Chapter 9
Throughout the bus ride back home, Sadie and Valentin chatted happily the entire time.
Tracy was glad to see it, yet at the same time she felt strangely uncomfortable, making a conscious effort not to watch the two of them.
The first to notice her behavior, unsurprisingly, was Sadie.
“Titi.”
She lightly nudged Tracy’s side and whispered,
“Are you conscious of him?”
Tracy flinched.
“What are you talking about?”
“You keep stealing glances at him.”
“…Of course I do. There’s a huge difference in rank between us, and he’s Master Sergeant Haskins’ friend.”
“……”
Sadie’s face puffed up with dissatisfaction.
Valentin cut into the conversation.
“When people suddenly start whispering, I naturally assume they’re talking behind my back.”
Turning toward him, Sadie covered her mouth with a bright smile.
“Oh my, how could we possibly badmouth a colonel?”
“My subordinates do it right in front of me.”
“Hahaha. It must be difficult leading such troublesome people.”
“A high position comes with being criticized. That’s just how it is.”
The two exchanged jokes with ease.
Only Tracy felt out of place.
Every so often, she caught the astonished looks of the other passengers after hearing someone mention that Valentin was a colonel, making her sigh inwardly.
Still… as long as Sadie’s happy.
That alone was enough.
The bright smile on her little sister’s face was far more cheerful than it had been the last time they’d met, six months ago.
For that…
She found herself grateful to Valentin.
At the same time, though, her heart grew heavy.
She herself had never been able to treat Sadie with such warmth.
Lost in complicated thoughts, the bus finally neared their home.
Sadie hopped off with a cheerful smile—
Only for it to fade as they approached Todd’s residence.
Tracy noticed immediately and opened the front door first.
“What took you so long? You dumped a complete stranger into my house and disappeared.”
The first thing greeting them was Todd’s voice, laced with irritation and disguised as a joke.
Ordinarily, his expression would have been far harsher.
But with Valentin present, even his tone had softened somewhat.
Tracy immediately straightened respectfully.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I—”
“It wasn’t that long,” Valentin interrupted as he stepped into the house ahead of her.
“And since she’s practically becoming your family, I thought it’d be good for her to greet her first.”
He casually lifted Sadie’s suitcase—somehow he’d already taken it from her—and silently asked Todd where to put it.
Todd let out a dry laugh.
“Colonel, are you trying to become related to us too? Isn’t that a bit shameless?”
“What are you talking about? I’m just looking after someone important to you. Besides, we’re not actual brothers, so we wouldn’t really be related anyway.”
“You know what I mean.”
The wrinkles between Todd’s brows didn’t disappear.
Valentin merely smiled.
“I happened to get another bag of chocolate chip cookies today. Since the sergeant was going to pick up her sister, I thought they’d make a nice welcome gift.”
“…Tch. Fine. I’ll let it slide since you already brought gifts yesterday.”
“How generous of you.”
That finally eased Todd’s mood.
Sadie looked at Valentin with sparkling eyes, impressed by how effortlessly he had defused the situation.
Looping her arm through Tracy’s, she whispered,
“He’s such a wonderful person.”
“…Yeah.”
The flat response made Sadie glare sideways.
“That’s it?”
“What else should I say?”
“…Honestly, Titi, you’re so—”
“Can someone close the door? You’re letting all the dust inside.”
Todd interrupted.
Sadie’s eyes narrowed.
Tracy quietly turned around and shut the door.
“Sorry.”
“Honestly. You have to be told everything.”
“Quit wasting your energy complaining and focus on negotiating for our country instead.”
Valentin lightly soothed Todd’s grumbling as they headed into the living room.
Meanwhile, Camilla, who had arrived earlier and had been quietly waiting, picked up Sadie’s luggage.
When her eyes met the sisters’, she smiled politely.
“My name is Camilla. I’ll be working here as the housekeeper starting today. You must have had a tiring journey.”
Sadie instinctively smiled back.
“So you’re the person the colonel mentioned earlier. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her greeting was elegant without being arrogant.
Camilla blinked in surprise.
“Oh my, please don’t speak so formally to me. I’m only a commoner.”
“Ah…”
Sadie still hadn’t quite shed the habits she’d developed at the academy.
Many of the instructors there were minor or fallen nobles who also served as attendants, so students were required to address them respectfully.
Understanding immediately, Tracy gave Sadie a reassuring nod and a faint smile.
“Thank you, Camilla. Could you take Sadie’s luggage up to her room?”
“Titi.”
Just as Tracy turned toward the kitchen, Sadie grabbed her arm.
The look on her face clearly said,
What are you trying to do now?
Smiling gently, Tracy squeezed her hand.
“I just want to check the groceries I bought. Chocolate chip cookies aren’t enough for a proper meal.”
Sadie’s brow immediately furrowed.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to cook yourself?”
“…I told you, I bought the groceries.”
“Hah.”
Clearly unconvinced, Sadie gave a short laugh.
She walked over to Camilla, took back her own suitcase, then turned toward Tracy with a stern expression.
“You’re coming with me.”
Then she looked at Camilla.
“Camilla, could you please take care of the cooking?”
“Oh… yes.”
The sudden reversal of roles made Camilla answer rather timidly.
Watching Sadie head toward her room, Tracy wore an uneasy expression before slowly following.
Click.
The sisters entered the small bedroom on the first floor.
Sadie firmly set down her suitcase, straightened her back, and stood directly in front of Tracy.
“What are you doing?”
“…Sadie.”
“I knew something was missing from what the colonel told me.”
“It’s not like that.”
Even after Tracy denied it, Sadie’s gaze only became sharper.
“Not like that? Anyone could tell you were heading straight to work the moment you got home!”
“I told you. I was just checking on the groceries.”
“Don’t lie to me! If Haskins had said anything, you would’ve started doing everything yourself again!”
Todd had made it possible for Tracy to step onto the soil of Sahiris, once their homeland’s enemy.
Because of that debt, she had no choice but to obey whatever he asked.
But Sadie, still young, couldn’t accept it.
Whenever she argued, Todd would lose his temper.
That was why Tracy always acted first.
“Sadie. Watch your words.”
“No. I won’t. Last time you told me you understood what I said. Haskins is going to inherit the dukedom, and you’re going to become a duchess. So why are you still doing everything yourself instead of giving orders?”
“…Sigh.”
The sharp words pouring from Sadie’s peach-colored lips made Tracy close her eyes, rubbing the deep crease between her brows.
“Let’s start with the title issue.”
She slowly opened her eyes.
“He hasn’t inherited the dukedom yet.”
“What?”
At Sadie’s startled question, Tracy rubbed her forehead again.
“They decided to postpone it because the negotiations will probably take a long time. That’s why they held a simple engagement ceremony during the victory banquet instead.”
Silence.
Sadie’s shoulders slumped.
Seeing the disappointment on her face, Tracy sighed.
“I know what you’re trying to say. But you know how things are. I don’t get to decide anything. I have no choice but to follow the Master Sergeant’s wishes.”
“……”
“And it really was a very simple ceremony. The dress wasn’t extravagant, and all we did was introduce ourselves to a few acquaintances. Everything happened so suddenly that I didn’t even have time to send you a letter. Besides…”
She smiled gently.
“It wasn’t the wedding.”
Even after explaining everything she could, Sadie’s expression only darkened.
“Fine. Let’s leave the engagement and wedding aside.”
She looked Tracy straight in the eyes.
“But you still haven’t explained what happened yesterday.”
“There wasn’t much choice. We didn’t have a housekeeper.”
“That’s exactly what I want to ask!”
Sadie’s voice rose.
“Why didn’t you have a housekeeper? What has Haskins been doing all this time? Has he gotten complacent after becoming a Master Sergeant? Even so, how can he keep treating the woman who’s supposed to become his wife the same way he always has?”
Pointing a finger accusingly, Sadie stepped closer until their faces were only inches apart.
Tracy instinctively leaned back.
“Sadie.”
“Did I say anything wrong? You were once a proud noble lady! You’re supposed to become a duchess! He even signed a written promise! And yet the way he treats you is—”
“Sadie!”
Tracy finally raised her voice.
Sadie fell silent.
After taking a deep breath, Tracy straightened herself.
“Even the Master Sergeant didn’t know when I’d be discharged from the army.”
She spoke calmly.
“Nor did he know when his own duties would end. I only returned to normal life three days ago, and he’s only taking a short break after finishing the most urgent work.”
Sadie lowered her eyes.
Tracy gently placed both hands on her shoulders and bent down slightly to meet her gaze.
“He said he couldn’t leave someone he didn’t trust in charge of the house while we were away.”
She smiled softly.
“You agree with that, don’t you?”
Sadie remained silent.
“So you understand why yesterday couldn’t be helped.”
“And Colonel Seymour is the Master Sergeant’s friend.”
“So it’s perfectly fine for me to receive him.”
Only after a long pause did Sadie slowly look up again, pouting slightly.
“Titi…”
“I know.”
Tracy’s voice softened even more.
“I know you’re the only one who worries about me this much.”
“That’s why I’m always grateful.”
“But you don’t have to worry quite so much.”
“You know better than anyone that I never act without thinking.”
Sadie lowered her head and quietly nodded.
Only then did Tracy finally straighten up.
A small smile appeared on Sadie’s face.
“Enough serious talk!”
She grabbed Tracy’s hand.
“Now listen to everything that’s happened to me!”
Watching her little sister drag her toward the bed, Tracy couldn’t help smiling.
For the first time in a long while…
It felt as though ordinary life had finally returned.
At least for the moment—
They quietly set aside the worries that still lingered in both of their hearts.
