Chapter 53
#053. Irreparable Cracks and a Heart Yearning to Touch
Thanks to Grand Duke's extraordinary senses, I ended up as a watchman.
Winster swallowed a bitter smile, forced to turn back with the Territory of Vikander right before his eyes.
Years ago, he had jokingly said that Grand Duke's senses were like a beast's, but this incident completely canceled that. It wasn't just "like" that.
Edwin Lowell Vikander, his master's senses were truly a beast in itself.
Otherwise, how could he have forbidden entry to the Madeleine Dukedom and the Imperial Family and ordered the borders near the territory to be guarded as soon as I approached the castle walls?
Jade Madeleine's handsome face twisted. Winster remained vigilant against her sharp energy.
"...By what right does the Grand Duke prevent me from seeing my sister?"
It seemed she had abandoned all pretense of courtesy.
Even as he heard her shortened speech, Winster widened his eyes as if he had heard something amazing.
"...Sister. I didn't know Lady Madeleine had any siblings besides Madeleine Esella."
Her amethyst eyes, shining sharply, widened as if caught off guard. Her denial of reality was amusing.
"You've crossed the line, Sir."
"......"
"From the moment the Princess received His Highness's vow, Lady Madeleine, you are the one crossing the line with our Princess."
"......"
"Now, the two of you have no reason to see each other."
It was a sharp severing of relations, piercing to the core.
Jade gritted her teeth. Watching her, Winster said leisurely.
"...Unless the Princess wants to see Lady Madeleine."
Funnily enough, a faint expectation rose in her violet eyes. Winster knew how to shatter that expectation in an instant.
"Of course, that won't happen."
After finishing his reply, Winster left the tavern unhurriedly. As if waiting, a Knight approached Winster and reported.
"The Princess is still in Katanta."
"What? That's all she's come? She left the day before yesterday, didn't she?"
Winster frowned.
Even if Jade had come without rest, for the Princess to still be only at the Katanta Barony... That was only four hours away from the Imperial Palace.
"The Princess is suffering from severe motion sickness."
At the Knight's serious reply, Winster's lips hardened. The Princess's carriage was top-of-the-line, with almost no shaking. To get motion sickness even riding in that, and only making it to the Katanta Barony...
The more he looked into it, the more the Princess differed from her well-known public persona.
If so, who was the one who had been carrying out those duties in place of the Princess?
Even if he tried not to jump to conclusions, the candidates kept narrowing down to one person. Winster looked far away, towards the Ducal Palace.
* * *
At that moment, the Katanta Barony was in the aftermath of a storm.
Baron Katanta, who was middle-aged, paced anxiously in front of the best guest room. Two Knights of the Imperial Palace guarded the guest room, where an unexpected and precious guest was staying.
"Honey, shouldn't we formally greet Her Highness the Princess?"
Baroness Katanta was also struggling to adapt to this bewildering situation.
Located four hours away from the Imperial Palace, the Katanta Barony was a typical rural noble family with no ties to the central nobility.
Occasionally attending the Nobility Council was one of the Baron and Baroness Katanta's proudest achievements.
But for the Princess, as noble as a Saintess, to come to this Katanta...!
"Thank you for understanding my sudden visit, Baron. I was just passing through and felt fatigued, so I thought I would stay for a day. I am on my way to carry out the orders of His Majesty, so I hope you will keep my stay here a secret."
The Baron shuddered as he repeated the Princess's words.
No matter how he thought about it, this was an opportunity that would not come again. An opportunity for Katanta to form a connection with the Imperial Family!
The Baron took a deep breath and strode towards the guest room. He did not yield to the indifferent gazes of the Knights.
"...Well, I think you should have a meal. Please ask Her Highness the Princess."
"We will take care of the meal for Her Highness the Princess. Thank you, Baron."
The Knight drew a line politely.
"No, even so. When I saw her earlier, her face was so pale. Is there something wrong with her health...?"
"We will also check that."
Just as the Baron and Baroness were about to reluctantly turn away, feeling pushed back with every attempt they made...
"Aaaah!"
The two people's eyes widened at the sharp scream coming from inside the room. Surely, only the Princess and her maids were in this room...!
"Wait, just a moment! Your Highness!"
The Baron and Baroness rushed to the door in an instant. But it was in vain. The Knights had already quickly blocked the two.
"What are you doing...!"
Her Highness the Princess has a heart as beautiful as a Saintess. It was absolutely unacceptable for anything to happen to Her Highness's safety in his mansion. Just as the Baron was about to push the Knights away and glare at them...
The Baron hesitated, stepped back, and swallowed his words.
The Knights were looking at the Baron with cold eyes. A suffocating confrontation ensued.
Before long, the door opened, and a noblewoman with navy blue hair came out and smiled gently.
"I came out for a moment because I heard a loud noise. Is something wrong?"
"Madam, are you alright here? Is everything alright inside? I heard something like a scream."
"Ah, you heard it."
Baroness Luhan sighed as if she was in trouble for a moment.
"If I may tell you, trusting in the Baron's reputation..."
The Baron and Baroness swallowed hard at the small voice, as if sharing a secret.
"One of our maids sometimes screams and has seizures when she is sensitive. Her Highness the Princess is generously taking care of her. She is so fond of her people."
Ah, hearing that story, the worries that had been on the Baron and Baroness's faces disappeared. In addition, a small expectation was glimpsed.
What would it be like to become a person of the Princess, who is so generous that she even embraces a maid who has seizures?
"That's a relief. We were worried that something might have happened to Her Highness the Princess."
"How could that be?"
Baroness Luhan smiled faintly, as if she had heard an amusing joke. At her calm appearance, the Baron and Baroness also smiled.
"But by any chance..."
"Yes?"
"Is there a well-maintained road here that leads to the Muwiken Territory?"
At Baroness Luhan's question, the Baron smiled brightly and shook his head.
"There's only the Territory of Vikander if you go that way. Since sturdy Knights with strong ankles come and go anyway, there's no need to spend money to maintain it, so we haven't done it. Instead, we are more confident in the summer garden to the south, so please tell Her Highness about it."
Looking at the Baron smiling proudly, Baroness Luhan suppressed her throbbing headache.
Because she knew that the Princess would throw another tantrum.
.
.
.
"Aaaah!"
"Your Highness, please stay still. You'll hurt your neck."
Inside a colorful and ornate room, the Princess glared, surrounded by maids who didn't know what to do.
"No, how can they not even properly maintain the road in this great Franz! What a disgrace to the Empire!"
The Princess frowned as she shouted. The nausea that had been caused by driving on the unpaved road was stirring again.
It had been a day of chaos, to the point where she had even vomited water. As a Princess, she couldn't stay just anywhere, so she had barely managed to find this Barony.
The Princess scanned the room with contempt. This vulgar and colorful room, unlike a noble's. It was the most unfashionable room the Princess hated.
"...If only they had properly maintained the road, I would have reached the Territory of Vikander right away."
The Princess gritted her teeth, recalling the roads she had always traveled. The southern resort famous for its summer palace, the eastern region with the Empress's villa and stunning autumn scenery, and the western region bordering foreign countries.
All the places the Princess had been to were connected by well-maintained roads.
"Your Highness, you're not lying down."
Baroness Luhan, who had said she would go and talk to the Baron for a while, returned to the room. At the worried face of her nanny, the Princess groaned again.
"Nanny, what did he say? Did he say there was a maintained road?"
"...That's..."
The last sliver of hope disappeared along with the nanny's dark face. The Princess screamed and vented her frustration. She felt like she couldn't stay still unless she did that.
"Your Highness, this is a Barony that is not properly soundproofed. Please calm down a little..."
"Everything is the worst! How can I not even vent my anger as I please!"
"...I'm sorry, Your Highness."
The Princess glared fiercely at Baroness Luhan. Her face, which showed that there was no other way, was completely opposite to the confidence she had shown a few days ago, when she had said she would find a way no matter what.
She couldn't even get to the Territory of Vikander, where she had to go as soon as possible, and her stomach was just churning.
She was in a hurry to find that Abandoned Mine, and she still didn't know what to say to that half-wit. She couldn't reverse the magic seal.
All these problems mixed together and caused a headache. She was constantly thirsty.
"...Ha, really. That half-wit. I won't let her off the hook if I ever see her. Well, she probably went well on the unmaintained road, as befits her lowly status."
To run away to such a distant place with that precious thing.
The maids all pretended not to hear the fierce words that came out between her teeth. Just like they always had.
.
.
.
"...Oh my."
But the maids of the Barony were different. The maids, who were organizing the room where the maids would stay in the lower room, blinked at each other and covered their mouths.
Surely, Her Highness the Princess, who is as kind as a Saintess, was staying in the upper room.
The vulgar words and actions, the ominous atmosphere containing murderous intent, which were different from what was known.
It was the complete opposite of the rumors they knew about Her Highness the Princess, who was like a Saintess. The maids who looked at each other were itching to talk.
Soon, interesting rumors began to circulate in the Barony.
The rumors about the Princess, who had unreservedly called the Barony "the worst," spread before they could even be contained.
* * *
The Madeleine Dukedom's dining room. After finishing his meal, Conrad wiped his mouth elegantly and said.
"...It's gotten much better. Thank you, Madam."
Even the taste of the food, which had been bothering him, had returned.
"You're welcome, Young Duke."
Baroness Monic accepted the thanks with her usual indifferent face.
It was all thanks to the retainers. Baron Baishan took care of the ledgers and important bill payments, while Baroness Monic took care of the subtle changes in the gloomy atmosphere of the mansion and the meals.
They, who had helped Madeleine before Olivia took charge of the internal affairs, had returned Madeleine to the Dukedom that Conrad knew.
Now, the Madeleine Dukedom had regained its orbit. A faint sense of elation filled him.
"I have also told Miss Esella about the meal management and the theme of the Dukedom's decorations in summer. Miss is so clever, so there won't be any major problems. If you allow it, I will come and check often."
But.
Baroness Monic paused for a moment. And she picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea, as if choosing her words for a moment.
"...I didn't know that Miss Esella was interested in Tea Parties. She has never been interested in social events, so I thought I should tell you, Young Duke."
"What kind of..."
Conrad asked immediately without realizing it. Baroness Monic swallowed her inner thoughts, as if she knew it would happen, and explained as if it was nothing.
"It probably won't be a big deal. My daughter also had no interest in society at all, but she became interested before her Debutante."
At her casual words, Conrad smiled calmly and nodded. But he couldn't be calm inside.
Esella is interested in society. It was the first time he had heard that story.
With a thudding heart, Conrad clenched his fist without realizing it.
Well, he would have to have a conversation to find out. When was the last time he had a normal conversation with Esella?
Conrad thought hard and swallowed the breath that was rising stuffily.
From some point on, Esella had changed. She didn't attend the dinners that her father attended, saying that she was feeling unwell, and she gradually reduced her conversations with him.
The last time he had spoken to Esella was a few days ago, when Jade had left after barely eating dinner.
"Esella, is something wrong these days? It's hard to see your face. You're skipping dinner too."
"I'm just feeling unwell these days."
The kind and cheerful Esella. The lovely youngest was still affectionate, but she had learned to cut off conversations coldly.
As soon as the short conversation ended, Esella went up to her room as if her business was over.
Conrad just watched her.
He couldn't ask what was wrong. No, in fact, he didn't want to hear it. It felt like the words of his beloved youngest Esella would overturn everything he had believed in at once.
Surely, with the help of the retainers, the Dukedom could return to its orbit.
Evidence that his thoughts were wrong was coming out everywhere. The aftertaste of the meal, which had been satisfactory until just now, tasted strangely bitter.
Conrad maintained a precarious smile. Only he knew how bitter his inner thoughts were.
* * *
Meanwhile, late at night in the Vikander Ducal Palace.
"Does the Grand Ducal Family have a separate retainer in charge of financial management?"
It was a sudden question. Bethany, who was fixing the Princess's bed until the end, turned to look at the Princess and pointed to herself.
"The Grand Ducal Family does not have a separate retainer in charge of financial management. I manage even the magic seal, so I would be fine."
At those words, the Princess smiled brightly. Her smiling face looked much more comfortable than when she first came to the Ducal Palace.
As she met her green eyes, which sparkled cleverly, Bethany suppressed the longing that suddenly rose.
"Then, Bethany. Can you do me a favor?"
"What kind of fun are you planning again?"
Dian, who had been so hostile to the Princess, had finally sided with the Princess. Bethany looked curious, recalling the recent events that had shaken the Ducal Palace.
At those words, Olivia took out a document that she had put deep in her desk drawer and shook it.
"The Grand Duke and Duchess's assets are jointly owned, right? I want to give Edwin a surprise gift. Will you help me?"
Her playfully smiling cheeks were flushed.
A surprise gift. How surprised was she going to make him? Bethany's face, who was smiling back, turned pale in an instant. Olivia, who didn't notice, took the document out of the envelope and flipped through a few pages.
"It's my dowry. Of course, it doesn't have much value now, but it will get better if I manage it, right? I want to register it as joint property in advance, without Edwin knowing."
Her excited voice faded away, muffled. Bethany stared at the document in Olivia's hand, barely able to breathe.
It was a document she had never forgotten for a moment.
White Crystal Mine.
The ownership of the Princess's, Lowell's last treasure, that she had wanted to get back so much.
