TNDHD 10

Chapter 10

The chapel of Elawuno Castle was extremely spacious. It was fitting for the chapel of a grand mansion named after “Elawuno,” an Elkon word meaning “small prayer room.” It was rather ironic that the first head of the Steinway family, who had designed and named this estate, had actually been an atheist at the time.

That was one of the reasons I found this castle so appealing. In the general trend of noble estate architecture, chapels were usually built modestly for family use within the main residence, but the Elawuno Castle chapel had been constructed large enough for not only the descendants of the Steinway family, but also their knights and even the servants to use without restriction. Perhaps because of that, its scale was comparable even to the chapel of the main church in Tesena.

I clasped my hands together, lightly kissed the tips of my index fingers, and stepped onto the chapel floor. Sunlight dyed in multiple colors filtered through the beautiful stained-glass windows depicting the goddess and her children, softly tinting the cherry-colored wooden floor.

From somewhere, a faint whispering song could be heard. No, I first thought it was a song, but soon realized it was a prayer. I sat quietly in the back and waited.

After a while, the praying voice faded, and the girl lifted her bowed head.

“Lady Diana?”

I spoke to her carefully.

Sensing my presence, the girl turned around, and her round eyes looked very pleased to see me. We had barely exchanged a few words even during last night’s dinner.

“Oh, h-hello, Duchess.”

The girl with fine golden hair, blue eyes like an autumn sky, and rosy cheeks like a ripe apple rose from her seat and curtsied. It would have been perfect if she hadn’t looked so timid and uncomfortable because of me, but she was still a lovely child.

“Have you been… well these days, Duchess?”

“Yes, thanks to you. And you, Lady Diana?”

“I’ve been well too.”

So they really were siblings in a way. In the sense that they used such stiff, distant greetings with someone they saw almost every day as “family,” she was undeniably similar to Kagan, even if they were not blood-related.

But there was one difference compared to Kagan, who had simply stared blankly at me even on our first meeting. Diana, on the other hand, always became awkward and tried to run away whenever she saw me. At first, I even worried that she disliked me. I was relieved when Mila told me she was simply extremely shy around strangers.

“I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you. I was going to pray quietly in the back and leave, but I wanted to greet you.”

I could slowly grow closer to her, just as Mila said. After all, she was a child who would leave soon. Because of her brother’s wedding, her vacation wasn’t long, and she would have to return to the Winfriss Academy in a couple of days.

So when autumn came, and Diana returned home…

“I-I’m not disturbed at all. I was just about to leave because I finished my prayers.”

I want to be a good older sister.

“So you don’t need to feel sorry, Duchess.”

Diana, her face bright red, spoke those considerate words. She was adorable. Her small body, not fitting for a twelve-year-old, looked almost fragile and endearing.

Her father, who had raised her alone after losing his only daughter born in late age four years ago, had carefully taken in an adopted older brother as if preparing for farewell—and she followed him like a real brother.

I didn’t know if she would want it, but I, who had also grown up as an only child, wished I had a sister. If I had a younger sister, there were so many things I would want to teach her and share with her, filling my small childhood mind.

“Would it be alright if you had dinner with me today? If you don’t have other plans.”

For now, having a meal together would be enough.

At my question, Diana bit her lip and thought for a moment before nodding.

“Um… I’m sorry about my brother being busy.”

“Hm?”

The sudden apology was a bit unexpected. Diana continued while glancing at me with a somewhat discouraged expression.

“Normally, Ben could go instead, but my brother doesn’t allow it. He says it’s not appropriate for a married man to travel outside his territory alone, and Priest Vien has also repeatedly told him to let Ben handle it, but my brother…”

Her words trailed off.

Ah, I see. So Diana knew he was going to Dubon. And Kagan had even been scolded by the priest in front of his younger sister before. While thinking this, I found myself slightly opening my mouth in surprise, since it was the first time I had seen Diana speak so much.

“My brother… doesn’t really have a good personality.”

“Kagan?”

My eyes widened further.

He has a bad personality? The man I knew was always calm, polite, and a perfect gentleman. Wasn’t he someone who even used honorifics in bed and strictly followed manners and procedure?

Surely not. If Kagan had treated Diana poorly, would Ben—the loyal descendant of the Steinway household’s long-serving vassal family—or the head butler or Diana’s nanny still serve him with such respect?

Of course, I couldn’t simply dismiss Diana’s testimony either.

“Does he… treat you badly, Lady Diana?”

I thought I asked cautiously enough.

“Hmm…”

Diana rolled her eyes to one side as if uncomfortable, narrowing her gaze slightly. For some reason, the corners of her mouth twitched upward a little.

“Sometimes he can be a bit mean. Honestly.”

Her whisper, as if seeking agreement from me, sounded exactly like a younger sister complaining about her close older brother.

I let out a small laugh, my tension easing.

“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate.”

So the man I had thought was simply stiff and rigid might actually have a playful side when dealing with his little sister.

I wanted to see that completely unimaginable side of him with my own eyes. I wanted to learn more about Kagan. Would I ever be able to naturally blend into their lives?

Yes, when autumn comes. After two seasons pass, and Diana returns home—

“Then I’ll accompany you the day after tomorrow instead of your naughty brother. Is that alright?”

Diana thought for a moment again, then nodded with a deliberately solemn expression.

“Alright.”

Though she added that he wasn’t always a bad brother—only sometimes.

May the husband who has gone on his journey return safely after completing his work. May I be a good sister to his younger sibling. May the Steinway family and Wayriver continue to prosper as a safe and abundant land…

After offering what could be called a modest prayer, I left the chapel. I thought I had only stayed for a short while, but the colorful light that had filled the chapel floor had already retreated, curling up beneath the window.

A servant entered the chapel carrying candles for the altar, passing by as if we were exchanging shifts. I gave him a quiet nod. The young man, wearing a slightly worn servant uniform, seemed startled and blushed, then hunched his shoulders slightly, covering a stain on his chest.

Was he embarrassed by his dirty work clothes? Or did he think it was disrespectful toward me?

Yet the goddess had said not to be ashamed of clothing dirtied by diligence. And I was only someone who depended on their labor.

I swallowed the urge to lecture him about such things and rob him of his precious rest, and instead offered him the kindest smile I could muster before turning away.

Lunch break must be a sweet, precious pause in a tiring day. What kind of hope did that young man, who had deliberately come to the chapel during such a break, hold in his modestly bowed heart?

As for my prayers, they had always been the same. I had always prayed to live as a beautiful noblewoman. That had always been the prayer my parents, who had taught me love, also held. Living as they had left me—as a single treasure in this vast world—was the greatest happiness I knew.

At the same time, I had lived with a constant awareness of how insignificant I was. That was reality. Even my parents and I knew that in this world, a fifteen-year-old girl left alone without relatives was fortunate just to survive without incident.

So I prayed simply to live as a candle that might illuminate even a cold corner of the world. I prayed with gratitude for being able to live beneath a roof that sheltered me from wind and rain, even if I only had enough to eat each day. Those layered days had become me.

How did other people live? What about that servant who had just been in the chapel? The other residents of Elawuno Castle? The people of Wayriver working outside the estate? What did they pray for each day?

Wishing for the well-being and happiness of each and every one of them—that must be the life of the Duchess of Wayriver. In a sense, I had been granted an excessive fortune.

If someone asked me where I would begin…

Perhaps I would start with those closest to me.

That is, I was very curious about what kind of prayer Diana had just made.

As I recalled her tiny back as she hurried away, saying she had plans with friends, I couldn’t help but smile again. That adorable twelve-year-old girl must have prayed for her naughty brother’s safe journey too.

“Ma’am! I heard the Duke went to Dubon?”

As I reached my room, Mila, who had been waiting at the door, burst out in outrage.

“How could you hide such an important matter from me and only tell the Duchess? Honestly, it’s my fault. I should have stepped back and sent him off earlier. Back then he had already become the heir of the honorable Duke, so there was no other choice, but still…”

“Calm down, Mila. I’m sure the Duke had his reasons.”

“I’ve been busy since morning! I was even preparing to take the two of you to Lundel Lake this afternoon to set a nice mood and everything…”

What was she planning to do by “setting a mood” in broad daylight?

“Should I be scared of you? Haha.”

“Is that something to laugh about, my lady? I feel less like a maid and more like a nanny for the two of you.”

The more Mila complained, the lighter my heart felt. Perhaps because I was not the only one left out of important information.

Of course, a duke not sharing information with his duchess was a different matter entirely from a duchess’s maid not being informed.

“Oh right, I’m having dinner with Diana tonight. I did well, didn’t I?”

I said this proudly, and Mila reacted with enthusiasm as expected.

“Oh my! How admirable! My beloved young ladies are spending time together—it warms my heart just hearing it.”

“I’m not sure we’ll be that close right away. Still, Diana even spoke to me first, so I was happy.”

She even said sorry for her brother being busy. How cute.

“Diana, the young lady, spoke to you first? You know, even when the Marchioness of Rigen used to come bearing all sorts of gifts, Lady Diana still rarely spoke to her first.”

“Really? Should I be proud?”

“Of course you should.”

“Ah, I hope autumn comes soon so Diana can finish her studies abroad. We’ll live like close sisters. Enough to make Kagan jealous.”