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Chapter 41

For the first time since arriving at the Rohambriga household, the ducal residence was bustling with activity.

The maids, including the mistake-prone Sera, were busy adorning Vinet, and Ailet stuck close to Vinet's side, tirelessly reminding her of noble etiquette.

Vinet, already half out of her wits, was keeping her composure but, admirably, was listening intently to Ailet's advice.

As a result, my only task was to stand idly in the back and observe the chaotic scene.

'So this is the joy of slacking off while still getting paid.'

Ironically, I was enjoying a rare moment of leisure all by myself, watching Vinet transform through her grooming.

'I thought there was no way to make that face prettier….'

I realized just how limited human imagination can be.

Isn't it cheating to be that pretty?

'Ugh, what a pretty girl.'

Just when I thought I'd gotten somewhat used to it, Vinet's adorned appearance was worthy of being called a goddess, as Rudy would say.

Vinet stood up in the expensive Laphian silk dress Ailet had recommended—the one she said was fashionable—and the smooth silk flowed down with a soft rustle.

The ribbon extending from her shoulders trailed behind her, exuding elegance.

Her hair was tightly braided and adorned with pearl ornaments.

'Though her face does all the work, anyway.'

Her face was so beautiful that everything else was overshadowed.

Seeing me, Vinet's stiff expression briefly softened into a smile.

For a moment, that smile overlapped with Rahan's drunken expression from before.

Handsome, cute—they had it all.

As expected of family.

Their looks did all the heavy lifting.

"I think I look pretty today."

She was embarrassed but truly thought she looked pretty, praising the maids' skills while Ailet gave them instructions, whispering to me.

"You've always been pretty, though?"

"Oh, you!"

She hit my shoulder as if to say I wasn't giving her anything.

Even when I praise her, she doesn't get it.

Vinet, who didn't see my dumbfounded expression, stiffened again at Ailet's reminder that she had to go.

"Lady Vinet."

At my call, Vinet leaned in.

I saw Ailet's expression subtly twist, but the guest waiting outside wasn't more important than Vinet.

I quickly whispered to her as she approached.

"Count Nordic is a bit tricky, but Sir Adren—Rahan-nim can easily handle someone like him. So don't worry too much."

"…What do you mean by 'handle'? It's not like Sir Adren or my brother are children…."

"Not physical strength—I'm talking about their standing within the family. And you're the beloved sister Rahan cherishes more than anything, so you win. You understand what I mean?"

"Ahaha! What is that. I'm convinced."

Whether my intention to ease her nerves was conveyed, Vinet's tension visibly eased.

"Lady Vinet, we really must go down now."

At Ailet's polite urging, Vinet moved quickly, and I followed behind.

I felt Ailet's silent pressure—'Must you play around at such an important moment?'—but I didn't care.

The moment we crossed the threshold, both Ailet and I, as if on cue, switched into work mode.

"You must have had a long journey. Thank you for coming."

"Not at all. Thank you for the invitation, Duke of Rohambriga. I've truly wanted to meet you."

In the distance, I saw Rahan and a man presumed to be Adren.

'He's big.'

Even bigger than Rahan.

If he were an animal, he'd be a giant bear.

Looking closely, his face had a gentle impression and was cleanly handsome, but his overwhelming size made one instinctively shrink back.

'They say he's Count Nordic's son. Is his personality similar?'

Adren—in the original, he was barely mentioned as 'having a son.' He was less than an extra, so even I thought he was one of Count Nordic's trusted retainers when I first heard the name.

"Vinet, this is Sir Adren of the Count Nordic family. Sir Adren, this is my one and only precious younger sister."

"Pleased to meet you. I am Vinet Rohambriga."

Fortunately, she didn't make a mistake like she did with Marr Elr.

"Adren Nordic. I am a knight belonging to Hallowild. I look forward to working with you, Princess Vinet."

He introduced himself as 'Sir' rather than 'Lord,' so I thought he was a knight, but I didn't expect him to declare his affiliation with such pride.

'He certainly looks like he can handle himself.'

Nodding in understanding, I alternated my gaze between the two handsome figures and then landed on Rahan at the end.

'Just having them together would make for a good novel.'

A young man and woman of the same age staying in the same mansion.

And they would enter the upcoming social season party together.

Engagement? Lovers? Various scenarios would be written.

It was a disappointing outcome for something chosen to prevent bad rumors about Vinet, but seeing Adren's weakness afterward, I understood.

'Is he also devoted in another sense?'

Rings worn on the ring finger often symbolize lovers or spouses, but here they had other meanings.

First, a ring with a star pattern meant a follower of Sehem.

It was a declaration of celibacy, swearing body and soul to serve Sehem.

Other rings, like those bearing a family crest or the seal of the Magic Tower, indicated lifelong devotion to that affiliation, essentially a vow of celibacy.

'Is he declaring lifelong loyalty to the Nordic family? I heard he's the only son? What about the succession? Is that okay?'

I was so bewildered I was worried about another family's affairs, but at least Vinet wouldn't be subject to gossip, so I decided to set it aside.

The Nordic and Rohambriga families had joined hands.

A clear warning not to touch Vinet recklessly.

A clean warning, nothing more.

'At this rate, even the most oblivious person would understand, right?'

At that moment, my eyes met Rahan's.

Wink. His lovely, curving eye-smile reached me.

How about it? Isn't it a pretty good choice?

That look, stolen behind Adren's back, was so amusing that I fidgeted with my clasped hands and subtly raised my thumb.

---

"You must be hungry after your journey. How about we start with a meal?"

"Thank you for your consideration."

The three of them headed straight to the dining hall.

The kitchen staff and maids handled the work inside.

As a lady-in-waiting, I would take turns with Ailet, eating nearby so I could respond when called, waiting for Vinet to finish.

'They must have gone all out in the kitchen.'

The meals were always lavish, but this was on another level.

Through the open door, I could see the table laden with such splendid food that it was a feast for the eyes—truly enough to make the table legs buckle.

The door slowly closed.

'I wonder what they're talking about.'

I strained my ears, but there was no way I could hear.

"Lexi, go ahead and eat first."

Ailet always ate first, but today she yielded to me as if doing me a favor.

It didn't seem like good intentions, so I stared blankly at her. Ailet sighed, lightly cupping her cheek.

"Sir Adren is the heir of the Count Nordic family. While he stays at the Rohambriga residence, we must ensure he leaves with only good memories and no discomfort. So it's better for me to wait here than you, Lexi. It's the first day, after all. First impressions are important, as you know."

Ailet's gesture—postponing her meal in case the nervous Vinet might call for her—wasn't really consideration. This is how it came across to me:

I'm more experienced than you, and I'm a noble.

I'm better suited than you.

She didn't say any of those words, but the way they automatically translated in my mind showed just how remarkable Ailet was.

"Yes, I understand what you mean. Then, I'll go eat first."

I smiled and greeted her before leaving.

What a fool.

Why know only one thing and not the other?

'I'll take my sweet time eating.'

Humming, I headed to the second dining hall next to the main one to enjoy my meal. I saw quite a few familiar faces.

'Looks like training is over.'

The knights must have just finished their drills, as they were all seated in their spots.

"Lexi! Long time no see. What brings you here instead of Lady Ailet?"

"Oh! Is this mutiny?"

"Someone who got kidnapped in Lady Vinet's place deserves a free meal at least."

The rowdy knights chattered among themselves.

After the kitchen, the next group I'd tried to befriend were the Adrian Knights, having nearly died from killing intent.

Though they were of a different status, they had gradually opened up, especially after the incident involving Vinet—and how Rahan treated me.

'The final bridge was 'Sir Rahan.''

The shock of that name, which even surprised Rebecca, closed the gap with the knights.

'As expected, connections are everything.'

Now I understood why some servants became arrogant, riding on their master's coattails.

"Mutiny against a lady-in-waiting? Aim higher."

What would I gain by taking risks to surpass Ailet? I shook my head seriously.

"She really has guts, huh?"

"You can't say that to someone who nearly died!"

"Ow! It's a joke! Can't even joke around now?"

Serves them right.

Leaving the grumblers behind, I greeted the other knights.

Since I always ended up behind Ailet, I rarely met them in the dining hall, so I took my time chatting with each one before heading to Rebecca, who had piled her plate high with food.

She usually ate twice as much as others, but today it seemed excessive.

"Aren't you overdoing it today? Ah, mind if I sit here?"

"Ofcouwse not!"

Gulping down her food and washing it down with water, Rebecca pushed her plate toward me.

"I need to eat up!"

The training ahead must be tough.

"And Haulo…?"

Haulo was still difficult to address.

He'd told me to speak comfortably, but the best I could manage was dropping the 'Sir' and just using his name.

"He's working on behalf of His Grace. When I offered to help, he flatly refused—said me helping was as good as not helping at all."

"Ahahaha."

I couldn't say he was wrong, so I just laughed it off.

I learned while getting closer to Rebecca that whenever she caused trouble, Haulo was always there to clean up after her.

So it was only natural for him to say that.

"More importantly, I heard Sir Adren is here. How was he? Did he throw down a gauntlet at His Grace?"

"A gauntlet? Isn't that a challenge to a duel?"

"Exactly what I meant. That guy's obsessed with swords and used to pick fights everywhere out of competitiveness. Even I and Haulo got caught up in it."

He didn't seem that way from appearances, but was he actually the aggressive type?

Was he a miniature version of Count Nordic?

"He didn't seem that way. They just greeted each other politely and went to eat."

"Really? Well, it was a long time ago—maybe he's changed."

Rebecca nodded in understanding.

No, wait… .

"Sir Adren is the heir of the Count Nordic family. I heard he's rarely left the North. Have you met him before?"

"…Come to think of it, you wouldn't know, Lexi. My current surname is from my mother's side. I used to take my father's surname, but we're estranged now. Have you heard of Verasico? It's a county on the border—I was the youngest there."

Rebecca nonchalantly dropped that bombshell, then chewed on a piece of meat, its juices bursting with flavor.

Ailet's emphasis on noble etiquette was nowhere to be found in Rebecca's background, and I involuntarily pressed my forehead.

'Verasico is one of the four great families!'

Count Nordic in the North.

Duke Rohambriga in the South.

Marquis Selfios in the East.

And the West, where I had planned to take refuge—the heart of that region was the County of Verasico, Rebecca's family.

'Border might not be the right word, but since it's adjacent to the frontier, 'border' isn't entirely wrong either.'

"Rebecca, you're impressive too."

I didn't know why she'd cut ties, but mentally, she seemed incredibly resilient.

"Hmm, Lexi, you're such a good person."

"I'm a good person, sure, but isn't that a bit random, talking while eating?"

I played along with the joking banter and popped a piece of the delicious-looking meat Rebecca was eating into my mouth.

"Wow! It tastes even better today! Is this Sir Adren's influence?"

As I chewed in admiration, Rebecca discreetly offered me another piece of meat.

"Eat more. You're so skinny—how will you get anything done? Actually, if you ever need help, just tell me. I'll help you with all my heart!"

Rebecca, who had been kind to me from the start without discrimination, offered excessive generosity.

Someone who loves food sharing it with me.

'I don't know why, but I'm grateful.'

I savored the meat Rebecca shared and finished it all slowly.

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