Chapter 30

030.

They passed through the sturdy walls and entered inside.

Into a place high and unshakable like an iron fortress.

Though cheers still echoed behind them, just stepping within the castle walls made it feel like they had entered a stronghold no one could ever touch.

The Ingel Castle, where she had stayed for just one day after their wedding a year ago.

‘Something’s…’

Different.

Was this really what it had looked like?

She remembered it as a terrifying black demon’s castle swallowed by the night, but it was nothing like that now.

‘There are… so many flowers.’

The walls that had once seemed like prison bars now looked like solid fences, and the ground she recalled as bleak and dry was now covered in vibrant blossoms that didn’t seem to suit Riad at all.

The sunlight was warm, and the scent of flowers brushing past her body made it feel like she had stepped into another world.

“Henesstia.”

“…Yes?”

“What’s wrong now?”

Only then did she snap out of it.

She didn’t know where to look.

“I think… I was just surprised by how many people there were.”

“…You’ll have to get used to it.”

“I… I will.”

The castle staff were lined up waiting out front.

Riad stopped his horse before them.

An elderly woman at the front gave him a deep bow with a cheerful smile.

“I was worried whether this old woman would live to see your return, but you’ve made it back safely again.”

“You’re still busy spouting nonsense. Has everyone been well?”

“Of course, my lord. With the Count defending the nation himself, how could we not be?”

“That’s good. As long as you’ve all been well.”

The knights who had stayed behind to protect the territory, the servants, the maids, even the gardeners and stable hands—all had come out to greet him.

Riad greeted them all with practiced ease.

She hadn’t expected him to be on such good terms with the staff. Yet even to their trivial comments, he responded, and there was a subtle smile at the corner of his lips. He seemed genuinely pleased.

Feeling a strange distance from it all, Henesstia stood awkwardly off to the side, unsure of what to do.

“Sir Cedric, your sword’s different! Did it break again?”

“It just happened. I brought the broken one back, so get it repaired for me.”

“Yes, yes. But for now, please dismount. Even the horses need a break!”

The knights all looked at ease, as if they’d returned home. Everyone seemed familiar with this moment.

Then again, it wasn’t Riad’s first war, and this wasn’t the first time these people had seen him off and welcomed him back.

In the midst of all this, Henesstia was the only one for whom everything was new.

“You too, my lord. Please get down now, or this old woman will lose her voice.”

“That won’t do.”

After dismounting, Riad reached out his arm to Henesstia. She hesitated briefly, but she couldn’t just sit there alone on the horse while everyone bustled about unloading gear and tending to the mounts. So she took his arm and hopped down into his embrace.

He easily caught her and set her gently on the ground.

“Oh dear, the lady has come with you as well. It’s been a while.”

‘A while…?’

As the greeting was directed at her, Henesstia reflexively responded.

“…It has been a while.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t recognize the woman at all.

From the way she spoke, it seemed likely she had either attended the wedding or encountered Henesstia during her short stay at the castle that day, but—

‘I don’t remember who I met then.’

She couldn’t remember who had been at the wedding, or who had spoken to her at the Ingel estate while she was clutching Heron’s hand. Who had shown kindness, who had harbored ill will—she remembered none of it.

What she did remember was the unease of standing alone in Riad’s room. The bitterness.

And…

The warmth of a room that had been carefully kept, despite being unoccupied.

“Come, my lady. This way. We’ve prepared water and clothes for you. You must rest and recover from the journey.”

The head maid, Fleur, gestured warmly for her to follow.

Henesstia looked up at Riad.

Perhaps he didn’t notice her gaze—he was looking at the others moving about, organizing things.

She could have called out to him, but her voice didn’t come.

After opening her mouth several times without sound, she finally reached out and grabbed his arm.

Riad’s eyes turned to her.

“What is it?”

“Am I… going alone?”

“There’s a banquet this evening. Rest until then.”

“And you, Count…?”

He looked down at the arm she held, halfway through removing the lighter pauldrons over his uniform.

Henesstia finally released her grip.

After removing his gauntlets, Riad massaged his shoulders and gave her a light tap on the back.

“Go and rest first.”

The word “rest” had never felt so heavy.

Henesstia found herself unable to move, her eyes stuck to the arm that was now pulling away from her.

“Fleur used to serve the imperial household. She’ll help you settle in—go with her.”

If she lingered any longer, she’d only inconvenience him.

She couldn’t hold him back. Who knew what the waiting maids might think of that?

So in the end, she nodded slowly.

“Come now, my lady. This way.”

And so, led by the hand of the maid Fleur, Henesstia was the very first to step into the Count’s estate.

As she passed through the wide-open doors, noise erupted behind her.

“That stable boy’s grown so fast, hasn’t he?”

“Kids grow overnight! Do you want to see the warehouse keeper’s granddaughter? That little one—these days—”

It was clear as day they had been waiting for her to leave.

It stung.

Their easy, familiar attitudes were nothing like the cold formality of the Ardin household—making the contrast all the more painful.

“It feels even more joyful seeing you after a year. You seem a bit thinner. Have you been well?”

“…Yes, thank… you.”

The wide front gates closed.

As if sealed off from the outside world, Henesstia and Fleur began walking into the quiet inner castle. A few maids followed along.

“We still had the things prepared from a year ago, so nothing was changed. If anything’s missing, please tell this old one.”

Fleur spoke kindly, but Henesstia could hardly remember how she responded.

“Come now, what are you all doing? Help the lady bathe!”

By the time she came to, she had already arrived at her room.

The maids swiftly removed her clothes and led her to the bath. The bathroom was so extravagant it left her speechless, with warm water filling a grand tub.

“Is it really alright to use this much hot water?”

Even compared to the Empress’s bathroom, which she had once been allowed to use, it didn’t fall short.

She had thought the exterior of the estate was impressive, but she hadn’t expected the interior to be so flawless.

“The Count gave the order personally, so it’s perfectly fine.”

“But if I use this much, won’t the knights have to bathe in cold water…”

At her concern, Fleur chuckled as she poured oil into the bath. Her wrinkled hands elegantly uncapped a decorated glass bottle.

“This is nothing for our Count, my lady. No need to worry. Now, do go in—before the water cools.”

In this display that seemed to remind her Riad Ingel was the sole heir to a major merchant guild, Henesstia sank into the tub with a splash.

‘I can see why Heron covets this place.’

It was true—if he possessed this much wealth and power no one could touch, it made sense why Heron would covet it.

With her lips pressed tightly together, Henesstia dunked her head underwater and came back up with a gasp.

It had been so long since she had bathed like this. Her whole body felt like it was slowly relaxing.

“…This is nice.”

The maids poured warm water over her body.

The scent was luxurious, far beyond the hurriedly bought oils the baroness had given her.

Crinkling her nose, Henesstia scooped up some water and smelled it.

“Is this Lady Pennin’s work?”

The fragrance was familiar.

A subtle scent, cooler at the end, quite the opposite of the current trend for strong perfumes.

It was the creation of Rizelda Pennin, her closest friend before marriage.

She had often received such handmade gifts from Rizelda and recognized it immediately.

She remembered laughing as Rizelda proudly declared she would commercialize them one day. And now…

The sudden memory tugged at her heart.

“You recognized it right away? Though she goes by Madam Sarbo now.”

“…Madam Sarbo.”

Sarbo—as in the Marquess of Sarbo.

‘So she married that man.’

Henesstia faintly remembered hearing that a marriage was being arranged. She also recalled the promise they made, to attend each other’s weddings in the prettiest dresses.

‘Prettiest dress… I didn’t even attend.’

She hadn’t even known Rizelda had gotten married, let alone attended her wedding. A self-deprecating smile touched her lips.

After her own marriage, all ties with those she’d once considered close had quietly broken.

Even the occasional letters stopped after a while—and Rizelda had been no different.

Because they had been so close, Henesstia couldn’t accept it for a long time and kept waiting for another letter to come.

‘I couldn’t reply… so maybe that’s why.’

Just the fact that Rizelda kept writing even without receiving a reply was more than enough.

She stood up decisively.

Not wanting to linger on past relationships any longer, she changed the subject in her mind.

“I didn’t just use up all the water in the Ingel estate today, did I?”

Fleur had once served as a lady-in-waiting in the imperial household, sent along with the estate when the emperor granted it to Riad.

From what she had heard, Fleur had served Riad since the time he earned the emperor’s favor.

Perhaps that was why she could hide her emotions so well—Fleur had likely not had a good first impression of Henesstia. And yet, she continued to treat her with a gentle smile.

There was not the slightest hint of resentment.

“You are kind, my lady. But there’s no need to worry about us servants.”

“But still…”

“The water is drawn from outside the castle through a sewer system, so it’s not something we’ll run out of.”

The maids wiped her body carefully.

Droplets trickled down from her wet hair, crossing her pale skin as they fell.

“A sewer system…? Is that really necessary for the Count’s estate?”

A sewer system—it revealed how perfectly designed this place was.

‘A sewer system requires a lot of maintenance…’

It was the kind of luxury that could easily fall into disrepair without a lady of the house managing it constantly. Most places would rather use manpower to draw water than install such a system.

With the lady of the house absent all this time, she could only imagine how the people here must have felt.

“We also have a separate bathhouse just for the staff. We go through a lot of water.”

“…A bathhouse for the staff?”

A bathhouse just for the staff. That was incredible, considering that in other noble houses, servants might bathe only five or six times a month.

“Our Count doesn’t indulge in extravagance, but in matters like this, he’s firm. Oh my, I didn’t quite get all the water off. Did I mention I once brushed Her Majesty the Empress’s hair? I’m confident in my skill. Shall I help with yours?”

Fleur seated Henesstia down.

“You have such long hair—it would be lovely to try different styles. Let’s see… since we’re at it, should I tend to your nails too? This castle is full of men, you see. I never thought I’d get to do hair again before I died. What a joyful day this is.”

“…Do it often. Style me again.”

“Of course, my lady. It’s been too long—I’ll enjoy getting back into the rhythm.”

As the gentle hands combed through her hair, Henesstia gazed across the spacious room through the mirror.

This situation… wasn’t at all what she had expected.

Maybe she had been too afraid. Maybe Heron’s instilled fear had trapped her in wild assumptions.

Henesstia gently twisted a lock of hair that had fallen over her chest.

* * *

That evening, right on the dot at the time he said he would come, Riad appeared.

The unavoidable dinner banquet was now right around the corner.