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Chapter : 24
“Whew… So tiring.”
Anna leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. She looked at the painting of baby angels—probably painted by the best artist of the time—and let out a long sigh.
‘Everyone is so kind to me…’
Maybe it was because of what Raiden told them when she first arrived, but everyone—from the head butler to the housekeeper, the maids, even the footmen—treated her with great respect.
And it wasn’t just that. Anna was now using new beauty products she’d never seen before, even as a noble lady. These products were rare and expensive, brought from colonies overseas. Not many people had tried them, but everyone talked about them in the salons.
Anna looked at her arms. Her skin was smooth and shiny.
‘If it was just this, I wouldn’t complain.’
Not long ago, the owners of a dress shop and jewelry store—favorites of the imperial princess—came to measure her. Yesterday, dozens of boxes filled with dresses and jewels arrived, and Anna was shocked.
She immediately called the head butler.
[Didn’t I just order a few house dresses and some hairpins to wear inside?]
Because she was staying longer, she’d meant to order only a few things, but it turned into a huge delivery. She felt uncomfortable receiving such big gifts when she and Raiden weren’t even officially together. Plus, Anna hadn’t officially broken off her engagement with Edward yet.
‘What if Raiden gets bad rumors because of me? He’s already struggling…’
Everyone outside thought she was staying at the Evercline mansion and not coming out. If someone like the finance minister, who was looking for a weakness, found out, it could be trouble. Still, the butler wasn’t worried at all.
[We only worked with merchants who can keep secrets. Don’t worry too much.]
[But still…]
[Surely you wouldn’t send everything back and make the master lose face?]
[……]
[Please wear everything, and show your thanks for the master’s kindness.]
Anna thought she could have a better conversation with the statues in the city square than with the butler. She decided she should talk directly to Raiden. But she had only seen him a few times in the past month, and only at dinner.
And honestly, Raiden was even harder to talk to than the butler.
[Sorry.]
If Anna looked a little upset for not seeing him, Raiden would notice first. When she saw his sharp face and his dark lashes lowered, Anna couldn’t say anything.
‘He must really be busy.’
The maids always brought her the Daily Chronicle newspaper, famous for gossip. It reported how busy Raiden was and how hard he was fighting with the finance minister. Every morning, Anna got mad while reading.
‘Why does the finance minister fight against such a good project for the empire?’
Whenever Anna grumbled, Raiden’s assistant or the servants—who sometimes brought her news—would give her a strange look. But Anna didn’t notice.
She stretched out her legs and relaxed in her chair.
“I miss Lucy.”
The words slipped out without thinking. Whenever Anna asked Raiden’s assistant, Louis Benning, when she could go home or if Lucy could come, he answered in his usual tired and slow way:
[Nothing has been settled yet. Please wait a little longer. Isn’t this like playing house, and isn’t it fun?]
Anna crushed her skirt in her fists. Louis had a way of making people angry with just a few words. Anna took a deep breath and muttered to herself,
“Who said I wanted to play house?”
When all the dresses and jewels arrived, she’d admired how beautiful they were, but she hated being treated like someone who only cared about such things.
When Anna had first arrived at Marcus Castle, she’d asked another question:
[So… when will Raiden’s mother come to the capital?]
[…Who knows? No one can tell.]
Louis looked at her with sad eyes, and his voice was dark. Anna was confused.
‘It’s normal for nobles to leave their parents in the country, so why answer like that?’
It felt like he was judging if she deserved to ask such questions, not just hiding details because she was an outsider.
‘But he’s always so polite, so I can’t complain.’
She was a guest here, after all. And from what she heard, all the workers at Marcus Castle—Louis, the butler, the housekeeper—had come from the west with Raiden. Because of that, Anna couldn’t think badly of them.
“How successful is Raiden, anyway?”
Anna got up and walked to the window. The castle was built in the style of the ancient empire, before the continent was split into kingdoms, and every detail showed its long history.
“If I sold just this window frame, I’d get a lot of money.”
She traced the curved stonework with her finger and then jumped back. If Louis had seen her, he’d probably tease her for being materialistic.
She realized just how many people depended on Raiden for work. After buying this castle, he made the nearby farms and markets flourish. He even bought houses for workers near the castle.
‘That’s why even the Daily Chronicle, which is run by a commoner, praises Raiden so much.’
Anna smiled. She remembered how clumsy Raiden was with rings before, and now he was one of the most important men in the city.
‘No one will look down on him for being born a commoner now.’
Anna felt proud. She watched the busy servants, merchants, and guards outside and then felt a bit lonely.
‘I have people I can trust too…’
She missed Lucy, Henry, Tom the coachman, and Mrs. Sally the housekeeper. She wanted to contact them, but Raiden still wouldn’t let her, because they didn’t know which servants back home were her father’s spies.
As she remembered the people she missed, the maid returned with tea.
“Master has returned.”
“Raiden?”
Anna’s face lit up. She quickly fixed her hair and dress, and the maid helped her.
“Raiden!”
In the main parlor, Raiden was standing with a stack of papers, drinking tea. His assistant Louis stepped aside as Anna came in.
Raiden nodded to her.
“Have you been well?”
“I’m always fine. But how are things with you? Did you find out anything?”
Anna sat across from him and asked quickly. Raiden made a gesture, and soon a steaming cup of tea was placed in front of her. He glanced at Louis, then spoke quietly.
“You mean the people who attacked your mansion?”
“Yes.”
Raiden crossed his legs and clasped his hands on his knee.
“I did learn something.”
“What is it?”
Anna swallowed hard and leaned forward without realizing it. Her long neck and fair skin were more noticeable.
“Raiden?”
When he stayed quiet, Anna tilted her head, and her golden hair fell to the side. Raiden looked at her hair, then into her eyes.
“They are people who hold a grudge against Evercline.”
“!”
Anna trembled. ‘A grudge?’ She had never treated anyone badly before.
‘But if it’s about Father…?’
Her father, John, had ruined the family with gambling. Who knew what kind of deal he made with criminals?
Raiden saw she was scared and clicked his tongue. He picked up her hand and pressed his lips against it.
“They’re dangerous people. It’s safest for you to stay here until we know if the count is involved.”
“Mm.”
Anna’s face turned red, and she played with her fingers like a child. Raiden casually let go of her hand, and Anna rubbed the spot where he’d kissed her, as if it was burned. Her heart thumped loudly.
Raiden glanced at the maid in the doorway, then spoke to Anna.
“Are you very lonely?”
“!”
Anna looked up in shock. Did she say her feelings out loud? Raiden gave a small, dry smile.
“Then, bring one person here.”
“One person? What about Henry?”
Raiden remembered the bold maid who’d stood in his way.
‘That girl is the one she cares about most.’
