episode_0116

The sparks flew not only among the men of the Beaurnga, but also among others when Eleonore declared that she would spend this summer in the north.

“Hey, Eli. It’s one thing to say that. The preparations for the villa are not…”

“Then we should at least hear from the Grand Duke, right?”

“Well, that’s what I mean. Even the Grand Duke. It’s just that having someone as precious as Eli stay-”

“Ah, come on! I’m fine. We’re practically a family now anyway!”

Dmitri Berbritz, the Imperial Sword and the Guardian of the North, was at a loss, unable to live up to his name in the face of his fiancée’s relentless attacks.

Since Eleonore’s declaration, he had been tirelessly trying to change his lover’s mind about staying in the north all summer.

The result was not as refreshing as the current situation unfolding before him.

The day to return to the north was approaching. However, the conversation with Eleonore remained the same. Yesterday, Eleonore had even separately reserved a cabin on the train to the north.

Dmitri shook his head nervously, wiping his moist forehead with the back of his hand, trying to stifle a sigh so that his lover wouldn’t hear.

The sweat beading on his forehead was not just because of the heat. It was a cloudy and heavy day today, for some reason.

Frowning at her lover’s appearance, Eleonore blocked Dmitri’s hand reaching for his forehead.

“Just a moment, Dmitri.”

“Yes? Eli?”

Eleonore took out a handkerchief from her pouch, which she always carried with her.

Holding a pure white handkerchief resembling herself, she approached Dmitri closely. Holding it up to his forehead, she gently wiped away the beads of sweat with caution.

“Just a moment, Eli.”

As the soft handkerchief passed over his skin, a dizzying scent of roses wafted through the air. It was the scent she always wore when she was with Eleonore, but now it seemed to be even more intoxicating.

“Hey! Stay still. If you rub it so roughly, your skin will get irritated!”

“Eli, just a moment. It’s sweat. It’s dirty, so-”

“Oh, come on! What’s so dirty about being dirty, really!”

Although Dmitri resisted her touch, Eleonore skillfully wiped his forehead clean with her handkerchief.

Watching this scene from a distance, Eugene quietly approached Eleonore, who was discreetly smelling the handkerchief, and politely spoke.

“Miss, a future Grand Duchess is coming, so shouldn’t we make some preparations in the north?”

As Eugene folded the handkerchief damp with his sweat neatly and put it away, Eleonore smiled shyly.

Even though she looked like a noble lady deeply in love, Eleonore Arène de Beaurn, who had lived as a man, a commoner, for over twenty years in modern society, was not accustomed to the ways of noble ladies.

She had never even dreamed of making preparations to welcome a Grand Duchess.

“Is that so?”

Eleonore hesitantly asked Eugene, who introduced the unfamiliar term.

And with Dmitri chiming in agreement, she faced Eleonore again.

“Yes, Eli. Welcoming a new Grand Duchess requires us to make some preparations, don’t you think?”

With the two of them playing along, Eleonore hung her head low. A rosy blush began to spread on her cheeks at the mention of the word “Grand Duchess.”

Eleanor raised her small, white hand over the burning cheek and looked back at Dmitri with caution.

“Well then…”

“Well then?”

“When will I be able to go to the North?”

At Eleanor’s eager voice, Dmitri began to ponder earnestly.

In truth, his reluctance to accompany Eleanor to the North was not due to the burden of her journey or anything of the sort.

Dmitri, too, was a man.

No matter where they were, he was happy just to be with Eleanor. His heart was filled with a desire to spend the summer with his beloved.

However, his useless pride as a man hindered his desires.

Having received much from Eleanor’s family in the West, he had always carried himself with pride in front of the nobles, even though he was a man. He was also the Duke of the North.

So, at least in front of his beloved, he did not want to diminish himself any further. He wanted to show Eleanor only his flawless side.

“I will try my best.”

“Trying your best? Does that mean I have to wait for you endlessly?”

Eleanor’s voice, full of disappointment, unsettled Dmitri. He briefly considered inviting Eleanor, even if it meant falling short.

But he couldn’t. The pride of the man who had endured so far did not allow it.

“I will…try my best.”

“Hmm… Just words?”

Eleanor pouted at his persistent attitude. She grabbed the sky-blue cravat around his neck and pulled him closer. Despite the heat, this man always wore a sky-blue cravat over his long shirt.

The two of them drew closer. Eleanor whispered softly in front of his black eyes.

“Please don’t make me wait too long, Dmitri.”

With a flushed face, Eleanor delivered her message. As the words ended, Eleanor gently moved closer to his lips.

Followed by a kiss.

Feeling the scent of roses from her, and the touch of her soft lips, Dmitri made a firm resolution.

No matter how late it was, he had to be ready to welcome the Duke within two weeks.

#.

The people of the North understood the state of the land by observing the flow of the seasons. Except for winter, the temperature changes were not significant in the North, making this a useful method.

After the long winter passed and spring arrived, the frozen land began to thaw slowly. During this time, the frozen land of the North turned into a giant mud swamp. Neither horses, carts, nor people could move easily.

Dmitri descended to the capital a little earlier than the full arrival of spring, for this reason.

As the once sticky land began to harden again, it was then known that summer was approaching. People’s clothing became thinner, and outdoor activities increased significantly.

Goods for the upcoming winter also arrived one by one around this time.

As the ground began to harden, carriages loaded with goods were constantly coming and going to the Duke’s residence. Although it was a yearly routine, the number of carriages had increased more than usual, and it was not people pulling the carriages but horses.

The grand appearance of the Duke’s residence, which was once an empty fortress, was gradually changing to match its title.

It was the same today.

The items unloaded from the carriages, filled to the brim, adorned the cold walls and floors of the Duke’s residence with curtains, carpets, and fabric products like bedding.

“Oh my! Miss, please touch this carpet once. It’s so soft. It’s softer than the quilt I cover myself with.”

“Take a look at this curtain! This lace is amazing. Isn’t it beautiful?”

The women’s voices filled with excitement echoed in the lobby of the Duke’s residence. The attendants were still moving the items from the carriages to the lobby.

The head butler of the Grand Mansion was preoccupied with identifying the items piling up in the lobby.

The lady of the mansion was happily engrossed in the pleasant dilemma of how to decorate the Grand Mansion with curtains and carpets.

For once, the Grand Mansion was bustling with energy.

The warehouse, once empty, was now filled with sacks of grain, and the clothes of the people walking the streets had noticeably changed to a more neat appearance.

These days, the menu at the Grand Mansion had become significantly more extravagant compared to before.

However, amidst this atmosphere, there was one young lady who couldn’t enjoy it alone.

“So, you’re saying all of this is from the Fox Clan that my father sent?”

“More accurately, these are items personally chosen by His Grace with the money received from the Beorn family.”

Daphne, the blonde beauty who had come up north in place of Dmitri, politely answered the inquisitive Hildegarde Verbreitz, the Grand Duchess.