~Chapter 46~
“Nyaa.”
The small, warm creature burrowed into my arms, and I slowly opened my eyes.
Through the wide window, dawn was just breaking. The sky was still dark—it was a long northern winter night, after all.
With a small sigh, I looked down at my chest.
Amber eyes shone in the darkness.
“Nero, you’re being extra clingy this morning?”
“Nyaa, nya-nya-nyaa—”
Nero slid under my arm and rubbed his forehead all over me.
Nero had always been affectionate, but since I’d been away more often inspecting Mount Varg and the nearby land, he wanted even more attention.
Whenever we made eye contact, he’d blink his eyes slowly.
“Ah, you’re so bad for my heart.”
“Nyaa?”
“You’re the cutest thing in the world, my baby!”
I hugged him tight and kissed him all over.
What could be more heavenly than rolling around in a warm bed with my cat? This was true happiness.
I lazed in bed with Nero until the sun was fully up, then finally pulled the bell cord.
I expected Berry to come in, but today, someone else came along.
“Madam, did you sleep well?”
“Bertolt.”
“Nyaa.”
Nero wagged his tail as he greeted Bertolt with me.
Berry’s breathing turned rough (like a wild animal seeing something cute), but Bertolt and I pretended not to notice.
“I didn’t expect you here so early, Bertolt. Isn’t your job to stay with the Duke?”
“Would you like to have breakfast with the master today?”
“Breakfast with the Duke?”
I didn’t bother to hide my reluctance.
Normally, I would’ve refused right away, but after what happened yesterday at Mount Varg, I hesitated.
They say curiosity brings trouble, but now I was curious why the Duke had done what he did.
Maybe Bertolt noticed this, because he encouraged me again.
“A very important guest is coming from the Holy City soon. I thought it’d be good to discuss how to welcome them over breakfast.”
“That makes sense.”
Bertolt was right.
Even if I didn’t like the Inquisitor, we couldn’t be careless about welcoming guests from the Holy City.
It was important to understand exactly why they were coming, too.
Plus, I wanted to ask how the search for Brother Vincent was going.
“Alright, I’ll join the Duke for breakfast. I’ll be down soon.”
“Very good, madam.”
The old butler looked relieved.
Edwin’s routine was always simple.
He woke before sunrise, did his morning training, washed, and went to his office.
Usually, the butler would bring breakfast—Edwin didn’t care much for food, so it was just rye bread with butter, some ham and cheese, and a cup of herbal tea.
“What are you planning, Bertolt?”
But today was different.
There was nothing on the office table.
Bertolt met his gaze calmly.
“Why not have breakfast in the dining room today?”
“Bertolt.”
“The wind is fierce outside. If you don’t hurry, you’ll keep the madam waiting.”
A snowstorm raged outside the window.
But inside Lombard Castle, it was always warm.
It was already a rich estate, but after Elicia arrived, the Duke ordered that the areas she used be especially well cared for.
Expensive incense burned wherever Elicia stayed, filling the rooms with a pleasant scent.
Edwin knew this, but still found himself leaving his office in a hurry.
At that moment, Ramon the chief administrator walked in, grinning slyly.
“Ah, youth.”
“If the master hears you say that, you’ll be in trouble.”
“Says the person who pushed him out the door.”
“Ahem, I don’t know what you mean.”
Ramon was a noble, but friendly and easygoing, and he got along well with the people.
He’d been curious about the Mount Varg inspection and had gone straight to find Bolik, the miner, yesterday.
And what Bolik told him was surprising.
‘The madam was right. There’s a high chance of a good ore vein in Mount Varg. Only the Alnor Count got tricked.’
‘So you’re starting work right away?’
‘Actually… the madam ordered us to wait until spring, since the mountain’s frozen and dangerous now. She’s even paying us well and giving us some wages in advance since we can’t work this winter.’
Bolik said to keep it a secret, but Ramon spilled everything to Bertolt.
“The madam is the real deal, Bertolt. She really is.”
“…You’re right.”
They couldn’t deny it anymore.
Elicia truly had the ability and right to be the mistress of Lombard—more than enough.
They’d suspected it before, but now they were sure.
They had to do everything they could to make her love the North as her own home.
If she did, Lombard would flourish as much as the great estates of the South.
They could almost see a glorious future for Lombard.
But Ramon sighed.
“But for that to happen, her husband needs to do his part. The Duke is… well…”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Bertolt replied.
As the Duke’s close servant, Bertolt suspected the truth.
After all, the madam was a beauty, and the master never hesitated to punish anyone who hurt her.
It was hard to believe he didn’t care for her.
Ramon clicked his tongue.
“What’s the use of feelings if he never shows them? You have to get caught to even start a romance.”
When the Duke was around Elicia, he was so stiff, he might as well be a log.
Ramon thought there was no hope for the two if things stayed like this.
It was a bit disrespectful, but Bertolt just cleared his throat.
“So we just have to try harder.”
“We? Bertolt, you seem to have forgotten something important…”
“What?”
“Neither of us has even a speck of dating experience. We’re both single.”
It was true.
Bertolt had spent his life serving the Lombard family and missed his chance to marry.
Ramon was friendly and sociable, but whenever he liked someone, his tongue twisted and he got rejected.
Realizing this, Bertolt sighed.
“Ah.”
In the heavy silence, only the sound of silverware on plates could be heard.
I stopped eating and looked down at the table.
Again, the food was simple, home-style—my favorite.
It looked plain, but took real effort to prepare.
And the Duke ate it as if it was nothing special.
Maybe noticing I’d stopped, he glanced at me.
“Is the food not to your liking?”
“No, it’s not that…”
The Duke I remembered always preferred high-calorie, protein-heavy meals.
Because he trained so hard, he needed the energy.
Even if he was busy, he tried to eat a rich meal at dinner.
The servants all knew this, too.
Could it be—
It was a silly thought, but it crossed my mind.
My face went hot from embarrassment.
“Madam?”
“No, it’s just… a bit warm in here.”
I turned my head toward the blazing fireplace, trying to avoid his eyes.
If you were born in Lombard, the biting cold was just part of life.
As a child, Edwin sometimes gave me firewood or ointment, but once I became an official, I refused his gifts because it would look like favoritism.
And I couldn’t buy my own firewood with my tiny salary, so I just had to endure the cold.
But as Elicia, everywhere was warm and cozy.
Ah, the life of a noblewoman is pure luxury.
Just as I was feeling sorry for my past self, I remembered someone else who needed pity:
Poor Brother Vincent, who only ever held a Bible or pen in his hand…
