RAMHM Chapter 118

Ah.

The tears I thought wouldn't come after crying so much earlier spilled hotly down my cheeks.

My gratitude toward Yona, my affection for her—it was mutual.

The anxiety that if I showed weakness, showed vulnerability, the maids at the Count's estate would insult and belittle me just like the Grand Ducal estate's maids—it shattered to pieces.

Thinking of the days when I'd been scared in advance that people outside the Grand Ducal estate couldn't possibly be kind to me, when I'd acted spoiled toward Novian—it was tremendous progress.

The feeling of genuine connection, of warmth being reciprocated, moved me far more than I'd expected.

The self-esteem that had crumbled during my period of sickly destitution recovered at a frightening speed. Realizing I'd connected with people not as a frail body but as complete Adrienne—even in this situation, my chest swelled and I pulled Yona into an embrace.

"I suddenly miss Marge. If she saw us crying like this, she'd scold us for being so pathetic in broad daylight."

"...Me too."

Marge, who'd tried to protect me against Head Maid Sophie at the Grand Ducal estate, had taken charge of the Count's estate household even though I'd given her leave, while I lay collapsed.

I'd heard that while I was hovering between life and death, she'd pushed Rhodness to get some sleep, and when he persisted to the end, she'd raised her hand to smack his back—only for Yona to hastily stop her.

Yona had giggled that she'd actually been curious how he would've reacted if Marge had smacked Rhodness's back like she would her own son. That giggle now rose like a heat shimmer in my ear before fading.

Yona too seemed to recall that day when she'd tattled on Marge, giggling after crying for a while.

Crying, then laughing.

We repeated this, holding each other until we reached the first rest stop.

Bianca couldn't easily believe her father was involved in this affair.

Of course, she too knew he wanted advancement into central politics.

But she hadn't imagined that desire was so desperate he'd push me into the disgraceful position of the Crown Prince's mistress.

"Keep it secret for now when you return, sister."

"Even from Gregory?"

"Especially from Gregory."

If I told the hot-tempered Gregory, he might impulsively do something rash.

"You know that the moment Gregory learned the Grand Duke had another woman, he returned to the domain and started borrowing troops from neighboring territories?"

That did sound like Gregory. Which is why I'd secretly hoped he might show up with an eastern army.

"When he heard you'd died, Father—who'd been bedridden in his chambers the entire time—left his bedroom for the first time and shouted at him severely."

Bianca narrowed her eyes as if recalling that day, then suddenly widened them to look at me.

"He said, 'Don't ruin things unnecessarily. Exercise restraint and wait for the right time.'"

"..."

"I interpreted 'wait for the right time' to mean waiting for the moment to take revenge on the Grand Duke, but why did he say don't ruin 'things'?"

She added excitedly.

I had a vague sense of what those "things" referred to.

It must mean the connection between the Crown Prince and Father.

Having only threatened to withdraw support for Novian Trovika, he'd likely been waiting for a response.

Since I'd died as the Grand Duchess, the East had ultimately joined the Crown Prince's side anyway. Bianca, who had no idea I'd nearly become the Crown Prince's mistress, wore a thoughtful expression.

"...How is my nanny?"

"Your nanny has been lying in bed refusing food and drink ever since hearing you died. She's only just now recovering her strength."

"...I see."

"She's grown quite close to His Grace the Duke. There was always such a cold wind between them, but perhaps they're both too old now to have the strength to hate each other... or maybe they found common ground in their grief over your death."

Olivia, who'd been my mother's maid before becoming my nanny, had always hated Father for being too busy to stay in the domain and for being distant.

Even as a child, her feelings had been clear to me, so I nodded.

It was now more likely that the Olivia Lucia searching for Bliea wasn't my nanny. She was quite elderly, and didn't have the resources to make such inquiries in Ellaconia.

"Stay just one more day."

"You're crossing into Ellaconia tomorrow, aren't you? I want to stay with you as long as possible, but since you're going as part of an official delegation, if I tag along when I'm not even on the list, they might suspect Ronteaux of plotting something. If word reaches the imperial family, it'll invite unnecessary suspicion."

Bianca glanced at the sunset light coming through the curtain gap before pulling me into another embrace.

"Adrienne, my sister. To think I slapped you like that without knowing it was you. I'll pay for that sin until it wears away someday."

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, a guard approached leading her horse.

"I need to head to the East before it gets darker. If I ride for just an hour, I can cross into the East's borders, so don't worry about me."

"I'll attach guards to you."

"Oh my. Did you think the Duchess of Pirreta would wander around without a single guard, Rien? How adorable."

She pinched my cheek and gave me one more tender embrace.

"That prince is your 'An,' right? Good heavens, to have such a tall, handsome man as a lover. Even I'm swooning. He's younger than Noge—no, Novian that bastard, and taller, more dependable, more beautiful. Actually, when you said that bastard was An, it bothered me a bit."

"Sister, he'll hear you."

"Let him hear. It's a compliment. I'd hoped that black-haired Novian would be a bit younger. Even if he looks somewhat young, where does a seven-year age gap go? Living long enough, you'll learn that youth is best..."

"Sister!"

Bianca finally wiped away her tears and laughed brightly.

"I like his sturdy thighs too. His neck is appropriately thick and long—manly yet elegant."

"Stop, sister."

"Listen well, Rienne. With men, it's all about the thighs."

"I get it, now go."

Rhodness, who'd been standing at a distance with his arms crossed to give us time to say goodbye, raised an eyebrow and stood askew when Bianca winked at him.

"If I show proper respect to His Highness, my tactlessness will burst out, so you explain it to him properly. Rienne, this sister will be waiting for your letter. I'm leaving now, but if you need help, I'll always be there."

"...Mm."

Bianca briefly kissed my cheek, then wrapped the cloak I'd given her tightly around herself and mounted her horse gracefully. Yona and I watched her receding figure for a long while.

I was confident Bianca, who was tight-lipped, wouldn't speak of our conversation even to her husband Gregory.

Epero and Viktor's reproaches continued about how I'd been too busy all day to even show my face.

The campsite where we'd pitched tents bordered Trovika and Acacia domains to the west, Ellaconia to the north, and the East to the east—the small Freia domain.

It was also the hometown of Empress Grace, once Grace Freia.

Though a small domain, it had many mountains, so reaching the manor would take too long. We planned to camp here and cross straight into Ellaconia.

Crossing a mountain to receive lavish hospitality at the manor might mean missing the Grand Shaman, whose recent whereabouts we'd only just traced.

We sat around a campfire among the knights. I glanced at Yona eating with the other servants, then turned my attention to Epero, who'd received a messenger bird.

"Fortunately, His Majesty still has the Grand Shaman in hand."

Epero scribbled something roughly on the message and sent the bird off again, then spoke while chewing a roasted potato.

"But what do you plan to ask this Grand Shaman? They're not someone who'd answer questions a noblewoman might ask."

"That shaman. Lived. 1000 years. Will answer. Anything."

"Ah, there is that legend. Actually, that's the shortened version. There's a legend they lived about 5,000 years."

"Be careful. Not of the shaman. Of the sisters."

"I agree!"

I rubbed my eyes, swollen from so much crying, and looked between them.

"Why?"

"They like. The sisters. Shiny things. Right now. You. Very shiny."

"?"

"Pretty. Very."

Fwoooshhh—.

The campfire extinguished instantly.

Rhodness, who'd volunteered to fetch firewood, had roughly dumped the pile onto the campfire.

"Brother!"

"Eat plenty."

After extinguishing the fire, what were we supposed to eat? Rhodness sat down on the log where I was sitting with a rigidly set face, sticking right next to me.

"One. Jealous?"

"Epero. That bastard's manners are your responsibility."

When Rhodness spoke coldly, Epero jabbed Viktor's side with his scabbard.

He jabbed deep enough that Viktor furrowed his brow.

"That hurts!"

"Hey, bear. Read the room."

"What's the crime in calling something pretty, pretty! Pretty. Prince. You too!"

Viktor seemed to genuinely think Rhodness was jealous because he'd only called me pretty, and shouted innocently.

Rhodness responded by raising his chin and looking down as if such an idiot wasn't worth dealing with.

But such characteristic arrogance didn't work on Viktor at all. His close friend Epero was, after all, a terrible hybrid of tactlessness and arrogance.

"I! Worry! About you! The sisters! Scary!"

"Lower your voice, you're embarrassing."

Epero forced the standing Viktor back down while lowering his voice.

"Unfair! Unfair!"

No matter how much he protested his injustice, it didn't register with Rhodness at all.

After the meal, I washed up briefly at a nearby lake with other female servants and returned to the carriage.

If you moved the carriage seats just a little, quite a spacious area appeared, so by laying thick bedding on it, you could use it as a makeshift bed.

Rhodness personally checked my sleeping arrangements, leaving only minimal guards at a distance.

He seemed to have already guessed what I'd told Bianca or Yona, and asked nothing.

"You must be tired, so sleep soon."

"What about you?"

"I should guard the carriage door."

He smiled slightly as if it were obvious.

"...Why?"

"There shouldn't be anyone bold enough to attack my procession, but occasionally there are bastards crazy enough to want to die."

He bent down toward me, sitting at the carriage entrance.

I naturally closed my eyes, but his hand lingered near my ear before tucking the finally dried hair behind it. My ear tingled so much I laughed softly.

When his touch withdrew and I opened my eyes, he stood a step away from me.

Just one step. Yet my heart filled with such longing that I stared up at him.

"Can't you just sleep with me?"

A deep ripple stirred in his quiet eyes.

"The other knights are taking turns on night watch, and you could guard me from inside the carriage."

"...Rienne."

"It's not that I'm planning to do anything particular. If you move the seat on your side just a little, it becomes a bed too. I want you to sleep comfortably."

Rhodness's mouth pressed firmly shut.

After staring down at me blankly as if time had stopped, it was a long moment before Rhodness firmly shook his head.

"I'm not confident I won't do anything particular."

He whispered in a low voice only I could hear.

Then he covered his face—which had quickly flushed crimson—with one hand.

"In a place crawling with male soldiers, if you give me even the slightest room to imagine you..."

"Rhoan!"

What obscene imagination was this! My mouth fell open and I hastily covered it with my hand.

"Then it won't be an attack—I might cut off all their throats. For everyone's peace, I have no choice."

A face without a single hint of playfulness filled my vision, utterly serious.

"So don't provoke me, Adrienne. Your lover is more insane than those bastards crazy enough to want to die."

He murmured softly, yet like a warning.

"Rhoan, how can you think such things!"

"Then what should I do? Your prettiness isn't visible only to my eyes."

Red eyes tinged with slight resentment traced my facial features with his gaze as if redrawing them.

The anxiety he'd clearly suppressed while with Epero's party surfaced on his face.

Good heavens.

"It's your fault for being pretty."

This dangerous, beautiful beast was a hopeless fool for me.