CMWD 39

Chapter 39

“I trust you, my lady. Therefore, I want us to form a relationship based on mutual trust. Not one where doubts appear out of nowhere.”

It seemed that Dimidius also viewed their relationship as a complementary contract. If he acted carefully from now on, perhaps Daphne’s prophetic dreams could be avoided as well. Since she had changed the future before in Odor Territory, it wasn’t impossible to alter the future shown in the saint’s visions.

So, it seemed that all they had to avoid were situations tied by love and hate. That wouldn’t happen going forward.

Olentia spoke to him with a satisfied look.

“I pushed things on you rather abruptly, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I guess I suddenly felt uneasy.”

“I didn’t do anything. Why would such thoughts occur suddenly?”

She didn’t mention that she had met Saint Daphne with the help of Crown Prince Regalis. Once she started hiding it, it seemed even harder to bring up.

Olentia nodded and walked toward the entrance.

“Yes. I should sleep now. We’re moving tomorrow morning, after all.”

Tomorrow was finally the day they would go to the Grand Duke’s castle in the north. It was only for about five months, but the curiosity and anticipation were growing. Since they would be staying through spring and summer, she wouldn’t see snow, but it would surely feel refreshing.

Dimidius also spoke as he entered the mansion.

“Then please get a good night’s sleep.”

Olentia lightly waved off his words and returned to her room. Dimidius seemed to head to his office, perhaps because work remained.

‘Not all dukes are good,’ she thought, letting go of her business concerns for the moment.

The journey began with several carriages. Olentia rode in a magical carriage with Dimidius, observing the scenery from the window. Though they passed quickly, the lush greenery was beautiful, and she felt at ease, as if she had found an answer the night before.

Dimidius read newspapers or examined documents in the swaying carriage, seemingly unfazed by the countless words in front of him.

They traveled for several hours straight.

Although they took breaks in between, Olentia felt nauseated. It was her first time riding a magical carriage, and her head spun while her body felt exhausted. As a child, she had never traveled far except to Odor Territory.

Dimidius spoke to her with concern.

“It’s normal for a carriage like this to take some getting used to. Are you alright?”

Olentia shook her head, her face pale.

“No. I feel like we should get there quickly. I didn’t know riding a magical carriage would be this hard. A train would have been better.”

“You could have taken a train, but I misjudged. If we took a train, we would have had to transfer to a carriage at the station, so I thought going straight here would be better.”

“It’s fine.”

“We’ll arrive soon. Just hold on a little longer.”

His voice sounded distant. Olentia closed her eyes, trying not to think at all. She couldn’t bear to look at the scenery outside anymore.

Thankfully, Dimidius was right. The fast-moving magical carriage soon came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived. Please come out.”

Olentia, still groggy, was lifted into Dimidius’s arms. Holding her effortlessly, he got out of the carriage and looked at the numerous knights and servants waiting outside.

“Everyone, go inside. You don’t need to come out here,” he said as he walked past them and entered the Grand Duke’s castle.

The head maid, startled, lightly tapped the shoulder of the butler standing beside her.

“Oh my! Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen His Grace like that? His eyes were full of love and concern!”

The butler stepped slightly away from her fussing, then spoke cautiously.

“Indeed, this is not the person I knew.”

“Exactly! I was a bit surprised when they married suddenly, but I guess flowers are finally blooming here at the Grand Duke’s castle too.”

The butler cleared his throat and returned to his post, while the head maid began working with an excited expression.

Olentia fell into a deep sleep under warm blankets. Finally freed from the fast-moving carriage, she felt serene.

When she woke up, Bobby’s face appeared faintly.

“Miss! Are you alright? You got here first on the magical carriage, and then collapsed? I just arrived myself.”

Feeling completely relaxed, Olentia stretched her arms. Warm light from the window suggested it was daytime. She wondered how many hours she had slept, having arrived last night.

“Ah! Are you okay? Your back must hurt.”

Bobby twisted his back flexibly and smiled.

“I think I’m healthier than you are.”

“Well, lucky you!”

“I’ll take better care of you from now on. I hope you stay healthier than me.”

At that moment, the door swung open, revealing Dimidius in a black suit. He walked over with long strides and stood in front of Olentia.

“How do you feel now? Are you alright?”

His voice sounded unusually gentle. She remembered being carried by him into the castle yesterday and felt embarrassed, her face warming.

She could also imagine what the castle staff thought. They probably assumed the Grand Duchess was making a scene right after arriving.

Not wanting to show her sleep-worn face, Olentia covered her face with both hands.

“I’m fine. Could you leave now? I haven’t even washed yet.”

Dimidius chuckled softly.

“What’s the difference between husband and wife?”

“We’re not really married!”

“Understood. I’ll leave now. The butler will guide you through the castle.”

Olentia nodded, squinting as she watched him leave. Even if he worried, he had been entering the lady’s room without permission since before.

Later, Olentia washed and dressed, turning her head to inspect the room. The wooden furniture and white wallpaper were clean and pretty. Plants she hadn’t seen before stood by the windows. Being in the Grand Duke’s castle felt refreshing.

On her first day there, Olentia wore a light-colored dress. A soft apricot dress fluttered near her ankles, with several ribbons on the chest area, which looked especially cute.

Once she was ready, the waiting butler greeted her.

“I’m Butler Alfred. I’ll take good care of you, my lady.”

Even at the Duke’s mansion, the phrase “my lady” felt unfamiliar. It was embarrassing, especially since Dimidius had seen her first in such a state.

Feeling awkward, Olentia scratched the back of her head.

“Thank you. You just need to show me enough to avoid getting lost.”

After all, she would leave in five months. She didn’t need to know every corner like a real lady. Alfred guided her through the castle as best as he could.

The Grand Duke’s castle was much larger than the Duke’s mansion, with countless rooms.

The library’s bookshelves were extraordinarily tall, and the reception room had black wallpaper with a huge pendulum clock, giving it an elegant and luxurious appearance.

“The long gallery is conveniently located for entertaining guests. Other art pieces are kept in a special room with a controlled cool temperature,” the butler explained.

Olentia nodded. Compared to the count’s long gallery, the duke’s castle gallery was more like a museum. Famous paintings and sculptures were displayed in glass cases with presence and grandeur.

“Exploring the castle will take up the whole day,” Olentia commented.

“Indeed. There’s also the greenhouse garden His Grace cherishes, with various plants, trees, and flowers. It’s quite large, isn’t it?”

The greenhouse garden was so vast that one had to tilt their head back to view it fully. Olentia followed the butler inside. It was warmer and slightly humid compared to outside. As he said, there were many plants and trees, and the flowers were vibrant and beautiful.

There were especially many kinds of roses. She had heard that roses were crossbred extensively, and it seemed all varieties were gathered in this greenhouse.

Olentia remembered the rose garden at the Duke’s mansion and asked the butler.

“Does His Grace like roses? I assume so.”

The butler paused and looked at the roses.

“I’m not sure if he likes them, but he does prepare many rose petals.”

“Prepares?”

“Yes. His Grace uses many rose petals during his baths.”

“Wow… I never imagined that.”

The thought of Dimidius bathing among floating rose petals was amusing. It made sense why he would be embarrassed to mention it; he seemed more attentive to aesthetics than expected.

After that, Olentia spent time wandering the greenhouse alone. Bobby must have been busy learning to work in the castle. She sat for a moment, catching her breath. Meetings with Dimidius were rare at the Duke’s mansion, and even less frequent here. That didn’t bother her, though—she only needed to provide him with holy power when necessary.

Just then, she heard footsteps.

Thud, thud!

She turned toward the sound and saw two people in front of a tree with lush leaves. One was a knight in black uniform, and the other was a maid in a white apron.

‘…What’s going on?’

The atmosphere seemed tense, so Olentia hid behind the tree to watch silently.

The maid handed a letter with trembling hands to the dark-skinned, handsome knight.

“Sir Podion, please accept my heart.”

Olentia almost laughed at the maid’s cuteness. She had expected some major event like in Odor Territory, but it was just a confession—thankfully. Witnessing such a scene by chance felt incredible.

‘He has to accept it! She’s so cute!’

Olentia watched the knight, whose face turned red in embarrassment. He had soft brown hair, clear amber eyes, and a charming beauty mark under his right eye.

Sir Podion spoke as he received the letter.

“I’ll take the letter, but I cannot accept your heart. I’m sorry.”

The maid looked momentarily shocked, tears welling in her eyes.