episode_0119

In truth, Dimitri did not neglect the North in a reckless manner due to falling in love with a woman.

Before heading west with Eleanor, Dimitri had once again ordered Daphne to go up to the North from the communication office set up in the capital.

The situation had changed. Having established a close relationship with the West, there was no need for him to bow his head to the old folks in the capital anymore.

However, sending Daphne to the North was not just because he couldn’t trust his younger sister, Hildegarde, whom he almost left in charge of the territory.

His precious younger sister was a being on a different level from anyone who only excelled in physical strength. Even when Dimitri was in the North, he had relied on his sister’s help regarding internal affairs.

Managing a territory, especially dealing with the harsh North summers, was something he had experienced every year and knew how difficult it was. Moreover, his sister had a delicate and gentle body unlike his own.

Thanks to him, Daphne found herself heading back to the North from the cozy and comfortable communication office in the capital.

Dimitri had tried to convince her to take the same train he was on, but Daphne insisted on booking the next train ticket, saying she didn’t want to witness the affectionate scenes of lovers.

There was also a hint of dissatisfaction towards the grand duke who had pushed her back into the harsh land from the comfortable capital.

Perhaps if they had taken the same train, the time of the cold war that had taken place between them might have been shortened. Dimitri thought so.

#.

Seated at her brother’s large desk in the grand duke’s office, Hildegarde glanced at the blonde woman sitting at the opposite desk.

Under her short golden hair was a slightly raised nose. The sharp eyes and jawline that matched perfectly with the short hair gave off an elegant vibe, making one think her personality might be a bit cold. However, Hildegarde knew that was not the case.

Setting down the pen she had been holding carefully on the desk, Hildegarde watched the woman who was diligently moving her hands over the documents, a woman who had once taken care of her brother for a long time.

Thanks to her, Hildegarde had once doubted whether she harbored any disrespectful feelings towards her brother.

Of course, those were now memories of the past.

“Hey, Daphne.”

“Yes, miss.”

In the lady’s voice calling her name softly, Daphne stopped her busy hands and looked at her.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, well… so, how about that woman?”

Curiosity and something slightly persistent that she had encountered before flowed towards Daphne from the lady’s black eyes.

Even with that look, the lady’s shy voice made Daphne recall the imposing figure of the grand duke that had tormented her.

Thanks to the smile she forced, a mischievous side of her unintentionally emerged.

“When you say that woman, who are you referring to? If you mean the grand duke’s women, there are so many of them, you see.”

With a somewhat shameless response, Daphne pretended not to know. Sensing her intention, Hildegarde began to glare at her with round eyes.

However, the two women had been in contact since Hildegarde was young. So, to Daphne, the lady’s gaze was just cute and endearing, unlike with common people.

“Really! Don’t pretend not to know like that!”

“If you don’t specify who you’re talking about, then I really don’t know, miss.”

Hildegarde, trying to prolong the conversation, smiled naturally in response to Daphne’s answer. Eventually, the lady’s cheeks puffed out as if they were about to burst.

In fact, for Hildegarde, Daphne was like a close older sister.

After resolving their misunderstandings, Hildegarde began to approach Daphne with apologies and guilt, hugging her as a way of making amends, the best way a young girl could.

Moreover, finding a girl of similar age in this desolate land was not an easy task.

Of course, there were girls of that age group, but their noble blood made it difficult to interact with them.

So, for Hildegarde, there was only Daphne, a woman of similar age who resembled her superior but approached her cutely and clingily.

On the barrier, even the stoic Daphne was taken aback by Hildegarde’s charm to the point where it could make the Grand Duke tremble in fear.

Naturally, the two women were bound to grow closer like sisters in due time.

Therefore, the scene inside the study at the moment might have seemed inappropriate to an outsider, but the atmosphere between the two was no different from usual.

“Ah… that fox who seduced our brother!”

It was Hildegarde who raised her hands first.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to mention Eleanor’s name, unwilling to compromise the dignity of the Grand Duchess.

“Ah… Lady Eleanor, you mean?”

Seeing Daphne’s teasing expression, Hildegarde threw in one more jab.

“Well, to put it correctly, it’s not that Lady Eleanor seduced him, but rather, the Grand Duke fell head over heels for Lady Eleanor.”

“Anyway! That woman!”

Hildegarde exclaimed in frustration.

Seeing the flushed face of the young lady, Daphne suppressed her playful demeanor and straightened her posture.

“So, Daphne. What do you think of that Eleanor woman?”

At Hildegarde’s question, Daphne placed her pen on the stand.

It was time to stop teasing her. The grudge she held against the Grand Duke for rejecting her proposal was enough. Now, it was time to treat her with respect.

Moreover, knowing Hildegarde’s personality, she wouldn’t take lightly to any woman approaching her brother.

“She’s a very fine lady. As beautiful as the rumors say, and her personality is flawless.”

“Daphne… you haven’t fallen for that woman, have you?”

Hildegarde showed a strong aversion to the idea, just as she had shown when she was younger. Daphne sighed softly and replied.

“Lady, I have simply relayed what I saw, heard, and felt.”

Hildegarde’s disdain for women approaching the Grand Duke was well-known in the North. Even their mother had fled to the North, abandoning them. This barren land had driven them together as siblings.

Perhaps fearing that these women might abandon her brother like their mother did, Hildegarde was particularly wary of women approaching him.

“Well, looks can be deceiving. But to say her personality is good too?”

Hildegarde raised an eyebrow at Daphne’s words.

In her experience, pretty women often had flawed personalities. Even the Princess Dominique herself had such flaws.

Moreover, the fairy tales she had heard and the gossip from the maids all pointed to the same conclusion.

“She may have been raised as a noble lady, but she also cares for the common folk. She grew up in the West without any luxury or vanity.”

Hildegarde’s black eyes sparkled. Whenever she saw her brother’s eyes, her heart fluttered.

“So, what do you think?”

“She is a lady who must not be overlooked for the North.”

Daphne continued, meeting Hildegarde’s sharp gaze.

“Have you not seen it yourself? Since enduring last winter, the Grand Duke’s estate has changed drastically. From the diet being served to the replacement of the knights’ armor, even the attire of the people outside the castle has become more refined.”

As Daphne spoke, Hildegarde nodded in agreement.

“It’s all very suspicious. Why is this insignificant woman approaching our brother so persistently?”

Hildegarde’s keen eyes were accurate in observing her brother, unlike her thoughts about him.

Daphne continued.

“One thing is certain, both the Grand Duke and Lady Eleanor have fallen deeply for each other.”

As Daphne finished speaking, Hildegarde placed her hand on her chin, lost in her thoughts.

A prolonged silence followed.

Once again, as Daphne held the pen in her hand, the sound of the pen tip racing across the paper filled the air.

“Wouldn’t that woman run away then?” a soft voice from the young lady prompted Daphne to honestly express her thoughts.

“I’m not sure about what will happen in the future. However, the love that you two currently hold onto, I don’t think it will easily fade away even in the face of a northern blizzard,” Daphne replied candidly.

“Like Daphne said. If the emotion of love is truly eternal, then wouldn’t the late Grand Duchess still be with us?” Despite confidently answering in front of Hildegarde before, Daphne found herself unable to respond to that question.

And once again, a blanket of silence enveloped the two women.