Chapter 58

58.

Time went by steadily, and it was the day of the Coming-of-Age celebration of Lady Garten. However, it was quiet in Bernhardt because there was nothing to prepare. Ercella changed into an indoor dress and walked to Harsen’s office.

‘He stayed up all night in his office.’

Is what Clifton said. In hindsight, he has been coming home late again lately. He must be very busy.

“Madam! What brings you here?”

Kyron, who was guarding the office, looked surprised when he saw Ercella. She knew his name, but was not acquainted, so Ercella smiled shyly with a clumsy look on her face, “I heard my husband spent the night in his office. Is he in here?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Well... would it be difficult to go in now?”

Ercella hesitated at Kyron’s expression which seemed to want her not to go inside. Kyron was grimacing anxiously, but still shook his head immediately, “No. You may go in.”

With that said, Kyron opened the door. Ercella entered giving him a thankful glance. However, her footsteps abruptly stopped. Ercella scratched her cheek at the spectacle before her. Harsen lay on the sofa with his eyes closed. She had no idea he was sleeping.

Then, she noticed he was frowning at the light pouring inside from the window. The office was very bright because the curtains were not closed.

Ercella’s eyes, drifting along the beam of light that penetrated the room, stopped somewhere.

On the table in front of the sofa where Harsen was lying, she saw piles of papers scattered around. A deep sigh escaped her lips. Clearly, it was very tough, with how busy he was. Perhaps, he fell deep asleep while trying to get a shut-eye.

Ercella thought of returning.

‘Still.’

She thought it would be better to take a look at his sleeping figure.

Ercella, smiling slightly, lifted the hem of her skirt. She began to creep through, her legs peeking out the hem of her skirt that was slightly raised from the floor. She even held her breath, afraid he would wake up, as she came to the front of the sofa.

Ercella stared down at Harsen sleeping. He was uncharacteristically defenseless, judging by the loose cravat over his white shirt and open cufflinks on his sleeves. Is he sleeping soundly?

He was a light sleeper, so he woke up easily to the slightest sound— but there was no sign of that. Ercella reached out cautiously and gently waved over his face. There was still no response.

‘He really is sleeping.’

The moment she tried to bring her hand closer curiously...

“Kyak!”

Her wrist was seized and Ercella fell on top of Harsen. When she looked up nonplussed, he said with his eyes still closed, “I’m dizzy.”

He must have been awake. Or woke up in the middle. Ercella sighed, “Keep your eyes closed.”

“That was the idea.”

A hoarse voice tickled her ears. Feeling strange, Ercella unconsciously smiled and asked, “Did I wake you up?”

“You did,” Harsen affirmed matter-of-factly. Ercella immediately flinched at the touch on her back, asking with squinted eyes, “...what are you doing?”

“I don’t want to do it here.”

Contrary to what she said, Ercella laughed helplessly at the hand trying to untie her dress laces from her back— as if she had come here to do this.

“Don’t you see the sun rising?”

“I don’t care.”

“I do!”

She grabbed his hand on her back and he let it go without resistance. Obviously, he was joking with her. He was naughty sometimes, yet still unable to adapt, Ercella could only turn her head sideways.

A pile of scattered papers came into view. Are these about the territory? The moment she tried to narrow her eyes to take a closer look, Harsen wrapped Ercella’s head and locked her in his arms. In a flash, it was dark before her eyes.

“...I can’t breathe.”

With her face pressed against his thin shirt, her face became flushed. The breath she exhaled while trying to inhale was also hot, making it difficult to breathe. She seemed to understand roughly why he was doing this, so Ercella spoke in a muffled voice, “I won’t look, okay?”

I won’t know even if I look at it anyway. She added in her mind, while his hand slipped down along her hair. Only then did Ercella, who was breathing heavily, catch her breath.

However... Ercella glanced sideways at the strands sticking out of Harsen’s hand. Lianne’s beautiful handicraft of her hair had gone to waste. “Hey...”

Ercella had actually seen the word ‘Visaride’ on a paper at a brief glance, she pondered whether to ask or not but decided to keep her mouth shut. She was curious, but since he didn’t want her to know, even if she asked, she wouldn’t get an answer.

“So, Wife, what brings you here early in the morning?”

Harsen rubbed his eyes and chuckled. When he opened his eyes, he lowered his eyelids gently, and met eyes with her. He seemed to be waiting for her answer.

But Ercella only grinned, for she was not here for any particular business. A faint smile lingered around Harsen’s mouth as he watched Ercella smiling silently. For a brief moment, their smiles coincided, and Ercella spoke first, “You know it’s Lady Garten’s Coming-of-Age party today. Are you really not going?”

“His Majesty called for me.”

Her lips puckered up at his simple answer. Harsen would not be attending the Coming-of-Age party of Lady Garten. It was customary for her to attend and congratulate a lady on her coming-of-age, but it was not unusual for him to be absent.

It was not uncommon for the head of the family to not attend a Coming-of-Age party. In such cases, an heir, a family member, or a vassal was sent in proxy to congratulate them.

“I’m sure they’ll be disappointed.”

However, she couldn’t help being dissatisfied. He doesn’t have to but isn’t it the Coming-of-Age party of the girl soon-to-be engaged to your son? What’s the point of being a father and not even showing his face once? No, before that, the king was the problem. The king.

“I will speak to Duke Garten separately.”

After that, silence. Ercella, who had given up on stopping the hand from sweeping her hair, whether it got disheveled or not, suddenly rejoiced at the thought of the Baroness’s classmate from the Academy.

“Right, did you know that the Baroness is from Gracievan?”

“I heard she didn’t graduate.”

Once the story began, Ercella’s voice became somewhat softer— she was excited and happy just thinking about it. Ercella went on without knowing that Harsen was staring at her.

“Yes, but anyway. Apparently, she has a classmate that became a scholar. It seems they are planning to settle down in the capital for their research. The Baroness suggested that I receive lessons from that person.”

“So..?”

Ercella tried to be frank, but her lips closed. On second thought, she did want it. Isn’t a gift more touching when the other person doesn’t expect it?

“Anyway, it’s not like that.”

So, her plan was to keep silent for now. Ercella already felt better as she imagined what would happen later. Perhaps because she was always on the receiving end, she was happy to be able to do something for him.

She could feel Harsen looking at her with a strange expression. Ercella avoided looking at him coyly and tugged the rest of the buttons.

“All done. Are you leaving for the palace right away?”

“A bit later.”

“I see. I have to see the Baroness in the morning, and then prepare to go to the Lady’s Coming-of-Age party in the afternoon. Our schedules don’t align. What a shame.”

If she didn’t have a set schedule, she could have spent more time with Harsen in the morning. However, since she was unable to due to work, she felt regretful. Ercella just smiled, thinking their time didn’t seem to align at all.

“Shall we say goodbye in advance? Have a safe trip today.”

Harsen, who was staring at her quietly, grinned briefly, drew Ercella’s head closer and kissed her forehead. The lips that touched her bare forehead fell off lightly.

“You too.”

* * *

After the work with the Baroness in the morning, Ercella looked at the maids who were scurrying around helping the head maid. As it was a day to pay more attention than usual, Lianne and Beth were not enough, and they had to call in for extra hands.

“Madam, how about the dress tailored by Madame Mary Wayne this time?”

“I think it will be fine.”

As Ercella affirmed, she brought a dress with another maid. She was so cautious, taking care that the hem of her dress would not drag on the floor.

“Then, excuse us for a moment.”

Two more people approached Ercella. A polite yet courteous touch began to unravel the clothes she was wearing.

It was at that moment that a strange feeling stuck to her like glue. Was it not Lianne or Beth attending her? Even though they were familiar faces, they looked unfamiliar— like the new dress she was draping on her body.

“All done.”

Ercella examined the apricot-colored satin dress covering her body, the gold thread embroidery at the hem, and the thin lace on the sleeves. Finally, her eyes rested on the maid who served her. The maid had a smile on her face.

“You look as beautiful as the sun today.”

A stiff yet emotional tone. Ercella slowly closed her eyes and opened them. She stared blankly at the maid. It was the first time she had seen such an expression on her face. But was it really the first time? Did that maid really never smile in front of her?

“Yes... Your name?”

“It’s Anna.”

As a matter of fact, Ercella knew the maid’s name. Yet, why did she want to hear her name again?

“...Anna.” Ercella mused over the name.

As if she was not disappointed that she had forgotten her name, Anna responded to the call in a louder voice, “Yes.”

Ercella looked at her maids. Leah, Diana, Jane— they were all people she knew.

...She really did.

She uttered their names in a voice that others could hear. It was a strange surprise. Just like when the other day a maid insisted in front of Dale Bergman that Ercella was the Duchess of Bernhardt.

“Oh, you’ve already changed.”

Lianne’s appearance felt like a strange déjá vu.

“Now, all that’s left are your accessories!” Lianne shouted cheerfully and opened the jewelry box in her hand. Ercella looked at the beautifully crafted blue diamond in the jewelry box.

“There’s still some time, would you like to wear it later?”

“No, I’ll wear it now.”

“Understood.”

Lianne was about to approach Ercella when she looked at the corners of Anna’s shyly pulled lips. She grinned and handed the jewelry over to Anna, “I forgot to bring her gloves. Anna, please.”

“Lianne, the gloves are over there...”

Without listening to Anna, Lianne hurried out of the room. Anna was surprised. She glanced at Ercella, who was puzzled like her, and asked, “...Madam, may I attend you?”

“Of course.”

With permission granted, Anna began to don the jewelry on Ercella’s body. Her hands were trembling as she fastened the ruby bracelet.

‘She was like this even as she was dressing me up.’

She seemed to resemble Lesha, a maid who served Ercella back at the marquisate. Finally, she put a necklace of gold topazes around Ercella’s neck, and her adornment was finished.

“Thank you.”

Anna’s cheeks turned red as she smiled brightly when she thanked her. Just like Lesha from back in the day.

* * *

After getting ready, Ercella gently grabbed the hem of her dress and was climbing down the stairs when she stopped. On the first floor, Vicente and Adora were waiting for her.

“Hi.”

An awkward greeting. He met her from time to time while passing by, but they never had a proper conversation, so she was awkward with Vicente as if she hadn’t seen him for a while. Vicente replied with a formal gesture. Clifton, who was watching, shook his head without showing any emotion, and let out a sigh.

“Madam, the carriage is waiting.”

At that, Ercella went down the stairs.

“Well then, I hope the three of you have a safe trip.”

Adora gulped nervously.

Gib me a kofi~