That night.
“You’re late!”
The person who had been waiting in the central square wearing a robe turned inside out and burst out in discontent when he saw someone walking toward him.
“You made me wait. Are you out of your mind?”
The other person made an excuse at Caroline’s sharp words.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it because I was trying to sneak out.”
Caroline clicked her tongue nervously and asked.
“Did you bring what I told you to?”
“Here.”
The other person took out a package wrapped in something from his bosom and handed it to her.
Caroline quickly checked the contents and put it in her bosom.
“But I have a business proposal for you this time...”
“Enough.”
Caroline stopped him before he could finish his sentence.
“Have you forgotten about that leather business last time? Do you know how awkward my situation was back then?”
Caroline got angry as he brought up the business she had strongly recommended to Jeremiah but had failed.
“How on earth do you handle things?”
“Whoa, calm down.”
The other party tried to calm down Caroline, who was excited.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know that Dax would handle things so sloppily. But I’ve personally taken care of the aftermath so that there won’t be any problems, so don’t worry. There won’t be any trouble.”
“Do it right.”
Caroline warned him, glaring fiercely at him.
“Of course. Who gave you the order?”
The other party continued, slyly.
“By the way, did what I told you last time help you?”
When the other party asked, Caroline smiled with the corners of her mouth raised.
“It was quite useful. I didn’t know that girl Karina was doing such a mean thing behind my back.”
He wrote to Caroline about a few days ago when he had accidentally run into Karina on the street.
‘The Grand Duchess was in a shabby outfit, alone with her escort, in a deserted alley. It was as if she was having a secret meeting, hiding from people’s eyes.’
Upon hearing the news, Caroline went straight to Jeremiah and told him the same thing.
“At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Karina is cornered.”
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
Caroline’s smile deepened at Reval’s words.
"A shallow woman who only brightens up a man's face is a Grand Duchess. All empires should have known this lamentable truth."
“You’re late!”
The person who had been waiting in the central square wearing a robe turned inside out and burst out in discontent when he saw someone walking toward him.
“You made me wait. Are you out of your mind?”
The other person made an excuse at Caroline’s sharp words.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it because I was trying to sneak out.”
Caroline clicked her tongue nervously and asked.
“Did you bring what I told you to?”
“Here.”
The other person took out a package wrapped in something from his bosom and handed it to her.
Caroline quickly checked the contents and put it in her bosom.
“But I have a business proposal for you this time...”
“Enough.”
Caroline stopped him before he could finish his sentence.
“Have you forgotten about that leather business last time? Do you know how awkward my situation was back then?”
Caroline got angry as he brought up the business she had strongly recommended to Jeremiah but had failed.
“How on earth do you handle things?”
“Whoa, calm down.”
The other party tried to calm down Caroline, who was excited.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know that Dax would handle things so sloppily. But I’ve personally taken care of the aftermath so that there won’t be any problems, so don’t worry. There won’t be any trouble.”
“Do it right.”
Caroline warned him, glaring fiercely at him.
“Of course. Who gave you the order?”
The other party continued, slyly.
“By the way, did what I told you last time help you?”
When the other party asked, Caroline smiled with the corners of her mouth raised.
“It was quite useful. I didn’t know that girl Karina was doing such a mean thing behind my back.”
He wrote to Caroline about a few days ago when he had accidentally run into Karina on the street.
‘The Grand Duchess was in a shabby outfit, alone with her escort, in a deserted alley. It was as if she was having a secret meeting, hiding from people’s eyes.’
Upon hearing the news, Caroline went straight to Jeremiah and told him the same thing.
“At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Karina is cornered.”
“I’m glad I could be of help.”
Caroline’s smile deepened at Reval’s words.
"A shallow woman who only brightens up a man's face is a Grand Duchess. All empires should have known this lamentable truth."
Reval rolled his eyes and let out a thought that had occurred to him.
“I just had a good idea. Would you like to hear it?”
“Good idea?”
Caroline’s eyes lit up as if she was interested in Reval’s suggestion.
“I think it could make things more fun if we do it well.”
“How?”
Caroline had already been hoping that Karina would suffer even more this time.
She urged Reval to speak quickly.
“Do you know Peggyson Guenon?”
“Pegyson Guenon? Are you talking about that famous womanizer?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why him all of a sudden?”
At Caroline’s question, Reval leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
“Ahahaha.”
Caroline burst into laughter at Reval’s words.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Caroline felt that Karina, who had no idea what was going on and was greedy for the position of Grand Duchess, was a thorn in her side. If it was revealed that Karina was a shallow and lowly person who was not qualified to be Grand Duchess, she would no longer be Grand Duchess.
“That’s a great idea.”
Caroline laughed wickedly as if it was fun to imagine.
“I’ll have to write to Count Guenon as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”
Reval, who had been waiting for Caroline’s laughter to die down, grabbed Caroline’s hand.
“But isn’t it that you call me too infrequently? It’s disappointing?”
“Huh. You said you couldn’t come when I called you last time?”
Caroline snapped, and Reval made an excuse as if asking for forgiveness.
“That day, there was a schedule where the whole family would gather at home, so I couldn’t sneak out.”
Then, he gently ran his fingers over the back of Caroline’s hand that he was holding.
“Still, I was really happy that the Princess asked to meet me first.”
Caroline’s pride rose even higher at the sound of Reval’s lips.
“I consider it an honor that you came to see me like this. Normally, a second son of a Count would never brush up against my lapels on the street.”
Caroline said with a haughty expression.
“...”
Reval smiled bitterly.
“Yes. Of course, you are. I have not forgotten that it is an honor. My Lady.”
He lightly kissed the back of Caroline’s hand.
And someone was watching the two from afar.
The black figure continued to watch them until they disappeared, then disappeared without a sound.
Today, as usual, the knights’ cries echoed through the training grounds.
“Next.”
Knight Commander Ron nodded whenever he heard the familiar ‘next’ and sent the knights up to the training grounds one by one.
‘It seems you weren’t satisfied with destroying the eastern training grounds.’
At first, he was confused because he didn’t know why, but now he had a vague idea why Jeremiah was doing that.
‘I think it’s because of the Grand Duchess.’
However, he didn’t say it out loud.
Jeremiah reacted sensitively whenever Karina was mentioned.
There was no need to ask useless questions and make a fuss.
'If I try to provoke the Grand Duke's feelings, it will only make the knights more cruel.'
Ron's judgment that he should keep his mouth shut was wise.
However, even that was reaching its limit.
"Ugh!"
Ron thought absentmindedly as he watched the knight fall with a scream.
'If this keeps up, the knights will die first.'
Ron moved his lips to check the situation, then spoke quietly.
"Your Highness, has something been bothering you lately?"
"..."
"Perhaps because of the Grand Duchess..."
"No way."
As expected, he immediately denied it.
Jeremiah cut him off right away when he tried to talk about Karina.
"..."
However, he couldn't just sit still.
Ron carefully opened his mouth again.
"Your Highness, this is just my personal opinion. How about going to see the Grand Duchess first?"
"...?"
Jeremiah looked at Ron as if he was seeing something strange.
But Ron didn’t give in and continued to say what he wanted to say.
“Good idea?”
Caroline’s eyes lit up as if she was interested in Reval’s suggestion.
“I think it could make things more fun if we do it well.”
“How?”
Caroline had already been hoping that Karina would suffer even more this time.
She urged Reval to speak quickly.
“Do you know Peggyson Guenon?”
“Pegyson Guenon? Are you talking about that famous womanizer?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why him all of a sudden?”
At Caroline’s question, Reval leaned down and whispered something in her ear.
“Ahahaha.”
Caroline burst into laughter at Reval’s words.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Caroline felt that Karina, who had no idea what was going on and was greedy for the position of Grand Duchess, was a thorn in her side. If it was revealed that Karina was a shallow and lowly person who was not qualified to be Grand Duchess, she would no longer be Grand Duchess.
“That’s a great idea.”
Caroline laughed wickedly as if it was fun to imagine.
“I’ll have to write to Count Guenon as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”
Reval, who had been waiting for Caroline’s laughter to die down, grabbed Caroline’s hand.
“But isn’t it that you call me too infrequently? It’s disappointing?”
“Huh. You said you couldn’t come when I called you last time?”
Caroline snapped, and Reval made an excuse as if asking for forgiveness.
“That day, there was a schedule where the whole family would gather at home, so I couldn’t sneak out.”
Then, he gently ran his fingers over the back of Caroline’s hand that he was holding.
“Still, I was really happy that the Princess asked to meet me first.”
Caroline’s pride rose even higher at the sound of Reval’s lips.
“I consider it an honor that you came to see me like this. Normally, a second son of a Count would never brush up against my lapels on the street.”
Caroline said with a haughty expression.
“...”
Reval smiled bitterly.
“Yes. Of course, you are. I have not forgotten that it is an honor. My Lady.”
He lightly kissed the back of Caroline’s hand.
And someone was watching the two from afar.
The black figure continued to watch them until they disappeared, then disappeared without a sound.
***
Today, as usual, the knights’ cries echoed through the training grounds.
“Next.”
Knight Commander Ron nodded whenever he heard the familiar ‘next’ and sent the knights up to the training grounds one by one.
‘It seems you weren’t satisfied with destroying the eastern training grounds.’
At first, he was confused because he didn’t know why, but now he had a vague idea why Jeremiah was doing that.
‘I think it’s because of the Grand Duchess.’
However, he didn’t say it out loud.
Jeremiah reacted sensitively whenever Karina was mentioned.
There was no need to ask useless questions and make a fuss.
'If I try to provoke the Grand Duke's feelings, it will only make the knights more cruel.'
Ron's judgment that he should keep his mouth shut was wise.
However, even that was reaching its limit.
"Ugh!"
Ron thought absentmindedly as he watched the knight fall with a scream.
'If this keeps up, the knights will die first.'
Ron moved his lips to check the situation, then spoke quietly.
"Your Highness, has something been bothering you lately?"
"..."
"Perhaps because of the Grand Duchess..."
"No way."
As expected, he immediately denied it.
Jeremiah cut him off right away when he tried to talk about Karina.
"..."
However, he couldn't just sit still.
Ron carefully opened his mouth again.
"Your Highness, this is just my personal opinion. How about going to see the Grand Duchess first?"
"...?"
Jeremiah looked at Ron as if he was seeing something strange.
But Ron didn’t give in and continued to say what he wanted to say.
“Go and say a word first. Anything is fine. Just ask her if she’s had a meal or what she’s planning to do today. Even something as simple as a greeting.”
“Why should I?”
Jeremiah asked seriously.
“Isn’t the Your Highness worried?”
“...”
“It would be reassuring to know where she is and what she’s doing.”
“...”
“Or maybe it wouldn’t be bad to give her a small gift to divert her attention. Something the Grand Duchess usually likes or needs.”
As Ron continued to talk, Jeremiah’s expression grew more and more crumpled.
It seemed like he had no idea what Karina liked or needed.
“Um... If it’s a gift for a woman, jewelry or accessories would be fine.”
Ron scratched his chin awkwardly and gave the answer he thought was the most appropriate.
“For example, necklaces, earrings, and hair accessories that would be good for tea parties or banquets would be good.”
Ron listed the things that came to mind.
“...”
But Jeremiah kept his mouth shut and made a face, not answering at all.
Judging from his reaction, he didn’t seem very satisfied.
“You’re talking nonsense. If you have time to talk like that, you should focus more on training the knights.”
Ron bowed his head in apology at Jeremiah’s rebuke.
“I’m sorry.”
The next morning.
“What’s the Grand Duchess doing now?”
“The Grand Duchess is currently having breakfast in the dining room.”
Jeremiah was troubled after hearing that Karina was eating later than usual.
‘Why don’t you go see the Grand Duchess first?’
Ron’s words from the day before rang in his ears.
‘Isn’t the Your Highness worried?’
‘No way.’
When he heard those words, Jeremiah denied them inwardly.
‘Wouldn’t it be a little more reassuring if I knew where and what she was doing?’
However, he realized after hearing Ron’s next words.
‘Yes. I don't know what the Grand Duchess is up to, so that's why I'm worried.'
Jeremiah's eyes sank.
"I'm going to the restaurant."
The Grand Duke’s dining room.
Karina was eating breakfast alone when Jeremiah came into the dining room.
“Why is Jeremiah in the dining room at this hour?”
Karina had been eating later than usual because she didn’t want to meet him face to face.
“You were eating.”
Jeremiah opened his mouth when he found Karina.
“...Yes.”
Karina replied absentmindedly.
“Bring out the food.”
When Jeremiah ordered, the maids quickly prepared the food.
Karina had no intention of being courteous to him. She had a feeling that she would be offended from the moment she sat down with him.
“I’m done eating, so clean up now.”
As she stood up after finishing her meal, Jeremiah asked,
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Yes?”
His words got on Karina’s nerves.
“...Avoiding you? Why me?”
Karina sat down again and picked up her spoon.
With a stubborn expression, she ordered the maid next to her.
“Now that the meal is over, bring me dessert.”
Just as Jeremiah’s meal was prepared quickly, Karina’s dessert was also prepared quickly.
“Today’s dessert is a special apple pie with plenty of apples that have been stewed with sugar for a long time and cinnamon for a fragrant aroma.”
With that explanation, the maid placed a plate of pie in front of Karina.
“..."
Why was the dessert apple pie?
Karina didn’t like apple pie.
Karina glared at the apple pie in front of her.
‘I can’t help it. Let’s just eat this and go.’
Karina sighed and started to cut the apple pie into small pieces with her fork.
Karina’s hand movements became faster as she thought she had to finish it quickly and get up.
She diligently put the pie in her mouth and chewed it diligently.
Jeremiah, who was staring at Karina, asked.
“Do you like apple pie?”
“...?”
Karina’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected question.
‘Why are you suddenly asking that?’
Karina returned her expression to her usual and replied dryly.
“...Yes.”
If she had said that she didn’t like apple pie, he would have asked why.
'No, he probably wouldn’t have asked.'
Karina raised one corner of her mouth and sneered.
In any case, she didn’t want the topic of apple pie to come up, so she just gave a vague answer and moved on.
“...I see.”
Jeremiah paused for a moment and tapped the table with one finger.
“..."
He acted as if he had something to say.
“What?”
Karina made a puzzled expression.
“Why should I?”
Jeremiah asked seriously.
“Isn’t the Your Highness worried?”
“...”
“It would be reassuring to know where she is and what she’s doing.”
“...”
“Or maybe it wouldn’t be bad to give her a small gift to divert her attention. Something the Grand Duchess usually likes or needs.”
As Ron continued to talk, Jeremiah’s expression grew more and more crumpled.
It seemed like he had no idea what Karina liked or needed.
“Um... If it’s a gift for a woman, jewelry or accessories would be fine.”
Ron scratched his chin awkwardly and gave the answer he thought was the most appropriate.
“For example, necklaces, earrings, and hair accessories that would be good for tea parties or banquets would be good.”
Ron listed the things that came to mind.
“...”
But Jeremiah kept his mouth shut and made a face, not answering at all.
Judging from his reaction, he didn’t seem very satisfied.
“You’re talking nonsense. If you have time to talk like that, you should focus more on training the knights.”
Ron bowed his head in apology at Jeremiah’s rebuke.
“I’m sorry.”
***
The next morning.
“What’s the Grand Duchess doing now?”
“The Grand Duchess is currently having breakfast in the dining room.”
Jeremiah was troubled after hearing that Karina was eating later than usual.
‘Why don’t you go see the Grand Duchess first?’
Ron’s words from the day before rang in his ears.
‘Isn’t the Your Highness worried?’
‘No way.’
When he heard those words, Jeremiah denied them inwardly.
‘Wouldn’t it be a little more reassuring if I knew where and what she was doing?’
However, he realized after hearing Ron’s next words.
‘Yes. I don't know what the Grand Duchess is up to, so that's why I'm worried.'
Jeremiah's eyes sank.
"I'm going to the restaurant."
***
The Grand Duke’s dining room.
Karina was eating breakfast alone when Jeremiah came into the dining room.
“Why is Jeremiah in the dining room at this hour?”
Karina had been eating later than usual because she didn’t want to meet him face to face.
“You were eating.”
Jeremiah opened his mouth when he found Karina.
“...Yes.”
Karina replied absentmindedly.
“Bring out the food.”
When Jeremiah ordered, the maids quickly prepared the food.
Karina had no intention of being courteous to him. She had a feeling that she would be offended from the moment she sat down with him.
“I’m done eating, so clean up now.”
As she stood up after finishing her meal, Jeremiah asked,
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Yes?”
His words got on Karina’s nerves.
“...Avoiding you? Why me?”
Karina sat down again and picked up her spoon.
With a stubborn expression, she ordered the maid next to her.
“Now that the meal is over, bring me dessert.”
Just as Jeremiah’s meal was prepared quickly, Karina’s dessert was also prepared quickly.
“Today’s dessert is a special apple pie with plenty of apples that have been stewed with sugar for a long time and cinnamon for a fragrant aroma.”
With that explanation, the maid placed a plate of pie in front of Karina.
“..."
Why was the dessert apple pie?
Karina didn’t like apple pie.
Karina glared at the apple pie in front of her.
‘I can’t help it. Let’s just eat this and go.’
Karina sighed and started to cut the apple pie into small pieces with her fork.
Karina’s hand movements became faster as she thought she had to finish it quickly and get up.
She diligently put the pie in her mouth and chewed it diligently.
Jeremiah, who was staring at Karina, asked.
“Do you like apple pie?”
“...?”
Karina’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected question.
‘Why are you suddenly asking that?’
Karina returned her expression to her usual and replied dryly.
“...Yes.”
If she had said that she didn’t like apple pie, he would have asked why.
'No, he probably wouldn’t have asked.'
Karina raised one corner of her mouth and sneered.
In any case, she didn’t want the topic of apple pie to come up, so she just gave a vague answer and moved on.
“...I see.”
Jeremiah paused for a moment and tapped the table with one finger.
“..."
He acted as if he had something to say.
“What?”
Karina made a puzzled expression.
A New Series, Traces of Moonlight was out now! For you who are tired of regression stories, you can check it out.You can check it HERE!
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