Chapter 27
Should I be grateful that there are no wandering children in the Spes territory?
Or should I pity the children who have to cross mountains as soon as the sun rises?
While watching the people living such harsh lives, Eluana asked,
“Are there no orphanages in Kraue?”
“Except for the capital, the only places with orphanages are the Duchy of Spes and the County of Arcas. Touring the orphanage in Spes might help you make a decision.”
Eluana flinched and turned her head. She felt as if Dave could read her mind.
“Do you know what I’ve been worrying about?”
Dave looked at her with a gentle expression, like a grandfather gazing at his granddaughter.
“Do you find it difficult to lead the Spes family?”
It was more than that.
“It feels distant. I feel like I don’t know anything. Not just because I lack education, but because I just don’t understand the world very well.”
“If you don’t know, see more and feel more. Just like you did today, looking around the territory with your own eyes.”
“Is that enough?”
“Most successors don’t care about the lives of their people even after studying for ten years. This old man believes that you’ll be a great ruler of Spes.”
“I’ve never even thought about being responsible for the duchy.”
Eluana confessed honestly.
Life is unpredictable, but Eluana had always envisioned her future around running a blacksmith’s forge. There was an enormous gap between running a blacksmith shop and managing a duchy.
A soft wrinkle appeared at the corner of Dave’s eye.
“What matters is the ruler’s discernment and conviction. A duke does not do everything alone. If you make big decisions, capable retainers will take care of the smaller matters.”
“Someone like Secretary Noah?”
“He’s a perfect example. Marrying a husband with excellent administrative skills is also a method.”
Eluana came to a small realization.
‘I don’t have to do everything myself.’
For some reason, her heart felt a bit lighter. She recalled the children she had seen earlier.
“Can those kids not enter Spes’s orphanage?”
“If we accept orphans from other territories, they’ll flock here from all over the Empire. There are also many lords who treat tax-paying citizens as property. If they complain, it could escalate into an inter-family issue. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes you can only do what’s possible.”
“Then how about giving a meal to the children who cross the border to beg? Even just once a day. Since we can’t give to everyone, we could have them do easy chores like picking up trash.”
After she finished speaking, Eluana was startled by how overly gentle Dave’s expression became.
“I’ll discuss it with Secretary Noah.”
The carriage reached the border and made a wide loop around the northern outskirts, returning to the duke’s estate. At the time, Eluana had no idea what was waiting for her.
When she reached the third floor where the Lavender Room was, something felt off. Three or four maids were gathered in front of the room and turned when they saw her.
“The young lady has arrived!”
One of the maids ran up to her in delight.
“His Highness Prince Regis came to see you. He’s been waiting for about an hour.”
Eluana couldn’t believe her ears. Had she just heard something horrible?
That garbage?
“…He came to see me?”
“Yes! His Highness the First Prince! He came to see you and has been waiting.”
One of the maids replied excitedly.
So she hadn’t misheard.
Eluana involuntarily shuddered. The laughter of Regis, the sting of the branch that tore into her back, the burning sensation and pain—those memories crawled back out.
Along with emotions like anger and disgust, a primal fear still lingered. She’d barely endured it all thanks to Louis, but those were horrifying days. She never wanted to face Regis again.
And now he had come to see her?
The maids who led Eluana to the Lavender Room looked giddy, as if something wonderful had happened. They all seemed to be imagining something romantic.
The oldest among them stepped forward.
“You can’t keep His Highness waiting. Let me help you prepare and dress.”
At the word prepare, Eluana’s expression turned cold. She remembered: this was the duke’s estate, and Regis was just a guest.
He wouldn’t dare beat her here, and he must have a reason for coming.
“Is it normal for a royal to visit the duke’s estate when the duke isn’t even home? Without an appointment? Isn’t that incredibly rude?”
“…Royals don’t need manners,” one maid answered, though her voice lacked conviction—it was just something she’d heard somewhere.
Eluana pressed, “Even in the duke’s estate?”
None of the maids could answer. They were just ordinary people with a vague awe and fear of royalty.
From what Eluana had seen, the Duke of Spes held significant status. Even when facing Prince Khazar, the 4th prince, it never felt like the duke was beneath him—if anything, they felt like equals, or even that the duke held more weight. So for Regis to show up unannounced… it might mean he was desperate.
While she was deep in thought, the maids started chattering again.
“You must pick a dress quickly, miss!”
“Yes, we must start your preparations right away!”
“We’ll do our best with what little skill we have!”
Their pushiness annoyed her. She raised her brows but didn’t scold them. These were people who might end up with their heads on spikes like Mary if they offended royalty.
She remembered Mary’s face, and the faces of the villagers who were hanged alongside her.
Even back then, Regis beat her often—but he hadn’t killed her. That was the power of the ‘Vita’ surname. And now, she was in the Spes duchy. Regis had probably already heard that she and Louis had been registered as members of House Spes.
Eluana decided to trust in the power of the name Spes.
As she turned, maids approached with dazzling dresses. They held out three different ones, all blindingly ornate. Another maid offered a box of necklaces and hair accessories.
Just the thought of dressing up to stand before Regis made her feel nauseous.
“I’ll go like this.”
She ignored the flashy items.
“You’ll meet His Highness dressed like that?”
“Yep.”
The maids were flustered, but Eluana was firm. She wasn’t in pajamas—just a simple day dress.
She had no desire to dress up to impress Regis. Instead, she pulled a few steel marbles from a wooden box and slipped them into her pocket. They hadn’t moved even a fraction so far, but maybe something magical would happen in a moment of crisis.
“But miss…”
As the maids fretted, the butler Dave appeared. Their faces brightened.
He would sort this out.
“I’ll escort you. Shall we go like this?”
Dave spoke politely.
The maids looked like they had much to say but kept it in. Eluana left the room.
“Keep it a secret from Louis that the First Prince came to see me.”
The staff all nodded.
Eluana passed through a corridor lined with large paintings and descended marble stairs covered with rugs. As she entered another hallway, she saw busy attendants and maids.
‘It’s okay. I’m not afraid.’
It would be a lie to say she didn’t want to turn around and run. That urge clashed with her desire not to avoid what was coming, and her steps slowed.
‘Don’t be scared.’
One way or another, she had to face Regis again. Since she’d decided to go, she wasn’t going to turn back now.
Eluana took a deep breath. Dave looked even more concerned.
“If you don’t want to do this, you can return to the Lavender Room.”
His expression was serious, and Eluana couldn’t nod.
If she ignored this situation, she could already guess what havoc Regis would wreak. Right now, the only people truly safe in this estate were those with the family name: herself, Louis, and Dave.
“He came to see me. I’ll meet him.”
When she made her choice, Dave’s expression became even more resolute.
“The royal attendants and knights came with him, but we didn’t allow them into the mansion. I’ll be with you in the reception room. You won’t be left alone with him.”
“Thank you, Dave.”
As Eluana steeled herself, Dave added,
“You don’t need to endure anything. As long as you don’t kill or permanently disable the prince, the duke will take care of everything. And he won’t overlook the fact that His Highness barged in uninvited to meet you.”
The First Prince was the most likely successor to the throne. He was the empress’s only son and had the powerful Marquis Pegimul as maternal family. Regis acted without restraint because of that strong backing.
And yet Dave said it would be fine as long as she didn’t cripple him?
‘There’s no way that’s really okay.’
Maybe she’d be fine—but it wouldn’t pass without consequences. Eluana let out a small sigh and asked,
“Is there anything I should be careful of?”
“Don’t forget who you are, miss. In this Empire, no one has nobler blood than you.”
Her worry melted slightly—not because she remembered her noble blood, but because she had someone on her side.
And Regis wouldn’t be able to act violently in the duke’s estate.
‘At least he won’t beat me.’
He might throw insults or pick a fight, but that was tolerable.
They arrived at the reception room. A maid opened the arched door, and inside, she saw Regis’s creepily vivid red hair.
Her fingertips started trembling, and she had to clench her fists. The closer she got to him, the more her expression froze. She felt like blood and pus were oozing from wounds that had long since healed. Her legs wouldn’t move.
Her body was betraying her mind—again.
‘No. Move. Don’t stop.’
Eluana bit the soft flesh inside her mouth. The taste of blood was sharp.
She could turn back and hide. But she had already imagined what would happen if she did. If she, the safest person here, ran away and something terrible followed…
‘I think I’d end up hating myself.’
That would be unbearable. Eluana stared at the vivid red hair inside the room.
That thing was a bug. A cockroach. A bright red cockroach.
