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Chapter 22
Clink.
Nadia’s teacup struck the saucer, producing a sharp sound.
It was an uncharacteristic lapse for Nadia, who always adhered to perfect etiquette.
Yulia nodded as if this reaction was only natural.
“People call him the ‘beast of the snowfields’ or the ‘cruel king of the North,’ but the duke I met didn’t feel like that at all. He was a bit cold, yes, but his manners were impeccable.”
“…I see?”
Nadia had no idea what Yulia was talking about, but she managed to respond anyway.
Yulia seemed amused by Nadia’s reaction and nodded even more enthusiastically.
“More than anything, I visited the Baldwin ducal residence once. All the servants behaved as if the mistress were still alive. The reception room was normal, but the garden and even the bedroom interior were all kept in the late mistress’s taste. Even her belongings were mostly untouched. Whose order do you think that was?”
There was only one person who could have ordered that—Heinrich.
“…But it could also be a form of respect for a devoted wife. It doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t forget her…”
“Who maintains things to that extent just for respect? If it were respect, a nice room and a large portrait would be enough. I’m sure the duke still misses his wife.”
Yulia said this with certainty and let out a deep sigh.
“Ugh… even if it’s a political marriage, I don’t want to marry a man who still keeps another woman in his heart. My father says it’s better because he won’t take concubines, but isn’t that a strange way of thinking?”
“…Ah.”
“Nadia?”
Nadia felt as if her mind had stopped functioning.
She had come here to uncover the truth behind Livenia’s death, yet instead, doubts about Heinrich only grew.
‘Why? Why would he go that far?’
Nadia herself had once cared deeply for Heinrich. If she had lost him back then, she would have been devastated beyond recovery.
But ten years had passed.
Ten years should have been enough for love, respect, grief, and resentment to all turn into memories.
‘Is he really blaming himself? Has my death tormented him for ten years?’
Nadia’s face turned pale with worry and confusion.
She tried to endure a bit longer, but Yulia was the one who suggested ending the meeting first.
“You should have said you weren’t feeling well! I mean, you do look like the type who’d just bottle it up.”
“I’m sorry. I really wanted to talk with you longer.”
“I want to be friends with you, Nadia, so don’t take it too seriously. If you’re tired, say so. If you’re unwell, say so. Okay?”
Only after hearing Yulia’s gentle words could Nadia manage a faint smile.
Yulia escorted her all the way to the front gate.
Her cheerful voice had a strangely calming effect on people.
“Next time, let’s meet the three of us—Al included. Okay?”
“Yes, I’d like that. Please send me another letter.”
As they held hands in reluctance to part, they suddenly heard the sound of carriage horses approaching.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
A lavish carriage came into view.
A servant crouched down to form a step, and a haughty man stepped down on the servant’s back.
A man Nadia had known since her days as Livenia.
Count Crimson.
A long-time retainer of Baldwin—and one of the prime suspects in Livenia’s murder.
And, incidentally, Yulia’s father.
The atmosphere of the Crimson townhouse changed instantly after Count Crimson’s arrival.
The maids who had been chattering around Yulia immediately fell silent, lowering their heads in fear of even making eye contact with him.
Yulia slowly released Nadia’s hand and politely greeted him.
“Father, welcome back.”
Count Crimson gave Yulia a cold glance before shifting his heavy gaze to Nadia.
His stare was intrusive and unpleasant, scanning her from head to toe as if she were an intruder.
“I wasn’t informed that we had a guest.”
Nadia calmly lifted her skirt and greeted him.
“Greetings, Count Crimson. I am Nadia of House Hess.”
“Hess?”
The count searched his memory, then clicked his tongue upon recalling the name.
“Yulia, I’ve told you. Spend your time with people of appropriate standing.”
He brushed past Nadia without even properly acknowledging her greeting.
“I don’t understand why you insist on befriending those without dignity.”
He gestured for Yulia to follow him inside.
Yulia’s face flushed as if she were about to protest, but she eventually tightened her grip on her skirt and followed him.
In the end, Nadia was escorted out without even a proper farewell from the servants.
The one most angered by the humiliation was not Nadia—but Vivian.
“How can he be so rude? He’s just a count!”
“Not all counts are the same. Count Crimson is quite capable—he might even become a marquis within a few years.”
“Ugh! If he’s already like this as a count, imagine how he’ll act as a marquis—he’ll look at people like they’re insects!”
Nadia agreed silently.
Vivian sighed deeply after a while.
“I almost feel sorry for Lady Yulia too. Acting all friendly one moment, then pretending not to know you just because of her father…”
“That’s not Yulia’s true nature. She simply hasn’t escaped her father’s shadow.”
“I know, but still…”
Vivian leaned her head against the carriage wall and muttered.
“At this rate, she’ll end up marrying Duke Baldwin for sure. She really seems attached to that horse—what was it, Snow?”
Even while complaining, she seemed to feel sympathy for Yulia.
That made sense. Vivian might not be a noble lady, but she lived more freely than most.
“Can’t she just… ignore a father like that completely?”
At Vivian’s bold words, Nadia could only give a bitter smile.
She too had once been powerless in front of her father.
Affection, expectations, and society’s gaze had all bound her tightly.
Escaping that net had never been easy.
Even Livenia had ultimately obeyed her father’s will and married Heinrich, meaning she had never truly escaped.
“Only by having the courage to be abandoned… can you truly let go.”
Nadia looked back toward the Crimson townhouse in the distance.
She sincerely wished to support Yulia, who was fighting a battle no one could help her with.
Sometime Later
Unfortunately, no more letters arrived from Yulia.
Logically, Nadia should have been worried—but strangely, what she felt was more disappointment than concern.
‘I suppose I enjoyed spending time with Yulia more than I expected.’
Livenia hadn’t had many friends since her academy days.
Relationships were unnecessary in a life devoted solely to proving ability.
She never argued with anyone, but she also never formed deep connections.
Perhaps that was why Nadia had found Yulia’s openness pleasant.
Seeing Nadia take no action, Conrad spoke first.
“Shall we create another opportunity if no letter arrives?”
“Besides racing… what else is there?”
“A tea party with noble ladies close to Lady Yulia might work well.”
“…That might be good.”
At Nadia’s reluctant answer, Conrad sighed.
“So you’ve grown fond of Lady Yulia.”
“What?”
“Isn’t it that you no longer want to use her to gather information? Once you give someone your trust, you dislike using them, don’t you, my lord?”
Nadia bit her lip awkwardly, realizing her subordinate had seen through her thoughts.
“When did I ever say I grew fond of anyone?”
“Shall I remind you? Back when we purged that criminal group hiding in the slums—you ended up caring deeply about the child runners they used.”
“If we had used them for interrogation, the operation might have been easier, but their safety would’ve been at risk. They weren’t criminals by choice. It was better to place them under proper care. And if I recall correctly, you agreed with that outcome.”
“I suppose I cannot win against my lord in words. Do as you wish.”
Conrad grumbled, though not truly disobedient.
Even if he complained, he always followed Nadia’s will.
And it seemed it would be the same this time.
“If we cannot use Lady Yulia, then we must take a more dangerous approach. It’s nearly impossible to get close to Count Crimson directly, so we’ll have to tail him and investigate in secret.”
Conrad immediately proposed a new plan.
Nadia smiled faintly, as if in gratitude.
