TIDP 05

〈What makes you think you’re anything special just because you’re marrying into the Grand Duke’s household? Without our family’s support, you wouldn’t even survive a winter in the North—yet you dare speak like that?〉

〈Apologize.〉

〈You insulting me is a family matter. But you’ve just insulted the North I will be marrying into. That, at least, is something I cannot forgive.〉

Anette’s voice echoed in her mind—the voice of the eldest daughter of House Fosche.

Was the reason she had requested a private meeting with him this evening really just to show a quarrel with her younger sister? Yet at that moment, Anette’s voice had sounded as though she were truly enraged.

Why?

Did she genuinely believe, as she had said, that the North was the land where she would live from now on?

Impossible. They had only just met; there hadn’t even been time to form any bond. There was no way she could already feel affection for the North she had never once set foot in.

Is she bold… or is she acting?

If it was courage, then the Marquis had raised quite a formidable woman. If it was the latter, she would be capable of becoming an excellent fraud.

“Thank you for your service.”

Daniel approached and attended to him. Darius removed his mask. The young Grand Duke’s face—long hidden behind a silver mask—was finally revealed.

A face illuminated pale under the moonlight, framed by hair as dark as a raven’s wing.

If Caitlin, who had mocked Anette for “marrying into the North,” had seen him, she would have likely died of envy and regret upon realizing she would instead be marrying a handsome Grand Duke rather than a gloomy one.

“Your impression of the South, having visited for the first time, sir?”

“They’re all fools drunk on peace.”

At his knight Daniel’s question, the young Grand Duke replied coldly.

Indulgent food with no restraint. Careless people who never once considered the possibility of war.

“I wonder how many of these idiots would survive if a single northern snowstorm swept through here.”

“The South is a place that can live without such preparation. It is different from the North in every way.”

In their North, anyone who did not prepare for winter was not allowed to survive.

“But there is at least one person here who thinks properly.”

Anette Fosche.

She was different from the other complacent Southerners. She clearly understood who she was marrying and where she would be living.

She had already braced herself, as if preparing for the cold of the North—armored in composure.

She was coldly rational.

“A daughter bullied by the second wife’s children and living quietly?”

The Grand Duke let out a short scoff.

How could that possibly describe a woman who couldn’t even be called timid?

“I apologize. It seems there was confusion in the report.”

Daniel looked awkward.

Even as he apologized, he couldn’t fully suppress the laughter rising from within.

“Lady Anette seems like a very fine person. I was worried, but I’m relieved.”

Until they arrived at House Fosche, Daniel had repeatedly warned him to be cautious, as they did not know what schemes the marquis family might be hiding. Yet seeing Daniel already soften, Darius felt irritated.

“So the informant wasn’t the only one distracted—you as well, Daniel. Have you already let your guard down after tasting Southern peace?”

Anette’s bold confrontation with Caitlin had been impressive. But that was all.

“Don’t forget who bled for the North.”

Less than a year had passed since the former Grand Duke’s death.

Father and son had barely even seen each other, each too busy managing their own territories.

〈Darius, live happily.〉

Those had been his father’s final words as he was dying.

Some people considered marriage the first step toward happiness in life.

But the purpose of this marriage is nothing more than acquiring food from the South.

When he thought of the starving people of the North, Darius could easily abandon such “happiness.”

A woman from the Southern family that brought ruin to the North.

He had no intention of trusting a woman from House Fosche.

That Anette girl has been strange lately.

Anette’s nanny had served the household since the day Anette was born. Having lost her mother early, Anette had grown up timid and compliant—easy to raise.

Ever since she heard the Grand Duke was coming. Acting all high and mighty just because she’s getting a husband!

Even now, it was the same.

As soon as she heard the Grand Duke was visiting, she suddenly complained that her room was too shabby and ordered the nanny to clean it. Clearly, she had become arrogant now that she had found a backing.

And there’s no way to fix her habits before she leaves!

The nanny scrubbed the floor in irritation.

Then something glittering inside a slightly open drawer caught her eye.

“…What is this?”

Almost as if possessed, the nanny opened the drawer.

Hidden among neatly arranged clothes was a jewelry box Anette had tried to conceal. But it had been carelessly shut.

The box was open just enough to spill its brilliance into the room.

So she must have gotten back the items she snatched from Lady Caitlin.

One by one, the nanny lifted the contents—rings, necklaces, bracelets—all high-quality pieces.

A blue emerald necklace stood out in particular.

She only recently got these back… If one went missing, she might not even notice, would she?

The nanny swallowed hard.

The emerald necklace in her hand shimmered invitingly.

Bang.

Returning from a short walk, I entered my room to find the nanny cleaning according to my orders.

“Nanny.”

“Ah—L-Lady Anette.”

She flinched as though caught stealing.

“Is the room clean?”

“Y-yes…”

She avoided my gaze more than usual.

“Hm…”

I ran my finger along the windowsill. Dust I had deliberately left behind clung to it.

“Come to think of it, no matter how much you clean this old, shabby room, it doesn’t change anything.”

I scoffed, dismissing her efforts. Her face twisted immediately.

“What are you doing? Leave. Stop wasting time here.”

“Y-yes, Lady Anette!”

She hurried out, as if fleeing.

The moment she left, I opened the drawer. The jewelry box I had deliberately placed there shimmered brilliantly.

“You’re not completely foolish, at least.”

It had been handled, but nothing was missing. Disappointing.

If she had taken even one item, I would have exposed her theft and expelled her from the marquis’s household immediately.

〈If you keep even one of my belongings, the day I become the Grand Duke’s wife, I will expose your petty thievery to all of high society.〉

On the day I had torn into Caitlin and fought her, I had warned her firmly after Darius left.

If she wanted to be known as a vulgar thief in high society, she could keep my things. Caitlin had sobbed and returned everything.

〈There are a few missing items, but I’ll let it go out of sisterly affection.〉

In truth, those missing pieces were nothing compared to what I intended to take from House Fosche.

〈Do you know how many of my things I had to sell to replace those jewels?〉

〈Not my problem. Who told you to take them?〉

That day, Caitlin returned the box of jewelry as if peeling flesh from her bones, her eyes swollen from crying.

Her despair had satisfied me.

Revenge is exactly that: watching those who once humiliated you become powerless before you.

And because of that, I disliked the nanny’s restraint.

If I ordered her dismissal now, the marquis would likely fire her.

Anette was the nanny’s master. If I claimed she was disrespectful, the marquis would remove her for the sake of my reputation as a bride of the Grand Duke.

But that would just look like a spoiled noble girl throwing a tantrum.

Without solid grounds, the nanny would cry injustice and spread rumors everywhere. People would think Anette had heartlessly fired the woman who raised her.

That was not the ending I wanted.

The nanny deserved to be condemned.

To never set foot in noble houses again. To regret deeply looking down on a motherless girl.

“How should I punish her…?”

She was too timid to actually steal the jewels, but she had clearly wavered for a moment.

That unfocused gaze when I entered the room said it all. Eyes consumed by desire. A foolish person shaken by a simple test.

“Maybe I should make her desire something she can’t handle.”

I smiled softly. As long as I was Anette, I had no intention of sparing anyone who looked down on her.

“Come here, nanny.”

I rang the servant bell, calling her back.

“Nanny, you’ve worked hard all this time. Since it’s time for you to leave, I’d like to repay you.”

I smiled brightly.

One step—pushing her toward hell.