"Claudel! My little sister!"
"Irena!"
Claudel welcomed her with a smiling face. Lustrous red hair and brightly shining golden eyes—Vermont's two daughters hugged each other and shared a moment.
"Welcome, sister."
When she'd received word that Irena was visiting Rowan, her mind had been complicated by various thoughts. But when she saw her, joy was the greatest emotion.
"Wasn't the journey difficult?"
"Difficult? I've never been this excited in my life! I think traveling suits me perfectly."
Irena was beautiful, radiant with her smile and liveliness. The Duke of Vermont used to refer to Irena as "God's masterpiece." Claudel had often felt that Irena was like a perfectly crafted work of art.
*Does being born and raised in privilege make such a difference?*
At Castle Valmonde, Irena had been treated like their own princess. Many people had been uncomfortable with Claudel's origins and unfortunate story. The death of her parents who'd given birth to her had been a major event, discussed by many people.
The things she'd eaten and worn hadn't been particularly luxurious. When the Duke of Vermont visited the capital, she'd never felt disappointed that the treasures he'd purchased were only for Irena. If her own parents had bought only for Irena, she would have been hurt—but the Duke of Vermont wasn't Claudel's father.
Claudel was grateful that the Duchess of Vermont had added her to the family register as her own daughter and allowed her to receive the same education as Irena—even if it had ultimately been for political purposes.
It was natural to pity a child who'd lost her parents.
Irena, who'd grown well in the fertile soil of Valmonde under parents who were like bright summer sun, was a tree from different seed. Claudel felt like a tree that had been completely uprooted from the land where it had grown and transplanted to an unexpected location.
It wasn't Irena's fault. What could be expected of a child only two years older?
Irena had grown up flawlessly and brightly, while Claudel had grown up with many flaws. Because of her existence, she'd been compared in every incident and discussed by people.
When the Duchess of Vermont saw people coming in and out of the castle talking about Claudel, she'd scold them once Irena was grown, telling them not to be rude.
However, everyone knew the Lord—the Duke of Vermont—loved his own daughter Irena dearly. Since he didn't discourage the praise that Irena was superior to Claudel, the comparisons continued unabated.
Though they'd lived in the same castle, their lives had been vastly different.
"I'm so sick of Valmonde! Since there's no male heir, what's the point of bringing in a son-in-law? Vermont's daughters can only leave the castle when they marry. I've never had a chance to escape Castle Valmonde."
"But you still came here like this."
"That's right—it's all thanks to you. If I hadn't come to visit you, Father would never have allowed it."
Irena continued smiling brightly. Who wouldn't love this radiance? In Valmonde, where it froze for half the year, Irena's smile held enough warmth to comfort those shivering in the cold.
Could Claudel have become like Irena if she'd been raised in the castle from birth? She used to imagine that—though she couldn't picture herself smiling like sunshine.
"It's time for tea. Let me show you around quickly."
Irena was very excited.
"I asked Father what Castle Rowan was like, and he said the Temnes bastards were terribly extravagant."
As soon as she finished speaking, Claudel felt people nearby stop walking, and it made her nervous. But Irena continued without hesitation.
"It's definitely plainer than Valmonde Castle. Our castle has gilded ceilings from one end to the other."
"But the tradition runs deeper at Rowan Castle. The wood and stone used to build the castle are of the highest quality. It was constructed when the Kingdom of Oberon was founded, so it's older than the royal castle itself. This elegant castle is one of the finest in the kingdom."
When the Lord's wife, Claudel, stepped forward to defend Rowan Castle, the atmosphere warmed again.
"It's elegant, but a bit boring. It feels like a temple. Temnes is more austere than I expected."
From somewhere distant came a muttered "*That damn Vermont!*" but Irena seemed oblivious.
"Here."
Claudel quickly guided her and opened the door to her bedroom.
"Wow! The atmosphere here is much nicer."
As Irena observed, the Duchess's chambers had a distinctly different character.
"Lady Irena, it's been a while."
When Hannah entered with tea, Irena greeted her warmly.
"Oh, Hannah! How have you been? Oh my goodness—it's a Rowan-style dress! You look like a true Temnes servant."
"Good to see you. I am now a servant of Temnes, body and soul."
"You can't be serious! Ha ha ha!"
Irena, taking Hannah's earnestness as a joke, laughed as if she'd heard something hilarious.
"It's not a joke."
"Let me see your wardrobe!"
After taking a sip of tea, Irena jumped up.
"Let's look at the new bride's belongings..."
Before Claudel could guide her, Irena opened the dressing room door without hesitation—and was struck speechless.
"Wow!"
Irena was genuinely amazed. An enormous quantity of dresses filled a space as large as a sitting room. She walked slowly into the dressing room with a dazed expression.
When she opened the cabinet where the jewels were kept, her already-wide eyes grew even larger.
"Oh my God..."
Claudel stood awkwardly behind Irena, unsure what to say. It was Kaian who'd filled this space so lavishly. Claudel had tried to dissuade him, saying it was excessive to buy so much she couldn't possibly wear it all—but the Duke of Temnes was headstrong.
"This is my first time seeing anything like this. Truly."
Irena turned around, her eyes shining.
"May I try something on?"
"Of course."
"Kyaaah!"
Irena was so excited she jumped up and down.
"Come on, let's do it together!"
She placed a necklace with a large emerald around her own neck and admired herself in the mirror. Then she took the ruby necklace hanging beside it and fastened it around Claudel's neck.
"Let's change dresses too!"
A ruby necklace with vivid purple tones—something Kaian had purchased from the jewelry store when he'd said "everything" and placed around Claudel's neck for the first time today.
Then Irena's eyes fell on an unusual chiffon dress with red-dyed hems.
"Oh my God! Is this really a Madame Marcel dress?"
"Madame Marcel?"
"She's the most famous designer in the capital! That's right—look here."
When she turned over the layered hem, initials were embroidered in gold thread inside.
"It's a dress that's impossible to buy even if you wait a year."
"Really?"
"She's incredibly popular and always booked."
"Why?"
"Men won't leave her alone. The rumors must have reached even Valmonde. I suppose it's difficult to work when attractive women get caught up in unwanted attention."
Irena jumped up and moved about a meter away.
"Ugh! This looks like Juvertouña! It's famous for having the most expensive dresses in the capital!"
*How would you know that from just looking?*
"Oh my goodness! This is the style Princess Bianque wore at her debut!"
Claudel simply blinked.
Excited, Irena tried on several dresses and pieces of jewelry, having fun dressing up Claudel as well.
"Ha, that was fun."
"...I'm exhausted."
The two tired women collapsed on the mountain of dresses.
Irena looked at Claudel lying beside her with the satisfied expression of a well-fed puppy.
"I didn't think you had hobbies like this. I've always wanted to play together like this."
Irena gently ran her fingertips through Claudel's hair.
"I still don't have hobbies."
"Yes, you still just read books all day here, don't you?"
"I don't only read books."
"Hehehe. I wish we'd spent more time together like this before you got married. It's such a shame."
Irena sighed.
"Your face looks so much better, though. When I heard you were marrying into Temnes, I worried about what would happen to you. You were so pale on your wedding day you looked ready to faint."
"This is still a place where people live."
Irena took a deep breath after hearing Claudel's words and asked, "Where will you take me tomorrow?"
"There's a place called the Garden Café. It's somewhere you'd absolutely love. There are many flowers, and we can sit at tables among them and drink tea."
At her words, Irena sat bolt upright.
"What? Let's go right now!"
Claudel smiled at Irena, whose exhausted expression had completely vanished.
---
Early in the morning, Rowan Castle was enveloped in quiet atmosphere. The newly risen sunlight illuminated the water mist floating over the lake on the castle grounds, creating a mysterious ambiance.
Valquiterre muttered as he stepped on grass still covered in undried dew.
"As I expected, I love this castle."
The Kingdom of Oberon had begun in Rowan lands. Through various historical events, the Kingdom had grown, expanded into the central and northern parts of the continent, and relocated its capital.
So Rowan Castle had originally been where the King lived. It was a refined and antique building. It wasn't easy for such a solid, massive structure to also be elegant—but the majesty of Rowan Castle, built with exceptional elegance in every detail, had always satisfied Valquiterre.
"He must be furious at Fromhunt right now, I imagine."
Valquiterre, who'd sent a telegram saying to meet at the hunting grounds in two days, had already arrived at Fromhunt by that time. It was a day's ride from Rowan Castle to Fromhunt.
The reason he'd lured Kaian away and come to the castle while the Lord was absent was because he wanted to enjoy Rowan Castle to the fullest.
Valquiterre wasn't a guest of the castle where Kaian sat as Lord. This castle, too—Valquiterre felt it should have been his. However, since he didn't feel that way when Kaian was present, he'd deliberately sent the telegram to make him leave.
"When will it bear my name?"
Rowan had been a real headache lately. Valquiterre loved Rowan. Despite being merciless even toward Kaian, who'd grown up like his brother, one of the few things he was attached to was the Rowan estate.
However, after the war—because of Kaian's military service—all of Temnes, which included many vassals and blood relatives, was already rebelling against him as King.
"It's not something to rush."
He was muttering to himself when—
*Splash.*
He heard the sound of water disturbing the lake.
*Splash.*
Valquiterre instinctively concealed his presence and slowly approached the lake. Swimming in the lake was—he initially thought it was a large red fish.
"Heh."
But what had seemed that way suddenly rose to the surface. A fairy—no, a goddess.
Was there a legend that such a being lived in this lake?
Valquiterre, who'd often spent time at Rowan Castle as a child, couldn't believe his eyes. She floated on the water, moving beneath the surface, bewitching him completely.
Valquiterre watched her, not even hearing his own breath. His heart pounded. Something—he didn't know if it was emotion—seemed to squeeze his heart as if he'd encountered destiny.
For a moment he forgot how much time had passed. The woman who'd seemed like she might vanish at any moment waded through the water toward shore. She was a living person—not a mystery that would disappear.
As Valquiterre hurried toward the lakeshore, the woman's eyes widened in surprise. He knelt before her, plucking a few beautifully blooming purple scabiosa flowers and holding them out toward her.
"I am... my name is Bark. May I ask yours?"
Then the woman smiled and answered.
"Queen."
---