~CHAPTER 70~
How much time had passed?
Just as Lincia began to worry about Harvich, a woman burst out of the greenhouse, crying.
Their eyes met for a moment, and the woman glared at Lincia with hostility.
Harvich came out right after her, scanned the surroundings, and pulled Lincia tightly into his arms.
“Your body is cold.”
It was Harvich who was trembling, but his body was warm, so it didn’t seem like he was cold.
Lincia had many questions, but she followed as Harvich led her toward the inside of the greenhouse.
“Wait.”
Harvich called for a servant to check if there were any hazards inside the greenhouse.
He then headed further in.
It was far from where the flowers were, but there was a space to sit. From there, they could see part of the greenhouse, but not all of it.
“Once the inspection is done, I’ll show you properly.”
The plush sofa and the new heating equipment were clearly freshly prepared. Harvich watched the servants inspect the greenhouse.
Lincia, a bit irritated by his stern expression, reached out and touched his forehead with her finger.
“What will you do now that your carefully prepared plan has been ruined?”
As soon as Harvich’s eyes met Lincia’s, his expression softened instantly.
That small change made Lincia’s heart tingle.
“Still, I’m glad I’m with you.”
“What happened?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“Really? But I happen to know who that woman was, the one who came running out just now.”
“That woman… I’ve met her before…”
Worry instantly flickered in Harvich’s eyes.
“Were you hurt?”
That look alone made the hurt she’d felt when she first saw that woman melt away like snow.
“No.”
“It’s my fault.”
Harvich gently stroked the back of Lincia’s hand. He looked so sincerely apologetic that she explained what had happened to show him it wasn’t serious.
She didn’t like feeling as though she were tattling, but…
“It just felt wrong to accept an introduction from an unfamiliar servant when the master wasn’t present, so I said so bluntly.”
She’d only done it to avoid seeming weak in front of Anna, but now she worried it might have caused him trouble.
“You did very well. Though, I admit, I thought you were lenient only with me…”
Lincia blinked.
“Lenient? Me?”
She hadn’t smiled during the entire conversation, had scolded the woman’s rudeness, and even ignored her in front of others.
“You’re far too merciful.”
“And in Cassius Territory, how would someone like that be punished?”
Harvich fell silent. Then, he looked away.
“Harvich.”
“It’s not something pleasant for a pregnant woman to hear.”
“All right, then can you at least tell me what kind of relationship you had with Lady Noah Aiden?”
The hand stroking the back of her hand suddenly froze.
“There wasn’t really any relationship. If there’s anything worth noting, it’s that she was once mentioned as a possible fiancée.”
Now Lincia understood Noah’s attitude—the shameless confidence and the hostility she had shown.
“I see.”
“Lincia, that woman has nothing to do with me. There were only rumors about an engagement, nothing was ever made official.”
He seemed so desperate to explain himself that Lincia blinked.
“All right. I’ll believe you.”
She had also heard many verbal engagement talks before, but she wouldn’t have used the phrase “mentioned as a fiancée” for them.
Harvich’s expression grew serious.
She really didn’t mind at all.
“I’ll make sure she never crosses your path again.”
Noah Aiden did make her uncomfortable, but not because of any engagement with Harvich.
“You…”
“In the past…”
They both started speaking at the same time. When silence lingered, Lincia spoke first.
“You go ahead.”
“A long time ago, I wrote you a letter. I think it included a similar explanation about the engagement. But it was returned because you were at the academy at the time.”
“Then can you give it to me now? It was meant for me anyway.”
Harvich’s ears turned red.
“It was something I wrote when I was young and foolish.”
“So you’re not going to explain it?”
Even if no explanation was really needed, Lincia couldn’t help but be curious about the letter he’d written for her.
Just then, a servant came to report that the inspection was finished. Harvich’s face brightened.
“Let’s go in. I won’t let your wait be in vain.”
“All right, but you have to give me the letter after the tour.”
“…Understood. Then can you tell me what you were going to say?”
“I’ll tell you after I get the letter.”
* * *
The greenhouse wasn’t in bad shape despite Harvich’s earlier concerns. Its size was satisfying, and it was warmer than other rooms.
Some weeds grew among the flowers, but even that seemed to fit the atmosphere. As the sun began to set, the golden light made everything beautiful.
Lincia really liked it. Her curiosity came through in her questions.
“How do you water the plants?”
“There’s a drainage system connected, but it’s probably frozen from disuse. I’ll have it repaired. But you don’t need to handle such small chores in the garden yourself.”
He answered every question sincerely.
“Can’t we grow crops here?”
The easy flow of conversation stopped there. Lincia realized that wasn’t one of the questions he had expected.
She smiled quietly, but her expression stiffened at his answer.
“In Cassius Territory, building greenhouses is forbidden.”
The short, quiet statement made Lincia bite her lip. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
“…Oh. I—I didn’t know.”
She knew there was oppression toward the Duchy, but not to this extent.
“It’s not something you need to worry about. The ban was placed centuries ago.”
Lincia’s lips trembled slightly.
It all felt like her fault.
She’d pretended not to know, but the deeper her love grew, the more it felt like sinking into mud.
Like how it becomes harder to look away when the blurred world suddenly comes into focus.
“I know you won’t like this…”
Harvich looked at her gently, and her heart stirred.
“…But can I talk to Julius?”
His lips stiffened immediately.
“Do you mean you want to go to the Imperial Palace?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. When the season of the short sun ends, can I invite Julius here?”
She could feel Harvich’s grip on her hand tighten.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because my family bears some responsibility for what happened to Cassius Territory.”
“It’s not your responsibility.”
Harvich said firmly.
“It’s mine to resolve. Both the problems of the Duchy, and yours.”
Lincia knew that to truly resolve things, more blood would have to be shed.
“Lincia, your name is Lincia Cassius.”
