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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: A Nectarian Name
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And so, I spent a full two days in bed.
I focused on recovery, eating the meals Mera brought and the snacks Kivrin provided, so I wasn't bored.
Winter had apparently visited while I was asleep, and I was disappointed I hadn't seen her.
I wanted to thank her as soon as possible for bringing me here.
“...I wish I’d get better soon.”
After two and a half days had passed, I was finally able to walk without anyone’s support.
It was only then that I realized Kivrin’s room was right next to mine.
There was even a hidden door in the wall that, when pushed with enough force, opened into Kivrin’s room.
“Hah… Hah…”
The problem was, I nearly ended up bedridden again just from pushing the secret door open.
To think that one push could drain all my energy.
Kivrin looked at me with pity as I stumbled out of the secret passage, half-dead.
He was holding a satchel.
It seemed he had been about to go out but heard me struggling from the other side of the door and waited for a moment.
“Young… Young Lord…, where are you going…?”
Kivrin helped me up as I panted for breath.
“I have to, to attend my lessons.”
Just then, I heard Mera’s voice from my room.
But the secret door had already closed, and I’d have to open it again.
…I’ll just use the normal door.
“I’ll go out this way, too. Have a good lesson, Young Lord!”
I decided to forget about the life-threatening secret door, went out into the hallway with Kivrin, and returned to my own room.
“You must eat.”
The menu this time was also composed of easily digestible foods.
I ate diligently, munching away.
“I’m so glad you’re eating well.”
“I’ll eat it all and get healthy!”
Mera beamed.
“How admirable! In that case, how about a slow tour of the castle with Viscount Rose after your meal? Starting today, you should walk a little. It will be good for your legs.”
Ack!
I hastily swallowed the food in my mouth and shouted.
“I have to go see Mother!”
Of course, it was an excuse I’d just thought up.
Still, Winter probably wouldn’t kick me out like Countess Mayol would!
“The Duchess?”
“Yes! I’ll be right back!”
From behind me, I heard a shout, “But you said you’d eat it all, Young Mistress!”
Huh? Young Mistress?
Why was Mera calling me that?
With a slight sense of curiosity, I asked a passing maid for directions and found Winter’s room.
She greeted me with a noble air, as if she were the very embodiment of deep winter—the end of one season and the beginning of another.
“You’re late. To think you’d keep me waiting.”
Uh… did I say I was coming to see you?
I just came on a whim because I didn’t want to be alone with Viscount Rose.
“I’m sorry.”
After my baffling apology, Winter gestured.
“It’s fine. Come and sit.”
I tried to sit as naturally as possible, but the chair was rather high.
In the end, I had to struggle a bit to climb onto it.
Was it because Winter and Menelik were both so tall?
Winter was nearly 180 centimeters tall, and Menelik was much taller.
As I gently massaged my trembling legs, which ached from my hurried walk, Winter spoke.
“Kivrin will be receiving lessons to become the heir. The castle gates will remain closed for the time being.”
“I see.”
“His Majesty pleaded with me to at least pretend to be wary of the Temple.”
Why was she telling me this?
In any case, I just nodded.
Winter then gestured with her chin toward the head butler.
The head butler placed the document he was holding on the table.
“This is…”
The document bore my name and Kivrin’s.
But my surname was not ‘Mayol,’ like my sister’s.
Cheria Estella Nectarian.
Wife of Kivrin Basilios Nectarian, the Young Lord’s Consort.
“You weren’t planning on being called ‘Miss’ forever, were you?”
It seemed the Emperor’s official approval had come through, which was why Mera had called me Young Mistress.
I was no longer a count’s daughter.
“…”
Feeling a sense of wonder, I stared intently at my name written on the document.
Now that I thought about it, Menelik must have been busy in the capital not only with Temple affairs but also with this marriage contract.
“Well… the paperwork is done, but the wedding ceremony can only be held after you come of age. The marriage of underage nobles can only be a simplified ceremony with a minimal budget, and that is out of the question. I trust you understand.”
Winter spoke as if the words ‘low budget’ simply did not exist in her vocabulary.
I put down the document and turned my gaze to her.
Winter bit her lower lip and released it repeatedly, as if choosing her words.
“The reason I hurried to change your surname is…”
“It’s because of Count Mayol, isn’t it?”
Winter blinked at the mention of my biological father.
I said, dredging up a memory from the original Cheria’s life.
“He hated that my name even had the count’s family name attached to it. He probably made changing my surname as quickly as possible a condition… am I right?”
“You’re wrong.”
“…”
“I did it because I wanted to.”
Huh.
It was an obvious excuse to anyone who heard it, but Winter would not bend.
“It was my decision and my will.”
“…”
Winter clenched her jaw.
She suddenly reminded me of someone, and a smile crept onto my lips before I knew it.
“What is it?”
Ah.
“You reminded me of the Young Lord. He sometimes makes the same expression as you, Mother.”
Especially when he tells a white lie for my sake.
Winter tilted her head.
She didn't seem displeased; soon, a small smile touched her lips as she spoke.
“In any case, you must also begin your lessons now.”
Pardon?
My mind raced.
Did she mean she was going to invest in me?
Now that I was officially the Young Lord’s Consort, did this mean I wouldn’t have to worry about being kicked out for a while?
“There are more than enough tutors to teach you. Focus on your recovery.”
They were grateful words.
And I was confident I could learn diligently.
But before I could accept Winter’s kindness, there was something I needed to clarify.
“But Mother, about the fire at the estate…”
Winter’s eyebrow arched.
“What fire?”
“…”
“I personally brought you and Kivrin out of the Snake Pit. There was no fire that day.”
“…”
“And the Snake Pit has been reduced to dust, so no one will ever find it, not even a trace.”
It seemed that in deciding to accept me as a member of the Nectarian family, she had also decided to bury the arson incident.
Of course, Winter must have had a strong suspicion that I was the arsonist.
Perhaps… Winter had also needed a catalyst?
If someone had given her a push, even if it wasn't me, and she had taken just one step forward, she wouldn't have ignored Kivrin in the novel, either.
Just as she wasn’t ignoring me now.
Winter rose from her seat.
“I have work to attend to. You should go meet Viscount Rose.”
Aaargh! Not again!
As long as Viscount Rose wants me gone from the ducal house, I want to meet them only after I’ve recovered a bit more!
At least after I’ve stored up enough energy to run away!
“I, I’ll go with you, Mother! Can’t I? I’ll be quiet!”
“Hmm?”
I had shouted without thinking, but surprisingly, Winter’s reaction wasn’t bad.
I desperately pretended to be pitiful.
“I feel safe by your side… I’m still not used to this place…”
“You feel safe by my side, you say…”
Wait, did Winter just smile?
She lifted me into her arms in one swift motion.
“It seems you still have trouble walking. This should do.”
I was carried in Winter’s arms to her office.
Her office was piled high with documents.
Winter set me down on the sofa.
Her adjutant, who was already there sorting through papers, shot me a slightly worried look from over her glasses.
I promise I won’t even breathe too loudly!
I mimed zipping my lips.
She smiled in spite of herself before quickly schooling her expression.
As I settled in, hugging a cushion, Winter tied up her lustrous hair.
She had simply revealed the nape of her neck, yet she looked elegant enough to enter a ballroom.
It was clear now. `` had gone down the wrong path the moment it omitted a description of Winter’s appearance.
My mother is the most beautiful person in the world.
If I were the author, I could write at least 300 lines just describing Winter Nectarian’s appearance.
Winter’s eyes were like crystals encased in blue ice that even the sun outside the window could not melt.
As I stared at her, mesmerized, a faint smile bloomed on her lips.
In contrast, the adjutant’s brow furrowed and smoothed out, clearly displeased with the contents of her report.
“The monster attacks have been far too frequent lately. We are in urgent need of additional troops. It would be even better if the Duke himself were to take action.”
The adjutant’s expression grew complicated as she thought of sweeping up magic stones and persuading Menelik.
