IGHC 11

Chapter 11

“So you’re marrying the Grand Duke of Artensia… How in the world did this happen, Selly?”

“There’s not much to explain. I just kinda charged straight in, and somehow it ended up like this.”

At my answer, even milady’s elegant smile cracked a little.

The atmosphere felt like if I joked any further, I’d get smacked on the butt like when Daisy and I caused trouble as kids, so I cautiously fidgeted with my hands before mumbling,

“Well… somehow, we really are getting married.”

“Haah…”

After letting out a deep sigh, milady beckoned me closer.

Like a child who knew she’d done something wrong, I hesitated before inching over to her side, and sure enough, a sharp pain struck the top of my head.

Thunk.

It had been a while since I’d gotten flicked on the forehead like that, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Milady gracefully bonked me on the head before returning to her radiant smile.

“Our Selly, I thought you’d grown up already… but you’re still this reckless? You’re honestly no different from Daisy.”

“You may be surprised to hear this, but I’m actually a year younger than Daisy.”

Of course, Daisy had transmigrated right after bombing the CSAT, while I’d transmigrated after reaching my late twenties, so our mental ages were obviously nowhere near the same.

That was probably why people naturally treated me like the older sister.

But technically speaking, I was younger.

Whether I protested or not, milady ignored me completely and continued,

“So what arrangements have you made?”

“It seems like I just need to show up with myself.”

“And the date?”

“Wouldn’t I just go north together with the Grand Duke when he returns?”

“What about the wedding gifts? The ceremony?”

“W-Well…”

At milady’s increasingly ominous expression, I broke out into a cold sweat and instinctively took a step back in fear of a second forehead flick.

“Don’t tell me you discussed absolutely none of that?”

“I-I figured telling everyone first was more important, so he told me to come back tomorrow…”

Beside the glaring milady, the count—who could never scold his daughters properly—looked oddly refreshed, like a burden had finally been lifted from his soul.

Sob… somebody save me.

After the playful exchange settled down, milady’s face slowly turned serious.

She seemed lost in thought for a while before quietly asking me,

“Selly… do you still have no intention of joining the Wintellia family registry?”

I’d expected the question to some extent, but actually hearing it still felt strange, leaving me blinking silently.

Milady looked at me quietly before taking my hand tightly in hers.

“If a girl from commoner origins marries into the Grand Ducal family, people will talk.”

“Milady…”

I had spent ten years living as a commoner, swallowing people’s judgmental looks.

I knew exactly how much the count’s family would have to risk by saying this.

A maid who’d served their daughter for ten years suddenly being adopted as their daughter the moment marriage talks with the Grand Ducal family began?

It was the perfect story for gossipmongers to tear apart.

“I don’t know how you feel about it, but when you came with Daisy, it felt like we’d gained two daughters. No… if anything, we were more grateful to you for taking better care of Daisy than we ever could as parents.”

The hand holding mine trembled slightly. I could feel her sincerity clearly.

These wonderful people…

How many would mock them as opportunists? How many would criticize them? And how much disadvantage would they suffer from becoming entangled with the ill-fated Grand Ducal family, infamous because of the curse?

Of course, there were benefits too.

But if the count and countess had truly wanted profit, they would never have left the choice to me.

I felt like crying.

“I’m… really okay.”

Trying hard to hold back my tears, I forced a cheerful smile.

Even while thinking I didn’t deserve people like them, another thought crossed my mind.

If I’d had a family like this… could I have been happy too?

“Milady, I’m Selus, remember?”

“I worry because of that. Even if you act thoughtless sometimes, I know you’re not foolish enough to make truly stupid decisions. But this is how parents feel.”

Even if I entered their family registry…

I probably still wouldn’t feel like I’d become a real family member.

If I didn’t at least pretend to smile, I really thought I might cry, so I deliberately grinned and answered,

“…I’ll always be grateful.”

“Alright then. You’ve truly made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t fully understand what it meant to feel like a parent.

But I was sincerely thankful for that feeling nonetheless.

Just as I was drowning in emotion, unable to control my swelling heart, milady suddenly grabbed my shoulders firmly with a serious expression.

“Then remember this. You have to firmly establish dominance over a man from the very beginning.”

“…What?”

Suddenly?

Pointing sharply at the count, milady declared with absolute conviction,

“Just look at the count. Isn’t he the perfect example of a faithful husband who has never once cheated?”

“…Marianne, saying that in front of the child is…”

“If the girl suffers after marriage, are you going to take responsibility?”

“…I’ll be quiet.”

Watching the count immediately clamp his mouth shut like a seashell, my tears vanished instantly.

Wow. I almost got emotional there.

This family really isn’t normal either.

After that, milady gave me endless advice about things I absolutely had to prepare for. The count sat there looking like a sorrowful head of household, while Daisy eventually showed up again in tears, turning the entire house into a noisy sitcom.

Later that night, Daisy clung to me saying we should sleep together for the first time in a while, and we stayed up chatting happily until late.

After spending such a warm and happy evening, I overslept the next morning and lazily got out of bed.

“What the heck is all this…?”

Why is everything… sparkling?

Because both Daisy and I had slept in, I was moving around preparing her late breakfast when I suddenly froze at the sight before me.

It was practically an endless parade of gifts.

According to the original story, the Wintellia Count family wasn’t some overwhelmingly powerful noble house. They were an old and prestigious family, yes, but not one that wielded immense authority.

And yet, mountains of extravagant gifts were flooding into the estate.

Even on the count’s birthday, this kind of display would’ve been rare.

What was going on?

Watching the endless stream of presents, I thought:

Was this Lennox’s doing?
He had proposed a few days ago, so maybe this was part of that.

“They must be for the young lady. I’m jealous.”

“I heard there’s even a dress from Rosy Boutique! They only make three dresses a year!”

Smiling faintly, I passed by the maids and servants crowding the lobby to admire the gifts.

I could already imagine how excited Daisy would be—

“Selus!”

“Hm?”

“The count is looking for you!”

Huh? Again?

The carrot-haired maid, who I wasn’t particularly close with, shouted only that before immediately diving back into the crowd admiring the gifts.

With no other choice, I trudged back toward the count’s office.

But when I opened the door, nobody was there.

“Hm?”

Wrong room?

If she was going to deliver a message, couldn’t she at least tell me where to go?

Scratching my head, I wandered around searching before finally poking my head into the reception room, where a crowd of unfamiliar people had gathered.

Ah, the count is he—

“My lady!”

Why is hyung here?!

At the sudden voice calling me, I whipped my head around.

Standing there were the butler, wearing a strangely satisfied expression, and Gillean, who looked awkwardly apologetic, both surrounded by piles of gifts.

I told you to take some time to think things over, so why did you invade the next day?!

“What exactly is going on right now?”

“I thought proposing empty-handed might seem insincere, so I prepared a few modest gifts. I only hope they meet your expectations.”

“…These are for me?”

“At the very least, I thought I should prepare enough to prevent the young lady of Wintellia from finding fault with us.”

No, you’re not the problem here.

“Of course this much is necessary if you’re planning to take Selly away.”

What is that supposed to mean?

Startled, I turned around to find Daisy—who apparently had appeared out of nowhere—examining the gifts one by one.

Then she suddenly sighed deeply.

“What a shame.”

“What is?”

Unable to understand her completely random comment, I asked, only for an even more incomprehensible answer to return.

“The gifts are too good.”

“…Why is that a shame?”

As Daisy rummaged through the presents, she clicked her tongue in disappointment.

“If they’d been even slightly lacking, I was planning to criticize them by saying, ‘Is this really all the Grand Ducal family prepared? Aren’t your standards too low?’ But… how did you prepare everything this perfectly in just one day?”

Hey, don’t sound genuinely disappointed!

No wonder the butler was smiling victoriously.

The two of them stared at each other like sparks were about to fly from their eyes.

Then suddenly, Daisy provocatively asked,

“So what are your plans going forward?”

The butler answered with the composure of a man who believed he’d already won.

“After attending the imperial event hosted two days from now, we plan to return north on whatever date milady desires.”

Ah right, the imperial event is in two days…

Wait.

“Me?”

“Yes. Once you leave, it will be difficult to visit the capital often, after all. We should at least accommodate your preferred timing.”

“Isn’t the Grand Duke busy? I mean, I don’t really mind since I’m an orphan with no family anyway…”

“Selly, how can you say that when I’m here?!”

Without even looking at Daisy’s protest, I replied casually,

“Yeah, yeah. Love you too, Daisy.”

“I love y— …that’s not the point!”

As Daisy and I bickered, the butler simply watched us with a fond smile.

The gifts just kept coming without end, workers constantly carrying in more boxes. Curiosity got the better of me, so I crouched beside Daisy and started examining them one by one.

“Stop treating me like a child already! Anyway, aren’t you going to attend the party?”

“What party?”

“The one with the Grand Du— …the Grand Duke. You’re marrying him, aren’t you?”

I could swear I heard the sound of grinding teeth somewhere.

Daisy, you seem weirdly irritated.

From one of the large boxes, Daisy pulled out a sky-blue dress matching my eye color and held it against me.

“This would look great on you, Selly.”

“You think so? Butler, what do you— guh?!”

Since I hadn’t even thought about the party, I turned to ask the butler’s opinion.

But instead of answering, he was standing there with both hands clamped over his mouth, too overwhelmed to speak.

Seeing his expression, Daisy’s face soured immediately.

“It annoys me how happy he looks.”

“If milady would only do so… then this old servant could die without regrets…”

Why do you look like you’re ascending to heaven again, old man?!

At this point, that expression was genuinely starting to scare me.

Daisy glanced around before whispering into my ear,

“Let’s just refuse.”

“Wh-What?!”

Apparently even our quiet whisper had been heard.

Sharp ears for an old man.

At Daisy’s grumbling, the butler immediately protested,

“That won’t do! Please allow me to witness the Grand Duke entering a ballroom with a partner at least once before I die!”

“You’ll see it eventually once you drag her all the way to the North anyway, so why are you acting like your life depends on it?!”

Ah…

So noisy…

Today, too, the Wintellia household spun busily in chaos.

I decided it was best to stop thinking altogether.