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Chapter 17
A few days later.
“Ilina Holt of the Baron Holt family has come to see Princess Frey.”
“Lady Holt, thank you for coming.”
“Princess, please feel free to call me comfortably.”
In the middle of the messy room stood Ilina Holt, who had been chosen as the maid to accompany Frey to the North.
Her voice trembled slightly as she greeted Frey.
Behind her thick glasses, her lowered blue eyes showed how frightened she was.
“Then I’ll call you by your name. Ilina, are your preparations for going North going well?”
“I’ve packed everything I need.”
“And mentally?”
Ilina was startled.
She had never expected such a kind question.
Mental preparation?
There was no way she was ready.
Until the Empress sent someone to her house, Ilina had been living a completely ordinary life.
Then suddenly, a messenger from the Empress came.
[“Lady Ilina. Her Majesty the Empress summons you.”]
A mere baron’s daughter couldn’t refuse such an order.
Ilina quickly prepared and went to the imperial palace.
And there, she felt humiliation and fear.
[“We thought it would be good to send one of the young ladies as a maid to Princess Frey. Surely you won’t refuse the Empress’s command?”]
The girls gathered there were those who usually stayed hidden deep in their homes.
People who didn’t even belong in high society.
But Ilina wasn’t foolish—she knew the Empress had deliberately gathered only those who would be a burden to the Princess.
The Empress even covered her mouth with a fan and laughed with her maid.
[“Frey will adapt to the North faster if she struggles without help… so anyone here will do.”]
Though her tone was polite, it clearly meant: “You’re all useless.”
Humiliation weighed heavily on the girls’ shoulders.
No one deserved to be treated like that.
They already knew they were looked down on—but being gathered and shamed like this was too much.
‘This is too cruel…’
And on top of that, Ilina thought Frey would also look down on them.
That made it even worse.
But then—
[“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”]
Frey’s voice was sincere.
It was unexpected.
‘From the rumors, I thought she’d smash a teacup on the spot… Did she just hold back because the Empress was there?’
Ilina, who had a bad impression of Frey, was surprised.
Compared to the Empress, the Princess seemed better.
‘They said she even sent letters and gifts to the girls she didn’t choose.’
That behavior didn’t match the rumors.
Maybe… she wasn’t so bad.
A small hope formed in Ilina’s heart.
Frey looked at Ilina with a gentle smile she had practiced in front of a mirror.
‘If I were Ilina Holt, I would feel deeply humiliated.’
She clearly remembered the Empress’s gaze, as if she were judging them like objects.
Frey knew that kind of look well.
[“Even her parents abandoned her… Why am I stuck with her?”]
Her relatives in her past life—
[“Low blood, yet she carries the Obelir name… A half-baked princess.”]
And the nobles in this life—
All treated her like she had no value.
‘Those words still hurt…’
But because of that, she learned how to endure harsh words.
[“You’ll get sick. Eat slowly. I heard about your parents. It must have been hard, right?”]
Just one person—
Someone who cared and understood—
That alone could make the humiliation bearable.
‘Just like how I decided to become a teacher because of my homeroom teacher.’
Frey smiled softly.
She couldn’t be as kind as that teacher or her father.
But she could understand Ilina’s pain.
‘People with wounds are drawn to those who understand them.’
Without the people who once told her she had value, she wouldn’t know this.
Frey spoke calmly.
“Ilina. First, I’m sorry you have to become a maid because of me.”
“No, it’s fine.”
But Ilina’s face clearly said otherwise.
‘Just like how I felt when I was forced to go hiking…’
Frey suppressed her guilt.
“Why do you think I chose you?”
“I… as you can see, I’m not good at appearance or dressing up.”
Ilina said weakly.
“That’s fine. I can handle that myself.”
“I won’t be of any help.”
“It’s okay. I chose you because you’d be the most helpful for my goals.”
“…Helpful?”
“It’s my first time going North. I’d feel safer with someone good at gathering information.”
“But I—”
“Don’t worry about dressing or attending me. Focus on gathering information. I can take care of myself.”
The North was harsh land, but culturally advanced under the Grand Duke.
Acting like she did in the palace would be a disaster.
In that sense, Ilina—who was smart—was very reliable.
“I believe everyone has things they’re good at and things they struggle with.”
“……”
“I know what you’re good at. So please help me.”
Ilina bit her trembling lip.
She had always been treated like:
A bookworm.
A girl better hidden from society.
A burden.
Had she gotten used to that?
Frey was the one asking for help—
Yet Ilina felt emotional.
“…Yes, Princess Frey.”
Meanwhile, in the Praus family’s residence, a meeting was underway.
Many important members were gathered in the capital, so there was much to discuss.
“If the marriage proceeds, the neutral Praus family will align with the Emperor’s faction.”
A retainer still spoke as if there was hope the marriage might not happen.
“……”
Daniel sat upright, resting his chin on his hand.
Frey. Marriage.
The future he had seen.
Even though he felt nothing for her, seeing himself cling to her in the future annoyed him.
She had been cold and unmoved.
‘That talk about loving me… was probably just for the contract.’
Now that he realized it, the future would change.
He hated love—and hated using love for gain even more.
Now that he knew Frey was doing that, he had no reason to grow attached.
Besides—
‘If I’m lucky, this marriage might help me investigate the undead in the North.’
Recently, undead monsters there had been acting strangely.
Frey had divine power—it could help his research.
“Your Grace?”
Baron carefully called him back.
Daniel thinking about something else during a meeting—unusual.
“Ah… I was distracted. I have something to tell you all.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I’ve decided to accept the marriage with Princess Frey.”
He said it casually and took a sip of tea.
It was something he did when he didn’t want to argue.
“Your Grace—”
“She won’t even remember what damage she caused!”
“Perhaps you should speak with Lady Bliette—”
Clink.
Daniel set down his cup.
His face, known for kindness, was now cold.
“Let’s call it a deal with an expiration date.”
“A deal…?”
“She won’t cause trouble in the North.”
His tone allowed no objections.
After the meeting—
Luke spoke cheerfully to Baron.
“Grandfather, this is good, right? He negotiated with the Princess.”
Luke disliked Frey.
But seeing Daniel act cold toward her reassured him.
“……”
Baron sighed.
“Luke. I hope you’re right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you read about the past Grand Duchesses?”
“I don’t read boring books.”
Smack.
Baron tapped his forehead.
Contract marriages.
Assassins.
Even thieves.
According to records, the Grand Dukes of Praus had a habit of falling for such women.
[“Don’t forget—Praus men end up helping the very women who came to kill them.”]
‘But judging from today… maybe this time will be different.’
Baron rubbed his forehead, trying to ignore that ominous history.
