Chapter 93
Joy, who received Heinz’s greeting, awkwardly nodded and replied.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Joy.”
For some reason, Joy seemed startled every time Heinz spoke to him.
And it was clear that the capable butler Heinz wouldn’t miss that.
Noticing that Joy was uncomfortable, Heinz quickly stepped away from him and made way for us to enter the Duke’s residence.
“Well then, let’s head inside.”
As we entered the mansion, the familiar yet strange scenery of the estate came into view.
It was only natural for it to feel unfamiliar, as I hadn’t stayed here for even a month.
“It seems your arrival coincided perfectly with mealtime, so I’ve prepared a meal.”
“Thank you.”
After having a simple meal prepared by Heinz, I went up to my room alone.
Evan had headed straight to his office as soon as he finished eating, as there were numerous tasks awaiting his confirmation.
“This bed is still the same.”
Upon entering the room, I murmured softly while looking at the bed, which boasted an immense presence.
Recalling the day the bed had been changed, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
The image of a flustered Evan from that day vividly came to mind.
“I miss it.”
Lately, our conversations had been limited to a few awkward exchanges, which made me feel a greater sense of longing.
Lost in thought, I flopped onto the bed and gently closed my eyes.
There were many tasks left to do with Evan, as well as numerous responsibilities awaiting me in the capital.
“I need to pull myself together…”
On one hand, a vague sense of anxiety rose within me about whether I could manage it all, but I quickly shook my head to dispel the worries.
The next day.
It seemed that news of Evan and me returning to the capital had already spread through high society.
Less than a day after our arrival, there were already more than ten party invitations that had flown into the mansion.
“Wow, what is all this?”
Joy, who had come to the office, asked in genuine surprise as he looked at the pile of invitations on the desk.
The sight of colorful invitations stacked up must have been unfamiliar to him.
“They’re invitations. It seems the nobles are already eager to make their rounds.”
If I didn’t know any better, I would say the social scene was filled with a tension akin to the calm before a storm.
“What does that mean?”
“In short, it means that more nobles will be weighing their options on which side to align with for a comfortable future.”
Once the official succession exams began, the lines of support for the two princes would become clearly defined.
Most nobles were likely racking their brains to figure out which prince they should side with to ensure their own future safety.
“Nobles wanting to align with the first prince will all come looking for either me or Evan.”
Since Evan was the only person Bjorn referred to as a true friend, I expected that more nobles would seek to position themselves with the first prince through us.
“So, are you going to the party today?”
“No. We have somewhere to go together today, so we can’t. I’ll let you know when we’re about to leave, so get ready.”
“Huh? Am I going too? Where are we going?”
“To see my father.”
I pushed the pile of invitations to the side as I replied.
Now was definitely not the time to be attending such parties.
Finally, we arrived at the house where my father and Cesar were.
The carriage naturally passed through the gates of the Duke of Feldro’s residence.
I scanned the scenery of the mansion with a strange mix of emotions.
The familiar landscape, unchanged since before my marriage, filled me with warmth and joy.
“It’s been a long time coming. To think I’ve visited two imperial ducal houses.”
At that moment, Joy, who was also looking out the window at the mansion’s scenery, muttered in a tone reminiscent of an old man who had seen it all.
It seemed Joy was intent on breaking the silence of the carriage, as he had been mumbling non-stop for a while.
Creak.
As the carriage finally came to a stop, Evan opened the door first and extended his hand toward me.
“Thank you.”
As I gazed at his hand, I nodded slightly and took it, stepping down from the carriage.
And as I lifted my head, I locked eyes with my father and Cesar, who were standing at the door waiting for us.
“Father! Brother!”
I approached my father and Cesar, who had come out to greet us with delighted expressions.
“Dahlia. It seems you enjoyed your time in the duchy. How could you not send even a single letter during that time?”
As I got closer, my father pouted, clearly showing his disappointment.
“Father, why are you acting like that when you’re clearly happy?”
Cesar, who was standing next to my father, chuckled and made a comment, lightening the mood.
“I’m sorry. I had a lot to handle in the territory, so I was quite busy. Now that I’m in the capital, I’ll visit often.”
“Hmph. That’s what you should say.”
Fortunately, my words seemed to please him, and my father’s previously stiff expression quickly softened.
Nodding in satisfaction, he then noticed Evan, who was behind me, and acknowledged him.
“Ah, Duke. Welcome. I hope I haven’t invited a busy person for no reason?”
“No, thank you for inviting me.”
“Come in quickly. But who is that next to you…?”
At last, my father’s gaze landed on Joy.
With his unusual hairstyle and attire that clearly indicated he was not a servant, a look of curiosity crossed my father’s face.
“He’s my newly hired assistant. I thought it would be good to introduce him since you’ll likely see him often.”
“My name is Joy. It’s an honor to meet you.”
As I finished my introduction, Joy greeted my father and Cesar with his characteristic warm demeanor.
“Hm, I see. But that hair of yours—can you see well in front?”
After acknowledging Joy’s greeting, my father pointed to his fluffy hair with a tone mixed with curiosity.
“Yes. It doesn’t pose any problems in daily life.”
“Really? You’re quite a unique friend.”
Satisfied with his curiosity, my father then led us inside.
Since the dinner was a family meal, Joy was guided to a separate dining room for guests.
When Evan and I arrived at the dining room, freshly prepared dishes began to fill the table one after another.
“I’m curious about how you’ve been in the duchy. Since you’ve only lived in the capital since you were ten, it must have been full of unfamiliar things.”
My father naturally turned the conversation toward me and Evan.
“It wasn’t easy, but I met good people and managed well.”
I deliberately chose not to mention any dangerous incidents that had occurred in the duchy.
“I’m glad to hear you’re doing well.”
My father smiled contentedly at my response, then turned to Evan and spoke again.
“Duke, how about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, my friend? I’m asking because I’m curious if you’ve been well. It’s a family gathering, so why be so stiff?”
“…I’ve been well.”
After hearing my father’s words, Evan paused for a moment before slowly nodding and responding.
His expression was so awkward that it was clear he felt like someone who had never attended a family gathering before.
“Ahem, Duke Balestain? Do you know what this is?”
At that moment, Cesar, sitting in front of us, pulled out a large bottle of alcohol and posed the question to Evan.
“It’s alcohol.”
“Correct. But this isn’t just any ordinary drink. It’s a very rare liquor that only produces ten bottles a year from the Santia region.”
Pop—
As Cesar finished speaking and opened the bottle, a cheerful sound echoed through the dining room.
“Though it’s been a while since you got married, I brought this to celebrate our new family, so please accept a glass.”
I had wondered why he brought a bottle of alcohol that seemed too precious to drink, but I didn’t expect it to carry such a heartfelt meaning.
Cesar gradually eased Evan’s tension with his characteristic smooth conversation.
