Chapter 67
Just as Cecilia had expected, news of the completion of the lodgings reached the Grand Ducal Castle only a few days later.
Since she couldn’t personally visit every area, she would have to send representatives instead.
After selecting several trustworthy servants—including Noah—Cecilia carefully reviewed the list.
The remaining regions were Tisher and Toden. Coincidentally, they were the very first two places she had visited when she initially conceived this project.
She found herself thinking that visiting Toden this time wouldn’t be a bad idea.
And my husband looked like he finally had some breathing room when I saw him at breakfast.
After twenty years of carefully built bulk, his body had gradually grown leaner—almost alarmingly so. But recently, perhaps because he’d been eating more regularly, he seemed to be regaining his former robust physique.
If that was the case, wouldn’t it be nice to take a short trip together under the pretense of work? A brief getaway, of sorts.
Though calling it a “trip” might be overselling it.
The weariness that once clung to him had faded considerably. It didn’t seem like a bad time to bring it up—today or tomorrow, perhaps.
For once, Cecilia felt her heart flutter with anticipation.
As she watered a potted plant, she hummed softly. Inside the pot was a tiny sapling.
It was something she’d chosen as a gift for the upcoming welcoming banquet. Since the sample items brought into the castle couldn’t exactly be sent back, Cecilia had been taking care of them herself.
After staring at the pot for a moment, she called over a maid and asked her to prepare another one.
While the maid carried out the errand, Cecilia quickly fashioned a decoration from some leftover ribbon and smiled to herself.
It was said to be good for air purification, and supposedly had all sorts of positive meanings attached to it. She couldn’t quite remember what they were—but she was sure that keeping it nearby couldn’t hurt.
I should put one in my husband’s room too.
A single potted plant wasn’t going to miraculously restore his health, but still—
What matters is the thought.
Even if her husband didn’t spend much time in his room these days.
Having something like this there would at least put her mind at ease.
When Cecilia visited Yuri’s office, she met Noah’s eyes as he stood at his post and gave him a small smile.
“Hello. Working hard as always.”
“Ah, the Grand Duke is scheduled to return this evening.”
“Do I really have such a reputation for prying into my husband’s schedule that you’d say that the moment you see me?”
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Cecilia held out the potted plant she’d brought.
“I came to place this here today.”
“…My apologies.”
“Well, I was about to ask about his schedule anyway, so you’re not wrong. You’re perceptive. My husband is lucky to have such a capable aide.”
With a light laugh, Cecilia glanced around the room.
It didn’t seem drastically different from the last time she’d been here.
If anything, it feels even more austere.
Had he cleared things out? Had there even been anything to remove?
Comparing the faint memories in her mind, Cecilia eventually found the answer.
Some sections of the bookshelves were empty.
The change was so subtle she wouldn’t have noticed—if not for the fact that the book she’d read last time was still there.
“Would you like to wait until the Grand Duke returns?”
Noah’s clear voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Her pale green eyes wandered briefly through the air before she turned toward him. He was aligning papers neatly, tapping their edges together.
“No, that’s alright. But even if my husband wants to return quietly, could you still inform me?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Thank you.”
Noah dipped his head briefly and returned to his work.
He seemed to be wrapping up urgent matters before leaving on another trip, so Cecilia took that as her cue to leave.
News of Yuri’s arrival at the castle came just as dusk began to settle.
Cecilia immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare a tea good for relieving fatigue, then hurried toward Yuri’s room.
“May I come in for a moment?”
The memory of the day she’d first approached him for a deal resurfaced unexpectedly.
As she waited for a response after knocking, her heart raced in time with every small sound from inside.
The one who opened the door was none other than Yuri himself.
Still not changed out of his travel clothes, he stepped back awkwardly after opening it.
“Come in first.”
Noah was nowhere to be seen. As Cecilia took the seat Yuri indicated, she glanced at his face.
He looked a bit tired, but not to the point of harming his health.
Even the color of his mist looks fine.
Watching the faint purplish haze ripple gently around him, a smile finally reached Cecilia’s lips.
“If you waited long, I’m sorry.”
It was the first thing Yuri said once the tea had been prepared and they were able to face each other properly.
She could tell it wasn’t just about today.
What should I do?
If she said yes, she knew an awkward expression would appear on her husband’s face. If this had been a few days ago, she might’ve teased him a little.
But as Yuri waited anxiously for her answer, she simply shook her head in silence. Only then did the tension leave his shoulders.
“It’s fine. I’m more worried that you might be exhausted.”
Her gentle words only deepened his sense of guilt.
Even if everything he did was for her sake, the burden of having to hide something from her constantly weighed on his heart.
He’d be lying if he said he’d never considered telling her the truth.
Hearing her concern now stirred that impulse again—he wanted to confess, to lean on her, even just for a moment.
No. I can’t.
Clenching his teeth, Yuri squeezed his eyes shut.
Still, the appearance rate of mid-level monsters had dropped significantly over the past few days.
Enduring it had been the right choice. He was even relieved he hadn’t said anything that might make her anxious or cause her to avoid Lotreven.
So he would keep his mouth shut—for now.
Someday, far in the future…
When enough time had passed, perhaps he could tell Cecilia everything.
That he’d been afraid of her leaving, and had struggled through it all alone without letting it show.
It was strange—even to himself—that he was already imagining such a future.
“I’m fine. It’s not even that hard.”
A faint smile appeared on Yuri’s lips as he spoke—unaware that his words only deepened Cecilia’s sense of distance.
Is there still something you can’t tell me?
She didn’t need him to share everything anymore. Just hearing him say he was struggling would’ve been enough.
Suppressing a bitter smile, Cecilia slid the teacup toward him.
“They say this tea is good for relieving fatigue. I asked the kitchen to prepare it when I heard you’d returned.”
“…Thank you.”
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you. Will you listen while you drink?”
Yuri lifted the teacup, then gestured with curious eyes for her to continue.
“The apprentices’ lodgings were completed recently. I’m planning to go for a final inspection myself. The destination is Toden.”
The teacup clinked softly against its saucer. It wasn’t loud, but her heart pounded strangely hard. Cecilia swallowed her nerves and pressed on.
“Would you go with me?”
The silence felt heavy. No matter how many times she told herself not to expect too much, she found herself hoping anyway.
Yuri lowered his gaze to the tea, his expression unreadable—like someone waiting for an oracle to appear in the liquid.
Cecilia wished she could read his heart through the ripples in the tea as well, but she could see nothing. All she could do was wait.
“When would we leave?”
“I was thinking the day after tomorrow. …If that’s difficult for you, we could postpone it.”
Yuri’s thick fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Then the sound stopped.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
At last, his answer was affirmative.
