Chapter : 05
“We’ll be arriving in the North very soon!”
At the coachman’s announcement, I leaned my head slightly out the carriage window.
The icy wind forced my eyes shut for a moment, but when I opened them again, the North came into view.
“A place that’s rugged, yet even its ruggedness is beautiful.”
That was how the novel had described the North.
When I’d first read it, I found the pairing of those two words rather strange. They didn’t seem to belong together. But now that I was seeing the North with my own eyes, I understood exactly why the author had chosen them.
Black stone walls rose from a blanket of pure white snow. Inside them stood clusters of brown wooden houses, and towering over everything was an enormous black castle.
Just as the novel had said—it was rough, yet breathtakingly beautiful.
“So fascinated?” Raindart asked.
“I’ve never been outside the Larin region before. It’s just as pretty as it was described in the novel.”
“The novel?”
Oops. I slipped.
“Um… there was a romance novel set in the North. It described this place as beautiful.”
“An unusual author. There aren’t many books that use the North as their setting.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s rough and unforgiving. It doesn’t seem like the sort of place suited for a romance novel.”
What is this man talking about?
“What’s wrong with the North? It’s beautiful.”
“Beautiful?”
“The roughness only makes it shine even more—so white and pure.”
“…”
The moment I finished speaking, his expression stiffened ever so slightly.
Did I say something wrong again?
As I nervously watched his reaction—
“…And after saying things like that, you still insist it’s not true.”
He let out a sigh and muttered so quietly I almost didn’t hear it.
“Hm? What’s not true?”
“It’s nothing.”
What do you mean, ‘it’s nothing’?
Just as I was about to ask again, the carriage finally came to a stop.
Creeeak.
The door opened, revealing a world completely unlike the one I’d just left.
“Welcome home, Lady Lailit.”
An elderly man, who looked every bit the butler, greeted me with a gentle smile.
“Lady Lailit…!”
Behind him stood several maids, all with tears streaming down their faces.
Before I could even understand what was happening, they rushed over and embraced me.
“Lady Lailit, are you all right?”
“We missed you so much, Lady Lailit!”
What…? What’s with these people?
I was still stunned by their unexpectedly emotional welcome when Raindart calmly pulled me out from among them.
“Her memories have not fully returned yet. Don’t overwhelm her.”
“W-What do you mean? Her memories haven’t returned?”
“We’ll explain later. Butler.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Has Grandmother been informed?”
“Yes. She is waiting in her room.”
Huh? Grandmother?
“Um, Duke… is this grandmother’s name… Rikain, by any chance?”
“Have your memories returned?”
“N-No… not exactly…”
I’m doomed.
Rikain.
Once, she had been one of the North’s greatest knights, dominating countless battlefields despite being a woman. In the novel, she was portrayed as an incredibly cold and ruthless person.
And now I was about to meet her?
Even though I wasn’t actually Lailit?
“Um, Duke. Wait a moment.”
“What is it?”
“Well… it’s not even confirmed that I’m really Lailit. Isn’t it a bad idea for me to meet her like this?”
I was about to stand before someone who could cut off a person’s head without batting an eye, while unintentionally impersonating the Duke’s wife.
If this went wrong…
It could become a complete disaster.
For me, at least.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Why are you the one deciding that? I’m not Lailit!”
Despite my protest, Raindart simply continued walking into the castle as though nothing had happened.
“Hey! Duke! Wait!”
“Lady Lailit.”
The butler approached me with a warm smile.
“I’ve already explained everything to the family head. So there’s no need to worry.”
“Oh… really?”
Then you could’ve told me that sooner!
“Please follow me. I’ll escort you.”
I wanted to ask if I could just not go.
But I couldn’t.
Since I’d already come all the way to the castle, it was only proper to greet the head of the household.
“All right. Please lead the way.”
As I followed the butler, I found myself taking in the scenery inside the castle.
This place is enormous.
The novel had barely described the Northern castle, which somehow made everything around me feel even more fascinating.
“I hope you won’t feel hurt.”
“Hm?”
“About His Highness leaving ahead of you.”
“Oh…”
Come to think of it…
That was actually pretty rude.
Seriously? He was the one who brought me here, and then he just left me behind!
I was quietly fuming over his cold attitude when the butler’s next words immediately erased my irritation.
“He most likely went ahead to calm the family head.”
“Calm her?”
“Yes. The family head’s health has become quite frail. If she were to receive too great a shock all at once, it could worsen her condition.”
“I see…”
Wait.
A shock?
“Um… Mr. Butler?”
“Yes, Lady Lailit.”
“When you say my appearance will be a shock… do you mean in a good way… or a bad way?”
The butler smiled faintly.
“I think you’ll find out for yourself.”
His footsteps came to a halt.
Standing before me was a massive door.
“…Ha…”
My heart pounded wildly.
I should’ve never come.
Maybe my life had been included in that billion Kent reward after all.
No. Pull yourself together.
It was already too late to turn back.
Taking a small, steadying breath, I gently knocked.
After what felt like forever, the door opened.
Raindart was standing there.
“You’re here.”
His casual greeting eased the tension that had been gripping my body.
Then—
“Lailit.”
A low, icy woman’s voice came from inside the room.
Looking ahead, I saw an elderly woman with snow-white hair.
The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew.
This was Rikain.
The legendary knight who had swept across countless battlefields.
She stood perfectly straight, her dry, unreadable eyes revealing nothing.
And despite her age, she looked well over 180 centimeters tall.
Anyone would have mistaken her for a knight.
But… I’m not Lailit.
How was I supposed to introduce myself?
Someone who resembles Lailit?
Someone believed to be Lailit?
No matter how I phrased it, I’d sound like an impostor.
Calm down.
People always say first impressions matter.
At the very least, I should greet her properly.
“Hello, Family Head. I’m Lailit—I mean… um… I’m not Lady Lailit. My name is Urania.”
“…”
I’m screwed.
I was so nervous that I stumbled over every other word.
I couldn’t even lift my head from embarrassment.
Then the family head spoke.
“You’ve had a difficult journey.”
Her voice was cold and emotionless.
Her words were kind, but when I looked up, she was staring at me with an expression devoid of any feeling.
“I’ve already heard what happened. Raindart said he brought you to the North because he suspects you might be Lailit.”
“Y-Yes.”
“But you clearly insisted that you are not Lailit.”
“Yes! That’s right!”
Finally! Someone who actually listens!
After hearing my answer, the family head sighed as though troubled.
A brief silence filled the room before she spoke again.
“I’m sorry, but would you mind waiting outside for a moment?”
“…Pardon?”
“It seems I still have something to discuss with Raindart. It won’t take long.”
“Ah… all right.”
Click.
Wow… she’s unbelievably intimidating.
The novel hadn’t done her justice.
Meeting her in person, her presence alone was overwhelming.
“Lady Lailit? Why are you already back outside?”
The butler looked surprised.
“They said they had something to discuss, so they asked me to wait outside.”
“I see.”
I wonder what they’re talking about.
Judging from how troubled she looked, it seemed the family head also believed I wasn’t Lailit.
So… are they just going to send me home?
Honestly… that wouldn’t be so bad.
I’d just collect the one billion Kent and leave.
…Though, after traveling for an entire week, it felt like a waste to turn around immediately.
The conversation inside dragged on longer than I expected.
The longer it lasted, the more anxious I became.
What should I do…?
Just then, I felt someone watching me.
When I glanced behind me, I saw the same maids from earlier peeking at me while pretending to hide.
Not that they were hiding very well.
I tried to ignore them, assuming they had their reasons, but the longer they stared, the harder it became to pretend not to notice.
Finally, I turned toward their hiding place.
“Um… is there something you wanted to say?”
At my words, the maids’ faces turned bright red.
They exchanged hesitant glances before slowly shuffling toward me.
But once they arrived, they simply lowered their heads without saying a word.
Sniff…
Then the youngest-looking maid suddenly burst into tears.
Not just quietly, either.
She sobbed as if her heart were breaking.
Wait… why are you crying?!
“U-Um… are you hurt? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”
I was completely flustered.
But before I knew it, the other maids had started crying as well.
What… what’s going on now?
