CH 18.2

“I’ve never felt cold.” Cade, who took out Cherryl’s personal luggage, replied.”I grew up in a cold and stark border compared to this, so I’m used to it.”

Cherryl made eye contact with him as she shivered while holding the blanket around her.

Now that the late Duke of Blkanov—-who brought Cade into his territory after discovering him during the Northern Expedition—-had died, no one in this Empire knew of his origin.

Now, he casually told her where he came from, which other people would have found obscure.

Furthermore, strange barbarians were known to live beyond the border.

If what Cade had said about him spending his childhood there, he might as well be declaring himself as a wild-ling which she only heard in tales.

It was a shame that Cherryl knew the truth, but she would be stunned if someone she didn’t know heard of it.

Cade pointed at the great wall and continued, “The castle is divided into five sections. The distance between those sections is wide enough to use a carriage if you want to go there. However, I won’t allow you to move unless you have to do something important in that location.”

“It’s so spacious, Your Grace. Can’t we move these sections inside the castle?”

“There used to be an underground tunnel which connects every zone, but it’s blocked now.”After his careless explanation, Cade’s countenance hardened in an instant. “Why are you interested in them, My Lady?”

Surprised, Cherryl shook her head.

“I was just asking, Your Grace. I just wanted to refer to it if I got lost while walking around.”

“If you don’t want to get lost, you’d better not think about roaming freely in the first place.” Cade scolded her out of the blue, and he went on without a break. “You will live in District Four, accompanied by Mrs. Bailey. It just happened that we are currently here.”

In the distance, Cherryl saw a middle-aged woman exiting a massive door when it opened.

She looked like she was walking their way.

“Except for your expenses, you will only have a few servants. I’ll make sure that it wouldn’t be an inconvenience..”

“Well—-”

Cherryl knew who Mrs. Bailey was.

She was one of the established family’s maidservants.

This novel’s author made her one of the few people who felt sorry for little Cade when he was persecuted.

Cherryl assumed there would be a lot of servants around here based on the size of the castle that couldn’t even compare to her father’s mansion.

“We need many people to manage this large castle, Your Grace. Is there a reason why you only have a few servants here?”

“Most of them were killed.”

Cherryl shouldn’t have asked.

Servants and aides would disappear together with the slain family members.

Did the man standing next to her kill every single one of them?

Of course, the Blkanov family were mere mortals.

The reigning royal family declared him illegitimate without knowing his true identity.

Cade was persecuted because he was considered to be an adopted child.

Their misdeeds had led to Cade’s rise to the throne, and the false genealogy that lasted hundreds of years was finally corrected.

Was it pure coincidence?

How did he figure out the secret of his birth that only Cherryl should have known?

“——but I’m glad.” A slightly weary voice broke Cherryl’s thought. “Now that you’re here, I can trust one more person from the few people I have left.”

Before she could react, Cade winked at the Balkan men.

“Before you go, greet my lady with courtesy.”

“Please take good care of me, Lady Milose!”

“Please take good care of me, Lady Milly~!”

The seven men shouted at Cherryl in unison.

Yet, she was a little worried to hear that familiar voice calling her ‘Lady Milly.’

After greeting Cade’s men, Cherryl looked back at Cade, who was already climbing back into the carriage.

Not only that, but all the Balkan men had already entered their carriage.

“Oh? Don’t you all live here, Your Grace?”

“I live in District 1. It’s located at the heart of my castle.”

“Ah.”

“Any questions?”

“No.”

“If you need anything or you feel uncomfortable, ask the maid for help.” Cade glanced at Cherryl for the last time and added, “Relax and relieve your fatigue, My Lady.”

The carriage doors closed and the procession of black carriages proceeded to cross the wide front yard.

Was he leaving here just like this?

Of course, she didn’t expect to share a room with him from their first day of living together.

Their wedding ceremony didn’t even happen yet and and their marriage agreement was made without them knowing each other well, so neither did Cherryl wanted that arrangement.

However, Cherryl had no idea she had to live so far from him that she had to ride a carriage to get to the different zones.

Did Cade just say he wouldn’t allow her to travel unless she had to do something significant in that location?

Wouldn’t that mean they would rarely see each other?

Cherryl must have made a profound impression on the approaching woman when she stood there in a daze.

“It’s an honor to meet you, My Lady.”

“I’m glad to meet you, Mrs. Bailey.”Cherryl greeted her warmly.

A gentle smile bloomed on Mrs. Bailey’s wrinkled face.

I was informed of your arrival in advance, Lady Milrose. I had lived a long time, but seeing such a pretty and sweet person like  you is still lovely.”

“You’re welcome. It’s my first time in the North, so I think I’ll need a lot of your help, Mrs. Bailey. Please take good care of me.”

“I will help you with all my heart, so please feel free to ask me. Since it’s cold out here, shall we go in?”

As she held the blanket Cade had put around her tightly, Cherryl stepped away.

However, a little emotion inside her—-which she had no idea where it came from—made her repeatedly look over her shoulder.

It was ridiculous and embarrassing to name it as regret, so she suppressed the urge to do it again.

From the moment she got off the carriage, Cade, who seemed like he had to do something urgently, did not disappear from her head.