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Chapter 13
Duke Luvia and Erez both looked genuinely busy, and Joshua, clearly uncomfortable after the dinner, pretended to be preoccupied and avoided them altogether.
Seraphine, too, seemed to be out of the house more often—not just because of Erez, but perhaps because she didn’t want to run into her grandmother while lounging around like some idle aristocrat.
‘To be precise, she probably just didn’t want to be nagged.’
At a glance, her grandmother didn’t seem like the nagging type.
But Joshua knew well how adults tended to react when they saw a child doing nothing, and in that regard, his decision to stay away was perfectly reasonable.
In the end, only Seraphine—without friends or anywhere to go—remained in the mansion.
She passed the time reading, and when it got too stuffy, she would step out into the garden.
To avoid any awkward encounters, Seraphine carefully timed her outings to miss her grandmother’s presence.
But it seemed the maids hadn’t been paying close attention.
Seraphine was startled when she spotted the madam standing in the garden in similar attire as yesterday, and she quickly turned away.
“You don’t need to avoid me. I don’t mind,” the madam said, having seen her as well.
It would’ve been awkward to pretend she hadn’t heard her.
Perhaps sensing Seraphine’s hesitation, the madam quickly added, as though trying to keep her there.
“Yesterday, I was in a rush and apologized rather one-sidedly. I thought it would be enough just to hold your hand again, but people’s greed knows no end.”
“……”
“You don’t have to forgive me. I just don’t want you to avoid me. I didn’t return to make you uncomfortable.”
Seraphine found herself questioning the madam’s intentions.
A single apology should have been sufficient.
So why, knowing everything that had happened, was the madam trying to get closer to her?
Eventually, she asked carefully.
“You do know that just being around me isn’t good for you, don’t you?”
“I’ve lived long enough. What difference will a few more days make?”
“You’re still in good health—don’t talk like that, even in passing.”
Death wasn’t a light matter. Seraphine spoke firmly without realizing.
Her grandmother, taking it as concern from her granddaughter, let out a small laugh.
No grandparent dislikes a heartfelt scolding from their grandchild.
“To be honest, I heard rumors about you before coming here. Everyone was making a fuss, saying the Luvia family was raising a stray cat or something. It seems people who didn’t know anything were spreading stories.”
With that, the madam bent down to continue what she had been doing.
Curious, Seraphine stepped closer.
“You’re tending the garden yourself?”
“I used to do it whenever I had time. People talk too much, but plants are quiet—much better company.”
The madam was transplanting the wildflowers they had seen the day before.
Seraphine suddenly remembered her passing comment about not wanting the flowers discarded just because they ruined the scenery.
Apparently, the madam hadn’t forgotten.
Seraphine felt a bit embarrassed.
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“…You’re thanking me for something so obvious?”
Seraphine wasn’t just referring to the flowers.
She also meant the madam’s understanding about her condition—how contact with others could drain their magic.
Maybe embarrassed by the heartfelt gratitude, the madam turned away with a small scoff.
“Shall I help you?”
“No need. It’s not so difficult that I’d need the precious hands of my granddaughter. I’ve already done most of it.”
Afraid Seraphine might insist, the madam stood up and patted her back.
“I heard from your father that you want to break off the engagement. He’s been busy dealing with that lately.”
“…I see.”
“I told him I support it.”
Seraphine looked up at her in surprise.
“My influence in the family may have waned, but I doubt they’d completely ignore me.”
“You’re not going to blame me?”
“Why would I?”
The Luvia family had been paying the imperial family to maintain the engagement.
But it wasn’t as though they gained no political advantage in return.
Depending on the situation, ending the engagement through Seraphine’s death could have seemed more beneficial.
Given her grandmother’s accomplishments and the fame she carried, Seraphine had expected a more pragmatic stance—like Erez.
“Breaking an engagement isn’t the end of the world. People act like it is.”
The madam shook her head and brushed the soil from her hands.
“I don’t like that he’s seeing other women while still engaged, but I heard he was receiving regular magic from you.”
“Yes.”
“If you break up, he won’t be able to receive magic from you anymore. What will you do then?”
She looked at Seraphine, as if expecting some grand plan.
Seraphine, who hadn’t made any such plans, averted her gaze slightly.
“I haven’t thought about it in detail yet.”
“It’s not your fault you’re ill, but still—live as long as you can.”
The madam seemed to interpret her vague answer as a sign of giving up.
“Even if death comes to us all, you should at least outlive your father. Don’t even think of leaving before this old woman.”
“Grandmother.”
“Call me ‘Grandma.’”
“…What?”
“Like when you were little. Call me ‘Grandma.’”
“…Yes, Grandma.”
Seraphine hesitated but finally spoke the word—awkwardly, but sincerely.
‘Her eyes aren’t like in the dream… not like she’s looking at a monster.’
Her body brought death to others through mere touch.
It would make sense for someone to fear her.
But unlike in her dreams, where her grandmother’s eyes were cold and distant, the woman before her looked at her with warmth despite the deepening wrinkles.
“The wind is chilly. I think that’s enough gardening for today. Let’s head inside.”
“……”
“I brought a gift for you, though the item itself is taking longer than expected. In the meantime, I brought some high-quality tea from the Macheff region. Won’t you try some?”
“Yes, of course.”
A gift?
Seraphine briefly wondered about it but didn’t think much of it. She understood the offer as an invitation to continue the conversation from yesterday and accepted naturally.
So the two of them shared a tea time, much more relaxed than the day before.
Had Erez not arrived early to greet them, they might’ve lost track of time entirely.
“Erez.”
“Yes, Grandma.”
As if she had been waiting for the opportunity, the madam called him just as he was about to leave.
“Take Seri out and buy her a pair of well-fitting gloves. Put it on my account.”
“Grandma.”
“I got dirt on her gloves while we were gardening. You may be a bit stiff like your father, but at least you’ve got better taste than this old woman.”
Erez glanced back and forth between his grandmother, who called Seraphine “Seri,” and Seraphine, who called her “Grandma.”
Usually expressionless, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
Seraphine honestly thought he would refuse.
They had recently argued, and they weren’t particularly close as siblings.
“Yes, understood.”
But before Seraphine could insist it wasn’t necessary, Erez nodded.
The madam smiled with satisfaction.
“Go now, the two of you. I had such a lively chat with my granddaughter—I think I’ll take a nap.”
As if anticipating that Seraphine might refuse, she waved them off quickly.
Then, as if remembering something she had forgotten, she called out.
“Seri.”
“Yes, Grandma?”
“Don’t forget to come back and show off what Erez picked out for you.”
Her tone suggested that if Seraphine didn’t like the gloves, she might toss Erez out of the house.
Seraphine couldn’t help but laugh quietly and nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
Erez silently stared at her profile.
‘Do I have something on my face?’
His gaze was so blatant it made Seraphine flustered.
Before long, a carriage had been prepared.
As she moved to board it, Erez naturally held out his hand.
‘Escort?’
Seraphine almost took it out of habit but froze mid-motion.
‘Just a little contact and Mother died. What if even now…?’
The thought flowed naturally, unbidden.
Avoiding Erez’s hand, she quickly turned her head and stepped into the carriage on her own.
‘A slight touch might not kill instantly. But I can’t say there’s no effect.’
Before, she hadn’t known better, but now she felt the need to be more careful.
She had to act consciously.
But sitting across from Erez in the carriage made her self-conscious.
‘He probably thinks I snubbed him.’
Thinking from his perspective, she realized he could easily have been offended.
She had avoided his hand like he was contagious, all because of her fear.
“Brother, about earlier…”
She couldn’t tell him the whole truth, but she wanted to offer some kind of excuse.
As she hesitated over what to say, Erez calmly looked at her.
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Apparently, he was used to her flinching away from touch and took it in stride.
Thanks to that, she didn’t need to explain—but the real issue remained.
‘I can’t breathe.’
Being alone with Erez in the carriage was so awkward it was suffocating.
If only she’d gone out with Joshua or her father, it wouldn’t have felt this stifling.
‘Grandma didn’t want me stepping on dirt and took such care that not a speck of soil got on my gloves. Yet she made an excuse to buy new ones just so I’d have a reason to go out.’
Unlike Joshua, Seraphine had no close friends.
Her illness kept her homebound, and with no one inviting her out, she stayed cooped up even more.
She only ever stepped into the garden for fresh air.
Her grandmother must’ve noticed quickly and tried to help.
But the company she chose for Seraphine to go out with was… problematic.
She should’ve refused before Erez had agreed.
Regret came too late.
The place they arrived at was a famous boutique.
“Oh my, what a surprise! Lord and Lady Luvia themselves visiting our boutique! I believe one of our staff recently visited your estate—what brings you here today?”
Lord? Lady?
Or both?
Sensing potential profit, the attendant eagerly approached.
“Not me—my sister.”
Erez briefly explained their purpose.
Just the fact that the notoriously distant siblings were together made for gossip-worthy news.
Eyes sparkling, the attendant led them inside.
“Please have a seat while I fetch the women’s catalog.”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll take a look myself.”
Seraphine was taken aback by this unexpected initiative.
Erez, being this proactive?
“Brother, there’s no need for that.”
“Grandmother told me to choose. I’ll check with my own eyes and bring you what suits you best.”
His manner made it seem like he was heading to war, not shopping.
‘He must be nervous around Grandma.’
Seraphine quickly realized how tense he was.
It made sense—it had been a while since he last saw her, and he’d likely heard plenty about her reputation as the next Duke of Luvia.
“You’re not well, so rest. I’ll bring you a few options.”
He seemed determined to trust his own taste, as their grandmother had instructed.
So like a perfectionist.
Feeling the weight of his responsibility, Seraphine nodded.
Even if she had protested, he would’ve politely declined and done things his way.
‘All she said was to buy gloves… who knew it would be such a solemn task?’
Her body was fine, but her heart felt uneasy.
Still, she couldn’t drag him home now.
“If you need anything, my lady, please don’t hesitate.”
“In that case, may I see the catalog while I wait for my brother?”
“Of course.”
Erez didn’t seem like he’d return anytime soon.
Following him might earn her a scolding, so she quietly enjoyed tea and the catalog.
Then, after some time…
She heard a familiar voice and turned her head.
‘Leonhardt?’
It was her former fiancé—the one she had recently broken things off with.
And beside him was…
