“Then explain why you sent Miss Nadia out. If it wasn’t for the intention of stealing, I’m sure you could explain why!”
“I-It was……”
Her items and bags that seemed to be Amber’s personal belongings were scattered around her feet.
It seems that the jewel in her pocket was found by the maid.
“I-It was because… In uncomfortable…”
“You should have at least come up with something that makes sense! Get rid of her now!”
“P-Please 1 beg you! If I don’t work here, where….Aah!”
Two bulky male servants stepped forward and pulled Amber out like a piece of luggage.
She struggled desperately, but it was not enough to withstand the power of the two men. It didn’t take long for her yelling to disappear in the distance.
Nadia approached the sighing maid and asked.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. A maid stole something. It’s nothing for Miss Nadia to be concerned about.”
“It’s a big deal. It must be hard to manage the staff.”
“No. I am just doing my duty, Miss Nadia.”
A smile formed on Nadia’s lips slowly disappeared.
She didn’t think that Amber would be kicked out so fast.
“From tomorrow, another maid will be in charge of cleaning your room. I will educate them thoroughly so that this incident doesn’t happen again.”
“Then I will be in your care.”
On the first day of returning to the past, Nadia didn’t only manage to avoid her engagement with Lee Jiho but also kicked out Callaine’s right hand.
In addition, she was able to collect her funds in the form of a dowry.
She couldn’t believe she had achieved them all from the very first day.
Nadia could feel that her steps back to the annex were light.
*
**
By gathering unanimous agreement among the nobles, the Karla’ai expedition triumphal celebration was held.
There was no reason to oppose the event, and no one had been daring enough to vote against it, as long as the Duke of Balazit, the head of the aristocracy, expressed his support.
As time went by quickly, on the day of the triumphal celebration, Nadia was sitting in the VIP seat on the altar and watching the army’s procession like in her previous life.
The only thing that has changed from the past was that the recipient of the homemade laurel wreath has changed.
Her dress matched all types of jewelry that were worn all together for the event. Nevertheless, it would be a lie if you weren’t nervous.
Nadia sighed quietly and touched the jewelry on the necklace.
This necklace was one of the few legacies left by her mother, and she said it was a jewel given by the Duke when she was pregnant with Nadia.
“Just try to make a scratch on my jewel. I only lent it to you for a while because of father’s order.”
… Though it was questionable how such a precious object for her was in Callaine’s jewelry box.
Nadia glanced to the right.
The seating arrangement was also the same as in the past; therefore, her half-sister was seated next to her.
Callaine muttered, openly staring at her up and down.
“I lent it to you because I felt sorry for you. It’s my first time talking to someone who has to beg for marriage.”
“Congratulations on your wedding in advance, sister. Although I don’t know if your husband’s family will welcome you.”
Nadia didn’t respond because she didn’t even want to answer back.
Callaine just smiled even though her words were ignored. Perhaps the silence was interpreted as Nadia feeling defeated by her sarcasm.
Soon she turns her head with a cocky smile.
Not long after, the Duke whispered into Nadia’s ear.
“He will be there soon. Prepare yourself, Nadia.”
As if confirming her father’s sign, the voices of onlookers cheering were growing louder and louder.
It meant that the highlight of the procession was getting closer.
Only a few soldiers could approach the altar where the King was seated.
Soon after, four commanders, who were recognized for the expedition leaders, began to come up to the altar one by one.
Nadia looked at the man nervously.
The first figure that stood out was Lee Jiho, a blackhaired man who came from another world.
His darker skin color than the people of the kingdom, his black hair like crow feathers, and his black eyes; It was inevitable that the man caught her eyes.
It was as if he was telling the world that he came from a different place with his whole body
He dressed up more lavishly than usual, probably because of the triumphal celebration.
Nadia’s eyes sank deeply as she stared at Lee Jiho.
‘I didn’t really love that man.’
It was only because of the Duke’s order that he promised to marry her.
And for her, Lee Jiho was just a good business partner.
Since the relationship was initially established based on self-profit, it would be a given if he abandoned her for a more significant benefit.
Nevertheless, betrayal was painful.
If she didn’t have to deal with the aftermath of her father, she wanted to slap him on the cheek right now. Her expression gradually hardened as she tried to suppress her anger.
The Duke talked to her again, which made her calm her anger.
“As you already know, that silver-haired guy is Marquis Glenn Winterfell. Make sure you don’t make any mistakes.”
“..Yes.”
Nadia tried to think rationally.
What’s important now was to successfully execute the play that she has planned.
Her eyes landed on the Marquis of Winterfell.
Nadia was sitting a little far away, but it was not difficult to recognize him.
Reine Fleurs
His significantly larger body than the average person made his presence stand out even from a distance.
Short silver hair, dark eyebrows, and aesthetic features. He was just like how she vaguely remembered him.
Walking across the wide altar, he stopped in front of the King
“I dedicate the glory of victory to His Majesty.”
In the past, Nadia didn’t pay attention to him, so this scene was blurry in her memory.
No matter how many times she processed it in her head, she still couldn’t believe that the faint memories were reproduced vividly in front of her eyes.
Marquis of Winterfell set an example for his subjects by bending one knee in front of the King.
The same went for Lee Jiho and other commanders. The King, who was praising the expedition with a celebratory speech, picked up Glenn and said.
“Oh, that’s right. I heard that Marquis Winterfell made a remarkable contribution in this expedition.”
Glenn replied calmly.
“It is just an exaggerated rumor.”
“There’s nothing to be shy about. The predecessor Marquis Winterfell was also a very outstanding knight. Your father in his sickbed will be happy to know the achievement you made.”
“It’s so commendable that you’ve been loyal for generations. I will have to reward your loyal family.”
“It’s enough for Your Majesty to know my loyalty.”
“My, my, young people are so serious.”
He burst into laughter and said to the people standing on the altar.
“This is a place to congratulate the heroes of the Karla’ai expedition who brought victory to us. I will reward the heroes who went through suffering from the expedition.”
“I’m so grateful, Your Majesty.”
The first one to step forward was the Duke of Balazit.
The tension between the Duke of Balazit and the Marquis of Winterfell was very well known.
When the two faced each other in the same room, the temperature on the altar went cold.
Only the insensitive King looked happy.
“The little Marquis of– No, it wouldn’t be right. It would only be right to call you Marquis of Winterfell, wouldn’t i?”
The atmosphere was so tense that even the senior ministers could read the room.
It was the Duke of Balazit who began to be sarcastic first.
“It’s been a long time since I saw you.”
It was a mild response.
For someone who didn’t know Marquis Winterfell during his young days, Duke of Balazit dared to show such an attitude to the head of the Winterfell family, who had inherited the title and territory.
Glenn’s eyebrows are slightly raised. He was also not an easy opponent.
“It hasn’t been long since I succeeded with the title. It was chaotic because the Karla’ai expedition overlapped with the title succession.”
“…..”
Such manner simply ignored the age difference between the Marquis and the Duke, who was almost the same age as his father.
This time, it was the Duke of Balazit who had a subtly hardened expression.
“My, my, it’s understandable. Anyone could be immature at this age.”
Don’t be arrogant, you stupid little brat.
Glenn, who quickly recognized the hidden meaning, immediately responded.
“What’s the problem about being young? It would only be a problem if we have too much energy to spend.”
I’m young, but I’m not going to die soon like you, you greedy old man.
“T-This–!”
At the insult, the face of the Duke of Balazit turned red.
But after a moment, he skillfully kept his expression calm as he was an experienced noble.
Soon after, the Duke burst into laughter exaggeratedly.
“H-Ha ha ha!”
“I don’t know what you found funny. Why don’t you share it with everyone here?”
“Oh, it was nothing. It’s because I feel like I’m looking at the predecessor Marquis. Indeed, a lion-like child is born from a lion-like father.”
This time, Glenn’s expression was distorted.
It was a public secret in the political circle that the predecessor Marquis was involved in a conspiracy accident.
And there were only a few people who wanted to kill and eliminate the predecessor Marquis.
It was not easy to maintain composure when the person who harmed his father openly provoked him.
It was the moment when Glenn was about to get angry.
“Stop it. Not on such a great day.”
The King intervened between the two and waved his hand.
“On days like this, please refrain yourself. Isn’t today the day we give honor to the hero? Even your daughter is preparing a gift for the hero.”
“I was rash. Your Majesty is right.”
A gift for a hero?
Upon hearing the King’s words, Glenn’s one eyebrow went up.
Come to think of it, he could see a young woman standing behind the Duke holding a laurel wreath.