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~Chapter 78~
As they descended the hill, people waiting below came into view.
The Duchess, Marik, and a few others were looking up at Ethan and Riden.
Did they stay up all night?
In the warm morning sunlight, their faces looked more exhausted and worn than Ethan and Riden, who had slept outdoors.
Marik, watching the two, quickly brightened his expression.
“You look fine?”
Ethan responded casually to his brother’s remark.
“Were you expecting something serious? Nothing happened.”
Marik’s gaze shifted from Ethan to Riden.
He said nothing, only curved his lips into a smile.
Riden returned it, as if to show she was perfectly well.
But the Duchess hadn’t spoken a single word yet, and that made Riden uneasy.
What should I say…
Last night, she had only informed Marik and slipped out of the ducal estate without the Duchess’s permission.
She didn’t think she had done wrong, but still, she felt too guilty to speak freely.
“…Duchess?”
Without a word, the Duchess came forward and pulled Riden into a tight embrace.
“Your face looks funny.”
“Ah—probably just soot.”
“Yes. Let’s go wash up.”
The Duchess held her for a long time without letting go.
Maybe it was because Riden had spent the night in the cold outdoors.
The embrace was so warm and comforting that Riden wished the Duchess would hold her until she herself asked to be released.
By the time the sun was high past noon, Glen arrived at the ducal estate.
The night of the full moon had passed, and it was time to return to the count’s estate.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Riden stepped into the carriage.
As Glen climbed in after her, he spoke.
“My lady, we have brought Lady Hern to the count’s estate.”
The carriage rolled into the count’s manor.
As soon as Riden stepped down, she asked Corel, who had come to greet her:
“Where is Lady Hern?”
For some reason, Corel’s face was unusually grim.
“My lady… it would be best if you saw for yourself.”
With hurried steps, Riden followed Corel to the room that had been prepared in advance for Mari.
At the door, Corel knocked.
“Baroness, it’s Corel. The count’s nanny. I’ve brought the young lady. Are you awake?”
“…Come in.”
The voice from within was weak, drained of all energy.
The journey must have been terribly hard.
And considering the scorn Mari had endured at the count’s lands, perhaps it was only natural.
Riden entered carefully, her footsteps cautious.
“Lady Hern?”
Mari was curled tightly in a corner of the bed Riden had arranged for her.
She looked exactly like the heroine Riden had imagined.
Her long cotton‑candy‑pink hair flowed down her shoulders, and her blue eyes—lighter and brighter than Riden’s own—were strikingly clear.
The very heroine she had once lovingly drawn on a book cover was now sitting before her.
“Have you been well? Was the journey—”
Riden froze mid‑step.
Mari was trembling.
Just how badly did ‘Riden’ treat her for her to be this afraid?
After all, she had once fled into the forest at night rather than share a room with her. That said enough.
But then Riden’s eyes widened.
Peeking from Mari’s loose collar was a faint mark.
A bruise.
It deepened the shadows along her thin, sunken collarbones.
Riden’s mouth snapped shut in shock, and Mari quickly tugged her clothes up to cover it.
What on earth…? No—what do I do now?
She debated whether it would be safer to keep Corel in the room, but in the end, she sent her out.
“May I sit?”
Mari gave a small nod.
Riden slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.
Mari’s eyes brimmed with fear, though not of her presence exactly.
“Lady Hern, the first thing you need is rest. And if there’s anything I can do for you, anything at all—tell me. Whenever you feel comfortable. Now, or later.”
For a moment, suspicion flickered in Mari’s eyes.
“You… dislike me, don’t you? Or am I wrong?”
“Ah… well…”
Riden rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
“After my parents’ accident, I was so confused. They left me alone and even shoved their promises onto me to keep. I felt wronged… resentful. That’s why I treated you badly. But I’ve been reflecting a lot. Will you… forgive me?”
“….”
“Of course, it might be hard right away. Just rest. When you feel a bit more stable, I’ll come back.”
Riden hurriedly rose, but Mari’s frail hand clutched at her dress hem.
“Is that true?”
“O‑of course! From now on, never—never will I treat you badly.”
“The things you wrote in your letters…”
“Ah.”
The promises of a splendid debutante dress, the tiara, the full support she’d sworn to give.
“That too, of course. This year, we’ll enjoy the social season properly together!”
“Ah… ahh…”
Mari blinked her bright blue eyes, clutching Riden’s collar as her eyes welled with tears.
“So I misunderstood you. I’m sorry… I truly thought you hated me… sob. I’m so glad to know now that it isn’t true.”
Like a child seeking her mother’s arms, Mari leaned toward Riden.
“Will you hold me?”
“….”
“Thank you so much, my lady.”
Riden wrapped her arms around her, gently stroking her back as Mari sobbed like a child.
In that moment, Riden realized something:
Whatever had happened to her in the capital—
It must be because of me.
If her meddling in the story had forced Mari to suffer what she shouldn’t have, then it was Riden’s duty to set it right.
She stepped outside and called for Glen.
“Find out what happened to Mari on her way to the count’s estate.”
Fortunately, Mari seemed to recover quickly.
Riden hadn’t asked what had happened, so she didn’t know the whole truth, but outwardly Mari was cheerful again, smiling brightly, and soon grew close with the count’s servants.
“I’m so glad my father entrusted my debutante to the Count and Countess. Otherwise, would I ever have had the chance to spend time with you, Riden? After all, I’m just a baron’s daughter, and you’re a count’s lady.”
Mari tucked her flowing pink hair behind her ear and giggled lightly, looping her arm through Riden’s.
“I’ve always dreamed of having a friend like you.”
Sitting together on a bench, taking in the spring scenery of the count’s estate, Riden smiled back at her.
Mari truly seemed happy, swinging her legs lightly back and forth.
“But Mari, didn’t you return to your family’s barony after staying at the count’s estate? Then… you traveled alone to the capital?”
“Uh…”
Mari blinked several times.
“Yes. I was on my way. But it wasn’t easy traveling alone. I didn’t have much money with me, either.”
“I figured as much.”
She offered no further explanation.
With a faint smile, she deftly changed the subject.
Her discomfort was plain, so Riden chose not to press her.
I’ll ask later, when she’s ready.
“Oh!”
Suddenly remembering something, Riden’s eyes lit up.
“Shall we go into the city together?”
“The city?”
“Yes—the shopping district of the capital.”
Riden had rarely left the count’s lands due to her weak health.
And Mari, though for different reasons, had never traveled far from home either.
“This is your first trip away from your home, isn’t it? For your debut?”
“Y‑yes… that’s right.”
There was no doubt that someone who had only ever known a small, quiet village would be thrilled at the bustling, dazzling markets of the capital.
And I still haven’t gone to that bakery I had my eye on that day!
Plus, they needed to visit Laria’s for Mari’s debutante gown.
“I wrote it in my letter, remember? I promised you a gorgeous debutante dress. Today, I’ll make good on that promise!”
