ITYVA 62🔐

Chapter 62

“…They’re gone.”

For some reason, I felt a bit down.

I shook my head vigorously to shake off the thoughts.

“No, it’s fine. They weren’t supposed to stay here long anyway, so it’s right that they left.”

Come to think of it, there would probably be some side effects from the spell soon. I felt worried—especially because I couldn’t be there by their side.

“Quiel.”

When I called softly, Quiel popped out instantly.

I petted Quiel as he rubbed his cheek against my finger and said,

“Could you stay by Akes’s side instead of me?”

He nodded!

Quiel nodded so firmly that he disappeared from sight with a pop once again.

I stared blankly at the spot where Quiel had vanished, then pressed both my cheeks firmly with my hands.

“It’s okay. I’ll finish my business quickly and go see Akes.”

Just as I clenched my fists with a determined “Aja!”,

I heard someone calling me again, “Miss.”

Startled, I hurriedly answered,

“Yes, you can come in since I’m awake.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than five or six servants rushed inside.

“Hello, Miss. We are your personal attendants assigned to serve you from today.”

“Yes, nice to….”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

The enormous amount of service equipment(?) the servants had brought immediately caught my eye.

Before I could even make a disgusted face, Livia, who introduced herself as my head attendant, began speaking.

“We will start with your morning preparations. First, you will bathe in lukewarm water mixed with pomegranate, yuzu, and rose oils, while washing your hair with a shampoo made from eggs and cognac…”

She went on professionally with a long explanation, but I barely understood half of it.

After being washed frantically, I was immediately handed over to the others for grooming.

Unknown creams, powders, and even lipstick… so many products were smothered on my face that it was hard to count. Some were even applied to my neck.

The more the servants worked on me, the more unfamiliar I became in the mirror.

I cautiously asked Livia, staring at my reflection,

“Um… do you do this every day?”

Livia turned to me as if I had asked something strange.

“Of course you do.”

“…Ah.”

“Miss, you will soon become the Duchess of Bahar, so you must get used to this quickly.”

“….”

So this is what noble life is like?

‘I really need to get out of this place as fast as possible.’

While reaffirming this thought—again, though I had already done it countless times—Livia added with an “Ah,”

“By the way, from now on, you must wake up at 4:50 a.m. every day. Starting tomorrow, we will prepare according to that time, so please take note.”

“….”

I remained silent.

If this is what being a noble is like, I really don’t want it.

‘Whenever I slept with As, no matter how early I got up, the spot next to him was always empty…’

The idea that I would get up earlier than As to cook instead was completely ridiculous.

…So, I had never succeeded even once.

As I drifted into this nostalgic thought, the dreaded morning preparations finally ended.

It seemed to have taken about an hour and a half, but it felt like ten hours had passed.

Breakfast was light—salad and soup.

‘They say stamina is national strength.’

I ate solemnly while thinking about how I could explore the mansion, when Livia’s voice called out,

“After breakfast, you will visit the head of the house.”

“Th-the… Bahar Duke…?”

I nearly choked.

Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I asked, and Livia nodded.

“As you are soon to be the young mistress of this place, it is only natural that you visit and greet the head of the house.”

“Ah… uh…”

Suddenly, my appetite disappeared.

I had to visit that little villain after finishing breakfast?

And that villain had tried to kill As several times.

‘…No, Einra. Control your anger.’

I forced a polite smile to restrain my anger and finished my meal with determination.

Livia guided me to the reception room on the uppermost floor of the mansion.

“Master, I’ve brought the young lady.”

“Oh, bring her in quickly!”

A very welcoming voice came from inside.

Swallowing a sigh, I entered and saw the Bahar Duke sitting at the table, with blue hair and pale pink eyes, smiling warmly at me.

“Welcome to our family. Come, sit here.”

“Y-yes…”

I smiled awkwardly and sat down stiffly.

“Ahem, as you know, our Bahar family…”

The Duke spoke endlessly about the long history, culture, and pride of the Bahar family.

I listened vacantly, taking in the words with one ear and letting them flow out the other.

‘I just wanted to get the information quickly and return to Akes…’

This speech was like a principal’s long lecture. Just when I thought it was over, a second round of the speech began.

One thing was clear.

Judging by how eager they were to bring me into the family as a daughter-in-law, they had no idea about my relationship with Akes.

‘They know As’s identity and that I was close to As, but I don’t know what kind of mental victory they think they’re having…’

Well, if they misunderstand, it might actually work in my favor.

Despite all these random thoughts, the endless speech continued.

When my patience was reaching its limit,

Finally, the tedious lecture ended.

“…Even if you are blessed by the King of Water, your status is that of a commoner. If you want to become a member of our family, you will have to make that effort.”

“….”

If I’m a commoner, why are they insisting on taking me in as a member of the family?

Grumbling silently, I nodded obediently, and the Bahar Duke smiled in satisfaction.

“I’m very pleased that you will become my daughter-in-law.”

“Haha, yes…”

Now that I think about it, I don’t understand why these people, who literally kidnapped me, assume I will naturally marry the Duke.

And it’s a family full of restrictive obligations that are disadvantageous to me.

‘Maybe they think I can’t escape because they blocked my spirit magic?’

But that alone doesn’t explain why they never even consider the possibility that I might resist.

While pondering this, Lloyd’s words from the previous banquet suddenly came to mind.

“I’m actually a very popular man.”

“I’m not the type to cling to someone.”

Considering he had casually dated many women…

‘A femme fatale or Casanova comes to mind.’

A man known for easily charming women.

‘…They wouldn’t really assume I’d automatically like Lloyd, would they?’

I chuckled dryly and shook my head.

No way. People have some decency—they wouldn’t be that self-centered.

‘If I were the type to be charmed by Lloyd, I’d have already been charmed by the Emperor and given everything away.’

Honestly, in terms of charm, the Emperor is far more overwhelming than Lloyd.

And since I wasn’t even charmed by the Emperor, thinking I’d fall for Lloyd made no sense at all.

Shaking off these thoughts, I quickly spoke up as the Duke paused.

“Um, Your Grace.”

“Hm?”

The Duke looked at me, his pale pink eyes shining as if honey dripped from them.

‘Ah… this is unbearable…!’

My stomach churned as if I were about to vomit, but I forced a smile and continued,

“I’m curious about the place I’ll be living from now on… could I take a look around?”

At the words “the place I’ll be living,” the Duke’s mouth curved into a smile.

Clearing his throat, he nodded.

“Of course. After all, this is where our daughter-in-law will be living. Livia.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You will serve as her guide during the tour.”

“Yes, understood.”

Livia bowed politely.

The Duke looked at me with a pleased smile.

“Then let our daughter-in-law go explore for now.”

“…Yes, sir.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the term “daughter-in-law” from this little villain—never from the previous Duke of Serenia, though.

I left the reception room with a bright smile, but only after the door closed did I wipe it off.

“Haa…”

As I sighed unconsciously, Livia approached and said,

“I understand you are nervous meeting someone so distinguished, but he will soon be your father-in-law, so it’s best to get used to it.”

“….”

If I get nervous seeing the Bahar Duke, will I have a breathing problem when I see the Emperor?

The Emperor would probably find that amusing…

“Livia, could you guide me through the mansion?”

I asked, hoping to change the topic, and Livia nodded.

“Yes, I will guide you.”

Three hours had passed as I wandered the mansion under the pretense of “exploring the place I’ll live in.”

“Is this it?”

Finally, I had found it.