Chapter 53
The viscountess, who had been helping me tidy up, picked up her hat and coat and approached me.
“Grand Madam.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know that man named Rohan?”
The viscountess still seemed bothered by him.
“No. Jane has brought him along a few times, but this is the first time I’ve actually spoken to him.”
“He acted as if he knew you.”
“Hmm…”
I wasn’t oblivious; I’d already noticed that he was watching me.
I could guess a few possible reasons. He might be an acquaintance from the past—though I had no memory of him—or perhaps someone with an interest in the Leighton family.
“You said you studied at the capital’s academy, correct? Could it be from then?”
“Not that I recall. Even if it were…”
“Even if?”
“I wouldn’t care to acknowledge it. I… don’t have many fond memories of the academy.”
The viscountess’s expression hardened. She seemed to be imagining some pitiful situation, so I quickly waved my hands to deny it.
“I mean I don’t have particularly good or bad memories—just ordinary ones. I wasn’t exactly the diligent type.”
“…Is that so?”
Still, she didn’t look convinced.
Well, she knew my former status. It wasn’t likely that the daughter of a debt-ridden household had an easy time at an academy full of the capital’s most elite nobles.
“So, while I’m not especially interested… he could be an intruder investigating House Leighton.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
But the viscountess firmly refuted my speculation.
“Oh? Why not?”
“If his true aim were House Leighton, he would have targeted the main residence, not the annex. And the way he looked at you was… hmm…”
She gazed quietly at me. Wondering what she meant, I met her eyes—only for her to suddenly let out a soft laugh.
“Perhaps it’s just my imagination.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Nothing at all. It’s just… you showed a rather student-like side just now, and it amused me.”
I still had no idea what she was talking about.
Regardless, she put on her coat with the help of her attendants and, as she stepped outside, said,
“If you happen to speak with him again, please tell me what was said.”
“Do you suspect him that much?”
“No. I simply think it would be interesting. A little pastime of mine, you could say.”
With a short farewell, she left the annex.
I returned to the drawing room and looked over at Anna, who was busily tidying up.
So… does that mean I’m to invite that man named Rohan again for the next reading club meeting?
Somehow, what began as a lighthearted reading group was starting to head in a strange direction.
As I watched Anna efficiently wipe down the table, I happened to glance around the room.
Nata, who was always nearby, was nowhere to be seen.
“Anna, where is Sir Nata?”
“He said he had some business to attend to and stepped out. Shall I call him back?”
“No, that’s fine.”
Perhaps he’d grown bored of the reading club and slipped away. Since the next item on the schedule was rest time, there was no need to seek him out.
Jane was walking through the garden with Rohan.
Their destination was the castle’s main gate. With the reading club over, they were heading back to the shop.
Hm… is he upset I called him over so suddenly?
The silence stretching from the annex to the garden felt heavy. Jane glanced up at Rohan. His cold, unreadable face gave nothing away.
Maybe I shouldn’t have meddled…
Now that she’d done it, she felt a pang of regret. She’d only wanted Rohan and Wilhelmina to get along better, but the way she’d gone about it felt rather childish.
She was just debating whether to apologize when Rohan suddenly stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Over there—”
At that moment, something flew toward the back of Rohan’s head.
Before Jane could even scream, Rohan spun around and caught the incoming object.
“A… wooden dagger?”
It was a practice dagger, unsharpened.
It was so light even a child could swing it, yet it had flown at him like an arrow. Jane was startled, but Rohan, expressionless, fixed his gaze on a certain spot.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“….”
From behind the bare winter trees emerged a strikingly handsome knight—someone Jane recognized instantly.
Sir Nata?
With pitch-black hair and eyes like amethysts, it was Nata.
He stared at Rohan with a sharpness Jane had never seen before and slowly approached.
“That’s my question. Who are you?”
“My name is Rohan. As you can see, I am Miss Jane’s—”
“The lie about being a bodyguard won’t work on me. What kind of common merchant’s employee goes around using perception-blocking magic?”
B-Busted!
The secret she’d worked so hard to keep had been exposed. Jane turned pale, looking at Nata in shock.
“When I received word that Miss Jane would be visiting, I waited for you at the main gate, concealed. When the castle guards tried to check your identity, you used perception-blocking magic on them.”
“….”
“And when you reached the annex, you dropped the magic and met with the Grand Madam. Who exactly are you?”
Rohan hadn’t expected the magic trinket he’d used—only at the gate, to avoid Wilhelmina’s suspicion and freely enter the castle—to come back to bite him.
Jane’s eyes flicked to his wrist. Though invisible, she knew there was a priceless enchanted bracelet there.
“So you’ve been suspicious of me all along.”
“Yes. I can’t believe someone of your skill is just a bodyguard.”
As both an exceptional knight and a magic-sensitive elf, Nata had seen through Rohan’s abilities from the start.
It was only natural for a bodyguard to be wary of a strong stranger. Rohan had acted cautiously because of that, but he couldn’t match Nata’s persistence.
Before Jane knew it, Nata was right in front of Rohan, his hand on the hilt of the sword Wilhelmina had given him.
“So, who are you really?”
“…I cannot answer that.”
“Then let me ask you just one more thing.”
A dangerous light glinted in Nata’s violet eyes. The sheer intensity of the magic radiating from him made Jane shiver.
“Are you an enemy of the Madam?”
“….”
Rohan slowly opened his mouth.
Time passed quickly, and the New Year’s banquet drew near.
On December 31st, there was to be a big family dinner at the main residence, but Mikhail, Helene, and I kept things simple—just a glass of wine and a nice meal before parting ways.
It wasn’t an intimate conversation or a discussion of New Year’s resolutions.
Starting at 6 p.m., it ended by 8—a brief gathering. The couples were to spend the rest of the evening with their children, so I excused myself.
Mikhail had invited me to join them, but one look at Helene’s icy expression and I shook my head.
If I meet them now, who knows what might happen.
Since the incident, Minerva and Jeonil hadn’t met once. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary complications.
According to the information in Anna’s family records, the children had been going about their lives without issue since then, so I had no intention of interfering.
Frankly, I thought staying out of it was probably better for Helene as well.
Though… her hostility seems to have grown.
It was hard to describe, but Helene’s demeanor had become colder. Her words and actions hadn’t changed much, but there was a subtle, persistent edge to her that I could feel.
Perhaps this was the reality of in-law tensions.
Maybe a mother-in-law who isn’t disliked by her daughter-in-law is a dream too far for me.
In any case, time passed, and the New Year’s banquet began.
Unlike the year-end banquet, the New Year’s celebration was centered around the western nobility.
Even minor nobles who hadn’t attended before came, and the castle was filled with a festive atmosphere.
I heard the emperor had gone east this time. Year-end in the west, New Year’s in the east—surprisingly diligent of him, I suppose.
The New Year’s banquet lasted three days, but I only attended the opening ceremony on the first day.
Mikhail invited me several more times, but I politely declined each one.
The festival wasn’t just about eating and drinking—it was surprisingly active.
Ice lake tours in this freezing weather? A treasure hunt for snow-flower jewels hidden in the garden? …No thanks.
Apparently, the absence of the previous duke had allowed the revival of old western traditions, but I had no interest.
I happily secluded myself in my chambers, enjoying my holiday—until an unexpected visitor appeared.
“It’s been a while, Grand Madam.”
It was Teitan, Marquis of Isonon.
