“This is the room that the previous Duchess used. It’s getting cold today, so please don’t open the windows. I’ll bring you a warm meal soon.”
The butler showed Tia to a room with a faint stream of sunlight coming through the window. He told her if she needed anything, to ask one of the maids downstairs, and then he bowed and left.
The large door creaked loudly as it closed, sounding like an old castle gate.
Tia stood at the entrance for a moment, quietly looking around the room.
There was a green velvet sofa, a dark brown ash wood vanity, a small round table, and a big desk that looked more suited for a library…
Beyond the archway, there was a bedroom.
“It’s so dark. Too dark…”
Marisol mumbled as she walked into the bedroom.
“The furniture is all dull, and there’s no jewelry cabinet. To think they’ve locked Princess Tia in this gloomy, prison-like place… These evil barbarians…”
…Maybe I should write a letter to Mother first.
Tia moved to the wide desk in the sitting room.
The leather-backed chair was a bit rough in design but was surprisingly cozy and comfortable, fitting her body well.
The ink in the writing box was fresh, as if it had just been filled.
Tia took out the quill pen she had received from the Duke.
Oriana had already laid out some parchment paper for her to write on.
“This… This is clear treason!”
A moment later, Marisol came storming out of the sitting room.
“How can they use a plain, unembroidered fabric for the canopy in the Princess’s bedroom? I’m sure they didn’t even hold a welcoming ceremony on purpose! I don’t believe Vicente Kalli is even away on a trip… He’s probably hiding somewhere, deliberately neglecting the Princess!”
“Well, I don’t think it’s that bad.”
“I don’t know… maybe.”
Tia answered casually while practicing with the pen on some scrap paper.
The soft, delicate feel of the pen’s nib was satisfying.
“But does it make sense that, after two days, they still haven’t found the lord of this place? If they keep treating the Princess like this, we need to tell Her Majesty, and they’ll face punishment.”
“You’re right, Marisol. But let’s hear the lord’s explanation first. Have you finished packing up your things in the bedroom?”
“Oh, no. I’ll hurry up and do it!”
Tia, while getting Marisol to tidy up, began writing the letter.
“…I’ll bring some warm water for you, Your Highness.”
Oriana, fiddling with the teapot with a gloomy expression, stepped out to find something to do.
The teacup she left behind gave off only the cold scent of ice water.
“To the most high Emperor of Albreon, and my mother…”
Tia carefully dipped the quill into the ink and began writing.
The magic in the quill glowed with soft white light.
Soon, the other quills back in the palace would glow the same way to signal the delivery of the letter.
“I’ve arrived safely at Karayan Castle.”
A calm light, like the light in her mother’s room, lit up the desk as Tia wrote.
The sound of wind whistling through the thick curtains seemed to seep into the room.
It felt like there was a faint smell of rain in the air.
The next morning.
“Did you sleep well, Your Highness? I’ll have breakfast brought to you.”
Marisol’s face was brighter than the clear sky.
She was quick to get angry, but also quick to get over it. She must have felt better after sleeping in a good bed.
Marisol rang a small bell cheerfully, then opened the curtains, letting the sunlight flood into the room.
“It looks like the weather will be nice today!”
Tia got out of bed and went to the window to enjoy the sunshine.
“Has the lord still not returned?”
Tia asked as she stepped into the sunlight.
“It seems so. Still no news from him? Well, it’s good for you to rest and recover from the journey. You slept so well despite the strong sunlight. I’ll be right back, I’m going to the dressing room.”
Marisol hummed a little tune, clearly happy that the troublesome lord wouldn’t come back anytime soon.
When she left, Tia’s meal arrived.
The maids who served her were different from the ones who had served dinner the night before.
“We’ve prepared a sauce similar to what you had yesterday, Your Highness.”
They kept sneaking glances at Tia.
Were they amazed because she was royalty? But they weren’t being shockingly rude or disrespectful.
They only stopped staring when Oriana gave them a cold look.
“Have you finished already? You don’t seem to be in the mood to eat.”
“I’ve eaten more than yesterday.”
Tia tried to eat well for Marisol’s sake, but the food was heavier and greasier than what she was used to back in the palace.
The fish pie was the only thing she could eat to fill her stomach.
But she really missed the fresh fruit salad and sweet pudding she hadn’t seen in days.
When would Vicente Kalli show up?
“Should we ask for a tour of the mansion, Your Highness?”
Since no one had appeared by the late afternoon, Oriana opened and closed the window restlessly, asking.
Tia also wanted to get some fresh air.
“I’d like to take a walk in the nearby garden.”
“I’ll go find someone to guide you!”
Marisol cheerfully ran out and came back soon, holding the arm of a woman who looked to be about her mother’s age, dressed simply and elegantly.
“They say there’s a natural healing hot spring in the mansion! If you soak in it, it’ll restore your energy and make your skin smooth. Lady Diaz will guide you there.”
The woman, introduced as Lady Diaz, bowed politely and spoke.
“We have a private hot spring for our lord. It’s free now, so you can enjoy it in peace without any interruptions.”
“Is it okay for me to use the lord’s private area?”
Tia asked casually, remembering how the butler had said nothing could be decided without the lord’s presence, making her wonder.
Lady Diaz blushed slightly.
“Of course, Your Highness. You are the future lady of this house. You can use anything here as you wish.”
Future lady of the house…
The idea of “marriage” felt more real to Tia now, and it made her feel strange.
But unlike her, Oriana and Marisol’s faces lit up.
“Hot spring! Healing hot spring! They say your skin will get all smooth, Princess Tia!”
“Hehe. I think Marisol has come up with a pretty good idea this time. Let’s get ready to go out quickly.”
Excited, Marisol and Oriana hurried off before they even heard Tia’s answer.
Tia nodded quietly behind their backs.
Karayan’s grounds were overgrown with trees that hadn’t even been pruned.
The mix of tree species made it look like a jungle from a book.
The fresh breeze and unique scent of the forest were so refreshing that it seemed to wash away the confusion in her mind.
Tia passed through a flower garden full of purple crocuses and entered a silver birch forest with golden fallen leaves.
The pink reed flowers swaying on both sides of the path were so tall they almost matched Tia’s height.
After walking for a while, she began to feel warm moisture in the air.
“Oh my…”
When they opened the round wooden door, the steam from the hot spring poured out like clouds.
“Do you smell that? It’s wonderful. There are your favorite little flowers and hawthorn, and I think hellebores grow here too?”
“Hellebores?”
Tia absentmindedly looked at Marisol, who knew a lot about flowers.
She had forgotten about the saffron in the crocus field earlier because of her thoughts.
