CHAPTER 56
What on earth did this mean?
Eatrice couldn’t imagine what the next lines might contain.
Had Shion finally lost his mind from waiting for her?
Feeling slightly tense, Eatrice quickly skimmed through the remaining lines.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that my wish came true on its own, but that His Highness granted it for me.
If I had known he was so gifted in this matter, I would have recommended him long ago…
But in my foolishness, I never realized it!
Still, it’s fine—because he has more than compensated me for all my past losses!
With the money His Highness gave me yesterday, I bought a new house and moved in with Millen. Even the innkeeper congratulated us heartily.
The next section went on endlessly about how wonderful the new house was, what color curtains they would hang, and so on.
It was practically worship, a stream of unrestrained praise for Adrian.
Flustered, Eatrice reread the beginning several times.
Now she could sense the trembling excitement and overwhelming joy in Shion’s handwriting.
But then—
A sum large enough to buy a house?
Where had such an enormous amount of money suddenly come from?
What’s more, there was no explanation of how he had gotten it.
For a brief moment she wondered if Shion had finally struck it big at a gambling den, but he had clearly written it was all thanks to Adrian.
Was she completely misinterpreting the letter? Or perhaps there was a secret code hidden within it she had yet to decipher? With that thought, Eatrice read on carefully.
His Highness said he wished to present something to you, Respected Supporter.
But he was at a loss as to what gift might bring you joy, and worried deeply over it.
Of course.
Eatrice had never revealed anything about herself to Adrian. She had always concealed and deceived.
So instead of buying something himself, he prepared this simple token and asked me to deliver it to you.
I hope you will like it.
At last, Eatrice noticed a small silk pouch at the bottom of the box.
She picked up the elegant purple pouch and gave it a gentle shake. Whatever was inside was very light.
She untied the golden cord fastening the pouch, and something dropped into her palm.
It was a finely crafted silver key.
This is the key to a vault at Elagos Bank, which has recently gained trust both at home and abroad.
A secret vault has been opened in your name. With the enclosed key, you may access it whenever you wish.
Beneath that line, the exact sum stored in the vault was written.
The moment she read it, Eatrice nearly dropped the letter.
It was enough money to purchase at least three buildings in the busiest district.
This was by no means a “simple gift.”
Just what did Shion recommend to His Highness?
True, compared to the funds the Vellanel ducal family circulated each year, it was still a small sum. Eatrice had grown up seeing far larger amounts recorded in the mansion’s ledgers.
Of course, she had never once possessed such wealth herself.
But what truly shocked her was not the number itself, but how such a fortune had been raised in mere months.
Prince Adrian’s lifestyle might look extravagant on the surface, but there was no way he could freely use the imperial treasury. Any such use would surely reach the Emperor’s ears.
And the Emperor, who already despised his eldest son, would never let that slide.
That meant Adrian had earned this fortune through means entirely unrelated to the imperial family. But how?
Shion said it was his recommendation… The gambling halls came to mind first, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
The card tables were usually held in Tartan Street. Adrian, who could not see, would have trouble even leaving the palace for a simple outing, let alone playing card games requiring recognition of complex illustrations. Impossible.
Ah, when the vault was opened, I personally went in His Highness’s place, so there is no need to worry about your name being exposed to him!
Your faithful follower, Shion.
With this unusually cheerful sign-off, the letter ended.
In Eatrice’s hands remained only the incomprehensible letter and the small key—Adrian’s so-called “simple gift.”
“Young Master! What are you doing?!”
Nanny Masa snapped her fingers in front of Hector, who stood frozen with a watering can in hand.
“Are you trying to drown the Madam’s precious lilac saplings?”
Water spilled down from the pots, soaking the greenhouse floor. Masa clicked her tongue.
“Ah—sorry.”
Hector hastily stopped watering.
“If you keep this up, we won’t see any blossoms this spring. I thought you were helping in the garden today since you had no formal training. I was pleased, but…”
“……”
“Why are you so absent-minded lately? Did something happen?”
“Nothing.”
Awkwardly, Hector rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand. Masa sighed.
“Well, Sir Barud announced yesterday that he’s marrying this autumn. Are you gloomy because you won’t see your master while he’s away on honeymoon?”
“Master’s getting married?”
“Young Master!”
What were you listening to yesterday?!
Masa gaped in disbelief.
“Goodness, Sir Barud gathered everyone in the hall and announced it in front of the whole order. You even offered congratulations on behalf of everyone! He postponed it until autumn so he wouldn’t miss your entrance exam!”
She continued to chatter, but none of it reached Hector.
“Sigh…”
Masa realized her words were flowing out of one of Hector’s ears and straight out the other, like water from the flowerpots. She let out a long sigh.
“Young Master Hector, really, what’s troubling you?” she asked gently.
“The weather…”
“What about it?”
“The weather’s warming too quickly.”
Grumbling with dissatisfaction, Hector set the watering can down with a clatter.
“I’ll help with the garden later.”
Outside the greenhouse, the wind was still cold enough to sting his cheeks. But compared to just a few days ago, its force had clearly weakened.
Feeling gloomy at the unseasonably warm weather, Hector headed toward the castle.
Wandering aimlessly through the corridors, he ran into Eatrice, who had just come out of her room.
“Back from practice?”
Eatrice, apparently about to head to the training grounds, asked as she pulled on her fencing gloves.
“No.”
Hector’s short reply was directed at the gloves she was wearing. He had never seen them before.
The blue leather gloves suited her complexion perfectly—most likely one of the gifts that had arrived in the package a few days ago.
“So, you don’t mind if you never beat me once before I leave next week?” Eatrice teased.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Normally he would have bantered back, but this time Hector simply answered flatly.
And strangely, he meant it.
Winning or losing against Eatrice didn’t matter anymore.
“Giving up?”
Eatrice looked surprised as she pulled on the other glove.
Still staring at the gloves on her hands, Hector only shrugged.
“Well, I’m off to practice. See you at the next training.”
Cheerfully saying goodbye, Eatrice walked away toward the training yard.
Strange… I thought he’d insist on beating me at least once before I left.
Ever since they’d become friends, Hector had always challenged her fiercely, never holding back.
Maybe it’s just because today’s a rest day?
But even when regular training resumed the next day, Hector’s subdued attitude remained.
He no longer pestered her after training, following her around like a loyal dog. Instead, he disappeared right after practice and wasn’t seen again until class the next day.
Eatrice had no idea what he was doing shut up in his room.
The remaining week passed quickly.
The day of Eatrice’s departure arrived.
The Border Count and Countess of Valdein urged her to stay longer, but Eatrice said she wished to return to the capital before spring advanced too far.
“Lady Eatrice, we will never forget the days you spent at Valdein Castle without prejudice, nor the efforts you gave to protect the knights of the Gray Wolf Order.”
The Count and Countess personally escorted her to the inner wall to see her off.
“I, too, will never forget Valdein. Thank you for even lending me an escort for the journey.”
Soldiers swarmed around her horse and carriage like clouds.
Not only the ducal knights sent to fetch her, but also soldiers personally chosen by Barud would accompany her on the long road. Piled high on wagons and packhorses were the Count’s gifts.
“But where’s Hector?”
It was almost time to depart, yet her usual sparring partner was nowhere in sight.
“I just saw him rushing into the main keep,” Barud said with a click of his tongue.
“That’s fine, then.”
She had already said a light farewell to him earlier while leaving the castle.
Besides, she would see him again at the Deltor entrance exam that summer, whether they liked it or not.
Soon the procession began to move.
Though the air was still cold, the sunlight was bright, so Eatrice chose to ride on horseback instead of sitting in the carriage.
One by one, the wagons and riders exited the inner wall. Eatrice’s horse followed.
She halted only when they passed through the outer gate.
“Hey, Eatrice!”
The deep voice that rang out so loudly it hurt her ears belonged to Hector.
Eatrice pulled back her hood and turned her head toward the wall above the gate.
“Catch this!”
Grinning triumphantly, Hector waved an arm and threw something down.
Eatrice instinctively reached out and caught it midair.
“Farewell!”
Seeing she had caught it safely, Hector raised his hand in a grand salute.
Eatrice opened her palm to see what she had received.
It was a necklace. Hanging from it was a translucent, sky-blue piece of crystal—actually a fragment of the Ice Stag’s antler.
So this is why he shut himself in his room after practice every day.
He must have picked it up from the mountain that day and spent the week carving it. It was rough and uneven, almost impossible to tell what shape he intended.
“…A bear falling from a tree?”
“It’s a Gray Wolf!”
Somehow hearing her from afar, Hector shouted back furiously.
With that, the procession moved on once more.
As the stone walls receded into the distance, Eatrice raised a hand in thanks for the gift.
And of course, a much larger hand waved back from the wall.
(To be continued…)
ADORABLE 💖