Chapter 36
It truly felt like an unbelievable story.
As Cecilia neatly folded the letter, the vigorous handwriting of Matilda and Noah’s trembling voice surfaced in her mind one after another. She knew they weren’t the sort of people who would lie. And yet, this dazed feeling simply wouldn’t fade
“It looks like things have gone well.”
Cecilia quietly repeated Noah’s words.
As she pronounced each syllable, the small ripples they created brushed strangely against her chest before disappearing. Only then did it slowly begin to feel real.
At the same time, she recalled the people she had seen in the city on her way back in the carriage earlier. Perhaps the reason they had all looked so excited was because merchants—who were always the first to hear such news—had already caught wind of it.
They really had succeeded.
The moment she realized that, a certain face came to mind.
“Shouldn’t we at least send a letter to the borderlands?”
How happy would her husband be when he found out?
She could already picture him frowning as if pretending not to care, while the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably with joy. Just imagining the color of the mist that would rise from his chest made her smile without realizing it.
When Cecilia spoke in a buoyant voice, Noah cleared his throat, forcing himself to sound calm as he replied.
“I think it might be better to keep it a secret for now. I’d really like to see His Grace the Grand Duke fall over in shock with my own two eyes when he returns.”
“Fall over, you say… I kind of want to see that too.”
It would be a rare sight indeed. When Cecilia answered teasingly, a faint smile appeared on Noah’s face as well.
It almost felt too good to be true—enough to make her afraid it was a dream. And that wasn’t the only thing she had to worry about.
Cecilia’s lips, which had been fidgeting with the letter nonstop, slowly stiffened.
Of course, it was wonderful that things were going well—but trainees?
Would anyone really come all the way north?
The craftsmen would likely welcome it, given how short-handed they were, but would there really be people willing to learn?
Not long ago, they’d even had to send away the apprentices they already had.
Trying to gather those people again now would be difficult enough, and bringing in entirely new people to train would be even harder.
If we could fill the positions with people already living in Lothreven, that would be ideal…
But if manpower fell short, they’d have to recruit from other regions.
Would anyone really be willing to come to Lothreven, a place infamous for its unsavory rumors?
Tapping the paper lightly with her fingertips, Cecilia let out a short sigh and carefully tucked the letter into her cloak pocket.
In any case, none of that had happened yet—it was a problem for later. And who knew?
Maybe things will turn out better than expected again.
The positive reactions she’d seen in the city, and the news that Lothreven tapestries were gaining popularity in the capital.
There seemed to be plenty of room for the situation to improve.
“Thank you for letting me know, Noah. I’ll tell His Grace myself later.”
“Yes, ma’am. Please don’t forget to call for me then.”
At his joke, Cecilia burst into laughter and headed up to her room with a light step.
Sitting down right away, she picked up her pen and began writing a reply.
She wrote that she was truly grateful for the proposal and would consider it positively; that she was delighted to hear good things were happening for both Orto and Lothreven; and that she looked forward to future cooperation. After finishing in short order, Cecilia carefully sealed the letter with wax.
After instructing a maid to send it, Cecilia bit down on her lower lip. If she didn’t, she felt like her smile would spill out again.
She didn’t know what had been worrying her husband enough to make him drink, but perhaps sharing the news from Orto this time would ease his mind.
Her anticipation for his return swelled warmly in her chest.
Yuri arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle earlier than he had the previous month.
Unlike before, when he always returned late in the evening and barely had time to show his face, this time there was enough leeway for them to share a meal.
“That’s perfect. Could you have the kitchen put a bit more care into tonight’s meal? I have some good news I’d like to tell my husband.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
After asking the kitchen to prepare her husband’s favorite dishes, Cecilia also sent a servant to invite Yuri to dine with her.
If he refuses, there’s nothing I can do.
Still, after eating food he liked, his mood would surely improve—and she could at least try to talk to him then.
Contrary to her expectations, however, her husband accepted the invitation readily.
When Cecilia entered the dining room, she spotted the Grand Duke looking neat and refreshed, as if he had just washed up. The ends of his hair were still slightly damp, as though he hadn’t finished drying it properly.
It was proof that he’d decided to see her as soon as he returned to the castle.
That’s a bit suspicious.
She was grateful he was being cooperative, but his attitude felt subtly different from before he’d left.
Did something difficult happen at the border?
Or perhaps coming home had simply softened him.
Whatever the reason, one thing was certain: once he read the letter, his mood would surely lift.
The moment she sat down, Yuri’s question flew at her.
“Did something happen while I was away?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Well, I just suddenly wondered if you were trying to placate me because you did something wrong.”
What a twisted way of thinking. Cecilia gave him an unamused look and took a sip of water.
“It’s nothing like that. I just thought you must be tired from traveling to the border.”
He picked up his cutlery, still eyeing her suspiciously, and plunged it into the salad. As he chewed, his expression shifted slightly.
“Is this apple?”
“Oh! How did you know? They said they changed the dressing.”
“Well, I just…”
The Grand Duke trailed off and resumed chewing, his bites vigorous—almost aggressive.
Completely unaware that he was recalling the time she had tossed him an apple in the forest, Cecilia rolled her eyes and discreetly checked the color of his mist.
Thankfully, it didn’t seem like he’d spoken up because the food didn’t suit his taste; his mood didn’t appear particularly bad.
When she thought of Orto’s letter, which she had entrusted to Noah again, her heart began to race.
After the meal, would she and Noah really get the reaction they were hoping for?
“By the way, about this latest deployment…”
Yuri spoke again just as dessert ice cream was served.
Cecilia, who had just lifted her spoon, turned to him with a puzzled look.
“The arrangement was pretty solid. I think it’d be fine to leave it to you like this from now on.”
“Oh my.”
A small exclamation slipped from Cecilia’s lips. The comment had come so unexpectedly that she needed a few seconds to fully process his words.
Her rounded lips curved into a long smile.
“Thank you. That’s thanks to what you taught me back then.”
“Kh-hm!”
Seemingly embarrassed by the praise, the tips of Yuri’s ears flushed red. Seeing the shy mist ripple, Cecilia smiled to herself.
The meal was nearly over, and the atmosphere had relaxed just enough.
Then shall I call Noah now?
It felt like the perfect timing to share the news with her husband.
Having made up her mind, Cecilia gestured to a servant.
“Please tell Noah that we’ve finished eating.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After the servant bowed and withdrew, Cecilia turned her gaze back—only to meet the Grand Duke’s face, brows slanted in clear confusion.
“Noah? Why are you calling him?”
“Something came up while you were away—something you should know.”
After pondering her words for a moment, Yuri’s brow furrowed sharply.
“So you did cause trouble, didn’t you?”
“I have no idea how you arrived at that conclusion, but no.”
Cecilia rejected him firmly, her eyes drooping at the corners. She was struggling to suppress the mischief rising inside her.
“So you still don’t trust me.”
“No, that’s not it—I mean, it’s not that I don’t trust you, I just don’t trust Noah—ah, damn it!”
Flustered by his own words, Yuri clenched his fist in frustration.
Seeing him like that, Cecilia burst into laughter and was about to say she was only joking—
When a neat knock landed over their bickering
