Episode 76
How much time had passed amidst the muffled exchange of unclear voices?
The gates of Ironblood creaked open.
'How?'
Ute bounded back in, drawing his arms close to his sides as he spoke.
“It’ll take another twenty or thirty minutes.”
“I heard the North was incredibly hostile.”
“Is that so?”
Geographically distant and relatively untouched by royal influence, the North was a place shrouded more in rumor than in fact.
Though it was the heart of the northern region, in terms of the kingdom’s overall layout, it was the most remote outskirt.
'Were they all just baseless rumors?'
According to what she’d heard, just gaining permission to visit the Grand Duke’s fortress supposedly required months of groveling and pleading.
It was possible that Ute had brazenly employed his looks as leverage…
'Still, this is the Grand Duke’s residence. Surely they wouldn’t handle things so sloppily.'
Yet, having witnessed the inner workings of a noble house operating haphazardly, she couldn't be too certain.
“I heard the outer gates are usually closed.”
“It’s because the Summer Festival is near. They’ll keep them open for another two months.”
“You said Eaudranca was your hometown, didn’t you?”
“…Yeah. This is my first time back since I graduated.”
There was none of the sentimentality one might expect from someone returning home after several years.
Ute only responded when Lapis whined or to give updates on the remaining distance as he gazed out the window.
That was all.
“I heard the largest temple in the kingdom is here. Have you been?”
“When I was a kid, a few times.”
The conversation ended there.
The closer they drew to the estate, the more Ute’s words dwindled. When he finally opened his mouth again, it was just after they’d stepped down from the carriage.
A grand and majestic entrance loomed before them, and the shimmer it cast was curiously sharp.
“Sonnet, give me your hand.”
It felt like a silly joke, but his eyes were more serious now than they had been at the training camp.
Lapis, still woozy from motion sickness, furrowed his brow.
“What kind of nonsense is this… Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“You hold this hand.”
“W-Why me? No way!”
“Why not? Is that really all our relationship amounts to?”
“Ugh! Don’t say things like that! What am I supposed to do, holding a man’s hand? It’s just going to rot!”
“Just hold it already!”
What on earth were they doing in front of someone else’s front door?
Even after the carriage pulled away, it was impossibly quiet—but surely people were around.
Servants were always everywhere and nowhere all at once.
“Fine, fine. Sonnet, take my other hand too—”
“Alright! I get it!”
Their squabbling ended in an eventual compromise.
The insides of their clasped palms were damp with sweat.
'Is there really any need to be this tense?'
He had long tossed his bag aside—which I picked up with my free hand—and was now seeking support.
“…Haa.”
His milky-white skin had turned pale and bluish.
Ute swallowed dryly several times before finally taking a step forward.
Before we could marvel in the inside of the estate, a breathtakingly beautiful woman came rushing toward them.
Her long platinum hair shimmered like golden thread.
“My son!”
…Son?
A fidgeting servant behind her. Fine fabrics. Flawless skin.
In every way, she was clearly a noble lady of high standing.
“My son, how long has it been? Not a single letter from you this whole time, hmm?”
“Have you been well?”
“Do you know how much your mother worried? Let me see your face. You’ve grown so much.”
She endlessly caressed Ute’s cheeks.
'A woman presumed to be the Grand Duchess just called Ute her son… Then Ute is the Grand Duke’s son? A noble? A proper young master?'
Such a simple premise refused to connect in my mind.
Lapis and I exchanged glances.
“Sonnet, did you… already know?”
“Not at all. You seriously didn’t either? If he’s a direct heir to the Grand Duke, wouldn’t he be famous in society?”
“Why would I keep up with men? I only knew he was a year older than her.”
“He's here?”
There was no need to look around for the person Lapis gestured to with his eyes.
A young woman, strikingly different in appearance from the Grand Duchess, was walking toward them.
“Knew it. That nasty habit of yours hasn’t gone anywhere.”
Crimson eyes briefly scanned Lapis and I.
“Which one?”
“Neither.”
“Oh, sure.”
There was no mistaking the mockery in her voice, though the reason was unclear.
Sensing the tension, the Grand Duchess stepped in with a kindly smile to soothe her daughter.
“Don’t be like that to your brother. It’s been so long since he’s come home, hmm?”
“Brother, my foot.”
“There you go again. Anyway, Ute… Who are those unfamiliar faces behind you?”
“They’re both my friends.”
“I’m Sonnet Posa.”
“I’m Lapis of the Zephyrite family’s second son. It’s an honor to meet you both.”
The Grand Duchess’s smile was strangely stiff.
An odd reaction for someone meeting her son’s friends.
“This is my mother… and my sister.”
“…Ah. Of course. It’s a pleasure. I’m Leono of House Eaudranca, and this is my eldest daughter, Ellicia. So you two… are Ute’s friends?”
“Yes.”
“…Ugh. Yes.”
Lapis only nodded quickly after I elbowed his side.
“So what brings you crawling back?”
“Ellicia!”
“I have something to ask. I’d like to speak with both Mother and Father.”
“I see. Edwin will return this evening.”
“I’ll be in my room for now. Could you assign these two the room next to mine?”
The servant who received the request flinched noticeably.
Not just him—the Grand Duchess also hesitated with an awkward smile.
Ute let out a dry sigh.
“Ah… right. I hadn’t considered that my room might not be available.”
“That’s not it, Ute—”
“It’s fine. A guest room will do just as well.”
His words clearly drew a line.
Ute didn’t seem particularly disappointed, but a prickling sensation rose at the back of my neck.
'They’re a ducal house, and they can’t even keep their son’s room in order?'
Even after a child moved out, it was customary to maintain their room—out of a desire for them to feel welcome should they return… Though, of course, that was mostly true in households wealthy enough to afford spare rooms.
'Which makes it even more absurd they didn’t.'
Whether the room had been repurposed or simply wasn’t ready to be occupied, either case was a problem.
“I apologize for the trouble… Actually, no—I’m not sorry.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
His sister looked ready to start a full-on argument right there.
The Grand Duchess quickly stepped between her children.
“Alright, let’s discuss things more calmly later. For now, how about a drink, hmm?”
“I—”
“Yes, that would be best. Roja! If you please.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The situation was resolved in an instant.
The young servant guided us with flawless precision.
His steps and attire were immaculate, but…
'What’s with that look in his eyes?'
“Would you mind stepping out? I’d like to speak freely with my friends.”
“But, young master, won’t you require assistance?”
“No, it’s fine. The three of us are enough.”
“…”
“Roja.”
The servant resisted with his eyes, but only left after Ute repeated himself a few times.
'They say the North values loyalty.'
Even I, who measure loyalty by coin, didn’t behave like that toward my lady.
“Did they… withhold wages or something here?”
“Of course not. Servants receive twice the vacation days and generous bonuses.”
“Then why’s his attitude like that—no, never mind, that’s a topic for later.”
My head throbbed, possibly from the overload of information in such a short span.
The sherbet prepared by the maid was incredibly sweet and cold.
“This is that thing, right? The one you told me about?”
“Hm?”
“That… what’s-it-called. Hiding your identity.”
“Rather than hiding… I just didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Ah, so what about Velvet?”
“According to Selcing law, you can stop at your middle surname—except in government-related cases.”
Suddenly, a fleeting moment from before came to mind.
“Ute Velvet.”
“Please state your full name, including all surnames.”
“So you're really from a ducal house? Ute Velvet Eaudranca?”
“More or less.”
“Then why are you someone else’s personal physician?”
He was from a house powerful enough to rule its own territory with minimal royal interference…
'Even if medicine pays well.'
It wasn’t on par with generations of inherited wealth.
“Are you the ugly duckling?”
“Lapis!”
“Or the cuckoo in the nest?”
“If anything, that’d make more sense.”
Both speaker and listener remained composed.
The only one whose heart skipped a beat was me.
“Unfortunately, no. No step-siblings or stepmothers involved.”
Ute spoke as casually as when he’d been estimating the remaining travel distance from the carriage window.
Lapis and I were invited to join the family for dinner.
'A single harsh word to Ute, and I’ll raise hell.'
I sat down with that resolve… but…
Why…
Why was everyone looking at me?
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