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chapter 29
“Your Grace, wouldn’t it be better to return to the capital now?”
Nathan, the duke’s steward, asked, but Duke Baraota didn’t respond, keeping his gaze fixed on the documents.
“Is there some trouble between you and the lady? Did you have an argument?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then why are you staying here? You’re newlyweds, and there’s no urgent matter, yet here you are. Victor sends letters three times a day.”
At Nathan’s words, Duke Baraota’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“What does he say?”
“Why would you ask? Of course, he’s asking you to be persuaded and return. Why else would Victor send me letters?”
Baraota Duke revealed his discomfort without hiding it.
“If it’s nothing important, you should go back. There are few servants here, and you never know when the royal family might summon you. Besides, showing that much pride in your newlywed days could lead to trouble with the lady later.”
“Is that advice from a married man?”
“Of course.”
Nathan answered without hesitation.
“The one who loves more always loses.”
“The one who loves more loses?”
“Yes. You didn’t know that? You’ve always been observing. That’s why you noticed and saved her in dangerous moments.”
Baraota Duke showed a subtle expression at Nathan’s words.
“That’s true.”
He didn’t deny what Nathan said.
“Be honest with the lady. That man back then was you.”
“Enough. Talking about it will only complicate things.”
Baraota Duke said, turning his attention back to the documents. Nathan shook his head slightly at him.
‘If only he would just be honest, everything would be better.’
“Then I’ll take my leave. Call me if you need anything.”
“No need. There’s nothing in particular, so just leave.”
Nathan bowed lightly and left the study.
‘I should send Victor a reply.’
Nathan thought as he walked toward his room. Baraota Duke, indifferent, continued his work. Night deepened.
“Good morning, my lady. Duke Baraota has sent you a letter.”
Uriella took the letter Victor handed her and smiled.
“Thank you for delivering this. Ah, Victor, we’re expecting a guest today.”
“A guest? Is it the Longo ladies visiting?”
“No. Young Master Vitale is introducing a maid. I plan to interview her myself, just in case.”
Victor nodded, knowing that Xeno Vitale had constantly pursued Reina Longo, having fallen for her at first sight.
“If Young Master Vitale is introducing her, she must be a good person.”
“That makes me feel a little reassured. He said she’s coming today, but she isn’t from the Empire, so the time isn’t fixed. Please guide her to the reception room when she arrives.”
“Yes, understood.”
Uriella fidgeted nervously in the hallway.
“Nervous?”
Victor asked carefully, noticing her.
“Yes? Oh, a little.”
“Then shall I stay with you?”
“No, it’s fine. I want to ask some things personally. Just having your thought is enough.”
Uriella waved her hands to refuse Victor’s offer.
“Understood.”
As Victor left, Uriella let out a sigh of relief.
‘Victor absolutely cannot know this.’
The person visiting Uriella today was not the maid introduced by Xeno. It was a magician who looked exactly like the man she and Soren had been seeking.
“My lady, you should check the letter from the Duke.”
Madel said anxiously beside her.
“Of course.”
Since it was the first letter she had ever received from Duke Baraota, Uriella couldn’t hide her excitement.
‘It’s the first time receiving a letter from Rei. But I hope nothing bad happened… Maybe it’s just news that he will stay longer in the duchy…’
Even before reading the letter, she was already thinking about her reply—a face unmistakably that of a woman in love.
[To Liel,
It seems my stay in the duchy will be a little longer.
There are few servants here, and the weather isn’t ideal, so it’s better to stay apart for a while.]
Seeing the letter confirm her worries, Uriella bit her lip.
“My lady, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, I guess he’s busy. He says there are few servants, and it would be inconvenient, so I shouldn’t go.”
“He must be worried about you. As the Duke said, there are few servants in the duchy. He rarely goes there unless it’s urgent.”
“…Why is he going?”
Uriella already knew. Duke Baraota had never gone there during their married life.
“If you want, why not write a reply? Ask if it’s okay for you to visit for some rest.”
Uriella nodded at Madel’s suggestion.
“Right, that’s better. Can you bring me some stationery?”
“Yes, of course.”
Madel went off to fetch the paper lightly.
“Oh, Madel. Just in time.”
“Steward.”
Madel bowed lightly to Victor.
“Are you running an errand?”
“The lady wants to send a reply to the Duke.”
“A reply?”
“Yes. The Duke sent a letter saying he’ll stay longer in the duchy, so she wants to ask if she can visit for recuperation.”
Victor had a good idea as he listened quietly.
“Madel, wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
“Is a letter really necessary?”
Madel looked at him, confused.
“If she wants to go, she should just go. She doesn’t usually keep many servants around, and she likes quiet places.”
“That’s true.”
“No need to write. I’ll prepare everything, so just tell her.”
“Understood.”
Madel smiled silently at Victor, who seemed unusually excited.
“But didn’t you call me for something else?”
Madel’s words reminded Victor of his other duty.
“Oh, right. Please guide the lady’s guest. I have some work to do.”
“Understood.”
Uriella, now ready, nervously opened the reception room door.
“Duchess.”
Soren, sitting there, stood when he saw Uriella.
“You arrived earlier than expected.”
“I thought it might be urgent.”
Uriella’s gaze shifted to the woman still seated, her face and head covered by a thin cloth.
“This is Duchess Baraota.”
The woman slowly removed the cloth, revealing her green hair and eyes, reminiscent of fresh grass.
‘She looks even more like him… the man I saw back then.’
Uriella couldn’t hide her astonishment at the uncanny resemblance.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Pleased to meet you. Uh… you.”
The woman, staring at Uriella, stepped forward. Soren quickly blocked her.
“Hey, don’t do that. She’s Duchess Baraota. I’m not responsible if something happens.”
“You’re Duchess Baraota? You?”
“Didn’t you hear just now?”
The woman tilted her head.
“But why do I feel my magic from you?”
“You feel her magic from the Duchess? That’s impossible. Do you know each other?”
Uriella’s heart sank.
‘…It was him back then. But the gender is different? How is this possible?’
“Soren, can you step aside for a moment?”
“Eh?”
Soren hesitated, looking between the two, unsure if it was safe to leave them alone.
“It’s fine. Nothing will happen.”
Soren, still suspicious that the Duchess exuded the magician’s power, nodded, knowing the magician wouldn’t risk harming her and fleeing.
“If something happens, scream or use your bracelet to escape. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Soren infused the bracelet Uriella wore with magic as a silent warning not to touch her.
“I’ll wait by the door.”
Soren left the room, leaving only Uriella and the woman.
“I’ll be direct. You used magic on me before.”
“Me? But I don’t remember that.”
“It’s complicated, but you used magic on me about two years from now.”
Despite the absurdity, the woman didn’t seem surprised.
“…I see. That means I must have used that magic when we were at the cliff’s edge.”
She sighed briefly and removed a ring, a white light swirling around her.
“What is… this…”
The woman transformed from female to male before Uriella’s eyes, leaving her in disbelief.
“This is a magical artifact that changes gender. You have a rough idea of who I am, right? But I should formally introduce myself. I am Conrad.”
