With that money, Karina had finished preparing to attend the New Year's festival in the capital for the next few days. In other words, she was preparing to leave the North forever. She had very little luggage, so there wasn't much to unpack.
"Thank you for your hard work organizing."
"You didn't have much luggage, so there wasn't much to organize or pack."
Jen smiled sheepishly.
"Your Highness, but..."
Jen hesitated.
"What is it?"
"No matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find the dress and accessories you wore at your wedding. And the shoes, tiara, and veil."
"Oh, that."
Karina didn't tell Charlotte and Jen that she was preparing for a divorce, because she never knew where or how word would get out within the Grand Duchy, and because she couldn't trust them completely.
'Even though Charlotte and Jen are friendly to me, strictly speaking, they are part of the Grand Duke's family.'
Karina thought it would be best to be as cautious as possible before attending the New Year's Festival. That way, her plans wouldn't go awry. Karina was worried. She couldn't think of a proper answer to Jen. She had told Selena to secretly give all the dresses and accessories to her and sell them, so Jen or anyone in the Grand Duchy wouldn't know about it.
'I can't say I sold it, what should I do?'
Karina quickly thought about it and gave a vague answer.
"I'm keeping it safe and secure. So don't worry."
"Oh, I see! That's good. I was worried that it might have disappeared."
Only then did Jen's expression brighten. Karina glanced around the room, which she would no longer see after leaving. A frame made from the bouquet she had used at the wedding caught her eye.
'Come to think of it, that picture frame...'
Karina sold all the dresses and Jewelrt she wore to her wedding, but she kept that picture frame. It wasn't worth as much money as she thought.
'Why did I cherish that so much, my past self?'
Karina, who was staring blankly at the picture frame, laughed at herself.
"Let me get rid of that picture frame."
"Yes? But I heard that it's something the Grand Duchess treasures very much!"
"Yes?"
Karina was puzzled by Jen's words.
"Who said that?"
She never treated it so well after she came back, so she wondered why Jen knew about it.
"Oh, the maid said so. So, be especially careful when they dust."
"..."
When it came to the maid, she was talking about Charlotte. She was about to say that she was tired of it and that it was okay to throw it away, but Jen spoke a beat faster.
"I heard that it was a very special frame made from dried bouquet flowers used at the wedding."
"..."
Since Jen knew that fact, Karina couldn't just tell her to throw it away. She might have thought it was strange to tell her to throw away her wedding dress and accessories, too.
Yes. We'll take care of it later when we get a divorce!
I decided to not care.
"It looks like we're almost done now, so go and get some rest. We have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"Yes, I understand. Your Highness, please rest comfortably."
Jen bowed and left the room. Only Karina and Mikhail were left in the room. She was planning to tell Mikhail to go in early and get some rest. When she turned her head, she saw Mikhail standing there with a gloomy expression.
"Mikhail?"
There was no answer when she called. Mikhail stood there blankly as if he were deep in thought.
***
Mikhail's head was in turmoil because of what Max had reported.
'Why do those black magicians keep getting involved with Karina? Are they approaching her on purpose?'
Mikhail felt uneasy. For some reason, it felt like things related to the black magician were constantly happening around Karina.
'They have no reason to approach Karina!'
It was true that he felt a familiar aura from Karina. However, after watching her closely, he realized that Karina had nothing to do with dragons. And now Mikhail didn't care whether Karina had anything to do with dragons or not. Karina had become precious in and of herself.
'If you try to harm Karina even a little bit, I will never let you go. I will protect Karina.'
Mikhail's eyes sank coldly. So he decided not to return to the Magic Tower and to stay by Karina's side. However, the New Year's Festival in the capital was a problem. Since the Magic Tower had decided to cooperate with the imperial family, it was certain that the Master would also participate in the New Year's Festival this year.
'If I go and meet him, I'll definitely be dragged to the magic tower.'
Mikhail groaned. There was something else on his mind.
'Was the Grand Duke there to chase away the warlocks?'
This could have been the case if he had known that the escapees who had previously taken Karina hostage were connected to the warlocks.
'So did we really meet by chance?'
But even so, it was so jarring to see Jeremiah start to take an interest in Karina.
'Why all of a sudden now?'
When he recalled Jeremiah's earnest gaze towards Karina, Mikhail felt a surge of discomfort. If, even though it would never happen, he felt uneasy that Jeremiah and Karina might become even a little closer.
***
Karina got up from her seat and approached Mikhail. His face, Illuminated by the sunlight coming in through the window, shone transparently. His hair, which seemed to be woven with silver thread, looked soft, and his high nose and moderately plump lips showed off their presence. His long eyelashes, neatly hanging down, added mystery to his pretty face. Even though he had a gloomy expression, his appearance was sorrowful as if he was soaked in sorrow.
'He looks handsome even when he's sad!'
Karina evaluated it objectively.
"Mikhail."
When she called out right in front of him, only then did Mikhail raise his head.
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"Ah...It's nothing."
It was a completely different reaction from his usual confident demeanor.
"You don't look like you're Indifferent?"
As Karina spoke, Mikhail wiped his face as If he was troubled.
"Is it that obvious?"
'I guess you have some real concerns.'
Karina looked closely at his complexion.
"What is it? Tell me. I'll listen."
"..."
His mouth twitched as if it was about to open. A question mark appeared above Karina's head at the sight of Mikhail, whom she had never seen before. After a while, Mikhail looked at Karina with a very serious expression.
"Lady Karina."
"Yes."
"I..."
Karina waited quietly for his next words.
"If I go up to the capital, will I be able to go downtown and buy something delicious to eat?"
"...What?"
Karina looked bewildered at the completely unexpected words.
"Is that what you've been worrying about?"
When Karina asked, Mikhail opened his mouth again.
"When I go up to the capital, I want to go downtown with Karina, eat delicious food, and see lots of fun things."
"..."
"But I'm so worried that Karina might not be able to play with me because you're busy."
Mikhail looked at Karina with a cat-like, longing gaze, his eyes sparkling brightly. Karina burst into laughter at the sight.
'I worried for nothing.'
Karina said with a pretended stern expression.
"I was worried because I thought you had some big problem."
"How could I have time to worry? All I can think about is Karina."
Mikhail said with a big smile. Karina felt relieved that Mikhail spoke so lightly.
'Yeah. It was just a fleeting feeling.'
Considering how he usually treated her like a child, it seemed like he was like a big brother doting on his younger sister. Karina thought that she was the only one who mistakenly thought of his feelings.
'Well, who else would act so foolishly like me because of love?'
Karina laughed without saying a word.
"Stop fooling around and go back and get some rest. We have to leave early tomorrow morning."
"This is no joke."
Mikhail grumbled.
"Really? Is there anywhere you want to go, Karina? Something you want to eat, something you want to do?"
When Mikhail said that, Karina also began to think carefully again.
"Well, honestly, I've never really thought about it. But since you asked..."
She thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a divorce and travel around the empire as herself instead of being an Grand Duchess.
'It would only be possible in a place where no one recognizes me.'
In that case, the North and the capital were absolutely excluded.
'Then, it might be better to play around in the capital while I am the Grand Duchess.'
Mikhail looked at Karina with a sly smile as if he had noticed her thoughts.
"When you go out to play, don't leave me behind. If you leave me behind, Karina will probably regret it a lot."
"..."
Mikhail declared confidently.
"You could have had more fun, but you didn't. So, you have to take me with you when you go."
Seeing Mikhail smiling brightly, Karina felt herself brightening up as well.
"Yes. I really need to take you there and see how much fun we can have."
"Of course! Just trust me."
When Karina spoke, Mikhail shouted at her to trust him. Karina enjoyed that conversation, which could have been nothing. She felt that if she just got a divorce, a life full of such small pleasures would really be waiting for her. The smile did not leave Karina's face for a while. Seeing Karina's bright smile, Mikhail also made a satisfied expression.
***
Early the next morning. Karina got into a carriage to attend the New Year's festival in the capital. It was quite a long distance from the north to the capital, taking 4-5 days by carriage. Of course, Jeremiah was also in the carriage. It was decided that Mikhail, her escort, would ride a horse outside the carriage. Karina was worried about Mikhail.
'Does Mikhail know how to ride? That's why he said he would ride, right?'
She was secretly worried whether he could keep up with the carriage procession that would take four or five days on horseback.
"What are you worrying about so seriously?"
Jeremiah asked, observing Karina's expression.
"It's nothing."
"You say it's nothing, but your expression is serious."
"..."
She didn't really intend to answer, but Jeremiah was more persistent than she thought. Karina finally opened her mouth as he stared at her intently.
"I was just worried whether Mikhail would be able to follow along on a long journey while riding a horse."
Jeremiah's expression crumpled slightly when he heard those words.
"Do you really care that much about escorts?"
"Of course, I'm nervous because he's my escort."
Jeremiah frowned and then started talking differently.
"I have concluded the investigation into the case of Lord Genon and the dead maid by interrogating Revals Lamberda. And I have issued a banishment order to Sister Caroline."
"..."
Karina had already heard about Caroline's disposition before she got on the carriage. Since she had been exiled to the North, Caroline was forced to go through with the marriage she hated. As a result, she was unable to attend the New Year's festival in the capital this year.
'But Caroline's situation is none of my business.'
"Yes, I heard."
Karina answered dryly.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
Jeremiah asked out of the blue.
'How did you know?'
Karina had something to say to him anyway, but she found it strange that he asked her first.
"There is."
Jeremiah's expression brightened slightly at Karina's reply that there was something there.
"Go ahead. I'll listen."
He seemed to be in a good mood for some reason. Looking at his expression, Karina thought that Jeremiah might have been waiting too. It was quite possible. Because what Karina was about to say was very important. To carry out her plan, she needed to talk to him before attending the New Year's party.
"Actually, I've been meaning to tell you this for a while, but I never got the chance."
Jeremiah seemed slightly nervous, his neck tense. Karina continued speaking with a smile on her face.
"We're talking about our divorce."
"...What?"
Jeremiah's mouth tightened.
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