Our Evening Ritual and a Father's Secret Letter

It felt like our families were caught in some kind of power struggle, but what she really wanted to hear was "I like it too." It had become our daily routine now. No matter how busy I was as Grand Duke, or how overwhelming Daniela’s duties as Grand Duchess, this was something we could never skip.

Nearly twenty years had passed since I started living in Winter Castle, yet even now, insomnia would occasionally creep in. I'd toss and turn, suddenly feel an unnatural chill, or spend the whole night awake and ruin the next day. But lately, that hadn't happened.

For one thing, there was what Daniela said to me. I loved hearing it so much.

"I like it too. For real."

These feelings now flowed out naturally. And the light kiss that followed felt like a sanctuary at the end of the day.

At first, I couldn't bring myself to say it directly to her, so I'd circle around the topic or meddle unnecessarily in her Grand Duchess duties. Of course, Daniela was excellent at handling her work—honestly speaking. But really, I just wanted to be loved.

"It's coming naturally now, isn't it, Grand Duke?"

"Don't call me Grand Duke. It feels like you're dodging something."

I was sitting on the edge of the bed, whispering to Daniela as she lay close. My hand rested on her waist. Hearing her voice murmur from within my arms always calmed my heart naturally. And besides, she was beautiful.

"Give me a little more time, Grand Duke."

I couldn't say a word to Daniela as she spoke with a slight smile. With my other hand, I stroked her. The moment my fingers brushed near her cheek, I felt its soft, yielding texture. She could be so cute one moment, and then...

Had she cut her hair? It felt a bit shorter than when I'd touched it yesterday.

"I'll wait. Always."

"I'm not going anywhere."

I felt the sensation of Daniela nestled in my arms. She smelled of violets. It was no exaggeration to say this was the most healing moment in a harsh Grand Duke's day.

Hmm, I wanted to savor it a bit longer, but it was regrettable that I still had some work left.

"By the way, I heard you're going south, Grand Duke."

"It's not set in stone yet. I just think it might be okay if I do."

I gently released Daniela from my arms. She got up from the bed first. Was she upset? Daniela walked over to the desk in the study. She glanced over it once, then perched on the edge of the desk, her gaze fixed steadily on me.

Lately, it felt like she'd taken quite a bit of the initiative.

"Not a fan?"

I tossed out the question, but Daniela, lost in thought, didn't answer. An awkward silence filled the room. Just moments ago, she'd been whispering right by my side.

What could she be worrying about?

"Don't worry. Leor is already in the south, and there are about two hundred of our troops with the Bart family."

"Grand Duke, that's not it."

I stared back at her just as steadily. Her blue eyes were deep in contemplation. She fiddled occasionally with her golden bob, murmuring quietly to herself. She didn't need to worry that much.

"Even if something comes up, the Bart family's forces would surely mobilize..."

"Hmm, could I come with you?"

It was unexpected. Daniela sat properly in the chair. She wasn't looking at any documents, but her posture there reminded me of someone. If my ministers or Alfredo saw it, they might say she sat just like me—especially the way I did when I was feeling petty.

Not sitting straight in the chair, but perching on the edge with my hips shifted forward. She didn't need to pick up habits like that.

"Daniela, there's no need for you to go. You don't have to if it's too hard."

"No, I think it would be fine if I went."

"It might be okay, sure. Hmm, but I don't want to run into the Crown Prince for no reason."

The honest answer slipped out before I knew it. Truth be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠told, there were reasons I didn't want to bring her. Two, mainly.

If the Crown Prince showed any disdain toward Daniela, I'd get too angry. Angrier than before—I might not be able to hold back. And I felt a twinge of jealousy. Daniela always looked stunning here in the North, but... sometimes I just didn't want to show her off to others. Especially not the way her eyes would look at another man. It would make me jealous, and then the Grand Duke's dignity...

"Ever since becoming Grand Duchess and handling duties, I've realized something, Grand Duke."

"Tough, huh? Want me to take over some?"

"I'm fine. It's about our family."

A problem with the Bart family? The owls wouldn't have leaked info to Daniela. And Dorgon's reports were off-limits for the Grand Duchess to read. By principle, the Grand Duchess focused only on family matters or internal Winter Castle issues. She couldn't meddle in Northern politics.

It wasn't simply because she was a woman. It was more about curbing the influence of in-laws. But since there'd been no Grand Duchess for so long after I became Grand Duke, and given the ambiguous ties between Daniela and the Bart family...

"A letter came a few days ago."

"To you? From who?"

"It was from my father."

This was a first. Most letters or documents coming to Winter Castle passed through my hands. For ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Bart family to send a letter to Daniela behind my back...

My hand on the bed clenched involuntarily. I hadn't meant to grip hard, but the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bedsheet crumpled under it.

"Sorry, Grand Duke."

"No, it's... well, it happens."

I didn't want to drag her into politics. I got up and approached where she sat. She seemed a little deflated; I wanted to comfort her. I placed my hand on her shoulder. Daniela gently laid her hand over mine.

"What did the letter say?"

"I'll show you."

I examined the letter's words slowly. It was full of worries—about the North, whether I was mistreating her. That rubbed me the wrong way a bit. What did they take me for? But the last two sentences carried the weight of the Bart family head's dilemma.

"Our father-in-law seems awfully worried."

"F-Father-in-law...?"

"He is, right? Daniela's father. Sure, he went a bit overboard before."

I smiled slyly. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Daniela met my eyes and smiled faintly back. Yeah, at least she'd told me honestly.

But the Bart family's situation sounded quite serious. We'd agreed to send Northern troops, but the pressure from other families was worse than I'd thought. With Leor arriving and our forces stationed in the south, any underhanded moves to carve them out had likely fallen through.

But the moment they were firmly seen as aligned with the North, the nobles and imperial family's attacks turned overt. No need to hide anymore, I suppose.

"I've been almost forced to attend this gathering led by the Crown Prince."

"I get why Father is worried, but..."

"It's too soon. Way too early."

On our Northern timeline, it was still premature. The central bank had just been established, and Jackson hadn't been at it long. Plus, the Bart family's subsidy and loan hadn't even departed yet. I'd figured we had at least a year, maybe a year and a half.

"I'm sorry to Father, but... yeah, I think so too."

"Really?"

"You must have your reasons, Grand Duke. I don't know what they are, but."

"Guess I need to think it over."

I gazed at Daniela quietly. She was pretty. Pushing aside that thought for a moment, there were decent reasons for her to go too. If they held out in the current situation, the Bart family would lose their standing. It wouldn't affect the North much—the south's politics didn't reach that far.

But shrinking the Bart family's influence meant our rightful share wouldn't align properly. In that case...

"What do you want to do, Daniela?"

"I'm on your side, Grand Duke."

"Hmm..."

"I'm just sorry to you. It feels like I'm creating secrets. That's why I told you."

So that was why she'd mentioned the letter. Without thinking, I leaned my face against her shoulder. Naturally, Daniela pressed her lips to my cheek.

"No need to worry. How could I ever be disappointed in you?"

"Hehe..."

She relaxed bit by bit. Sending Daniela south might not be the best choice, but if it felt like support for the Bart family, it could work. The North's distance created psychological distance too—the south sometimes seemed to erase our very existence.

But the moment Daniela showed up, the standoff between de Bosch and Bart would ignite.

"You okay with that? Cartina, that woman. The de Bosch girl will pressure you. Their family will too."

"Hehe, don't worry."

No, I'm the one worried.

"They might say anything—true or not. And to you..."

"No need to worry. Because..."

I'm the lady of the North.