"Welcome back, Your Highness."
"Has anything noteworthy happened at the castle while I was away?"
Cabelenus gave a curt reply and resumed walking at once.
From the gates to the inner walls, a procession welcomed his return, but he remained indifferent.
The only unpleasant thing was that the time was disrupted because he arrived in Schwarhan earlier than expected.
"The heads of the noble houses have come to celebrate Your Highness’s return."
"A pointless gesture."
"They probably just want to see Your Highness in person and assure themselves of your well-being. You have been away for quite a while."
Sensing Cabelenus’s displeasure, the head butler subtly exchanged a glance with Gazeff.
"The heads of the northern houses are all stubborn men. They won’t leave the castle until Your Highness agrees to meet them. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to see them quickly and send them on their way?"
"..."
"In any case, they’re the pillars of the North — ignoring them isn't an option. But letting them linger here could spark unnecessary gossip."
Unless Alicia was hidden away somewhere, it was virtually impossible to keep her presence a secret.
The mere fact that she returned alongside Cabelenus was enough to draw attention.
Still, there was no reason to hasten the timing.
Until Alicia became accustomed to Schwarhan, it was better to keep her existence under wraps.
"Those old men are always babbling on about nothing."
"They’re all desperate to make Your Highness their son-in-law."
Cabelenus was of marriageable age, yet had no fiancée to speak of.
It was only natural that the influential houses of Schwarhan were striving to forge family ties with the unwed Grand Duke.
In a situation like this, it wasn’t ideal for Alicia to draw attention.
"…I suppose there's no helping it."
Cabelenus let out a brief sigh.
"While Your Highness meets with the heads of the noble houses, I'll go visit my aunt."
"Very well. I’ll wrap things up as quickly as I can and join you."
Catching on to Cabelenus’s concern, Gazeff offered a faint smile.
For now, there was no reason to present Alicia to the wider public, so she remained in a room that had been prepared in advance.
Though those assigned to her were all trustworthy, given how uneasy she must feel in this unfamiliar setting, it was best that someone familiar stayed close by.
Gazeff gave Cabelenus a brief bow, then turned and departed at once.
・・・・・
"Good day, my lady. I am Baroness Rylett Morco, your appointed lady-in-waiting starting today. Please feel free to call me Madame Morco."
"Oh, yes. Hello."
"And these girls are Shizuna and Shirin. They'll be serving as your personal maids, assisting you alongside me."
"I know I may fall short in many ways, but I look forward to your guidance."
Alicia clasped her hands and gave a somewhat awkward smile.
The staff, including the middle-aged woman who introduced herself as Madame Morco, were all kind toward Alicia, but she hadn’t forgotten who she was.
She had heard that there were no slaves in Schwarhan, but she couldn't help but feel out of place in this situation.
"My lady, you should use more informal speech with those beneath your station."
"Beneath me?"
“I’ve heard everything from Gazeff, so there’s no need to be nervous.”
‘Did she mean she knew I am a slave?’
Seeing Alicia’s wide eyes, Madame Morco let out a quiet chuckle.
It wasn’t a mocking laugh; rather, her eyes held the warmth of someone looking at a beloved daughter.
"Do you know Sir Gazeff?"
"He’s my nephew."
Knowing she had a connection with someone Alicia trusted brought her a small sense of relief.
Alicia returned her gaze with a smile that felt more natural this time.
“Now that I look more closely, you really do resemble Sir Gazeff.”
“Gazeff’s mother was my twin sister, so to me, he’s practically a son.”
"I see."
“Both Gazeff and I are on your side, my lady. So you don’t need to be afraid.”
“It’s just… everything still feels unfamiliar.”
Alicia had only ever known Neustein — and even then, only the inside of its castle.
The endless snowfields outside and the immense scale of this fortress made her feel as though she had been dropped into the kingdom of giants.
“Come to think of it, you mentioned this was your first journey. It must have been quite a strain coming all the way to Schwarhan.”
“No, it wasn’t that hard.”
At Madame Morco’s gesture, the maids stepped forward to help Alicia out of her coat.
Alicia accepted their assistance, still feeling awkward as they tended to her.
“I’m glad to hear that, but travel fatigue often hits once the tension fades. While the servants unpack your things, how about a soak in the hot springs? Schwarhan’s springwater is so renowned that even His Majesty the Emperor has praised it. A warm bath and a glass of Pelle will wash all your fatigue away.”
“A hot spring? What’s that?”
“Ah, since you’re from outside the region, you might not know. A hot spring is naturally heated water that rises from underground.”
“Hot water comes out of the ground?”
“I’m no geologist, so I can’t explain the science behind it, but hot spring bathing is a cherished custom among the noble ladies of Schwarhan. After a soak, your skin becomes smoother than white jade. I’m sure once you try it, you’ll fall in love with it.”
Madame Morco gave a warm smile and stepped closer to Alicia.
From a distance, Alicia hadn’t noticed, but now she saw that the middle-aged noblewoman, her soft brown hair elegantly pinned up, stood a full head taller than her.
“Madame Morco, you are quite tall.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Most women in Schwarhan are about this height.”
“Really?”
“You have to be strong to survive the brutal cold. Most Schwarhans are built sturdily. Man or woman, young or old — put a bow in their hands, and they’ll return with a kill. Every one of them is a warrior.”
Madame Morco let out a hearty laugh and placed a hand on Alicia’s shoulder.
Even while smiling, the sharp gleam in her eyes didn’t fade — they were unmistakably a warrior’s eyes.
“That’s why I serve not only as your maid but also your bodyguard.”
“You’re my bodyguard?”
“Yes. And the same goes for those girls as well.”
The maids who met Alicia’s gaze offered her gentle smiles.
They appeared to be around Alicia’s age, and like Madame Morco, they were tall and lithe.
“Is it really that dangerous here? Enough to need bodyguards?”
“Not at all. In fact, with His Highness the Grand Duke here, this may be the safest place on the continent. Think of it as a precaution — just in case. Not because there’s any real danger.”
Madame Morco gently brushed her hand across Alicia’s shoulder, then took her hand.
Her hand was large — strikingly so — and dwarfed Alicia’s in comparison.
"Don’t worry too much. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you, my lady."
“Thank you for looking out for me.”
The calluses, formed from years of gripping a sword, reminded her of a certain man.
The image of Cabellenus surfaced unbidden in her mind, and a soft smile crept to her lips.
Knock, knock–
“My lady, Aunt — may I come in, if it’s all right?”
“It seems Gazeff has arrived. Shall I let him in, my lady?”
Madame Morco asked in a gentle tone, waiting for Alicia’s reply.
"Oh, yes. Of course."
Alicia gave a slightly awkward nod, and the maids moved swiftly to open the door.
“I’ve come to check if everything is to your liking, my lady.”
"I’m fine, thank you."
Alicia answered softly, her expression finally easing.
It wasn’t the face she’d been hoping to see, but it was familiar, and that brought her comfort.
“I assume you've already been introduced to my aunt. She’ll continue assisting you, so if there’s ever anything you need or anything that troubles you, just let her know. She’ll take care of it efficiently.”
“It’s an honour to serve you, my lady. As Gazeff said, please don’t hesitate. Think of me as your hands and feet.”
With practised grace, Madame Morco offered Alicia another elegant bow.
"No, I’m the one honoured to have someone as beautiful as Madame Morco with me."
"My, my, you certainly have a way with words, my lady. With just a bit of practice, you’d do well in social gatherings, too."
Madame Morco’s eyes sparkled.
"Social gatherings?"
"His Highness said there’s no need for social engagements, but given your status, it’s still important. It would be wise to learn at least the basics of etiquette. From now on, I’ll be teaching you the refinements expected of a noblewoman."
"But I’m not a noblewoman."
Alicia shook her head in haste, but Madame Morco didn’t seem the least bit concerned.
"Even so, it’s better to learn in advance. If you do become a true noblewoman, you’ll be too busy to study the basics then."
"But…"
Alicia trailed off.
There was no way a slave, the lowest among the classes, could become a noblewoman.
Learning the manners of a noblewoman seemed utterly pointless.
"By any chance, do you not want to learn?"
"No, I do like learning new things. But you know what my situation is."
"Don't worry, I'm a very tight-lipped person."
"..."
"Why not try it once? If it truly doesn’t suit you, just let me know. It’s such a shame to give up without even giving it a go."
Alicia hesitated but eventually nodded under Madame Morco’s gentle, encouraging touch on her hand.
For Alicia, who had only recently discovered the joy of learning, Madame Morco’s offer was hard to resist.
"You made a good choice. Believe it or not, I’m quite well-known as a social etiquette instructor in Schwarhan. You won’t regret learning from me."
"I always wondered who Sir Gazeff took after to be so kind. It must be you, Madame Morco."
"You think he’s kind?"
Madame Morco tilted her head in disbelief.
"Before I came here, I had been taking lessons from Sir Gazeff. He always taught me so well and spoke with such kindness."
"That’s probably because he’s a lapdog of power."
"Aunt, please — your language is hardly appropriate in front of the lady."
Gazeff sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
His aunt may have been a paragon of elegance in high society, but she had once been a knight who stormed the battlefield.
Perhaps due to her time on brutal frontlines, she sometimes spoke coarsely, even with a smile on her face.
"Still, I’m not wrong, am I?"
"That may be, but…"
Gazeff instinctively glanced at Alicia.
Taken aback by the harsh expression, Alicia blinked, her mouth slightly agape.
"Aunt, the young lady is startled because of you.”
"You're really adorable to be this startled, my lady."
"Excuse me?"
"Aunt."
Gazeff called out urgently, but Madame Morco simply laughed.
"Alright, alright. Stop looking at me like that. Since you’re here, run an errand for me, will you?"
"What kind of errand?"
"Go to the Morco estate for me. I need you to bring back a few clothes that Lyrin hasn’t worn yet."
"Why are you looking for Lyrin’s dresses?"
"I had my doubts, but just as I feared, mixed in with all these men, the young lady's appearance is a complete mess. We need to prepare properly to live up to the Schwarhan name. Go quickly while the young lady is enjoying her hot spring bath."
Though Alicia’s dress was a design popular in the capital, Madame Morco’s discerning eyes found nothing to her liking.
Even with precious jewels adorning it and gold embroidery enhancing its elegance, it simply didn’t suit Alicia at all.
With her naturally simple features, dressing her in a flashy gown only made her look awkward, as if she were wearing someone else’s clothes, rather than looking beautiful.
"…Do I really look that bad?"
No one had ever criticised her appearance before.
Alicia looked at Madame Morco with a troubled expression, but the older woman simply smiled gently.
"Not at all, my lady. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you."
“But you just said I looked like a complete mess.”
“You don’t need to worry so much. The problem isn’t the young lady, but the men’s inadequate sense of aesthetics. They simply don’t understand that clothes need to be worn to match the wearer’s personality in order to bring out their appeal.”
“Inadequate...”
Alicia unconsciously echoed Madame Morco’s words, then fell silent and gave an awkward smile.
“Don’t worry. Now that I’m your lady’s maid, nothing like that will happen again.”
With an elegant smile, Madame Morco lifted her chin proudly.
What thrilled her most was the fact that she was finally welcoming the Lady of Schwarhan.
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