~Chapter 36~
Edwin clenched his teeth in silence.
Elysia, having married into Lombard, was essentially isolated.
She had no loyal organization here, and the attendants who came with her weren’t really hers—they were spies sent by the capital.
The fact they would even dare to poison their own mistress…
‘When she first brought in a “doctor” who was actually a poisoner, I couldn’t believe it.’
Edwin had known who Roter was from the very beginning.
He also knew what Roter intended to do to Elysia.
Any lord who didn’t know exactly who was coming and going on their land would be a fool.
Still, he waited and watched, setting things up ahead of time—both to secure solid grounds to drive out those from the capital and to make sure they couldn’t reach out to Elysia again.
This started from the moment Roter was called under the pretext of treating Elysia after the mining accident.
‘Even her status as royalty is just a name.’
When her father died early, the right of succession went to her uncle, and even the role of bridge to the Marsen royal family went to a Marsen princess who became his uncle’s wife.
Now that she had lost her political value, Elysia was nothing but a thorn in their side—a threat to their power.
‘That’s why they’re doing all this…’
But Elysia was now a Lombard.
By marrying the Duke, she had become the most noble woman in Lombard.
He swore not to stand by and let the capital do whatever they wanted with her.
But Elysia was not someone to just sit quietly and let herself be protected.
Even the townsfolk who once pointed fingers at her—she embraced them all, unwavering in her convictions.
People were slowly being moved by her.
Even Edwin.
He knew she was avoiding him on purpose.
He knew he didn’t deserve to get close to her.
Yet, he found himself helplessly drawn in, always searching for an excuse to approach her.
‘Brother, do you have a moment before you return to your room?’
‘If Elysia calls for me, I’ll always make time. What is it?’
Outside the little monastery’s dining hall, Edwin overheard a familiar voice.
‘So that’s the famous Brother Vincent…’
He’d heard that Elysia had grown close to a priest.
He’d heard all sorts of stories from the people he’d placed around her.
But he told himself he had no right to interfere—whoever the man was, if it was Elysia’s choice, he would respect it.
Yet seeing the two together, so close in person—
‘I hope I’m not interrupting a nice moment?’
He could feel the heat rising to his head.
Especially since Brother Vincent wasn’t even a real priest.
No ordinary newly appointed clergyman would give off such a dangerous aura—eyes like a beast that’s tasted blood.
And Edwin knew who he was, even if Vincent didn’t remember him.
‘Anyone but that man.’
Seeing Elysia’s bright, innocent smile—a smile she’d never shown to him—stabbed right through him.
Maybe it was because of how close their hands and shoulders were, or maybe it was because he knew who Vincent really was. Or maybe both.
His resolve to just watch from the sidelines crumbled in an instant.
It was impulsive.
Before he realized it, his mouth was already speaking for him—
‘Madam, I think you may have misunderstood something.’
‘Misunderstood?’
‘While I’m here, I’ll also be staying at the monastery for a few days.’
Those wide blue eyes, lips parted in shock.
Maybe he should have felt guilty for making her so startled, but as Duke of Lombard, it was his duty to protect his Duchess.
Watching over Elysia as she slept, wiping away her tears—
“That man is not allowed.”
It wasn’t just a personal feeling.
It wasn’t that he had forgotten his unworthy position.
He knew he had no right…
But to protect Elysia from a beast hungry for blood—
For once, to let her live the life she truly wanted.
That was all.
‘From now on, I should just turn my brain off every morning…’
I woke to the chirping of birds, feeling exactly that.
I knew people got sentimental at night, but why did I keep repeating the same mistakes and regretting them every morning?
Feeling both physically and mentally refreshed made the embarrassment even worse.
‘Anyway, where’s the Duke…?’
I enjoyed the feeling of the thin straw mattress—so different from the ones at the castle—but then froze.
The Duke, whom I’d assumed had already left, was actually fast asleep, draped across my bed.
He was so deeply asleep that even if I waved my hand in front of his face, he didn’t stir.
“Hey, are you asleep?”
Even when I whispered, he didn’t budge.
He really was out cold—he’d probably sleep right through a thunderstorm.
‘So much for insomnia…’
I left him there and went out.
I was about to snoop around for food near the dining hall when someone suddenly rushed up to me.
“Good morning, madam!!”
“Hello.”
Strictly speaking, as the highest-ranking lady in the north, no one in Lombard was allowed to speak to me first without permission.
But I’d always thought such pointless formalities just got in the way of getting things done.
‘And most of all—’
This stranger was the most physically imposing woman I’d seen in both my lifetimes.
She was tall, with broad shoulders, and even wearing a thick coat, you could see her solid, battle-hardened muscles.
I was genuinely envious, given my own frail body, in both past and present lives.
I smacked my lips and kept walking.
But the woman started following me closely—almost pressed against my back.
After a while, I had to stop and turn around.
“Who are you?”
“…Ah!!”
Her loud yell rang through the morning hall.
Berry’s Perspective
My name is Berry.
At twenty-two, most people my age were already married and raising a family, but I hadn’t settled on a career and so I was still single.
My father was one of the best carpenters in northern Lombard, and my mother was the top hunter in our village, North Bellen.
I was born with talents for both trades, but they both seemed too lonely for me—I liked being around people.
Still, as the eldest, I’d have to choose one soon.
But then one day, my father asked me—
‘Berry, how about becoming Lady Duchess’s maid?’
At first, I thought it was absurd.
Even my mother jokingly hit my father and half-collapsed the house.
Not that it mattered—Dad would fix it, like always.
But as he yelled from under the rubble, something about his words stuck with me.
He said Lady Duchess really cared about her people, but was surrounded by outsiders and couldn’t hear the voices of the locals.
Thanks to Dr. Gilbert, who was grateful for what the Lady did for him and my family, I was recommended for the position.
He even produced the Duchess’s personal seal, and my mother’s eyes went wide.
‘Our Berry, becoming the Duchess’s maid?’
‘I know you wanted her to be a hunter, but…’
‘Is your career plan really important right now? The Duchess herself needs Berry!’
Mom got so excited, she collapsed the rest of the house, but that’s beside the point.
I accepted with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
It was a chance to repay the Duchess for saving my dad and brother, and I was honestly curious what kind of person she was.
The next day, the castle sent people to train me.
There were so many rules—what you couldn’t do in front of a royal noblewoman. No, don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t even think about that…
I thought my brain would catch fire memorizing it all, but I worked hard.
‘But how could I mess up like this!!’
When I heard the Duchess had come to the outer wall without a maid, I hurried to the monastery before sunrise to help.
On the way, I ran into some wild animals, but settled things with them peacefully (enough).
But after finally meeting her, I spoke to her without permission—
And was so dazzled by her beauty, I forgot to even introduce myself.
“How could I…!!”
I was so embarrassed, I grabbed the nearest thing—
And the chair crumbled to dust in my hands, sending crumbs all over her fine dress.
Now I was really done for.
All I could do was grovel and wait for my punishment.
The job offer was as good as gone. I just hoped my dad and Dr. Gilbert wouldn’t get in trouble too.
But then—
“Get up.”
Just when I was trembling in fear, the Lady herself reached out a hand to me.
