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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: 대공가 시집살이 너무 쉬운데요 (44)화
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Restless Thoughts
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Akid lay on the bed, lost in a daze of thoughts. Sleep particularly evaded him tonight because his mind was overflowing with them.
‘Lord Akid, I’m so incredibly happy right now. Happy enough that I wouldn’t mind dying tomorrow.’
Roena’s words from earlier that day refused to leave his ears. In that moment, even though she was smiling, Akid had the strange illusion that she was crying.
Especially when she spoke of the April family—her complexion had been poor.
Her blue eyes had darkened, as if sinking into a quagmire. Her snow-white skin had paled to the point of seeming fragile.
She had trembled faintly, like a tree branch swaying precariously on a cliffside. So pitiful, as if she might snap off and shatter at any second.
That was why. That was why he had unconsciously cupped her cheeks.
He was startled even as he held them. They were smaller, softer, and more delicate than he had imagined.
When her blue eyes had stared straight at him in surprise, his heart had pounded like crazy. When she smiled bashfully, his chest had tingled with electricity.
Since when had his feelings grown so deep that her smile could stir him like this?
When she said she was happy, his heart had raced wildly. When she said she wouldn’t mind dying tomorrow, it had plummeted in his chest.
It was the same for him. The colorless days in Hadellus Castle had started gaining hues, all thanks to Roena.
So he often found himself thinking the same things she did.
That life right now felt so cozy and wonderful, like wandering through a dream. That he’d have no regrets even if he died on the spot.
He had often wished to fall asleep just like this, without fearing it might shatter upon waking.
Akid ruffled his hair as if sorting through his tangled thoughts, pressing his fingertips firmly against his eyes.
Could he afford to be a little greedier?
Every time she tapped lightly from beyond the line she had drawn, Akid had no idea what to do.
If he let it be, she might cross into the line entirely. And then he really would get greedy.
Maybe he was already stepping over it. Akid couldn’t easily define what his feelings for Roena truly were.
‘But... did something happen in the April family?’
Up until she mentioned Kobishtein, Roena had seemed perfectly normal.
But right after he brought up inviting Marquis April, she had started looking uneasy somehow.
Her face had stiffened abruptly, and she hadn’t even tried to hide the trembling in her hands.
That image kept resurfacing, keeping Akid from sleep.
“Perfect.”
I cupped my cheeks with both hands, beaming as I surveyed the study.
Now that the designer had stopped by with the estimate and the interior work had begun, it finally felt real—the study was coming to life.
That was when Hanna, amused by my expression, asked with a suppressed smile.
“Is it that good?”
“Yes! I’m so excited already—it’s thrilling!”
Over there, I’d display Akid’s portrait. And here, the target from the archery tournament he’d shot...
There were already so many things I wanted to do. The thought of gradually filling this space with pieces of Akid had my excitement refusing to fade.
As I grinned ear to ear, Hanna said,
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Have I ever been in a bad mood?”
I brushed it off lightly, but Hanna pressed,
“You seemed a little down lately. Was I wrong?”
“Not at all.”
I shrugged all the way to my shoulders, and Hanna nodded, ushering me outside. She said I’d make the workers self-conscious if I kept wandering around.
She wasn’t wrong, no matter how I rolled with it, so I left while instructing them to prepare tasty snacks for the workers.
Even when you’re paying for labor, you’ve got to make sure their meals are taken care of properly—no one likes feeling overlooked.
I’d just reached the bedroom when I ran into Head Maid Countess Aria.
“Young Grand Duchess, Her Grace the Grand Duchess is asking for you regarding the Evies Mine.”
“Mother-in-law?”
“Yes. The authentication process is complete.”
“Oh, finally!”
That meant the reward promised to me was now set in stone.
Grinning from ear to ear, I hurried after Countess Aria. But when I arrived at the drawing room, it wasn’t just the Grand Duchess greeting me.
“Young Grand Duchess.”
“Henry?”
I was startled to see Henry, but it quickly made sense. He must have come in person to report that the Evies Mine authentication had been approved.
“You’re here, Saea.”
The Grand Duchess welcomed me warmly, gesturing to the seat beside her. I sat down obediently, and Henry stepped forward.
“I heard from Countess Aria that the Evies Mine matter wrapped up nicely.”
“Yes. All thanks to you.”
Elena smiled gracefully as she lifted her teacup.
But for some reason, Henry standing before us looked fidgety. I tilted my head curiously, and the Grand Duchess asked,
“Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”
“Something to say?”
Her question felt like a sudden probe, and I tilted my head again. The Grand Duchess nodded toward Henry, who took the hint and spoke up.
“Young Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Do you still have the watch you took from me last time?”
“Of course.”
Originally, I’d planned to use that pocket watch to prove the land had received a spirit’s blessing.
But then Henry bit the bait hard, making it unnecessary.
I’d figured him stepping up personally would be more convincing than me waving the pocket watch at the Grand Duchess.
Besides, Henry had made more than just that one. The one I’d given Akid was another.
But why bring up the watch all of a sudden?
As I stared in genuine confusion, Henry spoke.
“Are you truly fine with carrying it? That watch?”
“Yes. There’s no issue at all.”
It wasn’t heavy or anything—his sudden concern caught me off guard.
That was when the Grand Duchess clicked the pocket watch open and set it on the table.
Just like before, it was filled with Delus pollen, swirling like colorful sand.
The Grand Duchess gazed at me steadily, her eyes oddly intent, as if peering into my intentions.
“It’s remarkable. Not long ago, you suffered terribly from a Delus flower allergy, yet here you are, handling this watch without a hitch.”
“!!”
In that instant, I recalled how I’d dangled the Delus flower allergy to bait Henry.
To be precise, it was a hint about the flowers suddenly blooming and withering.
Evidently, Henry had let that slip to the Grand Duchess.
Me—someone who’d barely survived a Delus flower field—casually toting around a watch packed with Delus pollen?
It’d sound suspicious even to a total stranger.
Of course, since I’d been genuinely ill, no one would suspect malingering.
But it did call for an explanation. Why the reaction then, but nothing now?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine—not from the room’s warmth, but from the weight in the Grand Duchess’s gaze, impossible to decipher.
As I darted my eyes around, she toyed with the pocket watch and asked gently,
“Saea, let me ask once more. Is there really nothing you want to tell me?”
The same question again. But I couldn’t repeat my earlier answer. As I hesitated, Henry adjusted his glasses and pulled something from his pocket.
“This is...”
“A magic stone extracted from the Evies Mine wormhole. Its quality is exceptional—ten times the power of standard magic stones.”
“Impressive.”
“Indeed. Factoring in how magic stones lose mana retention dramatically over time after formation, this qualifies as top-tier.”
His sudden deep dive into magic stones left me blinking blankly. Henry continued,
“A spirit’s temporary presence doesn’t guarantee a top-grade stone. If it did, ancient records would be full of such mines.”
Right then, I remembered the spirits’ chatter as they flitted past.
—Without the original contractor, spirit traces fade quickly. They vanish beyond a certain distance.
Traces that wouldn’t have lingered without my contract.
Apparently tied to the magic stone’s mana retention. As I stayed silent, Henry went on.
“In simple terms, such high mana retention only happens under specific conditions.”
Henry glanced at me and murmured softly,
“For instance... if spirits were continuously present there. Or if it was a site of a spirit’s contract with a human.”
“...”
“You said you got lost inside the wormhole, Young Grand Duchess. Would you mind sharing what happened then?”
Henry and Elena’s eyes locked onto me. There was no dodging this anymore.
I’d clearly underestimated Henry. Sure, I’d scattered hints hoping he’d piece it together.
But I hadn’t expected him to catch on this fast.
Amazed by his deductive prowess, I glanced at the spirits hovering in midair, gaping in shock.
They hadn’t imagined anyone grasping them this deeply.
Alarmed, the spirits swirled around Henry in a frenzy.
As if debating whether to do away with him.
To save Henry, I opened my mouth.
“I met the spirits inside the wormhole.”
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