***
A few days later.
Two days before the visit to the Nord estate.
Anita woke up early in the morning to check the gift she was sending to Baron Gott Nord.
“Where is the painting I requested? I need to check it. Is it packaged well?”
“It has been prepared downstairs. Please go down and check.”
Gott Nord was the second person whose consent Anita needed to manage the investment rights, so she had to make the best possible first impression. And according to Lanslo's recommendation, the easiest way to make an excellent first impression was to simply throw money at it.
However, Anita politely declined his recommended method. Recalling the case of Georges Fager, she didn't think the second judge selected by her father would be swayed by wealth.
After much thought, Anita decided to gift a painting, as it was relatively easy to acquire and she could get an expert's help in selecting the piece.
The painting she chose, with the help of Countess Milena, was a still life in a fairytale style that exuded a mystical atmosphere.
‘It feels a bit like giving another painting, but…’
Isn't *Nuaza's Journey* a work by a member of the Nord family?
Many people paint, but few paint fairytales. Even fewer if that person is from a noble family.
Considering the Nord family's dazzling fortune, she thought it would be better to give a slightly unique painting rather than a gift of ambiguous price and rarity.
“Duchess. Mr. Georges Fager is coming to see you this afternoon.”
“Today? That's sooner than planned.”
He said it would take ten days, but it's only been about a week.
When Anita hesitated to readily accept Georges's visit, Leonald the butler, who had come to announce it, calmly explained her schedule.
“This afternoon, Miss Sasha's acquaintances are scheduled to visit, and the day after tomorrow, you have an appointment to visit the Nord family at 4 p.m. Two days after that, you are scheduled to visit the grand theater at 10 a.m. to review Mr. Gray Holmes's scenario, and a week from now, you are scheduled to attend Countess Milena's salon at 6 p.m.”
Ah, just hearing it was complicated and dizzying.
‘I took the life of a noble lady too lightly. I never imagined it would be this busy.’
Perhaps because the fine autumn weather was in full swing, her schedule was packed one after another.
Some appointments weren't even mentioned because the dates hadn't been confirmed. Things like a meeting with Bimareukeu, or leisure time with her existing connections, including Countess Adelaide and Viscountess Grisha….
“Jill.”
Jill, who was arranging the letters that had arrived today on the desk (all of them were from Lanslo), looked at Anita.
“Yes, Madam. Is there something you require?”
“Is there still no progress in the search for my father?”
It was a relief that her voice didn't tremble.
Since Anita had settled in at the ducal estate, Lanslo had been using the full extent of Edenbahir's manpower and information network to search for her father's whereabouts.
From as near as Chalon to as far as distant foreign countries that took half a month to reach by train. He had even posted a large reward under the name of the Kalasgo Trust, conducting the most extensive, all-encompassing search possible.
Knowing his efforts, she hadn't been able to easily ask about the results of the search until now. It had already been a season since she started waiting with the desperate hope that news would come someday. But still, not a single plausible story had emerged.
“The weather is starting to get cold, and I'm growing anxious. Is there still no news at all? Not even a small trace?”
Jill answered in the most cautious voice possible, so as not to upset Anita.
“We are trying every possible avenue, but we have yet to find any significant leads or traces. We are receiving reports steadily, but… perhaps because the reward is so large, they have all turned out to be false testimonies.”
I see.
‘I suppose going through Vlad McCoy would be faster.’
Even if he was cooperating with the Hespain Kingdom, he was likely still active within Montevio. She felt she had to find him somehow and get information about her father. Anita slowly organized her schedule in her mind.
“Leonald, it would be better for me to go see Mr. Georges now. That way, I should be able to attend the evening banquet without any trouble.”
“I will have the car prepared, then.”
“Okay. Jill, when Lanslo returns, please tell him I've gone to the Fager residence.”
“Understood.”
The weather today was as fine as it had been yesterday.
Two attendants, whose company now felt familiar, followed Anita.
But just as she was about to get into the car, a booming call came from beyond the garden, which was full of colorful chrysanthemums.
“Anita!”
Was there anyone at the ducal estate who would call her so familiarly?
Turning to identify the owner of the voice, Anita's expression momentarily lost its tension and went slack.
“…Bimareukeu?”
A conspicuously tall stature, brown hair fluttering in the wind, a familiar smile directed at her.
“Oh my gosh, Bimareukeu!”
By the time she came to her senses, Anita was already running toward him. "Whoa there," Bimareukeu said, catching her and lifting her body lightly. It was a habit from when he used to hold her as a child.
Held in his arms, Anita poured out the questions, curiosity, and feelings of longing that flooded her mind.
“How long has it been? Why haven't you visited all this time? Are you hurt anywhere? Have you been discharged?”
Leaving a brief kiss on Anita's forehead, Bimareukeu gently soothed her as he answered.
“I'm sorry I couldn't visit. I've been busy with family matters. I'm not hurt, and I'm just on leave for now, but I plan to be discharged soon.”
“Are you inheriting the title?”
“Because that's what my father wishes. He's getting on in years, so it's understandable that he'd want to rest.”
He gazed at the ceaselessly questioning Anita with affectionate eyes. As if deeply relieved by her invariably vibrant appearance, he kept his arms wrapped tightly around her waist even after setting her down.
“What about Marquis Paolufrana? Didn't you say he had a terrible cold last time? Is he healthy?”
“He's not bad. But you…”
As if at a loss for words, Bimareukeu, who had been silent for a moment, gently stroked Anita's cheeks, which were flushed pink from her breathless run.
“I was so worried after receiving your letter. I should have come sooner….”
“It's okay. Everyone here is kind to me. Even though they've accepted someone like me as the Duchess, they're still as friendly as ever.”
“Lanslo Edenbahir, too?”
At the sudden mention of Lanslo's name, Anita flinched and pushed against Bimareukeu's chest.
“He's…”
Seeing her words trail off, Bimareukeu's eyes hardened coldly. He tightened his grip on her slender waist, refusing to let her go.
A wave of deep emotion that Anita hadn't noticed flickered in Bimareukeu's eyes. His gaze, based on disbelief, was a complex mixture of responsibility, affection, worry, guilt, and something dark and black still hidden beneath the surface.
“On the contrary, he's so kind it makes me feel sorry. I'm trying my best not to be a lacking wife.”
It was a sincere answer, but Bimareukeu didn't seem to believe a single word of it.
“You're *trying*? He's not forcing you?”
“Forcing me? Of course not. He's a far better husband than I deserve. You know that too, Bimareukeu. It's not in his nature.”
She pushed Bimareukeu away with a playful laugh.
He was now Sasha's fiancé before he was the dear older brother figure Anita respected and loved. It was right to gradually reduce this kind of casual physical contact.
But despite her repeated signals, Bimareukeu wouldn't let go. In fact, the more she tried to break free from his embrace, the more tightly he seemed to constrict her.
At first, she wondered if he was joking, but seeing his lips pressed into a firm, straight line, she knew that wasn't it. Anita couldn't help but be flustered.
“Bimareukeu, that's enough….”
“Anita. Surely you don't still love that man.”
A low voice bored into her ear. It was a voice laced with such clear hostility that it was impossible not to notice.
Something was wrong.
‘Why is he suddenly acting like this? Did I do something wrong without realizing it?’
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