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Chapter – 14
To start with the conclusion, there was nothing I could actually do after getting this break.
I wasn’t close with the servants here, and Iarid itself was an unfamiliar place, so building connections was completely up to me.
But…
I was going to leave anyway, so what was the point of getting attached?
Still, maybe because Lanchea’s strange behavior kept lingering in my mind, I couldn’t completely stop myself from wanting to leave either.
“So, what’s the schedule for today?”
Libed followed me into my room and asked.
“I just want to rest for a while… The Duke isn’t even here anyway.”
“But your role is still to properly act as Her Highness.”
“…But the one-month promise is almost up, and I think I’ve done well enough as a substitute.”
“Hmm, well… a few days is fine.”
Libed looked at me for a moment, then slowly nodded and surprisingly agreed.
Honestly, I had barely been able to sleep because I was afraid of being exposed, so I spent day and night learning Iarid’s history, traditions, and noble etiquette.
And always staying alert.
“Alright. Rest a bit. We’ve also started searching for Princess Eos.”
After thinking for a moment, Libed answered again.
“Didn’t you say Her Highness would contact us?”
I asked back.
That meant they still hadn’t heard from the princess.
“We know her destination, so it’s fine. We originally planned to wait for her to contact us, but since she hasn’t, we decided to search for her directly.”
“Oh.”
That should’ve been fine.
But an unexplainable anxiety still wrapped around my chest.
Was she really okay?
…And if I couldn’t contact her, would I have to keep living this lie?
Unwanted thoughts tangled around me like vines.
The mind always imagines the worst. Even if Princess Eos had already finished everything, if she didn’t return, then her responsibility would become mine.
The scariest kind of waiting is the one without an end.
I needed certainty. Assurance that the princess would return and everything would go back to normal.
‘…No, no way. She looked like an important character, even if not the main heroine.’
I shook my head and exhaled.
In romance fantasy stories, important characters don’t die easily.
Besides, she was originally supposed to become the Duchess of Lanchea—so she couldn’t just disappear.
Even though I was acting in her place right now…
“Please tell me when you hear from her.”
“Yes. I’ll inform you immediately.”
Even though I tried to calm myself, the anxiety in my chest didn’t disappear.
So I made Libed promise me—if they confirmed whether she was alive or if contact was made, I would be informed immediately.
“Doesn’t the mansion feel brighter lately?”
“Yeah. Ever since Her Highness the Duchess arrived, it feels more peaceful.”
With nothing to do in my room, I decided to walk around the mansion with Madam Haley to calm my anxious heart.
The mansion was so large that even after being introduced to it once, there were still places I hadn’t seen.
And now I was standing in the servants’ living area.
‘Ugh… how did I end up here?’
I had just walked randomly without thinking.
‘If I get caught, it’ll cause trouble. Better leave quietly.’
From what I overheard, they were talking about me. If they saw me, they would definitely panic.
Whether it was praise or criticism, anyone would be shocked if the subject suddenly appeared.
“Should we pass quietly?”
I whispered to Madam Haley behind me.
She nodded quietly—she thought the same.
Just as we were about to move—
“Anyway, why is Hans acting like that?”
“Hans? Oh… the one you said had a strange vibe last time?”
“Yeah. I thought he liked me.”
They changed the topic.
And it was clearly the kind of topic anyone would stop and listen to—romantic gossip.
“Wait…”
“What is it?”
I stopped Madam Haley.
“Let’s wait a bit.”
She looked confused but stayed still.
We were hidden behind a tree near the servants’ entrance, so there was no risk of being seen.
“Did Hans like me or something?”
A short-haired maid continued speaking.
“But yesterday, he brought me a crepe from the city… and do you know what he said?”
“What?”
“He said he ‘picked it up on the way’! Can you believe that?!”
“What? He gave food like that to you?”
“Exactly! Hans is always polite and kind to everyone, but he gives me something like that? I was so disappointed!”
She pouted angrily.
The ponytailed maid nodded strongly.
“That’s awful! Are you really still interested in him, Willien? Forget him! You deserve better!”
“Yeah… I should give up. That bad guy!”
They kept insulting Hans.
And I stood there silently, forced to listen.
Madam Haley suddenly got emotional too.
“Men are really like that?”
She clenched her fist angrily.
“Calm down…”
At this point, she looked more ready to rush out than I did.
“Giving food picked up off the street? I feel like I want to scold him as a fellow woman!”
“…Please calm down.”
I had to stop her quickly.
“Seriously, what kind of manners does that guy have? I’m so angry!”
“Ha…”
Should I explain or not…
While watching both sides get worked up, I sighed.
Poor Hans… he really had bad timing.
“How do we punish Hans?”
“That guy deserves worse! He’s basically garbage!”
Their anger kept growing.
Finally, I had no choice.
I stepped out.
“W-Who is it?”
“Her Highness!”
They were shocked when they saw me.
Madam Haley too.
I cleared my throat.
“Sorry. I accidentally overheard.”
“Eh?!”
“About Hans…”
“A-ah!”
They panicked instantly.
“W-we’re so sorry! We were just talking nonsense inside the Duke’s mansion…”
“It’s okay.”
I raised my hand.
Then I spoke calmly.
“About Hans…”
“…Yes?”
I took a breath and spoke softly.
“I think you misunderstood Hans.”
Rune Monster Forest.
Because of the Gate’s impact, the forest had become heavily corrupted. Life here had almost disappeared.
Only the smell of blood and monsters filled the air.
Nothing more.
Lanchea always set up camp here and prepared for battle.
Ever since he was sixteen, when he mastered his sword and learned to apply it anywhere.
After losing the Duke couple of Pidelanis, he inherited the title alone. He needed strength to protect his position.
And that strength came only from his own ability.
So he came here willingly, eliminating monsters one by one.
“Will you stay for two months again?”
Miller approached him while he drank alone in the tent.
“Why?”
“Well… there’s going to be a ball in the capital for the Blessing Festival, and Your Highness can’t attend alone…”
“Miller.”
Lanchea’s voice cut him off.
“I told you. There is no love in this marriage.”
“But… it’s an imperial ball. His Majesty the Emperor ordered you to attend. You can’t go alone, right? That would be strange.”
“Interesting…”
Lanchea rested his chin on his hand.
Silence filled the tent.
“Today… the magic stones from the Baeterinum Kingdom reduced monster damage significantly!”
“….”
That was true.
The refined magic stones from Baeterinum improved weapon performance greatly.
“Also, the Elenium Marquis family helped take care of you when you fell asleep in the rest area.”
At that moment, Lanchea’s fingers stopped moving.
“…So what?”
His cold voice cut through the air.
