When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

She got up from her seat and approached the door.

“Ian,” she whispered through the gap of the doors.
Moist wind from inside the study touched her nose.
She could see that the window of the office was open.

“Ian.”

No answer.

But there was someone inside.
Ian was still sitting in the same position inside the dark office.
He had tried to open the window and go out, but he couldn’t, worried that Laritte would stay like that for days.
And eventually, it was showering outside.

“Ian, are you inside? Let’s have a conversation.
Stella said that couples need to talk,” Laritte squatted down, the coldness of the door and the floor making her skin cold.
She felt better when she hugged her arms and legs together.

“……I gave Bertrand the hay cube myself today.” She didn’t know what to talk about, so she started with one-sided stories that could also start a conversation.
“The hay cube is made square by cutting and drying grass.
Usually, it’s three coins for one.
According to the stableman, these are sold at a high price of up to five coins in winter.
Did you know that? The employees don’t have to make their own hay.”

Her specialty was talking to herself.
It was a habit she ingrained when she left Count Brumayer’s family and went to live alone in the villa.

Ian knew about this well.
The soft voice of hers ringing on a quiet morning in the villa.
Her faint voice would gently wake Ian when he had a severe fever.

“…..”

Ian smiled, recalling those moments.

He also sat leaning against the door.
They sat together with a wooden door separating them.
Unaware, Laritte looked at the ceiling.

“I also spent time with my friends.
It was Vivienne’s turn this time, but it’ll be mine next.”

“…..”

Ian nodded, raising his eyes.

‘Yes, I know.
When I heard them laughing, I saw you through the curtains.
I heard you laugh even though it was faint.’

“Stella said she would postpone my turn if I felt burdened.
But I don’t want Bertrand to be lonely anymore.
I’ve already given my word to the girls.
So I’m learning the basic knowledge of horse-riding from Lady Redra.”

Ian silently listened to her.
To be honest, he already knew everything she did.
He also knew that the frequency of her accidents had decreased.

Still, hearing the story from her mouth was unique in its own way.
He wanted to look at her directly while listening to her.
It was very sad that he couldn’t do that anymore.

Laritte talked about many things after that.
As a result, she ran out of things to say.
Only silence filled the space.
Hiding her head under her arms, she asked, “is there anything you want to say to me?”

Ian was also holding back numerous words.
They were constantly hurting his insides.
Still, he couldn’t give up the silence.

He could drive her away by saying something harsh.
However, he could never do such a thing.
Even if his heart was pierced by a sword, such a choice could not be made.

In the end, there was only one way left.
He had to leave the mansion.

“I’m leaving for the…….
Capital tomorrow.”

Laritte looked at the door.
It had been a very long time since she heard Ian’s voice.

“I have some business to attend to.”

Now that Oscar had become the Emperor, Ian would be warmly welcomed even if he went to the Capital on reckless terms.

“It sounds like you’re going alone.”

“It will take much longer.”

“Where should I send the letter?”

“You don’t have to worry.
Since I’d be busy, I won’t be able to contact the mansion.”

He was also telling her not to send a letter.

Laritte got up from her seat.
It wasn’t because she was angry.
Having talked, she also achieved her goal of occupying the hallway.

“Be careful.”

“Take care.”

“Close the window when it rains.
You’re a Swordmaster, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t catch a cold.”

With that, she disappeared from the hallway.
Ian closed his eyes as he focused his senses on her distant footsteps, mixed with the sound of the rain.

He wasn’t cold, but he felt numb.
Holding his chin, he looked at the cloudy dark horizon outside the window.
It was such a painful dawn.

 

***

 

Several months have passed since Ian left the mansion.
It was winter.
Sweeping the foggy window glass with his palm, Oscar gazed at the white landscape outside.

“It seemed to have been snowing at night, but it’s already piled up a lot.
Nothing is interesting about it though.
The Capital receives heavy snowfall compared to other regions.” On his other hand was the milk tea that he was drinking.
Ian was working on a large desk.

Oscar was standing in the room that Ian used as his office.
Even in Oscar’s largest castle, sunlight reached particularly well.

But Ian’s appearance didn’t look too well.
His black hair was a few centimeters longer than usual, reaching under his eyes as well.

Oscar smiled awkwardly.

“When are you going to cut your hair?”

Instead of answering back, Ian returned the congratulatory decree.

“Is everything okay here, Your Majesty?”

“You spent more time working than I do.
In that case, I should hand over the throne to you, right?”

In Oscar’s view, Ian was too much focused on his work.

Meanwhile, Ian developed a habit of relating to Laritte no matter what he did.
He recalled Laritte as he watched Oscar’s milk tea.

It had already been a year since he first met Laritte.
Around this time a year ago, he saw the first snowfall from the villa.
Back then, Laritte used to make him milk tea with only milk.

Oscar noticed his gaze lingering on the cup.

“Do you want it, too? The black tea used tastes great.
It refreshes your mind.
It’s always annoying to see the ministers fighting in front of my eyes at meetings.
In the end, I have to scream to keep them quiet.”

Ian shook his head, refusing Oscar’s recommendation.
Realizing his friend’s thoughts, Oscar smiled, a soft frown creasing his eyebrows.

“You’re thinking of the Duchess again.”

“I wasn’t,” Ian flatly rejected his words.

“No, of course not.”

Oscar sat down at Ian’s desk.
He heard Ian as he reviewed one of the reports.
It contained the details of the Duke’s donation to the academy this year.
It wasn’t important, and Ian never reviewed such a subject before.

“Hire some people to share the work.
You’re looking at the documents all by yourself, so you don’t have the time to sleep.”

“It’s done.”

Oscar sighed.
“It’s been months since you came to the castle…….
Are you not going back to being a Duke?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand why you don’t leave to see your wife.
You love the Duchess, don’t you?”

Because of Ian’s behavior, countless rumors were circulating in society.
The most popular rumor among them was, Ian had lost his interest in the illegitimate girl.
However, Ian still allocated an astronomical amount of money to Laritte every month.
Eventually, a theory was formulated that the Duchess’ authority was not taken away from Laritte to hide the fact that Ian and Oscar were interested in each other.

Oscar hoped for Ian to return to the mansion.

“Do you want me to start a scandal with a guy like you? Don’t you dare put a stain on the honor of your great Emperor.”

He said it as a joke but flinched when Ian glared at him.
Oscar shunned his gaze and put down the documents.

“……Is the Duchess doing well? Now that I am not a prince anymore, I can’t go directly to the Duchy, and since the Duchess doesn’t attend any social gatherings, I don’t have a chance to see her.”

“I’m sure she’s doing well.” Ian was updated every week about Laritte through the letters from his employees.
Ordinary people might feel bad, but Ian wanted to hear from Laritte that way.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Oscar decided it was better to change the subject.

“According to recent reports, the plague seems to have been spreading in the countryside.”

Due to a serious high fever with no cure, people were dying.

“After the ship was anchored at the north of the kingdom, judging from the fact, it is assumed that the endemic disease has been transmitted from there.
The place of origin is close to the Duchy, so you’d better be careful.”

Ian was also aware of it.

But there was nothing he could do.
He had no choice but to hope that the plague would not reach the Duchy.

Even after Oscar left, Ian kept organizing the documents.
Dipping the pen in ink, he went to sign the papers when he was distracted by a sudden quake of the window panels due to the cold winter wind.
His eyes flew towards the window.

“Haa…..”

Was it because he heard about the plague?

He strangely felt nervous all of a sudden.

Laritte would have to be safe.