4. One person, His Highness the Grand Duke, is enough.
The sun was setting. Darkness seeped in through the window of Kaion's office. A long, deep shadow hung over the pile of documents. Instead of putting down his pen, he picked up a paper with his fingertips.
Bang!!
With a sound that tore through the silence, the office door was thrown open roughly. The air twisted in an instant. Sharp voices tangled from outside, but they did not sound like proper sentences.
A maid, her body trembling with agitation, burst through the gap. Kaion furrowed his brows. What is it this time? The maid stepped forward with steps that looked as if her knees were about to give way.
"Your Highness!!!... Hah..."
Her breath was cut off at the tip of her chin. She seemed to be in such a desperate state that she could not even continue speaking. A person he would normally not have been able to meet eyes with. But now, the terror before her eyes had overshadowed all manners.
"Her Highness the Grand Duchess...!"
Her breath was cut off once again. As if even uttering that single name was too much of a burden.
"She has collapsed!!"
In the middle of the bustling shopping district, Sienna stopped abruptly in front of a pile of flowers. White flowers, stacked like a mountain on one side of the shop, swayed in the sunlight, scattering light.
"Send all those flowers to the Grand Duke's estate."
The merchant's eyes widened.
"What? All of that?"
Nia, standing behind her, also held her breath. There were hundreds of white flowers. No, there were more than that. Sienna shrugged lightly as if it were no big deal.
"They all have a use."
It was closer to a declaration than an explanation. Nia quietly watched her profile. The Madam has changed. It was a fact known to everyone. The servants of the mansion whispered about it day after day until their mouths ached. To think that someone who used to be holed up in her room, struggling even to breathe, had changed.
'It's fine...'
She had changed like this overnight.
'Madam, please, just have one bite.'
'... It's fine.'
She was someone who used to barely answer in a voice that sounded as if she were about to collapse. But now, her eyes were alive, she spoke more, and she even smiled broadly. I wondered if she had suffered a head injury and lost her memory. In any case, she began to show a level of vitality incomparable to before.
She had now come out to the market herself and was roaming here and there. Her eyes sparkled at every unfamiliar item she saw, and she even haggled with the merchants. It was quite disconcerting and even gave me goosebumps a little, but honestly, seeing her like this was much better.
Nia recalled the conversation she had had with the Grand Duke.
'Refrain from speaking of the Grand Duchess.'
A cold and indifferent voice. It left her feeling inexplicably bitter. She had hoped that His Highness would take a little more interest in her now. Even considering it was a political marriage, she also felt it was a bit too much.
"Oh, look at that!!"
Sienna suddenly grabbed her arm. Ignoring Nia's shout, Sienna was already running in a different direction.
'... Even so, it is a bit tough.'
Nia thought quietly as she followed behind her.
"Right, that was it."
Her eyes sparkled.
"There is what I was looking for!"
Sienna ran, holding Nia's hand between her arms.
"Madam! You are in danger!"
At the place they arrived, bundles of rough, faded cloth were piled up like a mountain.
"How much is this?"
Sienna picked up a bundle. The merchant replied with a bewildered look.
"Ah, this is cheap cloth, but..."
Nia hurriedly interrupted.
"Madam, this isn't it. It's too thick and rough; it's the kind of thing used by the lower classes."
"What?"
Sienna muttered, rubbing the cloth with her fingertips.
"No, this one is actually quite good."
This one was actually much better. The one currently used at the mansion was too soft, had terrible absorbency, and just dripped water everywhere.
"Take all of this."
Wait. Sienna paused.
"What about our money? Is it okay to buy all of this?"
Come to think of it, the items they had already bought were piled high. It was an amount that, in the modern era, would have been difficult to cover even if they sold the designer bags and clothes they cherished more than their own lives. Seeing as I only just recalled this important fact, I might have been too excited lately. Nia blinked with a dazed look on her face.
"Yes ?"
She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Your Highness the Grand Duke is the second wealthiest person in Arcadia after His Imperial Majesty, but..."
"...What?"
Sienna's eyes widened.
"Then the scale is..."
Nia cautiously surveyed her surroundings before whispering low. A brief silence. Then came the numbers.
"..."
She froze.
"What????"
A voice loud enough to make passersby turn around burst out. Sienna staggered from the shock. Perhaps because she was so surprised, her vision blurred for a moment. It was an unbelievable number. That straitlaced, obnoxious man?
His personality is terrible, too, but should I, being the nice one, forgive him just a little?
Sienna cleared her throat for no reason. The two began walking through the shopping district again. Befitting the capital's largest market, the street was filled with all kinds of goods and people. A mingled scent of fruit and spices, and the sound of laughter echoing from all directions.
Then, Siena's gaze stopped at one spot. A shop lined with military supplies such as armor, swords, and spears. The shop owner was passionately conducting business, displaying the armor out onto the street.
"Then... does he go on expeditions often?"
"Yes. He is on the battlefield for nearly ten months out of the year."
"Huh?"
Sienna stopped in her tracks. She had expected him to be away for a while, but it was much longer than anticipated.
"Then where does he stay?"
"He stays at Ruberin Castle. He is the master of that estate."
"Aha."
She nodded slowly.
"Then-"
It was an instant. Her head spun.
"Huh?"
Her head ached as if it were about to split open. Her vision shook violently. Ah, had she pushed herself too hard? Siena Bersian's body was naturally frail enough to collapse even when standing still. Having overlooked this fact and wandered around for days without rest, it was actually a miracle she had lasted this long
'Ah, dear.'
"Your Highness?"
Nia's voice sounded distant.
"Your Highness!!"
Sienna staggered.
Thud.
She collapsed forward limply.
Whoosh!
Sienna opened her eyes, breathing heavily.
"Gasp!"
Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
"Madam!"
Nia rushed over urgently. She looked as if she had stayed by her side all night, her hair disheveled and her eyes bloodshot.
"Are you alright?"
"...Ah."
Her voice was hoarse and barely came out. Her head throbbed.
"They say it's overwork. They say you absolutely must rest for a while. They said you pushed yourself too hard..."
Sienna blinked with a blank expression. Come to think of it, she had collapsed at the market. She turned her head and examined her body. What a weak body this is. I wonder if I'll even be able to do my job in this condition. She patted her arm hard. Just then.
Knock, knock.
"His Highness the Grand Duke has arrived."
"...The Grand Duke?"
Sienna's eyes widened. To think the Grand Duke would visit. Did he come because he knew about my condition? A moment later, the door opened... and he entered. Two maids with worried faces followed him. It looked like the maids summoned him.
Sienna scanned him. The man in the black uniform was still perfectly cold and composed. He gazed quietly at Sienna lying on the bed. Then, glancing at the maids beside her, he said indifferently.
"You look healthy."
His tone was as if he wanted the maids to hear him. Sienna's brow twitched. He really is born with a knack for making unpleasant remarks. So this is how you're going to play it, huh? Fine.
She clutched the blanket tightly. Then, she cried out in a desperate voice.
"Ow! I'm in so much pain...!"
Nia was startled.
"Your Highness?!"
"A doctor!! Bring a doctor here!! I'm dying!!!!"
Kaion, who was about to turn around, stopped in his tracks. Nia began to sob. The servants who had entered with the Grand Duke also looked at her with worried faces.
"Madam, what is wrong with you all of a sudden?! You were fine just a moment ago...!"
"My head hurts. I can't breathe. The world is spinning..."
She groaned on the bed. His brow furrowed. It was a look of annoyance. Kaion spoke.
"The Grand Duchess is in such pain; call a doctor."
"I, I will bring a doctor right away!"
Nia hurriedly headed toward the door.
"No-"
At that moment, Sienna spoke. She blinked and wore a very brazen expression.
"I would like His Highness Grand Duke Kaion to nurse me personally."
The atmosphere stirred. Kaion's face hardened. To dare say such things, with such an expression.
"I don't know what you mean. You could just call a doctor."
A smirk. The corners of Sienna's mouth curved.
"No. His Highness the Grand Duke. One person is enough."
"...Hmph."
His expression, which had been coldly rigid, contorted.
"I'm sorry, but I have a lot of work to take care of right now."
Just as he was about to leave-
"Um...!"
Nia's thin voice cut through the room.
"The supply request from the Rubern Estate. I delivered it to Lord Kendall. I told him I would submit it back to His Highness by the end of today..."
"..."
A chill hung in the air. Nia looked terrified, but her yellow eyes were steadfastly looking up at Kaion. Just then, another maid stepped forward.
"Um... shall I bring you a wet towel?"
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