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Chapter 29
I returned to the annex with a beaming smile. I had just stopped by the main building’s kitchen and asked them to prepare some easily digestible, nutritious food. They didn’t seem to know who I was, but since it was for Docef’s meal, I figured they’d take good care of it. It was already late today, so I decided to prepare my breakfast tomorrow.
“Where on earth have you been wandering off to?”
As soon as I returned to the annex, Getty, who had been waiting in the room, shouted.
“I went to meet Gongja. You said I could rest.”
“You said you could rest, but when did I say you could wander around however you like?”
“Was I supposed to get permission even to meet Gongja?”
“Of course! Did you think you could just roam around freely?”
Earlier this morning, he was acting like he didn’t care at all, and now he suddenly switched to an obsessive mode.
“Then I’ll get permission. Since you said all I can do is rest, I’ll just quietly look around the mansion.”
Getting permission should be enough.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Rest is over. From now on, you’ll study etiquette according to Bloody Mary.”
Etiquette? Could he be talking about that thing from that romance fantasy…? Uh…
“No. I absolutely hate studying.”
Refusal.
“Refusal? Really?”
“Yeah. I’m not debuting into high society, so why would I do that? I’m just a commoner, like you said, not a noble.”
Even women who got reincarnated into romance fantasy heiresses don’t usually talk about studying that stuff.
“Because you’re a commoner, you should try harder so you don’t bring shame to your family!”
“I guess I’ve already brought enough shame, so it can’t be helped.”
Because of that, Docef even entered Kernhall. And maybe the family’s honor will take a hit. I came to help this soon-to-collapse family, after all. Whether I was actually helpful or not, that’s another story.
“Are you really sane?”
Watching Getty glare at me fiercely, I let out a quiet sigh. I didn’t want to argue with him. I wanted to keep a friendly relationship if possible.
“If I weren’t sane, Getty, do you think I would have come here as Docef Gongja’s wife even if I were a commoner, and you, my personal maid, could just act like this?”
But I had to make it clear at least once—I had no intention of living like a traditional bride.
“Didn’t you change your attitude, even down to your rude way of speaking, just to go against etiquette?”
Talking about etiquette was pointless since Getty had none. Of course, he wasn’t saying I should serve him properly.
“What? Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?”
“I’m not trying to teach you. I just want us to get along comfortably.”
“So you came here just to live an easy life, huh?”
He didn’t understand.
“Did the Duchess even hire a teacher?”
“Do you really think hiring a noble teacher to educate you makes sense?”
“Good. I’m not going to act badly, so don’t worry about that.”
Getty looked frustrated, as if he couldn’t understand me, and then let out a hollow laugh.
“If you have no intention of learning, fine. But don’t expect me to bring you water, clothes, or meals.”
“I don’t need you to.”
I didn’t need anyone to serve me anyway. In fact, it was a burden when someone even brought me water.
“I’m not joking. Eat on your own. The kitchen’s on the first floor, so you’ll find something there.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“Hmph! Let’s see how long you last.”
Getty left the room immediately. The sound of his angry footsteps echoed for a moment and then disappeared.
Nikolai returned to the mansion. He took off his armor and placed his sword back in its spot. His face was full of confusion.
“How… did he awaken?”
Escaping from Kernhall was surprising, but even more so was the fact that at 24, someone who had only been a first-rank now had awakened. My head hurt.
“Nikolai, it’s true that Docef came back alive, right?”
Francesca, who had fainted for a moment, entered. Her face was completely pale, and she couldn’t bring herself to go to Docef, so she came here instead.
“…Yes.”
“What about the awakening?”
She asked about the news she had received from the steward. It was hard to believe, even though the steward had rushed over without bothering with etiquette.
“Awakened? That child?”
A groan slipped out between her thin lips.
“…Yes.”
“My goodness!”
Francesca covered her mouth and collapsed. This was something she had been wishing for since long ago, and now it was happening.
“This miracle… this is a miracle!”
Francesca cried. Hot tears streamed down her face.
“I must hurry and tell the Duke!”
With a flushed face, she rushed out.
Alone again, Nikolai slammed his desk, frustrated at his mother’s absence.
“Why is everyone siding with that brat?”
It should have been a celebration for the family, yet instead of being happy, he was irritated. Docef had acted recklessly just a few days ago and even impregnated a commoner woman. Could everything really be forgiven just because he awakened?
Was my letter delivered to Father? Why have I heard nothing yet?
Besides, Nilsson hadn’t returned. With each passing moment, Nikolai grew more anxious. He couldn’t tell his joyful mother that Docef hadn’t merely awakened as a second-rank; he had jumped straight to fourth-rank.
Meanwhile, in the borderlands devastated by the war’s cold winds:
“What are you doing!? Let me go immediately!”
Nilsson, hanging upside down from a tree, shouted at the man in front of him.
“Hmm. Should I or shouldn’t I?”
The man, Helbern, stuck his sword in the ground, lost in thought. Beneath his feet was the letter he had snatched from Nilsson, now crushed. He had chased Nilsson all the way to the borderlands. Actually, he had caught Nilsson before, but in a moment of carelessness, Nilsson escaped, bringing them here.
Since he had let him slip once, Helbern hung him upside down and now pondered what to do.
“I told you I wouldn’t run away!”
“Whether you run or not isn’t the point.”
“What!?”
“If you return to your family, your brother will send another letter to Father—that’s the problem.”
It didn’t matter to Docef whether he was expelled or disowned, but Halra was different.
I’m going to find out what power that woman used on me.
The strength from her touch still ached in his body. The only people who could repel his aura with their own power were the Duke and Nikolai. Helbern trained every day to surpass them. If he could defeat them, he would be the strongest in the world.
Yet now there was one more opponent?
And it’s a woman?! Is this real?
There was no way to explain such an absurd situation. Now all he could think of was binding her to the family and uncovering her true nature.
“Why are you doing this? Didn’t Gongja dislike Docef Gongja?”
“Dislike? You think it’s just dislike?! I want to kill him but can’t, that’s all.”
“Then why are you stopping me?”
Nilsson asked in frustration, but Helbern only spat curses.
“Damn it!”
He couldn’t bring himself to admit he had been defeated by a woman. As Nilsson sighed in disbelief, Helbern drew his sword.
“Nilsson, just die already!”
“What!? Why do I have to die!?”
“Since this is the border, I’ll make it look like you were killed by stragglers while delivering a letter! I’ll even hold a grand funeral!”
“Nooo!!!”
Nilsson’s anguished cry echoed.
“Where have you been running off to again?”
Before dawn, in the annex kitchen where I thought no one would be, Hassen was waiting for me.
“Oh, you’re here early?”
I’m glad I changed into my maid uniform just in case.
“Early? I came on time for work.”
It was only 5:30 a.m. Behind Hassen, the maids greeted me one by one as they started their shift.
When do these people even rest? Looking closely, it seemed the staff had no work-life balance at all.
