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(T/N: I do hope that Olga is different from the other maids… or rather, I am hoping that the people in this estate are better than the people in the estate in the North… right? 🙏)
Chapter 42
In the mansion where the early hours of dawn had settled.
This mansion was a gift from the first Emperor to his companion and close friend, the first Duke Winter, and it boasted a magnificent appearance. However, the mansion’s reputation, once so beautiful that even foreign kings would come to see it, was now a thing of the past.
Since the current Duke Winter, Edmund, inherited the title, the mansion had been largely neglected. As a result, its former beauty had faded, and it was gradually forgotten by the people. Only a few loyal servants, including the aging head maid who had devoted her youth to the household, remained to quietly guard the place.
But today, the mansion was different.
“Benjamin, should we prepare more candles? Oh, and now that I think about it, we’re probably low on oil. Should I go purchase some...?”
“Olga.”Benjamin gently called the name of the old Head Maid, Olga.
“Then perhaps we should at least prepare the Madam’s room…”
“This is enough.”“Enough? I’m worried that the Madam might find the mansion to look too shabby.”Olga, who had been anxiously pacing, finally calmed down and let out a long sigh.
“This place was still beautiful just a few years ago…”
“It still is.”“I’m not saying it’s not beautiful now. But this is the first time the Madam will be visiting.”Because of her advanced age, traveling across the northern lands was a risk to Olga’s life.
Edmund had opposed her traveling for his wedding, so Olga couldn’t attend the ceremony, and she had been too ill to visit the lady of the Winter household during Damian’s coming-of-age ceremony. She had begun to fear that she might never meet the Madam at all.
But a few hours ago, Benjamin, who had gone down to the northern region, returned with momentous news: the Duke and Duchess, along with the young master, were coming to the mansion to attend a hunting event. And there was even more joyous news Benjamin brought with him.
Olga swallowed nervously and asked again.
“Is it true? Is Madam really pregnant?”
“Yes, it’s true. His Excellency confirmed it himself.”It was the latter piece of news that had Olga so excited. A child. A second child in the Winter family!
The fact that the Madam came from the Bled family did not matter at all if she could break the long-standing curse that plagued the Winter household.
“Let’s rest for now. They won’t arrive until early tomorrow morning.”
“...Understood.”Olga sighed deeply and walked down the hallway with Benjamin. But before long, Olga came to a sudden stop.
“Olga, where are you...?”
Olga stood staring blankly out the window. Benjamin followed her gaze. They both saw lights rapidly approaching.
It was Edmund.
— — —
Benjamin and Olga quickly descended to the first floor and stood in front of the main entrance. The party had already arrived and was unloading their luggage.
“Your Excellency, what is going on?”
Benjamin, breathless and confused, wondered why Edmund had arrived now when he was supposed to come hours later. A growing sense of unease gripped him. Did something happen?
“Olga, it’s been a while. Johann is injured.”
“What...!”Despite the calm greeting, the news that followed was anything but peaceful. Benjamin hurried to guide Johann to the physician.
“Daphne is in the carriage. She’s injured as well, so see to her.”
Following Johann’s injury, the Madam was also hurt. Benjamin found the situation overwhelmingly bewildering.
“Your Excellency, what in the world happened...?”
“Benjamin. Bring me some liquor.”As Edmund spoke in passing, Benjamin urgently chased after him, reflecting on the words.
Bring liquor.
‘!’
Edmund was injured too. And it was serious.
* * *
“Hmm, I’m really looking forward to this hunting event.”
“Same here. It’s the first time Duke Winter is participating, isn’t it?”“Yes. Quite an insolent fellow, isn’t he?”When Duke Vevelokh heard the mention of Edmund, Duke Winter, he frowned without realizing it.
“How is it that he only moved after receiving a personal letter from His Majesty?”
Participation in the hunting event wasn’t mandatory. Yet, all the nobles, save for Duke Winter, sought to attend, hoping to expand their networks or enhance their reputations during one of the empire’s grandest festivals.
Duke Vevelokh scorned Edmund as if there were some rule requiring his participation.
‘What a ridiculous relationship.’
The Emperor narrowed his eyes as he watched Duke Vevelokh.
The houses of Vevelokh and Winter had long regarded each other as rivals. To be more precise, it was the Vevelokh side that saw Winter as their competition. This one-sided rivalry had persisted through the generations, and it was no different now.
The Emperor, knowing that once Duke Vevelokh started disparaging Edmund, there would be no end, swiftly changed the subject.
“How’s the progress on that matter?”
“It’s going well, of course.”Duke Vevelokh lowered his voice and asked quietly.
“Your Majesty haven’t forgotten, have you? Once this is over…”
“You mean the condition that I’ll make Lady Vevelokh my empress?”Hearing the words he had been waiting for, Duke Vevelokh’s face lit up.
By some twist of fate, the ages of the Vevelokh and Winter families had never differed by more than five years.
Those of the Vevelokh family, who had always trailed behind Winter, suffered from feelings of inferiority. As a result, they were raised with the belief that they had to defeat the Winter family at all costs. And this generation’s Duke Vevelokh had been hailed as a genius since childhood. Everyone believed that this time, Vevelokh would finally surpass Winter—until Edmund was born.
At eighteen, Duke Vevelokh tasted defeat for the first time, at the hands of Edmund, who had only just appeared in society at five years old. Be it swordsmanship, knowledge, or economics, Duke Vevelokh could not surpass Edmund in any field.
While Edmund grew up to become a war hero and was revered, Duke Vevelokh sought to get closer to the Emperor.
Emperor Edward used Duke Vevelokh, and the Duke, in turn, planned to elevate his daughter to empress and rise above Edmund. Knowing they were different but shared similar goals, they hid their true intentions and exchanged masked smiles.
“Your Majesty, Duke Winter has arrived.”
“Let him in.”Duke Vevelokh rose from his seat.
“Then, I shall take my leave, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.”Duke Vevelokh stood in front of the door that had just begun to open. And when it fully opened, he was greeted by a familiar face.
“Duke, it’s been a long—”
Edmund didn’t even look at Duke Vevelokh. Passing by him, Edmund’s indifference caused the Duke to blink in delayed surprise. Duke Vevelokh swallowed his rising anger. In frustration, he grabbed the sword from a nearby guard’s belt and threw it.
Clang.
“What are you doing?”
“Hmph.”Seeing Edmund unscathed, Duke Vevelokh let out a hollow laugh. Contrary to the information he had received, Edmund showed no sign of injury, easily blocking the sword that hadn’t even been visible.
“Just... a simple greeting.”
Without another word to Duke Vevelokh, Edmund turned and headed for the audience chamber.
Watching his retreating back, Duke Vevelokh ground his teeth in anger.
— — —
“It is an honor to have you join this hunting tournament.”
“No, Your Majesty. It is I who should say that.”“Hmm, you had no trouble on your way here?”At the Emperor’s question, which seemed to carry a hidden meaning, Edmund finally lifted his gaze from the floor and looked at him. Those eyes, no matter how many times he encountered them, always gave Emperor Edward chills. He felt a shiver run down his spine and subtly shrugged his shoulders.
The Emperor’s hurried attempt to avoid his gaze made it hard to believe he truly held the title of Emperor. Only when Edmund looked away did the Emperor regain his composure.
“Ahem, the reason I summoned you is that I have a favor to ask.”
Before long, Edmund left, and Edward found himself unconsciously massaging his neck, which had stiffened from the tension.
‘Such an arrogant man.’
Even if he bowed his head and knelt, Edmund would never offer his loyalty. He did not regard the Emperor as his sovereign, and Edward could feel that from the way Edmund looked at him.
“Lord Sergei, come out now.”
At the Emperor’s command, the curtains behind him were drawn, revealing Sergei.
“Didn’t you say he was injured?”
“That is correct.”“But he seemed perfectly fine.”
Sergei furrowed his brow.
He too was unsure of what had happened. Edmund should have been afflicted after being struck by the monster and tainted by dark magic, yet he appeared unscathed. He had scrutinized Edmund’s every move, from his stride to his breathing, and found nothing unusual.
“...It doesn’t matter. It was just one possible plan, not of great importance.”
“Is that so?”“Yes, Your Majesty.”The Emperor was greatly relieved by Sergei’s unwavering response. Sergei smiled brightly at the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I also have a request to make.”
* * *
Daphne slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight, warm and gentle, something she had never experienced in the northern lands, softly caressed her face.
She sat up slowly, gazing absentmindedly at the room around her. The room, with its antique and classical atmosphere, was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Knock, knock.
Before she could even respond to the knock on the door, it carefully creaked open.
“...Madam!”
The person who entered was an elderly woman. Dressed in the attire of a Head Maid, the woman rushed over, startled to see Daphne sitting up in bed.
“You’re already awake. How is your arm? If you feel any pain, please tell me right away.”
Daphne blinked rapidly at the barrage of questions.
“Ah, I’m Olga. The Head Maid of this estate. Please feel free to call me Olga.”
“Olga... Nice to meet you.”Caught off guard, Daphne nodded slightly, and Olga set down the cloth she had been holding.
“Here, give me your hand. It’s time to change the bandages.”
As Daphne extended her hand, Olga began unwrapping the bandages from her arm. The wound had healed considerably overnight.
“It will likely leave a scar.”
Olga lightly brushed her hand over the area near the wound, her expression full of sympathy. Startled by the tender gesture, Daphne unconsciously pulled her hand back. Luckily, Olga rose from her seat at the same moment.
“Are you hungry? I’ll guide you to the dining room. Would you like to change first?”
With an easy, fluid manner, Olga ushered Daphne into the dressing room. No matter how small the garments were, none seemed to fit Daphne’s frail frame perfectly. In the end, she donned a simple dress and made her way down to the dining room.
During that brief time, Olga chattered away enthusiastically.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment. Just thinking about finally meeting you, my Lady, made me so excited I could barely sleep.”