Chapter 9: Spying or Touring
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: Spying or Touring
Knock, knock.
“…….”
Click.
Most of the rooms in the main castle were locked.
Even in the rare instances where a door opened, there was hardly a trace of anyone inside. In a few rooms, I ran into maids busy cleaning.
“……Greetings, Her Highness the Consort.”
The maids, caught dusting curtains or sweeping floors, usually greeted me with deeply reluctant expressions.
It was a textbook reaction to the daughter of a Marquis.
I wondered how many rooms I had peeked into by then.
“Please, come in.”
“……!”
I had nearly reached the end of the opposite corridor when, for the first time, a voice answered my knock.
When I opened the door, I saw several people seated at their respective desks, buried in work. The person sitting closest to the door glanced up. His fatigue-laden eyes blinked in bewilderment.
“……Who might you be?”
His gaze was as if he were looking at a creature that shouldn't exist within this castle.
How should I answer? The Grand Duchess? Or is it better to give my name?
As I hesitated, the man’s eyes suddenly widened as if he had realized something.
“Her Highness…… the Consort?”
At those words, everyone in the room turned to look at me in unison and scrambled to their feet in a panic.
“Wha…… what room is this?”
“This is the Trainee Administrative Office.”
“Oh.”
I flashed a warm smile at the administrators, whose faces were frozen stiff.
“You must be the hardest workers in the entire castle!”
I didn't actually know that, but I said it anyway.
Usually, when titles like 'trainee' or 'apprentice' are attached, it means the position is a grueling one.
The administrators exchanged glances as if trying to decide who should step forward as the sacrificial lamb. Finally, the one who appeared to be the eldest stepped out and offered a stiff bow.
“It is an honor to have you visit such a humble place.”
“The honor is mine, knowing that such talented individuals are working so hard for the sake of the castle.”
At my words, their expressions grew even more rigid, as if they had no idea how to respond.
Seeing the administrators struggling to maintain their forced etiquette, I felt like I shouldn't bother them any longer.
“Work is important, but make sure to take breaks. Health comes first, doesn't it?”
“We shall keep that in mind.”
I gave an awkward wave and slowly backed away.
“Well then, keep up the good work. It was nice meeting you.”
“Please, watch your step.”
As soon as I turned around and closed the door, I heard a flurry of hushed voices from inside.
“Wh-why did she come all the way here?”
“Is she spying?”
“Quick, did you hide the documents properly?”
“Even His Highness the Grand Duke has never set foot in this office.”
“Isn't she completely different from what we expected?”
“To be honest, I’ve never seen anyone that beautiful in my life.”
My face flushed red for no reason. I carefully made my way to the next room, making sure my footsteps remained silent.
*
“What do you mean? The trainee administrators met the Consort?”
Loik, who had just stepped out of the conference room, furrowed his brow.
“It wasn't just the administrators. Everyone from the heralds to the stablehands and the laundry maids has seen Her Highness. They say she’s been scouring the castle all day.”
“Is she spying?”
“It’s not that……”
Perel muttered softly.
“It seems she’s looking for Your Highness.”
The corner of Loik’s mouth twitched.
Ever since the Lady arrived, she had repeatedly sent requests through Whitley to meet him.
At first, he had Whitley handle the rejections, but the Lady was quite persistent. Even the veteran butler seemed to be running out of excuses to give the young Lady.
He had opened up a few sectors of the main castle and the surrounding gardens just to keep her quiet, but he hadn't expected her to go rummaging through the place like this.
In any case, the routes Loik usually took were restricted to a very small number of authorized personnel. No matter how much the Lady wandered, she shouldn't run into him.
If there’s a chance, it would only be when I’m moving to and from the Great Hall, like right now.
Feeling relieved by that thought, Loik began to descend the central staircase, only to stop abruptly.
He had sensed a strange presence from below.
Peeking through the banister, he saw the top of a round, cute head.
“Why have you stop—!”
Loik quickly clamped his hand over the mouth of the following Perel. He felt a gaze suddenly look up from below. With his hand still over his aide’s mouth, Loik hurriedly shoved him against the wall at the end of the stairs.
The presence, which had lingered for a moment as if puzzled, eventually faded away along with the rhythmic clicking of footsteps descending to the lower floor.
Only then did Loik remove his hand from Perel’s mouth.
“Wh-what was that for?”
Perel asked with an aggrieved face, red handprints visible around his lips from how hard he’d been pressed. Instead of answering, Loik pulled a handkerchief from his pocket with a look of displeasure and wiped his hand.
“Was that Her Highness the Consort?”
Realizing the situation, Perel muttered in a low voice.
“You could just meet her once……”
Spoken like someone without a care in the world.
Loik’s decision to avoid the Lady was strictly out of consideration for her.
If they parted ways without ever meeting, he would just be remembered as some jerk. But if they actually met, the Lady’s life would truly become cursed.
Even putting that aside, he had no confidence that he could have a pleasant conversation with her.
The only thing he had to say to her was "Leave."
It would only serve as a chance for the Lady to confirm just how terrible a husband the man she married truly is.
After glaring at his clueless aide, Loik watched the bottom of the stairs where the presence had vanished for a long time before finally moving again.
He thought that would be the end of it. But in the evening, after the Lady finished her meal, she spent so much time wandering the main hall that he was forced to use the servants' stairs.
To think he had to hide in his own castle—it was utterly absurd.
*
“Ah, it’s cold.”
I sniffled and lifted my teacup.
It had already been three hours since I started having tea in the outdoor garden in front of the main castle.
The snow piled high on the bare branches fell in flurries like scattering flower petals every time the wind blew.
“Shouldn't you head inside now?”
Sir Norton, the knight sitting beside me, spoke up cautiously.
This guard knight, who had been following me every time I left my room lately, was quite thorough despite his fair, gentle impression.
He had insisted on standing the entire time he was guarding me today, and I only managed to get him to sit down after making a request that sounded more like a command.
“I can't. I have to meet the Grand Duke today, no matter what.”
At those words, Norton bit his lip slightly.
“If I just sit here long enough, he’s bound to pass by at least once. If only Sir Norton would give me a little hint, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.”
Norton, who had been holding his ground, finally stood up abruptly at my nagging.
“I will go ask for more tea.”
While he went to call a servant in the distance, I looked up at the main castle nestled within the garden.
The main castle featured a massive stone dome at its center, with high arched towers rising symmetrically to the east and west. Long, tall windows lined the walls beneath the roofline.
The castle walls, decorated with ornate marble, exuded a grand and sacred aura.
I wonder where the Grand Duke’s room is.
The master of the castle wouldn't use a room without a view of the garden, so it was likely one of the terrace rooms in the front.
He probably put my room as far away from his as possible, right?
My room was on the far east side of the second floor. It was a very pleasant place with plenty of sunlight during the day.
If his room was the furthest from there, it would be at the western end. It seemed unlikely the Grand Duke would use a room on the west side, but the curtains in the corner room on the third floor were drawn back.
Based on logical deduction, that seemed like the most likely spot…… Huh?
At that moment, the silhouette of a man with black hair and a white shirt appeared in the window.
Is that…… the Grand Duke?
The massive frame that filled the window, the heavy sense of intimidation, and the sharp features visible even from a distance—it certainly wasn't a common presence.
And just as I felt like he was looking this way.
Wait, did we just make eye contact……!
Swish! Faster than the speed of light, the curtains were pulled shut.
Oho.
I smiled radiantly as I stared at the corner room on the third floor, now hidden by curtains.
I just thought of it.
A way to end this tedious game of hide-and-seek.
*
Loik clutched the curtain, one hand pressed against his chest.
I thought my heart was going to drop.
Surely she didn't realize it was him?
Two hours ago, he had been passing through the corridor leading to his office. Through the pillars, he had seen the Lady sitting all alone in the outdoor garden.
He wondered what on earth she was doing out there on such a cold day.
In the midst of that, his gaze had been unintentionally drawn to the back of her head, which looked like a small chick as she constantly peered around curiously.
Small and sparkling.
The Lady was much smaller and more fragile than Loik had imagined.
Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, reflecting the light from the snow covering the garden. When the wind caught her hair, he found himself worried that she might just blow away.
Loik had watched her from afar for a long time, like a crow coveting something shiny, before finally forcing himself to walk away.
When he finished his work and returned, he intentionally took a long detour that didn't overlook the garden. He didn't want to distract himself again.
A significant amount of time had passed, so there was no way she would still be there, yet even after returning to his room, his eyes kept drifting toward the window, irritating him.
He figured it would be better to just confirm she was gone and be done with it.
Over the past few days, his heart had skipped a beat more than once whenever that small, sun-drenched head popped up unexpectedly.
And that afterimage lingered for a very long time.
How long? Right up until the moment he fell asleep every night.
He knew he would continue to be distracted until he confirmed the Lady had disappeared for the day.
I’ll just check that she’s gone and put it out of my mind.
With that thought, Loik looked outside. To his shock, the Lady was still there.
Heat rushed to his head.
Why on earth was she staying out in the cold like that?
Is no one taking care of her? Who’s going to take responsibility if she catches a cold and falls ill?
In the middle of his private fuming, he suddenly made eye contact with her.
It’s fine. There was quite a distance between us. Besides, she doesn't even know what I look like.
Loik wiped his weary face with his hand.