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Chapter 39
After I Die, the Little Groom
Yuria glared at Nadia, eyes wide open.
Her triangular eyes had narrowed like an angry cat.
Nadia tried her best to respond carefully.
“Rather than me seeming like a child, I think from Archis’ perspective, you might appear childlike. After all, you’ve been looking after him since he was very young, haven’t you?”
Fortunately, that answer wasn’t far from the truth.
Yuria puffed out one cheek but then nodded.
“Well… that’s true. So, about that…”
Yuria leaned close toward Nadia and whispered.
Nadia also leaned her ear closer to Yuria.
“Don’t laugh when you hear this.”
“I promise.”
“…I’m already a proper adult, right? How can I seem as mature as you, Nadia? I think I know etiquette well enough…”
Yuria’s concern was quite cute and endearing. Nadia struggled to suppress her laughter while giving her serious advice.
“Maturity can mean many things. Why do you think I seem mature?”
“Ah, first, it seems like Archis trusts you a lot! He nags me to at least resemble you a little. Should I speak less? Or cover my mouth when I smile?”
Those were all Nadia’s habits.
Nadia imagined Yuria behaving demurely. No matter how she pictured it, she doubted Yuria could maintain it for long.
“Rather than that, it’d be better to stop going to gambling houses.”
“Gambling houses? I only bet a little on horse races and just watch the rest.”
“But Archis tries to follow you every time, right?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“If you make him worry, he can only see you as a child. If you cut off your interest in gambling entirely, Archis will worry a little less.”
Yuria looked disappointed.
“I’ll miss watching the horses, but since it’s your advice, I’ll follow it.”
“You can watch horses elsewhere. How about buying a retired horse from the racetrack and taking care of it?”
Yuria blinked, as if she didn’t understand. Nadia added a little more explanation.
“A hobby with structure and purpose makes someone appear solid. If you take care of a retired horse until it dies, your love for horses will seem more serious. You can even take care of a horse you used to only watch at the racetrack.”
“…Can I really do that?”
Buying a horse didn’t mean it would take care of itself. Someone had to put it to sleep, feed it, wash it, and play with it. Yuria had no experience managing people.
Nadia smiled warmly and took Yuria’s hand.
“Of course. I’ll help you at first. But you’ll need to study a lot as well.”
Yuria looked worried but didn’t seem displeased. On the contrary, her cheeks were flushed with excitement for what lay ahead.
Just then, Archis entered the garden after changing his clothes.
“You two ladies look quite pleased. Were you talking about me?”
Archis teased in a deliberately flirtatious tone.
Yuria and Nadia exchanged glances and laughed.
“Archis, did you know that Yuria is planning something truly wonderful?”
Archis sat down, clearly intrigued.
Yuria seemed shy at first, but soon she got excited and began sharing various ideas.
Although she was inexperienced, her love for horses was unmatched.
Yuria would surely give old and sick horses a safe and comfortable haven.
After the pleasant visit ended, Nadia accompanied Yuria and Archis to the front gate.
After a light hug with Yuria, Nadia met Archis’ gaze.
“Nadia, I apologize for not informing you about the Core earlier.”
Archis knew Nadia’s Core had opened, but he hadn’t warned her not to use magic.
If Yuria hadn’t questioned it, Nadia would never have revealed why her complexion had been pale.
“It seems he assumed you already knew everything. It’s only an excuse, though.”
It was understandable. After a Core opens, refraining from magic is common sense among mages. Explaining such knowledge to others could sometimes be rude—especially to a young lady who had already debuted in society.
Archis wasn’t arrogant enough to give unnecessary advice.
Nadia smiled gently and shook her head.
“If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have even known my Core was open.”
Archis still looked apologetic, but he soon regained his composure and kissed the back of Nadia’s hand.
With a charming eye-smile, he suggested,
“Next time we meet, please call me Archis.”
“Oh? I was going to say it first! Nadia, me first!”
Yuria pushed Archis aside and pestered him.
Archis looked at his cousin with a bewildered expression, and the sight was so heartwarming he couldn’t help laughing.
“Then please call me Nadia as well. Archis, and Yuria.”
The three of them joyfully called each other by these closer names before parting.
Yuria excitedly claimed she’d return tomorrow, and Nadia gladly accepted.
But that night, a letter arrived at the Hess townhouse, and Nadia had to leave the capital in a hurry.
Letter from Baron Hess
Nadia, are you enjoying your time in the capital? Your mother and I read over what you told us every day and are keeping busy. However, a problem has arisen that this foolish father cannot solve, so I am shamelessly seeking your wisdom.
Do you remember the villagers who left to fetch medicine for your mother? Their families came to say that they suddenly lost contact. Now that we have some leeway, we sent people south to retrieve them, but our villagers never arrived there.
Upon investigation, they went north instead of south. I want to repay their hearts, but I don’t know where it went wrong, or what I should prioritize as lord. If you have any good ideas, please inform me. I promise to do everything to protect the villagers.
Baron Hess’ long letter was full of his worries.
Nadia already knew about the villagers who had gone south for the medicine—she had been the one to gather money and support them.
Though Baron Hess asked only for advice, Nadia felt responsible for their disappearance.
Through the letter, she also apologized for leaving without saying goodbye to Yuria and Archis. She regretted it, but the safety of the villagers came first.
She also left a letter for Heinrich, explaining her temporary absence despite not having completed the investigation of Count Crimson, and apologizing.
However, Heinrich had already departed north at dawn, so the letter didn’t reach him.
“Even a fake romance can be this unreliable…”
Nadia decided not to dwell on the outcome of this fake romance. She instructed Conrad to bring Vivian back immediately.
Now was a time for action, not reflection.
The carriage Nadia rode hardly stopped along the way.
Though the horses and driver could be changed, she had to endure the jolting ride in the narrow carriage.
Vivian suggested several times that they rest, but Nadia shook her head.
“A lot is at stake in this matter.”
“Of course, people’s lives are precious…”
It had already been several months since those people left. If they had died, it would have happened long ago.
Vivian thought that they were already dead and didn’t expect her lady to rush so urgently to hold funerals.
However, Nadia had more considerations.
“The villagers are only now beginning to hope for the development of the domain. If five of the men go missing in this situation, it will make them anxious. Hess Domain is small; negative feelings spread quickly.”
“That’s true.”
“Moreover, those men didn’t leave out of selfishness. They went out of loyalty to my mother, Baroness Hess. So the Hess family must provide them proper compensation and respect.”
“You’re trying to prevent anxiety and feelings of betrayal among the villagers in advance.”
“Yes. The people of Hess Domain are pure and loyal, but those people, if they lose trust, it’s irreversible. Of course, it would be ideal if we also found the missing men along the way.”
Vivian gave a bitter smile at Nadia’s last remark.
But unlike Vivian, Nadia considered one more factor.
What if the missing men returned only as corpses?
The villagers would be fine. They would grieve but understand if their best effort was made.
But Baron Hess would not. Being strict with himself already, he might lose all the confidence he had painstakingly gained over this incident.
If possible, Nadia was determined to prevent that at all costs.
