Before I realized it, night had come.

I was so engrossed in writing the book that I didn’t notice the passage of time. Checking the clock belatedly, I awkwardly smiled and closed the book.

Hertian, who entered the bedroom only in his gown again today, approached me from behind where I was sitting at the table.

“Don’t mind me, continue writing.”

“Is that okay?”

Hertian willingly gave his permission.

While I resumed writing, he stood behind me with something in his hands.

“May I comb your hair?”

In his hand was a comb.

A small wooden comb in a hand that usually wielded a sword seemed somewhat cute. I happily offered him my head.

“Please comb gently.”

“Just leave it to me.”

With a very careful touch, he combed my hair. The subtle touch of his fingers on my nape felt rather strange.

I finished the book shortly, but the gentle touch of his hand combing my hair felt so good that I closed my eyes.

“Can you tie my hair?”

I made such a request, hoping he’d touch it a bit more. Without a word, he fetched a long string and gathered my hair with the comb. That sensation was so pleasing that I closed my eyes.

“You look beautiful with your hair tied.”

His words faintly echoed in my ears and disappeared.

The room was filled with vibrant roses that were hard to find in the north.

Lily was changing into her afternoon dress, taking in the profound scent of the roses.

“Where’s my sister?”

Lily asked as if it had become a habit lately.

Lily’s personal maid approached as if she had been waiting and whispered.

“Are they trying to bring in people that the Empire abandoned?”

“They say she’s also gathered several merchants in the Empire.”

Lily clicked her tongue.

“Why are my uncle and others bringing people in, spending unnecessary money? My sister is not a person of the domain, why is she sticking her neck in something that Hertian did not ask for?”

She did not understand.

Why they wanted to bring people who had already settled in the enemy country, Kursia, to the domain.

Moreover, it was not for free, it was for an amount of money with which you could buy hundreds of highend dresses.

“Maybe it’s because of you, young lady?”

“Because of me? Why?”

“Maybe because you scolded the woman who brought a child from Kursia last time. The lady might want to defy you, who is the actual power in this castle, by ostentatiously bringing in people from the enemy country.”

Even if she was the duchess, to the maid who had been working in the castle for a long time, the master was Lily.

If Lily’s position falls, it means her own position also falls.

It was obvious that if they left it alone, the maids who served Anette would take away all the positions.

“That could be true.”

And Lily believed that completely. She did not show it, but she was also bothered by Anette who took over the household chores.

“We need to drive away the fake sister before the real sister comes.”

Observing the wide and barren domain of the Duke was quite enjoyable.

As we left the castle in the carriage, we saw trees covered with pure white snow all along.

“Except for the cold, it would be fun to see this view every day.”

When we lived in the capital, Lian and I would always look forward to snowy days. One of the reasons I loved poplar trees was also because I wanted to see this pure white snow.

I have memories of my father preventing me from going out whenever it snowed, so snow was even more special to me. Even with one flake of snow falling on my palm, a smile naturally bloomed on my face.

“Ma’am, how about we go back to the castle now? If the lord finds out, I’ll die.”

“I told his highness that I would explore the domain and return, so it’s fine. Unless Giltar spills the beans…….”

I stared at him intensely.
Guilt surged through me, and I took the lead.

“But only one hour.”

“I promise. Let’s go, Bonisa.”

Bonisa, stronger than the other maids, and I headed towards the border.

A small village on the snowcovered plains, a long fence stretched between them.

Beyond the fence were several barracks made of thick tents.

I breathed in deeply, fully enjoying the scenery.

Having taken off the cumbersome dress, wearing commoner’s clothing, my body seemed to feel much better.

“Bonisa. You must not call me miss or madam. Understand?”

“…Can I call you sis?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

The reason for the barracks right next to the village border was simple.

To stop sudden attacks from the enemy nation, Requies. Additionally, it was easier to procure supplies from the nearby village, making this region suitable for surveillance and life.

However, they were not completely unwelcome from the village’s perspective.

“Two orcs are descending!”

“Don’t report each one, just take care of it and come back.”

The Knights of Curcia would take care of any monsters or wild beasts coming down from the mountains.

‘A symbiotic relationship, indeed.’

Several knights who jumped out of the barracks returned covered in orc blood.

One soldier who followed them returned with a broken leg, suggesting they were not exactly easy opponents.

I then naturally crossed over the fence and looked for a familiar face.

“Ma’am, do you have a clean towel? If so, could I borrow one?”

The village people didn’t feel a strong aversion to the Curcia knights crossing the border.

“I’ll bring it, don’t trouble yourself moving, just stay there.”

I took the towel the lady was going to fetch and headed towards the barracks. The knights didn’t even give us a glance as we crossed the fence.

As I entered the smallest barrack at the very end, apart from the soldier who asked for the towel, three other lowranking soldiers were visible.

“This lady is troublesome, she sent someone else. I just asked for it.”

I approached that soldier and offered the towel. The soldier roughly snatched the towel and scrubbed his face.

“Orc blood is poisonous, tell them to wash it before returning.”

“Okay.”

“Are you not leaving?”

Seeing me standing absentmindedly, the soldier, sensing something strange, got up. Then he flipped back the robe covering my face. Bonisa, who was behind me, was surprised and pulled me back.

“You…”

Not only Bonisa, but also the soldier who flipped back my robe was surprised and opened his eyes wide when he saw my face.

‘Did he somehow recognize that I am the Duchess?’