Chapter 46

The next day, we set out early and arrived at the Blueberry County estate, which greeted me with the same warm atmosphere as always.

“Wow…”

Through the wide-open main gate, the vast garden and large, splendid mansion caught everyone’s attention.

The Blueberry County had a different charm from the ducal castle.

Befitting a family that ran a merchant guild, the garden was full of beautiful and rare flowers, and with lush, towering trees, the overall scene was colorful.

Several of the duchy’s servants who came with me exclaimed in admiration at the grandeur of this central aristocratic estate, so different from the North.

Annie, who always acted mature away from home, saw this and finally couldn’t help but whisper boastfully with a confident expression.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it? If you look closely, there are many more rare and beautiful flowers. Over there, there’s even a fountain.”

I smiled softly at them and calmly entered the mansion.

Unlike the Eclipse duchy where hierarchy and order were clearly felt, the Blueberry County—from my parents to the servants—crowded around me in a disorderly fashion to welcome me.

“Chacha!”

“Our daughter! Boohoohoo!”

A plump middle-aged person with rose-pink curly hair—clearly my blood relative to anyone who saw us—pulled me into an embrace and shed tears without dignity.

Rudin Blueberry, the Count. My father in this world.

My mother, Neriel Blueberry, the Countess, stood beside him with tears welling up, stamping her feet.

My parents’ tears made my heart ache.

“Oh my, Chacha… Huuung!”

“Are you hurt anywhere? Do you know how shocked we were when you suddenly left like that!”

“Young laaaady!”

Not only were my parents tearful, but most of the Blueberry County’s servants were too.

Because I’d left without properly saying goodbye, the mansion entrance became a sea of tears for quite a while.

“I missed you, Chacha…”

“Me too. I missed you all so much.”

I faced them one by one, comforting them naturally. A few of them burst into even louder tears.

I was so happy with this atmosphere that I momentarily forgot that the duchy’s people who followed me were behind us.

“Ahem.”

Finally, Norman, who had been waiting patiently through the reunion scene, subtly gave me a hint.

Only after hearing that sound did the County’s people realize they’d kept us standing for a long time and gradually wiped their tears.

‘If not for that, they would have cried for another 30 minutes.’

Seeing the atmosphere had settled, I introduced the people on both sides in turn.

“This is Norman Pellona, the Duke’s aide, Sir Kroel Bihailnea who accompanied me as my guard, and Laura Verona, my maid.”

When I had them greet each other, the duchy’s people politely offered their greetings.

“We greet the Count and Countess. His Grace asked me to convey his apologies for not being able to come in person.”

“I… I see…”

My parents wore subtle expressions, seeming to have mixed feelings of dissatisfaction and relief that they didn’t get a chance to speak with Nine.

After the greetings, when I turned around, Laura was captivated by the interior design different from the Northern style, and Kroel was exchanging interested looks with Wilhelm, my family’s guard knight and my sword instructor, perhaps sensing his skills.

The other servants were looking at me, but their eyes were clearly filled with anticipation.

I smiled and said to them: “You worked hard getting here. Now you’re all free to act as you please. Sir Kroel as well. You don’t need to guard me here, so please rest comfortably.”

Since all the duchy’s people seemed interested in somewhere in the Blueberry estate, as soon as I gave permission, they thanked me and disappeared here and there.

Kroel and Wilhelm seemed to be gauging each other’s presence, then soon shook hands and went to the training grounds together, while Laura grabbed Annie and whined to be shown around, taking her away.

Left alone, I thought I could now spend quality time with my parents…

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing, just.”

I wasn’t alone.

Norman stood firmly by my side. I tried my best not to pay attention to Norman and moved to another spot with my parents.

‘Fine, surveil me. Go ahead!’

Linking arms between my parents, we entered the drawing room together, where the tea table was laden with desserts I’d loved since childhood.

They were desserts made by the Blueberry family’s exclusive patissier, perfectly tailored to my taste.

“Wow! It’s been so long. I missed this taste so much!”

When I smiled brightly with joy, my parents seemed to relax a bit and gave me warm smiles.

Even if Norman hadn’t been surveilling me, I had no intention of telling my parents about the love potion incident or the rushed marriage.

I didn’t want to worry these people who looked at me with such loving eyes and gave me abundant parental love.

So when my parents asked how married life was, I casually answered as if it was good.

“For a child who’s never been to the North… Wasn’t it very cold? You didn’t catch a cold?”

“It was cold, but the heating magic devices in the rooms work very well. Since I’m very sensitive to cold, the servants are diligent about maintaining the devices.”

“Are things going well with His Grace?”

“Of course! Absolutely.”

Answering brazenly, I glanced at Norman. There was no chance he’d interrupt the conversation with my parents, but since he knew everything from the servants’ incident onward, my gaze naturally went to him.

‘Why is his expression like that?’

I wondered if Norman had expected me to cling to my parents crying like a thoughtless child saying it was hard?

Or was he fascinated by the warm atmosphere so different from the Eclipse duchy’s family?

I looked at Norman making a subtle expression, then soon focused on spending time with my parents.

Norman’s surveillance was persistent, but since it was a four-day rest period before the social season officially began, I didn’t want to pay any more attention to that.

I pushed Norman out of my mind and drank tea with my parents, and after meals, we walked through the garden together.

***

Norman finally left me and went to the guest room only when night fell.

No matter how much he wanted to surveil me, he couldn’t stay in the duchess’s room until late at night.

Though I didn’t really pay attention to it, the persistent gaze wasn’t exactly comfortable, so I savored this rare moment of ease.

And not long after, there was a tapping sound from the balcony window.

Tap tap.

I happily went to the balcony and opened the door while humming.

“Welcome.”

“It’s been a while, young lady.”

Wilhelm was standing on the balcony. My teacher, whom I was seeing after a very long time.

He still looked like someone who embodied the identity of a warrior with his whole body. Short red crew cut hair, dark skin with many scars, and a sharp impression.

He looked me up and down once with an expressionless face, then nodded as if satisfied by himself and handed me a wooden box.

When I opened the box, it was filled with documents densely written with various contents.

I closed the lid again with satisfaction.

This was the evidence proving that the love potion incident was orchestrated by Helena—the very reason I had to come to the Blueberry County.

“Thank you. You really worked hard.”

“Wasn’t it your request, young lady? But how did you get involved in something like this?”

“Um…”

I couldn’t answer easily and just smiled awkwardly. I couldn’t say I jumped in recklessly because I knew the original story and liked Nine.

If the results had been good, maybe, but since I’d gotten married hastily and even left for the North, it probably wasn’t a motivation Wilhelm would understand well.

Sensing that no answer would come from me, Wilhelm didn’t ask further and changed the subject.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Yes.”

In fact, the evidence in my hands now was a bit insufficient to reveal the culprit.

It was enough to point to Helena, but a bit ambiguous to prove my innocence? If done wrong, there was a possibility that only the superficial relationship as accomplices might be revealed.

But it wasn’t easy to move.

Not only was Norman’s surveillance following me, but as someone who married Nine, I was surely a hot potato in high society.

I was displeased that Norman was surveilling me even at home, but considering this situation, I understood.

I handed him a small note I’d written in advance.

“Instead of me, secure testimony from the drug merchant. And if you go to the place written on the paper, you’ll be able to find other evidence. The drug merchant is someone from the back alleys, so he won’t meet you if you go alone. Take Annie, who’s familiar with him.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you for worrying. I’m counting on you again this time.”

Wilhelm nodded, then ruffled my hair slightly as he used to do when I was young.

I watched Wilhelm leap lightly over the balcony and disappear into the darkness, then returned to my room holding the wooden box.