I heard a guest coming in my sleep. This was Julian's room, so why was it my guest? I thought, turning to the seat next to me. Julian had already left. I put a shawl over my pajamas and went outside.
“Anna, a guest? Who is it?”
“Madam, the Countess of Winsley is here.”
Anna, who had called my mother "Madam" until recently, now calls me "Madam." The change felt strange, and I instinctively touched the back of my neck.
“I’ll go down now.”
As I descended the stairs, Anna followed me. When I reached the second floor, where the guest room was, I saw my mother waiting for me at the front of the stairs, not in the room. I quickly grabbed her hand.
“Why are you here? I should have gone.”
“I’m just in a hurry. I want to see your face soon.”
My mother didn't seem like someone I'd seen yesterday, but like someone I hadn't seen in a long time, at least a year or two. Feeling unnecessarily upset, I clung to her, arms linked, like a child.
“I missed you, too. Since you got married, I've been thinking about you a lot.”
"Right? Since we won't be seeing each other often anymore, you must eat with us until you go to the estate. Got it?"
I laughed at my mother's seemingly nagging words. She hadn't worried this much when I married Kaiser. Perhaps I hadn't matured yet, but I didn't dislike her worrying.
“Don’t worry. I want to do that too.”
“In that sense...”
Mother whispered as she entered the room opened by the maid.
“How about arranging a meal with His Highness?”
I couldn't help but open my eyes wide. Not only because of my mother's words, but also because my family was gathered in the room.
“What is it? Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Sister, that’s...”
Ruin spoke first, but it was Adam who finished speaking.
“I will see how Your Highness holds the spoon.”
"What?"
The other family members were at a loss, but Adam was confident, as he was young.
“I will see if His Highness the Grand Duke is a good fit for my sister!”
Adam clenched his fists and shouted. My family, though bewildered by his bold stance, didn't seem to object.
I looked around at my family and stammered.
“His Highness' table manners are perfect.”
It was a lie. I'd never sat down to eat with Julian. But I couldn't imagine him being as boisterous as our family. I didn't think he'd like it.
I never thought I'd be allowed to stay this long with my family. I didn't want to burden them further.
But my father pleaded earnestly with his hands clasped together.
"I'm not really questioning His Highness's table manners. It's just that what father-in-law hasn't had a chance to eat with his son-in-law?"
“Layla, one meal would be enough. Would that be difficult?”
I knew our families well. They weren't happy about my marriage to Julian, but if we were married, we were family.
Even before my return, my family had done everything they could to help me. Just as they had, they accepted Julian as part of their family.
Sharing a meal with family. It seemed so obvious and trivial, I couldn't easily refuse.
“I’ll try to talk. Don’t expect anything.”
The family's faces brightened.
I turned around and sighed. Anna, who was standing next to me, pouted and said.
“It’s just one meal.”
“It’s not ‘barely’.”
He answered with a narrowed eyebrow. Anna's face showed that she didn't understand.
Since I had to ask permission first, I headed straight to the fourth floor where Julian was staying. I paused at the stairs leading up to the fourth floor. I didn't think Julian would be happy about taking Anna up there.
“Anna, you wait here.”
“Yes? I’m your maid, your maid.”
"His Highness might not like it. I haven't even spoken to him about you yet."
"Madam, aren't you being too conscious of what others think? It'll upset me."
Anna looked genuinely upset. Was I being too intimidated by Julian, as Anna said?
But I got along pretty well with Julian. I think we're doing fine. I told him everything I wanted to say, even when he called me a weirdo. After much deliberation, I decided to leave Anna in her place.
“Just wait a minute!”
As I said that and turned around, I saw the butler greeting me. He was so quiet that I was inwardly surprised. Even though servants are supposed to be present and not present, this butler was unusually quiet.
He smiled brightly, perhaps noticing my surprise.
“The master is in the study.”
"Thank you."
Since there was no other reason to come here than Julian, the butler guided him straight to the study.
I knocked on the study door, and a low voice called from inside, beckoning me in. The voice, though, was so charming that no one could compare. I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
“Your Highness, is your time okay?”
“I have some time to talk.”
As I stood awkwardly near the door, Julian raised his head and looked at me with a puzzled look.
“Sit over there.”
As soon as Julian finished speaking, the butler who had been standing behind him naturally followed in and began preparing tea. I cautiously looked around Julian's study.
What was surprising was that there was ample space in the study to welcome guests.
Has Julian ever had guests in his study? If so, who?
For a moment, Princess Abigail came to mind. She might have entered Julian's study. She and Julian used nicknames for each other, and they seemed quite close...
Lost in those thoughts, I shook my head. That wasn't what mattered right now. Above all, wasn't I in any position to interfere with who he was friends with?
I coughed softly in embarrassment and went to sit on the guest sofa. Julian also organized his papers and came over to me.
Judging by the pile of paperwork at Julian's desk, he seemed to be busy with various matters at the estate. Perhaps there was something I could help with... Thinking about this, I decided to get straight to the point.
“The family would like to have a meal with Your Highness.”
Julian didn't answer right away. He just stared at me with masked eyes. The more I spoke, the more my lips became dry. I'd never once considered him scary, but now I felt a strange sense of unease.
“I know it’s difficult, but our family would like to spend some time with Your Highness.”
“Eating is difficult, just as you said.”
I nodded hastily. I knew I'd be rejected, but I still felt flustered.
"I thought so. I guess so, right? My family didn't mean anything bad by what they said. They just thought we were now a family."
Julian listened quietly to my flustered words and then asked.
“What about your maid?”
“Maid? Oh, Anna? I thought it would be better if she didn’t come up to this floor, so I left her downstairs.”
Then Julian frowned.
“I don’t want my wife to go out alone without a maid.”
“Just a moment, what is it? It’s okay.”
The moment I answered calmly, Julian leaned toward me. I involuntarily stepped back. His bright red eyes were so close.
Julian still had a frown on his face. I rolled my eyes and tried to avoid his gaze.
“That’s strange.”
His cool breath touched my cheek and then dissipated. He slowly turned around. I sat up straight, adjusting my clothes for no reason.
“You always run around here and there, saying things you don’t want to say, so why are you acting like that today?”
“When did you say I was not good at speaking?”
As soon as I spoke, Julian's eyebrows shot upward. Seeing that made me feel a prick, so I shrugged.
“I don’t want to do anything that will upset Your Highness.”
Because you are my benefactor. I couldn't say that, so I lied, not a lie.
“Friends are supposed to be polite to each other.”
Julian slowly closed his eyes and exhaled. It was like a sigh, or a sigh of relief. It was a subtle sound.
“I’ll refuse the meal, but I don’t mind anything else.”
“Anything else?”
“Hmm, how about something like chess?”
Chess? You want to play chess with my father right now? Realizing that, I straightened up and said.
“Yes! I like it!”
I shouted so loudly that not only Julian but even the butler looked at me. He was the kind of butler who never lost his composure, no matter the situation. But I was so excited that I kept chattering away.
"My father thinks of chess as a battlefield where no one sees blood. That's why he always keeps it close and enjoys it. If Your Highness enjoys chess too, he'll definitely be an interesting opponent. I play often, and my father is very old-fashioned, but he makes some brilliant moves."
“I see.”
"If you put them together, you'll definitely be surprised. It seems like an obvious move, but it's like an impregnable fortress, so you can't rush in without thinking. He's playing a move that's just like my father's personality. Isn't it great?"
“I see.”
As I watched Julian nod, I realized I'd been too excited and talking too loudly. I quickly covered my mouth, but the corners of my mouth twitched upward, unable to hide my excitement.
I knew my family would be delighted to hear this news. I sipped the tea on the table and set it down again. I stood up, lightly adjusting the hem of my skirt.
"Then I'll go and tell my family we'll play chess. When's a good time? After dinner?"
"...Yes."
"Yes, I'll prepare a table after dinner! Thank you, Your Highness!"
I exchanged a glance with the butler and quickly left. I wanted to tell my family about this.
And Julian, who was left behind, stared at the door through which Layla had run out, then chuckled in disbelief.
“I was wondering what was going on because I was so exhausted just now.”
The butler spoke to Julian with a smile.
“She is a truly bright person.”
“It seems the butler likes that woman.”
“If you like it, Master, I like it too.”
At those words, Julian glanced at the butler. His expression seemed to ask who liked whom.
But how could he fool the butler who had taken care of Julian since childhood? The butler simply chuckled.
“Anna, a guest? Who is it?”
“Madam, the Countess of Winsley is here.”
Anna, who had called my mother "Madam" until recently, now calls me "Madam." The change felt strange, and I instinctively touched the back of my neck.
“I’ll go down now.”
As I descended the stairs, Anna followed me. When I reached the second floor, where the guest room was, I saw my mother waiting for me at the front of the stairs, not in the room. I quickly grabbed her hand.
“Why are you here? I should have gone.”
“I’m just in a hurry. I want to see your face soon.”
My mother didn't seem like someone I'd seen yesterday, but like someone I hadn't seen in a long time, at least a year or two. Feeling unnecessarily upset, I clung to her, arms linked, like a child.
“I missed you, too. Since you got married, I've been thinking about you a lot.”
"Right? Since we won't be seeing each other often anymore, you must eat with us until you go to the estate. Got it?"
I laughed at my mother's seemingly nagging words. She hadn't worried this much when I married Kaiser. Perhaps I hadn't matured yet, but I didn't dislike her worrying.
“Don’t worry. I want to do that too.”
“In that sense...”
Mother whispered as she entered the room opened by the maid.
“How about arranging a meal with His Highness?”
I couldn't help but open my eyes wide. Not only because of my mother's words, but also because my family was gathered in the room.
“What is it? Why is everyone gathered here?”
“Sister, that’s...”
Ruin spoke first, but it was Adam who finished speaking.
“I will see how Your Highness holds the spoon.”
"What?"
The other family members were at a loss, but Adam was confident, as he was young.
“I will see if His Highness the Grand Duke is a good fit for my sister!”
Adam clenched his fists and shouted. My family, though bewildered by his bold stance, didn't seem to object.
I looked around at my family and stammered.
“His Highness' table manners are perfect.”
It was a lie. I'd never sat down to eat with Julian. But I couldn't imagine him being as boisterous as our family. I didn't think he'd like it.
I never thought I'd be allowed to stay this long with my family. I didn't want to burden them further.
But my father pleaded earnestly with his hands clasped together.
"I'm not really questioning His Highness's table manners. It's just that what father-in-law hasn't had a chance to eat with his son-in-law?"
“Layla, one meal would be enough. Would that be difficult?”
I knew our families well. They weren't happy about my marriage to Julian, but if we were married, we were family.
Even before my return, my family had done everything they could to help me. Just as they had, they accepted Julian as part of their family.
Sharing a meal with family. It seemed so obvious and trivial, I couldn't easily refuse.
“I’ll try to talk. Don’t expect anything.”
The family's faces brightened.
I turned around and sighed. Anna, who was standing next to me, pouted and said.
“It’s just one meal.”
“It’s not ‘barely’.”
He answered with a narrowed eyebrow. Anna's face showed that she didn't understand.
Since I had to ask permission first, I headed straight to the fourth floor where Julian was staying. I paused at the stairs leading up to the fourth floor. I didn't think Julian would be happy about taking Anna up there.
“Anna, you wait here.”
“Yes? I’m your maid, your maid.”
"His Highness might not like it. I haven't even spoken to him about you yet."
"Madam, aren't you being too conscious of what others think? It'll upset me."
Anna looked genuinely upset. Was I being too intimidated by Julian, as Anna said?
But I got along pretty well with Julian. I think we're doing fine. I told him everything I wanted to say, even when he called me a weirdo. After much deliberation, I decided to leave Anna in her place.
“Just wait a minute!”
As I said that and turned around, I saw the butler greeting me. He was so quiet that I was inwardly surprised. Even though servants are supposed to be present and not present, this butler was unusually quiet.
He smiled brightly, perhaps noticing my surprise.
“The master is in the study.”
"Thank you."
Since there was no other reason to come here than Julian, the butler guided him straight to the study.
I knocked on the study door, and a low voice called from inside, beckoning me in. The voice, though, was so charming that no one could compare. I cautiously opened the door and stepped inside.
“Your Highness, is your time okay?”
“I have some time to talk.”
As I stood awkwardly near the door, Julian raised his head and looked at me with a puzzled look.
“Sit over there.”
As soon as Julian finished speaking, the butler who had been standing behind him naturally followed in and began preparing tea. I cautiously looked around Julian's study.
What was surprising was that there was ample space in the study to welcome guests.
Has Julian ever had guests in his study? If so, who?
For a moment, Princess Abigail came to mind. She might have entered Julian's study. She and Julian used nicknames for each other, and they seemed quite close...
Lost in those thoughts, I shook my head. That wasn't what mattered right now. Above all, wasn't I in any position to interfere with who he was friends with?
I coughed softly in embarrassment and went to sit on the guest sofa. Julian also organized his papers and came over to me.
Judging by the pile of paperwork at Julian's desk, he seemed to be busy with various matters at the estate. Perhaps there was something I could help with... Thinking about this, I decided to get straight to the point.
“The family would like to have a meal with Your Highness.”
Julian didn't answer right away. He just stared at me with masked eyes. The more I spoke, the more my lips became dry. I'd never once considered him scary, but now I felt a strange sense of unease.
“I know it’s difficult, but our family would like to spend some time with Your Highness.”
“Eating is difficult, just as you said.”
I nodded hastily. I knew I'd be rejected, but I still felt flustered.
"I thought so. I guess so, right? My family didn't mean anything bad by what they said. They just thought we were now a family."
Julian listened quietly to my flustered words and then asked.
“What about your maid?”
“Maid? Oh, Anna? I thought it would be better if she didn’t come up to this floor, so I left her downstairs.”
Then Julian frowned.
“I don’t want my wife to go out alone without a maid.”
“Just a moment, what is it? It’s okay.”
The moment I answered calmly, Julian leaned toward me. I involuntarily stepped back. His bright red eyes were so close.
Julian still had a frown on his face. I rolled my eyes and tried to avoid his gaze.
“That’s strange.”
His cool breath touched my cheek and then dissipated. He slowly turned around. I sat up straight, adjusting my clothes for no reason.
“You always run around here and there, saying things you don’t want to say, so why are you acting like that today?”
“When did you say I was not good at speaking?”
As soon as I spoke, Julian's eyebrows shot upward. Seeing that made me feel a prick, so I shrugged.
“I don’t want to do anything that will upset Your Highness.”
Because you are my benefactor. I couldn't say that, so I lied, not a lie.
“Friends are supposed to be polite to each other.”
Julian slowly closed his eyes and exhaled. It was like a sigh, or a sigh of relief. It was a subtle sound.
“I’ll refuse the meal, but I don’t mind anything else.”
“Anything else?”
“Hmm, how about something like chess?”
Chess? You want to play chess with my father right now? Realizing that, I straightened up and said.
“Yes! I like it!”
I shouted so loudly that not only Julian but even the butler looked at me. He was the kind of butler who never lost his composure, no matter the situation. But I was so excited that I kept chattering away.
"My father thinks of chess as a battlefield where no one sees blood. That's why he always keeps it close and enjoys it. If Your Highness enjoys chess too, he'll definitely be an interesting opponent. I play often, and my father is very old-fashioned, but he makes some brilliant moves."
“I see.”
"If you put them together, you'll definitely be surprised. It seems like an obvious move, but it's like an impregnable fortress, so you can't rush in without thinking. He's playing a move that's just like my father's personality. Isn't it great?"
“I see.”
As I watched Julian nod, I realized I'd been too excited and talking too loudly. I quickly covered my mouth, but the corners of my mouth twitched upward, unable to hide my excitement.
I knew my family would be delighted to hear this news. I sipped the tea on the table and set it down again. I stood up, lightly adjusting the hem of my skirt.
"Then I'll go and tell my family we'll play chess. When's a good time? After dinner?"
"...Yes."
"Yes, I'll prepare a table after dinner! Thank you, Your Highness!"
I exchanged a glance with the butler and quickly left. I wanted to tell my family about this.
And Julian, who was left behind, stared at the door through which Layla had run out, then chuckled in disbelief.
“I was wondering what was going on because I was so exhausted just now.”
The butler spoke to Julian with a smile.
“She is a truly bright person.”
“It seems the butler likes that woman.”
“If you like it, Master, I like it too.”
At those words, Julian glanced at the butler. His expression seemed to ask who liked whom.
But how could he fool the butler who had taken care of Julian since childhood? The butler simply chuckled.
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