BE 42

Chapter 42

When I got off the horse, the gathered crowd burst into applause, cheering as if I’d just accomplished something monumental.

Is this really something to be praised so much for?

It was embarrassing—but also made me happy.

The lesson ended quickly.
It seemed the main goal hadn’t been to teach me technique, but rather to help me overcome my fear of animals.

I was carried back to my room in Sarina’s arms.

“You did it, my lady! I knew you could do it!”

“I did it!”

Back in my room, I jumped up and down with joy.

I’d worried that with everyone watching, I might make a mistake—but it had gone so well. I was thrilled.

“Brother was watching me!”

“Yes, he must have been very proud.”

“And Father smiled at me too!”

“The Duke must have been pleased as well.”

“It feels weird—it’s all tingly inside!”

I giggled, scratching my cheek with my finger. Even my throat felt ticklish with excitement.

Sarina laughed softly.
“There’s another engagement this afternoon. The Duke and the Young Lord will both be attending, so we must get you ready, my lady.”

Her tone was a little stiff, which was unusual—but I was too happy to notice.

Sarina handed me a bunch of grapes, as if giving me a reward.

“You might get hungry, so have some of these.”

“Purple is always so pretty.”

That was Michael’s color.

He’d been so gentle with me during the lesson today.
As if I’d never had a trauma about animals at all, I hadn’t shed a single tear.

I was proud of myself.

I munched on the grapes enthusiastically. They were delicious. Even when the juice dripped near my lips, no one scolded me for bad manners.

“Getting ready will take a bit longer today.”

By the time I finished eating, Sarina was already guiding me toward the bath.

That, honestly, was strange.

Even with the outdoor lesson, we never bathed this early—especially before lunch.

I sank into the warm tub and looked up.

The bathtub gleamed like it was made of gold, ornate and dazzling.
No matter how long I lived here, such luxury still felt foreign to me.

“……Can I ask what this engagement is about?”

I looked at Sarina as she poured warm water over me.

She didn’t answer at first, just continued helping me bathe.
When our eyes met, her expression faltered slightly—hesitant, uneasy.

Sensing her hesitation, I stayed quiet and waited.
The rising steam tickled my nose.

“Whoever you meet,” she said at last, speaking very carefully, “no matter how frightening they may seem, you must not cry.”

She said it as though even uttering those words might be forbidden.

So—it wasn’t just Father and Brother I’d be meeting?

I had assumed, since she’d said both the Duke and the Young Lord would attend, that it would be a family dinner or something.

Apparently not.
We’d be meeting… someone else. Someone special.

“Who are they……?”

“They are the most dignified and noble people of all.”

The way she said it made my breath catch.
It sounded like something immense was about to happen.

“For now, that’s all you need to know.”

I took the hint and closed my mouth, nodding obediently.

The bath went on for a long while.
Once I was clean, the maids dressed me in a thin, white undergarment.

“It’s part of the formal etiquette,” one explained.

Etiquette for what, exactly?
I had no idea who I was supposed to be meeting that required such ceremony.

They dried and brushed my hair with great care.
Then several maids surrounded me, adorning me with the most luxurious outfit I had ever worn.

They all seemed unusually tense.
Their usual chatter was gone—everything was quiet.

Their nervousness rubbed off on me.
I couldn’t help but feel anxious too.

“It’s not something scary, right?”

“……No, my lady.”

Sarina gave a faint smile, trying to reassure me.

Yet at that moment, I felt something deeply strange—more than ever since coming to the ducal mansion.

Everything had been normal until the riding lesson.
But this… this “important engagement” felt different.

Once Sarina finished checking my attire, she stepped back.

Then she led me to a corridor I had never seen before.

“From here, you must walk alone, my lady.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. At the very end of this hall, the Duke and the Young Lord will be waiting for you.”

I swallowed hard.

The corridor was lavish—almost excessively so—and filled with a strange tension.

Walk alone? That was odd.

But behind Sarina, my escorts for the day, Fabian and Log, stood silently in place. None of them followed.

I nodded and stepped forward.

My shoes today were different too—heels slightly higher than usual—making it awkward to walk in my layered, ruffled dress.

Still, I get to see Father and Brother. That’s nice.

The corridor stretched on for a long time.

There were no windows, only the endless passageway—it felt like walking toward another world.

At the very end stood a massive door, engraved with a lion.

I pushed it gently, and to my surprise, it opened easily.

Just as Sarina had said, Father and Brother were inside.

Father sat in the middle, relaxed on the sofa, while Brother was seated behind a table.

When they saw me, both gestured for me to come closer.

“Adele.”

“Come here, little sister.”

I hesitated, suddenly unsure.

Why does it feel like they’re making me choose between them?

I’d heard that ordinary children are flustered when asked, “Do you like Mom or Dad better?”
I’d never thought I’d experience that feeling myself—and it was so strange. And confusing.

“Hurry, little sister,” Brother said.

“Are you going to ignore your father, who promised to sleep beside you?” Father teased.

My eyes darted between them.
Where am I? Who am I?

Then I noticed—Brother’s outfit looked different today.
More formal. Handsome. Dignified.

The room, too, was filled with paintings I’d never seen before—and something else, an unfamiliar energy, like the presence of spirits.

“I missed you, Father.”

In the end, my choice was Father.

I ran straight to him and threw myself into his arms.

Behind the table, Brother lowered his outstretched hands, his face twisting with annoyance.

“I’m sorry, Brother.”

“That’s my girl,” Father said with satisfaction.

“Losing a bet like this is frustrating,” Brother muttered.

“You’ll never beat me,” Father replied smugly.

Wait—did they just… bet on me?

The realization made me dizzy, but Father patted my head as I sat on his lap, and all the confusion melted away.

“My daughter would never betray me, Blake. Well done, Adele.”

“Ehin told me you said you wanted to see me,” Brother said. “I was sure I’d win.”

“I’m sooorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Father said firmly. “This is how it should be.”

He pressed my face gently against his chest, as if to say don’t even look at him.

But I peeked up anyway, glancing at Brother.

His crimson eyes—so hard to read—stared right back.
I felt guilty for disappointing him, especially after so long apart.

So-rry.

I mouthed the words silently.

Brother’s lips curved in a silent laugh.
Then he moved his lips slowly, mimicking my gesture.

Then—bark.

…Did he just tell me to bark?

I tilted my head, puzzled.
Not because it was strange for an older brother to tell his sister to bark—but because I wasn’t sure how to do it.
Was I supposed to actually bark out loud? Or just mouth it?

If I bark, will he forgive me?

I blinked once, then barked.

“Woof woof!”

“Hah—she actually did it.”

“What… did I just hear?”

Father turned around, his expression incredulous.
It clearly said: What in the world are you doing to my daughter?

Brother only shrugged, avoiding Father’s gaze—as if saying, I didn’t do anything.

Father looked down at me, bewildered, and I just blinked innocently back up at him.

After Sarina’s warnings, I’d been so nervous—
but seeing Father and Brother again, I finally relaxed.

At least here, I felt safe.

“So, Father,” I said, trying to change the subject, “is everyone gathered because of the important engagement you mentioned? What kind of event is it?”

“Simply put,” Father said, “it’s your duty.”

“Mind your words, Blake,” Brother interrupted.

Father frowned at him—not with caution, but with something darker.

My duty?

Before I could ask, the door opened again.

I turned instinctively toward the sound.

The man who entered first looked like a beast in human form.

Tall—nearly Father’s height—broad-shouldered and imposing.
A scarf embroidered with a lion’s head was draped around his neck.

He’s all gold.

That was my first clear thought upon seeing him.

But immediately, I understood—this was a man who had never, in his entire life, been anything but a ruler.

Despite the abundance of jewelry—almost gaudy in number—he wore it with effortless majesty.