It was a bold mindset—one that was incomparable to that of the disgraceful son of the Duke of Tournigen, who had been soundly defeated in a duel after quarreling with me over a single woman in the capital.
Unlike him, I felt much more at ease now, allowing me to take in the details of the Duke of Decaraznan’s mansion with a calmer gaze.
My first impression was the sheer vastness of the estate. Not only was it larger than the Duchy of Estel, but it also boasted a grander expanse than the castle of the Marquis of Castana.
It was, without a doubt, the residence of a family that ranked among the five wealthiest on the continent.
The same could be said for the breathtaking garden that stretched from the gate to the mansion.
Unlike the Duke of Estel, who planted only seasonal flowers, or the Marquis of Castana, who carelessly filled their grounds with coniferous trees, the Decaraznan estate displayed a harmonious blend of colorful and fragrant blooms. The sight of the meticulously arranged flowerbeds was enough to make one stop and admire their beauty.
‘They’ve certainly spent a fortune on this.’
It was evident that preservation and protective magic had been cast on the flowers to maintain their flawless appearance. Hiring high-level mages to sustain such enchantments was an extravagant expense—one that only a house as wealthy as the Duchy of Decaraznan could afford. Their wealth was truly unfathomable.
“Heir Estel, would you like to meet His Excellency right away? He is currently waiting for you in his office,” the general asked.
“I will.” I nodded and followed him into the mansion.
As we navigated the maze-like corridors, the general cast a sidelong glance in my direction and spoke in a low voice.
“Heir Estel, if it’s not too forward of me, may I ask you something?”
“You may ask anything.”
With my permission granted, the general hesitated briefly before speaking, his gaze flickering toward Aria, who had been quietly following me without a word.
“My knowledge is limited, so I am unfamiliar with the lady accompanying you. Would you mind telling me what her relationship is to you?”
“…Hmm.”
I paused for a moment, considering how to answer. It wasn’t difficult to tell the truth—Aria had come here as my personal maid.
And yet… I didn’t like the thought of her being reduced to merely a maid in the eyes of others. I knew full well that I was the one who had designated her as my exclusive maid. I had no right to feel any reluctance, yet an inexplicable discomfort nagged at me.
Just before I lost consciousness that day, I had seen Aria whisper a soft “thank you” to me. That moment lingered in my mind, stirring something I couldn’t quite name.
Before I could decide on an answer, Aria, perhaps noticing my hesitation, tilted her head and spoke up without hesitation.
“Oh, you mean me? That’s right, I came here to attend to Heir Estel—”
“Aria.”
I quickly raised my hand, gently covering her mouth to stop her from finishing her sentence. Letting out a quiet sigh, I turned back to the general and spoke evenly.
“She is the exclusive mage of House Estel and an honored guest. I would appreciate it if you treated her accordingly.”
‘D*mn it.’
I had no choice but to lie. The moment I returned to the Duchy of Estel, I resolved to relieve Aria of her role as my personal maid. But what else could I do?
Our stay at the Duke of Decaraznan’s estate might be long, and I couldn’t bear the thought of Aria being treated differently just because of her status. The idea made me deeply uncomfortable.
The general, however, only smiled knowingly at my words, as if he had seen right through me.
“I see. Understood, Heir Estel. No further explanation is necessary.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Everything will go just as you wish, so there’s no need to worry.”
With a cryptic smile, he resumed leading us through the mansion. Eventually, we arrived at a lavishly decorated room in the deepest part of the estate.
“This is the place. His Excellency is waiting for you inside.”
At his words, I nodded slightly and pushed open the door.
Creaaak.
The moment I stepped inside, Reinfort von Decaraznan, the current Duke of Decaraznan, immediately rose from his seat to greet me.
“Welcome, Heir Estel. We are honored to receive you.”
“Thank you, Duke.” I offered him a polite bow in response.
With an apologetic expression, he let out a small hum before speaking.
“…Hmm. You’ve arrived much sooner than I anticipated. I had not expected your visit so soon, so I was in the middle of having a light meal with some guests. I hope you can forgive the lack of preparation.”
“There is no need to apologize, Duke. I bear greater responsibility for arriving unannounced without prior notice. Please do not humble yourself on my behalf.”
“Hah, how gracious of you to say.”
With a chuckle, Reinfort gestured to the people seated across from him, prompting them to rise. As they stood and turned to face me, my body stiffened.
I knew them both.
The man was Perzel von Decaraznan, the heir to the Duchy of Decaraznan.
But the woman standing beside him, with her radiant golden hair, was—
“…Sarah?”
Sarah Cernard.
My first love.
The woman I was once engaged to.
A woman with whom I no longer had any ties.
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