TNLA 41

Chapter 41

Hard briefly doubted his own ears. However, Kashien didn’t offer any further explanation and headed toward the office door. The butler who had been waiting outside immediately followed.

“Butler, I will be away for a few days starting tomorrow. Take good care of Arlene.”

“Of course, sir. I will serve her just as I would while you are here.”

He strode purposefully toward Arlene’s room.

Arlene was still using the room she had during her days as a princess. Yet there were certainly noticeable changes.

For instance, there was always a knight guarding the door, maids watching inside, all doors—including the room, windows, and balcony doors—were always locked, and anything sharp, pointy, or breakable had been removed from the room… it seemed.

As he entered, receiving a greeting from the knight guarding the door, he immediately saw her sitting in a chair by the window, dozing in the sunlight. As he approached Arlene with long strides, the maids who had been waiting around her subtly stepped back.

The sight of her, sunlit, feet tucked under her on the chair, draped in a blanket, looked peaceful—if one ignored her unhealthy complexion and gaunt body.

Lately, she had always been asleep.

It seemed as though she had no will to stay awake. Even if she woke up briefly, she would sit dazedly with lifeless eyes before falling back asleep.

Even then, it was pitiful and frustrating to see her struggle to get out of bed despite her weak body. She preferred to crouch uncomfortably on the chair rather than sleep comfortably in the bed that bore his scent.

Last night’s events came to mind.

Of course, it hadn’t been dangerous. She was never given the chance to act alone. Even at night, he held her in his arms while she slept. So he would have known the moment she tried to escape last night.

But what if he allowed her even a little freedom?

Thus, she needed to be kept in a safe place. In a safe room. In my castle.

He suddenly remembered Hard’s suggestion and smiled crookedly. The idea of a duchess—granting her so many rights and freedoms? There was no way he would let her go. He knew exactly what would happen the moment she was set free.

Perhaps someday, after much time has passed and she has fully turned her heart toward him…

…Yes, if she ever fully turns her heart.

He imagined her wearing a radiant tiara, smiling brightly at him, and somewhere deep in his dim memories, his heart felt a soft, fluttering ache. His chest stirred, his heart ached.

There had been a time like that. When she looked at him with those clear, sparkling green eyes, smiling broadly. When she constantly spoke in her sweet, melodious voice, soothing his wounds with her warm touch.

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.

He had thought that time would heal everything—but was he arrogant?

“The patient will not try to live on their own, so human efforts cannot save them,” one doctor had said, eyes squeezed shut, trembling—words that had lingered in his mind as some kind of harsh truth.

If keeping her trapped only caused him to lose her, perhaps he should at least pretend to give her some freedom.

“Is there anything interesting happening?”

“Pardon?”

Startled by the sudden, directionless question from her master, Anna, who was standing a step behind, involuntarily asked for clarification.

“Something that would pique her interest or catch her attention.”

“Ah… um…”

Anna hesitated for a moment. Though it was an unexpected question, she understood her master’s intent. But Arlene had been in this state since the first day Anna met her, so she had never shown genuine enjoyment or interest in anything. It was impossible to know what she liked.

Finally, she offered a vague general suggestion—at least something that wouldn’t upset her master.

“Usually, noble young ladies of her age enjoy dresses or jewelry… or perhaps keeping a pet.”

Her master listened quietly. Encouraged, Anna added some further thoughts.

“And it seems she needs to go outside sometimes, to meet people. The doctors have suggested that as well…”

“Then summon the dress merchant.”

“…Yes.”

“It would be good to call her tomorrow morning, before I leave.”

The duchy of Luthern, Schuel, was a peaceful and prosperous city.

For generations upon generations, from the grandmothers and grandfathers of the locals, this land had belonged to the House of Luthern, and their lord was the Duke of Luthern.

It had been so long that no one doubted it. Last year, this year, next year, and for countless years in the past, this fact had always been unquestioned. It was as natural as the sky above or the sun rising in the east.

And fortunately, their lord was a good one. The people understood that their situation was far better than neighboring domains, and since they couldn’t choose their lord, they considered themselves fortunate to live peacefully under a kind ruler.

But last summer, a group of knights and soldiers arrived with a royal decree and an order bearing the seal of the Duke of Luthern. The knights guarding Schuel Castle were puzzled but, seeing the duke’s seal, they had no choice but to open the gates. After allowing them into the inner castle, they summoned all retainers outside per the orders.

That night, a massacre occurred within the inner castle.

The unthinkable happened. The centuries-old, proud castle ran red with blood, and the retainers, knights, and many servants who had faithfully served for generations were all reduced to corpses overnight.

The news of the change in lordship spread like the sky turning upside down and the sun rising in the west. The entire House of Luthern, a family older than the kingdom itself, had been wiped out.

Through the harsh summer, the shocked autumn, and almost into winter, the residents slowly adjusted to their new reality.

Then, one cold day, the very duke responsible for overturning their domain, Duke Requies, arrived in Schuel with their beloved young lady in tow.

The locals flocked to witness the procession of their new lord, the same duke responsible for the massacre. Surrounding him were the infamous knights, and a heavily guarded carriage caught everyone’s eye.

People peered, hoping the young lady who had survived was inside, but the windows remained closed. No one saw her.

For some time, no one in the domain ever glimpsed her. Even the servants inside the castle had not seen her.

The room was always heavily guarded, and though people came and went, no one saw who was inside. Only those personally brought by the duke from the capital could enter, and they spoke no word.

Rumors even arose: “Perhaps the young lady has already passed away, but they claim she is alive in case of rebellion.”

Around that time, Mrs. Foer, a dress merchant previously called by the duchess’s household, was summoned to the castle after a long absence by the new lord.

Mrs. Foer hastily gathered her assistants to bring dresses and fabrics. No mention was made of whom the dresses were for. Aisop, the marquis managing the nearby domains on the duke’s behalf, had no wife, daughter, or mistress, so had never summoned a merchant for a noblewoman before.

Suspecting the dresses might be for the rumored Arlene, Mrs. Foer and her assistants prepared with the young lady they remembered months ago in mind.

She really is alive, after all.

Mrs. Foer and her team stepped into the castle after a long time. The inner castle gleamed and glittered, betraying no sign of the massacre just months prior. While some things had changed, much remained as it had been.

They displayed the dresses and fabrics in the hall and waited. Soon, word came that the duke would be arriving.

They bowed toward the door.

Then they saw something that made them gasp inwardly.

The young lady, barely recognizable, was carried into the hall in Duke Requies’s arms.

Her complexion, frail body, and posture were so altered that she was initially unrecognizable. Pale, emaciated, she reminded one of a corpse; her once lively, smiling face was now ghostly pale.

Yet more astonishing than her appearance was that she was being carried. No one in her condition could walk on her own, yet the duke carried her in front of guests.

Mrs. Foer swallowed nervously and tried to maintain her composure.

The duke seated Arlene in a prepared chair, sitting beside her and nodding to signal the start.

Mrs. Foer masked her concern with a practiced smile, elegantly greeting them, showing each dress, and explaining the details while glancing at the two dignitaries.

“This is an outing dress made of the Bruden silk the young lady favored. During cold, snowy days like this, draping it with white fox fur will match beautifully.”

She displayed a pale blue dress, continuing her explanation. Moving to the next dress, she continued:

“This dress will suit the young lady perfectly. Using the pale yellow she favored, the colors can be combined… even changing only the fabric in this design…”

But the young lady, on the verge of collapse, stared blankly at Mrs. Foer, and the duke paid little attention to the dresses, idly fiddling with her hair.

After explaining as best she could despite their lack of interest, Mrs. Foer finally asked:

“Which would you like to try first?”

Still receiving no response, Anna carefully chose a dress on her behalf.

“Third from the right, the yellow dress. Let’s try that one.”

At Mrs. Foer’s signal, an assistant quickly brought the yellow dress from the display.

“Then, young lady, this way…”

As the assistant moved inside the partition with the dress, a maid immediately supported Arlene’s side.

Limping slightly, Arlene leaned partially on the maid as she walked toward the partition. Mrs. Foer glanced at her feet and asked:

“By the way, young lady, what happened to your feet…”

“Don’t ask unnecessary questions, madam.”

Anna interrupted sharply. Mrs. Foer smiled softly and continued, her voice calm:

“We must recommend clothing based on the young lady’s physical condition. If your feet recover soon, it’s fine, but if they remain weak, heavy banquet gowns with ten layers of fabric should be avoided. Lighter attire is better. Shoes should also be chosen to suit your foot condition.”

“Please recommend according to her foot condition,” Anna replied, glancing at Kashien. Fortunately, he showed no reaction.

After a long while, Arlene finally emerged from changing, and Kashien smiled with satisfaction. Despite needing many pins to adjust the fit, the dress—prepared specially for her—suited her well.

When Anna chose a second dress, a pale lavender one, Mrs. Foer quickly supported Arlene, while the maid stepped back.

Only Arlene, the assistant holding the dress, and Mrs. Foer remained behind the partition.

As the assistant loosened the straps of her previous dress, Mrs. Foer began explaining the lavender gown:

“This pale lavender dress matches the Rundal flower color the young lady loves. The winter fabric is thick but surprisingly light…”

At that moment, Mrs. Foer quietly took Arlene’s hand and looked into her eyes.

Arlene’s wandering gaze finally met hers.

Smiling gently, Mrs. Foer released her hand.

“I thought you might like it, so I brought it for you.”

Arlene opened her hand.

Inside was a small folded white piece of paper. A note.