Chapter 56
“Of Course, He Wouldn’t Take That Literally”
Naturally, if he were the type to take a dismissal at face value, he wouldn’t have shown up here in the first place.
From beyond the fence came the sound of someone sniffling.
“Ugh… How could you be so cold to me? How would my sister feel, watching from the heavens, seeing you treat me this way? You know better than anyone how much she cared for the people around her… So why are you so heartless toward our family?”
Nadia was so taken aback that she forgot to breathe.
Just moments ago, Becca had been standing as though the whole world were beneath her feet—yet in the span of a single second, she transformed into a pitiful, tearful lady.
Nadia had always known Becca to be a deceitful and fickle person, but she had never imagined she’d show that same shameless act even to Heinrich.
What gives her the confidence to behave like that?
While Nadia’s eyes trembled in disbelief, Vivian leaned close and whispered.
“Wow, so His Grace really did dote on his late wife that much, huh? I guess that’s why he’s letting her get away with all that. What a nasty woman.”
The blunt comment made Nadia’s head throb.
“That can’t be. He’ll… he’ll punish her.”
“With that level of practice? Doesn’t look like it’s his first time letting her off the hook.”
And indeed, Vivian was right.
Heinrich neither left nor repeated his order for Becca to leave.
Still sobbing, Becca continued her tale.
“My family’s been struggling so much lately. They keep saying they just want to visit my sister’s grave once… But with business going so poorly, it was too much of a burden to travel all this way, so I came alone. You’re the only one we can talk to about her, Your Grace, and yet you’re so cold to us…”
“Ha…”
Nadia finally understood why Becca was acting so shamelessly.
The Count and Countess of Priscill were vain people. Even when Rivennia was alive, they only ever sent half-hearted support money—and never managed to maintain anything properly.
Their businesses failed over and over again; whenever they bought land, they built the wrong kind of buildings in the wrong places. They were warned to just hold onto what they had, but they ignored it and poured money into doomed ventures anyway.
And after Rivennia died, they had the gall to stretch their hands toward Heinrich.
Their political marriage had ended the moment Rivennia passed. Even if she had lived, their contract was only until Heinrich’s twentieth birthday—six years ago, it would’ve been over.
Yet they kept clinging to his kind heart, leeching off him like beggars.
“Your Grace, you’ll be leaving soon, won’t you? Please, take me with you. I’d like to visit my sister’s grave, just once, after so long—”
“I understand.”
“…Pardon?”
“But no one is being allowed near my wife’s grave right now. My secretary will send compensation money—so please, return this time.”
Compensation money. That was exactly what Becca had come for.
Her tears stopped instantly. There was no reason to cry anymore.
“Thank you, Your Grace. My sister would be grateful for your kindness too.”
Even to the very end, she used Rivennia as an excuse.
Rivennia had never touched the Baldwin family’s wealth. Even the money sent to the Priscill family came from the Duchess’s personal allowance.
And now those very people—Rivennia’s nightmare of a family—were slowly gnawing away at Baldwin’s estate.
Footsteps indicated that Becca was leaving.
Nadia calmly stepped out from behind the fence and greeted her with a polite nod.
Becca gave a brief, mocking smirk before schooling her face into a sweet smile.
“Oh my, Baroness Hes—! Oh my!”
She didn’t get to finish.
Thud!
Becca suddenly fell, flat on her face, on the neatly kept lawn where not a single stone could be found.
Too proud to bring a maid for her begging errand, there was no one to catch her.
It was a shame the ground wasn’t harder—but the timing couldn’t have been better.
When Becca’s gaze briefly flicked to Nadia’s face, Nadia quickly moved her fingers and cast a spell.
A small burst of concentrated magic landed at Becca’s feet—just enough to make her trip. Becca must’ve thought she’d caught her shoe on a stray rock.
Was that a little childish?
For a moment, she wondered—but she didn’t regret it.
Vivian hurried forward to help the fallen woman.
Nadia covered her smile with a hand and asked with concern,
“Countess Priscill’s daughter, are you all right? You’re not hurt, are you?”
Becca, her face crimson, glanced around in embarrassment.
“Baroness Hes, there must be a stone in this garden!”
“That can’t be. We had the grass redone recently.”
“But I tripped! There must’ve been one!”
At Becca’s shrill tone, Nadia turned to Vivian with a troubled look.
“Vivian, could you check? If there’s a rock, that’s a serious matter.”
Vivian bent down and examined the ground. Becca, desperate to salvage her pride, also began scanning the area.
But the garden was nothing but smooth, even grass—and perhaps a few pebbles far too small to trip on.
Nadia tilted her brows upward in feigned sympathy and whispered,
“Don’t worry, my lady. Everyone trips sometimes. Besides, no one saw but His Grace and me. You’re sure you’re not hurt?”
Becca turned, startled—and indeed, Heinrich was watching their way.
Her face flushed even deeper. Biting her lower lip, she spun on her heel and stormed off.
Vivian clicked her tongue.
“She’s walking just fine. What a pity.”
Nadia lightly patted her arm with a smile.
“I’ll go have a word with His Grace.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Vivian stepped back just far enough to give them privacy.
When Nadia approached, Heinrich spoke first, as though he’d been waiting.
“You’ve come.”
“You expected me?”
“Yes. You don’t strike me as someone who would abandon a guest.”
“I’m sorry. I got caught up talking with my mother. You must be bored—there’s not much to see in this old house.”
Heinrich’s lips curved faintly.
“Not at all. It’s been… entertaining.”
Entertaining? Nadia blinked.
To him, this estate must look little better than an abandoned house. Yet the curiosity in his eyes as he studied the garden didn’t seem feigned.
He offered his arm. A silent invitation to walk together.
Nadia dipped a graceful curtsy and placed her hand on his arm.
Heinrich’s strides were long, but he deliberately slowed his pace.
“The layout of this garden is rather unusual.”
“Ah, a bit, yes.”
“Was it your idea?”
“Yes. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it.”
The Baron’s estate had two gardens.
One stretched from the front gate—a formal, symmetrical garden meant to entertain noble visitors.
The other lay behind the house—a large open yard with a stream and flowers, but no fragile sculptures or fancy ornaments. It was a place for children to play freely.
When no guests were present, even the local townsfolk could enter and enjoy it.
Some might call it foolish for nobles and commoners to mingle, but the Hes territory couldn’t survive with the Baron’s family isolated from its people.
Many past Barons had learned to swing a pickaxe before a pen, and their teachers were always the local miners.
Now that life was more comfortable, there was nothing wrong with living more nobly—but not at the expense of those who worked the land. Living with the people had always been the Hes family’s way.
While the people worked for the territory, the Baron’s family protected their homes and families.
That was the symbolism behind this garden. It wasn’t the most elegant sight, but Nadia loved it dearly.
Even if, in front of Heinrich, it felt a little… plain.
Fortunately, he seemed to like it.
“A choice befitting you, my lady.”
A simple phrase, but it carried unmistakable praise.
Nadia smiled, looking out over the flowers.
Heinrich, however, looked only at her—the way her natural smile lifted her cheeks softly, revealing the quiet happiness she’d found in her own small world.
By contrast, his crimson eyes were dull, like faded glass.
He stopped walking, drawing her gaze back to him.
“Your Grace?”
“You’re a wise woman. You’ll lead the Hes lands well.”
It wasn’t the first compliment he’d given her, but it was the first so direct.
Though flustered, she couldn’t help feeling pleased.
“Thank you. I hope to make it a land worthy of the North.”
He hesitated, then said quietly,
“There’s something I’d like your advice on.”
“Of course. If it’s something I can help with, I’d be glad to.”
She couldn’t imagine what he might need from her—but she would never refuse him.
Then Heinrich said something she could never have anticipated.
“Even after my wife’s death, I’ve continued to send financial support to her family.”
“…What?”
“Too personal a matter? But you said you’d help however you could.”
Nadia froze, lips slightly parted.
His expression was still impassive, his tone calm and even—yet somehow…
Why does it sound like a plea? Like he’s yearning for someone to stop him?
