Even the ducal castle’s magnificent main gate lost all presence before the man. He was the sort of person who turned everything around him into a mere backdrop.
“Is that him….”
Flora murmured blankly. Then the woman who had been hidden behind the Duke’s robust frame revealed herself. The cream-colored dress she wore stood out against the Duke’s black cloak, looking extraordinarily white, almost like a wedding gown. Yet even standing beside the Duke, that woman did not lose her presence.
Flora’s eyes narrowed to slits.
“What… is that?”
＊ ＊ ＊
Upon entering the main garden of the Richmond Ducal residence, Walter glanced to his left. Grace, who had been following him with dainty steps, looked up at him in response. Blinking once, twice, she smiled slyly and mouthed a word.
‘Laugh.’
The moment he saw that, Walter was so dumbfounded he couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The small hand clasped in his immediately tightened.
Don’t laugh like you’re mocking me!
As if he could hear her scolding, buzzing voice, Walter quickly schooled his expression.
That made nine. Counting inwardly, Walter entered the main keep and looked at Grace again. Grace glanced at him shyly and muttered softly.
“…Your Grace.”
Her diction and tone were supremely elegant; the moment he heard them, it felt as if his fingertips were tingling. It seemed Walter wasn’t the only one who felt that way—the Richmond retainers flocking behind them like clouds stirred as well.
That made ten.
On horseback, Grace had leaned her head against his chest as if nestling there were perfectly natural and said,
‘Your Grace, please delay introducing me as long as possible. And tell the knights not to call me “my lady” for the time being.’
‘Do you want to delay the news from reaching Taylor?’
‘That too, but appearing somewhat approachable is advantageous right now.’
‘…Is that even advantageous?’
‘Of course. By the way, do you have a plan for how to treat me affectionately?’
‘……’
He could recite strategies for subjugating demonic beasts and executing revenge with his eyes closed, but when it came to how to treat the woman he loved affectionately, he had nothing to say.
He had wanted to praise himself just for thinking of riding with her; what more could he do…?
When he remained silent for a moment, Grace let out a short sigh and commanded like a general.
‘First, hold my hand. Then, from the gate until the moment we enter the main keep, look back at me exactly ten times. Then everyone will know without you needing to introduce me at length. They’ll speculate all on their own.’
He had wondered if that would be enough… but it worked. It was entirely thanks to Grace’s experience.
Yet she wasn’t putting on some grand performance. Each time he glanced at her, she showed a slightly different reaction. At first she pretended not to notice, but as the count increased, sometimes she bit her lip, sometimes she stared back blankly, and sometimes she smiled faintly, almost visible but not quite. Even Walter, who knew it was an act, found himself curious about how she would react next.
Going by the reaction behind them, there likely wasn’t a single person who hadn’t realized she was his lover. They must be burning with curiosity about what position she would hold within Richmond Ducal Castle from now on. They had probably already selected the perfect candidate for Duchess to their own taste.
And sure enough, he sensed a presence to his right, and Countess Rinko poked her face forward with a smile.
“Ah… Your Grace.”
When Walter stopped walking, everyone moving with him halted as well. The Countess looked at Grace cautiously and asked,
“We shall guide the lady who accompanied you to the drawing room for the moment. We did not receive word of her arrival, so the guest room preparations are insufficient….”
“That won’t be necessary, Countess Rinko.”
A very cold, low voice cut her off mid-sentence. Walter stared into the Countess’s eyes, then turned his head toward Grace. In her slender face, her sharply set eyes held a pure, unspoken question.
How skilled she was at pretending ignorance when she knew everything. Without realizing it, Walter tightened his grip on the hand he held and spoke in a low voice.
“From now on, she will be staying in the ‘Room of the Chandelier.’”
“P-pardon? The R-Room of the Chandelier… did you say?”
The moment the Duke’s words fell, gasps could be heard everywhere. The Countess’s eyes widened as if they might pop out, and the Count gaped with his mouth hanging open. Flora, who had been watching with fire in her eyes, also covered her mouth with both hands.
The Room of the Chandelier. It was the bedchamber used by successive Duchesses.
“Y-Your Grace! That place is……!”
“Why are you surprised? Must I receive permission?”
“…No, Your Grace.”
The Duke, who had delivered a shock to everyone, stood as if shielding Grace with his body and turned his head to look behind him. His gaze was already sharp, but with his chin lifted to look back, he appeared far more severe. The smile he had directed at Grace moments ago had evaporated like morning dew. Even Joseph, watching from afar, felt inexplicably disappointed.
Walter looked at the Count and Countess, and the nobles, with a gaze utterly devoid of humanity, then said in a languid tone,
“That is enough of a welcome. Everyone, withdraw.”
Then he left the dumbfounded, speechless people behind and leisurely ascended the stairs with Grace.
Only the nobles remained in the main keep’s hall. The spot where the Duke had stood was as chaotic as the aftermath of a typhoon.
“Wh… what is going on?”
Someone asked vacantly.
And no wonder. They had not even heard the name of the woman who had accompanied him. It was not that Walter had failed to show courtesy to Grace, but that he had ignored them. None dared to question it. Did a host need to explain in detail when bringing a guest into his own home?
The Count chewed on his lip and said in a low voice,
“It seems His Grace is employing some trick, but it won’t go as he thinks, so do not worry.”
Walter Richmond may think this place is his home, but it will never truly be so.
The Count, who had briefly fallen into thought, spoke with shining eyes.
“Everyone, to the meeting room. We must hold a brief meeting.”
“Yes!”
The nobles bearing the crest of the Richmond Ducal House’s vassals followed him in unison. The Count strode down the corridor as boldly as if he were the master of this castle. The sound of shoe heels scattered noisily through the cold air of the splendid hall.
＊ ＊ ＊
Jessie, walking behind Grace, steadily glared at the two maids who kept stealing glances at Grace while pretending to guide them. Each time the maids furtively looked back, they scanned Grace from head to toe in a single glance. Jessie narrowed her eyes and took note of their appearances.
‘Number one: chestnut hair, brown eyes. Number two: gray hair, blue eyes.’
Then,
“Be faithful to your station.”
It seemed Jessie was not the only one displeased by their behavior, for Walter warned them in a low voice. The maids jumped in fright and quickly bowed their heads to him.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
After Walter’s warning, they did not look back at Grace. However, the moment Walter and Grace entered the Room of the Chandelier, the two completely changed their expressions, pressed their ears flat against the door, and whispered.
“Is she a noble?”
“She looks like one, but seeing as she only has one servant following her, maybe she’s a fallen noble… But even if she has fallen, how can a noble lady cling to a man like that and wander around before marriage?”
“Hey, even commoners wouldn’t do that! All her marriage prospects will be ruined!”
“Maybe… Your Grace has been at the Wall of Death all this time, hasn’t he? Couldn’t she be a woman from near there? They say fugitives live around there.”
“Ugh, really. Anyway, is it fitting for a woman of unclear status to get the Room of the Chandelier?”
“Don’t worry. Once His Grace sees our Lady Flora, he’ll change his mind.”
Jessie was in the corridor, but they paid her no heed at all. Rather, they looked Jessie up and down and deliberately bumped her shoulder as they passed.
“Ah.”
“Oh, does it hurt? But what’s with you? You got no eyes? Watch where you’re going. You should dodge on your own.”
“And it’s funny. She brought along something like a handmaid?”
“Oh my, listen to her cultured speech. A handmaid? She couldn’t even be a maid. Hey, you. Scurry around without being seen. You’ll be kicked out soon, so don’t get attached to the place. Hmm?”
Have these wenches lost their minds?
Jessie’s eyes blazed with anger. She fiercely glared at the backs of the two chattering maids as they walked away.
＊ ＊ ＊
It was not only the maids whose attitudes changed the moment the door closed. The instant the door shut, Grace straightened her posture, which had been leaning slightly against Walter, and let go of the hand she had been holding. Then she pressed her ear to the door and listened to the sounds outside.
Without realizing it, Walter looked down at his own hand. He clenched and unclenched his fist, and when he raised his head, Grace had turned toward him. The shy expression and gaze she had shown before others were gone; in their place remained only a rationality sharpened to a razor’s edge. Her eyes turned toward the ceiling.
Hanging from the ceiling was a beautiful chandelier befitting the room’s name. Hundreds of crystals hung like raindrops, scattering the sunlight entering through the window in all directions. Below it was a round console table, upon which stood a bouquet of lilies that was pure yet captivating. Judging by the freshness of the petals, they had undoubtedly been replaced today.
Grace slowly moved to look around the room.
Firewood was stacked in the beautifully patterned fireplace, and the bedding on the massive bed was fluffy, as if freshly changed. It seemed someone had intended to sleep here tonight as well.
Grace let out a hollow laugh, like a dry cough.
“Oh dear. It seems I’ve unintentionally stolen someone’s room.”