Chapter : 03
“…The North?”
I nearly stopped breathing at Leindart’s completely unexpected words.
Despite my reaction, he continued as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“If we go to the North, we can verify the imprint we engraved when we got married. So let’s go to the North, Lailit.”
“Wait… an imprint? You’re saying we made a marriage imprint?”
“Is there a problem?”
Of course there’s a problem!
I’d read about it in a book before.
The imprint was a northern marriage tradition. During the wedding ceremony, a mage would use magic to leave each spouse’s mark on the other’s hand.
Once it was engraved, it could never be erased, nor could another person’s imprint ever be added. Because of that, even among northerners, very few people chose to undergo the ritual despite it being a long-standing tradition.
And he was saying we’d actually done it?
“No, why would you even go as far as making an imprint? You could’ve skipped that part!”
“We loved each other and chose to make the imprint. What’s the problem with that?”
He looked like the kind of man who wouldn’t bleed even if someone stabbed him, yet at times like this, why did he have to be so unnecessarily romantic?
“Still… that’s interesting.”
“What is?”
“Stories about the imprint aren’t something people outside the North usually know. Yet you spoke about it so naturally.”
Oh no.
“Uh… I-I read it! In a book!”
I desperately tried to explain myself, but the more excuses I made, the more suspicious he seemed to become.
“The only person who can verify an imprint is the mage who blessed it. Which is why we have to go to the North.”
“U-Um… but wouldn’t it make more sense to bring the mage here instead?”
What I really wanted to say was, You’re the one who barged into my life, so shouldn’t you be the one doing the traveling? But once again, I swallowed my frustration.
“…”
After a brief silence, he let out a sigh.
“That mage is currently wanted throughout the North.”
“What?”
“The borders are under heavy surveillance. He most likely hasn’t been able to leave the North.”
“So… that means… you don’t even know when he’ll be caught?”
“…”
This was unbelievable.
He wanted me to go all the way to the North—a place where I had no connections whatsoever—and wait for a criminal who might not even be caught anytime soon?
“I’m not going.”
The moment I refused, his expression stiffened again.
Or rather…
He looked sad.
Even then, his handsome face only made my resolve waver.
No. Stay firm.
I still had no idea what was really going on, but one fact was absolutely certain.
I wasn’t the Lailit he was searching for.
That alone was more than enough reason to reject his proposal.
“I’ve said this over and over. I’m not Duchess Lailit, the woman you’re looking for. I’m Urania, a maid working in the countryside.”
“…”
“So please stop doing this to me and look for someone else instead.”
Silence filled the room.
Carefully, I rose from my seat.
“Please say something nice to Miss Daisy for me. I’d rather not get fired over this. Then I’ll be on my way. I truly hope you find the real Duchess.”
I had just reached the door when—
“One billion Kent.”
A number I’d never even imagined handling echoed through the room.
“…One… what?”
“One billion Kent. If you come to the North with me and stay until the mage confirms the imprint, I’ll give you one billion Kent.”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him.
“If the imprint doesn’t appear when it’s examined, then you’re free to live however you wish. I won’t interfere with your life ever again.”
His next words made it clear this wasn’t a joke.
One billion Kent?
That was enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life without ever working another day.
And he was offering it just for living in the North for a while?
At that point, loyalty to this village or emotional attachment didn’t matter anymore.
I had to go.
“I know,” he said quietly. “From your perspective, this must all be overwhelming. If some strange man suddenly asked you to go to the North with him, of course you wouldn’t want to.”
Come to think of it…
Maybe I wasn’t actually that attached to this place after all.
“You’ve already built a life here, so asking you to leave can’t be easy. The only thing I can offer you in return… is money.”
Please don’t look so depressed, Your Grace.
You were about to give me something I’d dreamed of my entire life.
“If I turn out not to be Duchess Lailit… there won’t be any consequences for me, right?”
“Of course not.”
I pretended to think it over.
The truth was, the moment he mentioned one billion Kent, I’d practically made up my mind.
Who in the world would be foolish enough to turn down that kind of money?
Besides, there was another reason.
The Duke’s sudden visit to find me would become the talk of the village before long. Within a few days, everyone would probably know.
I didn’t want this peaceful little town to be thrown into chaos because of me.
In the end, I had to leave somewhere anyway.
Though I definitely wasn’t expecting money to enter the equation.
It was completely unexpected, but thanks to that pleasant twist of fate, I felt like I could leave this village with a much lighter heart.
“All right. I’ll accept your proposal.”
The instant I finished speaking, the gloom vanished from his face, replaced by a brilliant smile.
I’m weak against handsome men smiling.
A face that usually looked so cold somehow became… almost adorable when he smiled.
No. That’s not what’s important right now.
Quickly regaining my composure, I smiled back.
“Well then… shall we draw up a contract first?”
Before dawn, while the last traces of winter’s chill still lingered in the air, I woke up.
Instead of putting on my maid’s uniform, I wore the finest clothes I owned.
Rather than heading to the Baron’s estate for work, I waited outside for a carriage.
“Are you really sure about this?”
Lace, standing beside me, looked at me with concern.
I’d told her she didn’t have to come if she was tired, but thanks to her, my farewell to this village felt complete.
“I’m fine. Though… sorry for making you come out this early.”
“Hey. This isn’t the time to say you’re sorry. You’re supposed to say thank you.”
Her teasing made me smile without realizing it.
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“If things get too hard, just come back. Rumors die down with time.”
“…You’re really not bothered by any of this?”
“Hm? By what?”
“I mean… it’s probably impossible, but… what if I really am the Duchess?”
“What? Wait… don’t tell me there’s actually something going on? Are you secretly the heroine who ran away from the Grand Duke’s love or something? That’s such a cliché.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? If that were true, I wouldn’t be going with him in the first place!”
She burst into laughter at my reaction.
“What does it matter? You’re still you.”
Then she leaned closer and whispered,
“If you really do end up becoming the Grand Duchess… come back and take me with you someday. Help me escape this place.”
Her words were only half a joke.
I couldn’t help laughing.
“Sure. If that happens, I’ll let you know.”
Clip-clop… clip-clop…
Just then, the sound of horses’ hooves echoed from the distance.
The noise grew louder, and soon an elegant carriage unlike anything I’d ever seen in this village came into view.
Decorated in black and silver, the antique carriage somehow resembled the Duke himself with its cold, dignified appearance.
Thud.
The carriage stopped before me, and its door opened.
“Good morning, Lailit.”
Inside sat Leindart—a man I’d believed, until yesterday morning, I’d never meet in my lifetime.
“Good morning, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?”
“As if I could.”
Before I knew it, Leindart had stepped down from the carriage and offered me his hand.
“I’ve dreamed of this moment for an entire year. How could I possibly sleep?”
“…”
The instant I took his hand, I knew instinctively.
My life was about to head in a direction completely different from anything I’d ever imagined.
Even so, I kept things simple in my mind.
I’d go to the North.
Live there until the imprint was verified.
Receive my one billion Kent.
Then return here.
That was my plan.
That was my only goal.
“Come, Lailit.”
Of course, I did feel a little sorry for the Duke.
Sooner or later, he’d realize I wasn’t Lailit—the Duchess he’d been searching for.
Still… that’s not really my problem.
What else could I do?
This was the best help I could possibly offer him.
“I’ll be back.”
“All right. Have a safe trip.”
After exchanging a brief farewell with my friend, I climbed into the carriage.
The interior was unbelievably luxurious.
Soft cushions, magic stones that regulated the temperature—everything about it screamed wealth.
As I looked around with fascination, Leindart watched me with quiet satisfaction.
“Come to think of it, you’ve never seen this carriage before.”
“Oh?”
“I only began having it built after you disappeared.”
“I see.”
“Yes. I wanted you to ride in it the moment I found you.”
“…”
The affection in Leindart’s eyes was impossible to hide.
Knowing that those feelings were being directed at me instead of the real Lailit left a pang of guilt in my chest.
But I told myself it was only temporary.
Little did I know that this decision—one I’d believed to be nothing more than a brief detour—would one day give rise to a storm powerful enough to change everything.
