Chapter 170,……………………………………………..
After quietly finishing my meal, I suggested that we leave the figures in their respective bedrooms and depart the temple.
Kyle readily followed me, and before long, we climbed up onto the highest roof of the temple.
Thanks to Kyle’s magic, we didn’t have to scale the slippery walls ourselves.
From inside the building, the temple had seemed intense and majestic, but from the rooftop, looking down calmly, the interior appeared almost cozy.
“I didn’t expect a place like this to have such an amazing view.”
“Amazing view?”
As Kyle asked in confusion, I simply shook my head as if it were nothing.
Kyle raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further.
Now that I looked at him closely, his expression seemed slightly more relaxed than it had at the dining table.
I’d been bothered by how dark his face had remained throughout the meal, and it seemed my instincts had been right.
Maybe putting some distance between himself and the priests here had eased his mind.
At least from where I stood, the stiffness in his face was gradually fading.
“How is it? You look brighter than before.”
“My expression was that bad?”
He didn’t seem to realize just how grim he’d looked during the meal.
That must be why he tilted his head so innocently now.
Of all the versions of Kyle I’d seen so far, today he looked like he was in the worst mood.
Something definitely happened… but he doesn’t want to talk about it.
I imagined countless possibilities, but in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
Instead, no matter what had happened to Kyle, I wanted to help him escape this uncomfortable situation.
“Ahem. From now on, I won’t bring up that matter again. Instead, I hope we can spend more enjoyable time together before entering the palace. Since we’ve already come this far on a trip.”
“In that case… feel free to look forward to it.”
Kyle smiled gently at me, and there was a flicker of relief in his eyes.
Feeling oddly embarrassed, I stretched out my hand and touched the heavy rain pouring down.
Cold droplets hit my palm, scattering into tiny beads in every direction.
I stared at the freely falling raindrops for a moment before slowly lifting my gaze toward Kyle.
Now, it was time to solve the new problem facing us.
“I’m sorry, but… do you happen to know where we should go tonight?”
“……”
“As you know, I’ve lived in the imperial palace my whole life. I haven’t really been outside much, so…”
It seemed that having fun was something only people with experience could manage.
When I visibly deflated, Kyle tilted his head and looked down at me.
The figures were planning to take a carriage back to the palace early tomorrow morning.
That meant we couldn’t arrive at the palace first.
We had to time our entrance properly, which meant if we left now, we’d end up wandering aimlessly beneath the rainy night sky.
“If you don’t mind… may I take you somewhere I know?”
At Kyle’s words, I nodded quickly.
As long as I was with him, it didn’t matter where we went.
Kyle took my wet hand without hesitation, and together we left the temple completely.
* * *
The place Kyle brought me to was an enormous mansion.
He didn’t tell me directly, but I could vaguely sense that this was the residence of House Obern.
The flag bearing the Obern crest that I’d seen from the carriage, and Kyle’s familiar manner here, made it obvious.
The real question is… why does he trust me enough to bring me here?
Once, I’d heard from Xeros—who gathered information—that the Grand Duchy of Obern was considered special.
He said it was extremely difficult to learn anything about them.
They restricted outsiders so severely that I never imagined Kyle would bring someone like me—someone who wasn’t even his real fiancée—into this place.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
Contrary to rumors that the mansion was completely empty, a perfectly proper butler did exist within House Obern.
He looked far older than the butler at House Inferna.
Age itself wasn’t important, but his eyes carried the weight of someone who had served here for a very long time.
“…I see. Nothing unusual happened while I was gone?”
“No, my lord. Nothing in particular. And today, you have brought a guest.”
“I’ll be staying here tonight with her. Guide her to the guest room.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The butler smiled warmly as he watched me awkwardly take in the unfamiliar mansion.
Kyle seemed uncomfortable with the expression and turned his head toward me.
“Then… I’ll see you again in the lobby.”
* * *
As we climbed the stairs, the butler moved with the refined gait of a noble trained in etiquette.
Considering his age, he could have walked more casually, but he showed no sign of disorder.
When Kyle’s engagement ceremony had been prepared, no one from the Grand Ducal house had appeared, so I’d assumed this mansion had no servants.
It seemed I’d been mistaken.
“I am Alberto, butler of House Obern. You are Lady Ellupe Inferna, the young lady who is engaged to my lord, correct?”
I’d assumed he wouldn’t know who I was, but that too was my misunderstanding.
He smiled brightly, as though he had recognized me immediately.
I nodded slightly.
“Yes. I held the engagement ceremony with the Grand Duke not long ago.”
In truth, I had no idea where exactly this mansion was located.
Because I’d come here holding Kyle’s hand through magic, I couldn’t tell whether it was east or west.
But the chill in the air made me suspect it might be somewhere in the north.
“I expected that you would visit someday, but I never dreamed it would be today. Even if there are shortcomings, I hope you will be generous in your understanding.”
“I should have sent a letter beforehand, properly following etiquette. But because of the unpredictable weather, I didn’t have the chance. I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
“Not at all! You will soon be the mistress of this house. How could it be an intrusion? If you wish, please visit anytime. Just as we wait for my lord, we will always wait for you as well, my lady.”
Kyle always looked as though everything in the world annoyed him…
Yet it seemed he was welcomed by far more people than I’d expected.
Somehow, that reminded me of myself.
All I wanted was to see Roelin’s happy ending and leave quickly, yet the palace maids had grown strangely fond of me.
Maybe Kyle was in a similar situation.
“How is this room?”
The room Alberto showed me was clearly luxurious at first glance.
Not only was it spacious, but the delicate ornaments and elegant interior proved how exceptional the room truly was.
“I’m not sure I’m allowed to stay in such a fine room…”
“You are soon to become the Grand Duchess. Please use it comfortably.”
“The Grand Duchess? Wait… is this the Grand Duchess’s room?”
When I stared at him in shock, Alberto nodded with a satisfied expression.
“It is a room prepared in hopes that one day the Grand Duchess would open this door. But I am sure there are still many things lacking.”
There was nothing lacking at all.
This wasn’t a vulgar room made by simply throwing money around.
Every single object was crafted with such subtle care that its true value could only be understood by looking closely.
As I stood there speechless, Alberto asked with mild confusion.
“I heard that House Inferna places great importance on interior design. If there is anything you require, please tell me. By your next visit, I will make sure it is prepared. Please speak freely.”
It seemed Kyle hadn’t told him much about me.
Thinking back, even in the temple, Kyle had treated me like a true fiancée.
So perhaps inside this mansion as well, he intended to treat me no differently from the real one.
“Then… may I ask something other than items I need?”
“Of course. If it is something I can answer, I will gladly do so.”
That sounded almost like there were things he could not answer.
I turned my head toward the window, where pitch-black darkness had settled outside, and asked quietly—so softly that only the butler could hear.
“Could you tell me where in the Empire this mansion is located?”
I could feel the cold, but nothing more.
The outside was too dark to see, and not knowing where I was made me uneasy.
The butler looked at me with apologetic eyes.
“If my lord has not told you, then it is not something I am permitted to answer. I apologize.”
“……”
