Never Done This Before
Because I'd never done anything like this before.
After the meeting ended, I returned to my office. The person who should always be there was missing. We'd clearly come back to Winter Castle together. Where the hell had he gone?
I called for Alfredo, who should be outside. But he never showed up, and instead, one of the guards slipped in.
"What is it? Where's Alfredo?"
"Your Grace. It's... it's about the Grand Duchess..."
"Why does everything keep coming back to the Grand Duchess?"
Alfredo and Daniela had both vanished at the same time. This was a problem.
I stepped out of the office and walked down the corridor. The maids were moving at a frantic pace. They weren't the type to rush around like this. I followed them to see where they were headed.
Wintergard residents in Winter Castle had to maintain their dignity. At the end of the corridor, Alfredo was directing the maids with military precision. I thought something major had gone wrong.
"Is something the matter, Alfredo?"
"Ah, Your Grace! We were preparing the banquet for the Grand Duchess!"
"Banquet? What banquet?"
"It's the day she first arrived at Winter Castle. Shouldn't we commemorate it?"
"I've never heard of anything like that."
"It's always been the custom here at Winter Castle."
First I'd heard of it. Guests who came to Winter Castle usually finished their business in the Hall of Winter and left. Only those with claim to the Wintergard name could stay, so no one knew how to properly honor a Grand Duchess.
That meant Alfredo was the only one who'd ever done this before. I was clueless too.
"The Grand Duchess's crest should have been ready sooner, but we're using the old ones as temporary references."
"I have no idea what's going on here."
"Your Grace, this is a very important matter."
Alfredo started bustling about again. I followed him slowly. To the place in Winter Castle where they made the garments. They were hard at work on the flags. They left the existing Wintergard flags alone and were copying something else onto new ones.
"Ah, Your Grace!"
Dane, the palace designer, jumped up from his seat. The workshop usually had only a handful of people, but now nearly thirty were swarming a single flag.
"We're rushing the Grand Duchess's crest. We'll have it done by tonight!"
The traditional Wintergard crest was simple: a white background with a wolf's profile. Families usually inherited famous symbols passed down through generations, but Daniela's was different. She'd been hastily elevated to Grand Duchess, and no one in the North knew the Bart family crest. Plus, having the Northern Grand Duchess use a Southern crest outright might wound local pride.
I didn't know all their reasoning, but...
"Do you just decide the crest on your own?"
"No, Your Grace. If there's anything you desire, we'll incorporate it exactly!"
"In that case... hmm." I told Dane to put flowers in the center. A cluster of small purple ones. Even if it took time, that's what we'd go with. Dane nodded vigorously, swearing they'd finish tonight, and dove back into work with the others.
"You had something in mind, didn't you, Your Grace?"
"Yeah. Flowers are nice."
"Plucking Southern flowers outright. As expected of Your Grace."
Alfredo watched it all with a satisfied smile. I had no idea where he'd popped up from. He was now nagging, scolding, and encouraging the workers. Their hands started moving faster. I tried to keep up, but soon lost him.
I went back to the office. I reviewed the documents there. Hexon would have handled everything perfectly, but I checked to prevent any oversights. His efficiency didn't need praising—it was that flawless. Nothing really caught my interest.
I got bored quickly and paced the room a few times. The mirror. What did I look like in it? Black clothes, a head taller than Southerners—average for Northerners. I'd never examined my face this closely before.
In the old novel, there was barely any description of the Northern Grand Duke. Just that he wore a black uniform. But now, staring at the living, breathing me like this was new.
"What are you staring at so intently?"
"My face."
"That piercingly? Is that normal?"
"No, not like this. Someone called me soft for a continental noble, you see."
I glanced back. Daniela stood there in a white dress. More extravagant and dazzling than anything from the South. No jewels, but the lace embroidery and ornaments sparkled.
"They meant your heart is soft, Your Grace."
"Wondered if it showed on my face too. I wouldn't know."
"Hmm, well, um..."
Daniela struggled for words. As her responses grew quieter, I wanted to tease her. Poke her side. What was there to agonize over?
"I don't like that reaction."
"Ah, no! Your Grace."
Daniela sat on the edge of the bed. The man in the mirror was smiling. Clean-shaven face. Neatly combed-back hair. Black hair and black eyes—rare even in the North. Angular jaw. I'd worried it was too sharp, but not really. Flashier than the Crown Prince? No, but no massive Northern scars either. Good thing they were on my body, not face.
"The castle suddenly feels hotter."
"Yeah, should I tell them to tone down the heating?"
"Ah, no, I couldn't..."
"Everyone in Winter Castle already knows you as the Grand Duchess anyway."
She fidgeted—still healing from her defeated heroine wounds? I sat beside her on the bed, gazing. Her blue eyes darted round and round.
"Grand Duchess."
"Your Grace!"
"What's wrong, Daniela?"
A strange silence stretched. I poked her side. She collapsed onto the bed laughing. Her veil scattered. The mood turned oddly intimate. Daniela stayed lying there.
The outside noises faded to quiet. We'd shared this room for nearly a month now. Minus the weeks she was too ill for anything.
Violet scent. Not too sweet, not weedy. What are you thinking?
"Y-Your... Grace."
"You can call me Theodore."
"H-How could I..."
"You did in the South. Made me so happy."
I couldn't even remember the last time someone called my name. I referred to myself as Grand Duke more than Theodore. It was for letters only—no one said it aloud. Even as a kid, it was Little Duke or Young Master.
"Anyone else, maybe not. But you're the Grand Duchess. Try it. For me."
"H-How could I be so rude..."
"Just us here. No one else to hear."
"B-But if someone..."
I leaned close to Daniela's face on the bed. Brought mine near hers, then turned aside. My ear hovered by her lips.
"Then whisper it. So no one hears."
"Come a little closer."
Daniela's hand caressed my cheek. Straight out of a cheap novel. When the heroine strokes her lover's face, her heart ignites, and then...
"Teo..."
Just two syllables from her red lips. The feeling started at my ear, slowly sinking to my chest. Heart pounding. Not like riding into battle or war threats. But similar. Trembling, chills, strange thrill. Yeah, excitement.
"Theodore..."
"May I enter, Alfredo?"
Whoosh—the veil flew up. Daniela shoved my face into the bed. Knock and Alfredo's presence hit at the same moment.
Daniela's neck was bright red. Her ears too, now that I saw. Probably mine as well. Though mine for different reasons.
"Come back later!"
So tactless! Completely!
"Ah, no, Sir Alfredo! Come in!"
As Daniela spoke, Alfredo hesitated outside. I could hear the whispers. Who to listen to?
"Ugh! Just come in! Hurry!"
So tactless! Completely!