2
When Eden lifted her into his arms and began walking, Delia couldn’t suppress her embarrassment.
She pushed against his shoulder, urging him again.
“Put me down!”
“Can you not stay still for once? You can barely walk properly, so I’m just carrying you.”
Despite his words, he eventually set her down.
And before she could say anything else, he spoke again in a low voice.
“Go wash up and sleep. I’ll be staying in the study tonight.”
The office had an adjoining bedroom. He often slept there, and it wasn’t unusual for him to remain there for several consecutive nights.
Under normal circumstances, she would have let his words pass without comment.
But today, for some reason, she couldn’t.
Delia hesitated before speaking in a small voice.
“…Could you come to the room later, even if it’s late?”
Eden tilted his head slightly as he looked at her. A shadow stretched along the bridge of his nose.
His gaze carried the sense that he was searching for something in her words.
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not acting like yourself. Did something happen?”
His voice sharpened slightly.
“No… it’s nothing like that.”
As she answered, Delia felt as though she were lying. But she could never bring herself to say she had been struck by her grandfather.
That was the reality of her situation.
If only she could manifest magic—then she would never be cast out, neither from the Grace family nor from Eden. There would be nothing to worry about.
But if Eden learned that she could not, and that even her natal family, House Owens, would not protect her…
‘He’d find it easier to let me go.’
Delia lowered her gaze, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of helplessness.
Eden, watching her avert her eyes, remained expressionless as always.
“I have a lot of work today.”
He was clearly stating that he would not come to the room where she would be sleeping.
Delia could only give a small nod. She could no longer think of a way to hold him back.
She could not explain the loneliness that surged through her like a tide. So that emptiness remained hers alone to bear.
Returning to her room alone, Delia bathed in the warm water Luna had prepared and then went to sleep.
When she was younger, nights like this often brought nightmares. But perhaps she had grown up now—sleep itself had become her only refuge, and she sank into it deeply, as though it were the only peace she had left.
It seemed snow had fallen during the night; melting crystals still clung to the window frame.
Delia slowly opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward the window near her bed.
Luna, noticing she was awake, knocked gently and entered.
“Milady, you’re awake?”
“Yes. Luna, where is Lord Grace?”
At her question, Luna hesitated, her expression troubled. She was always the closest to her lady’s emotions, and her uncertainty was written clearly on her face.
Before Luna could answer, Delia spoke again.
“He must have gone out of the estate.”
“Yes… He left early this morning. It seems he did not want to disturb you while you were asleep, so he did not say goodbye.”
It was a kind lie.
Delia knew as much, but she only offered a faint smile, appreciating Luna’s concern for her feelings.
Time at Grace Castle without Eden passed swiftly, like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Like an arrow shot into the sky at dawn—rising, tracing a curve, and then striking the earth—each passing moment felt like walking alone down a fading twilight road.
Within that swiftly passing time, Delia fell severely ill for several days.
The beating she had received from Abel at the Owens estate had, now that the tension had released, manifested as sickness.
“The fever must be brought down. Please continue wiping her body with cold cloths.”
“Yes, I will.”
Luna, listening to the physician’s instructions, looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Delia barely managed to lift her heavy eyelids, but her vision was too hazy to focus properly on either the physician or Luna.
Soon after, the physician left the room, and Luna continued wiping Delia’s body with cold cloths.
The chill spreading across her skin made Delia shiver uncontrollably.
“Ah… it’s so cold. Please cover me with a blanket…”
“I’m sorry, milady. I know it feels cold, but your body is burning with fever. Just a little longer… please endure it a bit more.”
“How… many days has it been?”
She was asking how long she had been bedridden.
“Today is the third day. But you’re better than yesterday, so you’ll recover soon.”
“And Eden?”
“…It seems his work hasn’t finished yet. I asked the head maid to send a letter informing him that you are ill. I’m sure he will return soon.”
Delia closed her eyes again.
Her body felt cold. Was her heart cold too? Her chest ached strangely as well.
And so she remained ill for several more days.
Her skin, paler than usual from lying in bed, made Luna’s heart clench every time she looked at her lady.
Perhaps due to Luna’s devoted care, Delia’s condition finally began to show visible improvement after several days.
“Milady, are you alright?”
“…I think I’m much better today. Lying in bed for so long has actually made me want to walk a little.”
As she spoke, Delia slowly pushed herself upright.
“Then would you like to take a walk along the Staas? The weather is warmer today, so with a shawl, you should be fine.”
Within Grace Castle, a walking path encircled the main building.
The path led from Delia’s terrace down to the garden below, and everyone in the ducal castle called it “Staas.” It was said to come from an ancient word meaning “beautiful.”
Delia changed into a slightly thicker outdoor dress, draped a violet shawl over her shoulders, and left her room.
Behind her, a man naturally followed.
Drok Freeman, the third son of the Marquis of Freeman and a high-ranking knight of the Skyler Order led by Eden.
Shortly after Eden’s departure from the estate, Drok had suddenly appeared and delivered an unexpected declaration to Delia.
‘From today, I will be assigned as your personal escort.’
‘An escort, suddenly? I don’t understand. I rarely even go out… and you are a high-ranking knight. Isn’t this a bit…’
‘The Commander instructed that I only take the role while he is away. I will ensure you feel no inconvenience.’
Despite his words, there was no way Delia could feel at ease.
They eventually reached an agreement: Drok would remain in the corridor far from her room and only approach when she left the main building.
Walking slowly along Staas, Delia unconsciously let out a sigh.
Drok, who had been following at a slight distance, turned his gaze toward her.
Delia, noticing his look, quickly composed herself and spoke as if nothing were wrong.
“Where has Lord Grace gone? Since you are here, it doesn’t seem like Knight Commander business.”
“Yes. I heard it is business related to commerce.”
“Oh, the Grace domain’s business has been doing very well lately, hasn’t it?”
“I am only a knight, so I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard it is among the top in the Empire.”
Their conversation eased the atmosphere. Delia found Drok surprisingly easy to talk to.
“People used to say that the Grace family’s position would only be secured if a great mage stood beside him. It seems they were wrong.”
Delia smiled faintly as she spoke.
But at her words, both Drok and Luna’s expressions darkened. They seemed to think she was lamenting her own situation.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to sound gloomy. I just… I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to say this, but I think Lord Grace is truly admirable.”
“…I see.”
Eden was not the biological son of the previous duke, but an adopted heir.
At the time of succession, opinion within the realm had been far from favorable.
Many had opposed granting the ducal title of Grace to Eden, the son of knights from a distant land who had only achieved modest deeds.
The former Duchess, Kayla Grace, had firmly silenced all opposition.
‘If Eden cannot be granted the title, then I will return both the title and the territory to the Imperial Family.’
The Emperor of Atlantia, too, had secretly welcomed the idea of an adopted heir rather than a pureblood successor of House Grace.
Since the founding duke of Grace had been of imperial blood, the Imperial Family both respected and closely monitored the house due to issues of succession.
In this context, there had been no major obstacle in granting the title.
However, Kayla had known that Eden’s status as an adopted son could one day become a weakness.
Thus, she had arranged a marriage with House Owens, known as the treasury of magic.
If Delia had awakened as a great mage, as everyone had hoped, she would have provided Eden with immense power.
A certainty that could have changed everything.
