TNDHD 8

Chapter: 8

“Madam. Shall I draw the curtains?”

Mila, who had come in to light the candles, whispered as she looked at me lying down.

“No. I’ll get up soon. I still need to redo my hair before dinner.”

“I heard the Duke came all the way here because he was eager to see you?”

So that was the real reason.

I glanced sideways at Mila, who was hiding her twitching lips with her hand.

“He stopped by to deliver a book to Count Lizen.”

“Come on. That’s just an excuse. He could’ve sent a servant with a book.”

“By the way, I don’t see Lady Diana today.”

I casually changed the subject. Continuing a conversation that might damage the dignity of the head of the household felt dangerous.

“If you mean Lady Diana, she’s probably in the music room or the library with her friends. She tends to hide in those places when unfamiliar guests arrive.”

So she really was shy.

Diana, Kagan’s adopted younger sister, had been studying abroad for a one-year short-term program at the royal academy since last autumn, and had now returned to Wairiver briefly to attend her brother’s wedding.

I had met her for the first time three days ago, but we still hadn’t exchanged many words. Whenever I tried to speak to her, she would barely answer and then quickly run away. I couldn’t exactly forcefully stop a twelve-year-old girl like that.

“I’ve always wanted a younger sister since I was little. I hope I can get close to Lady Diana.”

I used to pray every day, foolishly: Please give me a younger sibling. A cute little sister.

“Lady Diana may look quiet, but she’s actually quite mischievous. Starting this autumn, you’ll be living together whether you like it or not, so take your time getting close to her.”

Mila shook her head, wrinkling her nose as if she were an older sister scolding her beloved youngest sibling.

“Anyway, our Duke is coming home early today too, so he’ll be having dinner with you, Madam, right? I’d better go check the kitchen to see if the special nourishing dishes I recommended for the two of you are being prepared properly. Please rest comfortably, Madam.”

How could she be so single-minded?

Humming as she left the room—something about the “radiant future of Wairiver”—Mila disappeared, and I shook my head just as she had done.

I had planned to use the short break to write a letter to the nuns of the Tesena Church, but my heavy eyelids kept interfering.

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

In a fleeting dream, I saw a baby who resembled Kagan. In the middle of a vast field filled with lush greenery, strange giant beings—hard to tell whether wild beasts or monsters—roamed freely. The baby sat calmly among them, sucking on its thumb without a trace of fear.

A baby with Kagan’s dark hair and bright, intelligent eyes.

But unlike a typical infant, its gaze was calm and steady—and its eye color was a violet that resembled mine.

Suddenly, the baby stretched out its short, chubby arms toward me. The gesture, as if asking to be held, was irresistibly adorable.

“My child.”

I bent down and lifted the baby into my arms. As I carefully cradled the soul within its fragile little body, an unexpected surge of powerful energy overflowed, as if enveloping me in return.

“You are the king of this place.”

A smile formed naturally on my lips. The baby seemed comfortable in my arms, nestling its soft, plump cheek against me. Its hair, faintly smelling of milk, swayed in the breeze and tickled my chin.

“Did you come to be my family?”

As if answering, the baby let out a small yawn, opening its tiny mouth wide, then burrowed even deeper into my arms.

A warm wave of affection welled up from deep inside my chest, gathering in my eyes.

Because five members of the imperial family attended my wedding, I had to painfully realize that I had received a spouse as if in a dream—far more than I deserved.

The list of distinguished guests was as follows: Emperor Philiar VIII and his consort, Third Prince Zeke and his wife, and Princess Johanna V. The Emperor had smiled warmly, saying he had almost been unable to attend the wedding of a loyal subject due to the suddenly arranged schedule.

Immediately after the ceremony, the Emperor and Empress hurried back to the capital to receive the royal couple from the Kingdom of Kosanti. The remaining imperial family members were Prince Zeke’s couple and Princess Johanna—three people in total.

Princess Johanna, who was the same age as Kagan, followed the Duchess of Shumant—who was over ten years her senior—around like a duckling. The princess was quite taciturn, so it was hard to discern her personality.

Still, since she seemed to be a devoted fan of the Duchess of Shumant, a strong ally of Wairiver, I found her likable. Her gentle attitude toward me also helped. I thought it was safe to consider her one of our allies.

Prince Zeke was somewhat unusual. He bluntly questioned me about my family at first, then quickly lost interest and stopped speaking to me. Still, it was fortunate that he showed great favor toward Kagan, calling him “our Duke, our Duke” with respect. Whether Kagan himself considered it fortunate to be dragged around all day by him was another matter.

Even after sharing dinner with us, the prince held onto Kagan, insisting they discuss the new business he was planning. Ignoring the desperate gaze of Marquis Lizen, who clearly wanted to join, he left to find a private place for just the two of them, saying it was a confidential matter.

“My husband is being monopolized by someone else entirely. With such an inconsiderate husband, I have no face to meet the new bride.”

His wife, Princess Shulia, also had a somewhat unusual personality.

“Not at all, Your Highness. I’m actually grateful that our Duke is receiving such favor from the Prince.”

“Hmph. What good is it for the Duke to receive favor from a troublesome prince who can’t even manage himself properly? It only tires the Duke out. Tomorrow, I’ll pretend to be ill if I have to and drag Zeke away myself.”

Princess Shulia had a distinctly cynical tone in her expressions and speech. However, her refreshing and straightforward manner seemed to give her a generally good reputation among people.

From morning, she gathered with the noble ladies in a room to play cards enthusiastically, then briefly rested during dinner, and as soon as the meal was over, she picked the cards up again. Only when the outside had turned completely dark and my eyes had grown tired did she finally stand up and leave.

Having joined the final round of the ladies’ game myself, I ended the day by seeing off the princess as she went to bed, then finally returned to my own bedroom.

“Are you coming in now, Madam?”

Mila, who had come in to change the flowers and scented candles on the small table by the window, greeted me warmly. She was diligently changing the room’s decorations every day, saying the atmosphere of the room was important for a new bride.

“There were lily of the valley flowers blooming in the garden. I thought they’d look pretty with the pale pink peonies Polly brought, so I picked some.”

“Thank you, Mila. The flowers are really beautiful.”

“If they had bloomed just a few days earlier, they would’ve been perfect for your bouquet. The lily of the valley is just as pale and lovely as our Madam.”

“I get quite dark when summer comes. I tan easily in the sun.”

“Oh my, even if Madam tans, you’ll still be a swan in front of me or the Duke!”

“Ahaha.”

I didn’t bother saying that I actually preferred admiring flowers in their natural state rather than picking them. Just as Mila wanted to make me happy, I also wanted to make her happy. And soon enough, I would have opportunities to talk to her naturally during walks about my preferences for flower arrangements.

“Then please rest well. Call me anytime if you need anything.”

“Good night, Mila.”

The scent of burning firewood from the fireplace was warm and comforting.

I threw myself onto the bed covered with a soft, fluffy goose-down comforter. The fatigue of the day melted away. When I first came here, the room had felt too large and grand to be cozy.

But every day I spent in Wairiver was gentle to me. Like a palace from a dream, the luxurious environment had been adjusted to suit me more comfortably, and exquisite dishes I had never tasted in my life, along with jewels I had only read about in books, were brought before me.

Madam Herbert, my tutor, brought a cold wind like a harsh winter, but she did not treat me unfairly. It was probably good to have at least one strict teacher. I trusted her and was learning, as I could feel her loyal devotion to Wairiver and the Steinway family.

It felt like spring would pass in the blink of an eye. But the coming summer, and every season after, would surely be beautiful in its own way.

I wonder when Kagan will finally get some rest? That obsessive prince really needs to let him go soon. Will Kagan sleep in his own room tonight? Or will he come to mine? But it’s already late…

I lay on my side with my cheek against the sheet, pulling the pillow that he might have used last night into my arms.

I recalled the dream from my nap earlier. In the now-fading memory, the only thing that remained vividly was the feeling of holding such a lovely baby.

A baby dream. But it probably wasn’t a pregnancy dream. From what I’d heard from my parents, dreams during pregnancy were symbolized not by human forms but by animals or fruit.

Besides, we had only just spent our first night together. Thinking like this was probably just because Mila had been so persistent, feeding me nourishing dishes and constantly talking about the “future of Wairiver.”

Still… someday I might have a baby too, right? As long as there’s nothing wrong with either Kagan or me.

My curiosity kept growing. Who our first child would resemble more, whether it would be a boy or a girl, when it would happen. I wanted to become a gentle mother like mine, but what kind of father would Kagan be? Raising an heir who would one day become the lord would be different from raising an ordinary child…

“…Kagan?”

Half-asleep, I opened my eyes as I felt the bed shift.

A man’s stiff face appeared as he lifted part of the blanket.

“Oh, when did you come in?”

Rubbing my eyes, I moved slightly to the side, and he carefully slid under the covers. The mattress dipped under his weight, then slowly leveled out again.

I know that heaviness.

It felt like I was reliving the sensation of his large, heavy body pressed against mine, and I unconsciously lowered my gaze.

“I’m sorry for waking you. I thought you were sleeping soundly and wouldn’t mind.”

Lying stiffly beside me, close enough that our shoulders almost touched, Kagan apologized.