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Chapter 27
The corner of Veronica’s lips twisted.
She had thought Diana came from a lowly family—but for a moment, the suspicion crossed her mind that perhaps she had misjudged her after all.
“And yet, Your Highness Bi, you’re repeating the same mistake yourself.”
That couldn’t be true. If it were, she wouldn’t have caused such a commotion in the first place. Veronica forcefully suppressed the doubt rising within her.
“Me?”
Diana hid the hand she had clenched into a fist beneath the table.
“Despite what happened before, you travel without a proper escort. You appear dressed like this, forgetting your position. And lastly, although you say you came as a guest, you made no prior appointment with the head of the Valdamir Merchant Guild.”
She had nothing to say in response. At this point, it was an even exchange between the two of them.
“Don’t forget your position. People are far more easily deceived by appearances than you think. Who would look at you now and consider you the wife of the Jarl who rules this land?”
“So you’re saying you won’t apologize?”
“I’m sorry. I went too far that day. It won’t happen again.”
The moment Diana raised her voice, Veronica abruptly changed her attitude and apologized, as if nothing had happened. At the apology, which lacked even a shred of sincerity, Diana let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
“Let’s call it repayment for the debt of nursing me that day.”
“I’ve apologized, so is it now my turn to thank Your Highness Bi for your boundless generosity?”
“I’ll pass. Once a day is enough for words one doesn’t mean.”
It didn’t matter. She hadn’t expected that woman to apologize sincerely anyway. With this, the debt of having saved the Grand Duchess’s life between them was erased. The tilted scales had been returned to balance—that was enough.
Perhaps Veronica had reached a similar conclusion, because despite Diana’s razor-sharp response, she didn’t pick a fight over it.
“You came to exchange ducat gold coins.”
Veronica toyed with the ducat coins Diana had brought. As a merchant, it wasn’t as though this was her first time seeing gold coins, yet in her eyes as she looked at the ducats, a swirl of complicated emotions flickered.
“Do you know what value these coins hold for merchants?”
“I heard they’re worth about a hundred times a regular gold coin. Has the exchange rate changed?”
Just as she’d expected. Veronica let out a bitter smile beneath her veil. As suspected, this woman didn’t even know what ducat gold coins truly were.
“To merchants, ducat gold coins are the most reliable means of guaranteeing one’s credibility—and an object that can turn a rural street vendor into a great merchant who crosses the entire continent.”
She herself had been desperate to obtain even a single one of these coins. Even now, in the most treacherous seas of Islant, workers were risking their lives to salvage sunken trade ships in search of just one ducat coin.
Something someone else would trade their life to possess—you obtained it effortlessly, simply because you are the Grand Duchess.
As if a child had cracked open a piggy bank. No, in this case, it was more fitting to say she’d taken it from her husband’s wallet.
Feeling strangely hollow, Veronica let out a sigh.
“I’ll have it exchanged shortly, so please wait a moment. And… for my brother’s sake, it would be wiser to accept my apology.”
“Is that advice, or a threat?”
“Interpret it however you like. If you don’t forgive me, my brother’s position will become quite awkward. If that’s what you want, then you don’t have to accept it.”
At the mention of Erno, Diana’s shoulders flinched involuntarily.
Part of her thought, What does that have to do with me?—yet at the same time, she was reminded of just how precious Veronica was to Erno, and a dull ache spread through her chest.
She disliked Veronica. Even before her rude attitude, every time she felt the gaze behind that veil directed at her, a creeping discomfort sent chills over her entire body.
But she disliked even more the idea of Erno being put in an awkward position because of his beloved younger sister. It wasn’t for his sake. She simply didn’t want to be reminded of Veronica’s existence and feel that unpleasant emotion every time Erno looked uncomfortable.
Just this once.
As a sign of acceptance, Diana lifted the teacup that had long since gone cold.
The fragrant warmth was gone, replaced by a cold, bitter taste filling her mouth.
Servants came in, groaning as they carried a chest filled with three hundred gold coins. Veronica casually toyed with the coins inside the box as if they were mere toys, probing Diana lightly.
“Seeing it like this, it’s quite a sum. May I ask what you plan to do with it? Let’s see—dresses? Or social parties? Or perhaps… are you planning to import spices from the south?”
“I’m going to rebuild the greenhouse.”
At that moment, the clinking of coins stopped. Veronica turned to Diana, wondering if she’d heard correctly.
“…The greenhouse?”
Surely she didn’t mean that greenhouse?
“The greenhouse—you don’t mean that glass greenhouse, do you? That’s absurd. By whose authority?”
She spoke as though she herself were the owner of the greenhouse. Diana cleared her throat, expressing her displeasure.
She’d endured it once for Erno’s sake, but there would be no second time.
“That’s because it’s a space meant for the Grand Duchess.”
At the unspoken implication—why are you making such a fuss when it isn’t even yours?—a murderous glare shot toward her from behind the veil.
Yet the next moment, Veronica resumed her smile as if nothing had happened.
“Well, I suppose you’re right. As you say, Diana, it’s a place meant solely for the Grand Duchess, so it doesn’t matter what you do with it. Fine. Very fine. In truth, every time I saw that greenhouse, I felt regretful. It’s a place filled with precious memories for my brother.”
First the name of the Fenrir Grand Duchess, then the ducat gold coins owned by Fenrir, and now even the Grand Duchess’s greenhouse.
Things she’d naturally assumed would one day be hers—two of them had already been taken away in a single day. Thinking that, sharp words spilled from her mouth like blades rather than speech. She wished those blades would strike true and kill, but the Grand Duchess before her was far sturdier than she had anticipated.
That fact irritated her even more.
Then, a very good idea occurred to her.
“Please forget my earlier apology. What meaning is there in words alone? Instead, give me a chance to prove it.”
“A chance?”
“As a token of my apology, the Valdamir Merchant Guild will provide all the resources necessary for rebuilding the greenhouse. Materials, of course—and if needed, I’ll even bring in gardeners from the Imperial Palace.”
She couldn’t simply stand by and watch an unqualified woman take even more of what belonged to her.
From the beginning, that woman had been a scarecrow—a Grand Duchess in name only.
So this time as well, let her exist in name alone. Let her be unable to interfere in any actual administration. Let everyone acknowledge that I am the true owner of the greenhouse.
“More than anything, I’m the only one who remembers what the greenhouse used to look like. Wouldn’t my brother be pleased to see it perfectly restored to its former state when he returns from the battlefield?”
“Erno would…?”
Diana’s gaze wavered. To be honest, she couldn’t imagine Erno enjoying flowers at all.
But if it truly was such a precious place to him, then surely he would be happy to see the greenhouse restored exactly as it had been in his childhood memories. Of that, she was certain.
And perhaps—just perhaps—he might acknowledge her a little more. Maybe she might even receive praise.
The thrill she’d felt the times he acknowledged her, the swelling pride that rose from deep within her chest at the realization that she was a useful person—those feelings persuaded her.
For the first and last time. Reaffirming that resolve, Diana nodded.
“Alright.”
With a satisfied smile, Veronica extended her hand. Just as Diana was about to take it, she hesitated.
A crude ring that didn’t suit the black lace glove caught her eye. She hadn’t seen it clearly—it had been only an instant—but she distinctly recognized the head of a wolf.
Was it a merchant’s signet ring? Diana dismissed it lightly. Yet somehow, the wolf’s head didn’t feel unfamiliar.
Why was that? What was this unsettling feeling?
Forcing down her unease, Diana left the Valdamir Merchant Guild.
“Your Highness Bi, your brooch is crooked.”
“Thank you.”
As Sasha adjusted her brooch, Diana stared at the glass window beyond.
Reflected in the window was herself—wearing a wolf-head brooch identical to the signet ring Veronica had worn moments ago.
“…There’s something I’m curious about.”
No. That can’t be it. It’s just a coincidence. This is the north, and strong beasts have long been used as symbols here.
“This wolf-head brooch—does it have any special meaning?”
Please say no. Diana looked at Elka with pleading eyes. But Elka, busy tidying her clothes, failed to notice her gaze.
“Oh, the brooch? Yes. It’s the symbol of the Fenrir family. In Islant, the wolf represents Fenrir itself. Anyone here who bears a wolf on their person is either a member of the Fenrir family—or a foreigner wearing it as decoration without knowing its meaning.”
At that moment, the ground beneath Diana’s feet collapsed.
