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Chapter – 11
I heard hurried footsteps approaching.
I didn’t need to guess who it was—I already knew. But if I had to say it, it was clearly—
“Shi…! The time is already—”
As expected, Ribed was about to call my name in a rush, but when he saw me with the other servants of the ducal house, he quickly changed what he was saying.
“Time?”
At Ribed’s words, Mary tilted her head and looked up at the clock.
“The party starts at 6 PM, sir!”
“R-right. I was just going to say it’s good that we still have plenty of time. Then, Your Highness, please call me when you are ready.”
Ribed seemed like he had more to say, but he didn’t want to clash with Mary, so he hesitated.
“Sir! Do you have something to say? Then hurry up! Her Highness is getting ready!”
Mary scolded him without hesitation, as if she had known Ribed for years.
I couldn’t help but think again—does Mary have some hidden talent…?
While I was briefly amazed by Mary’s way of speaking, Ribed realized he couldn’t win and stepped back.
Still, he kept looking at me and left the room.
“Honestly! Men!”
Mary snorted while watching him go.
“Right, Your Highness? It’s still three hours before six, and he came rushing here like that!”
I was once again impressed by Mary’s bold personality.
Taking advantage of the relaxed mood, I spoke quickly.
“So… is my hair done yet?”
Mary was currently helping other servants wash me and fix my hair.
Madam Hailey wasn’t here—she had rushed out with the head maid Meida to a dress shop after hearing about the sudden party.
I tried to stop them, saying I could just wear anything from my luggage, but the kingdom of Baeterinum wasn’t very cold even in winter, so most dresses were too thin.
Since I get cold easily, I couldn’t stop them anymore.
So I stayed in the mansion with Mary and the other servants.
“Mary.”
Since I had nothing else to do, I decided to ask her something.
“Yes?”
“Can you tell me about this place… Iarid?”
All I knew was that it was the northern territory of the Kansvain Empire, ruled by the House of Pidelanis.
“Wow! That’s an interesting topic!”
Mary’s eyes sparkled brightly as if she had been waiting for this question.
She took a deep breath and started speaking seriously.
“Iarid is my hometown! I was born and raised here and never once left it! People outside think it’s just a harsh land full of monsters, but that’s totally wrong! There are so many interesting things here! Hmm… where should I start?”
Her rapid-fire explanation was overwhelming.
Just listening to it already drained my energy.
I should have expected this…
Before I could refuse, one of the servants joined in.
“Festivals! We should start with fun stories!”
Another servant cut in.
“No way! You should explain the history of the Pidelanis Duke family first!”
And another said:
“Hey, isn’t it normal to talk about fashion trends in Iarid first?”
Everyone started arguing.
It felt like they were all completely different from the gloomy atmosphere a ducal house usually had.
History… fashion… whatever…
I closed my eyes to escape the noise above me.
Just let me rest for a bit!
At the same time
“Your Grace! Everything is ready. It is time to leave.”
Ranzea had finished preparing early, around four in the afternoon, so he was reviewing documents when someone knocked.
It was his aide, Miller.
“It’s still early before six.”
Miller shook his head firmly.
“It is proper etiquette to arrive early and wait.”
“…Seriously?”
Miller didn’t budge.
“Seriously.”
Ranzea sighed.
“I told you I don’t even want to go to this party.”
“But you are going anyway.”
“That’s because you—”
“Let’s go. If we delay any longer, you might arrive after Her Highness.”
At that, Ranzea stood up.
He began walking down the stairs.
The Elenium Marquis family had served his family for a long time, but Ranzea called Miller a “snake.”
Everything he said seemed helpful—but in the end, it was always for his own benefit.
“The carriage is ready.”
At that moment, the driver spoke.
Just as Ranzea lifted his head, another voice rang out.
“Her Highness is coming down.”
His gaze followed the voice automatically.
“Ah.”
A soft voice reached his ears—Eos.
Ranzea also let out a small sound without realizing it.
Eos was wearing a light blue dress that shimmered under the light.
Her hair was tied up neatly, secured with a sparkling hairpin.
Most of all, her face—
The tiredness she had earlier was gone. Her skin was pale and smooth, eyelashes long, cheeks slightly red, lips a deep red color.
“….”
Ranzea lost his words, just watching her come down step by step.
“Your Grace!”
“…”
“Your Grace!”
Miller’s voice finally pulled him back.
“She has arrived.”
“…I see.”
Ranzea nodded slightly.
“Why are you acting like that?”
Eos stood in front of him now, slightly tense.
“…It’s time to leave.”
Ranzea looked at her for a moment longer, then extended his hand.
They walked together slowly, matching her pace.
It was their first time walking together since the wedding.
At the party hall
“Duke Pidelanis and the Duchess have arrived!”
A loud trumpet sounded, followed by the announcement.
All eyes turned toward us.
The hall was crowded, even though it was a marquis’s residence.
Ribed whispered quickly.
“Don’t talk too much. Smile through difficult questions. Understand?”
“My face won’t hurt, I guess.”
“You’re just nervous. But I trust you a little more now.”
I sighed and answered quietly.
I was already exhausted from spending half the day getting ready, and then listening to Mary and the servants.
And I had also gone straight into meetings with Ribed before finally arriving here.
At least Ranzea’s face is helping me survive this…
I looked at Ranzea.
He was glowing more than anyone in the hall, dressed perfectly for the occasion.
Sometimes he said annoying things, but sometimes his small kindness made him hard to ignore.
…Or maybe it was just his face.
“Are you tired?”
Ranzea noticed my gaze.
“No. Not really.”
“If you are tired, say it. Don’t worry about appearances.”
After saying that, he walked away toward a group calling him.
Good. That meant I didn’t need to worry about him.
Let’s just enjoy the party…
I stood in front of a dessert table filled with sweets.
“Those pistachio pies look good too.”
Ribed followed me as always.
“I don’t like pistachio.”
“Then mint macarons would be better.”
“Good choice. I love mint.”
“Do you like mint chocolate?”
“What kind of strange combination is that?”
Just as I was about to argue more—
click, click, click.
A sharp, rhythmic sound of heels echoed behind me.
It stopped right behind me.
Ribed also went silent.
I took a breath.
“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Duchess.”
I turned around.
A woman in a white frilled dress smiled brightly.
Long blonde hair, smooth porcelain skin.
I didn’t even need an introduction.
Lady Rivièt Elenium, Marchioness of the Elenium family.
The one who invited me here…
…and the woman who once had feelings for Ranzea.
