CWEGDH - Chapter 6

6. Um, don't you remember?

The Grand Duchess of the Grand Ducal family changed. And quite suddenly at that. A woman who looked as if she were barely clinging to life. A Grand Duchess upon whom rumors even circulated that she was more like a ghost than a human. 

Yet, one day, that Grand Duchess lost her memory. She transformed into a completely different person. She shook the once-quiet mansion, and not a single day passed quietly. At some point, the Grand Duchess began to roam the city streets. She toured the shopping district every day, conversing directly with the merchants. 

Since it was not common for a noble-especially a Grand Duchess to walk around the city in person to begin with... naturally, rumors were bound to spread quickly. Moreover, there were even fewer nobles who would go so far as to haggle.

"Give me a discount. I'm a regular"

"...Huh?" 

"Why? Can't I?" 

'They say the Grand Duchess has gone mad.' 

'Isn't that actually her true personality?' 

'Or is she making a final desperate struggle before she dies?' 

Rumors followed. People's mouths were truly loose. Those who had previously muttered that she was out of her mind for living a life devoid of expression now whispered that she had lost her mind. And those stories spread beyond high society to the Imperial Palace... 

For a while, the two rarely crossed paths. Kaion was busy preparing for expeditions, while Sienna continued to run about frantically. And the Grand Duke's residence had become a completely different place, unrecognizable from its former self. 

Long streams of sunlight poured through the mansion's large windows, and ornate lamps illuminated every corner of the ceiling. Plants were placed in every hallway, and pure white flowers filled the interior. 

The servants had changed, too. Those who used to come and go quietly, barely noticeable, now greeted one another and filled the mansion with laughter. It was a stark contrast to the past. Dark brown furniture and a house that had been dark without a single decoration. A place where the suffocating atmosphere never faded. 

The Grand Duke's estate, which even sent shivers down the spines of those passing by, had suddenly transformed into a home fit for human habitation. Warmth had begun to circulate throughout the entire mansion, which had been trapped in long darkness. 

One morning, Kaion headed to the dining room for the first time in a while. 

Thump. 

The moment he opened the door, his steps paused for a brief moment. 

"..." 

It was because the atmosphere of the dining room had completely changed, enough for even him, usually indifferent to the space, to notice it instantly. Every object in the room was unified in bright furniture colors. A transparent glass canopy rested on the long table, and sunlight spread softly over it. Kaion sat down without a word. 

"... What is this?" 

Light foods such as fruit, salad, and warm soup were placed on the plate. The heavy meat dishes that used to be served three times a day were gone. Kaion's eyebrows twitched slightly. He wasn't the type to pay attention to the menu, but he had never seen a meal consisting of such foods before. The attendant standing beside him glanced around cautiously and spoke carefully. 

"This is a new menu changed by Her Highness the Grand Duchess. She said she prefers easy-to-digest food for breakfast, so she curated the contents herself." 

The attendant added with a slight smile.

"That sauce was made by Her Highness the Grand Duchess herself, too. The head chef was also very impressed." 

Kaion remained silent for a moment, and then he suddenly realized. Since Sienna lost her memory, many things inside the mansion had changed more than expected. It wasn't just the exterior. The meals, the furniture arrangement, the lighting, and the hallway layout were all different. Even the walls where the noise used to echo had been fitted with new soundproofing. 

At first, he thought she would get tired of it quickly. He assumed she would be noisy for a few days and then stop, but she had been doing this for longer than he thought. 

"..." 

Come to think of it. She used to be noisy all day long, but these past few days weren't like before. She didn't seem to be around either. The noise was only heard when the servants passed by chatting quietly. He wondered where she was plotting something this time. 

Kaion's brow furrowed slightly. Even though she wasn't visible, his nerves were on edge. Even though she wasn't in sight, her presence was strangely palpable. Did this mean she had come to have that much influence on this mansion?

"...She is bothersome." 

He muttered softly and stood up, leaving his food untouched. He headed outside with slow steps. A man was visiting in the garden. Upon seeing Kaion, his eyes curved into a wide smile. He was a sharply handsome man, no less so than Kaion, yet a warm aura enveloped him. Herian, the Commander of the Northern Knights. He was the head of the order responsible for the Empire's northern front, as well as an old friend who had traversed countless battlefields with Kaion. 

"Your Highness the Grand Duke." 

The man, sweeping back his ash-brown hair, grinned as Kaion approached. 

"You're here, Cain." 

He often addressed Kaion that way when they were alone. When informal, he frequently wore a gentle smile. Kaion glanced at him indifferently. Herian looked around and whistled 

"But you really have changed a lot."

"..."

"I heard the rumors about the Grand Duchess acting strangely were true, I guess?"

Kaion's gaze shifted from Herian. An atmosphere formed as if a cold wind were sweeping between them in an instant. This was a kind of warning from him. Knowing this, Herian immediately raised both hands 

"No, I get it. I get it." 

He chuckled. He let out a short laugh. 

"It was a compliment, you know?"

"...Don't talk nonsense." 

"Yes, yes." 

Herian grumbled familiarly, then quickly changed his expression. 

"Anyway, preparations are almost complete. It's three days away, right?" 

"Supplies will start arriving this evening." 

"I just need to check them."

Herian stayed at the Grand Duke's mansion for a few days before every expedition. His base was in Terdian, quite a distance from Arcadia, so he would come here of his own accord. He inspected supplies, organized troop movements, and made a final check of the Northern Knights' materials. It was a repetitive daily routine. 

Kaion gazed at the garden with a composed expression. Pure white flowers swayed in the sunlight. And then a thought suddenly crossed his mind... Did she leave that there, too? 

Kaion's brow furrowed again. Truly, wherever he went, traces of her remained. He tried not to care, but he found it quite unpleasant.

It was while Kaion and Herian were standing in the garden. A sound broke the silence. 

Thump, thump. 

The sound of something being moved heavily. This was followed by the sound of heated voices. 

"One, two! Carefully lower it!" 

"This isn't this way; it's over there!" 

"Line up as the Madam instructed!" 

A boisterous commotion surged from the end of the hallway. The footsteps and voices of many people were intertwined. Herian tilted his head slightly. 

"What is this?" 

A moment later, large boxes were brought into the mansion one after another. Were supplies arriving already? Herian gestured to Kaion with his chin. Kaion looked toward the servant. 

"Supplies?" 

The servant shook his head immediately. 

"No. These are items personally ordered by the Madam."

A light and nonchalant reply followed. The eyes crinkled deeply across Kaion's handsome face. However, Herian's eyes were overflowing with gleaming curiosity. 

"Oh?"

He immediately approached the box and tried to open the lid. He reached out his hand. But.

"Don't touch it." 

The voice dropped coldly. Kaion had stretched out his arm to block him. Herian burst into laughter again. 

"Haha, why are you so wary?" 

Kaion didn't even turn his gaze toward him 

"It's nothing to worry about." 

He was firm. Herian shrugged.

"Well, he seems like an interesting person." 

Swoosh. He looked around. 

"By the way, where is Her Highness the Grand Duchess right now?" 

A servant answered. 

"She is in the shopping district."

"...The shopping district?" 

"She has been out for several days straight. She didn't return at all yesterday, so I heard she slept at an inn over there." 

Suddenly, Herian's eyes widened.

"...The Grand Duchess?" 

Kaion's brow furrowed. 

"I wonder what she's up to this time." 

It was a low mutter. However, Herian turned to him as if he had sensed something. With a mischievous expression, he asked his old friend.

"It's been three years this year, hasn't it?" 

"What?" 

"I'm talking about this marriage." 

Kaion's gaze turned toward him. 

"What are you trying to say?" 

Herian patted his shoulder and chuckled lightly. 

"You're so foolish at times like this. You, too." 

"...?" 

Still frowning, he shifted his gaze to Herian. 

"I mean, I'm saying you're consistently rigid." 

Herian said, examining the countless white flowers spread across the garden. Kion's eyes narrowed. 

"Me?" 

"Yes." 

Herian waved his hand dismissively without explaining further. 

"Never mind. Let's hurry inside." 

"..." 

Kaion led him in without answering. Herian was assigned the guest room opposite the drawing room. It was the room where he always stayed. As soon as he put down his luggage, he began looking around the mansion. 

"Wow, it's really changed a lot." 

He chuckled as he looked at a framed picture hanging in the closet. It was an illustration depicting a beautiful landscape. 

"Is that the Grand Duchess's taste?" 

His interest in her surged. He became curious about her. Even though he wasn't the type to care about others in the first place. Herian checked the documents with Kendall. 

"This is the supply for the North. And this is the route for the Imperial Guard." 

"The number of accompanying personnel has increased slightly this time." 

"Ah, and please sign here for confirmation." 

Amidst the sounds of the documents being exchanged and the words being exchanged, the commotion at the end of the hallway was drawing closer.

"Put this here!" 

"That one on the other side!" 

"You said so earlier, Madam!" 

Several voices burst out simultaneously. An unorganized energy. However, only one voice was exceptionally clear. It was a voice strangely full of vitality. 

Herian's gaze naturally turned toward the end of the hallway. A red-haired woman was walking quickly through the servants, giving instructions. Her gestures, steps, and eyes were all resolute. She seemed like a completely different person, yet he recognized her instantly.

Sienna Bertian. She looked completely different from what he remembered. The woman he remembered was lifeless and lethargic. It was to the point where it would be difficult to confirm she was alive, if not for her eyelids blinking occasionally. But now... 

"...She looks like a different person." 

He let out a hollow laugh. Just as he was swallowing a considerable number of thoughts, Sienna was walking toward him. The thin lace of her dress brushed against the hem of his dress as she passed. 

Herian took a step forward. He opened his mouth without hesitation. 

"Your Highness the Grand Duchess." 

Sienna, who had been hurrying down the hallway, stopped in her tracks. Her path was blocked. 

I'm busy. What is this? She frowned and looked up from the documents Nia was holding.

"Who are you?" 

Herian paused for a moment, then laughed. 

"Haha. Um, don't you remember me?" 

The man of large build bowed his head slightly. 

"I am Herian, the Grand Duke's Knight Commander."

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