Nife said in a voice that was filled with regret.
"Sasha Young Lady, right? Just call me Nife, like when we were kids! And speak comfortably to me."
Since it had been so long since we last met, I had no idea what to call her, so I just nodded obediently.
“I will, Nife.”
I couldn't let my guard down, because I still couldn't figure out what had brought Nife here. Instead of affectionately telling her, "Call me 'Sister' like you did when you were little," I decided to remind her where this place was.
"This is His Highness the Grand Duke's favorite villa. So, it would be best to return to the Grand Duke's residence and talk."
It meant that you were not qualified to visit this place, but Nife just smiled brightly, not knowing whether she understood or not.
“I think I was rude. I’m sorry!”
Even with the deepest apology, there was no room for further complaints. Only Nife's maid fidgeted, unable to join the nobles' conversation.
As I left the villa with Nife, the caretaker chased me out.
“Madam, are you leaving already?”
I didn't want to go back yet. After exploring the garden, I wanted to explore the interior of the building and prepare it so Julian could rest more peacefully when he arrived. But I couldn't keep Nife waiting.
“I have a guest, so I guess I’ll have to go for today. I’ll come back again next time.”
"Yes. Madam, your presence brings a lot of life to this place. Please come again."
I smiled at the friendly manager and looked at the carriage, where Nife was standing with sparkling eyes.
“Your Highness, could you give me a ride too?”
It was natural for nobles to travel in their own carriages if circumstances were unfavorable. However, I readily agreed. Not because I was happy to see Nife, but because I felt the need to find out what this girl was up to that made her so welcoming.
“Wow! I really like it! Thank you!”
Nife ran straight to my carriage. Nife's maid seemed to whisper in her ear, but Nife simply rebuked her, saying, "Her Highness says it's fine, so why are you doing this?"
Anna, seeing Nife like that, chuckled softly.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
When I asked, Anna said it seemed like she was having a lot of fun.
“It’s just like seeing your childhood.”
I glared at Anna and climbed into the carriage. Anna, who had served me for so long, didn't seem to be frightened by my glare. I grumbled to myself, wondering where my dignity as a Grand Duchess had gone.
“How did you get here?”
“Take a carriage!”
The bright answer left me speechless for a moment. It was enough to make me reflect on my usual playful, nonsensical remarks to Julian. Seeing my bewildered expression, Nife burst into laughter and added,
“I came to see Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
“I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even been able to send you a letter...”
“No way! It’s okay since I’m here.”
I spoke directly to Nife's bright face.
“What I mean is, I’m asking why you suddenly showed up like this when you hadn’t contacted me for a while.”
Nife's face, once calm, froze for a moment, as if she hadn't expected me to be so honest. She blushed, perhaps a little embarrassed, and asked,
“I was so excited by myself.”
"It's not that hard to treat you like one. I'm just saying we should have been polite to each other. It's been a long time since we were close enough to make a surprise visit."
"...Sorry."
I couldn't understand why she was so quick to apologize. That's why I couldn't get any angrier. Her sullen face showed without the slightest hesitation, as if I'd just tormented a child. It made me feel uneasy.
“But since you’re here, I should treat you to a cup of tea.”
“Really?”
Nife's face brightened in an instant. It was clear she had something to say to me, but it was hard to believe she had such a dark inner self.
But it doesn't seem like she has any desires. What on earth could be the reason? It felt different from the young lady of Sina Heira, the Baroness I'd met at a charity party not long ago.
"Yes. But please stay on the second floor. His Highness doesn't like noise."
“Yes, I will!”
I didn't completely trust Nife, but that didn't mean the Grand Duke's servants wouldn't just stand by and watch her go upstairs. I'd just have to give her some refreshments and send her back on time.
As I was estimating the time alone, Nife asked cautiously, yet boldly.
“I guess you and His Highness the Grand Duke are really on good terms!”
"What?"
I asked back, taken aback by the sudden question. Nife, seemingly oblivious to my confusion, clasped her hands together and spoke with a rapt expression.
“I felt like you were being more cautious when talking about His Highness.”
Nife spoke with a fluttering expression, as if she had just read a romance novel. Her face flushed with the blush of someone in love.
I asked with a hollow laugh.
“Do you have someone you like?”
I asked this question, thinking that she was at an age where she could do that, but Nife's reaction was greater than I expected.
“Yes! There’s someone I really, really like!”
The roar of the voice made me turn my head back. Nife, as if in a fit of remorse, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed awkwardly. But she didn't forget her role as a shy girl whispering sweet nothings.
"It's unrequited love. I'll love only him for the rest of my life."
The word "unrequited love" brought someone to mind. I became cautious, and that made me ask in a playful tone.
“You don’t still like Ruin, do you?”
“Wow!”
Nife covered her cheeks with both hands and let out a scream of shame. My heart sank as I watched her face turn a deep red, redder than a carrot, no, a strawberry.
You really like my little brother, Ruin?
As if to confirm my doubts, Nife muttered softly.
“I’ve liked Ruin ever since I was little, and even now, I like him... No, I just like Ruin!”
Thinking back now, it was true. When we were little, Nife often suggested we play house.
However, we three siblings took after our father and loved to play knights, and Nife always ended up playing the Princess. However, even that role was soon taken away from her.
'Only Knight Ruin can save Nife!'
That's why Nife insisted on it. When the game wasn't going well, we gave Nofe the role of a servant instead of a Princess.
Even back then, Nife had been following Ruin around. Everyone knew that Nife liked Ruin.
But that was when she was very young. Count Sasha and Count Winsley were not on good terms. It seemed unlikely that the marriage proposal would bring the two families closer together.
Before that, there was a risk of the Winsley family being mistakenly considered to be aligned with the Second Prince's camp. That would have been extremely problematic.
I had no choice but to respond lightly to Nife's absurd sentiments.
“I see. Ruin will be happy to hear that.”
Nife smiled faintly at my words and replied.
“That would be great.”
For a brief moment, Nife seemed to know the truth as she answered. But she soon smiled brightly, so I assumed it was just a fleeting mistake.
Nife took my hand carefully and pleaded earnestly.
"So, would it be okay if I stayed at the Grand Duke's residence for a few days? We could talk about Ruin together. Doesn't Your Highness need someone to talk about family?"
I feel sorry for Nife, but I already had someone to talk to about family. I had the most loyal husband in the world. And Nife... She was cute, but also a little burdensome.
“It’s too late to go back now, so stay a day and think about it.”
Nife was just like a puppy. Even with ambiguous words that were neither permission nor refusal, she smiled and expressed her gratitude. Nife held my hand tightly in both of hers and spoke confidently.
“I really love Ruin. I will be a good wife.”
I hadn't even said I'd give her Ruin yet. I couldn't help but chuckle at her hasty words.
As soon as we arrived at the Grand Duke's residence, Julian came out to greet us as if it were a given. I hurried to stand in front of him.
“I’m back.”
It seems I've gotten a little used to his greetings now. Instead of asking if he's busy, I find myself saying hello and saying I'm back.
“Welcome.”
Julian greeted me with a familiar air. Even though there were guests, Julian was looking only at me. I gently grabbed his arm and turned around. In that place was Nife, staring at us with sparkling eyes.
“She is the daughter of Count Sasha, Nife.”
“Hello, Your Highness. I am Nife Sasha.”
Julian nodded slightly and extended his arm for me to put my own. I linked arms with him and spoke to the butler.
"Give Sasha, the Young Lady, a guest room so she can rest. I told her she can roam freely on the second floor, so send a maid to look after her."
At first glance, it seemed like a considerate gesture toward Nife, but it was also a way to keep her under surveillance. I even made it a point to inform the employees that the only space she was allowed was on the second floor.
The skilled butler understood what I said right away, but Nife just jumped for joy.
“Thank you! Your Highness! Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
“See you at dinner then, Nife.”
Anyway, since she was a guest, I greeted her warmly. But then Julian pulled me closer and subtly urged me on. I let myself be dragged along as he intended, looking up as if to ask why.
"Sasha Young Lady, right? Just call me Nife, like when we were kids! And speak comfortably to me."
Since it had been so long since we last met, I had no idea what to call her, so I just nodded obediently.
“I will, Nife.”
I couldn't let my guard down, because I still couldn't figure out what had brought Nife here. Instead of affectionately telling her, "Call me 'Sister' like you did when you were little," I decided to remind her where this place was.
"This is His Highness the Grand Duke's favorite villa. So, it would be best to return to the Grand Duke's residence and talk."
It meant that you were not qualified to visit this place, but Nife just smiled brightly, not knowing whether she understood or not.
“I think I was rude. I’m sorry!”
Even with the deepest apology, there was no room for further complaints. Only Nife's maid fidgeted, unable to join the nobles' conversation.
As I left the villa with Nife, the caretaker chased me out.
“Madam, are you leaving already?”
I didn't want to go back yet. After exploring the garden, I wanted to explore the interior of the building and prepare it so Julian could rest more peacefully when he arrived. But I couldn't keep Nife waiting.
“I have a guest, so I guess I’ll have to go for today. I’ll come back again next time.”
"Yes. Madam, your presence brings a lot of life to this place. Please come again."
I smiled at the friendly manager and looked at the carriage, where Nife was standing with sparkling eyes.
“Your Highness, could you give me a ride too?”
It was natural for nobles to travel in their own carriages if circumstances were unfavorable. However, I readily agreed. Not because I was happy to see Nife, but because I felt the need to find out what this girl was up to that made her so welcoming.
“Wow! I really like it! Thank you!”
Nife ran straight to my carriage. Nife's maid seemed to whisper in her ear, but Nife simply rebuked her, saying, "Her Highness says it's fine, so why are you doing this?"
Anna, seeing Nife like that, chuckled softly.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
When I asked, Anna said it seemed like she was having a lot of fun.
“It’s just like seeing your childhood.”
I glared at Anna and climbed into the carriage. Anna, who had served me for so long, didn't seem to be frightened by my glare. I grumbled to myself, wondering where my dignity as a Grand Duchess had gone.
“How did you get here?”
“Take a carriage!”
The bright answer left me speechless for a moment. It was enough to make me reflect on my usual playful, nonsensical remarks to Julian. Seeing my bewildered expression, Nife burst into laughter and added,
“I came to see Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
“I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even been able to send you a letter...”
“No way! It’s okay since I’m here.”
I spoke directly to Nife's bright face.
“What I mean is, I’m asking why you suddenly showed up like this when you hadn’t contacted me for a while.”
Nife's face, once calm, froze for a moment, as if she hadn't expected me to be so honest. She blushed, perhaps a little embarrassed, and asked,
“I was so excited by myself.”
"It's not that hard to treat you like one. I'm just saying we should have been polite to each other. It's been a long time since we were close enough to make a surprise visit."
"...Sorry."
I couldn't understand why she was so quick to apologize. That's why I couldn't get any angrier. Her sullen face showed without the slightest hesitation, as if I'd just tormented a child. It made me feel uneasy.
“But since you’re here, I should treat you to a cup of tea.”
“Really?”
Nife's face brightened in an instant. It was clear she had something to say to me, but it was hard to believe she had such a dark inner self.
But it doesn't seem like she has any desires. What on earth could be the reason? It felt different from the young lady of Sina Heira, the Baroness I'd met at a charity party not long ago.
"Yes. But please stay on the second floor. His Highness doesn't like noise."
“Yes, I will!”
I didn't completely trust Nife, but that didn't mean the Grand Duke's servants wouldn't just stand by and watch her go upstairs. I'd just have to give her some refreshments and send her back on time.
As I was estimating the time alone, Nife asked cautiously, yet boldly.
“I guess you and His Highness the Grand Duke are really on good terms!”
"What?"
I asked back, taken aback by the sudden question. Nife, seemingly oblivious to my confusion, clasped her hands together and spoke with a rapt expression.
“I felt like you were being more cautious when talking about His Highness.”
Nife spoke with a fluttering expression, as if she had just read a romance novel. Her face flushed with the blush of someone in love.
I asked with a hollow laugh.
“Do you have someone you like?”
I asked this question, thinking that she was at an age where she could do that, but Nife's reaction was greater than I expected.
“Yes! There’s someone I really, really like!”
The roar of the voice made me turn my head back. Nife, as if in a fit of remorse, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed awkwardly. But she didn't forget her role as a shy girl whispering sweet nothings.
"It's unrequited love. I'll love only him for the rest of my life."
The word "unrequited love" brought someone to mind. I became cautious, and that made me ask in a playful tone.
“You don’t still like Ruin, do you?”
“Wow!”
Nife covered her cheeks with both hands and let out a scream of shame. My heart sank as I watched her face turn a deep red, redder than a carrot, no, a strawberry.
You really like my little brother, Ruin?
As if to confirm my doubts, Nife muttered softly.
“I’ve liked Ruin ever since I was little, and even now, I like him... No, I just like Ruin!”
Thinking back now, it was true. When we were little, Nife often suggested we play house.
However, we three siblings took after our father and loved to play knights, and Nife always ended up playing the Princess. However, even that role was soon taken away from her.
'Only Knight Ruin can save Nife!'
That's why Nife insisted on it. When the game wasn't going well, we gave Nofe the role of a servant instead of a Princess.
Even back then, Nife had been following Ruin around. Everyone knew that Nife liked Ruin.
But that was when she was very young. Count Sasha and Count Winsley were not on good terms. It seemed unlikely that the marriage proposal would bring the two families closer together.
Before that, there was a risk of the Winsley family being mistakenly considered to be aligned with the Second Prince's camp. That would have been extremely problematic.
I had no choice but to respond lightly to Nife's absurd sentiments.
“I see. Ruin will be happy to hear that.”
Nife smiled faintly at my words and replied.
“That would be great.”
For a brief moment, Nife seemed to know the truth as she answered. But she soon smiled brightly, so I assumed it was just a fleeting mistake.
Nife took my hand carefully and pleaded earnestly.
"So, would it be okay if I stayed at the Grand Duke's residence for a few days? We could talk about Ruin together. Doesn't Your Highness need someone to talk about family?"
I feel sorry for Nife, but I already had someone to talk to about family. I had the most loyal husband in the world. And Nife... She was cute, but also a little burdensome.
“It’s too late to go back now, so stay a day and think about it.”
Nife was just like a puppy. Even with ambiguous words that were neither permission nor refusal, she smiled and expressed her gratitude. Nife held my hand tightly in both of hers and spoke confidently.
“I really love Ruin. I will be a good wife.”
I hadn't even said I'd give her Ruin yet. I couldn't help but chuckle at her hasty words.
***
As soon as we arrived at the Grand Duke's residence, Julian came out to greet us as if it were a given. I hurried to stand in front of him.
“I’m back.”
It seems I've gotten a little used to his greetings now. Instead of asking if he's busy, I find myself saying hello and saying I'm back.
“Welcome.”
Julian greeted me with a familiar air. Even though there were guests, Julian was looking only at me. I gently grabbed his arm and turned around. In that place was Nife, staring at us with sparkling eyes.
“She is the daughter of Count Sasha, Nife.”
“Hello, Your Highness. I am Nife Sasha.”
Julian nodded slightly and extended his arm for me to put my own. I linked arms with him and spoke to the butler.
"Give Sasha, the Young Lady, a guest room so she can rest. I told her she can roam freely on the second floor, so send a maid to look after her."
At first glance, it seemed like a considerate gesture toward Nife, but it was also a way to keep her under surveillance. I even made it a point to inform the employees that the only space she was allowed was on the second floor.
The skilled butler understood what I said right away, but Nife just jumped for joy.
“Thank you! Your Highness! Your Highness, the Grand Duchess!”
“See you at dinner then, Nife.”
Anyway, since she was a guest, I greeted her warmly. But then Julian pulled me closer and subtly urged me on. I let myself be dragged along as he intended, looking up as if to ask why.
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