CH 34

“A curse?”

Kael was informed of what happened in the hall after dawn.

“He has fainted a lot recently, and his sickness has gotten worse. But he was fine the past week, like he was before he got sick. Besides, he kept saying he wanted to meet Her Grace, so I had no choice but to bring him here.”

“But he shouted like that as soon as he saw Adeline?”

“Yes.”

“Who were the people who were with him?”

“Countess Boyd and Countess Mayer.”

Kael crumpled his face slightly as soon as he heard the names.

Zion also closed his eyes for a moment as if his head was throbbing.

“There must be rumors in the social world already.”

“Yes. It spread at a frightening pace.”

Countess Boyd was a woman who held tight to the northern social scene while the position of the grand duchess was vacant.

She was not good at keeping secrets, so what happened in front of her spread among the northern nobles before half a day had passed.

“And the reaction?”

“Fortunately, it seems to be becoming neutral because of Isis. Saying things like, “Why did Isis appear near the castle if Her Grace is someone who is cursed and is going to destroy the North? ”

“That’s a relief.”

In fact, Kael thought that the appearance of the aurora would be a great burden for Adeline.

Things like it was a blessing or a gift to the Grand Duchess, who would not play any role, would only raise useless expectations and provide no help.

But something completely unexpected was happening, and the aurora was becoming a shield.

“But I don’t know how long the power of Isis will last. Father Amando has a really strong reputation.”

“And not many people know about his sickness.”

“Yes.”

However, the problem was that the priest was the one who collapsed while foaming from his mouth, saying it was a curse.

He was a priest who had spent fifty years in the north and was famous for his high divine power and for being the leaning place of the northern people.

He was suffering from old age and was mentally ill lately, but this was not well known to the outside world.

“And the Grand Duchess? She must have been very surprised.”

“I don’t think she said anything. I heard she did not quit yesterday’s meeting and proceeded as it was.”

Kael raised one eyebrow slightly.

It was interesting that she continued her meeting with the noblewomen in that confusing situation.

[I’m also strong.]

He remembered Adeline, saying she was strong with a tenacious expression and voice.

“… Why are you smiling?”

“I’m smiling?”

“You suddenly smiled.”

“Me?”

“What’s wrong with you, Your Grace?”

Zion looked at Kael in awe.

He did think of Adeline, but he wasn’t aware that he was smiling.

Kael stared at Zion, thinking it was odd.

“You just smiled all of a sudden…”

“Enough. Pay attention to how the rumors turn out. The word ‘curse’ can’t be attached to her and give her a bad reputation.”

He wasn’t expecting Adeline to play the role of the grand duchess, and he did not want that either, but he didn’t want the groundless rumors to give her a bad reputation.

Adeline’s foundation may have been established to some extent, but it was fatal to have such rumors now at a time when she had just arrived in the north.

“Yes. Even so, I was looking for various ways to…”

As Zion tried to answer with a resolute look on his face, a knock was heard.

“Kael. Can I come in?”

It was Adeline.

Kael nodded, and Zion rushed straight ahead and opened the door.

“Ah, you were talking to Zion. If you’re busy, we can talk another time.”

“I’m not busy. Come in.”

After greeting Zion, Adeline slowly approached Kael.

“From the mood, it looks like you were talking about what happened with me yesterday.”

Kael looked at Adeline, asking how she knew.

Adeline smiled lightly, but didn’t answer.

“I heard about it. You must have been surprised.”

“A little.”

It was actually a lie.

Adeline greeted the noblewomen, pretending nothing had happened, and lay in bed as if nothing had happened, but she could not sleep and stayed up all night.

Hearing that the priest was regaining and losing conscience repeatedly was quite terrifying, and the old memory she remembered as soon as she heard his words disturbed her even more.

[You live a life surrounded by lies.]

[…]

[There are so many grey clouds around you. There are a few clouds that you’ve made yourself, but they’re just infinitely light. They’re not harmful.]

[…]

[But the other clouds sticking around you…]

The fortune teller that was invited to the tea party in the capital also talked about the ‘clouds’.

Dark clouds. Grey clouds.

The words directed at Adeline didn’t seem at all coincidental.

She was already anxious that the content was proceeding differently from the original work, so she felt like her head was going to break with the addition of the clouds or curse or whatever it was.

“What about you? Are you not surprised?”

“Me?”

“He said the North is going to get destroyed. By me.”

As she spoke, Adeline suddenly became curious.

It was said that the Grand Duchess, whom he brought here under a contract, would destroy the north.

She wanted to know what Kael was thinking.

“Do you believe that?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I have no intention to destroy the North, but if I were really cursed…”

If she was really cursed, it was a problem that could not be solved with Adeline’s will.

“You don’t know what a curse is.”

Kael’s answer was subtle.

Adeline stared at him. It was a moment that passed in the blink of an eye, but it seemed that a sense of bitterness passed over Kael’s face.

“I have no intention of letting anything weird get in the way. Zion and I…”

“No. If you intend to intervene, please hold it on.”

While she was wondering why he made such a face, Kael said he would help Adeline.

But Adeline firmly refused his help.

“It’s my problem. I have to solve it myself.”

“That’s something you can do once you have set foot here. Not right now.”

“No. That’s even more of a reason why I have to deal with it myself.”

Kael looked at Adeline as if he didn’t understand.

“This is the first time I’ve been to the North. The social world will be paying attention to how I handle this.”

“…”

“I’m from another region so they won’t be looking at me with kind-hearted eyes, but if I borrow your power and trust from the beginning to solve this problem, it’s like I’m bragging that I don’t have any ability.”

“…”

“I have an idea, and I have the strength to solve it, so leave it to me. I will not do anything that harms you.”

Kael’s blue-grey eyes filled with interest again as Adeline spoke firmly.

It was the gaze Adeline had seen when he first talked about marriage in the garden, when they ran into each other at the battlegrounds, and whenever she exceeded his expectations.

‘An anxious gaze…’

It was a gaze that made Adeline anxious every time she saw it, but there was no other way right now.

Besides, this time, there was someone else here besides Kael.

When she turned her head at the gaze she felt from the side, Zion was looking at Adeline with a joyful expression.

She could see how impressed he was, wondering where such a magnificent grand duchess had come from.

‘Damn it…’

Feeling the reaction that kept deviating from her wishes, Adeline said goodbye.

It seemed better to get away quickly.

“Adeline.”

But Kael’s voice stopped Adeline as she was about to turn around.

“I don’t believe what the priest said. Not even a little.”

There was no shaking in his blue-grey eyes. They just looked firm.

Adeline nodded with a small smile, then exited the office.

“Ugh…”

Leaning against the closed door, she let out a deep sigh.

The fact that she spoke so plausibly shook Kael and Zion’s hearts, but it was actually for a different reason that Adeline prevented Kael from intervening.

‘The more messed up the public opinion about me is, the better.’

She couldn’t let them help. Because Adeline wasn’t going to do anything.

If Adeline was in a situation where she really had to play the role of the grand duchess, she would do her best as she told Kael and Zion. However, considering Vanessa, who was going to take over this position, it would be better if her status was smaller.

Kael would also be able to reduce the damage he would take when Adeline broke up with him.

“Your Grace!”

While she was deep in thought, Isabel approached her while smiling brightly.

“I was just going to see you. A gift of flowers has just arrived from the capital to Your Grace.”

“From the capital? Who sent it?”

“It was Lady Vanessa Felix.”

Adeline looked at the gift Isabel was holding with a slightly surprised look on her face.

“It’s not easy to send flowers this fresh because it takes a long time, but they were sent with great care. It seems like she is a good friend.”

Adeline had no choice but to replace her answer with an awkward smile as she checked the flowers.

The flowers Vanessa sent complicated Adeline’s mind once again.

They were yellow Freesias again.

And of a very deep-yellow color.