Chapter 43
Life Mortgaged –
Knock, knock.
The subtle atmosphere that had been flowing between them was abruptly cut off.
“Madam? Are you there?”
Casey knocked on the door from outside.
Irina’s eyes flew open.
“—W-wait a moment.”
She quickly checked the time. Casey had already passed the usual hour she came to prepare the bed.
She had been talking with him so long, she didn’t realize it was already bedtime.
Flustered, Irina pushed him away lightly, but Howard didn’t budge.
“C-Casey is here.”
In the end, Irina won.
She slipped from his arms, hopped down from the windowsill, and went to the door.
Howard looked deeply regretful.
Every time the mood was about to form, a sound interrupted. And when it was about to form again, another sound…
But unfortunately, Irina didn’t hear the heavy sigh he let out as she opened the door.
Casey greeted her with a bright face.
“Casey.”
In her hands was a tray holding teacups and a teapot.
“Madam, I’m a bit late, right? I’m still getting used to this place. Earlier Lady Mari told me this was a tea you used to drink before bed, so I prepared it for you! Since it’s almost your bedtime, I brought it up!”
“Thank you. But, um—Howard is still here.”
“Oh my, did I come too early then? I’ll come back in a little while!”
Irina glanced back toward the room, then turned to Casey again.
“Could you give me the tea?”
“Huh? This? It must be heavy. I’ll boil fresh tea again later!”
“It’s okay.”
“Then please take it from this side.”
Casey quickly rotated the tray so Irina could take it easily.
“Thank you. And you don’t need to come back later. Howard will help me prepare for bed. Go rest early tonight.”
“What? His Grace will prepare your bed?”
Casey squeaked a small exclamation.
She quickly clapped her hands over her mouth—worried she was too loud.
She had never, in all her time working as a maid, heard of a noble husband preparing his wife’s bed.
Normally, maids made the bed first, then the husband visited later.
His Grace must have come early today!
She recalled Irina had bathed earlier than usual.
Casey’s face flushed bright red.
“S-sorry.”
Irina chuckled quietly.
“It’s fine. You weren’t loud. It must’ve been tiring getting used to a new place. You really worked hard today, Casey. See you in the morning.”
“Ah—yes, yes! Then I‘ll see you in the morning! Have a wonderful night, Madam, Your Grace!”
Casey clasped her hands together, bowed deeply, and scampered off like a squirrel.
Irina brought the tray inside.
Howard approached and took the tray from her.
She closed the door and followed him inside.
Even though the window was closed, the air in the room felt ventilated and cooler.
“Nanny must’ve checked again while we were out. She’s impossible. She’s busy running the shop and still fusses over this house.”
“She has been waiting only to see you again.”
“If I tell her I’m leaving again, she’ll burst into tears.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“I hope so. …Want some tea?”
She had brought the tea because it was prepared for her, but having tea time suddenly felt awkward.
Howard also knew she was trying to ease the mood, so he nodded obediently.
“Please sit.”
He pulled out a chair and poured the tea with practiced ease.
Irina sank deeply into her seat and swung her legs a little, waiting for him to finish pouring.
His expression had returned to its usual indifferent calm. He must be just as disappointed as she was.
Irina asked cautiously,
“…Should we lock the door next time?”
Howard burst into laughter at that.
And with that laugh, the faint lingering hope in his heart cooled away with a soft fwoosh.
“Nanny, I’m sorry for giving you work again.”
Two days later.
Irina decided not to delay and return home.
If she stayed any longer, she felt her thoughts would become too complicated.
Her party agreed, and after staying one extra day, they prepared to leave.
Soon, they were standing by the carriage, with Nanny Mari seeing them off.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I’m happy to have come back here again. Please visit sometimes. I’ll decorate nicely for you.”
The manor would still be run by the caretakers, but arrangements had been made so Mari could live here comfortably.
Mari’s family would be allowed to treat it like their own home.
Irina had originally thought the shop Mari was helping with belonged to her, but it turned out it was her daughter’s.
The business had been struggling, and even with Mari helping, things hadn’t improved. The family had been living inside the shop just to get by.
They had even sold their home to survive.
So Irina pretended to be assigning Mari a role—but in reality, she wanted to help her stay here securely.
She did worry Mari might feel burdened, since she had lived her whole life working here, but after hearing of their situation, her decision solidified.
Mari’s grandchildren, who had come to see the manor, were thrilled at the idea of sleeping in such a big house.
Casey, who said she had more to pack this time, appeared with luggage that had somehow tripled.
She had brought a mountain of things the first time, and now she had so much that the knights had to help her carry it.
“Casey, why do you have so much baggage?”
“Ah… Lady Mari packed these things for me.”
Casey was struggling to lift her last bag.
Mari had packed her local specialties, teas Irina used to like, and other gifts.
“Oh my goodness.”
“Hehe. And yesterday, I bought some souvenirs too.”
Thankfully, Casey had planted her acorns instead of bringing them home—she said she planted them under the biggest tree in the garden with Irina’s permission.
She even named the acorns after herself, saying that if they sprouted one day, they would grow big and bear fruit.
“Casey, now I have to come back for your sake.”
Casey only smiled shyly at that.
Mari was already on the verge of soaking her handkerchief with tears.
Irina felt helpless.
“Please don’t fall sick, Lady Irina. Keep your hands and feet warm. And in winter, don’t forget gloves and socks—”
“I know, Nanny. I’ve heard this so many times I could recite it. Don’t worry. I should be worrying about you now. Also, Bormann is much warmer than here. I won’t get sick easily.”
It was true Bormann was warmer, though saying she wouldn’t get sick at all was a stretch.
But she wanted to ease the nanny’s worries.
It felt like a giant worry-doll was clinging to Mari’s back.
Mari wasn’t done—she grabbed Howard next and lectured him for quite some time about all the things he must watch out for regarding Irina.
Then she moved on to Casey.
And finally, she scolded Captain Evern, Haron, and the escort knights with the same earnest warnings.
Before boarding the carriage, Irina turned and looked up at the manor again.
She didn’t know if she would return in a year, or sooner, or if things would go according to the original plan and she wouldn’t come again.
Still, she felt comforted—as if she could mend the painful memory of leaving before.
“Really, we’re going now.”
“Always take care of yourself.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
Irina climbed into the carriage without hesitation.
Howard followed and closed the door. The sound of the others boarding echoed.
Soon, the carriage began to move.
Irina waved out the window one last time.
“Nanny, don’t overwork yourself!”
“Yes! Don’t worry about me!”
Irina waved until the nanny became a tiny dot.
Only then did she close the window.
“Let’s go. To our home.”
Irina held Howard’s hand.
His warm grip made her smile softly.
“This is unfair.”
“Uh… I’m sorry? But I’m not sure if I should be apologizing?”
“Of course you should, my Lady. No—Duchess. How could you go on a trip without telling your best friend?”
Irina had thought she could rest peacefully once home.
But the next day, Damien came to see Howard and poured his grievances at them.
He said they had gone on a family trip—fine—but Arendor was also his hometown, and yet they didn’t tell him or take him.
Even if they left him behind, they should have at least told him. He had visited several times while they were gone.
“You couldn’t have gone anyway.”
Howard countered.
Damien narrowed his eyes sharply.
“Even so, you could have told me. You gave me work, then went on vacation without a word? What kind of friend does that? Duchess, is this how you treat your friends?”
“Then quit today.”
“Wow. Duchess, did you see that? Did you know he was like this?”
Irina nodded reflexively, then quickly shook her head in surprise.
“…Um, also—why did you say you couldn’t go? Unless you were exiled, there’s no reason you can’t visit Arendor.”
“Ahem.”
Damien clenched his fist and coughed awkwardly.
He clearly didn’t want to answer.
