Chapter 43

I sat down on the chair that Nine had pulled out for me, watching him closely.

Every change comes with a cause and reason. The fact that Nine’s attitude had suddenly softened and that he had kept me away from preparing for this social season might mean there was some hidden motive I had yet to notice.

But since I couldn’t figure out his true intention, my unease only grew, and I couldn’t help but keep stealing glances at him.

I thought I’d built up some goodwill—what with our teatimes and improving relations with his family… So what went wrong?

While I was poking at the salad that had been served as an appetizer, trying to gauge his mood, Nine—who had been silent all this time—was the first to speak.

“Van will handle the preparations for the social season. In the meantime, please rest.”

It was something I had already heard from Van, but hearing it directly from him made it sound like an outright notification.

“If you attend the social season, we’ll have to stay in the townhouse for two months, but this year, one month should be enough.”

“W–wait a moment.”

Confirming that he had deliberately excluded me wasn’t so much shocking as it was hurtful.

Perhaps I had unconsciously gripped the fork too tightly, for it sent a cherry tomato rolling.

The little tomato escaped the plate with a plop, plop and even rolled all the way to Nine, seated across from me.

The servants quickly moved to clean it up, but my cheeks burned hot with embarrassment.

Even so, there was one thing I wanted to say.

“But I’m the duchess now… It feels wrong to just sit back and do nothing about the season’s preparations…”

Unlike my usual self, I trailed off weakly, unable to sound confident. My chest tightened even as I spoke.

At my words, Nine tilted his head as if puzzled, unable to understand my position.

Seeing him that way, the courage I had mustered began to fade, and I busied myself stabbing the salad again while racking my brain for what I might have overlooked.

Then Nine spoke.

“Tully.”

“……”

“He said you’re in a stable period, but to be careful nonetheless.”

Only then did I realize what I had missed.

Ah. Right. I’m pregnant!

Now that I knew, everything made sense.

Having heard Tully’s advice, Nine must have seen the workload I was carrying, thought I was overdoing it, and so decided to remove me from everything.

Because he had started from the conclusion, his roundabout way of explaining had only confused me, but in the end, it turned out to be his way of caring.

The hurt I’d felt melted away in an instant.

Still, Van must have thought Nine’s explanation was lacking, because he stepped forward and added to address the part that had stung me.

“Until now, our shortcomings forced Lady Chacha to shoulder much of the burden. But now, to let someone in her condition toil would be shameful for the servants of House Eclipse. Since this will be the first social season you and the Duke attend together, we will make certain every detail is prepared to perfection. Please, rest assured and take it easy, Lady Chacha.”

It seemed the other servants were already aware, for they nodded in unison, as if echoing Van’s words.

Though they didn’t speak, their vigorous nodding carried the clear intent to reassure me.

I really do feel like I’ve been accepted as a member of this household.

On top of the warmth that had replaced my earlier hurt came a swell of pride that my efforts had not been in vain.

Facing the earnest gazes of the servants, I could no longer insist on my involvement and simply continued the meal with Nine.

***

With administrative duties and social season preparations off my shoulders, I suddenly had far too much free time.

Wondering how to spend it, I decided to put a small tea table out on the balcony and enjoy some tea with Annie while basking in the sunlight.

By late March, the chill during the day wasn’t so harsh anymore.

It wasn’t quite the full spring warmth of the central provinces, but compared to the bitter cold I had first faced upon arriving here, the weather now felt almost mild.

“You’ve already become a proper northerner, haven’t you?”

“And I think you’ll soon become one too, Annie.”

We were exchanging light conversation and relaxing when a sudden, urgent knock rattled the door.

“May I—”

Before I could say come in, Laura burst into the room. She approached in quick steps, only for Annie to scold her.

“Laura! If you’re not going to wait for an answer, what’s the point of knocking?”

“It’s fine, Annie. It might be something urgent. What is it, Laura?”

“Th–the Ortrancia Trading Company just arrived with a huge load of goods!”

Ortrancia was the merchant guild run by the Blueberry family.

Annie and I exchanged puzzled glances.

But I haven’t purchased anything from my family’s trading company…

At that moment, the door to my room flung open again, and an uninvited guest strode in without permission.

“Hey! Chacha, long time no see!”

“Comen?”

It was Comen Blueberry, apprentice knight escort for the Ortrancia Trading Company, and my cousin from a collateral branch of the family.

He still bore resentment toward me for failing to become Wilhelm’s disciple.

Ignoring the protests of the Eclipse servants, Comen plopped himself onto the sofa with brazen rudeness.

Everyone—including myself—stared at him in speechless disbelief.

“Comen, what on earth—”

But before I could finish, laborers lugging heavy crates began pouring into the room.

The knights looked as if they wanted to stop them, but because it was the duchess’s own family’s guild—and one of the most prestigious in the empire—they hesitated.

“Comen! What is going on?”

I finally confronted him, only for him to shrug.

“It’s your second debutante season, right? You need at least this much, don’t you?”

At his signal, the laborers opened the crates one by one.

Inside were accessories adorned with rare gems, shoes clearly custom-made to fit my feet, cosmetics, perfumes, lace gloves, fans—even racks of fitted dresses.

Comen smirked.

“These are all things impossible to get in this closed-off North. Of course the Blueberry family would spare no effort for your sake. After all, the Eclipse dukedom has hardly participated in the social season before, so preparing must be difficult for you.”

At his words, the faces of the Eclipse servants darkened. They all looked as though they wanted to say something but held back.

Laura, unable to contain herself, spoke up instead, voicing what the others could not.

“We can obtain all of this ourselves! And besides, Her Grace is the duchess now—so it’s only right that we make the preparations!”

An invisible tension instantly thickened the air, with Comen and the traders on one side and the Eclipse servants on the other.

Since worsening the relationship between the Blueberry county and the Eclipse dukedom would help no one, I hurried to intervene.

“Everyone, don’t fight.”

If Van had been here, he would’ve mediated appropriately. But in his absence, I had no choice but to handle it myself.

“Sorry, Comen, but I’ve already ordered my dresses. The atelier Psyche is taking care of everything this season.”

“What? Psyche?”

“Yes. The Duke personally brought in Madame Neruela for me.”

I made sure to sound deliberately proud, and the servants straightened with satisfaction, clearly pleased.

“…Hmph. Psyche, huh? Well, I suppose that’s not too bad.”

Perhaps realizing he was losing ground, Comen pouted and grumbled under his breath.

But that grumbling seemed likely to provoke the servants further, so I quickly gave him some face-saving words.

“Still, since you went to the trouble of preparing all this for me, I’ll look through the rest. Thank you for the thought.”

Apparently, not favoring either side was the right choice. The sharp atmosphere eased noticeably.

“May I come in, Lady Chacha?”

At that moment, Van appeared, drawn by the commotion.

I addressed him quickly.

“Van. I know you already had a trading company in mind, but since my family has prepared these things for me, could we perhaps take their sincerity into account?”

Though my words were careful, Van only smiled and replied, “Of course. If it’s merchandise from Ortrancia, the quality is beyond doubt.”

“Thank you, Van.”

Relieved, I turned to the servants.

“The dresses will follow the central trends, so for accessories, perhaps we could style them in northern fashion? I don’t know much about northern styles, so could you help me?”

“Of course!”

“With pleasure, My Lady!”

At those words, the servants’ eyes lit up, and they eagerly began sorting through the accessories.

Even at a glance, I could see their taste was excellent, befitting servants of a ducal household.

“Tch.”

Comen, still young but not inexperienced as a merchant, seemed to know when to stop. He refrained from provoking them further.

Thank goodness.

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief at having averted the conflict, another unexpected matter arose.

“Oh, by the way, Cousin. Since I’m family, I can stay at the castle for a while, right? I’ll be in the North for some time.”

“……”

And with that, Comen installed himself in the castle—claiming both kinship and guest rights.