🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 8
“I have fallen for you, Lady Vanessa.”
“I understood, Your Grace.”
Knock, knock—the servant knocked and opened the door. The Duke stepped out first, then extended his hand from below the carriage.
Vanessa hesitated for a moment, then took it.
And even before she had fully stepped down from the carriage, she realized something.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes, Lady Vanessa.”
“This is not my home.”
“I am aware.”
The servants lined up before the enormous mansion all bowed in unison.
“Ah, please stop doing that… honestly. Anyway, Lady Vanessa, from now on, please think of this place as your home.”
“Where exactly is this?”
“My residence.”
“…Is this man insane?”
“As for legal ownership only, it is mine. In practice, it is used as lodging for imperial guests. When I stay in the capital, I remain at the main estate, so you will have full use of it.”
“That’s not the problem.”
“Is there another issue?”
With a gesture from Phileas, the servants dispersed, leaving the two of them alone. Vanessa took a deep breath.
“Your Grace. No matter who you are, you can’t just kidnap people like this.”
“I did not use any forceful means.”
‘Is he pretending, or is he genuinely clueless…?’
Vanessa sighed.
“Fine. Thank you for the invitation, Your Grace. It would have been better if you had informed me beforehand.”
“Lady Vanessa.”
Phileas followed as she began walking away.
“Please don’t follow me.”
Yet he still trailed behind her like a shadow, keeping a respectful distance.
“Please don’t be angry and hear me out, Lady Vanessa. I… I am truly a rather gloomy person.”
“…?”
“I am not good at reading emotions, and I often say inappropriate things in situations. If that causes you to dislike me, I will accept it. But I never wanted to hurt you with careless words.”
Vanessa stopped. So did he.
“So what are you saying?”
“I… didn’t know what I should say, so I couldn’t tell you in advance. I never intended to be coercive.”
“I understand what you mean. But does that explain why I can’t go home?”
Phileas hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
“You should not stay in a place tied to trauma, Lady Vanessa. Especially if you are alone. If that incident… lasted for a long time, you may not realize it, but memories will resurface. And they will slowly consume you.”
“Is that from experience?”
This time, there was no answer.
What he said might have been true. It had already been eight years since Vanessa left her father’s house.
She thought she had overcome it all—but perhaps that was an illusion. That was why she had flinched even at Elisia’s small hug.
Phileas spoke quietly.
“Above all, creditors will come soon. Most of them will not have proper identities.”
“How do you—”
“I am not unfamiliar with how moneylending works in the capital.”
Even in her previous life, they had once stormed in without documents and smashed her family’s belongings.
In truth, it was unlikely anyone legitimate had lent money to Count Lang.
Back then, her status as the prince’s fiancée had protected her.
But now Vanessa was… nothing.
She could no longer even be called a count’s daughter. Count Lang had left her nothing but debt and died.
At that realization, dizziness washed over her. She was tired. More than she had admitted—physically and mentally.
“I will help resolve things as quietly as possible. Once everything is settled, you may return whenever you wish.”
When she turned back, Phileas was still standing there, watching her. For a moment, it even looked like his shoulders trembled.
“…Are you crying?”
“If I were crying, would you stay here?”
His voice was calm.
“Never mind. I can’t even see your face anyway.”
Vanessa placed her hand on the arm Phileas offered.
“Good morning, young lady. A bath and a light breakfast have been prepared. The Duke wishes to dine with you, but he said he will follow your wishes entirely.”
Vanessa sat blankly on the soft bed, trying to understand where she was.
The Duke’s guest residence. As Phileas had said, the vast mansion had been prepared entirely for her.
She had been guided to the room and immediately fallen asleep as if she had collapsed. She had apparently been more exhausted than she realized.
The estate, like the imperial palace, was maintained by magic. That meant perfect temperature and comfort without fireplaces or servants constantly tending fires and water.
‘It’s been a long time since I slept this well…’
“Ah.”
A young maid in a black uniform stood smiling at the doorway. Nicole, introduced to her last night.
“Oh—uh, sorry. What did you say again?”
“The Duke wishes to have breakfast with you, miss. However, if you do not wish it, he said he will return immediately.”
“…But isn’t the Duke supposed to be at his main estate?”
“That is correct, miss. However, the Duke arrived at dawn… or rather, early morning, and has been waiting for you.”
‘So gloomy even at breakfast time…’
Vanessa looked around. The room was clean, elegant, and clearly maintained by someone with refined taste.
“Could you tell him to wait while I get ready? If he isn’t busy?”
“The Duke instructed me beforehand that he is not busy at all, and even if he were, nothing would be more important than breakfast with you.”
“…Right. Also, could you tell him I’m not angry anymore and he can stop saying polite nonsense?”
“I will report it exactly as stated. Do you require assistance with bathing, miss? If not, I can simply explain the placement of items in detail.”
Listening to Nicole, Vanessa pressed her face into the cloud-like bedding. It smelled clean and fresh.
“Nicole, I just had a great idea. The Duke should start a hotel business.”
Again, the reply came instantly.
“The Duke says if you are indirectly complimenting the estate or the servants, he is infinitely honored, and if you would be willing to share your preferences in more detail—should I stop now, miss?”
Nicole seemed very skilled at reading tone. Vanessa laughed and waved her hand.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll call if I need anything. Go rest.”
The bath was, as expected, perfect—hot water pouring endlessly, pure comfort.
She told Nicole she wasn’t angry anymore, but for some reason, she felt like being a little mischievous toward this duke.
After bathing, she applied the cream she had received the night before around her neck.
An ointment for bruises. Made by an imperial physician. The marks had already faded noticeably.
When she stepped out, Nicole had prepared indoor clothing perfectly fitted to her size.
‘Let’s not think too deeply about this.’
Downstairs, something like a lump of coal was stuck to the dining table.
“Your Grace.”
The coal-like figure jolted upright.
“G-good morning, Lady Vanessa. I appear to have fallen asleep.”
“You really should stop coming at dawn and acting like a tragic ghost.”
“Ah… well… I just wanted to see you early…”
Phileas sighed and slumped back onto the table.
“I received a message from my aide in Ashka… if I don’t attend at least three social events this season, he says he will resign for real this time.”
“Oh, really?”
Vanessa replied casually and sat across from him. A moment later, milk and raspberry juice in crystal bottles were placed between them.
Ham and eggs with summer fruit, morning rolls, butter, jam, honey, smoked chicken, cheese… steak?
“So they eat big breakfasts in the East.”
“More precisely, in the North. Or rather… when food is available, we eat as much as possible. There are many days when otherwise, you go hungry all day.”
‘I suppose so. People from Sairan are always thrown into battle like it’s daily life.’
