“No way.”
Kaian, who had come into the living room where we were waiting while drinking tea, wearing a cloak and hat as if he was ready to leave, sat down on the sofa and put his arm around my waist.
“I’ve never noticed it, but I think a wife who was educated in frugality in Vermont has tried to shorten her letters.”
When Irena asked if she was hinting at my husband not spending money, Kaian countered that Vermont must have raised me in poverty. I caught between two whales, that looked like a shrimp about to burst.
“Oh my. Really? Considering the circumstances, Claudel still seems used to shortening her letters.”
“Sister. We should save on the estate budget.”
At my words, Irena raised her eyebrows and burst into laughter.
“Oh my. Are you taking your husband’s side right now?”
“Rather.”
" Was it your turn to take my side?”
Ah, it’s difficult. It’s difficult.
I jumped up from my seat.
“Sir, I’ll go check if Julien is ready to leave.”
“Julien is already asleep in the carriage with Madame Repel.”
I hesitated at Kaian’s words, then returned and picked up my hat and cloak that had been hanging on the sofa.
“Well, then we should go.”
I, who didn’t want to become a shrimp that burst before she could even set off, hurried.
“Pfft.”
“Heh heh.”
Kaian and Irena laughed almost simultaneously as they watched .e scurrying down the long corridor.
“...”
They were silent for a moment, feeling a subtle sense of discomfort.
“Claudel is cute.”
Irena was the first to speak.
“Of course. But now I want to keep her to myself.”
When Kaian drew a line, Irena narrowed her eyes.
“Oh. I was going to share some information about Claudel that would be interesting to you, Duke.”
“...What is that?”
Irena stopped in one place as she walked down the hallway.
When she stopped talking, Kaian absentmindedly followed Irena’s gaze.
“This.”
He had never noticed it because he had passed by it many times but had never looked at it carefully.
Several frames of props were hung on one side of the wall as decorations.
The various paintings in them were of the Duchess of Vermont and girls of various ages.
He could guess that they were of mothers and daughters, sisters, or Irena or Claudel.
Kaian’s red eyes scanned the paintings busily.
“Didn’t you show them to your brother-in-law?”
“This is the first time you’re seeing it.”
Irena said bitterly.
“I guess she doesn’t feel like this is her home.”
She and Claudel lived different lives while spending time in the same place.
It was because of the discrimination committed by the Duke of Vermont, but Irena felt sorry that she didn’t know about it the whole time. She just thought that Claudel had a lot of wounds and couldn’t open up easily.
She had so many memories.
Irena felt lonely and desolate because she was the only one who kept it.
However, it wasn’t bad that there was someone more interested in her past than Claudel herself, who didn’t want to bring up the past.
“This would be good.”
Irena took down one of the picture frames on the wall with a picture of Claudel.
The girl sitting on the carpet with a cushion on her head was furrowing her eyebrows as if she was very dissatisfied.
On her lap, on the floor next to her, were several books.
“I was so dissatisfied when I told her to stop looking at the book and turn her head toward the artist when we were drawing this.”
Irena chuckled as if she was reminded of the old days.
“She can’t say no because she's timid, and that’s why she has this kind of face.”
Despite that, her small, white face, big eyes, and small, red lips were as pretty as a doll.
“Take it.”
Kaian, who had been staring at it as if he were possessed, stopped as he reached out his hand.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. It would be good for someone who cherishes Claudel to keep it.”
The man who was so confident that he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t win the ‘Claudel Lover’ competition quietly hid it in his cloak.
When he arrived at the inner gate, Claudel was already wearing a hat and cloak.
Claudel, who had been waiting for Kaian and Irena to arrive by the carriage, beamed at the sight of them.
“Julien is asleep.”
“That’s good.”
Evan and Leonie were already in the carriage and waved through the window.
Irena, who smiled and waved in that direction, hugged Claudel.
“Take care.”
“Yes. You too, Sister.”
“If something good happens, send me an invitation.”
Irena smiled.
“Now I can come see you anytime.”
She was no longer the daughter of Vermont.
Even in the social circles where it was said that only when she got married could she go out of the castle, there was no girl shrouded in secret and rumors.
There was only Grand Duke Irena, the first woman to become the head of the Vermont family and become an independent nation.
Claudel understood what she meant and smiled brightly.
“I will.”
Irena let go of Claudel and stepped back as her farewell speech grew longer and longer.
Then Kaian took her hand and escorted her, and Claudel got into the carriage first.
“Take care.”
Kaian extended his hand to Irena and asked for a handshake.
It was not the kind of greeting one would give to a Princess of a prestigious family, but a greeting exchanged between noblemen and heads of families.
Irena hesitated at his attitude, then took out a pair of white gloves from her pocket, put them on, and held hands.
It was the first time Kaian had formally greeted her, so she was a little surprised, but she felt good because he acknowledged her as a Grand Duke.
Irena, whose heart had become more generous, decided to tell Kaian the information she had thought she could not give to her enemy.
“Claudel is better than a dress...”
A sense of deja vu passed through Kaian’s mind.
‘Better than a dress?’
‘Oh, the jewels you gave me really suited her.’
It seemed like she was going to talk about something else, but he thought she had hurriedly changed the subject.
He had ruined his hunting appointment with Valquiterre and was treating guests from Vermont, so he couldn’t press his wife’s older sister, whom he had only met a few days ago, and let it slide.
“She likes Mar Miller’s Theory of the Kingdom or Gredolman’s books better. She likes the Hindenburg Continental Exploration, so she's collecting first editions. Since we’re at the top, I think we’ve already met.”
“...”
“If you could bring Gredolman and hold a reading, she’d be happier than if you bought her dozens of dresses.”
“Have a good day!”
Irena waved back at Claudel, who was waving from outside the carriage.
Then Kaian said something, and Claudel looked at him dissatisfiedly and answered.
Amid the brief squabble, the carriage window slammed shut.
Irena touched her forehead as she watched.
“How cold is it? You can’t even wave your hand in that short time?”
She remembers seeing him arguing with Claudel when she left Rowan Castle because her legs hurt, and then she went in with her side.
“How long do I have to keep seeing this?”
It was a sight that she couldn’t stand to see, but Irena sincerely wished Claudel happiness.
The capital’s royal palace was in turmoil.
The owner of the throne had changed.
However, it was ambiguous to simply say that it had changed.
Normally, if you depose a King and take the throne, wouldn’t it be common sense that there would be political strife or battle to seize the throne from a very opposing relationship?
Queen Bianque was known to be the full sibling of King Valquiterre.
Now, they were claiming that there was a secret about her bloodline and family history and that the Queen, the only legitimate royal bloodline, should take the throne.
“How is Lord Valquiterre?”
“I guess he barely ate today.”
The royal family members who had served Valquiterre as their King for quite some time. Valquiterre was fortunate to have been moved from the prison where the prisoners were held to a luxurious room.
However, Bianque, who had been locked in the bedroom as if her original master was imprisoned and had seen her foolish behavior, suddenly went around calling herself a Queen, so the people of the castle were not happy.
“How heartbreaking it must be.”
“That’s right. How many headaches has His Majesty had because of the Princess?”
In addition, many were surprised by the fact that Bianque wanted to marry Valquiterre on the condition of his release.
The nobles accepted it because of its legitimacy and the secret of her bloodline.
However, the commoners thought differently.
“But if they grew up together, they are siblings.”
“Oh my. How could we possibly know the thoughts of the higher-ups?”
Most of them felt even more uncomfortable about Bianque, saying it gave them goosebumps.
Knock knock.
While Bianque was attending to official business, there was a knock on the office door.
“What’s going on?”
“That, that.”
Count Makie bowed with a pale face.
“The Grand Duke of Luxen is visiting.”
“My father? So suddenly, without any notice?”
“Yes.”
Bianque stood up from her desk and asked Count Makie.
“Why is your face like that, Makie?”
“That, that.”
“What did my father say?”
When the Queen asked, Count Makie took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“The Grand Duke of Luxen is very angry.”
“Yes. I must prepare myself and come see him.”
Bianque left the office with an indifferent expression.
A while later, in the hanging gardens filled with memories, Bianque saw her father’s angry face for the first time.
“What a strange thing this is! Bianque!”
Kaian, who had come into the living room where we were waiting while drinking tea, wearing a cloak and hat as if he was ready to leave, sat down on the sofa and put his arm around my waist.
“I’ve never noticed it, but I think a wife who was educated in frugality in Vermont has tried to shorten her letters.”
When Irena asked if she was hinting at my husband not spending money, Kaian countered that Vermont must have raised me in poverty. I caught between two whales, that looked like a shrimp about to burst.
“Oh my. Really? Considering the circumstances, Claudel still seems used to shortening her letters.”
“Sister. We should save on the estate budget.”
At my words, Irena raised her eyebrows and burst into laughter.
“Oh my. Are you taking your husband’s side right now?”
“Rather.”
" Was it your turn to take my side?”
Ah, it’s difficult. It’s difficult.
I jumped up from my seat.
“Sir, I’ll go check if Julien is ready to leave.”
“Julien is already asleep in the carriage with Madame Repel.”
I hesitated at Kaian’s words, then returned and picked up my hat and cloak that had been hanging on the sofa.
“Well, then we should go.”
I, who didn’t want to become a shrimp that burst before she could even set off, hurried.
“Pfft.”
“Heh heh.”
Kaian and Irena laughed almost simultaneously as they watched .e scurrying down the long corridor.
“...”
They were silent for a moment, feeling a subtle sense of discomfort.
“Claudel is cute.”
Irena was the first to speak.
“Of course. But now I want to keep her to myself.”
When Kaian drew a line, Irena narrowed her eyes.
“Oh. I was going to share some information about Claudel that would be interesting to you, Duke.”
“...What is that?”
Irena stopped in one place as she walked down the hallway.
When she stopped talking, Kaian absentmindedly followed Irena’s gaze.
“This.”
He had never noticed it because he had passed by it many times but had never looked at it carefully.
Several frames of props were hung on one side of the wall as decorations.
The various paintings in them were of the Duchess of Vermont and girls of various ages.
He could guess that they were of mothers and daughters, sisters, or Irena or Claudel.
Kaian’s red eyes scanned the paintings busily.
“Didn’t you show them to your brother-in-law?”
“This is the first time you’re seeing it.”
Irena said bitterly.
“I guess she doesn’t feel like this is her home.”
She and Claudel lived different lives while spending time in the same place.
It was because of the discrimination committed by the Duke of Vermont, but Irena felt sorry that she didn’t know about it the whole time. She just thought that Claudel had a lot of wounds and couldn’t open up easily.
She had so many memories.
Irena felt lonely and desolate because she was the only one who kept it.
However, it wasn’t bad that there was someone more interested in her past than Claudel herself, who didn’t want to bring up the past.
“This would be good.”
Irena took down one of the picture frames on the wall with a picture of Claudel.
The girl sitting on the carpet with a cushion on her head was furrowing her eyebrows as if she was very dissatisfied.
On her lap, on the floor next to her, were several books.
“I was so dissatisfied when I told her to stop looking at the book and turn her head toward the artist when we were drawing this.”
Irena chuckled as if she was reminded of the old days.
“She can’t say no because she's timid, and that’s why she has this kind of face.”
Despite that, her small, white face, big eyes, and small, red lips were as pretty as a doll.
“Take it.”
Kaian, who had been staring at it as if he were possessed, stopped as he reached out his hand.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. It would be good for someone who cherishes Claudel to keep it.”
The man who was so confident that he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t win the ‘Claudel Lover’ competition quietly hid it in his cloak.
When he arrived at the inner gate, Claudel was already wearing a hat and cloak.
Claudel, who had been waiting for Kaian and Irena to arrive by the carriage, beamed at the sight of them.
“Julien is asleep.”
“That’s good.”
Evan and Leonie were already in the carriage and waved through the window.
Irena, who smiled and waved in that direction, hugged Claudel.
“Take care.”
“Yes. You too, Sister.”
“If something good happens, send me an invitation.”
Irena smiled.
“Now I can come see you anytime.”
She was no longer the daughter of Vermont.
Even in the social circles where it was said that only when she got married could she go out of the castle, there was no girl shrouded in secret and rumors.
There was only Grand Duke Irena, the first woman to become the head of the Vermont family and become an independent nation.
Claudel understood what she meant and smiled brightly.
“I will.”
Irena let go of Claudel and stepped back as her farewell speech grew longer and longer.
Then Kaian took her hand and escorted her, and Claudel got into the carriage first.
“Take care.”
Kaian extended his hand to Irena and asked for a handshake.
It was not the kind of greeting one would give to a Princess of a prestigious family, but a greeting exchanged between noblemen and heads of families.
Irena hesitated at his attitude, then took out a pair of white gloves from her pocket, put them on, and held hands.
It was the first time Kaian had formally greeted her, so she was a little surprised, but she felt good because he acknowledged her as a Grand Duke.
Irena, whose heart had become more generous, decided to tell Kaian the information she had thought she could not give to her enemy.
“Claudel is better than a dress...”
A sense of deja vu passed through Kaian’s mind.
‘Better than a dress?’
‘Oh, the jewels you gave me really suited her.’
It seemed like she was going to talk about something else, but he thought she had hurriedly changed the subject.
He had ruined his hunting appointment with Valquiterre and was treating guests from Vermont, so he couldn’t press his wife’s older sister, whom he had only met a few days ago, and let it slide.
“She likes Mar Miller’s Theory of the Kingdom or Gredolman’s books better. She likes the Hindenburg Continental Exploration, so she's collecting first editions. Since we’re at the top, I think we’ve already met.”
“...”
“If you could bring Gredolman and hold a reading, she’d be happier than if you bought her dozens of dresses.”
When Irena spoke coolly, Kaian responded with a sense of disappointment.
“I see. Thank you for telling me something good.”
Kaian added to her.
“The Grand Duke looks much better now.”
This time, Irena was the first to extend her hand. The head of the household would have to get used to the greeting from now on.
“Goodbye.”
After shaking hands one last time, Kaian got into the carriage, and soon the long line of carriages began to move.
“I see. Thank you for telling me something good.”
Kaian added to her.
“The Grand Duke looks much better now.”
This time, Irena was the first to extend her hand. The head of the household would have to get used to the greeting from now on.
“Goodbye.”
After shaking hands one last time, Kaian got into the carriage, and soon the long line of carriages began to move.
“Have a good day!”
Irena waved back at Claudel, who was waving from outside the carriage.
Then Kaian said something, and Claudel looked at him dissatisfiedly and answered.
Amid the brief squabble, the carriage window slammed shut.
Irena touched her forehead as she watched.
“How cold is it? You can’t even wave your hand in that short time?”
She remembers seeing him arguing with Claudel when she left Rowan Castle because her legs hurt, and then she went in with her side.
“How long do I have to keep seeing this?”
It was a sight that she couldn’t stand to see, but Irena sincerely wished Claudel happiness.
***
The capital’s royal palace was in turmoil.
The owner of the throne had changed.
However, it was ambiguous to simply say that it had changed.
Normally, if you depose a King and take the throne, wouldn’t it be common sense that there would be political strife or battle to seize the throne from a very opposing relationship?
Queen Bianque was known to be the full sibling of King Valquiterre.
Now, they were claiming that there was a secret about her bloodline and family history and that the Queen, the only legitimate royal bloodline, should take the throne.
“How is Lord Valquiterre?”
“I guess he barely ate today.”
The royal family members who had served Valquiterre as their King for quite some time. Valquiterre was fortunate to have been moved from the prison where the prisoners were held to a luxurious room.
However, Bianque, who had been locked in the bedroom as if her original master was imprisoned and had seen her foolish behavior, suddenly went around calling herself a Queen, so the people of the castle were not happy.
“How heartbreaking it must be.”
“That’s right. How many headaches has His Majesty had because of the Princess?”
In addition, many were surprised by the fact that Bianque wanted to marry Valquiterre on the condition of his release.
The nobles accepted it because of its legitimacy and the secret of her bloodline.
However, the commoners thought differently.
“But if they grew up together, they are siblings.”
“Oh my. How could we possibly know the thoughts of the higher-ups?”
Most of them felt even more uncomfortable about Bianque, saying it gave them goosebumps.
Knock knock.
While Bianque was attending to official business, there was a knock on the office door.
“What’s going on?”
“That, that.”
Count Makie bowed with a pale face.
“The Grand Duke of Luxen is visiting.”
“My father? So suddenly, without any notice?”
“Yes.”
Bianque stood up from her desk and asked Count Makie.
“Why is your face like that, Makie?”
“That, that.”
“What did my father say?”
When the Queen asked, Count Makie took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“The Grand Duke of Luxen is very angry.”
“Yes. I must prepare myself and come see him.”
Bianque left the office with an indifferent expression.
A while later, in the hanging gardens filled with memories, Bianque saw her father’s angry face for the first time.
“What a strange thing this is! Bianque!”
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