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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Moonlit Garden is Beautiful
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The Moonlit Garden is Beautiful
Just as I stepped out of the annex, the cold northern wind blew in, cooling my overheated head.
'A dragon's lair, and a fake engagement.'
Even chewing it over again, it was an utterly ridiculous situation.
At the same time, setting aside the original story or possession—whatever—my own life suddenly felt like it had switched genres.
From a peaceful estate tale to a spectacular adventure, with a dash of romantic comedy on top.
"Well, not bad."
I walked toward the garden, my feet sinking into the finely tilled soil.
The Moonlit Garden, Mother's most cherished spot.
This place, kept lush and green through magic even in the depths of winter, had been my secret hideaway since early childhood whenever things got complicated.
Sabak, sabak.
As I walked the snow-covered path with my mind adrift for a moment, a familiar silhouette appeared in the distance.
It was Seria, fresh from the banquet hall but in her usual uniform.
She spotted me, halted her steps, and bowed politely.
"Your Grace."
"Ah, Seria. Is the banquet all cleared up?"
"Yes. We've escorted most of the nobles to their guest rooms, and the knights collected the drunk ones."
"Good work."
The word "collected" was so characteristically Seria that I couldn't help but chuckle.
She naturally fell into step beside me, matching my pace.
"Out for a walk again today, Your Grace?"
"Yeah. Got a lot on my mind."
"Then... I'll join you."
Normally, I'd tell her to rest after a hard day, but tonight, the night felt too long to walk alone.
And above all, I wanted to confide this absurd story to the person I trusted most.
We strolled through the garden in silence.
Soft moonlight filtered down through the crisp night air.
Just walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Seria calmed my dizzy head from moments ago, bringing a strange sense of peace.
'Come to think of it, it's always been like this since we were kids.'
Whenever I caused trouble or had worries, she was always by my side.
Lost in thought like that, we reached the garden's heart, before the frozen fountain.
Seria stopped in front of it and looked at me.
Unlike her usual cool gaze, her eyes now wavered with unease.
"...Your Grace."
"Hm?"
"If I may..."
She hesitated, then opened her mouth very cautiously.
"May I ask what you discussed with Her Highness the Princess?"
"..."
Why did it not feel like simple curiosity?
There was a faint tremble in her voice.
I pondered for a moment.
How much should I tell her?
Mentioning possession or the original story would just get me labeled insane...
But glossing over the important parts with a vague rundown wouldn't do—Seria was practically my right arm, my closest confidante.
To play along with the princess's imperial charade going forward, she needed the broad strokes at least.
"It's nothing much."
I shrugged and laid it out plain—everything except that the princess was a possessor.
"She confessed she fell for me."
"...Pardon?"
"Said she packed her bags and ran away here because of it. Wants to marry me."
"..."
"Kidding. Truth is, her position in the palace is shaky, so she fled. In exchange for protecting her, I'm getting the location of a dragon's lair."
Unaware the mood was turning weird, I just kept chattering excitedly.
"There's really a dragon's nest in the Drakenspitze Mountains. The treasures from there could make the North even stronger. In return, I'm fake-engaging her to fool the Emperor."
Kuh, even thinking about it now, it's a perfect deal, right?
I figured Seria would be impressed.
Oh, as expected of Your Grace. Turning a fallen princess into massive gains.
I was expecting praise like that.
But the moment I glanced at her face, I froze solid.
"..."
No reaction.
Seria just stared blankly at the fountain, unresponsive to my words.
Her expression... was odd.
Not bad, exactly, but like she was lost in very deep thought.
Her eyes were vacant, like someone who'd lost half the world.
"Seria?"
When I called again, she startled and looked at me.
"Ah... forgive me. I was lost in thought."
"Something wrong? You look pale."
"No. It's nothing... nothing."
She hurriedly bowed her head, flashing her usual curt smile.
But the corners of her mouth, forcibly pulled up, were quivering.
"I see. A fake... engagement, then."
"Yeah, pretty much. Just on paper."
"Did Her Highness say... she loves you, Your Grace?"
"It's an excuse, remember? It's all an act."
"But..."
Seria's voice dropped so low I had to strain to hear.
"Her Highness has noble blood and stunning beauty... She'd suit you perfectly, Your Grace."
"What?"
"It may start fake... but who knows what might happen with people."
She murmured with a faintly resigned expression.
Her voice was so lonely that I was momentarily speechless.
Why that face? The Seria I knew was always rational, prioritizing my interests above all.
Today, she looked not like an advisor, but a wounded woman.
"Your Grace."
Seria suddenly stepped back.
"On second thought, I have pending approval documents to handle. I should head back first."
"...Now? At this hour?"
"Yes. Urgent ones—due by morning..."
She bowed deeply, avoiding my eyes.
Under the moonlight, her eyes seemed to glisten wetly.
"I'll go ahead... Please enjoy the rest of your walk."
In the end, Seria turned and fled like she was running away.
Normally, she'd bow crisply and withdraw.
Today, she vanished into the darkness without even a proper farewell, her steps quick.
With Seria gone, I was left alone in the garden.
"...?"
Why did Seria act like that all of a sudden?
Dismissing it as work stress wouldn't cut it—her expression just now had looked so fragile.
Like a child on the verge of losing something precious, or someone whose long-held faith was crumbling.
'...No way?'
I paused, watching her retreating back.
A hypothesis clicked into place in my mind like puzzle pieces.
The engagement with the princess.
I'd explained it was fake, but she'd self-deprecated that people are unpredictable.
Meaning... she was afraid I might really fall for the princess? Or that another woman might take the spot by my side?
'Seria harbors feelings for me beyond loyalty? For real?'
My heart sank with a thud.
Memories of the past years flashed by like a montage.
From the moment I first met Seria, she'd always felt so comfortable.
So I'd tried to get closer.
But every time, she'd step back one pace.
Drawing a firm line between duke and maid, master and servant.
I'd chalked it up to her strong work ethic, or maybe my casualness burdening her.
But what if...
What if it wasn't dislike, but desperation to hide her feelings? To keep distance?
If she'd been suppressing herself because of the wall of status, deeming it impossible to even dream?
"..."
If my guess was right, I'd just driven a spike into her heart.
An impulse surged.
Should I chase after her now and grab her?
Hold her shoulders and tell her the truth?
That the princess engagement is pure business. That you're the only one who matters to me.
No, even bolder... ask if she feels the same for me?
Consumed by the urge, I lifted my foot—then stopped.
'...No.'
Way too hasty.
Is it because I've got no dating experience? Next thing, I'll be naming our grandkids.
She'd acted out of character, shown odd expressions, and fled in the end—but jumping to this conclusion was overkill.
Maybe a real emergency came up.
Though her face and gestures screamed half-baked excuse.
And even if my hunch was spot-on, chasing her now and confronting wouldn't get an honest answer.
She might flee even farther from the shame of her feelings being exposed.
That's Seria for you.
The kind of woman who puts me above herself, foolishly kind.
But the unease lingered.
I didn't want her hurting in misunderstanding.
"...Tomorrow."
I clenched my fist.
"Tomorrow morning, wrap things up loosely with the princess, then talk to her seriously."
I looked up at the night sky.
The stars shone prettier than usual tonight.
I'd come to the garden to sort through the info from the possessor.
Instead of sorting, I'd ended up with strange excitement and lingering unease.
I gave one last glance to where Seria had left, then turned away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It was a night where even the moonlight felt cold.
Seria ran down the corridor like a madwoman.
Her heart pounded wildly for the first time, but she couldn't stop.
Stopping now would let the sobs choking her throat burst out.
"Hah, hah..."
Only after shutting the door to her room—the chief maid's quarters—did her legs give way.
She slumped against the door.
The chill from the cold floor seeped through her thin uniform, but it wasn't enough to cool her burning face.
"...Idiot."
Her first words were self-reproach.
"Why show such a stupid side?"
Seria buried her face in her knees.
The Duke, Noxion, had said it clearly.
Fake.
Just a deal where their interests aligned.
So why...
Why had her heart plummeted at those words?
Why had "engagement" made it hard to breathe?
"I knew it was impossible anyway..."
No one knew her place better than she did.
An orphan from the northern fringes.
A lowly life that would've frozen to death long ago if Noxion hadn't found her dying in a blizzard and taken her into the ducal house.
He, on the other hand, was noble Kaltstein blood, ruler of the North.
Someone she shouldn't even glance at—that's what she'd reminded herself every day for over fifteen years.
So she'd hidden her feelings thoroughly.
Perfect chief maid, loyal retainer.
Hiding behind that mask, content with stealing rare glimpses of his back.
But today, that sturdy mask cracked.
The princess's arrival.
Her dazzling golden hair and glamorous dress.
A status incomparably noble to hers.
Just imagining her at Noxion's side made Seria's world crumble.
'Did Your Grace... see my face?'
When she'd fled earlier, she'd caught his startled gaze.
Her lame excuse about urgent work.
Perceptive as he was, he had to know it was a lie.
"What must he be thinking? What if he's upset...?"
What if he thinks I'm overstepping with jealousy?
Or that subordinates like me are no good after all?
Negative thoughts chained endlessly.
Seria tore at her hair wildly.
"Agh, I'm going crazy! Why did you do that, Seria?!"
She slapped her cheeks with her palms—slap, slap.
"Get it together. You're the chief maid. In charge of the ducal household's inner affairs.
With no duchess, that's my role too!
I have to face Your Grace tomorrow morning. Act like nothing happened. Perfectly."
She hauled her wobbly body up and stood before the mirror.
Red-swollen eyes, disheveled hair.
A mess.
"...Tomorrow."
Staring down her reflection, Seria vowed.
"First thing tomorrow, apologize to Your Grace."
For the rudeness due to poor condition.
Promise it won't happen again.
And return to the perfect Seria of before.
As if nothing had happened.
She repeated it, but the ache in her chest wouldn't fade.
'Even a fake engagement... I'm jealous.'
Lucky Her Highness.
Able to boldly claim the spot beside him, even if a lie.
Seria gave a bitter smile and stroked the worn music box by her bed.
A gift from Noxion on her birthday, long ago when they were young.
Leaning on its tiny melody, she'd dream long dreams tonight.
"Forgive me, Your Grace. And..."
Her words trailed off as she quietly closed her eyes.
Tomorrow, she had to be the perfect chief maid again.