Chapter 59: Chilling Gazes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Chilling Gazes
“To be honest, I’m past the age where I should be staying at the orphanage… but the director has been kind enough to let me remain for now.”
Jerome gave an awkward smile, perhaps because I had been staring at him too intently. He seemed to think I was questioning why someone his age was still there.
Come to think of it, sixteen is the age one can make their debut in this world. An orphanage wouldn't be able to keep children once they reached adulthood. But to think he already has to prepare to leave at such a young age.
‘He still has the soft down of youth on his face.’
He seemed quite bright and well-mannered. If he had nowhere else to go, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring him to the Grand Duke’s Castle to work…
However, bringing people into the castle wasn't a matter I could decide on my own, so I kept my mouth shut.
When I didn't return for a long while, the director eventually came out to the backyard to find me.
“It’s time to go now.”
At Cecilia’s words, the children erupted in a chorus of complaints. She signaled the knights to prepare for departure. I was just about to step into the carriage, leaving behind the children who had gathered to see me off, when it happened.
“Don’t go!”
Atis, who had been looking upset for a while, grabbed the hem of my skirt.
“Please don’t go!”
“I want to go too!”
Oh dear.
The children, who had been giggling just moments ago, now had tearful faces as they began to cling to me one by one. I had come here with good intentions, but perhaps these brief visits and sudden departures were more hurtful to them.
As the children crowded around me, competing to see who could tug harder on my skirt, the director looked like she was about to have a heart attack.
“S-Stop! Do you have any idea how expensive that dress is…!”
Seeing the director frantically trying to pull the children away, I pressed a finger to my lips. Then, I leaned down and gathered the huddling children into an embrace.
It wasn't exactly what I had planned, but…
“You got lots of toys, dolls, and books today, right? If you play nicely with those, I’ll come back again soon.”
“You’ll come back?”
“I still don’t want you to go!”
“Only if you don’t fight, listen to your teachers, and listen to Jerome.”
After I repeated that I would return several times, the strength in the children’s stubborn little hands finally began to fade. The director and the teachers, who had been hovering anxiously, hurried to pull the children away from me.
“It seems the children have grown so fond of Your Highness that they simply cannot bear to let you go,” Jerome said with an apologetic expression as he picked up Atis, who had been clutching a fold of my skirt until the very last second.
“It’s likely just because I’m a new face.”
Leaving the half-fainting director behind, I climbed into the carriage. Tiern, who held out a hand to help me up, had a subtle, unreadable look on his face.
What was bothering him now?
His handsome brow was furrowed into a hard line, suggesting he wasn't pleased with the atmosphere.
‘Does he hate that the children like me?’
Well, what can you do? Children have a natural instinct for recognizing a good person.
Hmph. I let out a mental snort and signaled for the carriage to start.
“Your Highness, since we’re already out, would you like to stop by the inn?”
As Cecil’s recipes gained popularity, the inn was reaping the full benefits of the publicity. On top of that, it had earned the title of the original restaurant that started the "Today’s Menu" trend. I heard it was so crowded lately that they had to set up tables outside.
Seeing the children had left me feeling a bit restless. I figured I’d go and knock back a bowl of spicy tomato stew for the first time in a while.
It was then, as I absentmindedly pulled back the curtain to look out the window, that it happened.
The carriage was passing through a somewhat secluded alley rather than the main street we usually took.
Suddenly, I felt a chilling gaze.
I looked around and saw the residents staring intently at the carriage. Because we were moving, I couldn't see their faces clearly, but it was easy to tell that their stares were anything but friendly.
They were persistent looks, filled with hostility and undisguised contempt.
Was this the first time I had gone out officially escorted by knights?
The sheer weight of the animosity directed at the "Grand Duchess’s carriage" took my breath away. I hurriedly pulled the curtain shut.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I felt like I could hear the people whispering.
‘The Grand Duchess, that woman, the Marquis’s daughter… how dare she…’
The sneers seemed to bleed through the sound of the clattering hooves, making my ears ring. I tried my best to calm my racing heart.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Cecilia, noticing the shift in the atmosphere, asked with a worried look.
“I’m fine. I think it’s better if we skip the inn today. Let’s just go back to the castle.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
There would surely be even more people in front of the inn.
‘If I have to deal with all those people pointing at me with their eyes…’
Marina and Jacques would be flustered, too. But more than anything, I didn't want Tiern and the knights to see me like that.
Cecilia quickly tapped on the carriage wall to signal the change in destination, and the carriage soon turned around.
“Your Highness, are you truly alright? Should I call for the physician as soon as we arrive?”
“I’m fine. My stomach just felt a bit unsettled for a moment.”
Quick-witted as always, Cecilia changed the subject to distract me.
“Do you really intend to go back to the orphanage?”
“I promised them.”
I thought back to the bleak backyard of the orphanage.
“Ideally, I’d like to find a field or a forest where I could take the children for a picnic. But we’d probably have to travel quite far for that, wouldn't we?”
Cecilia thought for a moment, then clapped her hands together.
“There’s a lake just a short way down from Gold Lane!”
“A lake?”
Come to think of it, I remembered the scenery I’d seen from the carriage on the day I first arrived. There was a large lake at the end of the road that stretched straight down from the Grand Duke’s Castle.
“It’s currently closed off, though,” Cecilia added, her brow furrowing. “The lake and the land below it are all private property belonging to the Blenheim family. There’s likely a fence around the perimeter.”
The lake had looked massive even from a distance. To think all of that was private property.
As I was swallowing my amazement, Cecilia’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Don’t you think His Highness the Grand Duke would open it if you asked?”
“The Grand Duke?”
As if the idea had suddenly become very appealing, Cecilia leaned in close.
“If Your Highness asks, I’m sure he’ll give his permission.”
A lakeside would indeed be a great environment for children to play. As I was weighing the thought, Cecilia’s excitement grew.
“That’s it! We should take this chance to go on a spring outing to the lake!” she chirped. “We can have Berni make a ton of sandwiches. Just us, getting some fresh air—how does that sound? It’ll be a nice change of pace for you.”
“Just us? What about the children?”
“Spring is in full bloom. You haven't had a proper chance to enjoy the fresh air yourself, Your Highness.” Cecilia pouted slightly. “As for the children, we can take them later once we’ve seen if it’s a good spot.”
True, I didn't know what state the lake was in yet. Besides, there might be a reason the Grand Duke kept it closed, just like "The Late Grand Duchess's Greenhouse."
‘I should get permission for myself first.’
“Since it’s a lake, there must be boats, right? Should we go boating too?”
I tilted my head slightly at her reaction, which was far more enthusiastic than I had expected.
“I didn't realize you liked outings quite this much.”
“Should I pack a parasol? Or maybe a wide-brimmed hat would be better!”
She didn't even seem to hear me. She was so excited her lips were practically trembling. When I gave her a suspicious look, Cecilia averted her eyes as if her conscience was pricking her.
When I softly called her name, the maid finally confessed the truth.
“Actually, Lady Meisel has been going on and on about wanting to go to that lake for ages.”
“Lady Meisel?”
“She kept bragging that she’d get Count Arbor to ask for her, but in the end, she failed!”
One corner of Cecilia’s mouth curled up.
‘It seems my maid has quite a few bones to pick with Meisel.’
“If she finds out I went to the lake with Your Highness, she’ll be so green with envy her eyes will practically roll back in her head!”
Just imagining it is so thrilling! I clicked my tongue softly at the sight of my maid looking so gleefully wicked. No wonder she had suddenly shifted gears into talking about the lake.
“Cecilia. I am the Grand Duchess.”
I spoke gently while smoothing out the folds of my dress.
“How could I possibly act on such petty motivations?”
“I’ll try asking the Grand Duke.”
The moment our eyes met, we both burst into laughter.
*
It was already sunset by the time I visited the Grand Duke’s office.
“Your Highness, are you busy?”
I poked my head through the door, and the Grand Duke’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Not at all. Please, come in.”
After a moment of fluster, he immediately ordered tea to be brought in.
“Did your visit to the orphanage go well?”
I gave him a detailed account of the visit, doubling as a report. When I mentioned that the orphanage’s environment seemed a bit bleak, the Grand Duke toyed with his teacup, looking awkward.
“That is my oversight. I haven't been able to visit once since the construction was completed.”
“How is that your fault? You have a mountain of other things to worry about.”
In truth, he probably couldn't go because of the curse.
“I’ve decided to look after the orphanage from now on, so I’ll take over the worrying too.”
I tapped my chest as if to say leave it to me, and the corners of the Grand Duke’s mouth lifted softly.
“In exchange, please let me know whenever you need assistance.”
“Ah, actually, there is something I wanted to ask you about.”
Encouraged by his ready nod, I cautiously brought up the lake.
“Valpid Lake?”
“Yes. I heard it’s currently closed.” I watched his expression carefully as I continued. “…Would it be possible for me to see it?”
“You wish to see the lake?”
“It looked so beautiful when I saw it from the mountain.”
“It is… a beautiful place.”
Oh dear. The Grand Duke rubbed his forehead, a look of dismay crossing his face.
“I… have a full schedule all day tomorrow.”
‘Wait, I didn't mean I wanted to go with you?’
I started to wave my hands in dismissal, but then I hesitated. There was no need to make that serious face of his look even more embarrassed, was there?
“It’s alright. If you’re busy, it can’t be helped. I’ll just go with Cecilia and—!”
At that moment, the Grand Duke’s hand gripped the desk urgently.
“Tonight is fine!”
“I mean… I’m not particularly busy right now, so would you like to go now?”
“Now?”
I blinked, wondering if I had misheard him. Outside the window, the sky was already dark.