Chapter 37
“I don’t know much about Altomole, but I’ve heard that life there is quite different from here.
It’s only natural that you were afraid when coming here from that place.”
It was strange.
A man who didn’t fear going to the battlefield was now trying to understand Floria’s fears.
Compared to heading into war, the fear she felt—leaving the comfort of a foreign castle—was so very small.
“Tell me anything you need. It won’t be much trouble.”
His tone was as curt as ever, but the meaning behind his words was incredibly kind.
“Your Grace, you’re truly a kind person.”
She suddenly recalled something Grace, the head lady-in-waiting, had said.
But the man before her simply lifted his teacup and took a sip of the hotly brewed tea.
Surprisingly, though quite some time had passed since she left her homeland, life in Sieff was smoother than she had expected.
Just as the head lady-in-waiting had promised to ensure she lacked for nothing,
Floria had no difficulties in her daily life.
She spent her mornings resting from the nights’ affairs, and in the afternoons, she strolled through the castle gardens and read books.
That was all.
Though she had heard the winters were harsh, it was spring now, and the cool air brushing her cheeks during her walks was perfectly pleasant.
But in the end, if not for Aidan being someone who considered her feelings, this pleasant life would have been impossible.
Even if he was a war maniac, even if his eyes gleamed fiercely toward her at night— at least in this moment, the man before her looked nothing but gentle.
Grateful for his thoughtfulness, Floria continued speaking.
“Thank you. Sieff is a much nicer place than I expected.
There’s nothing inconvenient about living here.”
“Than you expected?”
The man, who had just put down his teacup and picked up some bread to butter it, suddenly froze.
Looking at his face, full of curiosity as if to ask what she had expected, Floria hurried to add,
“Altomole is far away, after all.
There were some odd rumors, you see.”
“What kind of rumors?”
At his curious question, Floria hesitated for a moment, but decided to answer honestly.
She might upset him, but there was no use lying—Aidan would surely see through it anyway.
Besides, his tone wasn’t that harsh.
“I heard… that because of the cold and the lack of food, people eat wolf meat to survive.”
And that the Grand Duke supposedly tore into wolves with his bare teeth.
Honestly, judging by his imposing frame, eating wolf meat suited him more than eating bread.
But contrary to the rumors, Aidan was now chewing on bread thickly spread with butter for breakfast.
The freshly baked bread smelled savory and delicious. With food like this, why would anyone eat wolves?
“Now that I think about it, it’s ridiculous.”
Even just breakfast had such a variety of dishes.
Though Altomole was famous for its seafood and fruit, Sieff was just as diverse in its offerings.
At Floria’s words about the rumor, Aidan let out a soft chuckle.
“Not all rumors are lies.”
“What?”
If it wasn’t a lie…then does that mean he really ate wolf meat?
These days, dinner always included quail, venison, and other rare meats, and the fruits and desserts were no less than those in Altomole.
She couldn’t even imagine eating a wolf.
Is wolf meat even tasty?
“When we’re on the battlefield in winter and there’s nothing to eat, the soldiers have to eat anything and everything.
Anything in sight.
Food supplies aren’t easily maintained.”
“Have you… eaten wolf before?”
In Floria’s homeland, there were no wolves.
“It’s awful.
There’s barely any meat on them.”
“······.”
“But don’t worry, I’d never make you eat something like that.”
“I wasn’t worried…”
Floria couldn’t even imagine it.
He let out another soft laugh.
“Talking about war this early in the morning is dull.
You haven’t been outside the castle, have you?”
“No.”
“That must feel stifling.”
She had stayed inside the castle ever since arriving here.
It had been the same in her homeland, too.
Her parents never allowed outings beyond the palace, and even for the summer villa trips, only her older sisters were taken.
She hadn’t gone even once after turning ten.
“No, I spent most of my time inside the palace even back home.”
“······Is that so?
I thought you liked going out.
Isn’t that your hobby?”
At his words, Floria blinked.
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