Chapter 36

During her second and third days in Rotiara, Elise’s life continued to unfold smoothly. It felt reminiscent of her days as a princess, with the only distinction being the lively energy of the castle, which she had always observed from afar, now just outside her door.

In Rotiara Castle, Yvetsa was the only person who approached her with familiarity. The other servants exhibited either excessive caution or an abundance of politeness towards her.

However, Elise had grown accustomed to such treatment, so it didn’t bother her. Yet, whenever she noticed a particularly attractive maid or servant, she couldn’t help but involuntarily pause in her tracks.

Even though their beauty may have been superficial, didn’t Elise find herself in a situation no different from theirs? After all, they all shared the common purpose of bearing the heir of the Grand Duke.

It was a choice she had made for herself, so even if it caused inner pain, there was nothing she could do about it.

“I wish we would have a child soon,” Elise silently wished. At least then, she could alleviate the restlessness that came with the feeling that time was slipping away without respite.

As the journey to Rotiara encountered delays, nearly a month had already elapsed within the contract period. Impatience grew as Elise counted the remaining days.

However, the peace she initially found was short-lived. Starting from the fifth day in Rotiara, Elise began experiencing difficulty in falling asleep. The familiar comforts of the castle only intensified her longing for her younger brother, Andrei. Each night, Andrei, who appeared in her dreams, would admonish her.

“How could you do something so foolish, Elise? You are the princess of Argan! How could you lower yourself to become a servant of a nobleman…!”

During the journey to Rotiara, Elise hadn’t dreamt of Andrei. The most significant difference between then and now was undeniably the absence of that man.

A week had already passed, and Elise slept alone and woke up alone in her spacious bedroom. The space beside her remained untouched, devoid of any signs of a damp bed or a body lying upon it.

“…He hasn’t come today either.”

Unintentionally, ever since Elise met Rezette Kyrstan, there had been few days when he was absent from her side. It had only been a week, yet she already missed his presence in that vacant spot.

For the past few days, Elise had only caught a glimpse of him once. Yesterday, she observed him from a distance outside the window, accompanied by his knights. That was the extent of their interaction.

No matter how expansive the castle was, it was impossible for her to avoid him unless she deliberately did so.

A sense of unease inevitably arose. Could it be…?

“Surely, he intends to keep his promise…?” Elise contemplated. The voice that had dismissed her, claiming he didn’t desire a woman like her, and the casually spoken words of “adapt in advance” alternated in her mind. Although she had witnessed the man’s excitement firsthand, she couldn’t completely disregard the possibility. Her neglected state over the past week filled her with immense anxiety.

Sleep evaded her entirely in the end.

“I should at least see his face,” Elise resolved. She pulled the cord hanging by the side table. Shortly after, Yvetsa appeared at the bedroom door, wearing a cheerful smile.

“Your Highness, you’ve woken up early! You could have slept a bit longer.”

“No, it’s fine,” Elise responded.

“I’ll bring you some warm soup first to soothe your stomach.”

“No, just bring me the shawl.”

“Huh? You’ve only just opened your eyes. Where do you plan on going?”

“To the study. It’ll only take a moment. I’ll use the shortcut stairs, so it won’t take long.”

Elise quickly splashed water on her face and hastily dressed. She dampened the curtain and unveiled a hidden wooden door. A narrow and dimly lit spiral staircase lay before her. This path was said to be exclusive to the lord and his wife, off-limits to the servants.

However, as Elise descended the staircase for just two turns, she had to admit that her assumptions were mistaken. The staircase was narrow and unstable, devoid of windows or candlesticks on the walls. A faint light seeped through a crack in the ceiling, casting a dim glow below.

Regretfully, she had not brought a candle. If she were to stumble here, her bones might crumble to dust. Elise descended the spiral staircase cautiously, attentively watching her step.

As the winding staircase made her head spin, she eventually stood before a firmly closed door. A small window, slightly above her eye level, allowed a gentle morning sunlight to filter through.

Elise stretched on her tiptoes and peered through the small window. The sight of the Duke’s study, which she had passed without noticing the day before, filled her golden eyes. The desk and chair were neatly arranged, showing no signs of recent use. The person she sought was not present.

“I just wanted to see his face…” Elise murmured to herself. Should she enter for a moment? Since she was already at the door, it wouldn’t be impolite to step inside the study and wait.

Elise hesitated briefly, then placed her hand on the doorknob. The metal latch clicked against the lock and turned.

However, the door remained closed.

No matter how hard Elise pushed, the door remained stubbornly immobile. Undoubtedly, something solid blocked it from the other side.

There was only one explanation for why the fastest passage between the lord’s study and bedroom was obstructed. The staircase was simply unused. If the room above was his unused bedroom, it all made perfect sense.

After all, the lord’s bedroom was strategically positioned at the top of the tower to deter intruders. As a knight and the heir, he wouldn’t have chosen the top floor unless there was a valid reason to endure the inconvenience.

Elise let out a sigh tinged with melancholy, stepping back from the door. The prospect of ascending the stairs again felt daunting.

Was this the consequence of her attempt to sneak a peek like a cat burglar? She shouldn’t have foolishly done such a thing.

Perhaps if she waited a while, he would return to the study. However, the idea of awkwardly waiting with the window obstructing their view made returning to the bedroom a hundred times more appealing.

Elise gave the door one last forceful push, but it refused to budge.

“…Really!” Frustration surged within her. Elise clenched her fist and pounded on the door, feeling a profound sense of pitifulness.

At that moment, she heard a noise emanating from outside the door. Elise startled and took a few steps back. Someone was peering at her through the small window with narrowed eyes.

***

All the windows in the bedroom at the top of the tower were wide open. Yvetsa and Laria, the new attendants of the princess, diligently cleaned the bedroom and sitting room. The stone walls maintained a refreshing coolness even in the warm late spring, but the draft made it challenging to ventilate when the princess stayed there.

At that moment, the lord was absent, and the two maids worked quickly to finish cleaning. Yvetsa halted her dusting as she entered the sitting room and caught sight of the Duke partially visible through the open doorway.

“Your Highness,” Yvetsa called out. The Duke glanced into the bedroom, which was revealed through the open door.

“Is she inside?” he inquired.

“Pardon?” Yvetsa appeared bewildered. “Your Highness, she went downstairs quite a while ago…”

Rezette’s brows furrowed at the unexpected situation. Elise had already left this early in the morning?

It was still before 8 o’clock, and Elise usually woke up around that time or slightly earlier. Rezette had planned to check on her safety before heading out to inspect the territory. He had intended to ensure she was soundly asleep and then leave. But now she was already awake and had gone downstairs?

“You didn’t accompany her? What were you doing?” Rezette asked.

“She insisted on going alone. She was quite determined, and I couldn’t possibly go against her wishes. I apologize,” Yvetsa explained.

“…I see.”

The castle had numerous staircases and corridors, but Lady Petisson and Alfredo had provided Elise with an overview of the castle’s layout. They assured her that she would be well-fed, receive her medication on time, and need not worry about getting lost or collapsing somewhere.

Rezette surveyed the cozy space. The bedroom, which had remained empty for almost 15 years, had undergone an unrecognizable transformation. It exuded an appropriate sense of luxury, comfort, and safety. There were no apparent deficiencies in his eyes.

“Was there anything out of the ordinary?” he inquired.

“No,” came the maid’s response.

Rezette’s eyes narrowed, sensing hesitation in the maid’s demeanor. It was not something she should be doing—carefully choosing her words when answering her master’s question.

“Tell me. Every little detail,” he insisted.

“Well… it seemed like Her Highness had trouble sleeping for the past two nights. She appeared to wake up multiple times, even in the early morning. However, since she didn’t call for me, I didn’t realize until after sunrise,” Yvetsa explained.

“She had trouble sleeping?” Rezette furrowed his brow deeply, recalling the past few months. When Elise was first captured and inflicted wounds upon herself, she clearly suffered from frequent nightmares. She would often tremble or groan in distress during her sleep.

However, during their journey to Rotiara, she slept soundly without any interruptions throughout the night.