Chapter 47 ………………………………………….
Somehow, I briefly remembered Chevert, whom I had almost forgotten.
So he’s still alive, I see.
“The letter was sent only to Milady, not to the Duke.”
“Only to me?”
I opened the letter with a reluctant expression.
It was probably just another pointless brag of his, as expected.
[Your snout came in first place.]
As I suspected, there was only a single line written on the white paper.
Typical Chevert.
And calling it your snout—what a refined expression.
The remark I had once snapped at him must have left quite an impression.
“Won’t you write a reply?”
“Not at all.”
“Then what should we do with this letter?”
“Burn it, or tear it apart?”
Debuie, who was pondering, answered with a prim little smile.
“Burning it would be the neatest, I suppose.”
Though he joked, Debuie was serious.
At times like this, he showed words and actions that contrasted sharply with his pretty appearance.
“Alright. Next time a letter comes, handle it for me.”
“Yes, Milady.”
I had heard occasionally that Chevert was doing well at the academy.
It wasn’t particularly interesting, but after all, Chevert was the legitimate heir of the Kereis family.
It was good to know bits of information about him.
Spring in the empire was short.
It barely lasted the brief period between winter and summer.
Summer came soon after.
The Kereis family often traveled long distances during this season.
They would stay at the estate of their grandfather in the north, enjoying the relatively cool summer. A sort of summer vacation.
It was a Kereis family tradition.
“Ron is going to be really sad about this.”
“There’s nothing we can do. Ron said he understood after reading the letter.”
“That’s true.”
I took out the letter Ron had sent me.
[Have a safe trip to the north. I’ll miss you.]
Though short, his words carried weight.
That single sentence about missing me lingered deeply in my heart.
‘I’ll come back soon, Ron.’
Krimu’s grandfather’s estate was at the northern entrance, so the journey from the west wasn’t long.
It was sad not to exchange letters with Ron for a while, but at the same time, I felt excitement.
The north was a land of opportunity for me.
‘The Alter family discovered a gold mine here, didn’t they?’
The Alter family, where the heroine grew up, had a prestigious history of producing scholars for hundreds of years.
By chance, the heroine Bianca bought an abandoned northern mine in her childhood. It turned out to be full of gold.
Later, a ship from a neighboring empire, carrying goods, sank in a storm, and gold prices skyrocketed. The Alter family became immensely wealthy.
‘I feel a bit guilty toward the heroine, though.’
I planned to preemptively claim the land.
Even without the mine, the Alter family was rich—rich enough to rival the Kereis family.
Taking a bit wouldn’t affect them at all.
And this trip was just Krimu and me.
The Duke couldn’t leave the estate for long due to work.
Last summer, only the eldest Chevert and little Krimu went to the grandfather’s estate.
‘This is too good an opportunity to pass up.’
Already, as if I had claimed the land in my hands, my heart fluttered with the carriage’s movement.
The grand estate gleamed silver-white, like luxurious ice crystal.
Rising prominently within the expansive grounds was Krimu’s grandfather, Veil Kereis’ house.
The carriage passed through the large gate and stopped in front of the mansion.
A deep breath brought the cool northern air into my lungs.
Even in summer, the north felt different from the west.
“You must be tired from your journey. Please, come inside.”
The elderly butler bowed as he guided us.
Krimu, having visited a few times before, walked boldly, and I followed.
‘Wow.’
I couldn’t help but exclaim.
Inside, the atmosphere was completely different from the outside.
Wild animal skins hung on walls.
Long swords rested on glass shelves.
Huge fireplaces that could roar to life with wood.
‘Feels like a rich hunter’s house.’
At that moment, Veil, reclining on a sofa, made his presence known.
“You’ve lasted till summer, surprisingly.”
“Grandpa.”
The grandfather, who scolded me at first sight, relaxed his frown at Krimu’s words.
No surprise—he was dealing with his own grandson.
I greeted him politely.
His hair was white, and his face lined with wrinkles, but he must have been handsome in his youth.
Will the Duke look like that when he grows old?
I pushed the thought aside and sat beside Krimu.
A refreshing sherbet was placed in front of me by a maid.
Watching Krimu eat with cute little sounds, I offered him some of mine because he was so adorable.
“Krimu, do you want some of this too?”
“Yes, Sister.”
“And what are those?”
Veil, who had been silent, spoke for the first time.
Where he pointed, Kauts was adorned with glittering jewels.
“He’s my teacher.”
At the word “teacher,” Veil’s expression contorted further.
Kauts did not look like a typical teacher imparting ladylike etiquette.
With his messy black hair hanging down, Kauts shrugged at us.
I gestured that it was fine and continued.
“I am learning magic with the Duke’s permission.”
“Magic?”
Finally, Veil exhaled sharply and ran his hand along his chin.
A mage necessary for the Kereis family.
Veil must have known that this was precisely why I, Marianne, was here.
“Then what about that?”
It was little Roro, jumping near Kauts.
Woof woof.
Roro’s barking caused Veil to frown deeply.
“You brought a puppy into my house?”
“Ah, he’s just a little puppy.”
“Puppy or little puppy, how dare you set foot in my mansion?”
Veil glared at me with his bloodshot eyes.
I shrank slightly but felt unfair.
Kauts came with me, but Roro did not.
Perhaps sensing this, Krimu spoke up.
“Grandpa, I need to train with Roro.”
“Train?”
Krimu nodded, making his blue hair sway.
He got off the sofa and walked to Roro.
“Roro, stay.”
Krimu extended his small hand and commanded firmly.
Everyone in the hall widened their eyes.
The puppy, who had been stomping, froze immediately.
Raising his head and waiting for the next command, the duo’s confident posture drew admiring murmurs.
“My, young master Krimu is amazing.”
“The puppy obeyed in one go.”
Even Veil’s wrinkles smoothed out in surprise.
‘When did they become so close?’
Were they friends or had their hierarchy been established?
I didn’t know exactly.
Either way, fighting and bonding made them even cuter.
“Keep an eye on them so they don’t cause trouble.”
“Yes.”
Veil left just one instruction for the butler, quietly allowing Roro to stay with us.
The first day passed, and Krimu, Roro, and I adapted well.
The cooler north was more comfortable than the hot west.
Turning my gaze from Krimu and Roro racing, I looked across the river to the forest.
‘While staying here, you may enter anywhere, but one place. Trensia Forest is strictly off-limits.’
The butler had explained this when showing me around.
Fences were placed throughout the forest.
I didn’t need an explanation to know why.
Trensia Forest in the north—the very place Ron had disappeared.
A forest passed down through generations of the Kereis family.
‘Forests are a traditional legacy for imperial families.’
Noble families in the Triya Empire valued forests as much as wealth and honor.
The forests remained for centuries, providing food and beautiful scenery, making them a precious inheritance.
If a sacred guardian descended there, the forest’s significance increased.
‘Yet Trensia Forest brought tragedy to the Kereis family.’
A gentle wind rustled the tall trees.
But even in that beautiful scenery, I felt sad.
Thinking of young Ron lost in the dark forest, I couldn’t help it.
Soon I found myself at the fence.
Lost in thought, I unconsciously crossed the bridge over the river.
I reached my hand into the fence.
“…What is this?”
I felt an indescribable energy envelop my hand.
But at the forest entrance, it was faint.
I bent closer to feel it more when suddenly—
“What are you doing there?!”
A loud roar startled me.
“G-Grandfather!”
Veil, standing in the middle of the river bridge, slammed his staff on the ground.
“You are not to step there!”
“Y-Yes!”
I clutched my dress and hurried along.
As I approached, Veil glared fiercely.
“I told you not to enter the forest.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t go inside, really.”
“Then why were you loitering there?”
“I just… wanted to know. I was curious why the forest is forbidden.”
“….”
Veil’s gray eyebrows furrowed.
He turned his gaze to the forest and said softly:
“Marianne.”
“Yes?”
“When you become an adult, you’ll soon be a part of this family. Naturally, you’ll be curious about everything in the Kereis family. But don’t try to know too much.”
Veil looked at me again, expression unreadable.
“Everything has its own reasons.”
“Milady! Milady!”
At that moment, Britta ran over from the lawn, wondering what had happened.
The tense atmosphere loosened.
As I looked at Britta, Veil had already crossed the river bridge.
