A few minutes had passed since we left Graham's estate, the silence between us deepened within the still carriage. I glanced at Evander, only to find our eyes meeting, his gaze steady, almost searching.
"Are you curious about something?" I asked him.
It was just the two of us in the spacious carriage, seated opposite each other, which made the quiet feel a bit awkward. Zilda rode in the second carriage along with my baggage.
He shook his head slowly. "I am just wondering if perhaps there is something or anything you need... cookies, I heard you liked them." He offered.
Do I? I don't particularly hate cookies but that doesn't mean I like them. Ever since I lived in this world I always ate cookies everyday that I grown tired of them. I do crave chocolate cookies sometimes, but those don't exist in this world, surprisingly.
Where did he even get that information.
"I don't..." I started, but the silence quickly swallowed my words again. Curiosity nudged me forward. "You know, why are you like that?" I asked.
My question left him stunned and disbelief, his brow furrowing slightly.
Was my question that random?
Then, suddenly, unexpectedly he burst out laughing his ass out, full, genuine, and impossible to ignore. God, he looked mesmerizing.
Sunlight streamed through the window, catching in his eyes and tousled hair. The curve of his mouth, the narrowing of his eyes, it all made my heart skip a beat. My throat tightened, breath hitching as I was caught completely unprepared by the intensity of the moment.
Am I really this attracted to him already?
I looked away, avoiding the truth inside me. They say if you can't accept something, change it. If you can't change it, then it's better to avoid it. So, I chose to do the latter.
I could feel his intent stare, but I didn't mind. Instead, I spent the entire carriage ride in silence, watching the scenery outside, though it never really interested me much. All I saw were fields of grass and trees, some houses, and farming lands, not much different from the view I used to see when riding to my paternal grandparents house in my previous life.
The loud creak of the gate opening echoed through the air, followed by the carriage coming to a gentle halt and the sound of horses pulling in their reins. It was the unmistakable sign that we had arrived.
"We are here," Evander announced.
He rose from his seat and got out when the door opened, and Samuel greeted him with respectful bow. Evander then stretched out his hand as I rose up, I accepted his hand and stepped outside gracefully.
"Thank you..." I murmured, enough for him to hear.
Turning, I found a line of servants standing serene and composed, their heads bowed in respectful greeting. The familiar figure of the old butler, Corran, stepped forward with a warm smile.
"Welcome, Your Ladyship," he said kindly.
I offered a small, grateful smile in return, feeling the weight of the moment settle deeper within me.
I am truly engaged, soon to be married, and one day, I will become Grand Duchess, leading the North alongside its people.
The responsibility felt overwhelming, just seeing this modest group acknowledging me as their leader was already more than I felt ready to bear. How would I withstand the burden when faced with the countless souls of an entire territory?
All I could remember was my upbringing, being raised to be a doctor or a decent person at least. I know nothing about politics, especially leading a territory.
What am I even doing?
The realization struck me with disquieting clarity. It's crazy to realize that I won't just be a wife but also a mother to everyone in the Northern territory. The enormity of that truth was both terrifying and undeniable.
As I grappled with the weight of my future, the distant clatter of hooves drew my attention back to the present. Evander and his knights had departed for the imperial palace, summoned there by the Emperor himself.
A gentle breeze stirred the curtains as Corran guided me through the hallway to my designated room.
Zilda had mentioned that this manor has stood since the era of the third head of the Valios family. Though centuries old, it was carefully maintained and remodeled every seven to eight years. When the family relocated to the North under the sixth head, the manor became their residence whenever they visited the capital.
Corran paused before a door and looked back with a gentle smile.
"This will be your chamber, Your Ladyship. It is prepared to your liking." He said softly. "Rest today, I will have someone bring your meal. Tomorrow, I will personally tour you through the manor."
I nodded quietly, feeling the weight of everything as I stepped into the room. The space was spacious yet comforting, adorned with delicate tapestries and rich fabrics that reflected both the estate's history and a quiet elegance tailored to my preferences. Soft light filtered through the tall windows, casting warm patterns across the polished wood floors.
When Corran closed the door behind me, a wave of tiredness hit me. Not just from the journey, but from the weight of unspoken expectations and the unknown path that lay ahead. I sank onto the bed, letting the quiet stillness envelop me, though my mind remained restless.
Then, my gaze fell upon the pink flowers arranged in vases. The very same ones Zilda carefully tended to each morning in my room. Every day, fresh blooms replaced the old, a small but meaningful ritual. Carnations were everywhere, yet there was something about their simple beauty that held a special place in my heart, offering a bittersweet comfort amid the unfamiliar.
The more I stared at the flowers, the more I realized how remarkably similar the Norielle in the book was to me. In the story, Norielle was known for her fondness for carnations, her grave and room was basically adorned with them. In my previous life, carnations had always been my favorite flowers, a preference that remained unchanged. Beyond that, both the book's Norielle and I were left handed, shared the same birthday, and even matched in height.
Deep inside I knew that book did existed, it was quite popular in the internet to be an illusion made by my broken brain. That would only make more questions, who wrote it? Why did it exist? How?
Lost in thought, I didn't notice Zilda standing before me, watching me seriously.
"My lady, you are lost in thought again," She said.
I blinked and gave a small smile when Zilda spoke, pulling me out of my thoughts. She sighed quietly and went back to organizing my things. Only she was allowed to work in my room for a long time. I had told Evander I would let a few maids help when I changed or bathed, but most of the time, only Zilda was allowed.
The memory of being poisoned still haunted me. Because of that, I didn't want to take any chances. I couldn't risk anyone trying to poison me again. After all, trust is to be earned, not simply given.
But actually it's kinda strange, how Zilda is so loyal towards Norielle. Her death on the boo, how she never questioned the unfamiliar me or my stange decisions. It made me wonder what truly drove such steadfast, undying loyalty?
Though, it was probably all written in that book. The sad truth was, I never read it. If only I knew this would happen, I might have memorized it word for word.
The next morning, sunlight gently filled the room. After a bath with Zilda and two servants help, I dressed comfortably and sat at the vanity while Zilda tended my hair.
"A pleasant morning, Your Ladyship," came the gentle greeting.
I turned toward the doorway to find Butler Corran standing there, his warm smile matching the calm morning light. Returning his kindness, I offered him a soft smile in reply.
Turning back to the vanity mirror, I observed my reflection as Zilda continued to fix my hair with practiced care. Once she finished, I rose and approached Butler Corran, who would be guiding me through the manor today. He would also assist me in settling into my office and begin teaching me essential things I needed to know about the North and the Valios family's legacy.
Corran's presence was steady and reassuring as we began the tour. His knowledge of the manor and its history was vast, and he shared stories of the Valios family with a quiet reverence. The manor is as big as my maternal grandparents house back in my previous live. Filled with numerous rooms, many of which seemed unnecessary. Yet, compared to my grandparents home, this manor was notably finer, though it has fewer servants.
We paused briefly at the kitchen, where I met three workers who greeted me politely. After exchanging warm introductions, we continued our walk, heading toward the training grounds that lay beyond the estate.
Though we were still some distance from the training grounds, the loud shouts and the sharp sound of wood striking echoed clearly through the air.
Are they training or fight inside a ring?
As we drew nearer, the sounds grew louder, the clash of wooden swords striking shields, the grunts of exertion, and the sharp commands cutting through the air... Huh?
The training ground was alive, two knights sparred fiercely while three others shouted and placed bets on who would emerge victorious. Nearby, two more knights relaxed under the broad daylight, playing cards and sharing a drink.
I turned to see Butler Corran, the look on his face was clear. He wiped cold sweat from his brow and deliberately avoided meeting my eyes, his demeanor marked by a blend of disappointment and embarrassment.
They are not likely loafers than true knights. How did they even survived working under Evander? Is he even aware his knights are acting like this if he is not around?
***
I tightened my grip on the bloodied sword before carefully sheathing it. Turning around, I found myself face to face with Frenar. His blond hair catching the faint light, and his emerald eyes clear and unreadable. Unlike me, his clothes were pristine, and his face showed no signs of sweat or fatigue.
I despised looking at him, his resemblance to my future wife was a constant thorn in my side, especially when she drifted into her thoughts.
"Do you really have to go that far?" He asked, not a single expression forming on his face.
As I glanced around the dim cave, the grim reality became clear. Lifeless bodies lay scattered almost everywhere, some are the victims of merciless cultists who worshipped the demon Astaroth, others were devoted followers we had slain.
"Would you rather have them roaming free across the empire?" I asked sharply.
He knelt down, sheathing his sword as he examined the pocket of a beheaded cultist.
"What I meant was, you should have spared one for interrogation," he replied curtly.
"I could have, but what's the point?" I countered, kneeling beside another body to search for clues. "They will just bite their tongues and die, like the others we caught before."
Defeated, I stood up wiping my hand with a handkerchief handed by an imperial knight beside me. Mirror, so did Fernar.
My back is aching a bit, my stomach is sore and so are my hands. We have been following one cultist unstoppable on broad daylight, and now it's already so late at night.
I left Norielle on the manor the moment we arrived. If rumors were to spread how she spent her first night on my manor alone, it would tarnished her well established reputation. More likely, she probably despised me more now.
"What were you thinking so deeply, Hannes?" Frenar asked.
I sighed. "None of your concern, though certainly it will be your responsibility if my marriage doesn't take place," I replied curtly.
"Mariun is surprisingly right," he said. "Your too smitten by that woman, you lost your mind. Of all the ladies, you fell for her. Did she enchant you with some potion?"
His words hit me hard, sudden and unwanted. The accusation of being enchanted was both absurd and maddening. I almost lost my composure and was tempted to strike him. If only he weren't the crown prince of this empire, if he didn't have that face.
"If your accusations were ever true, it would only rebound on you," I replied simply, keeping my voice calm.
Together, we exited the cave, leaving the imperial knights behind. Outside, Samuel and Revan greeted me, both stained with blood but not their own. Dame Trina, on the other hand, rested under a nearby tree, tending to the injured Ceish.
"Are we heading back straight, commander?" Revan questioned, and Samuel nodded.
"No," both of them questioned my answer. "Let's stopped by a nearby traven, let's take a bath." I continued.
The smell of blood was too strong, especially for a noble lady. Norielle already knows I'm a murderer, and I couldn't make her remember it more, it would only scare her. That thought weighed heavily on me. Mother once said a noble lady and a dame were two different things.
Those words brought judging glances, not just from the two knights beside me but from others as well.
Even I knew I liked her, but that was not the only reason. She had earned my respect, and I had given it willingly. How could I not, when she was to help me lead an entire territory? Hostility would only bring suffering to everyone involved.
"You are becoming empathetic, Hannes," Frenar remarked as he mounted his horse. "I'll take the lead, then." With that rode off ahead.
When he finds a woman worth dying for someday, I will surely visit or send him letters, sharing every word he once spoke to me.
I turned to my knights. Without a word, they understood and began preparing their horses. Soon, all were mounted, ready to follow my lead.
We made our way toward the nearest inn, the city lights flickering faintly in the distance. Once there, we bathed, washing away the grime and blood that clung to us, then ate our fill before departing back to the manor.
The sun was already set by the time we arrived at the manor, old Corran greeted us all with a warm smile.
"Shall I inform her Ladyship, young master?" He asked as we entered to the foyer.
I shook my head slowly. "No you don't have to," I replied. "I will go meet her myself, is she in her room?"
A furrow formed on my brow as old Corran suddenly broke into a cold sweat, his hesitation evident. Though uncertain, he led me toward the training ground, with Revan following silently behind.
There, Rivera and Anton was having drinks. Besides them, Maro, with his dark eyes and bare chest, held a parasol, shading the seated Norielle from the sun. She clapped her hands in excitement.
"Oh my, you never told me you were this good at fighting, Zilda," she complimented enthusiastically.
On the training ground, a familiar woman in uniform with her hair tied up and daggers gripped firmly in both hands, is parring fiercely with Marlon. Around them, some of my knights shouted eagerly and placed bets on the outcome.
A surge of frustration rose within me, my blood pressure climbed and a sharp ache settled in my nape. I had left them for just a day, and yet they were already neglecting their training again.
Worse still, they had even roped my wife into joining their frivolous games.
"Halt! All of you. FACE ME THIS INSTANT!" I shouted with all my fury.