TBULF 7

chapter 7

The squirrel, seeing the look in my eyes, shook its head as if it understood.

“…Yeah. Probably.”

What would happen if Raphael regained his memories from before the regression?

I didn’t know what he had thought of me back then, but the memories we shared were real.

If he came to know the memories that only I held—
then maybe there would be a little more possibility between us.

“To completely rebuild the North, we should start with the outer castle. As I said earlier, it’s divided into five districts, and once those five buildings are constructed, it’ll be complete. …After that comes the territory, but that’s for later.”

I nodded solemnly.

Shamelessly, shamelessly—no matter what it took, I was going to win Raphael over.

Just you wait, Raphael Kairosen… and you too, Isidel Kairosen!

“Do you really need me for building a salon?”

“Yes! I absolutely do!”

Entering his office, Raphael looked indifferently at the squirrel-like woman standing proudly with her chest puffed out.

Somehow, she kept appearing in the gaps of his schedule, hovering around him.

Which meant she knew his schedule inside out.

Of course, her movements didn’t disturb him.

His perfectly arranged schedule wasn’t something that would be shaken by a single squirrel-like woman.

But…

“Y-Your Grace, I’d like to visit this site for the salon construction. Please sign here for the visit approval!”

“Someone else can do that.”

“Ah! And please sign this section too!”

After something like this happened about three times, Raphael realized—

she was getting on his nerves.

“Why are you doing something so useless? This is not something that requires you to see me personally.”

At his clear rejection, Serentia—

“Useless? Of course I have to keep coming here!”

…Was there some kind of logic behind that?

As Raphael stared at her blankly for about three seconds—

“I need to see you often so we can grow close! That’s why I’ve been deliberately hanging around! Especially, I’ve carefully designed it to use only your spare time so that it won’t be annoying or tiring for you—what do you think?”

Her expression was incredibly serious—almost strategic.

‘Indeed… she’s thorough.’

It wasn’t as bothersome as he expected.

Serentia had been “ambushing” him in one-minute intervals—only when he was calm, or resting.

The problem was—

it didn’t actually feel like a nuisance.

‘Sharp.’

After staring at her for another three seconds, Raphael nodded.

“I see. Then from now on, instead of getting close to me, consult over there—with Tain.”

But he was still completely unyielding.

Serentia’s hands, which had been clasped in front of her chest, dropped limply.

Regardless, Raphael turned away without hesitation…

And Serentia didn’t try to stop him.

Not feeling her presence behind him, Raphael suddenly thought—

‘…Did I hurt her?’

But then—

A cheerful voice rang out behind him.

“Wow, you even assigned me an adjutant? Thank you so much!”

…What?

Raphael felt a bit more irritation prick at his nerves.

But only for a moment.

After neatly pushing Serentia out of his mind, he entered the family conference hall to continue his tightly packed schedule.

Rolling up his sleeves slightly, he murmured,

“Next. Where were we with the territorial reconstruction? Ah, the budget. Let’s start there.”

A few hours later—

After finishing the reconstruction meeting with Raphael, Tain walked through the estate holding a stack of documents, in a very good mood.

Lady Serentia was in charge of the salon construction.

And she—no, the future Madam—had already met Raphael several times.

And not even on the official schedule?

“Will spring finally come to our Grand Duke’s estate? Hmm~”

At the moment, Raphael’s love life was his one and only greatest concern.

Just as he was humming to himself—

“Spring? What nonsense. Have you filled your lungs with nothing but useless fantasies instead of properly serving His Grace?”

“Eh—who…?”

…Never mind.

Tain stopped dead in his tracks.

Countess Isidel.

She was the one who controlled the family’s internal affairs—and the person who would be responsible for educating Serentia as the future Grand Duchess.

She was also known as the Iron Lady of Kairosen.

Her already cold expression turned even harsher.

“An outsider who isn’t even married yet—and a woman with barely any experience constructing buildings—being entrusted with a project as confidential as the salon? Are you out of your mind?”

“Y-Yes… I’m not quite sure what you mean…”

“I’m talking about my salon! I hear that Serentia Rosemary has been given the opportunity?”

“Ah… y-yes. That’s a good thi—”

At that moment, Isidel waved a document in her hand.

[Architecture Academy Enrollment Certificate]
Name: Serentia Rosemary
Rank: 30/30

“It’s her academic record.”

“G-Gasp… Where did you even get that…? B-But maybe she’s actually talented—”

“Talented? Don’t be ridiculous! Do you even know what that salon represents?”

Tain’s eyes went blank.

“Not at all… sir.”

“That salon will become a legend in Northern high society!”

Her sharp voice rang out, her dark eyes gleaming fiercely.

“Anyway, I’ll meet her myself. I’ll crush her arrogance properly. Hmph—daring to not even know her place…”

Listening to her harsh words, Tain’s lips drooped.

‘This is bad. Even I get hurt listening to her—and I’m a grown man.’

A deep wrinkle formed between his brows.

“You’re in charge of Countess Isidel’s salon construction?”

“Yes.”

Head maid Melosi looked at me with concern.

“Th-that is… Countess Isidel is not an ordinary person. Please be careful.”

“…”

“She completely dominates Northern high society. Once the Epinetia Salon is built, she will control countless noblewomen as its hostess.”

“Oh.”

“If you fall out of her favor, you’ll become an enemy of the entire social circle… Please be careful, my lady. And they say she resembles His Grace greatly. In both appearance and personality—she’s very dangerous. You must never give her anything to criticize…”

Her expression was grave, but I only picked out one sentence from her long explanation.

“…Wait. What did you just say?”

“Countess Isidel is extremely dangerous—”

“No, that she resembles His Grace?”

“Ah, yes. Both outwardly and inwardly, she’s very similar to Lord Raphael…”

“Oh. My. God.”

My eyes widened.

There was someone who looked just like my husband?!

My heart began racing wildly.

“So where is she right now?”