CH 11

“Her ladyship is a little strange these days, isn’t she? At first, she wasn’t the kind of person to say thank you…”

Stea, the maid who was moving the tea pot, said to Heins.

The two people’s puzzled eyes were looking at Leah’s back at the same time.

“Yes. I thought she’d be waiting for him, but she just left.”

“Hmm, not just Her Ladyship, His Excellency was also strange today.”

Stea tilted her head, recalling the events today to see if there was anything strange about His Excellency.

“I didn’t know she was such a good talker. How surprised I was to see her finally persuade His Excellency.”

“I was surprised, too. His Excellency was also very surprised…”

A smirk appeared on Heins’ face as he recalled what happened in the morning and Davan’s expression at the same time.

“Despite how harsh the words were, she covered for Rinen. She wasn’t that kind of person…”

“She was more considerate than she looked.”

“Anyway, she felt like a completely different person in a week.”

“Is that so? Susan said something else.”

Stea’s eyes widened at Heins’ meaningful words.

“Oh, Mrs. Susan? What did she say?”

Mrs. Susan, in addition to Heins, the butler, were the people in charge of housekeeping.

As far as Stea knew, she had a very keen eye for people…

“Stea, would you like to play a game with me?”

“What game all of a sudden?”

Suddenly, Heins made a strange proposal.

“When His Excellency returns, will he or will he not be looking for her ladyship? It’s the first game, so I’ll bet 50 cents lightly.”

“What? That’s not fun at all.”

Stea replied sarcastically. What kind of fun is it to play a game where the answer is already decided?

“Of course he won’t be looking. It’s His Excellency we’re talking about.” Tired, Stea added, shaking her head, “Unless we’re talking about Miss Prezis…”

“I bet he will go looking.”

Stea giggled at the curious answer from Heins.

It would be absurd to make such a choice because of today’s breakfast.

To bet 50 cents on something that only happens once every few years.

“You want to give me some pocket money? I’d appreciate it.”

Stea hummed, as if she had already anticipated her victory.

“A lot of fun things are going to happen. Make sure you have enough money to play the game.”

Heins looked at the clock with a calm face.

“There’s no evening reconnaissance today, so he’ll be back soon. Maybe in five minutes.”

While four minutes passed, Heins checked the room for the last time.

And whispered softly toward Stea as the last fifth minute went over.

“You’re good in everything you do, it’s just you’re very slow-witted.”

At the same time, the sound of a carriage coming over from the main gate of the castle was heard.

“His Excellency must have returned.”

It seemed that Davan had returned.

Again, Heins’ prediction was never wrong.

***

“Oh dear. My lady! Why are you going so fast?”

Lindy, who had been chasing me, was out of breath.

I walked out of the hall as if I were running away, and stood there to look back.

‘Well, I was nervous that I’d get caught.’

It was only when I completely moved away from the entrance to the dining room that I was relieved.

I was so nervous that I might run into Davan…

“His Excellency is coming back soon, so why don’t you just go in without seeing him?”

Following me, Lindy looked around the dark hallway.

“Why should I wait for him? He’ll come in on his own. He’s not even a child.”

There were dozens or hundreds of people who supported Davan.

There was no reason for me to have to wait for him at the door. He won’t welcome me anyway.

“Ohh… My lady. You’re awesome.”

Lindy’s eyes twinkled.

“Awesome? What?”

“Mhm, how should I put it? You’re totally…”

“Totally?”

“Would it be totally refreshing?”

Lindy couldn’t help but laugh out loud, so she covered her mouth with her hands to silence her voice.

“It has been quite familiar from the day we first came to the duke’s house. People knew you as that girl who was always in a position to wait…”

She had a bitter expression on her face even though she said it was familiar.

‘In a waiting position.’

In the original story, there was no mention of how Leah and Davan were living in this Eirene Palace.

No one knows what’s going on in a world where the protagonists don’t exist.

Because they don’t care.

“…”

As I look down the darkened hallway, I feel upset.

Leah, who must have walked alone along the dark road, flashed right in front of me.

What was she thinking about in this large and spacious palace, and did she end the day while waiting for Davan to return?

There was nothing I could do about becoming one in body, but there were times when Leah’s heart felt like mine.

Just like now.

No one would have cared for her after the lights went out. Even Davan, who had been with Leah for eight years.

Somehow it tasted bitter.

“Just by looking at the responses of Heins and other servants.”

“…”

“When my lady got up first, his bewildered expressions were totally…”

Lindy laughed once more with a puff.

What has she seen so far? That even this seems so refreshing to this extent?

‘Sigh.’

A sigh escaped from my mouth involuntarily. For some reason I didn’t feel very happy.

As I turned back and walked out, Lindy followed me.

“It’s my lady’s choice, so I wanted you to be happy in Eirene Palace. But there are times when I wonder if I should have stopped you.”

Only Lindy’s voice filled the gap.

I could see that Lindy had something she couldn’t bring herself to say.

‘Wait three years. Let’s escape.’

I comforted Lindy like that, at least in my heart. After walking for such a long time, I suddenly came to the garden of nature.

The cold night air hit my face, and my head became clear.

“Isn’t this enough time for someone to feel something…? It’s been six years since the two of us lived face to face together.”

Then Lindy asked me.

“This house is too big, isn’t it?”

I shook my head and looked at the ground.

Do you think you fall in love just because you’re in one space? People are naive.

“What about rubbing hands like this, huh? What about rubbing shoulders? Even in a narrow space, people have to stick together to develop feelings. No one knows anything.”

This Eirene Palace was almost like an amusement park. To the extent that if you put your mind to it, you can live your whole life without seeing each other.

“That’s what everybody does, isn’t it? Even if they didn’t know anything when they were young, this is the period to get excited just by looking at each other, but it’s just strange.”

I couldn’t help but think it was strange.

Beautiful and handsome people live in the same house facing each other for several years, and one couldn’t be bothered even at this prime age.

However.

‘Of course… It’s because we’re in a novel where everyone’s fate has already been decided.”

But I couldn’t tell anyone that.

It’s harder than I thought, the life of a person who knows all the secrets of the creation of heaven and earth.

“One doesn’t have to worry about the noise that people make. Because everything has a set destiny.”

“That’s right. Whether or not he’s this lady’s destiny, we have to go out to know for sure. He’s not the only man in the world!”

At my words, Lindy murmured in a hushed voice.

“Ah, that’s true! My lady. Who is going to debut in the capital city this time? Have you heard of House Vernon?”

“How do you know about House Vernon?”

Vernon. The word stopped me. I never thought I’d hear the name of Cadel Vernon here again.

“Among the maids of the Imperial Palace, rumors are already circulating. It’s the hottest topic in the capital these days.”

Just by looking at Lindy’s expression, I could tell how much of a topic it was.

“He’s not the eldest son, but the second son? What kind of person is he enough to succeed to the title of duke at a young age?”

Ah, debut in capital politics… That’s why Cadel was in the Imperial Palace earlier.

With Cadel’s appearance, I was able to make sure in which part of the novel I currently was. The introduction had only just passed.

“He is a very handsome man. Of course, they say that it is not enough compared to the leader of the court.”

“Who is the leader in the court?”

How could I be so childish…? My eyes narrowed by themselves.

“Who is it?”

However, Lindy opened her lips as if it was natural.

“His Excellency, Duke Khajans, the master of this palace, who will be my lady’s husband.”

“…Oh, right.”

“And my lady is the most beautiful woman in this empire, so the two of you are a perfect match.”

Perhaps seeing that I had lost focus, Lindy made no noise.

“But why can’t he feel anything? Is he doing this on purpose?”

No other words were heard.

Because I was already speechless in that part.

“Oh, but that’s not the point.”

As if something had suddenly come to mind, Lindy came closer to me.

“Perhaps the duke (Cadel) will officially appear in the social world at this summer’s hunting festival.”

“Summer hunting festival?”

Lindy nodded her head. His face suddenly turned serious.

“It has already caused a stir in the salons on the main street. No matter how long the reservation line is, we have to move from now on!”

I looked back at the original work again.

If it’s the summer hunting festival… Then…

“No. It won’t be this summer.”

Whew, I waved my hand.

It was winter when Cadel Vernon officially debuted in the social world.

To be precise, at the year-end prom during the Winter Festival.

The court was so noisy with Cadel’s appearance, no one was unaware of his existence.

However, it was definitely the ball that Cardel showed up ‘formally’.

In line with that, the female lead Ollina Fabian will also appear for the first time.

‘Ollina Fabian recognizes Cadel Vernon at first sight.’

It was a romantic and intense scene fitting for the first meeting of the main characters.

Until then, very few people even knew Cardel’s face.

The empress dowager, the emperor, and Davan? Now I will be included.

Cadel hid his true existence in various ways. One day he became a beggar, and one day he became a waiter in a tavern.

There was only one reason.

It’s only when one doesn’t show their true appearance that people reveal their true nature.

But Ollina recognized Cadel at first sight.

Even though Cadel was switching clothes with a servant, she greeted him exactly.

“How do you know that?”

Maybe I was too confident, Lindy’s eyes widened with suspicion.

“Something interesting is about to happen.”

Instead of answering, I smiled skeptically.

Then. Hwiing— As the wind blew, I felt a chill. Although it was summer, the night air that touched my skin was cold.

“Let’s go inside. It’s a little cold.”

“Yes, my lady. Otherwise, your cheeks and nose will turn red.”

I walked back inside to go up to my room on the third floor.

“By the way, my lady—”

The moment I turned the corner, I heard Lindy’s voice.

And stopped unexpectedly—

“Ouch!”

“Oh my god. My lady!”

I stumbled against something, and my body staggered by itself.

Oh, why is it so hard?

“My lady! Are you alr—”

Lindy’s, who was supporting me, gaze, went up and up, and there was a look of surprise.

“Heok! Your Excellency, you’ve returned.”

Huh? What? Who?

I lifted my head along with my heart, wondering if there was such a thing as bad luck.

“…!”

As it was, I felt out of breath.

Davan’s still eyes looked down at me.