Chapter 24 Part 6: The Wedding, and Elchen

Caron showed Rosa around the castle one place at a time.

The patrol route where the guards marched, the workshop that transformed into a smithy during wartime.

And a simple but beautiful chapel.

The inner castle of Arnad was as expected. But the main tower, where the lord and his wife resided, was a little different.

It was like a grand mansion.

As soon as they entered, a servant handed Caron a fur blanket.

It was a warm, brown-colored blanket, and Caron naturally wrapped it around Rosa’s shoulders.

“Oh.. thank you.”

Rosa was actually starting to feel cold.

Even though winter was almost over, the climate of Elchen was still chilly.

“Various banquets and grand dinners are held here. Although it’s rarely used.”

Caron introduced the place without much emotion.

But. Ever since he wrapped the blanket around her, he had been holding Rosa’s small shoulder with one hand.

The servants’ eyes widened at the sight of the two.

‘Am I seeing things..’

They might have been thinking that.

Rosa was inwardly embarrassed and awkward by their gazes, but.

‘This is acting too.’

She didn’t dislike the feeling of the warm and soft blanket.

In the spacious hall on the first floor, a bright chandelier was lit.

A thick, red carpet was laid on the stone floor.

“What’s that?”

Rosa pointed.

Dried herb leaves were hung like sachets.

Caron answered.

“The castle doesn’t ventilate well.”

So it was to get rid of the stuffy smell.

For defense and heat retention, the inner castle had fewer windows than usual.

The left hallway of the huge hall had large cabinets and storage rooms.

If you went straight down the right hallway, there was a large and tidy drawing room.

“The second floor has the servants’ quarters. The third floor has a study, a dressing room, and private spaces.”

Of course, private spaces mostly meant empty rooms. Caron finished most of the introduction with a very condensed explanation.

Rosa was just amazed inwardly.

‘This place is even bigger than I thought.’

Finally, it was the fourth floor.

The hallway on the highest floor of the main tower was filled with the soft, reddish glow of the setting sun.

And there was one large door. It was a classic door made of wood with gold trim.

Swoosh-

Caron opened the door. It didn’t even creak, thanks to being well-oiled.

“Lastly, this is my office, and also my private room.”

It was a simple and tidy white room that clearly showed that Caron was the owner.

Under a simple chandelier, there was a C-shaped sofa.

To the right of the door were large windows and thick blackout curtains.

Near the window was a large desk. Unfinished parchments and a quill pen were neatly placed on it.

“Hmm..”

Suddenly, Rosa noticed something strange.

A familiar piece of clothing was hanging on the back of the wooden chair.

Approaching it, she picked up the clothing.

“This, this is the hoodie I gave you.”

It was none other than the hoodie she had given to Caron.

The clothes she had given him when she didn’t know he was the Second Prince, thinking he was shivering from the cold.

Rosa, feeling embarrassed for having worried for no reason, smiled awkwardly and said to Caron.

“You can throw this away now, right? You don’t need to keep it.”

“..I should throw it away.”

Caron answered.

Inwardly, he thought he should build another storage room.

There was nothing else to see. Rosa asked the question she was most curious about.

“So. Where’s my room?”

Caron, who had been silent, answered.

“Here.”

“..What?”

“Here. Your room.”

A well-set table.

It was full of appetizing food.

Roast turkey with the fat drained, corn soup with soft cheese, mashed potatoes with butter, and tender veal steak.

It was their first dinner in Elchen.

As Rosa played with her fork, she said.

“You’re not very good at jokes.”

She had been really flustered earlier.

To have to share a room with Caron for a year.

Caron, who let out a small laugh, replied.

“Why. Isn’t it natural for a married couple?”

The head chef of the castle was standing around the table.

“Anyway.”

So instead of refuting Caron’s words, Rosa emphasized that she really liked her room.

“I like the balcony. I can see the outside well.”

Caron’s words earlier were, of course, a joke.

Rosa’s room was located right next to his.

There was only one thing.

It was directly connected to Caron’s room, which was a bit uncomfortable.

‘Since it’s a fourth-floor room..’

She could see the view of the estate below the castle.

Rosa’s hobby was to contemplate.

To put it nobly, and simply, it was just looking at the scenery from the terrace.

“You like it that much?”

“Yes.”

Caron was also satisfied that Rosa really liked it.

“The food today is quite good.”

The chef with a white beard, Jeff, was surprised.

It was the first time in the several years he had worked there.

That the Second Prince, who had now become the Grand Duke of Elchen, had said such words.

So, unlike him, who was usually known for being strict, he even stuttered.

“Th, thank you.”

There was only one change from previous meals.

The beautiful Grand Duchess with silver hair and red eyes had turned the castle upside down in just half a day.

“Really. It’s the first time I’ve seen Your Highness smile like that.”

“I heard it too. They even joked with each other.”

“He even appeared on the patrol route with her, and the soldiers on guard were almost stunned.”

All the servants were saying that.

It was hard to believe until they saw it with their own eyes, but now it was just obvious.

“After dinner, rest well. You’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”

It was the Grand Duke with his usual expression. But his tone was different.

The Grand Duchess seemed to be already used to that atmosphere, which felt rather affectionate.

“Do I.. have something to do?”

“I introduced you to the castle today, next will be the servants. There’s no need to introduce the head chef, though.”

“I see. Jeff, was it?”

She seemed to remember his introduction earlier.

Seeing her gently curved eyes, Jeff inwardly clicked his tongue.

‘Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, is truly beautiful.’

“The food is delicious. The potatoes are soft, and the chefs seem to have put a lot of effort into it.”

She was even kind.

Jeff couldn’t help but bow his head with a moved expression.

“For Your Grace, the Grand Duchess, to praise me so much.. I, Jeff, am truly at a loss for words.”

“I just said it because it’s praiseworthy. Please take good care of me in the future, Jeff.”

The Grand Duchess smiled kindly.

The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess.

The two were a good match, and their conversation continued without any awkward silences.

“Caron. I have a favor to ask.”

Cough-

Jeff coughed.

‘They’re in a political marriage, but they’re already so affectionate.’

While Jeff was misunderstanding, the two continued their conversation.

“So.. you want me to attach a tutor..?”

Rosa nodded.

“I still don’t know much about Elchen. Wouldn’t it be good to know more? About the culture, or the customs. Things like that.”

This was quite serious.

For the Grand Duchess to say such a thing on the day of her arrival.

Jeff couldn’t help but be impressed.

After the Grand Duke and Duchess finished their meal. Another rumor was added.

“Caron. They even have such a pet name.”

Of course, the source of the rumor was the usually taciturn head chef, Jeff.

“Hey. I don’t believe it. His Grace, the Grand Duke, with a pet name? Earlier this morning, he was scolding us not to talk nonsense.”

“Ahem, it’s true!”

The inner castle at night was bustling.

After a very delicious dinner.

Rosa returned to her room.

“Then rest well. I’m going to go deal with some pending work.”

Caron saw her off in front of her door.

Feeling languid, Rosa stretched.

“Aaa-!”

It had been a tiring day for her.

A new place. And new people.

‘Come to think of it..’

The only thing familiar to her was Caron’s existence.

‘Can I do well..?’

Rosa lay down on the large bed.

She wanted to help Caron for a year.

And, the first impression wasn’t bad.

The bed was soft and warm.

That was the feeling she got from the atmosphere of the castle today.

The servants she met generally smiled at her or looked at her with dazed expressions.

There wasn’t much of a feeling of wariness.

There was still some time until the hunting festival.

‘About a month, maybe..’

Before that, she had to get to know this place first.

It was still early in the night, but Rosa’s eyes were slowly closing.

Knock knock-

Then she heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

A handmaiden appeared.

‘I’ve come to serve you. Your Grace, the Grand Duchess. Is there anything you need?’

She was a brown-haired handmaiden with a quiet impression.

“Hmm, I’m fine for today.”

Rosa answered, she really didn’t have anything to ask for.

“Then. Please call me whenever you need anything.”

The handmaiden checked that the fire in the fireplace was sufficient, then pointed to a small bell next to it.

“Your Highness. If you ring that bell, the sound will reach our handmaidens’ quarters.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Oh, and Your Highness.”

The handmaiden stopped as she was leaving the room.

“Twice a month. There are designated days for marital intimacy. On those days, we will not come to wake you, so please discuss it with His Grace, the Grand Duke, and let us know.”

‘..Huh?’

Inwardly, Rosa was flustered.

“And according to the customs and laws of Elchen, from now on, only Your Highness will wake and attend to His Grace, the Grand Duke. Therefore, starting tomorrow, our handmaidens cannot enter the Grand Duke’s room, so please keep that in mind in advance.”

She added that Caron usually slept very late and had to be woken up early, several times in a row, and that he had difficulty tying his cravat alone.

“Then.”

With a subtle smile for some reason.

The handmaiden bowed respectfully and left the room.

Rosa fiddled with her hands, her feelings complex.

‘Days for marital intimacy..’

It must be what she was thinking.

But it wasn’t a big problem. As long as she didn’t make the same mistake as last time.

‘Probably, I guess..?’

Recently, Caron had been a little unpredictable.

But Rosa was certain.

‘At least Caron won’t do anything I dislike.’

If that was the case.

If she just kept her wits about her, that would be enough.

She should avoid situations where she would drink alcohol.

‘The rest is.. just waking him up.’

Rosa let out a small sigh and began to change her clothes.

It didn’t matter. Caron’s room was right next door.

Moreover, the rooms were directly connected through a door.

Swoosh-

The transparent negligee was something she had been using a lot recently.

Originally, she wore pants until two years ago, but this was more comfortable.

Suddenly, Rosa looked at the door next to the bed.

The door that led directly to Caron’s room.

A light was seeping out from under the door.

‘Caron. He must be busy.’

Rosa’s thoughts ended there.

‘Should I say goodnight..?’

But to do that, she would have to get dressed again. She couldn’t go in her underwear.

‘Later.. I’ll rest for a bit.’

Having made that decision, Rosa soon fell asleep.

A long time after. The door opened.

The door that led directly to their rooms.

Entering Rosa’s room, Caron quietly stopped breathing for a moment at the sight of the sleeping figure on the bed.

She had no guard at all.

Didn’t she even consider that he might come in.

Her thin negligee had ridden up to her knees.

The curves revealed between them were dizzying enough to naturally draw the eye.

But just pulling the blanket that had fallen below the bed back up.

Caron swallowed his desires.

‘There’s still. Plenty of time.’

Something was just beginning now.

Early dawn. Rosa woke up.

The unfamiliar ceiling came into view.

The bed was soft.

The warm, reddish light of the fireplace mixed with the blue of the early morning.

Swoosh-

Rosa carefully got out of bed.

Rubbing her dazed eyes, she naturally turned her gaze to a door.

The door that led directly to Caron’s room.

No light was seeping out from under the door.

‘He slept, at least.’

It seemed he hadn’t worked all night.

Rosa felt relieved for some reason.

Caron had retaken seven castles in about five years.

It was two years earlier than in the original work.

She didn’t know exactly what hardships he had overcome or what crises he had faced.

But she could guess.

‘I saw how he was treated in the capital.’

At least to the extent that it completely overturned that, to the extent that it broke everyone’s expectations.

Caron had already put in that much effort.

Rosa hesitated for a moment about when to wake him up.

Then she slowly walked over and grabbed the small doorknob.

Swoosh-

Taking care not to make a sound, she pulled the door towards her.

Soon, the room filled with the cold silence of the early morning entered Rosa’s red eyes.

The room was still immersed in the darkness of dawn.

‘It’s cold.’

Feeling a sudden chill, Rosa wrapped her arms around herself.

There wasn’t even a fire burning in Caron’s fireplace.

There was no one on the bed, so Rosa headed for the desk.

Sure enough. Caron was asleep, slumped over.

The piles of documents on the desk caught her eye.

“..You should sleep in bed.”

He must have had an uncomfortable sleep.

‘I should wake him up in a little while.’

Deciding that, Rosa carefully pulled the blanket from the bed. And just as she was about to cover Caron’s back with it.

Thud-

Her arm was roughly grabbed.

“This is..”

The moment Rosa opened her mouth to make an excuse.

Caron pulled her towards him.

“…?”

It happened in an instant. Rosa’s body leaned sharply towards Caron.

Then their heads overlapped.