Kapitel 46: CHAPTER 46
"If it's Berg's, it's all yours, My Lady."
It was a surprise.
A small number of people were close to Seria at Laurel Manor. She became close to the servants, and after getting rid of Magi, they all naturally treated her as Berg's Grand Duchess. Seria was used to it because she heard it every day there, but the truth was that there was a great deal of misunderstanding.
She was a temporary Grand Duchess with a rambunctious and flamboyant past for a marriage that hasn't even been approved yet. The servants shuddered, and Susan immediately gave them the eye of a tiger.
"You're sloppy. Hurry up and clean up."
"Yes, yes!"
The maids hurried to clean up the broken glass vase. Actually, Berg's servants were very good at their job. They must have the pride of being servants of a great nobleman to work so hard even in the absence of the senior employees.
However, suddenly, top class employees appeared like a comet, and they were very friendly to her. Even now, Berg's servants were good to her, but that was only because of the notoriety that Seria had neatly and properly built up.
'Yeah, it's fine either way.'
She wasn't one to dwell on such trivial matters. Rather, she felt that Berg's mansion had hundreds of servants, and having two very friendly managers would come in handy when Lesche made her sign a slave contract again.Seria was rubbing the pendant while thinking.
"Lady Seria."
"Yes?"
"Would you like to try on the circlet once?"
"Huh? Sure."
At Susan's suggestion, Seria tried it on. Afterwards, she looked in the mirror….
"Let's just keep this for viewing purposes."
The circlet had a flashy design with a bright red ruby in the center of the golden star. It didn't go too well with Seria's unusual green hair. It was so tacky that she felt embarrassed.
She didn't know how on earth Lina managed to wear it on her forehead all the time.
Susan smiled at her as she removed the circlet from Seria's forehead*. Apparently, it was the first piece of jewelry that Lesche had presented to Seria.
(*Apparently it's an accessory to wear it on the forehead.)
The first official gift.
'According to the custom, I think you should wear it for a while.'
For a moment, she was lost in deep thought. When she thought about wearing this flashing thing on her forehead, her fingers trembled.
It was deep into the night that day.
"Your Highness."
At the end of the half-day long meeting, Lesche received an unexpected report from his aide.
"Lady Seria requested a meeting."
Lesche's movements stopped instantly.
"When was that?"
It was around three in the afternoon.
Lesche looked at the clock and it was already six hours past.
He immediately left his seat and went upstairs to the Grand Duchess's bedroom. As soon as he opened the bedroom door, a cold wind blew across his cheeks. It was strange. The bedroom should be warm. With a frown on his forehead, Lesche walked into the large bedroom and shifted his gaze along the direction the wind was blowing.
The window was open.
The cool night air came straight in through the window. He could see a silhouette standing there.
It was Seria Stern.
Lesche looked at Seria's back for a moment, then slowly stepped closer to her. Seria didn't hear the sound of the door opening due to the sound of the wind, and when she heard footsteps, Seria averted her gaze from the window and turned.
Seria was standing against the moonlight.
Lesche parted his lips.
"Are you going to freeze to death?"
"With this much cold?"
She replied. She was only wearing pajamas. Lesche took off the jacket he was wearing and wrapped it over Seria's shoulders. What could he say to someone who was unconscious for three days?
"You said you wanted to see me. Why didn't you tell Linon?"
"It's not urgent."
"It's not?"
"This…"
As she said it, Seria suddenly spread open the collar of her pajamas. Lesche reflexively averted his gaze.
The sound of metal clashing could be heard, and soon Seria tugged Lesche's sleeve. Only then did Lesche look back at her.
Seria had a necklace on her neck. It was the pendant that Lesche had seen before. No, it was a pendant that he remembered clearly. The Laurel Manor. It was something that Seria didn't let go of until the end, when she passed out in the Ossuary, hidden in the green manor's basement.
Seria opened her mouth in a tone of anguish.
"I really appreciate you giving this to me. I took it apart and made it into a necklace."
What did she mean? For a moment, Lesche could not quite understand Seria's words. She read his expression brilliantly and immediately frowned.
"It was a circlet."
"Circlet?"
"Yes."
"It's an accessory you wear on your forehead?"
"Yes, it is. But objectively… How can a person wear it on the forehead?"
"Was that the problem?"
Lesche laughed gleefully.
"I don't think it's bad."
"Are you serious?"
"I have no reason to lie."
"Then would you like to try it once?"
"Sure."
"Yes? On your forehead?"
"You can put it on my forehead or my neck. Have it your way."
Seria looked at him as if he was a rascal in disgrace, and without hesitation, she removed the necklace from her neck. Then, she stretched her hand out and tried to put the necklace on Lesche's neck.
"Why are you so tall?"
"You just noticed it now?"
"Bend down, please."
"As low as you want."
Lesche gently lowered his head. Seria's fingers, lightly clasping the necklace, rub against his neck. It was an unfamiliar sensation to him. It seemed to be the same for Seria as well. She paused and withdrew her hand.
"I still think it will look better on your forehead?"
Seria placed the necklace on Lesche's forehead. She was very careful and didn't touch Lesche's skin. However….
"…"
Lesche was now at her eyes level. He looked closely into Seria's eyes. At that moment, Seria pretended not to see it. She didn't even try to meet them.
"I'll wear it…"
Seria cleared her throat and hurriedly took the necklace and put it on her neck. It looked like she was going to run away somewhere, shivering as if she was about to get caught. Seria didn't know what Lesche was thinking as he looked at her. She just kept coughing.
"Um, Lesche? I was going to say, but I forgot, the pendant from the circlet. It holds sacred power."
"Sounds like a holy object. It's common."
"It holds more sacred power than a common relic. There's a lot more to it than that."
"That's why you look good."
"Is that all there is to it?"
"Then?"
"Do you know how important a gemstone with this much sacred power is? You have to take it back."
"I don't have a hobby of taking back what I gave."
In Lesche's eyes, it really was Seria's possession. It was because the black shadow gradually disappeared while the pendant was held in Seria's hand. If anyone else had witnessed the scene, they would have thought the same.
"The shadows disappeared as you held it."
Seria asked,
"In the manor too?"
"Yes."
Lesche said, looking outside the window.
"The shadow in the manor is gone. It's all gone."
"Thank God."
Seria touched the pendant and pushed it into the collar of her pajamas.
"I'll take it, then."
She didn't want to seem greedy, but she also liked this necklace. It was burdensome when it was a circlet, but it wasn't so bad wearing it as a necklace. Besides, the divine power that this pendant exuded seemed to suit her.
A winter night breeze came in through the window. What she saw from the window was just a vast garden of the Berg mansion.
"I'm going to inspect the glacier again next week."
The first thing that came to Lesche's mind when he heard Seria's not-so-notice was that the knights would really like it.
It was that they opened up so easily to Stern. It was natural for the knights of the Grand Duchy to protect the glacier.
As the master of this estate, he thought it was really too flimsy to even consider, but he had no choice.
It was not that Berg's knights liked Seria just as a Grand Duchess, but also for her character.
After witnessing the demon's curse, they were fascinated by the constellation armor, the metal of the stars, which protected them from Magi, and henceforth they inevitably admired Stern, the God-given star.
Because they were welcomed everywhere like this, the Sterns did not feel the need to ingratiate themselves with the Grand Duchy of Berg.
"Seria."
"Yes?"
"Are you planning to make all the knights in the Grand Duchy your slaves?"
Lesche was only half joking. Seria rested her elbows on the windowsill and propped her chin on her hands.
"It would be nice."
"You would like it?"
"I want people to be nice and not hate me."
It was a really surprising answer. Lesche frowned.
"Don't you think the same, Lesche?" (*Seria meant that Lesche hated her too.)
Somehow, Seria seemed very different and strange.
"Huh?""No."
Lesche swallowed his words. At that moment, the wind blew hard, Seria grabbed the jacket that covered her tightly with both hands. The long sleeves were curved long like wings. Her soft hair fluttered at the same time.
It slowly calmed and came down again on Seria's shoulders and back.
"The wind is strong."
"Berg's winters are harsh.""Isn't Lesche cold?"
"I'm not cold, why don't you put more clothes on?"
Lesche got closer and buttoned the jacket around Seria's neck. Perhaps feeling uncomfortable because of the close contact earlier, Seria involuntarily averted her gaze and slipped away. The gentle moonlight shone through the window. It seemed as if it smudged her white skin.
Her face strangely caught his eyes. Was the changed Seria the real Seria, or was the Seria of the past the real her…? Lesche could not tell easily.
Kapitel 47: CHAPTER 47
Lesche couldn't help but lightly stroke Seria's cheek.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No."
"…Then what are you doing?"
"I don't know what I'm doing."
The hour passed.
Lesche came out of the Grand Duchess's bedroom. Just before he left, he tugged on the rope and one of the maids walked quickly towards him to check the fireplace in the Grand Duchess's bedroom. As soon as she saw him, she bowed in surprise, then took a step.
"Your Highness."
Three days had passed, but it was still a bit strange that Ben and Joanna, who had only been in the Green Manor for nearly a decade, were in the main castle.
The butler, who had returned in earnest, couldn't help but talk about matters concerning the reorganization of the internal affairs.Ben, who had been taking notes, said as he grabbed the documents,
"Oh, Your Highness. What are you going to do with the internal administration money?"
Since the Grand Duchess and the butler were absent, there was no one in charge of the maintenance of the castle for a while. So as soon as Ben understood the situation, he started talking about the internal administration money in the main office.
"It seems that Linon has been managing the money outside of his work for a while. Isn't that why people are dying from overwork?"
"Probably."
"Linon is also overworked, I think the Young Lady should be in charge of the internal administration money."
Joanna chimed in on Ben's words,
"I think so too, Your Highness. Otherwise, people might talk."
"They will think I'm a piece of trash who treats his wife poorly?"
"That is not what I meant, sir."
"Everyone knows that our marriage is temporary, even the imperial capital. What do you mean by 'people might talk'?"
Lesche frowned, but he agreed with the idea nonetheless.
"Ask Seria, and if she wants to do it, give it to her. Let Linon help her for at least three months."
"Yes, sir. Then I will ask the Young Lady's opinions regarding this matter."
"Wouldn't it be easier if Your Highness asked her?" Ben said.
Lesche had to admit the truth.
"It's not that easier."
On the other hand, he couldn't help but understand their ruse.
"Enough of this. She doesn't plan on staying here longer than she has to."
Even though the name was omitted, they knew Lesche referred to Seria.
"Of course, Your Highness."
"I'm only being sincere in my reply."
"We like the Young Lady. Isn't that right, Joanna?"
"Of course we do."
In their eyes, Seria seemed to be a hero.
Of course. It wasn't surprising that they thought of Seria that way since she was the one who erased the nightmare shadow that plagued the manor of Berg for so long. How many people could live comfortably in a building they were certain would soon crumble, in which they were forever stuck?
Lesche did not have to say any more words about Seria, who had saved them from their fatal fear.
Lesche wrinkled his brow and added.
"We can thank her explicitly later for the merit of saving the manor."
"Yes, Your Highness. You are right."
"By the way, Your Highness. People said that Marquis Haneton is busy repairing the grand wedding hall for Lady Seria."
"So?"
"I thought it would be nice to have a bigger wedding for the Lady in Berg."
"It's been less than an hour since I answered that I would do it properly."
Ben let out a laugh. Lesche said as he looked down at the papers.
"If you want to have a proper wedding, you two go find a partner. It will be held in the name of the Grand Duke and will be as lavish as the Marquise family."
Ben and Joanna looked at each other.
"We each have our first love, Your Highness."
"During our nearly ten-year stay in the green manor, we both got married."
"Why don't you just find someone els
Joanna tilted her head.
"Ben, do you want to?"
"No thanks, I'll never forget my first love."
"Neither will I."
Lesche lifted his head.
"First love?"
"Don't you have a first love, Your Highness?"
"There can't possibly be such a thing."
Lesche was the one who had never felt even the most mundane parent-child love. The term "first love" was just extravagant. It sounded ridiculous, he thought.
Since he just started to walk, his mother, the previous Grand Duchess, had been harsh on his education.
If the Grand Duchess had truly loved him, she would not have taken her life in front of him. Did she know that Lesche had been unable to close his eyes properly for some time since then, let alone sleep?
Even if she had known, it wouldn't have made any difference. But it was just a thought of the past. Lesche lifted his head. His eyes darted out the window for no apparent reason. The floor was different from the bedroom of the Grand Duchess, but the landscape was similar, with the largest window placed in the same direction.
Suddenly he became curious.
"Can't you really forget your first love ever?"
"I couldn't."
"Me either."
'Damn it.'
Lesche recalled that Seria had changed since she met Marquis Haneton. He should have known better that Seria changed after falling in love. Lesche lowered his gaze. He felt bitter for no reason.
***
"Resting is the best."
Seria has been resting in bed all day since yesterday. There were so many servants taking care of her. She was soaked in hot water with fragrant oil and got a massage, and her limbs felt alive in a few hours.
They polished her nails while she played with the dried flowers of various colors that the maids had brought with them.
It was really nice to have luxury and relaxation. She didn't know when was the last time she had had such an easy rest after a year of living a hectic life after she possessed Seria.
It was not as much as a glacier visit. And this circlet, which was now a necklace on her neck, also made her feel better.
It gave out a hint of divine power continuously. It was like a germanium bracelet from her previous life that she tried to buy at least once. Was that why Lina wore the circlet on her forehead all the time in the original story? Seria sipped on a glass of apple juice mixed with ice.
This lazy rest was ruined around noon when Linon, who was completely invisible yesterday, came in holding a handkerchief.
"Linon?"
"'I was too busy to come yesterday, Miss. I came to say thank you. Thanks to you, I'm not cold and dirty. No, I am happy not to go to the unclean green manor. It was the favor of the stars that brought you to this castle."
"… Is that why you are crying?"
"There's one more thing I'm grateful for."
"Huh?"
Then Linon put down a book that looked like it could have been 20 papers.
"I thought I was going to die of overwork."
"What's this?"
"It's the Grand Duchy of Berg's internal administration fund."
"Why are you showing that to me ….?"
There was a moment when something crossed her mind.
Before she went to the Laurel Manor, it was a lively time when Lina and Kalis and the other guests were still staying at the main castle.
Before the year-end party there was something that Linon suddenly said to her.
"When is the year-end party?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"Is the High Priest coming in four days?"
"Yes."
"But why are you telling me this?"
"Well, I guess you didn't really hear from His Highness. This is what you have to do as the hostess of the mansion, My Lady."
Could it be?
"Are you asking me to manage the internal affairs?"
"Yes, Miss."
Seria was puzzled by Linon's sudden words.
"Nevertheless, I will help you for three months."
"You're saying I'll need to learn from you, Linon?"
"…Because I am the Chief Aide who is loyal to Lady Seria."
"…"
If there was such a thing as emoticons in this world, wouldn't Linon just put it at the end of every document he sent her? That's just what she thought.
Anyway….even though it was temporary, the wedding she and Lesche had was a no-nonsense ceremony in which the priests also participated.
It was a Stern wedding, with the designated place and time strictly adhered to.
Except for the change of partners, there was no doubt that they did marry each other. Therefore, it was the correct procedure for her to take charge of the internal management fund.
There were many situations in the Glick Empire that were worse than hers.
The most typical example was betrothal relations.
After the engagement ceremony, the couple would live in each other's house till the wedding ceremony.
This was not a common case. It was usually when the female family was small compared to the male family.
It wasn't a mockery or a tease, because they loved each other and married after overcoming such a big family difference. Rather, it was a kind of consideration to make the partner, who was used to a small family life, get used to a larger family life quickly.
Perhaps that's why.
For the young nobles, this was often romantic. Well, there were many romantic fairy tales in this world, dreaming of a future with a princess or a prince.
Anyway, they often took charge of the domestic affairs before the wedding ceremony in many cases.So it was right for her to manage the domestic affairs fund, but Seria couldn't help but feel a little sad. Since she hadn't received the approval of the royal family yet, it was practically a 'betrothal' rather than a formal marriage. So, by all accounts, she was the one from a family that had fallen behind.
Nevertheless, she promised to play the role of hostess sincerely, but the situation became more and more serious.
"Miss?"
Linon was a little confused.
"Why do you suddenly have a sad expression on your face?""I realize once again that I am Your Highness's slave…"
"Huh? No, My Lady."
Linon was very quick witted.
"His Highness did not give orders to make the Young Lady work."
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