if about his family, was actually informing me that Prince Cain had been released from confinement and that Princess Abigail and Empress Consort were behind it.

I narrowed my eyes at the letter. I already knew Prince Cain was released. The cause wasn’t that important. Shuan seemed to want to warn me, but he was gravely mistaken about whether he thought this would settle the debt.

I folded the letter and handed it back to the servant.

“Seal it and send it back.”

The servant looked momentarily bewildered by my words but quickly bowed and left. Nife, who had been watching me intently, spoke with admiration.

“Your Highness, you must be very busy. You hardly have any time to relax. Being the mistress of such a grand estate must be different.”

I shook my head. My life was far busier when I lived as a marquis’s wife.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether you have someone to help you manage the household. Unlike Kazak, Julian helped me with even the most minor tasks and gave me significant authority to handle matters myself. Although there were times when I was swamped, at least I wasn’t frustrated.

However, if I mentioned Julian’s support, Nife would pester me for more details, so I gave her simple advice instead.

“When you become the mistress of a household someday, you’ll have to manage these things too.“

“Do you think I can do it well? You know how clumsy I am, Your Grace.“

“You can learn. Running an estate is more enjoyable than you might think, especially if someone acknowledges your efforts.“

“Like the Grand Duke?”

Oops. My face must have shown a hint of embarrassment because Nife asked teasingly with a joyful expression.

“The Grand Duke must be a very kind husband.”

I couldn’t deny it. Julian was indeed an exceptionally kind husband. I reluctantly nodded, and Nife burst into laughter.

“Your face is turning red. You’re adorable, Your Grace.“

“Nife.“

“Oh, I’m sorry.“

“I’m forgiving you this time since it’s just the two of us.”

My stern tone made Nife nod, though her face was still flushed. I used my hand as a fan and lightly slapped the horse’s rump. The horse began to stroll forward.

“Kyaa! What should I do?”

Unlike the panicking Nife, the servant beside her calmly walked along, holding the reins.

“Do as I taught you earlier. If you get scared, the horse will, too, so be careful.”

After a brief moment of panic, Nife slowly regained her composure. I mounted my horse and quickly approached her. As I matched my pace with Nife’s horse, she spoke with an excited face.

“This is fun.”

She was a fast learner. The last time I gave her a ride, she clung to my waist in fear but soon started enjoying it, waving one hand in the air. It seemed to be the same this time.

We rode around the arena for quite a while. At first, Nife was scared whenever the horse moved a little, but soon, she learned to ride at a light trot.

After a few laps, we dismounted, and Anna approached with a towel to wipe my face. She handed me water before I could even ask. It was seamless service. Nife, getting off her horse, admired Anna.

“Anna is such a great maid.”

I responded playfully.

“I’m fortunate to have good people around me.“

“That’s true. Sometimes, she feels more like a friend.”

From someone else, this might have implied the maid was being impertinent, but Nife meant it purely as a compliment. Her maid was more like a mother than a friend, so Nife added with a hint of envy.

“I used to have a maid who was like a friend when I was little.“

“Why didn’t you keep her?“

“Her younger brother fell seriously ill, and they needed money. I wanted to help, but when my father found out I was trying to give money to a maid, he got furious. He cut off my allowance and monitored me to ensure I didn’t sell my jewelry.”

Count Sasha was that kind of man. He would divert funds meant for the poor to bribe Prince Cain, so his actions were unsurprising.

It was disheartening to think how he had become that way. Seeing my sympathetic expression, Nife also looked regretful.

“So, I wrote a heartfelt recommendation for her to get a better-paying job. My father didn’t interfere with that.”

It was rare for a master to go to such lengths for a maid. Most would give up, blaming their age or unkind parents. As my impression of Nife changed, she stared at me and spoke.

“I recommended her to the Marquis of Eriant.”

I parted my lips slightly. Nife hadn’t mentioned this to improve my impression of her or for idle chat. She was making a proposal.

Seeing my silence, Nife spoke first.

“Is this enough to repay you for letting me meet Louis?”

There was no need for lengthy consideration. I had been looking for a way to place someone in the Eriant marquisate. Now, there was already someone there, deeply indebted to Nife.

‘I can do a lot!’

I recalled Nife’s confident exclamation from before. She hadn’t come here just to cling to my coattails. She had assessed the relationship between the royal family and me and prepared her cards accordingly. And she played them when my guard was slightly down.

“You.”

I stared at Nife. She no longer seemed like a naive young girl. She knew exactly what she had and what she wanted. I asked each word carefully.

“What do you truly desire?”

Despite my confrontational tone, Nife didn’t falter. She smiled brightly as if it were natural.

“Love.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.