TDBCD 09

Chapter 09

There stood a perfect woman, as though she had just stepped out of a textbook on etiquette.

Victor chuckled at Matthias’s reaction, but in truth, he felt much the same way.

Summer sunlight lay and rolled around the hem of her white dress like a cat.

The dress, cut from the neck to the shoulders in accordance with the fashion of the time, emphasized her long, graceful neckline. The dress, decorated with ruffles made of translucent fabric, spread out just enough without being excessive, adding an elegance reminiscent of a swan.

And what about the way she stood with her gloved hands neatly folded together? She looked dignified enough to be escorted straight into a ballroom without seeming out of place.

In short, the concern Matthias had been so worried about—“It will be difficult for her to pretend to be a high-ranking noblewoman”—had completely evaporated the moment Ibel appeared.

In particular, Ibel’s characteristic expressionless face even gave off an air that made it difficult for those beneath her station to casually approach her.

Everyone was amazed, yet Ibel alone seemed completely unfazed.

Victor noticed the faint trace of annoyance in her amber eyes and found himself somewhat amused.

“You look good.”

The compliment was sincere.

Ibel looked at him as though surprised, then shrugged.

“I find my military uniform much more comfortable.”

“Have you ever learned social dancing?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Taking Ibel’s excellent learning ability into account, he had originally allotted two months. But at this rate, even one month should be more than enough.

Once she finished adapting to her new identity, he had planned to return to his territory first and come back to pick her up once everything was ready. It seemed that would not be a problem either.

“Starting tomorrow, articles about the two of us will gradually begin appearing. From gossip magazines to daily newspapers.”

“Yes.”

“Today, a little later, we’ll be seen taking a walk together in a nearby park. Will that be all right?”

“I don’t mind… Ah, no. I don’t mind.”

Ibel caught herself after unconsciously using her military-style manner of speaking and awkwardly softened her ending.

At that, the Grand Duke’s lips lifted ever so slightly.

It was a small change, but he seemed pleased by it.

Meanwhile, Granny Vanya excitedly spoke to the Grand Duke.

“Oh, you should have seen how surprised Vanya was while helping her get ready! The moment she touched the fabric with her fingertips, she knew exactly where it had come from. She could immediately tell which embroidery was elegant and which was tacky. And when it came to the shoes, she chose the perfect shine and even the perfect heel height!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, of course! Those are things you can’t know unless you learned them in a prestigious noble family…”

A prestigious noble family.

Listening quietly, Ibel gave a silent scoff.

She had been preparing to be sold as a “valuable product” in the future since she was around seven years old.

At ten years old, she had been forced to practice dancing until her feet were blistered, and if she made even the slightest mistake in etiquette, she was given no dinner that day.

After enduring such harsh and terrible years, Ibel had finally become perfect enough to satisfy her greedy parents.

Of course, after Abel began running wild like an untamed colt at the age of fifteen, her parents had no time to spare even the slightest bit of attention for her as they dealt with his troubles.

“It would be a great help if you could distinguish between what I know and what I don’t, and teach me accordingly.”

Ibel placed her hand on the one politely extended toward her.

It was a simple gesture, yet it displayed an elegance that was neither lacking nor excessive. Matthias and Granny Vanya both exclaimed in admiration at the same time.

“Do you remember Colonel Eberstein?”

“Of course.”

“I intend to have you officially registered as the adopted daughter of the Eberstein family.”

Colonel Konrad von Eberstein.

He was the official owner of this secret residence and a man of considerable rank within the Bavarian Army.

He was also one of the twelve people who had survived alongside her until the very end…

And he had been like a father to everyone.

Ibel, too, had followed him like a daughter followed her father.

“Will I be able to see him?”

“Of course. I’ve already sent him a telegram asking him to come here in a month.”

When he told her that she would be able to meet Colonel Konrad while he was still alive, Ibel’s expression brightened.

“Do you also remember that the Colonel was good at playing the pan flute?”

“Yes.”

“I also remember that he was a man who always raised the morale of the troops.”

His words were brief, but the emotions behind them were heavy.

Those days were gone now.

There were only two people left who could share those memories.

Victor let out a quiet breath as he looked at Ibel.

“Is it difficult for you to fall asleep?”

“My body is much more comfortable than it was back then, so I’m fine—”

She caught herself.

“…I’m fine.”

There was, in truth, no reason for her not to be fine. The bed the Grand Duke had provided was extremely expensive, so it was comfortable as well.

The food she ate, the clothes she wore, the things she applied to her body—all of them were the finest products available. How could she possibly have trouble?

But as though he had seen through her lie, he said,

“If you have trouble sleeping, come find me. We’re going to be husband and wife soon, so what’s so difficult about having a drink together?”

“I will.”

Knowing that this was the Grand Duke’s own way of showing consideration, Ibel quietly accepted it.

“Then shall we head out now, Lady?”

He really was skilled at both entering and leaving without making things awkward.

He knew how to keep people from feeling uncomfortable.

The weather is beautiful.

She had been cooped up inside the house for several days, and she was starting to feel stiff.

Fortunately, the weather was nice today. Nice enough that she was willing to put up with the inconvenience of her long, trailing dress.

After getting into the carriage, Ibel watched the streets while feeling the muggy breeze coming through the window.

The people were lively, and every face seemed bright.

Come to think of it, how long had it been since she had seen a sight like this?

Then again, even if a war had broken out somewhere far away, it was someone else’s problem in the capital.

“Are you all right with becoming Colonel Eberstein’s adopted daughter?”

“I would be honored. He was… truly like a father to me.”

He had remained truly honorable until the very end.

But to Ibel, even calling his death honorable felt like an insult to him.

Because I couldn’t save him.

To say it again, she was not a surgeon.

No matter how brilliant a doctor might be, there was no way they could have saved someone whose lung had been pierced.

Ibel had not even been able to properly stay by Colonel Konrad’s side as he was dying.

Because he had ordered her, almost as though scolding her, to hurry and save whoever could still be saved.

“I can’t believe I’ll be able to see him again. This time, I really want to… treat him well. Even though he won’t remember me.”

“I feel the same way. I intend to do my best to prevent the war from happening this time, so that all those people don’t die in vain.”

“Ah.”

“Even if war does break out, I will do my best to ensure that we survive and return alive.”

If she had been alone, she would never have even considered trying to stop the war.

How fortunate she was that she had returned to the past together with the Grand Duke.

Ibel looked into his dark eyes and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

If there was any special feeling between them, perhaps it could be called camaraderie between comrades-in-arms.

There were more married couples who lived together out of loyalty than one might think. If so, there was no reason they could not live together because of a bond even stronger than love.

Though sharing the same bed would probably feel… very strange.

What would it be like to fall asleep with their bodies pressed together in a peaceful situation?

They had slept together so many times on the battlefield that, in another sense, perhaps there was no reason for it to feel strange…

Just as she was thinking about it, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

They had arrived at Gruga Park.

It was a park where sculptures by world-renowned masters were displayed, and it was famous not only as a dating spot but also as a place for families to enjoy an outing.

Even Ibel, who had avoided going outside the school for fear of being caught by her family, had heard of the place because it was so well known.

“I’ll give you my hand.”

“Thank—Ahem, thank you.”

Ah, how awkward.

Being treated like a lady like this…

It made her skin crawl a little, but Ibel reminded herself that this was all an act and placed her hand in the man’s.

The coachman got down from the driver’s seat and opened a parasol for her. It was quite suitable for blocking the scorching afternoon sun.

To anyone watching, it looked like the perfect date between a man and a woman.

The only difference was that the topic of their conversation was somewhat different from that of other lovers.

“So you haven’t been able to visit your territory very often either, Your Grace.”

“That is correct. I left everything to my aunt. In the process, the two children became somewhat… wayward.”

“Wayward…?”