Chapter 72
“I’ll go first and check the hallway, so please wait just a moment.”
“Alright.”
Heart pounding, Sia waited by the door for Marie to return. A short while later, Marie opened it and motioned silently. Sia quickly followed behind her, going down the servants-only stairway.
Once safely out of the main building, Sia took a deep breath of the fresh outdoor air. Nox hadn’t even let her open the windows freely, so it had been a long time since she’d tasted the outside air.
“Milady, if we go this way, we’ll come to that valley from before.”
Marie, who had once accidentally wandered into the Blois Duke’s private valley, guided the way with ease. Sia followed without a word.
After walking some distance, familiar scenery came into view. Sia removed the hood of her cloak.
“Haa, I can finally breathe…”
“Were you very stifled?”
“Mhm. When is the Crown Prince going back, anyway?”
“I don’t know either.”
Only a short while ago Sia had been pointlessly doubting Nox. Now she was cursing the Crown Prince instead.
“Staying in someone else’s house for four whole days. Isn’t there something wrong with his personality?”
“M-Milady… even if no one’s around, you should be careful saying things like that.”
“Ah, is it dangerous because he’s royalty?”
“Of course it is. Shh!”
Sia knew now that werebeast society was a strict hierarchy and that nobles could be frightening, but she still had no clear sense of how far above everyone royalty really was.
But her thoughts stopped there, because right ahead a cool, clear valley came into sight. And the autumn-tinged mountains were so beautiful she couldn’t look away.
“Wow, the leaves are turning such pretty colors.”
“It’s harvest season, so everyone’s incredibly busy.”
“Really?”
“Yes. From now until winter arrives is the busiest time. After the harvest, they have to prepare for the cold season right away.”
“That makes sense. Preparing for winter is important.”
Though she had lived only in cities back in Korea and didn’t know much about winter preparation, she’d done her own in a way. Mostly saving on heating costs that anything, really.
“How do you heat the mansion here?”
Sia asked suddenly, curious, and Marie explained in detail.
“Normally it’s fireplaces, but the ducal manor is different.”
“How so?”
“They use specially made magical devices to raise the temperature.”
“Magical devices?”
“Yes. They commission them from the Magic Tower, and I heard the cost is about the same as a huge mansion.”
“Wow… so there really are mages?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Following Nox and Cedric’s prior instructions, Marie answered everything Sia wondered about. Still, a small doubt crept in. Why didn’t this noble lady know even these basic things? Things even a commoner like her would know.
But Marie quickly shook off the thought. She hadn’t forgotten how many times Sia and Nox had saved her. Instead of repaying that kindness, how dare she suspect her?
“Shall we go up that way?”
“Sure.”
It had been so long since Sia last came out that she couldn’t just go back so soon. She eagerly followed Marie’s lead. As expected, Marie moved with natural grace. She was a cat werebeast after all.
Someone was watching them from a distance, breathing roughly after following behind. It was Louis, out on a walk with Dylan.
He too had grown unbearably bored and, without asking permission from the master of the house, had wandered far along the garden paths.
“…Did you see that?”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness…”
Louis rubbed his arm vigorously, his face twisting in distaste.
“Good heavens, so there’s another black-haired one!”
He’d stayed longer because the Duke had seemed so suspicious, only to discover the supposedly hidden secret was just a black-haired woman. Louis felt almost deflated.
And realizing he had stayed so long in a mansion where there were two black-haired people, he didn’t want that bad luck rubbing off on him. Without another thought, Louis turned to leave.
“Your Highness?”
“Prepare to depart at once.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Hah. Have my instincts dulled this much.”
Louis grumbled and, before moving away, cast one last glance at the black-haired woman.
At that moment, the woman climbing the slope behind the servant slipped and nearly fell. The servant moved quickly, catching her arm.
They exchanged some words, but he didn’t care enough to listen. Or rather, he didn’t bother to hear. Louis jerked his head away with a scowl.
“What an unbelievably clumsy woman.”
He had never seen someone so incapable with her own body. Shaking his head, he let out a dry laugh.
“So the Duke went and brought home someone just like himself. Well… I suppose that’s a skill in itself.”
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