The Lion's Cage
The carriage glided smoothly along the quiet road. Long journeys were usually accompanied by minor incidents and accidents, yet the trip to the capital had been remarkably uneventful.
Even the bandit groups that preyed on travelers avoided the dazzling golden carriage procession. The power of the lion emblem symbolizing the Gruisevald family was truly immense. Not only did the plunderers lack the nerve to rob the carriage, but at every stop along the way, they received the utmost hospitality.
After traveling for over a full week like that, they arrived at the capital, Levelhorn. Even the notoriously strict capital checkpoint let them pass without any inspection, allowing them to cross the city gates with ease. Thanks to this, they headed straight for the ducal residence without having to wait in line behind the endless procession of merchant carriages.
“There it is, Odeliana.”
The Gruisevald ducal residence. The grand mansion where Duke Gruisevald—a northern lord and one of Leveln’s greatest nobles—resided came into view.
The stately old mansion, built in the center of a vast garden and painted in the deep blue of the sea, exuded an extraordinary atmosphere. Its mysterious hue combined with the luxurious texture of its smoothly polished stone created an aura that felt anything but ordinary. Within the expansive grounds stood a fountain adorned with lion statues, the family’s symbol, along with beautifully landscaped trees tended by gardeners. Several annex buildings, each nearly the size of an ordinary noble estate, clustered together, making the entire property overwhelmingly grand.
Standing in the sunlit garden, breathing in the faint scent of flowers and grass while listening to the chirping of birds, Odeliana was struck by how peaceful and beautiful the mansion appeared. It reminded her of the extravagant life in the royal palace. The existence of a queen who had lived in such shabby poverty—not nearly as glamorous as it seemed—felt like it had happened only yesterday… and yet here she was, stepping onto this land once more in another person’s body.
‘……This is where I will live from now on.’
The second act had truly begun.
Right in the heart of enemy territory.
At a time she had never anticipated.
“Welcome, young Master Blair, Lady Odeliana. You must be exhausted from the long journey.”
Crisp movements, refined speech, and an expression so neutral it was impossible to read her thoughts. As expected, the servants of a great noble house possessed an elegance that rivaled even the court ladies of the palace.
“It has been a long time, Madam Mcdalin.”
“I knew you had returned from your studies abroad, yet you went straight to see the eldest young lady without stopping by the main house.”
“Haha, were you disappointed?”
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
Head maid Mcdalin was an elderly woman far older than Adela. She had served as the nanny who practically raised the eldest and second sons, as well as Orllette, in place of the duchess, who suffered from neurosis and was both frail and sensitive. There was a reason Blair treated her with such respect despite her being a servant.
As Mcdalin exchanged greetings with Blair, her gaze shifted toward Odeliana.
She could not hide the faint pity in her eyes.
“You’ve grown so much……”
“Madam, as you may have heard, Odeliana has developed a problem with her memory and cannot recall any past events. That likely includes anything concerning you as well……”
“Yes, I am aware.”
Odeliana offered a respectful bow to the dignified woman, showing proper courtesy.
“I am Odeliana.”
“I am Mcdalin, my lady. I serve as the head maid here.”
“Where are my father and mother, Madam?”
“As it happens, both the master and mistress are waiting for you. Please go up and see them. From now on, I will attend to the young lady.”
“……So they only want to see me?”
“Yes. They instructed that the young lady be shown to her quarters first.”
Blair let out a sigh, his expression complicated.
“Nothing has changed at all.”
“Go on ahead. I will guide the young lady myself.”
In short, they were openly showing favoritism. Though none of it was his fault, Blair patted Odeliana’s shoulder apologetically. Then, with slumped shoulders, he turned to go meet the duke and duchess.
“You must be disappointed.”
“It’s all right. This was what I expected.”
“This child is the benefactor who saved the young lady, I hear.”
“Mathias, this is the person who will look after you from now on. Greet her properly.”
At Odeliana’s words, Mathias gave a blunt bow. Though he appeared somewhat shy on the surface, it was clear he simply found the formal introduction bothersome.
Mcdalin thanked Mathias for saving the young lady and ordered the lower servants to begin his education. Mathias was led away by the other servants under the head maid’s command, while Mcdalin helped Odeliana into a small vehicle and personally guided her to her residence.
“I have provided your attendant with new clothes and instructed him to learn the rules of this estate. Once his training is complete, he will be assigned exclusively to you, so please do not worry too much.”
“I didn’t expect Father to allow Mathias to stay by my side.”
“It is customary not to accept outsiders as servants, but Master Blair’s letter mentioned that the boy saved your life. That is why an exception was made.”
‘I can’t make sense of them at all.’
They never once showed their faces to their sick daughter, yet they were willing to make an exception for the boy who had saved her?
Mcdalin opened the door leading outside and passed through the main building.
‘Don’t tell me they’re going to shove me into some corner of an annex?’
They were moving farther and farther away from the main house. Just as she had expected. A separate coachman had come out to meet them. After riding in the carriage, they arrived at a small annex located at the very edge of the ducal estate’s outer wall.
“This is where you will be staying from now on, my lady.”
“What a wonderfully modest and tranquil place. The atmosphere is exquisite.”
Mcdalin gently stroked Odeliana’s shoulder with a look of pity.
“……It is the quietest and most secluded spot within the entire estate, so it shouldn’t feel too different from where you lived before. Since it seemed a remote location would be better for your recuperation, the master decided to offer you this place.”
Mcdalin’s skill with words was remarkable. She somehow managed to wrap the situation in a plausible, elegant package.
“The main building of the ducal residence sees a great deal of visitors. It is noisy, and not at all suitable for focusing on recovery. Therefore……”
“There’s no need to try so hard. I already know exactly why I’ve been assigned here. Will I be taking my meals separately as well?”
“Yes. Your meals will be provided at seven in the morning, noon, and six in the evening, along with your medicine. Additionally, the medical staff will make their rounds between two and three in the afternoon, so you must not leave your quarters during that time. After four o’clock, you may take a walk. While you are out, the annex will be cleaned and the bedding changed.”
As she listened to the head maid’s explanation and stepped inside the annex, Odeliana saw armed soldiers standing guard. Their fierce gazes made it seem as though they could march off to war at any moment.
“Who are they?”
“They are elite knights assigned to protect you and this annex. They will keep this place safe.”
“Knights?”
“The master personally selected them with strict orders to guard you well. They will watch over this place twenty-four hours a day.”
‘Guard, my foot. In the end, they’re just going to keep me under constant surveillance.’
Once inside, five maids and one male servant greeted Odeliana.
The head maid introduced them.
“These are the children who will attend to you exclusively. This boy will work in pairs with the attendant you brought to assist with your needs.”
The room where she would be living was spacious, but because it lacked most of its furniture, it felt hollow and empty. The only pieces present were a single bed, a table, and a chair. As she looked around the dim room that barely let in any sunlight, a bitter laugh escaped her.
‘Adela was right.’
They had summoned their uncontrollable child here under the pretense of surveillance, then tucked her away in the most remote annex of the ducal estate so that no one else would see her. From this, one thing was clear: her so-called parents had no desire to welcome her.
She could neither leave nor move freely. The knights assigned to “guard” her, along with the servants stationed in the annex, were clearly not on her side. They had simply been placed here to report her every single move.
Standing alone in the chilly room, Odeliana let out a soft, hollow laugh.
A suffocating certainty washed over her that this life, too, would be anything but smooth.