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Chapter 69
“I heard you’ve been busy lately, Lani. Something about preparing for a banquet?”
“That’s right. It’s a victory banquet to celebrate Lord Tybern’s return. His Imperial Majesty and Her Highness will also be attending, so it’s absolute chaos right now.”
I shook my head. According to Tybern, he had flatly refused to attend, so the emperor was probably coming just to see how well things had been managed.
Was this a test? Did they expect me to fail? Well, it made sense—they probably thought I couldn’t possibly handle it without a mistress of the house.
But that only made me want to do better.
“…Grandfather told me about it. So that’s why you’ve been wearing these on your head lately?”
Hieder carefully plucked a tiny stone fragment from my hair.
“Oh.”
As he touched me, more stone chips fell from my hair like rain.
“Ahaha!”
“What have you been doing lately?”
“Ahem. Sculpting… I’ve been sculpting.”
When I looked at the décor through the lens of my skill, it just didn’t sit right with me. Sure, preserving history was important, but so was embracing new culture.
It all just looked so outdated.
Of course, there wasn’t time to hire a sculptor and commission work, so I decided to use my skill and do the carving myself.
“…Sculpting? You know how to do that?”
“Come on, Young Master. Is there anything I can’t do? Other than what I can’t do, I’m good at everything.”
“What does that even mean?”
Hieder chuckled at my words. Seeing that smile made me go blank for a second. Did he take after his mother’s side?
Neither Tybern nor Herden were blessed with such breathtaking looks. Hieder was the kind of man who could probably make every woman in the world fall for him with just a smile.
“Is there anything I can help with? Whatever you need, just say the word. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Oh, you just need to cheer me on, Young Master!”
“I can lift heavy things. I can’t sculpt like you, but I might be able to cut stone well enough. If I use aura, I can slice through even the hardest rock.”
Really?
His offer swayed me a little. Honestly, it would be nice to have some help. I had gotten a bit carried away, and the project kept getting bigger.
I wanted to repair the old indoor fountain and get it working again. I wanted to replace the worn-out window frames too.
“Well… could you help me a little? It won’t interfere with your training or studies, will it?”
“I want to celebrate Grandfather’s safe return too, Lani. That’s why I want to do this.”
True, even if Hieder seemed stoic, he had waited all this time for Tybern to come back with his whole heart.
He must be just as happy about Tybern’s return as I am.
Then maybe I should accept his help…?
“Agh, no, not like that! You have to be more delicate. Like this!”
Hieder swallowed hard as Lani came close without hesitation. Every little ornament was being reborn under her hands.
She smelled of dust mixed with warm, milky sweetness. That same comforting, sweet scent that was so distinctly Lani.
He held his breath, then exhaled slowly. His heart was pounding so loud he feared she might hear it.
“L-like this?”
“Much better than before. Yes, that’s it. Imagine you’re shaping a bunch of grapes.”
Every time Lani spoke or moved, that sweet fragrance made his head spin.
Hieder’s ears flushed red. He fidgeted with the carving as he spoke.
“Is this good enough?”
Lani’s praise was addictive. It made him want to do better, to impress her even more.
This wasn’t even his area of expertise, yet he craved that praise, wanted to show off.
“Yes, that’s really perfect. And… could you do this one too?”
Lani was so used to doing everything herself that she rarely asked Hieder for anything.
That’s why he wanted to grant every request she made. He nodded firmly.
“I’ll do anything, Lani!”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Hieder gazed at her as if spellbound. Her honey-colored hair shimmered like fairy dust as it swayed.
She’s adorable.
The thought embarrassed him.
Laughter from Lani and Hieder drifted out of the banquet hall. Carte glanced inside.
He’d written letter after letter to Aites, yet Lani was still at Hieder’s side.
“So annoying.”
What on earth did she see in that half-blood noble? Was Lani really that oblivious?
Carte pouted. Of course, he knew Lani was just a maid—marriage was impossible. But keeping her close? That was doable.
He could have her near him, one way or another.
If he had to live with someone like Princess Siela, then having Lani around would be the only comfort.
“How do I take her away?”
He jutted his lip out again.
He hadn’t spent all this time under Kiera’s skirts without learning something. Watching her taught him plenty.
Carte thought hard.
What would Mother do? What would Mother do?
Inside this mansion, Lani served no one but Hieder. And that order had come straight from Tybern.
So, if Tybern was the one binding them together… remove Tybern.
Yes. Mother said that old man needs to die. He looks down on me and Sornia, and now he plans to hand the duchy to that bastard. He must be eliminated.
Carte’s eyes flashed with a chilling glint, far too lethal for a boy his age.
But how?
Tybern wasn’t someone who could die from a trivial plot. He was a formidable Sword Master.
Carte mulled it over as he returned to his room. Lani’s image lingered in his mind.
That was when a letter arrived—from the Marquis of Aites. It was late in the afternoon.
“Grandfather?”
Carte, my dear,
It pains me to hear you’ve been so distressed. To think you can’t even get your hands on a mere maid… it truly breaks my heart. Remember that your grandfather wants nothing more than to give you whatever you desire.
That’s why this time, I’ll make sure that maid ends up yours.
As expected!
Carte’s eyes sparkled mischievously. The Marquis of Aites had never once refused him. This time would be no different!
But to make that happen, I need your help, Carte. There’s a victory banquet soon, isn’t there? An invitation has arrived for Aites.
In truth, no such invitation had reached the Aites household. Tybern never played by the rules.
There was no way he would invite those troublesome people. Kiera had written countless letters to Herden, but he never even read them—just burned them.
Whatever happened in the north, it turned Herden into a recluse who shut himself away and ignored everything.
So the Marquis’s solution was to steal someone else’s invitation.
But Carte knew none of this. To him, the Marquis seemed brilliant.
Defying that terrifying Tybern to give Carte what he wanted—how could Carte refuse?
He believed it was his righteous duty to do whatever Grandfather asked.
On the day of the banquet, help my men get inside. I plan to smuggle Lani out. With so many guests, no one will notice.
Carte swallowed hard.
Lani will stay with me at Aites, and when you return, she’ll be yours.
Carte’s heart pounded. Just the thought of tearing Lani away from Hieder filled him with joy.
And he’d get to have her?
To make Lani look only at him, obey only him?
“That sounds perfect.”
