Chapter 2. The Difference of their Reunion
—

A few days later, Adam visited Louer Castle to set a date for the Duke’s shoe fitting.

However, he received an unexpected proposal from the butler.

“I hear you also make embroidered gloves and handkerchiefs at the shoe shop. Word has spread.”

“My mother and sister are in charge of that.”

“I see. When you visit tomorrow, bring your sister along with the products to show His Grace.”

Adam raised his brow questioningly.

“With my sister?”

“It’s His Grace’s wish.”

Adam remained silent for a moment with a dubious expression. The request to bring Marienne bothered him.

But he was in no position to refuse or hesitate, so he clutched the hat in his hand and expressed his gratitude.

When Adam returned home, he couldn’t readily tell Marienne about the butler’s proposal.

Aside from his vague concerns, knowing that Marienne admired Duke Bernac, he didn’t want to encourage her.

But he couldn’t keep silent forever.

Late at night, when Marienne finished her needlework, Adam spoke up.

“Marienne.”

Marienne stared at Adam, who hesitated after calling her.

“Let’s go to Louer Castle together tomorrow. His Grace is curious about the gloves and handkerchiefs you made.”

“What?”

Yes, this was why he disliked it. She might act as if she’s about to faint from excitement.

“How did this happen… Adam, is this true?”

Marienne jumped up, causing her embroidery frame to fall to the floor.

Adam picked up the frame with a sour expression and chided her.

“You’ve only seen him once at the shop, what’s there to be so excited about? You don’t even know what kind of person His Grace really is.”

“What are you saying? I’m not excited because of His Grace, but because I can see Louer Castle.”

Adam shook his head and sighed.

“His Grace prefers elegant things over flashy ones, so be careful in selecting the items.”

Marienne nodded, hugging the embroidery frame she had received.

“But I’m worried because I don’t know his hand size. Maybe about your size, brother? No, he’s much taller and more robust, so his hands must be larger too? I’m not sure if we have a big enough size.”

A smile finally bloomed on Marienne’s face, which had been gloomy over her mother’s actions.

Adam couldn’t hide his bitterness as he watched her.

* * *

The next afternoon, a carriage engraved with a lion emblem stopped in front of the shoe shop.

Passersby glanced curiously.

Adam and Marienne boarded the carriage, receiving an enthusiastic send-off from Mrs. Rose.

Wearing her cherished outing dress, Marienne nervously fiddled with the locket pendant around her neck.

As the carriage departed, she took a deep breath, looking out the window, seemingly tense.

Adam, with a sullen expression, remained silent, his lips tightly pressed.

He kept feeling bothered about why the sister was specifically called.

If it was about shoes, it could be explained by the connection between his late father and the previous Duke, but a young man wouldn’t be interested in gloves or handkerchiefs from a rural shoe shop.

Adam looked at Marienne’s beautiful profile as she gazed out the window.

He hadn’t heard rumors about the Duke being interested in women, but maybe…

However, it would be a big problem if he offended the lord by refusing his request due to unfounded concerns.

The wrinkles between Adam’s brows deepened.

The carriage passed through the castle gates and arrived at the inner castle after a while.

Porters came and efficiently moved the boxes containing the products into the castle.

As the Rose siblings got out of the carriage, Baron Aaron Ballock approached them.

It was surprising enough that he had visited the shop personally recently, but to come out to greet them himself!

The surprised Adam took off his hat and bowed. Marienne also curtsied respectfully.

“Welcome to Louer.”

The Baron gestured for them to follow and led the way.

Unlike Adam, who had visited the castle occasionally, everything was a series of surprises for Marienne. This was the Louer she had only imagined from beyond the castle walls.

Her sparkling eyes moved busily.

How inadequate imagination is!

Marienne only realized it upon seeing Louer.

The marble floor with pink patterns and cream-colored columns carved with reliefs.

The majestic statues lined up and the intense fresco ceiling paintings.

Even the dozens of chandeliers with countless candles. She couldn’t close her mouth at the splendid sight.

The Baron stopped in the central hall. He gazed steadily at Marienne, who was absorbed in the ceiling painting.

Adam called his sister quietly.

“Marienne, Marienne.”

Marienne, who had been looking up with a mesmerized expression, suddenly came to her senses and lowered her head.

Her face turned red under the gaze of the two men.

The Baron smiled gently and suggested to Adam.

“It must be fascinating. While we wait for His Grace to arrive, why don’t we give Miss Rose some time to look around Louer? It’s a rare opportunity to enter the castle. You can follow me.”

“But…”

Adam started to speak, worry evident in his voice, but the Baron ignored him and gestured towards a corner.

The maid approached Marienne with quick steps and stood beside her.

“Show her around briefly and then guide her to the reception room.”

“Understood.”

Marienne, swallowing her excitement, expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Marienne mouthed to Adam not to worry as she followed the maid. The Baron’s meaningful gaze followed her.

“What a charming young lady. Her red hair is quite striking too.”

“She’s just a child.”

A quiet sigh escaped from Adam.

As Marienne looked around various parts of Louer Castle following the maid, she couldn’t contain her joy at the dreamlike reality.

The two entered a hall where large and small frames hung densely up to the high ceiling.

“This is the gallery. Unlike the main castle, Rockshield, Louer Castle has many of His Grace’s personal collections.”

Marienne held her breath at the overwhelming paintings all around and the bronze and marble statues displayed in the center.

“It’s amazing!”

Marienne felt she could spend all day here.

She liked this place even more than the library they had visited earlier, the hall displaying various armors and weapons, the banquet hall that showed the height of luxury, and the mysterious glass garden.

But the portrait of the one she was really curious about was nowhere to be seen.

In front of the painting of the previous Duke and Duchess of Bernac, Marienne tilted her head.

“Isn’t there a portrait of His Grace?”

“His Grace doesn’t allow his image to be painted. He even got rid of all the portraits from when he was young.”

Marienne placed her hand on her pendant.

“Oh my… I wonder why he did that?”

“That’s something we can’t know.”

Marienne’s excited mood dampened at the talk of the Duke’s non-existent portrait.

Did he get an unsightly scar in the battle with the Heath people? Or did the ominous energy from that day have a bad effect on the pretty boy’s face?

Was it because I couldn’t heal him properly?

Of course, she couldn’t pry about the Duke’s appearance to a maid she had just met.

Lost in these thoughts while looking at the paintings, Marienne didn’t notice what was happening beside her. So when the maid suddenly grabbed her arm, she was startled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Miss Rose, don’t move. Stay still, just like that.”

“What…”

“I said don’t turn around!”

The maid’s shouting voice trembled.

At the sharp warning, Marienne stiffened and didn’t move a muscle.

That’s when it happened.

There was a sound of something rushing over, followed immediately by the maid’s scream.

When Marienne hurriedly turned around, a large hunting dog leaped into her arms.

Its exposed fangs looked fierce enough to easily tear a woman’s flesh.

The fallen maid crawled on the floor, screaming.

“Joseph! Marty! Is anyone there? Ahhh!”

Marienne couldn’t handle the weight of the beast that had pounced on her and fell on her bottom.

Moreover, the maid’s screaming next to her was so loud it felt like her soul might leave her body.

“It’s alright! I’m fine, so please calm down!”

Marienne shouted while hugging the head of the charging hunting dog.

Perhaps due to her mysterious ability, animals were particularly fond of Marienne.

The maid looked at Marienne, who was handling the hunting dog with ease, as if she were seeing a ghost.

“This dog doesn’t follow anyone except His Grace. Oh, just recently, it bit off a gardener’s forearm. It was so horrible!”

Marienne, who had gotten up, dusted off her crumpled skirt. Then she took the maid’s hand to help her up and smiled brightly.

“Animals tend to follow me.”

“Ahhh! I can’t stand dogs!”

The maid hid behind Marienne’s back as soon as she stood up.

Marienne reassured her and then spoke to the hunting dog.

“I hear you’ve been a bad boy. You shouldn’t bite people carelessly. If you do it again, I’ll have to punish you. Understand?”