"To Ruin.
How's Winsley doing these days? How's our family? Young Lady Sasha is staying at the Duke's residence. She wants to see you, so if it's alright with you, feel free to visit anytime. If you don't want to, I'll take care of everything.
- Layla, who always misses her family.
After sending the letter to Ruin, Nife stayed at the Grand Duke's residence for a while longer. Julian didn't ask Nife to leave anymore, but he remained indifferent. Nife, too, was afraid of Julian, so they rarely met, and I was busy going back and forth between them.
In fact, at first, Nife was a bit of a burden, but as time went by, she started to liven up the quiet Grand Duke's residence, and since she wasn't a picky person, the maids said that she was an easy guest to serve.
The best part is that since Nife came, I've been able to ride horses more often under the pretense of teaching her to ride.
I was planning to go horseback riding today, but an invitation came flying in early in the morning.
"To celebrate the season of abundance, the Imperial Palace will host a hunting competition. We invite the Duke and Duchess of Duchzan and their spouses. We hope you will grace the occasion with your presence."
As Kaiser had mentioned, it seemed the imperial court was holding a hunting competition. Princess Abigail must have some plan for this hunting competition. How can we resolve it to completely drive out Prince Cain?
Then Anna carefully approached me.
“Young Lady Sasha is waiting.”
“Oh, is it that time?”
I lost track of time as I was thinking of a strategy to defeat Princess Abigail.
“Tell her to wait a moment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I quickly changed into my riding clothes and went outside. In the hall, standing there was Nife, also dressed in riding clothes.
Nife smiled brightly at me and waved. Of course, this time, she also gave me a sullen, polite greeting, perhaps having been scolded by the maid standing nearby.
She doesn't seem like a bad kid...
I smiled awkwardly and went down the stairs alone.
“How is it staying at the Grand Duke’s residence?”
When I offered my greetings, Nippe answered immediately as if he had been waiting.
"Great!"
“That’s fortunate.”
"The Grand Duke's residence, with their maids and servants, seems to exude elegance. It's truly a magnificent place."
Even when she walked, Nife walked with a light, energetic energy. I walked beside her, and I sighed.
Nife was probably a good kid, but Ruin always said, "I want to marry someone I can learn a lot from."
To be honest, Nife didn't seem like the kind of person who could lead anyone. I wanted to use Nife as a bulwark of "what if," but if Ruin didn't want to, I had no intention of forcing him.
Nife seemed completely unaware of my thoughts and seemed to be enjoying the ride to the riding stables. She smiled broadly and linked arms with me. Nife's maid seemed about to say something, but I waved her off.
I figured this was something I could probably get over in private anyway. I was also uncomfortable with the ladies' stiff etiquette.
"Now that I think about it, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess seems to have been quite good at horseback riding since you were young. What's the secret?"
“Well, just ride it.”
At my words, Nife made a mischievous expression as if the medicine was working.
“This is what it means to be a talented person!”
I found Nife's words so funny that I burst out laughing. Nife seemed pleased that I laughed, and she continued to joke around even more.
Nife was drawn to the horse, which had pure white fur and a gray rump. The horse spoke to her and played softly, and Nife seemed to like it. Having a horse that was compatible with her made learning to ride much easier.
“Right. Kick that butt lightly.”
“What if the horse hurts?”
Nife made a fuss. I couldn't help but laugh at that.
“No matter how hard you kick, it won’t reach you.”
At my words, Nife very cautiously kicked the horse's rump. It wasn't so much a kick as a gentle nudge. The horse seemed completely unaware of the signal, standing still and only nodding its head.
As he was about to say something to the weeping Nife, a servant slowly approached her.
"Madam, I apologize for the interruption. I have a letter for you. Would you like to see it now? Or should I take it to your room?"
“Who is this for?”
“It says Lethe.”
Lethe? I frowned. My relationship with Shuan was practically over. So why send me this letter now? Was he trying to fulfill his promise to pay me back in some other way in exchange for information about Ari? In any case, it couldn't hurt to check.
“Give it here.”
I opened the letter rather halfheartedly, standing a little apart from Nife.
"To my friend.
It's been a while. Will you forgive me for not being able to contact you due to a major family matter? My reckless little brother has finally been forgiven by Father. My youngest and my Mother have been visiting him every day to beg for his forgiveness. However, I'm more worried than happy. I hope this incident will be an opportunity for my little brother to become a more virtuous person, but that's just my wish."
This letter, which was presented as if it were a personal matter, informed me that Prince Cain had been released from confinement and that the reason for this was Princess Abigail and Empress Seria.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the letter. I already knew Prince Cain had been released. The reason wasn't that important. Shuan seemed to want to warn me, but it would be a grave mistake to try to repay my debt with this little thing.
I folded the letter again, put it in an envelope, and handed it to the attendant.
“Return it sealed as is.”
The attendant looked perplexed at my words, but immediately bowed and left. Nife, who had been observing me closely, exclaimed in admiration.
"Your Highness, you're truly busy. You probably don't have time for leisure. Is the mistress of such a grand mansion truly something else?"
I shook my head. To be honest, I think I was more hectic and busy when I was a Marchioness in my past life.
Ultimately, having someone to help with household chores is a crucial decision. Unlike Kaiser, Julian helped me with even the smallest details, and most importantly, he gave me a lot of authority to handle things within my own control, even if I didn't have to follow his lead. While there were times when things got hectic, at least I never felt frustrated.
But I was afraid that if I mentioned Julian's virtue, Nife would sparkle and ask me to tell her more, so I gave her only simple advice.
“When you become the head of a household one day, you will have to do things like this.”
"Will I be able to do it? Your Highness knows. I'm too clumsy."
"You just have to learn. Managing a territory is more fun than you think. It's even more fun when someone recognizes it."
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
"Oh, no." As my expression shifted from embarrassment to embarrassment, Nife asked me with a playful, teasing expression.
“His Highness the Grand Duke must be a truly affectionate husband.”
I couldn't deny that. Julian was a rare, affectionate husband. I nodded helplessly, and Nife burst out laughing.
“Your face is flushed. Your Highness, the Grand Duchess, is truly lovely.”
“Nife.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s just the two of us now, so I forgive you.”
When I spoke sternly, Nife quickly nodded. But her face was still flushed. I fanned her with my hand and slapped her horse's rump. Then, the horse began to slowly chug forward.
“Ouch! What should I do?”
Unlike the flustered Nife, the servant who was standing next to them and holding the reins slowly followed the horse's movements.
“Do as I told you earlier. Be careful, because if you’re scared, the horse will get excited.”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Nife slowly began to regain her composure. I mounted my horse and quickly approached Nife. As I matched her pace, Nife spoke with a look of excitement on her face.
“It’s fun.”
She was a very adaptable girl. Last time, when I gave her a ride, she was initially scared and clutched my waist, but soon she became so excited she waved one hand in the air. It seems she's doing the same this time.
We rode around the riding arena for quite a while. At first, Nife was scared by the slightest movement of the horse, but soon she learned to run easily.
After a few laps, I dismounted, and Anna came over and wiped my face with a towel. Before I could even speak, she offered me water. It was a flowing stream. Nife exclaimed as she dismounted.
“Anna is a really good maid.”
I answered that question slyly.
“I have a lot of luck.”
“That’s true. Sometimes you’re like friends.”
If someone else had said it, it might have been meant as a sign of disrespect, but Nife meant it purely as a compliment. After all, Nife's maid was more like a mother than a friend. "I'm jealous," Nife added.
“I also had a maid who was like a friend to me when I was young.”
“Why don’t you keep it by your side?”
"That child's younger sibling was seriously ill, and they were short on money. I wanted to help, but my father was furious when he found out I was spending money on a maid. He even cut off my allowance and monitored my jewelry sales."
Count Sasha was a man worthy of such a thing. He was the one who stole the funds meant for the slums and offered them to Prince Cain.
I could only lament how he ended up like that. When I looked at her with pity, Nife also wore a bitter expression.
"So I carefully wrote a letter of recommendation to help her find a better-paying job. My father didn't interfere that much, though."
It was rare for a master to go that far for her maid. Given her young age and her parents' unkind nature, it would have been normal to just give up, saying there was nothing she could do. As I was trying to change my impression of Nife, Nife stared at me intently and said,
“The place I recommended to my maid is Marquis Ariant.”
At those words, my lips parted slightly. Nife wasn't bringing up this story to make herself look good or for a quick chat. She was making a suggestion to me.
When I didn't say anything, Nife spoke first.
“Is this enough to compensate you for letting me meet Ruin?”
There was no need to hesitate long. I was looking for a way to plant someone in the Marquis of Ariant. But someone had already been planted, and she was in Nife's clutches, thanks to a great favor.
'There's a lot I can do!'
I remembered what Nife had shouted out loud a while ago. Nife hadn't simply come to grab my skirt and yank it.
She must have assessed my relationship with the royal family in her own way, and she came here prepared with a card she could offer. And when my guard had eased a little, she offered it to me.
"You."
I stared straight at Nife. She no longer seemed like a cute little girl. She knew better than anyone what she had and what she wanted. I forcefully asked each word.
“What do you really want?”
Despite my aggressive words, Nife wasn't intimidated in the slightest. She smiled brightly, as if it were nothing special.
“It’s love.”
How's Winsley doing these days? How's our family? Young Lady Sasha is staying at the Duke's residence. She wants to see you, so if it's alright with you, feel free to visit anytime. If you don't want to, I'll take care of everything.
- Layla, who always misses her family.
After sending the letter to Ruin, Nife stayed at the Grand Duke's residence for a while longer. Julian didn't ask Nife to leave anymore, but he remained indifferent. Nife, too, was afraid of Julian, so they rarely met, and I was busy going back and forth between them.
In fact, at first, Nife was a bit of a burden, but as time went by, she started to liven up the quiet Grand Duke's residence, and since she wasn't a picky person, the maids said that she was an easy guest to serve.
The best part is that since Nife came, I've been able to ride horses more often under the pretense of teaching her to ride.
I was planning to go horseback riding today, but an invitation came flying in early in the morning.
"To celebrate the season of abundance, the Imperial Palace will host a hunting competition. We invite the Duke and Duchess of Duchzan and their spouses. We hope you will grace the occasion with your presence."
As Kaiser had mentioned, it seemed the imperial court was holding a hunting competition. Princess Abigail must have some plan for this hunting competition. How can we resolve it to completely drive out Prince Cain?
Then Anna carefully approached me.
“Young Lady Sasha is waiting.”
“Oh, is it that time?”
I lost track of time as I was thinking of a strategy to defeat Princess Abigail.
“Tell her to wait a moment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I quickly changed into my riding clothes and went outside. In the hall, standing there was Nife, also dressed in riding clothes.
Nife smiled brightly at me and waved. Of course, this time, she also gave me a sullen, polite greeting, perhaps having been scolded by the maid standing nearby.
She doesn't seem like a bad kid...
I smiled awkwardly and went down the stairs alone.
“How is it staying at the Grand Duke’s residence?”
When I offered my greetings, Nippe answered immediately as if he had been waiting.
"Great!"
“That’s fortunate.”
"The Grand Duke's residence, with their maids and servants, seems to exude elegance. It's truly a magnificent place."
Even when she walked, Nife walked with a light, energetic energy. I walked beside her, and I sighed.
Nife was probably a good kid, but Ruin always said, "I want to marry someone I can learn a lot from."
To be honest, Nife didn't seem like the kind of person who could lead anyone. I wanted to use Nife as a bulwark of "what if," but if Ruin didn't want to, I had no intention of forcing him.
Nife seemed completely unaware of my thoughts and seemed to be enjoying the ride to the riding stables. She smiled broadly and linked arms with me. Nife's maid seemed about to say something, but I waved her off.
I figured this was something I could probably get over in private anyway. I was also uncomfortable with the ladies' stiff etiquette.
"Now that I think about it, Your Highness, the Grand Duchess seems to have been quite good at horseback riding since you were young. What's the secret?"
“Well, just ride it.”
At my words, Nife made a mischievous expression as if the medicine was working.
“This is what it means to be a talented person!”
I found Nife's words so funny that I burst out laughing. Nife seemed pleased that I laughed, and she continued to joke around even more.
Nife was drawn to the horse, which had pure white fur and a gray rump. The horse spoke to her and played softly, and Nife seemed to like it. Having a horse that was compatible with her made learning to ride much easier.
“Right. Kick that butt lightly.”
“What if the horse hurts?”
Nife made a fuss. I couldn't help but laugh at that.
“No matter how hard you kick, it won’t reach you.”
At my words, Nife very cautiously kicked the horse's rump. It wasn't so much a kick as a gentle nudge. The horse seemed completely unaware of the signal, standing still and only nodding its head.
As he was about to say something to the weeping Nife, a servant slowly approached her.
"Madam, I apologize for the interruption. I have a letter for you. Would you like to see it now? Or should I take it to your room?"
“Who is this for?”
“It says Lethe.”
Lethe? I frowned. My relationship with Shuan was practically over. So why send me this letter now? Was he trying to fulfill his promise to pay me back in some other way in exchange for information about Ari? In any case, it couldn't hurt to check.
“Give it here.”
I opened the letter rather halfheartedly, standing a little apart from Nife.
"To my friend.
It's been a while. Will you forgive me for not being able to contact you due to a major family matter? My reckless little brother has finally been forgiven by Father. My youngest and my Mother have been visiting him every day to beg for his forgiveness. However, I'm more worried than happy. I hope this incident will be an opportunity for my little brother to become a more virtuous person, but that's just my wish."
This letter, which was presented as if it were a personal matter, informed me that Prince Cain had been released from confinement and that the reason for this was Princess Abigail and Empress Seria.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the letter. I already knew Prince Cain had been released. The reason wasn't that important. Shuan seemed to want to warn me, but it would be a grave mistake to try to repay my debt with this little thing.
I folded the letter again, put it in an envelope, and handed it to the attendant.
“Return it sealed as is.”
The attendant looked perplexed at my words, but immediately bowed and left. Nife, who had been observing me closely, exclaimed in admiration.
"Your Highness, you're truly busy. You probably don't have time for leisure. Is the mistress of such a grand mansion truly something else?"
I shook my head. To be honest, I think I was more hectic and busy when I was a Marchioness in my past life.
Ultimately, having someone to help with household chores is a crucial decision. Unlike Kaiser, Julian helped me with even the smallest details, and most importantly, he gave me a lot of authority to handle things within my own control, even if I didn't have to follow his lead. While there were times when things got hectic, at least I never felt frustrated.
But I was afraid that if I mentioned Julian's virtue, Nife would sparkle and ask me to tell her more, so I gave her only simple advice.
“When you become the head of a household one day, you will have to do things like this.”
"Will I be able to do it? Your Highness knows. I'm too clumsy."
"You just have to learn. Managing a territory is more fun than you think. It's even more fun when someone recognizes it."
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
"Oh, no." As my expression shifted from embarrassment to embarrassment, Nife asked me with a playful, teasing expression.
“His Highness the Grand Duke must be a truly affectionate husband.”
I couldn't deny that. Julian was a rare, affectionate husband. I nodded helplessly, and Nife burst out laughing.
“Your face is flushed. Your Highness, the Grand Duchess, is truly lovely.”
“Nife.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s just the two of us now, so I forgive you.”
When I spoke sternly, Nife quickly nodded. But her face was still flushed. I fanned her with my hand and slapped her horse's rump. Then, the horse began to slowly chug forward.
“Ouch! What should I do?”
Unlike the flustered Nife, the servant who was standing next to them and holding the reins slowly followed the horse's movements.
“Do as I told you earlier. Be careful, because if you’re scared, the horse will get excited.”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Nife slowly began to regain her composure. I mounted my horse and quickly approached Nife. As I matched her pace, Nife spoke with a look of excitement on her face.
“It’s fun.”
She was a very adaptable girl. Last time, when I gave her a ride, she was initially scared and clutched my waist, but soon she became so excited she waved one hand in the air. It seems she's doing the same this time.
We rode around the riding arena for quite a while. At first, Nife was scared by the slightest movement of the horse, but soon she learned to run easily.
After a few laps, I dismounted, and Anna came over and wiped my face with a towel. Before I could even speak, she offered me water. It was a flowing stream. Nife exclaimed as she dismounted.
“Anna is a really good maid.”
I answered that question slyly.
“I have a lot of luck.”
“That’s true. Sometimes you’re like friends.”
If someone else had said it, it might have been meant as a sign of disrespect, but Nife meant it purely as a compliment. After all, Nife's maid was more like a mother than a friend. "I'm jealous," Nife added.
“I also had a maid who was like a friend to me when I was young.”
“Why don’t you keep it by your side?”
"That child's younger sibling was seriously ill, and they were short on money. I wanted to help, but my father was furious when he found out I was spending money on a maid. He even cut off my allowance and monitored my jewelry sales."
Count Sasha was a man worthy of such a thing. He was the one who stole the funds meant for the slums and offered them to Prince Cain.
I could only lament how he ended up like that. When I looked at her with pity, Nife also wore a bitter expression.
"So I carefully wrote a letter of recommendation to help her find a better-paying job. My father didn't interfere that much, though."
It was rare for a master to go that far for her maid. Given her young age and her parents' unkind nature, it would have been normal to just give up, saying there was nothing she could do. As I was trying to change my impression of Nife, Nife stared at me intently and said,
“The place I recommended to my maid is Marquis Ariant.”
At those words, my lips parted slightly. Nife wasn't bringing up this story to make herself look good or for a quick chat. She was making a suggestion to me.
When I didn't say anything, Nife spoke first.
“Is this enough to compensate you for letting me meet Ruin?”
There was no need to hesitate long. I was looking for a way to plant someone in the Marquis of Ariant. But someone had already been planted, and she was in Nife's clutches, thanks to a great favor.
'There's a lot I can do!'
I remembered what Nife had shouted out loud a while ago. Nife hadn't simply come to grab my skirt and yank it.
She must have assessed my relationship with the royal family in her own way, and she came here prepared with a card she could offer. And when my guard had eased a little, she offered it to me.
"You."
I stared straight at Nife. She no longer seemed like a cute little girl. She knew better than anyone what she had and what she wanted. I forcefully asked each word.
“What do you really want?”
Despite my aggressive words, Nife wasn't intimidated in the slightest. She smiled brightly, as if it were nothing special.
“It’s love.”
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