Confession (1)

Reichardt returned to the estate late at night.

His normally impassive face showed signs of fatigue.

He dismissed those around him and headed to his room alone.

As he passed the study, a door opened behind him.

With the creak of the door came a warm presence.

“Your Grace.”

The coldness on his tired face melted away.

“You’re still awake?”

Reichardt turned and looked at Alicia.

Seeing his expression soften despite his exhaustion, Alicia smiled back.

“I was waiting to have a snack with you.”

Alicia carefully reached out to his chilly hand.

“Let’s.”

With a tone of reluctant defeat, Reichardt let her lead him to the study.

“I have to confess something. I bought fourteen sofas today. I didn’t mean to, but…”

Inside the study, Alicia began explaining the things she had been half-forced to purchase by Henrik earlier that day.

Her voice was full of guilt.

As he drank his tea, Reichardt responded in a flat tone.

“Well done.”

Alicia explained each item she had bought.

Every time, Reichardt sincerely praised her for it.

A warm night quietly passed.

The world was shining pure white. Brilliant light poured from all directions.

It was a moment that felt like stepping into a celestial realm.

In the center of the light, a red carpet had been laid out.

Atop the luxurious red carpet stood a beautiful table.

Reichardt sat in front of it.

Beside him sat Alicia, veiled in a bridal veil.

Then, a gentle bell rang solemnly through the space.

A dream.

Reichardt knew he was dreaming.

He looked with dread at the marriage contract with gold trim placed before him.

He felt himself in the dream reach for the quill without hesitation.

The Reichardt in the dream signed the pure white marriage contract.

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of the quill scraping the paper echoed.

The contract was handed to Alicia.

She accepted the quill with an innocent, unknowing smile.

…No!

Like a child, Reichardt screamed, fully aware it was all a dream.

But the Alicia in the dream couldn’t hear him.

The scratch of the quill was unbearably cruel.

After signing, Alicia turned to Reichardt and smiled.

It was a smile brighter than the pure white world.

A flawless, harmless smile.

Reichardt swallowed his anguish as he watched the dazzling dream.

His heart pounded as if it would explode.

Helplessness, sorrow, intense self-loathing, disgust, rage, and frustration all struck him in waves.

The bell rang again.

Morning arrived in the bright white dream.

When he awoke, Reichardt turned to the space beside his bed.

In the dream, he spoke to his bride, sleeping as if unaware of anything.

‘Alicia.’

She couldn’t possibly be there.

‘Alicia?’

The idiot in the dream whispered in confusion.

Truly a hopeless fool.

He flipped back the blanket, which had risen all the way to the pillows, searching for the bride who had smiled so beautifully.

‘Alicia!’

But there was no bride.

Where Alicia should have been, there was only a white-dressed skeleton.

“…!”

The real Reichardt jolted awake in shock.

He sat up abruptly, gasping for air.

His breath came out in ragged bursts.

His shoulders rose and fell as if he had been sprinting at full speed.

His back, soaked in sweat, was damp and clinging to him.

The image of the skeletal bride in a dress refused to leave his mind.

That was Reichardt’s secret.

A shame both he and the royal family were trying to bury.

He steadied his breathing, forcing down the pain slowly crawling up his spine.

While in the capital, Reichardt usually visited the palace early each morning.

But today, he appeared in the dining hall unusually late.

It was rare for him to remain at the estate through the morning.

Alicia’s morning had been busy.

Simply getting dressed and planning her day had taken all her time.

Reichardt invited Alicia to breakfast.

When they sat, he left the head of the table empty and chose a seat directly across from her.

That seemed to be the greatest gesture of kindness the Grand Duke could offer his fiancée.

The morning was peaceful.

When the meal ended and the dishes were cleared, and the tea was served, Reichardt called her.

“Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“You should return to Luderne now. I believe this has been enough. Thank you for everything.”

As he finished speaking, Reichardt lifted his teacup.

It was an abrupt dismissal.

Though he only said she could return home now, it somehow sounded like a farewell.

“Thank you for letting me stay.”

Though flustered, Alicia responded clearly without hesitation.

“Y-Your Grace.”

It was Henrik who stammered.

Serving by Reichardt’s side, he was clearly rattled by the sudden turn of events.

“Henrik. Help pack the Lady’s belongings and see them sent.”

Reichardt ignored Henrik’s attempt to speak and simply gave his orders.

“Yes… There have been many recent purchases. It may be difficult to pack them all at once.”

Henrik tried to emphasize the sheer volume of Alicia’s things.

“Send whatever’s already packed first. The rest can follow later.”

Reichardt replied like it was no trouble at all.

“Yes…”

Henrik looked between Reichardt and Alicia with eyes full of regret.

Alicia, as if she hadn’t heard a thing, simply sipped her tea.

Reichardt set down his empty teacup and said:

“Send word to Touraine.”

“…!”

A crack formed in Alicia’s once-composed expression.

Though her face quickly returned to normal, she couldn’t fully hide the tremble.

She took a breath, her lips still resting against her teacup.

It was hard to smooth the tension gathering in her brows.

“I’ll send word.”

Henrik, who had seemed hesitant and disappointed just moments ago, now replied with a heavy face.

There was not a shred of expectation left as he turned away.

“Alicia.”

Reichardt rose from his chair.

Alicia also lowered her cup and stood to face him.

“Your Grace.”

Her polite response was met with a cold farewell.

“Take care.”

Reichardt turned and walked away without another word.

Alicia moved beside the table and bowed to the Grand Duke.

As she offered her bow, her gaze remained on the floor, and Reichardt looked straight ahead.

Alicia only stood upright again once she could no longer hear his footsteps.

It was time to return to Luderne.

The Grand Duke’s residence fell into deep gloom.

The once-bustling estate, filled with extravagant visitors during Alicia’s stay, was now quiet after her sudden departure.

More troubling than anything was how cold the Grand Duke and his fiancée, who had seemed so close just yesterday, now appeared to each other.

Given how icy he acted today, it was only natural her reaction would be cold as well.

It wasn’t that today’s behavior was strange—rather, his gentleness yesterday had been the anomaly.

Everyone in the estate sighed.

The one struck with the deepest sorrow was Baron Henrik of Rens.

Henrik’s face was downcast as he watched Alicia’s carriage.

“Lady.”

“Henrik. Thank you for putting up with my demands all this time. Please pass my regards to everyone at the estate.”

Alicia smiled warmly as she approached the carriage.

After her words, Daisy handed a heavy pouch to Henrik.

“I’ll let the staff know.”

Henrik tucked the pouch to one side.

“I wanted to offer my thanks personally for your service, but I know I’m not in a position to do so yet.”

“I understand perfectly, my lady.”

Henrik’s expression relaxed slightly as he handed her a list of sorted belongings.

His thoroughness meant almost no mistakes.

Alicia passed the list to Daisy without checking it.

“Stay well until we meet again. And once the rest of my belongings are sorted, feel free to contact me at Luderne.”

“I wish you peace as well, my lady. I’ll be in touch soon. Daisy, take good care of the Lady. And may you be well too.”

“You as well, Baron.”

The three exchanged light farewells.

“By the way, Henrik—will His Grace really go all the way to Touraine?”

Alicia asked casually before getting into the carriage.

Henrik chuckled and shook his head.

“No, my lady. The Lord of Touraine is currently staying near Baden.”

“I see. I was just concerned about His Grace making such a long journey. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I only wish His Grace knew of your concern. Thank you on his behalf. Take care, my lady. I’ll see you soon.”

Henrik, now visibly relieved, shut the carriage door.

Alicia and Daisy waved to him, noticing he hadn’t stepped away.

Henrik waved back earnestly.

They kept waving until they were out of sight of one another, and even then, Henrik remained where he stood until the carriage disappeared entirely.

The inside of the carriage was quiet as it rolled along the main road.

Alicia’s face was expressionless.

There was no smile, no frown.

Though her blank expression seemed chilly, she was simply lost in thought.

Daisy didn’t disturb her.

It wasn’t until they neared Luderne that Daisy broke the silence.

“My lady.”

Alicia noticed the sweet scent of chocolate reaching her lips.

At some point, Daisy had developed a habit of carrying individually wrapped chocolates and offering them to Alicia.

It seemed to be her way of gently pulling Alicia out of deep thought.

“Thank you.”

Alicia quickly ate the chocolate.

“Would you like another?”

“Yes. Also, please contact the embroidery teacher and ask her to visit with a new design.”

“Yes, my lady.”

At Daisy’s reply, Alicia nodded.

She focused on the chocolate melting in her mouth.

“How many mistresses do you think my father has?”

The question came suddenly from Alicia’s pensive face.

She didn’t expect a reply.

“He doesn’t have any these days.”

Daisy answered without hesitation.

Alicia looked at her in surprise—she hadn’t been expecting an answer.

“……”

Alicia’s face was full of questions.

‘Daisy, how do you know that?’

As if she could read her mind, Daisy replied calmly.

“If you want to survive in the Marquess’s household, you need to stay informed. The Marquess hasn’t had a mistress in about seven or eight years.”

Alicia nodded vaguely with a blank expression.

Just then, the carriage stopped.

They had arrived at Luderne.

Even as she stepped out of the carriage, Alicia remained deep in thought—about everyone’s lives… about mistresses.

In the lifetime when the Grand Duke of Tessen had taken his sixth bride, he had briefly been caught in a scandal.

A rumor had spread that the Grand Duke of Tessen was having an affair with the Viscountess of Loire.

The Lord of Touraine was none other than Viscount Loire.

Haime, a quiet place about an hour’s ride from imperial Baden, once overflowed with summer homes of Baden nobility and those aspiring to enter the capital.

Now, only a few estates remained after the real estate bubble burst.

Even so, this briefly prosperous city still hid many wealthy people’s second homes.

That’s why, on its otherwise quiet streets, one could still find luxurious workshops and ateliers out of place for such a sleepy town.

A square carriage rolled down a street lined with elegant buildings.

The carriage bore no identifying crest, yet it made its way toward the oldest part of Haime.

“We’ve arrived.”

The square carriage stopped before a mansion with round, flowing architecture.

“Wait here.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Reichardt stepped out of the carriage and headed toward the estate.