The sun was particularly bright today.

And Violet, basking in the light by the window, smiled brightly.

“Doesn’t the princess have to go?”

“I like that I can talk comfortably with Lady Anette since His Highness isn’t here.”

After Serdis left, I had tea time alone with Violet. Although it was too cold to enjoy the outdoor scenery, the warm sunlight and fragrant tea brought a sense of leisure.

“I didn’t know Blandiche Territory was such a beautiful place. The snow never melts all year round. It’s so pretty sparkling in the sunlight.”

“It looks pretty, but it’s a shame we can’t enjoy tea outside.”

“When you come up to the capital later, let’s have tea together at our mansion.”

“I’d like that.”

I responded with a bright smile. Violet sipped her tea and admired the scenery for a while, then suddenly approached me and asked.

“Is it livable here?”

She seemed curious about living alone in a foreign land, away from her family in the capital.

“It’s livable except for being a bit cold. The people are all nice too.”

She let out a sigh of relief and carefully continued.

“That’s good. But you don’t seem to get along well with Lili… Should I talk to her?”

“No need. Lili’s probably just awkward because I suddenly appeared as her new elder sister.”

Probably.

I don’t understand the heart of a teenage girl either.

“I see.”

“How do you know Lili, princess?”

“I met her at social gatherings before she entered the Grand Duchy. She was very fond of me from the start.”

As expected of Violet.

She had a strangely appealing charm. Only Serdis didn’t realize it.

Especially those cheeks. Every time I saw those white rice cake-like cheeks, I was filled with the desire to touch them. I should try it secretly when we get closer.

“But the castle seems a bit bleak for a newlywed home. When I return to the mansion, I’ll send you decorations that create a newlywed atmosphere as a gift.”

Violet looked around and said brightly.

The Grand Duchy did look bleak. Since the previous Grand Duke didn’t have a wife, he couldn’t properly manage the castle.

“The castle does look a bit empty, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm. You said it was love at first sight, so I guess I expected something… more.”

She twisted her body.

It seems she wants something more. Like back then, marriage to someone you fell for at first sight must seem like a fantasy to her.

‘If that’s what the princess wants, I’ll have to meet her expectations.’

I chuckled and pulled her hand.

“This way, princess.”

Then I led her to the display cabinet in the reception room.

“The reception room is where guests come and go, so we couldn’t openly display it. But since you’re curious, I’ll show you especially.”

And I opened wide the tightly closed cabinet doors. At the same time, Violet’s eyes widened like full moons.

“What is all this!”

“You could say these are items we use when chatting in the reception room.”

Two cups with the same pattern.

Two spoons.

Two quill pens.

.

.

.

Finally, there was a pair of mandarin duck sculptures.

In other words, couple items.

These were things I had prepared before coming to the Grand Duchy. Besides the reception room, there were plenty of items that screamed ‘We’re newlyweds!’ in the bathroom, dining room, bedroom, and everywhere else.

So that even if my parents or family elders visit later, they won’t be suspicious.

“I’m showing this to you first, princess.”

I whispered slightly in her ear.

“Actually, even the underwear I’m wearing now has the same pattern as his.”

“Oh my… how embarrassing.”

Violet’s face flushed shyly like a young girl.

She was looking at those things with envious eyes, letting out cute exclamations.

“When you marry His Highness Serdis later, I’ll give them to you as a gift.”

“Really? I’m so happy.”

Violet’s face was lit up with joy for a moment.

“Princess!”

The reception room door opened, and Lili appeared noisily. She ran straight to Violet, completely ignoring me, and clung to her.

“Lili? What brings you here?”

“Princess. Play with me!”

Seeing this, I let out a short sigh.

“Lili. Aren’t you going to greet your new elder sister?”

Lili glanced at me sideways and reluctantly greeted me. It had been like this ever since our argument.

“New elder sister, good afternoon.”

She didn’t say a single word besides the greeting. Even when I tried to make up by reaching out first, she was so upset that she wouldn’t engage with me. After several attempts, I ended up in mother-in-law mode.

“Lili. You shouldn’t be rude to Lady Anette.”

Unable to stand by, Violet added a word.

“I understand. I’ll be polite from now on. By the way, princess, let’s go hunting together!”

“Oh my, hunting?”

Violet brightened at the mention of hunting.

“There are lots of bows in the castle. You’re good with a bow, princess. Show us your skills. Please?”

“But unlike the hunting grounds on the outskirts of the capital, the terrain and climate in the north are different, so there aren’t any rabbits or deer for us to hunt.”

“Instead, there are other small magical beasts. There’s also a small animal covered in down that’s so cute.”

Lili excitedly pulled on Violet, but I stepped in to stop her.

“No.”

“I didn’t ask new elder sister to come along.”

“Then it’s even more out of the question. If I can’t go with you, what if the princess gets hurt while hunting? Who will take responsibility?”

“I will.”

“How? Come up with a specific plan and I’ll consider it.”

At my words, Lili shouted irritably.

“New elder sister!”

“Yes, I’m your new elder sister. So shouldn’t you listen well? If you shout and act rudely in front of a guest, how can I trust you?”

When I stand in front of Lili, I keep finding things to nag about.

Violet, who had been watching the argument, awkwardly smiled and gently pulled her hand away.

“Lili. Come visit me in the capital with Lady Anette later. There’s a safe hunting ground there for young ladies, so let’s go together.”

“Princess! Why are you taking new elder sister’s side? You want to go hunting too, don’t you?”

“I can do it anytime in the capital.”

“But…”

Lili talks herself into a corner. If she had just been friendly, I would have let her go.

But if I give in here, Lili’s bad habits will never be fixed.

“Come on, let’s sit down and have tea together.”

Violet sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. But that didn’t appease Lili’s anger.

“Today… is my birthday!”

Birthday?

Oh no.

Since coming here, I hadn’t had the chance to remember anyone’s birthday.

I should have at least known Hertian and Lili’s birthdays. It was my mistake.

“Even if the princess didn’t know, new elder sister didn’t know my birthday either, right?”

The arrow naturally flew towards me.

I felt a bit wronged.

Then be friendly with me too!

I won the wedding night bet, but you don’t even treat me like a new elder sister and then push your birthday on me? Did you think I’d let it slide? Hmph.

“I knew it. I didn’t expect anything.”

Lili grumbled with a hmph. Though she says she dislikes me, forgetting the birthday of one of her only two family members in the world was too much, wasn’t it?

I thought deeply for a minute.

I came to a conclusion.

I can’t fight with Lili on her birthday of all days.

Sigh.

“Lili. Let’s go hunting like you want.”

I can’t be petty and ask if she knew my birthday as her new elder sister.

I have no choice but to take a step back.

“I’ll ask the Grand Duke for knights, so wait.”

Only then did Lili close her mouth tightly and smile with satisfaction.

“Princess. Please change clothes with Lili and come out. I’ll go to the Grand Duke.”

“Alright, I will.”

I decided to make up with Lili on this occasion.

I asked Hertian about Lili’s favorite foods and ordered a cake in advance.

After thinking about what would be good for a birthday present, I chose a pink satin ribbon that Lili likes. I wrapped it prettily and enclosed a letter.

Saying let’s resolve our hurt feelings and get along well while caring for each other.

Lili must be uncomfortable with our awkwardness too.

But what if she doesn’t accept this either?

I don’t know. We’ll just keep being awkward I guess.

“Oh, how pretty.”

The pink wax seal was stamped neatly and I really liked it.

And I decorated one room in pink so we could have a party as soon as Lili came in.

I decorated it better than I thought?

‘Maybe I have a talent for this kind of thing.’

It was still a joyous thing to celebrate someone’s birthday. It was also a memory I could never experience before the possession. Hoping Lili would like it.

I left the gift in the room and went out after changing clothes.

Hertian wanted to come along too, but since his schedule didn’t allow it, he assigned knights from the Grand Duke’s family.

“Greetings, Grand Duchess.”

I looked at the knights with somewhat unfamiliar eyes.

Since there were security forces stationed all over the capital, there was no need for personal knights, so this was my first time going out with knights like this.

Among them was Osen, Hertian’s closest aide. I greeted Osen, who seemed somewhat displeased.

“You’re Osen, right? The Grand Duke’s assistant.”

“Yes.”

Osen treated me stiffly, now as when we first met. Did I do something wrong?

“Do you dislike me too, Osen?”

I approached him and asked, but he looked down at me with strange eyes.

“Were there others who said they dislike you besides me?”

It was a strangely worrying yet unpleasant thing to say. Not knowing what expression to make, I frowned while pulling up the corners of my mouth.

“I don’t want to talk to people who say they dislike me either. Osen, just protect Lili and the princess well.”

I quickly composed my expression and strode forward.

Osen followed behind, but I didn’t give him a glance.

Unlike Hertian, I tend to be narrow-minded.

The hunting ground was located halfway up a mountain path in the village. Shallow snow and protruding grass on flat ground. The cool, fresh air tickled my skin.

‘It feels nice to be out.’

It wasn’t like we snuck out, and coming out with Violet made me even more excited.

Lili also had a big smile on her face. Of course, even though she was in a good mood, she didn’t speak to me.

“Princess. This is my friend Allie who’s been with me since I was young.”

“Allie? What a pretty name.”

“Her tail feathers are really pretty too, right?”

Lili looked happy introducing her horse to Violet.

Seeing Lili smile made me feel much more at ease.

We set up our spot at the hunting ground together.

“We’ll set up the tent.”

“Alright.”

The knights unloaded the luggage from the carriage and set up a makeshift tent.

“Lili, don’t go yet.”

“Do you think this is only my first or second time here? It’s safe here.”

“I’ll follow Lili. Please follow us when the tent is finished.”

“Understood.”

I also got on my horse and followed her. The place we stopped was a forest dense with conifers. Lili hid behind a tree and put her index finger to her lips.

“Monggles live around here.”

“The fluffy ones you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes, they’re cute but quick, so we have to hunt them fast.”

Violet nodded once and followed behind Lili. I kept looking back, searching for the path the knights would come up.

“Let’s move when the knights arrive.”

“There’s no time for that. If they know people are coming, they’ll all run away before then.”

“But it’s dangerous.”

“New elder sister. Are you saying we came all this way just to go back without hunting? On my birthday.”

Then don’t go far and stay where I can see you.

“Alright.”

“Don’t worry too much since I’m here, Anette.”

“Princess, please stop Lili from doing anything rash.”

“I will.”

I was somewhat relieved that at least Violet was there. The two who were moving away quickly found their prey and took positions behind trees.

The knights still hadn’t arrived after a long time. Did something happen? Or did they not find the path we took into the forest? I alternated between looking at the forest path and Lili’s group before taking a few steps towards the forest entrance.

There was no sign of the knights, let alone any human voices. Maybe we should have told them to set up the tent later and come together.

And not long after.

I heard human voices from down in the forest.

I reflexively turned my head, and there I saw a familiar person.

“Cantad…?”