Chapter 14
13
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Upon his wife's soothing words, Marquis Lincot grumbled for a long while before speaking.
"Yes, I am the master of this castle. Having driven out all those who followed the late Duke, everyone influential in this castle is on my side."
"Even a single maid is on our side. Walter Richmond will never be able to seize this castle. The Duke will be treated just like my grandmother, and he won't dare to oppose us. When we get rid of him, we can take our time and examine everything again."
Marquise Lincot finished speaking gently and then left the office. In the hallway, someone was waiting for her: Mrs. Isaac, the Grand Duchess's maid.
"Marchioness."
However, the Marchioness glanced at her as if displeased and walked away without answering. Anger flashed in Mrs. Isaac's eyes.
"How dare you treat the Grand Duchess like this!"
Then, the Marchioness, who had been walking away, turned back and approached. She calmly clasped her hands and smiled sweetly.
"What did I do to make you act like this?"
"You've been taking away the maids from the annex where the Grand Duchess resides, and now you're even reducing the firewood?!"
"Oh, dear. Is the Grand Duchess cold, Mrs. Isaac?"
At the brazen question, Mrs. Isaac finally became angry.
"Go and see how cold the annex is!!"
The Marchioness let out a soft laugh. Then, the maids standing behind her burst into laughter all at once. After composing herself, the Marchioness put on a serious expression.
"Isn't winter coming soon? I, too, am trying to save every piece of firewood. Tell the Grand Duchess to bear with it for the sake of the family. That way, we can stay warm during the really cold winter, can't we?"
The Richmond Dukedom being short of even a single piece of firewood? It was an excuse that even a child wouldn't believe. The Marchioness patted Mrs. Isaac's shoulder affectionately and then walked away with leisurely steps. The maids' chatter sounded like mockery.
Mrs. Isaac closed her eyes tightly and let out a miserable sigh. Her chest felt heavy, as if something was stuck in her solar plexus, and her whole body felt heavy as if it had absorbed water. Her desolate heart grew even heavier when she entered the annex.
The neglected annex was desolate and lonely, like the ruins of a fallen kingdom's palace. The glory of the person residing there had also faded, forgotten by everyone.
Eliza Richmond.
She was the grandmother of Duke Walter Richmond, the sister of the late Emperor, and the aunt of the current Emperor Venus, who was ill. Therefore, her official title was 'Grand Duchess Richmond,' but at one time, people called her 'the Queen of Richmond.' No woman in the empire had such a splendid title as she did.
But unlike these splendid titles, the Grand Duchess's residence was dark, cold, and lonely, like a corner of a monastery. Trapped inside, she seemed clearly to be dying. Her withered arms were like old trees, and her neck, which sank in with every breath, was full of dry wrinkles.
Once, many people had come to the Grand Duchess and pleaded with her to protect the Richmond Dukedom from the Marquis and Marchioness Lincot, who were trying to devour the family. But Eliza couldn't bring herself to get up. She didn't even get angry when the Marchioness gradually took away her authority.
"What good are family and honor...?"
Duke Walter Richmond was not Eliza's grandson. Her real grandson had died, along with her son and his wife. All that was left for the old woman, who had lost her son, daughter-in-law, and even her beloved grandson, was utter despair.
One day, when ominous rumors that the Emperor's mind was not sound were swirling like mist.
'Mother, please take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince.'
Eliza's son entrusted the Crown Prince, who was the same age as his grandson, to her, and instead took his grandson to the Imperial Palace. Perhaps because they had royal blood, the children had looked quite alike since childhood, and when they exchanged clothes, it was hard to tell who was the young Duke and who was the Crown Prince.
'I'll be back soon, Grandma!'
Unlike his last words, the child never returned to Eliza's arms, even in death. The Empress held the grandson's funeral. The young Duke was placed in a stone coffin engraved with the Crown Prince's name and laid to rest in the Imperial Palace's underground mausoleum. All Eliza received was a handful of ashes of her son and his wife.
She couldn't breathe when she thought about how hot and scared the young child must have been. Eliza stared at the empty air with blackened eyes.
"Grand Duchess, they say the Duke is returning."
"......"
"Wouldn't it be better to prepare to welcome His Grace?"
"I'm sleepy."
"When His Grace returns, the Marquis and Marchioness Lincot won't dare to......"
"It doesn't matter."
"......"
"It doesn't matter."
She didn't want to care about anything, no matter who took over the family.
Eliza closed her eyes. She just felt overwhelmingly sleepy.
＊ ＊ ＊
Meanwhile, Jessie, who had joined after carrying out Grace's orders, scratched her head and thought.
What on earth had happened in the last ten days?
"This fruit has a wonderful fragrance! It would be nice to have it in the carriage!"
"Wouldn't it be nice to have flowers too? I saw them blooming everywhere, so I picked some!"
"Lady Grace, how is your arm injury? This is a special ointment made by our family..."
"Isn't that something you made by mixing this and that at random?!"
"Shut up if you don't know! I know the recipe!"
As the rough-looking knights gathered in front of the carriage and raised their voices, Andrew pushed his way through them, waving his hands.
"Ah, really, what is all this commotion! Huh?! Lady Grace will be startled!"
"Oh, look at this little punk?"
"Such words! They are unpleasant for Lady Grace to hear!"
"......"
"Squad Leader 1. Honestly, that medicine is just a bunch of random stuff thrown in, isn't it? Take it back! And that fruit! Nine out of ten people sneeze when they eat it!! I will deliver only these flowers to Lady Grace."
Andrew, frowning like a gatekeeper, glared at his seniors. The knights who were watching the scene whispered to the eldest and second sons of Count Isaac's family.
"It seems like the youngest of Count Isaac's family is trying to become Lady Grace's attendant."
However, Andrew's brothers just shrugged.
"I don't know what to do with myself, since you keep giving me gifts like this."
Grace smiled brightly, holding the bouquet in her arms. The knights, who were tidying up their luggage here and there, glanced back at her.
It had been only about ten days since the journey to Richmond began. The knights tried to avoid the rough language they usually used in the deadly battlefields where Magical beasts roamed. It was ridiculous anyway, but the young Andrew was glaring at them, and the knights' voluntary efforts also played a part.
Sirius picked his ear and muttered.
"It's better to be Lady Grace's attendant than a knight whose life is hanging by a thread."
At that moment, Grace thanked the knight who had picked the flowers.
"Sir Zeon, the fragrance is wonderful. Thank you."
"Ah, no problem!"
She never forgot a name once she heard it, and she never confused the knights, even though they looked similar.
"Sir Isaac, please give me that ointment and fruit too."
When Grace asked for the gifts that Andrew had blocked, the knights who had prepared the gifts waved their hands in refusal.
"Oh, no! We were thoughtless!"
"Any gift is appreciated. Thank you."
Grace received even the ointment and fruit and put them in the carriage. Jessie, who had joined the group after carrying out the Lady's orders, shook her head, looking at the pile of junk─which it actually was.
Whenever the carriage stopped for a while, the knights brought all sorts of food, blankets, and things they thought were fun, and they carefully checked if Grace had any inconveniences. But as people who had spent their time on the battlefield rather than in high society, there was no one who was aristocratic, no matter how kindly you looked at them. Except for one person, Walter.
Just as Jessie glanced at Walter's back, Grace also looked at him. His hair swayed with the heavy cloak every time it fluttered. Unlike most of the knights, who hovered around her while being cautious, Walter hadn't even spoken to her the entire way here.
"Wait here for a moment, Jessie."
Grace smoothed her hair and got out of the carriage. The knights, who had been standing in disorder, opened a path for her as she walked.
The wind that brushed past Walter carried the cold scent of trees. Walter, feeling the approaching presence, turned around, and Grace smiled sweetly at him. Walter's eyes deepened.
Whether it was acting or a habit, Grace Taylor smiled very well. At him, and at his subordinates.
'First, I will win the hearts of the Richmond knights.'
How could a noble lady who had never even held a sword win the hearts of the knights? Walter was half in doubt.
But before even arriving at the Dukedom, 500 fierce and rough knights had opened their hearts to Grace. They were like dogs wagging their tails at their owner, going to Grace one after another. When he saw them picking even strange fruits as gifts, he could only laugh.
Walter smiled bitterly and muttered.
"They were very light hearts, like paper."
This wasn't jealousy, it was just truly absurd.
