CHAPTER 12
“Looking at this, I see you kept the natural slope of the land. I wonder if it would’ve been better to flatten the hill or bury the water pipes deeper.”
“I didn’t want to ruin the natural landscape. Also, digging through rocky ground takes a lot of labor. And I couldn’t be sure how long the pipe materials would last underground.”
“So, you buried them shallow and planned to replace them often?”
“Not that often.”
“But how does the water climb uphill? And not just once—but again and again?”
Jacques suddenly realized he was really getting drawn into Adele’s explanation. At first, he had come here thinking only about politics, but now he found himself genuinely interested in the water system.
“We used the same principle as a well.”
“A well?”
“As you can see, this area is packed with dirt like a well. That creates pressure, so the water flows naturally through the pipes, no matter the ups and downs. It keeps the water level steady.”
Adele, too, was fully focused on the conversation without even realizing it. Though the sun was beating down on them, they were both so absorbed in talking that they didn’t notice.
Jacques was very sharp and understood everything she said right away. Compared to how hard it had been to explain things to others in the past, his quick understanding was impressive.
Not only that, but he immediately pointed out parts Adele had worried about for a long time—and even suggested useful solutions.
“In that case, if we add water here in this area, we can regain the pressure.”
“You’re right. I didn’t think of that.”
Adele was so pleased she clapped her hands with him, forgetting for a moment that he was a duke. She smiled brightly.
Jacques stared at her silently for a moment, then asked a few more questions before heading down from the hill.
Later, everyone returned to the mansion and gathered in the sitting room.
“That was very interesting, Countess.”
“You flatter me. And actually, I’m not the one who deserves the credit, Your Grace.”
“Oh? Then it’s that woman—was her name Anastone?”
When Jacques asked, Anastone stood up quickly and bowed.
“I’m Anastone Lowell.”
“I heard you used to be a maid in this house…”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”
“You don’t look like one now.”
Ethan had been silent the whole time, looking annoyed. He straightened up, as if deciding it was time to speak.
“Sit down, Anna.”
Jacques raised one eyebrow when Ethan called her by her nickname and smirked.
“Anastone Lowell is not just a maid. She’s the woman who gave birth to my son. Since she contributed the most to this water system, I ask that the Imperial Palace grant her noble status.”
“Well, if it’s within the Empire’s laws, there’s no reason she can’t be made a noble… But Countess,” he said, turning toward Adele, “did you agree to this as well?”
Adele took a moment to gather her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what the Duke was trying to say.
“Yes, I agreed.”
“I see…”
Jacques tilted his head slightly, his words trailing off. Ethan sighed deeply and spoke again.
“There’s no reason I need my wife’s permission, Your Grace.”
“That’s true. In a noble family, the head of the house decides who gets the honor. But still…”
Suddenly Jacques’s voice grew quieter, and an awkward silence fell over the room.
“Now I think I understand why the Crown Princess told me to hurry here.”
“What do you mean…?”
Before Ethan could finish, Adele quickly cut him off.
“Did you meet the Crown Princess yourself?”
Jacques noticed the emotion in her voice. His eyes gleamed mischievously, though no one saw it.
“Count Debrian, I need to speak to your wife alone. Would you kindly excuse us?”
Adele’s eyes widened, and Ethan’s sharp voice followed.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. The Crown Princess asked me to deliver a private message.”
Jacques purposely emphasized the word private. Ethan tried hard not to show his discomfort but didn’t leave right away.
“I thought the Debrian family was always loyal to the royal family. I didn’t expect you to go against a royal order.”
Since the order was from the Crown Princess, it was the same as the royal family’s command. Still, Ethan didn’t reply.
“Count?”
“…Understood.”
Ethan finally answered and glanced at Adele before slowly standing. Soon, everyone left the room, leaving only Adele and Jacques.
“I’ll bring fresh tea. This one’s cold now.”
“No need. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
Adele’s heart pounded. She wanted to ask many things but didn’t know where to start. There had been no news about her sister, the Crown Princess, being sick, but Adele had always worried. When someone with powers like hers awakened, their body weakened quickly. She was afraid her sister might be too ill to even write back.
“What message did Her Highness want you to give me?”
“To be honest, she didn’t give me a clear message.”
Jacques had thought he’d find out the real reason the Crown Princess sent him to Herbon by meeting Adele. But he’d been wrong. This woman was just a perfect housewife in a quiet countryside estate—far from politics.
“I just thought… you might have questions. Like about Her Highness’s health, or why she sent me here.”
As he spoke, Adele opened her mouth slightly, about to ask something. That tiny hesitation felt longer than usual—maybe Jacques was imagining it.
“Is she… is she healthy?”
Adele asked as if she might’ve somehow made her sister sick. Jacques decided to be honest.
“She was coughing a bit, but overall, she seemed healthy.”
When Adele’s eyes filled with longing, Jacques felt something stir in him. On impulse, he added words that weren’t planned.
“She… worried about you a lot.”
Adele looked down deeply. Her pale, slender neck caught his eyes.
So full of emotion, so lively… and yet so fragile. Jacques remembered hearing about her when he was Crown Prince. She had been the second daughter—rare in the noble Milliam family.
As he was lost in thought, Adele suddenly looked up.
“Did… did she lose a lot of weight?”
“She did look thin, but still very beautiful.”
“Did her skin look healthy?”
“She was a bit pale, but still beautiful.”
“Did her voice sound strong?”
“…Her voice…”
Jacques trailed off, staring at her.
“If you’re so worried… why don’t you go visit her?”
“Me? Go to her?”
“I’m sure Her Highness would be very happy to see you.”
At that moment, Adele remembered the day she left for Herbon at age 12. Her sister had told her, if life becomes too hard, don’t hesitate—come to me. Adele had kept those words deep in her heart all this time.
But now, she shook her head. This wasn’t a moment she couldn’t endure.
“If I go now, she’ll be disappointed in me.”
Jacques didn’t agree, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he asked something that had been bothering him.
“Why did you give away the credit for the water project?”
“Pardon?”
The sudden change in topic made Adele clench her fists in the air.
“I don’t know what you mean…”
“Still worried about protecting the family’s honor, are you?”
“Your Grace, please explain so I can understand.”
“To give a medal of honor to your husband’s lover… just to make her a noble? You’re quite the wife.”
“Duke!”
“You truly are a woman of the Hesenia Empire.”
He watched her small fists tremble and lifted his cold teacup. He didn’t know why he had mocked her more than necessary—but he shook off the thought.
“Well, it’s not really my business.”
“Will you tell my sister? Her Highness?”
Adele decided she would rather block his words than see the judgment in his eyes. She couldn’t bear the thought of her sister knowing how foolish she’d been.
“I won’t tell her myself. But…”
“But?”
“A woman of the Milliam family… she’ll know without being told.”
With that, Jacques stood up. Adele was too shaken to even fix her expression. She didn’t trust him after he’d seen through her choice to hand over the honor.
Pretending not to notice her turmoil, Jacques walked across the room and opened the door himself.
As Adele stood to follow him, she locked eyes with Ethan, who was waiting just outside the door.
But she didn’t even have time to react to Ethan’s uneasy gaze. Nor could she chase after Jacques to beg him not to tell her sister.
Instead, she let out a long breath and straightened her back.
Then she called for the butler and ordered preparations to see the guest off.
Soon, everyone in the mansion stood at the front gate to say farewell to the Duke.
“As soon as I return to the capital, I will request that Anastone Lowell be added to the noble registry. After that, the matter of the child will be up to your family.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Jacques met Adele’s gaze as they said goodbye. Then he got on his horse and disappeared down the road.
Ethan, who had worn a frown all day, turned and went back inside the mansion before the Duke had even fully disappeared.
