37.
Instead of sitting around and worrying, it was better to fulfill one’s duty.
Since she was a Secretary Assistant, it was her duty to read books well to the Duke.
So, she would write a fairy tale to read to him diligently!
Whether she had been in the library for too long, the pink sunset was already resting on the castle walls. Yellow autumn leaves, signaling the tail end of the season, were piled up softly on the ground.
*Rustle, rustle.*
As she walked, stepping on the leaves dried crisp by the sunlight, her footsteps led her to the stable before she knew it.
She felt a lingering sense of regret, thinking that if she had been a better rider, she might have been able to follow him.
“Oh? Butler Sebas?”
“Lady Marin.”
The stable keeper was nowhere to be seen, and Butler Sebas was grooming a horse in the stable.
“What are you doing here?”
“Old habits die hard; I often come here when my mind is troubled.”
Was it a habit from his days as a knight? It seemed the stable keeper had deliberately cleared the way for the Butler.
“I see.”
“A beautiful horse, isn’t it?”
Butler Sebas pointed to the horse he was grooming. It had a black face and a white body.
“Yes. It is. It stands out because its face and body are different colors.”
It looked smaller and older than the other horses, but its coat still shimmered, and it looked healthy.
“It was a horse that the Lady—no, the Countess—cherished.”
“Ah….”
“The Countess was a skilled rider, and she would sometimes pester me to teach her swordsmanship as well.”
Butler Sebas’s wrinkled mouth softened, as if he were reminiscing about the past.
“She must have been an interesting person.”
That the daughter of the Western Duke, a prominent family in the Empire, had an interest in horses and swords—it was surprising.
“Yes. She was quite the tomboy.”
Marin decided to step away so he could continue his reflections.
“I’ll be heading back now.”
“Haha. I’ve rambled on too much. What brings you to the stable?”
Butler Sebas turned his body toward her and asked kindly.
“Um, I just wanted to see the horses. I’ve developed a desire to ride a bit better.”
“I saw you riding the other day; you were already doing quite well.”
He offered a compliment, as if encouraging her to have more confidence.
“That was just at a play level. If I had been better, I could have followed the Duke this time….”
“You were thinking that?”
He widened his eyes slightly, as if surprised.
“Yes.”
Marin answered in a small voice, shy about revealing her inner thoughts.
“Word arrived today that the Duke has reached the Viscount’s residence.”
“Goodness. That quickly? I’m glad I didn’t go along. If I had followed, it would have delayed them significantly.”
Marin breathed a sigh of relief. Her struggling alone and eventually giving up had, in the end, been the right choice.
Watching her, Butler Sebas glanced at her wrists before asking carefully.
“Lady Marin. By any chance, do you know how to handle a sword?”
“No.”
It was an unexpected question.
Noblewomen living in the Empire did not learn to read because it was considered unladylike, nor did they ride horses. She was an anomaly for having learned both, which was why she didn’t get along well with other young ladies. But a sword, too?
“Would you be interested in learning swordsmanship? For self-defense.”
“Could I learn it? I think I’m too old to start learning now.”
“It is never too late to learn. I will teach you more about horsemanship as well. I regretted not teaching the Countess more when she pestered me. I do not wish to have such regrets again.”
He stared past the stable with a lonely look in his eyes.
A yellow leaf, hanging precariously at the end of a branch, fell feebly to the ground.
“Yes! I want to learn! Please teach me everything. I’ll study hard so that you won’t have any regrets, Butler!”
Marin spoke as vigorously as she could, hoping to provide even a little comfort to Butler Sebas.
Butler Sebas’s offer was an opportunity for her. There was no harm in learning anything.
If she could become better at riding and even learn swordsmanship, she would be able to do much more in the future.
Butler Sebas nodded with a warm look in his eyes, as if thanking her for accepting his proposal.
* * *
The surroundings of the Dining Room, set with beautiful floral decorations and luxurious food, were quiet.
The servants standing by to serve the meal were pressed against the wall with tense expressions.
The sisters sat in their chairs like dolls, their faces pale, staring at the extravagant food with a look of disgust.
“How is it?”
Kylon, sitting at the head of the table, clasped his hands together and asked the sisters with a proud expression.
“……What is?”
Dia bit the soft flesh of her inner lip and barely opened her mouth. She didn’t want to answer him, but she didn’t know what kind of threats might fly if she didn’t speak.
“This food, of course. I told the chef to prepare it specially. Didn’t the chef even sprinkle gold leaf on it beautifully?”
Dia shifted her gaze to the gold leaf sprinkled over the large roast duck placed in the center of the table.
“……We are still in mourning.”
The flashy food, which ignored the current situation, was the kind she only saw at parties.
“What?”
Kylon’s eyes sharpened.
“Didn’t you ask for my opinion?”
Dia looked straight at Kylon with indifferent eyes.
“Tsk, tsk. Always as blunt as your mother.”
“That’s not true. Our mother was the kindest and gentlest person in the world! You’re a bad uncle!”
Rubiana, who had been shrinking back and hiding every time Kylon spoke, clenched her fists and raised her voice.
The servants standing like decorations against the wall nodded imperceptibly, as if in agreement.
Garnet retorted without even looking at Kylon.
“Ruby. Demons are always good at telling lies.”
“Y-you brats!”
Kylon stood up, his face turning beet red, when the Dining Room doors swung wide open.
“His Grace the Duke is entering.”
Olive, who had entered the Dining Room first, announced the Duke’s arrival.
Kylon hurriedly changed his expression to a good-natured smile and spread his arms as if in welcome.
“Welcome, Your Grace! Girls, stand up.”
The gazes of the sisters, who had risen from their seats, converged on one point.
A man was seen walking in slowly.
That person is Duke Vines?
With black hair and pale skin, the Duke looked like he had a halo behind him, shining even from afar.
It was her first time. She had never seen someone more handsome than her father or Kylon.
The Duke’s face overlapped with the face of her dear mother. The Duke looked very much like her mother.
Dia clenched her fists until her nails dug in to hide the sudden surge of sadness.
“Wow. He’s huge.”
Rubiana, hiding behind Garnet, whispered a small exclamation of awe.
As the massive Duke, dressed in a pitch-black uniform, drew closer, a suffocating pressure was felt. Was this the power of one who reigns?
*Tap. Tap.*
The Duke was walking without a single sound of footsteps. But a heavy sound rang out from the cane he held.
He was deliberately making the sound of the cane for all to see, naturally drawing their eyes toward it.
At a sudden, flashing thought, Dia parted her lips slightly without realizing it. Looking up at the Duke again, she finally realized that he was walking with his eyes closed.
They said he couldn’t see.
Overwhelmed by the Duke’s natural gait and presence, she had forgotten he was blind.
The Duke headed straight for the head of the table where Kylon stood, as if he could see where he was going.
When Kylon, flustered, looked at him, the Duke stood before him without a flicker of movement.
Kylon, his handsome face twisted, quickly changed his expression and yielded the head seat.
“Please, have a seat here.”