Winter (2)

‘Lady Alena, please rest comfortably in the South Wing. If you need anything, just tell me.’

Because she was an important figure to the Rain Family, the Marquess had Alena stay in Alicia’s quarters.

‘My lady, I’m not a lady. Cough! Cough!’

After a long life on the run, Alena’s health had worsened severely.

She coughed just from speaking a few words.

When her face was blank, it was hard to guess her age, but when she coughed and frowned, wrinkles creased her entire face.

Even the slightest frown made her look dry and irritable.

But even then, her bright brown eyes were as pure and clear as a child’s.

Alicia was so grateful for Alena’s very existence that she visited often and tried to grow close to her.

Back then, Alicia was timid and shy, but as she grew older she had built up a little immunity to interacting with others.

Only after countless tea times did Alena finally tell her story.

Her real name, she said, was Reina.

‘My original name is Reina. It’s not that important. I just wanted you to know.’

‘Reina. I’ll call you Reina from now on.’

They had never said they wanted to be friends, but to Alicia back then, Reina was something close to a friend.

Because Reina had told her that true name, Alicia could turn back time and find Reina again.

‘Lady Alicia. If it wouldn’t be rude, may I see your eyes up close? It’s superstition, but people long ago believed violet eyes had the power to ward off curses.’

The Reina in Alicia’s memories was gone.

As she left the library, Alicia looked back over her shoulder again and again.

Reichardt had stepped down from the carriage and was waiting for her.

She walked toward his face, where joy and sorrow were mixed together.

Strong arms wrapped Alicia in warmth.

“It’s strange. We were friends, but now it’s a connection only I remember.”

Alicia whispered as she leaned into Reichardt’s chest.

The person Alicia had gone to see was in much better condition than before.

Perhaps because Alicia thought so too, she did not look worried.

She just wore a face caught in a strange emotion.

“You’ll be able to become friends again.”

Reichardt gently comforted Alicia and led her to the carriage.

There was not much he could say, because this was a worry only Alicia—who had turned back time—could have.

Above all, there would be more cases like this in the future.

Alicia remembered the other person, while the other person had none of the memories Alicia had.

“Do you think so?”

“This time, you’ll be even better friends.”

Reichardt did his best to reassure Alicia.

Alicia also knew he was showing the most positive attitude a stubborn man could possibly muster.

“Thank you, Rei.”

Alicia leaned more deeply into Reichardt’s embrace.

Reichardt stroked her hair and tapped the carriage wall.

At the departure signal, the coachman set the carriage in motion.

The carriage carrying Alicia and Reichardt headed down Baden Main Street toward Great West.

There was a party today for Anne Brennel, who had just become a new clan member.

It was not just one or two nobles who wanted to attend the party hosted by Zephyr Clan Master Josephina Lirin and Grand Duchess Alicia Rain of Tessen.

People were also interested that Anne Brennel, newly made a Zephyr Clan member, had redecorated the Great West garden.

With the full support of Josephina and Alicia, Anne had dressed the Great West garden in winter flowers.

Not only flowers but unusual silks and jewels were also used to adorn the garden.

There had been an uproar when word spread that Alicia had covered all the costs of the garden renovation.

Previously, Rain and Brennel had not been especially close.

At least, the relationships among the ladies had not been noteworthy.

But this time, as Alicia introduced Anne—now Viscount Brennel—to Baden society, rumors spread quickly that the Grand Duchess of Tessen was backing someone from her home region.

Anne had already drawn attention by serving as a bridesmaid at Alicia’s wedding.

It was also Alicia who had recommended Anne as a new member of the Zephyr Clan.

Northern nobles hoped the Grand Duchess of Tessen would become a center of gravity within Baden society.

Following those expectations, everyone hurried to line up behind Alicia.

Alicia had not intended it, but watching how things were unfolding, she invited ladies of her own age from Rain and among the northern nobles.

She sent all of them invitations to the Zephyr Clan party.

An uncomfortable undercurrent flowed among nobles from the imperial capital, Baden.

“The Grand Duchess of Tessen is muddying the waters already.”

To keep things balanced, Alicia and Josephina also sent invitations to nobles from the imperial capital.

Even as they accepted the invitation, some nobles did not hide their displeasure.

“They say the Grand Duke of Tessen coddles her over anything she says.”

“How lovely for her. She’s pretty, too.”

“You really do live long enough to see everything. Who would’ve guessed His Grace, who used to treat noblewomen and ladies like pebbles, would end up letting his wife have her way about anything she said?”

The noblewomen and ladies, dressed brightly, chatted with elegant faces.

As they looked around the garden, their eyes widened, yet they held back their awe and traded words quickly.

“The Grand Duchess of Tessen really went out of her way for a friend.”

“By the way, will His Grace come to the party? They say he’s utterly helpless for his wife—so he’ll come here too, won’t he?”

“No way. His Grace would never come to a place like this unless His Majesty summoned h—”

Just as a noblewoman in a red dress was speaking as if to scold someone,

Reichardt and Alicia passed right in front of her.

“Viscount Brennel has a fine touch. The garden is splendid.”

“Anne is good at growing flowers, too. I hope the new Aengkeo Orchard goes well.”

Reichardt and Alicia strolled through the garden almost pressed together as if they were one body.

Each time they came upon something Anne had arranged, Alicia exclaimed in admiration.

Reichardt looked at Alicia—laughing softly—with eyes that dripped with affection.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The noblewomen and ladies who had been talking by the fountain fell silent for a moment.

Acting as if nothing had happened, they dispersed in different directions.

“It looks like His Grace truly adores Her Grace.”

“I’ve been watching—he hasn’t let go of her arm once.”

“Not even that—he keeps holding her hand, too. That’s all for show, right? Isn’t it strange for a couple who just married to act like that?”

Anne’s debut in Baden society was a success.

The nobles who came to Great West under invitation behaved like the kindest people in the world—at least when they were in front of Anne.

Anne and the garden she had decorated became the center of conversation everywhere.

“Oh my.”

“Looks like they’re going to dance.”

As the party warmed up, Reichardt and Alicia appeared in the ballroom.

Anne and Josephina had already danced with their partners and moved on.

Led by Reichardt’s hand, Alicia whispered that this was not necessary to such an extent.

“It’s fine even if you step on my feet.”

Reichardt said generously as he held Alicia’s waist and took her hand.

“It’s not that bad anymore.”

“You almost stepped on me yesterday. Was I imagining it?”

Reichardt asked Alicia to dance.

Alicia said she would make time and take dance lessons, but Reichardt did not agree.

‘I’m right here. Why would you learn from someone else?’

Reichardt had said that boldly.

At his words, Daisy, who was nearby, offered an opinion with careful politeness.

‘Alicia, you’ve been hiring a teacher every year and this is still your level. Those teachers were all excellent. A Baden dance lesson won’t be that different.’

Daisy had struck bone with courteous words.

‘His Highness may be stiff in temperament, but he dances well, Your Grace.’

Henrik, listening from a distance, also chimed in.

Terrible people.

Thanks to them, after dinner, Alicia had tea time and was now experiencing being teased under the pretense of a dance lesson.

“Be careful. My heels are high today.”

Moving as Reichardt’s hand guided her, Alicia said sharply.

“You seem a little better than at the wedding.”

Reichardt pulled Alicia closer and gave a stingy compliment.

Even a stingy compliment was still a compliment, so it did not feel bad to hear.

“Dancing doesn’t suit me.”

“It seems so.”

Reichardt calmly agreed with Alicia’s grumbling.

“That’s mean.”

“You did improve a bit. Really.”

Reichardt finished the dance with a polite bow, whispering a cold compliment in a gentle voice.

The two of them bickered all the way as they exited.

To everyone else, it only looked like a pleasant moment between a close couple.

Reichardt escorted Alicia back to her friends and stepped out of the salon.

Passing busy servants, each occupied with their own tasks, he headed toward a quieter area and approached the luggage wagon being packed away.

“Jerome.”

Traces of the Emperor remained throughout Great West.

Jerome, once of the imperial garden administration, had retired from the palace and passed time going back and forth to Great West.

“Your Grace, do you have an order for me? What brings you to a place like this?”

Anne had decorated Great West’s garden, but Jerome handled the flowers inside the salon.

“Make me a bouquet. There are some good flowers here.”

Reichardt spoke casually to Jerome, whom he had known since childhood.

Jerome glared impudently at the Grand Duke’s finger pointing toward freesias.

“A bouquet?”

“I’ll pay. Ten gold coins. Don’t make it too big.”

Reichardt perched himself at the end of the luggage wagon and settled in.

“So this is why they say you have to live a long life.”

Jerome grumbled as he dragged out boxes of white freesias and yellow freesias from deep inside the wagon.

His wrinkled brow danced in ripples.

Rough hands, split at the fingertips, handled the beautiful flowers with delicate care.

“Jerome, you’ve lived a long time.”

Reichardt delivered an insolent remark to the old man with perfect politeness.

Jerome snorted at the unfunny joke.

“Only Your Grace would make the former chief of imperial floriculture do something like this.”

“My brothers never made you?”

“Ah, they never come in person. I suppose the underlings made them for them?”

In Jerome’s hands, the bouquet began to take shape.

“Not too big.”

Reichardt interfered as he watched it forming.

“You are truly a very demanding customer.”

With a huff, Jerome quickly finished the bouquet.

“That’s how royalty is.”

Reichardt said shamelessly.

Jerome handed him the bouquet.

As promised, Reichardt bought the bouquet for ten gold coins.

Jerome showed thoroughness by counting each coin the royal handed him.

“It’s correct.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. It was profitable business. It’s been a while since I worked like I was still active, though. Life is full of surprises—Your Grace getting married. And to think you nod along to anything Her Grace says, too. Admirable.”

Jerome greeted Reichardt with a smile.

“See you next time, Jerome.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Thanks for the bouquet. Alicia will like it.”

Reichardt also greeted Jerome with a smile.

Jerome, laughing, looked at Reichardt passing by with a stunned expression.

“You really do live long enough to see everything……”

Only after the fact did Jerome come to his senses and murmur dreamily to himself.