Chapter 57: Advice
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: Advice
At those words, Loik could not hide his bewildered expression.
– “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
– “Of course. I already have Cecilia, after all.”
Back then, the Grand Duchess had gone out of her way to insist that even if the Marquis sent people without an invitation, they were never to be allowed past the castle walls.
Letters had continued to arrive from the capital since then, but thanks to the Grand Duchess’s decisive nature, he wasn't particularly worried.
“Regardless, I should increase the Consort’s escort.”
Loik, who had been lost in thought for a moment, spoke slowly.
Initially, he had tried to keep the Grand Duchess as inconspicuous as possible. That was why he had assigned only Norton as her guard. He had worried that if her procession were too prominent, she might become a target for radicals.
However, he couldn't keep her in a carriage without a crest like an ordinary commoner’s wife forever—especially not for an official outing.
– “You send support goods to the orphanage every quarter? What do you send?”
The Grand Duchess, who said she had met the children from the orphanage not long ago, had looked over the list of support items and stepped forward, saying she wanted to handle it herself.
‘I couldn't say no because she asked with such sparkling eyes.’
Quite a few families of those killed in the Monster War lived near the orphanage. It might be better to attach a knight division to provide a sense of intimidation, ensuring no one would dare speak out of turn in front of the Grand Duchess.
“Will you be assigning the 1st Knight Division?”
At Norton’s question, Loik furrowed his brows. If he assigned Demich…
‘Hahaha! Your Highness! Do not worry! I, Demich, shall protect you! Hey, you there! What’s with that look? Do you have a problem with our Consort?’
Even without seeing it, the scene played out vividly in his mind.
“No, I’ll think about that a bit more.”
It was just as he gave the signal for dismissal with a glance. Unlike Norton, who bowed and withdrew, Perel hesitated as if he had something to say.
“Do you have something to say?”
After confirming Norton had left, Perel hesitated a while longer before finally speaking.
“Don’t you think it would be better to express yourself a bit more actively?”
“About what? Speak plainly.”
At the lowered tone of Loik's voice, Perel swallowed hard.
“To Her Highness the Consort.”
At those words, Loik’s pupils shook minutely.
“Her Highness is doing her absolute best, isn't she? She takes care of the servants, and she’s trying her best to get closer to you, Your Highness.”
Perel cast a subtle glance at Loik’s hand—the one the Grand Duchess had grabbed firmly just moments ago. Even just then, it had been the same.
‘The Duchess held your hand so tightly, yet you just stood there like a block of wood.’
“Did it… look that way?”
Startled by the unexpected reproach, Loik’s mouth hung open.
‘I was doing it entirely for the Grand Duchess’s sake…’
But thinking back, every time the Grand Duchess took his hand, he had acted distant. From her perspective, it might have been embarrassing.
‘What if she misunderstood my efforts to avoid touching her as something else?’
Perhaps emboldened by his superior’s inability to refute him, Perel’s voice grew stronger.
“On a day like today, you should have at least asked her on a date. It’s been nearly three months since you two were married, yet you haven't gone out alone together even once.”
At the word "date," the back of Loik’s neck turned red in an instant. Seeing Loik wipe his face with his large hand, Perel also averted his gaze out of embarrassment.
If possible, he didn't want to meddle in his superior’s marriage. But what could he do? The man before him was an excellent lord, but when it came to romance, he was practically impotent. For the sake of Blenheim’s future, this aide had to step up.
“At the very least, tell her she looks beautiful today, or give her some lip service or something.”
“I’ll take care of that myself.”
“But…!”
Loik, whose earlobes were still beet red, frowned when he noticed Perel looking somewhat triumphant.
“And are you really in a position to give me such advice?”
His superior tilted his chin up and looked down at him dismissively.
“At least I’m married.”
The obvious words left unsaid were clear as day.
‘No, who do you think is the reason I can’t even get married!’
Perel’s cheeks trembled with indignation, but he didn't dare utter those words aloud.
“Get out.”
In the end, Perel was kicked out of the room, having gained nothing for his trouble.
*
I stood in front of the main castle, watching the workers load luggage into a line of carriages. These were the supplies for the orphanage the Grand Duke sponsored. Cecilia and Reta were meticulously checking the items against the list to ensure nothing was missing.
The visit to the orphanage had been delayed longer than expected because I had extensively revised the list of goods to be brought. The items previously sent by the Grand Duke’s Castle consisted mostly of food and daily necessities.
– “Other things are purchased independently using a separately allocated budget.”
That had been Perel’s answer when I asked, disappointed that there were no school supplies. I couldn't blame the aide, who looked embarrassed as he admitted they hadn't been able to look into the details. Perel likely had a mountain of other work to do.
‘I can just take care of it more thoroughly from now on.’
I have plenty of time! And cute children are precious!
Fortunately, I got along quite well with the director of the orphanage. When I sent a written inquiry asking if the children needed anything besides food, clothing, and shelter, a detailed list of requests arrived before long. It was a list organized by age group, detailing the priority of books and school supplies needed.
To this, I added playthings like dolls and toys that children would enjoy. It was the result of narrowing down popular items by asking the maids around Reta. Finding suitable vendors through Cecilia, ordering the goods, and receiving them had caused quite a delay.
‘I couldn't touch the orphanage’s budget, so I settled everything with my privy purse.’
Still, seeing the luggage being packed neatly into the carriages made me feel proud.
‘The children will like this much better, right?’
As the loading was nearing completion, I saw four or five knights walking toward the main castle. Even from a distance, curly blonde hair stood out vividly. It was Tiern Vieri and the 9th Knight Division.
I stared up at Tiern, who stood at the front. His long eyelashes were cast down, but beneath them was a gaze that was clearly unfriendly.
“Sir Tiern.”
I also offered a greeting by simply calling his name.
“The 9th Knight Division will be escorting Your Highness for the time being.”
“I heard from the Grand Duke. I look forward to working with you.”
I forced the corners of my mouth up awkwardly.
‘Damn it! I should have just said I didn't want them!’
The Grand Duke had tentatively asked if I would like to increase my escort. I wasn't thrilled because more people would naturally draw more attention, but I accepted the proposal because I understood his concerns.
‘I just didn't like that he assigned the 9th Knight Division of all people.’
I had agreed as if I didn't mind, thinking it wouldn't look good to be picky about people.
‘But it really is uncomfortable!’
I was fidgeting with my skirt out of unease when Tiern spoke.
“I didn't realize the supplies for the orphanage still hadn't been delivered.”
Tiern, looking back at the carriages being loaded, muttered in a cold tone.
“The children must have waited a long time.”
It was sarcasm disguised as a monologue.
‘What? Is he blaming me for being slow to prepare the goods?’
I had heard a bit from the Grand Duke. He said the 9th Knight Division was very interested in the orphanage and always accompanied the supplies when they were sent. That was why I hadn't added anything else when the Grand Duke said they would be helpful to me.
‘I had my reasons, you know? It’s troublesome if you’re going to be snide without knowing the context.’
“Is that so?”
I looked at Tiern with an indifferent face.
“Still, I tried to prepare them faster than the knight division.”
It was a pointed remark about the knights who had only slowly emerged long after the Grand Duchess had already come outside. I shrugged as I watched the knights’ brows furrow fiercely.
“Why don't we get ready to depart? I have all the time in the world, but as you said, the children will be waiting.”
At those words, Tiern bit his lip and turned to the knights.
“Prepare yourselves.”
The knights immediately turned on their heels, descended the stairs, and prepared to mount their horses. Tiern also moved with rough strides, his cloak fluttering, his gaze utterly irreverent.
“Wouldn't it be safer to have no escort at all?”
Cecilia, standing behind me, said with a pout.
“To my eyes, Sir Tiern looks like the biggest threat.”
“Cecilia.”
I gave Cecilia a reproving look, but in truth, my thoughts weren't much different.
When I went to board the carriage, Tiern held out his hand to me with a reluctant face. Seeing the knight captain assist me with a murderous look in his eyes made even the back of my neck feel chilly.
‘I suddenly miss Norton so much.’
Accompanied by the sound of the knights’ horses trotting ahead and behind, I departed for the orphanage.
The orphanage wasn't very large, but the building was quite decent. When I stepped out of the carriage, the director and the teachers, who were lined up, all bowed in greeting.
“Nice to meet you.”
Behind them, the children living in the orphanage stood in neat rows. They all looked very tense, as if the director had strictly instructed them not to do anything conspicuous. The children in the back row were quite tall, not much different from the teachers.
‘There were some who were quite old among the children who lost their parents.’
“Oh! It’s the Goddess!”
As I was mindlessly scanning the rows, the moment my eyes met with a child standing at the very front, the child threw their hand up into the air.