n

n

nChapter 58

nProofreader: xoxomonami

nMargaret didn’t know what to do.

nAs a vassal of the Grand Duke Evron, she ought to be pleased that the new Grand Duchess would only select her lady-in-waiting from within the Evron Grand Duchy.

nThis is because it means that she will not attract the forces of her own family or create a new one.

nShe also says she’s going to take her own daughter as her first lady-in-waiting. This is to show deep trust in Count Jordyn and strengthen their ties. It was also an honor.

nIf the successor was conceived in Artizea’s body, it was even more important.

nA child born is bound to be intimate with the mother’s ladies-in-waiting, while they are under the mother’s care.

nThe nanny and the first tutor were also usually chosen among the ladies-in-waiting.

nHowever, Margaret couldn’t lift her head.

n“Aubrey… only appears grown up, but she is still an immature child. She has no manners, that I can’t possibly let her serve the Grand Duchess.”

nMargaret knew Artizea’s eyes were slowly scanning her.

nShe would have been insecure even if Artizea hadn’t met Aubrey, but she had already seen Aubrey.

nShe also saw Aubrey blatantly antagonizing her. She would already know why, too.

nIn fact, Margaret thought Artizea would be angry. There was no excuse, so she would first apologize deeply and then scold Aubrey until she came to her senses.

nBut she said she would make Aubrey her lady-in-waiting with such an elegant attitude. Margaret got goosebumps.

nWhether her act of conciliation was for the purpose of putting Aubrey under her hand, or to make sure she knows who is their superior.

nEither way, it wasn’t something someone of Artizea’s age would think of.

nMargaret admired the wiseness of her new mistress. Meanwhile, she was also afraid as the mother of her foolish daughter at the same age.

nArtizea said slowly.

n“We’re in the same castle anyway, and even if you hide her, will she be hidden?”

n“It’s not like that…”

n“If she doesn’t have an etiquette, then she should learn more etiquette. When I heard from His Grace that Count Jordyn was a trusted family, I wanted to invite the lady-in-waiting for the first time. It’s embarrassing that you cannot give your daughter..”

nMargaret bowed her head deeply because she had nothing to say.

n“That doesn’t mean that I doubt your loyalty to Evron.”

n“No. Please take away those fearful words. Please don’t say that as you are the Grand Duchess of Evron.”

nAnd she finally said.

n“It is a great honor to hear that the Grand Duchess is going to take my foolish daughter. There will be many mistakes, so please guide us a lot.”

nArtizea slowly nodded her head.

nContrary to Margaret’s thoughts, she wasn’t upset with Aubrey.

nIt was because she wanted to crack down on Aubrey in advance.

nArtizea was the Marchioness of Rosan, and she held the empress’s hand instead of her mother’s at the wedding.

nAubrey ran into Cedric’s arms without any sign of being conscious in front of her.

nUntil now, Cedric must have been so sweet. He originally is fond of children and regarded the people of the Grand Duchy as family members. He probably thought she was like his younger sister.

nHowever, he is allowed to do so because his subordinates did not forget their loyalty.

nIf there is someone who doesn’t know up and down like Aubrey, it will surely be a problem someday. It is for the sake of the Evron Grand Duchy that the buds are cut in advance.

nFor the future when Lisia became the Grand Duchess.

n‘Really?’

nSuch a question suddenly ran through the inside of her chest and stuck in her head.

n‘Aren’t you angry? Really? It doesn’t matter emotionally?’

nArtizea threw her gaze into the fireplace and quietly fell into her thoughts.

nShe casually put her hand on her chest. Her heart was heavy as if a stone was on it.

nBut Artizea did not check what was on her heart.

nIt was because she instinctively realized that she shouldn’t.

n***

nCedric, who was picking her up at dinner time, appeared earlier than expected. Behind him was a servant pushing a trolley with food.

nAlice, who opened the door carefully, was flustered. She didn’t think the visitor would be Cedric.

n“The madam is sleeping.”

n“Is that so?”

nCedric hesitated for a moment.

nIf he had been in the capital, he would have said he would come again and turn around. But Cedric didn’t this time.

nThey slept in the same cabin for more than a month. Besides, they were married externally, and it would be okay to not have gone that far.

nAlice also informed him, but she didn’t stop him from entering.

nCedric stepped into the warm bedroom.

nArtizea sat asleep in front of the fireplace.

nHe thought she had a good rest on the ship. However, she seems to have been tired, as Cedric said. As her soles and knees warmed, her drowsiness came.

nIt was said that the Evron Grand Duchy was cold, but this room was not. Rather, it was warmer than Artizea’s bedroom in the Rosan mansion.

nThis is thanks to the heated room. The fur skin was warm.

nCedric approached her and laid the plate down on the table. Because of the heat, Artizea’s cheeks were flushed nicely.

n“…..”

nWould it be better not to wake her up?

nWith that thought, Cedric approached Artizea’s side.

nThe servant left the trolley and went out silently. Alice followed and carefully closed the door.

nCedric pulled the chair and sat next to Artizea, looking at her sleeping face for a while.

nBut it would be right to wake her up too. Sleep was important, but a meal was also important.

nShe barely gained weight after working hard for several months.

nCedric quietly reached out his hand. It’s good if she wakes up, and it’s okay if she doesn’t wake up. He thought about it and tried to cover her cheek slightly.

n“Ah.”

nArtizea opened her eyes in amazement at the image of his palms almost touching her down on the cheek.

nCedric, who couldn’t even touch it, awkwardly lowered his hand.

nHe openly clenched and opened his fist a few times. It would be an excuse to try to touch her because he was curious if her cheeks were warm.

nWhile she couldn’t speak, Artizea blinked her eyes a few times and she said “Ah,” again. It was an unknown face when Cedric tried to touch her cheek.

n“I thought I was dreaming.”

n“Am I in your dream?”

n“… I do not know.”

nA bitter smile formed on Artizea’s lips.

n“Was it a bad dream?”

n“No.”

nArtizea replied briefly. It wasn’t a dream, so the word bad dream was inappropriate.

nRather, the way he was looking at her so tenderly now seemed like a vain dream.

nArtizea tried to get up. But after sleeping a little, then standing up after a little sleep, she felt heavier as if she had extra legs and arms.

n“You should rest more.”

n“Isn’t it dinner time?”

n“You were tired, so I didn’t think it was necessary to go down to the dining hall, so I brought the food here instead.”

n“But to greet the vassals …….”

n“I decided to skip it today. We’re going to have a proper banquet the day after tomorrow. Is that okay?”

n“Of course. “

nArtizea sighed briefly and buried herself in the armchair. If she can take another day off, she was grateful.

nCedric stood up. He pushed the trolley and came by the armchair.

nHe opened the soup warmer lid and transferred the soup to a bowl.

n“It smells delicious.”

nUntil then, Artizea, who had been sitting blankly against the armchair, woke up.

n“Don’t get up, I’ll give it to you.”

n“Oh, I have to. ……”

nCedric was one step faster. He already took the soup bowl and spoon it up before her body was raised.

n“Sit in a warm seat and eat.”

n“…… Thank you. “

nArtizea awkwardly thanked him.

nCedric skipped the soup on his own and piled meat and mushrooms on a plate like a mountain. Then he poured melted cheese on it and put bread in a small space.

nCedric sat down again when he returned with the plate. Artizea inadvertently opened her eyes wide. Isn’t it too much?

nCedric raised a fork with a calm face. And he asked plainly.

n“Is the room okay?”

n“Yes, it’s warm. The bathroom was also very warm.”

n“I was worried that the rooms hadn’t been used for long, but I’m glad.”

n“Is this the room that Lord Cedric’s mother used?”

nArtizea asked carefully.

n“Since this is the room used by the Grand Duchess for generations. Since the joining with the Empire, the Grand Duchess have rarely been northerners, so we must pay a lot of attention. If the Grand Duchess that came from a political marriage got sick in the cold, the problem can spread greatly.”

n“That’s also true.”

nArtizea ate a spoon of hot soup.

nThe soup, which was boiled with a thick bone broth, was different from what was usually eaten in the capital. Her stomach quickly became hot.

n“Is there anything wrong with the Grand Duchy so far? Three years is not a short time…”

n“Because we haven’t received any reports in the meantime. And Evron Grand Duchy is not an area where there is much change, as long as there’s no war with Karam.”

n“I see. The last war was five years ago. Lord Cedric was praised as a hero.”

nCedric’s face turned red.

n“It’s a vain praise.”

n“You rebuilt the Western Army, which was almost destroyed, and stopped the monster wave. You proved that it was not vain.”

nArtizea smiled. However, Cedric looked serious.

n“It’s not because I did well, but because there was the Knights of Evron by my side.”

nAnd he sighed.

n“The population seldom increases, and in Winter, most of the trade stopped… and the industry fell behind. Even if it wasn’t a big battle, there were many small disputes at the Thold Gate. Everything we do in this land is to be prepared for war.”

nCedric shook his head.

n“So it’s natural to be able to fight.”

nThe Empire praised Evron by calling it Evron of the North.

nGrand Duke Evron officially held the rank after the emperor and empress.

nExcept for the emperor, only Grand Duke Evron was able to take the knights and lead the knights. The sovereignty of the province was also fully guaranteed.

nGrand Duke Evron had the authority to collect taxes, convene troops, and draft supplies. Some of these powers were applied beyond the scope of the Grand Duke.

nBut Cedric didn’t think it was power or honor.

nAll of that power was given to defend Karam. And too many sacrifices were made as a defense from Karam.

nIt is not an honor to make such a sacrifice. There was no need for power that forced sacrifices.

n