episode_0124

“Hey, oppa.”

Quietly calling out to the sturdy man standing next to her, the black-haired woman, whose hair barely reached his shoulder, called out to him.

Her neatly combed black hair, reaching down to her waist, had a subtle purple hue swirling within it, unlike her jet-black hair.

Perhaps that was why.

With a slight height difference, she lifted her chin slightly to meet the eyes of her brother, Dmitri, making her appearance not only mysterious to the Demetrius, but also to the attendants of the Grand Duke’s family standing behind the siblings.

In response to the voice that called him, Dmitri turned his head to face her affectionately, as she tugged at the sleeve of his jacket.

“Why are you acting like this, Hilda?”

“You know, do I really need to put on such a show?”

Behind her thick gray eyes, there was a hint of discontent mixed with indifference. The murmuring behind her tiny lips also conveyed a sense of annoyance.

Dmitri’s precious younger sister, Hildegarde Berbrietz, the lady of the Grand Duke’s family, did not seem pleased with the current situation.

In response to her slightly twisted words, Dmitri looked around.

However, there was nothing in his eyes that could be described as a show, as his sister had mentioned.

“A show? Isn’t this harmless enough?”

In response to Dmitri’s words, Hildegarde dropped her head slightly.

Of course, Hildegarde knew very well how important Eleanor, the youngest daughter of the Berbrietz family, was.

The youngest daughter who was cherished by the Berbrietz family.

It was said that the movement of the West changed with each of her delicate steps.

But still.

As they entered the entrance of the castle from the front gate, knights dressed in black armor lined up on both sides of the long path, and attendants, as well as servants working in the Grand Duke’s residence, all came out to greet them.

But that wasn’t all.

On the road leading to the village outside the castle gate, the villagers were gathered, waiting for Eleanor to arrive in the carriage.

It was a sign that everyone in the North was welcoming Eleanor.

“If someone saw her, they would think it’s Dominique coming.”

Dmitri let out a small sigh at his sister’s words.

Since returning to the North, whenever Eleanor’s name came up, Hilda would frown for some reason.

Was it because she hadn’t seen Ellie yet, Dmitri wondered, looking at Hildegarde with a puzzled expression.

Surely, when they meet, Hilda will like her too.

“Besides, we’ve received a lot of help from Ellie. And Hilda, she’s my lover. She’s also going to be the future Grand Duchess. So, isn’t this okay?”

In a tone as if pacifying a child, Dmitri’s voice softened, and Hildegarde sharply turned her head away from him.

It was just a coincidence that Berbrietz’s black carriage appeared beyond the castle gate at that moment.

#.

The black carriage of Berbrietz gradually slowed down as it passed through the gate. Looking at the lover of her brother approaching her, Hildegarde let out a quiet sigh.

While Dmitri treated her like a young girl, in reality, Hildegarde was not that young. Before she knew it, she would be of debutante age next year.

It wasn’t just her age. She was mature not only in years but also in her thoughts compared to girls her age.

When the cold wind started blowing from the tall coniferous forest beyond the wall, Grand Duke Dmitri left the Grand Castle to head towards the wall to protect the territory and the empire from monsters and demons.

And Hildegarde, in place of the absent Grand Duke, took care of the remaining residents of the territory during the long and harsh winter.

In the chilly fortress devoid of even the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, she led the north with a stern face.

An old hag in her wicked words.

Unlike other young nobles, she had realized the harshness of reality early on, and her thoughts deepened as the approaching carriage came closer.

The support from the west that began this spring was a godsend for them.

After enduring a difficult winter, Hildegarde spent the spring and summer more abundantly than any other year in her memory.

Breaking through the thawing, muddy roads, the supplies and medicines delivered from the capital warmly comforted the weary soldiers and residents of the territory who had endured the harsh winter.

As the frozen land thawed and hardened, the supplies that began to be delivered in earnest dramatically improved the lives of the always impoverished northern people.

So, to them, the west was nothing short of a savior.

Yet, Hildegarde’s heart was restless, wondering if her brother was hiding his true feelings to welcome the nobles from the capital and secure support from the west.

He had tarnished his reputation to extract favors from the capital’s nobles.

In fact, if they had endured the hardships of the march a little longer, things would have improved by next year, or at the latest, the year after.

Unlike a man responsible for his family, she was a woman. A body to be sold off to the other noble family through marriage.

And she was the Grand Duchess of Verberitz.

The most valuable commodity that could be sold within Galatea.

“So, if the two are in such a relationship, I will definitely oppose it.”

Hildegarde, clenching her fist secretly as her mind was distracted by the approaching carriage. Eventually, as the carriage passed through the main gate, it slowly came to a stop in front of the Verberitz siblings.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Dmitri immediately approached the door of the carriage. Beyond the carefully opening door, he politely extended his arm towards the door.

A small, slender hand wrapped in white lace gloves that did not match Dmitri’s rough hands.

As Eleanor received Dmitri’s escort and got off the carriage, Hildegarde, like the Verberitz servants standing behind her, gazed at her beautiful figure with gray eyes flickering.

Even though it was midday in summer, the sunlight in the north was heavy and somewhat dim. However, even under such sunlight, Eleanor’s platinum blonde hair shone brighter than anyone else.

Her clear sky-blue eyes on her snow-white skin were filled with a freshness that was not easily found in this gloomy northern land.

With that level of beauty.

“Could it be that what my brother said about falling in love at first sight isn’t a lie…?”

Hildegarde, lost in thought as she gazed at Eleanor. Of course, Dmitri didn’t fall in love at first sight, but.

Regardless, as Eleanor, escorted by Oravi, got off the carriage and immediately nestled into Dmitri’s arms.

“I missed you, Dmitri. Truly.”

“The feeling is mutual, Ellie. I apologize for not being able to come meet you in person.”

“Oh, no, it’s okay. Bernard said you were busy with work.”

Like a pampered cat marking its territory, Eleanor nestled into Dmitri’s arms, tilting her head against his solid chest, inhaling his scent deeply over his black jacket.

And as she took a step closer, Hildegarde watched the two of them.

‘How can that woman have such a pure voice?’

Compared to the tender voice of Eleanor nestled in her brother’s arms, the sincere yet cold voice of blood relations felt repulsive.

“You’ve gotten more bruises on your face since I last saw you.”

Suppressing the immediate desire to kiss his lips, Eleanor raised her hand to Dmitri’s cheek. Perhaps Dmitri wasn’t expecting it either, as his stubble didn’t catch on her lace gloves. Eleanor pondered this as she caressed his cheek.

“I’m more worried about you, Ellie. How’s your health? Are you feeling nauseous?”

“Bernard took care of me, so I’m better than expected. I’m more worried about you than myself.”

The conversation between the lovers was undoubtedly sweet, but to Hildegarde, who shared their blood, it felt a bit awkward to listen to. She reached out and tugged at Dmitri’s waist, interrupting their conversation.

“Brother.”

At her voice, Dmitri gently released Eleanor from his embrace, bringing his younger sister to his side and smiling brightly at Eleanor.

“Eleanor, this is my sister, Hildegarde.”

In reality, she wanted to speak more comfortably as a princess, but thanks to her brother’s attitude, she also politely extended her hand to introduce herself.

“I’m Hildegarde Verberitz.”

Eleanor wrapped her hands around the offered white hand and replied, “I’ve heard a lot about you from Dmitri, Your Highness. I’m Eleanor Arnaud de Beaumont.”

The end of her moist, red lips drew a smooth curve. Under her neatly arranged golden eyebrows, Hildegarde pondered why her face was turning so red as she met Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes.

Even with her sharp mind, she couldn’t come up with an answer.

One thing was certain, though.

“Your Highness, I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“Yes… Eleanor. I look forward to working with you too.”

Seeing her beautiful smile, Hildegarde’s heart fluttered, realizing that she and that foolish man with black hair were truly siblings from the same family.