Chapter 45

At the entrance to Eclipse Manor, a large and splendid carriage boasting the grandeur of the ducal house was showing off its magnificence.

I understood the pent-up feelings of the Eclipse duchy’s people, who had restrained themselves throughout the preparation period because they couldn’t show off their master during the social season since he rarely participated.

But…

“Isn’t it too big for just me to ride in?”

“Pardon?”

No matter how I looked at it, the carriage was too large for me to ride alone.

Since my relationship with Nine had improved, I’d vaguely thought the carriage might be nicer than the one I took when coming to the North, but this was excessive.

I muttered to myself without thinking, and Van, who heard me from beside me, looked at me in surprise, wondering what I meant.

‘Why is he surprised?’

Before I could ask why, I heard Nine’s voice from behind.

“Let’s go.”

“Pardon?”

Nine walked up and opened the carriage door, then stood beside me and extended his hand. In other words, it was what society calls an escort.

Nine was doing this for me?

I stood there dazed, but since I couldn’t delay our departure, I took his hand in a daze and boarded the carriage.

But then Nine, whom I naturally assumed would ride in a different carriage, followed me in and sat in the seat across from me.

‘Huh? Huuuh?!’

What on earth is this situation?

I couldn’t say anything and just looked at Nine, but as if he hadn’t noticed me, Nine pulled out a blanket from the space under the seat and covered my lap with it.

“If you’re tired, please rest your eyes.”

“…Thank you.”

I barely managed to squeeze out a response and mentally hit myself.

Right, I could understand him escorting me and riding in the same carriage if I recalled the consideration Nine had shown recently.

But the problem wasn’t that.

‘Wait, it takes a week to get to the capital. Does that mean I have to ride in the same carriage with Nine for that entire time?’

What if I fall asleep while we’re traveling?

Nine told me to rest my eyes, but for me, with the person I like right in front of me, it was something to scream about.

‘What if I drool in my sleep? What if I snore!’

No one would want to show such a sight to the person they like.

Even as I worried endlessly, the carriage moved smoothly toward the capital. And…

The person who said there’s no way they’d fall asleep carelessly in front of the man they like?

Doesn’t exist.

Oh, did they exist?

No. They didn’t.

Perhaps because preparing for the social season had been exhausting, I thought I’d just closed my eyes for a moment, but I must have fallen asleep.

When I looked around, what greeted me was the green scenery outside the window, indicating we’d left the North, and Nine, who appeared to be sleeping with his eyes closed.

“…”

Even while looking at his face, the first thought that came to mind was that he must have seen me sleeping.

I immediately touched my mouth, but fortunately, it seemed I hadn’t drooled.

Relieved inwardly, I stared at Nine sleeping across from me.

I didn’t have anything else to do, and it was the first time I’d seen Nine so unguarded since that day, so I felt strange.

‘His eyelashes are really long.’

As the sunlight streaming through the carriage window shone down on Nine’s gorgeous features, his already handsome face glowed even more.

But my admiration was brief. I raised my hand to block some of the sunlight pouring down on him, afraid I might disturb his sleep.

Unintentionally, the distance between us narrowed a bit.

‘Well. It’s definitely not because I wanted to see him more closely…’

At that moment, Nine opened his eyes.

It happened to be when I was leaning closer to him, so now I was in a position that looked like I’d been trying to steal a kiss.

I quickly pulled back and tilted my head back with an awkward smile.

“The sunlight seemed too strong…”

“…I see.”

It was the truth, but it sounded like an excuse.

However, perhaps the sunlight really was strong, because Nine’s face was red.

From the warm heat rising to my face, mine was probably red and flushed too.

I blamed the innocent sunlight and turned my gaze to the window.

***

Exactly one week as scheduled, our procession arrived at the capital, Kalifa.

The week-long journey, which I thought would feel tiring, was surprisingly comfortable.

Thanks to Nine becoming more friendly toward me through sword training and tea time, he became a good travel companion throughout the journey, contrary to my expectations.

Though he didn’t initiate conversations, he was knowledgeable and answered my questions well. He was also a good listener who paid attention to whatever I said.

‘Still, being confined all day facing that insane beauty was a bit difficult.’

This was what troubled me most during the trip.

Throughout the journey, Nine kindly looked after me with various things.

Despite knowing we’d divorce after this social season ended, my heart inevitably fluttered at his behavior.

“We’ve arrived.”

Before I knew it, we’d arrived at the townhouse, and I got out of the carriage with Nine’s escort.

The warm air touching my skin made me realize anew that we weren’t in the North.

As we passed through the gate of the townhouse I’d briefly seen during the wedding, servants lined up on both sides to greet us.

After Nine received their greetings, he said to me: “I need to go straight to the office, so please rest well and come to the dining room.”

“Ah, yes.”

Having meals together had become quite natural now.

As Nine headed straight up to the office, his aide Norman, who still maintained a cold attitude toward me, followed him.

After Nine left, I called the person in charge of the townhouse.

“Show me and my maid to our rooms.”

But I’d forgotten one thing for a moment.

“Ah, yes. That child will guide you.”

“…”

The servants here weren’t friendly to me yet.

When the person in charge showed a rude attitude, not hiding their indifference, the expressions of the servants who came with us from the manor immediately hardened.

In fact, Van, the manor’s head butler who never left the castle, had exceptionally come along for this selection.

If my memory of the documents of people employed by the Eclipse duchy was correct, this townhouse’s person in charge was Van’s younger brother.

Van immediately stepped forward and bowed to me.

“Lady Chacha, I apologize on behalf of that wretch’s rudeness.”

Then he had Laura, who was standing behind me, guide us to the rooms.

As I climbed the stairs following Laura, I glanced back. I could see Van stopping the townhouse servants who were about to leave for their respective duties.

Moreover, the servants from the manor were guiding me protectively, which made me smile without realizing it.

***

After that, from the servant bringing tea to those organizing my luggage, everyone did their best not to upset me.

‘I wonder what Van put them through.’

Not only Van, but whenever there seemed to be even the slightest mistake, Laura and the servants from the manor would growl, so their attitude became increasingly cautious. Thanks to that, there was no chance to feel unpleasant.

When I dozed off and woke up, it was already afternoon.

When I was told that dinner preparations were complete, I headed to the dining room with Laura’s guidance.

This time, I arrived at the dining room before Nine. Shortly after Nine sat across from me, the food began to be served one by one.

Perhaps because the climate was different from the manor, or because there was a different chef, even similar menus felt different.

As we ate in a moderately peaceful atmosphere and dessert was being served, I casually asked Nine: “Um, would it be alright if I briefly visited Blueberry County?”

To properly clear up the misunderstanding about the love potion incident, the evidence at the count’s estate was essential.

If he said no, I was wondering when I’d get another chance, but Nine thought for a moment then readily gave permission.

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Absolutely not!”

But suddenly, the aide Norman, who had been standing behind us, interrupted Nine and strongly voiced his opposition.

Nine had given permission, but the aide was opposing it?

I looked at him with an undisguised unpleasant expression, but Norman met my gaze confidently and said to Nine: “Already, during the social season, the nobles are paying great attention and watching our ducal house closely. We should reduce anything that might cause unnecessary commotion and rumors.”

“…”

In the end, what Norman was saying was this:

If I, a central aristocrat, were let loose freely, there’s no telling what I might do, so keep me quietly confined to the townhouse.

Seeing him say this, it seemed he thought the only reason I’d been quiet in the North was because I had no allies there.

‘Why?’

Even Nine was now showing me some favor, so why was this aide Norman showing such hostility toward me?

“Enough.”

But Nine cut off Norman’s words.

“Please go comfortably. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to accompany you due to the palace being bothersome.”

“Your Grace!”

“Norman.”

After having a staring contest with Norman, Nine finally sighed once and added: “Norman, you go with her in my place. Go and apologize to my in-laws on my behalf for not being able to greet them properly. It’s the capital, but just in case, take Kroel as a guard.”

“…What?”

Both Norman and I wore surprised expressions at the unexpectedly special treatment.

I had just been planning to casually visit my family home, but to this extent?

When Nine said that much, Norman couldn’t object further to Nine’s words, and while I was blinking, the discussion ended.

‘…Anyway, I’ve achieved my goal of going to the Blueberry County, so I guess that’s fine?’