# 32
“This is the room that the dukes of the Belzeit family used to use. The princess’s room is set up across the hall.”
“Is it connected to my room?”
“Yes, there is a door connecting them.”
Garen explained with a friendly smile.
“It is extremely cold here in Belzeit, so we were keen to provide everything necessary.”
The fireplace was burning warmly, making the room cozy.
"It's warm."
Garen saw Helen's satisfaction, so he introduced her to the room next to the living room with a gentle expression.
“This is the master bedroom, Your Highness.”
As Helen looked into the master bedroom, Garen was filled with tears.
“This master bedroom has not been used since the previous generation...”
“Excuse me?”
“We are pleased to have had the opportunity to prepare this place for you, Your Highness.”
Helen listened to Garen, and was surprised.
‘Since the previous generation…does that mean the previous Duchess didn’t use the master bedroom as well?’
Despite the short duration of the marriage, it was strange that Aachen did not use the master bedroom with the former Duchess.
“Why? Didn’t he marry the former duchess, a commoner, despite the opposition of Emperor Caliosa?”
When Garen saw Helen raising her eyebrows slightly, he wiped away his tears.
“Why is this room empty?”
Garen hesitated at Helen's sharp question before answering.
“The former Duchess was ill... so the Duke personally took care of her in her room.”
“So the former Duchess never used this room?”
“…Yes. The master’s room has been vacant since the previous generation.”
What was even more puzzling was that the former Duchess only lived in the Duchess's room.
Even if she were a commoner, a decent wedding would have been given to her.
As the mother of the sole heir to the Duchy of Belzeit, no one could prevent her from using the master's room.
“Why didn't you use the master's room?”
More questions came.
“Forgive me for taking so long, Your Highness. I beg your pardon for my impertinence.”
Garen bowed deeply.
"decent."
Feeling that Garen was evading something, Helen did not press him.
“By the way, there is a tradition in Belzeit to hold a banquet for the followers on the day the new lady arrives.”
“Does that mean there's a banquet tonight?”
"Yes, this is correct."
“I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your kind guidance.”
“If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.”
Garen bowed and took a step back.
“...Mom, it's really warm in here. Cherry's heart is sweet as candy, and my hands are soft as pudding.”
With the door closed, Shevelin began to actively explore the room.
"It's so spacious! Mom, even Ruby likes it here."
The little girl warmed her hands by the fireplace, lay down on the living room rug, and played with her rabbit doll, spinning around.
Then she explored her room across the room, laughing happily.
“Here! Cherry room bed is so soft-”
"Yes. It's the same color as our daughter's pink bed, isn't it?"
"Right! It's the same color as Cherry's pink bed!"
Shivalin jumped on the bed in excitement.
While Helen was watching Shevelin, she walked around slowly, examining the place.
‘They must have deliberately dug a hole to create the corresponding Shivalin Room.’
It was clear that Aachen had thought carefully about the matter.
The soft silk blackout curtains caught her eye.
Nearby, an elegantly carved cabinet displayed fine tea sets and rare tea leaves from various countries, filling the place with a pleasant aroma.
“These…these are the teacups that an Indyk craftsman makes once every two years?”
The master bedroom furniture was also of the finest quality.
Shevelin, who had returned, was struggling to climb onto a chair much taller than her.
“I wish Cherry's legs grew like trees... It's too high for Cherry...”
Shivalin took a deep breath and sighed deeply. Seeing this, Helen picked up Shivalin and sat her on the chair.
“Now you can climb, right?”
“Mom, you know, with you here, Cherry doesn't need to grow like a tree. Cherry thinks it's okay.”
Shivalin tapped on the desk and smiled shyly.
“...Yes, right. You have your mother.”
“Mom, Cherry will work hard here, just like you! What do you think? Isn’t Cherry great?”
Helen knelt down to be at Shivalin's eye level, and couldn't hide her smile.
“Sheveline, it's warm now, so we don't need the cloak anymore.”
Just as she was about to untie Shevelin's cloak, someone knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, I am here.”
[It's Elisha!]
The child, who had been speaking normally moments before, suddenly fell silent when she sensed someone else's presence.
'How can this not be sad?'
“When will I wait until you can talk freely with others?”
Helen gently stroked Shevelin's hair, then got up and answered:
“…Come in, Elisha.”
“Your Highness, servants will transport the luggage. They have been very kind.”
“Is that true? Did you encounter any problems on the way?”
As Aachen said, all she had to do was wait patiently, keeping up with Schieffelin's speed.
“I must be careful with my words.”
“In front of Her Highness, the Grand Duchess...”
Garen used the other stairs, pausing for a moment, holding on to the railing.
Throughout his conversation with Helen, he felt as if he was facing Aachen.
Her ability to poke holes in passing comments was just like his.
In terms of qualifications, Helen seemed quite capable of becoming the true Lady of Hestor Castle. Each of her movements was graceful and calm.
Even when he ran over to greet her, she showed no sign of annoyance or displeasure.
“What are they doing in groups there? They are maids who are allowed to go up to the third floor, but why are they in groups?”
“His Highness went to his office, Her Highness’s lady-in-waiting, the Grand Duchess, really went up to the third floor, Daisy?”
"I'm sure of it. How many times are you going to ask, Lily?"
After going down to the first floor, he found the maids, who he thought had returned to their places, gathered.
"Isn't the Grand Duchess gorgeous? I know it's not nice to say this, but the princess's hair was like cotton candy."
Lily's face blushed as she remembered little Shivalin.
"Her Highness, the Grand Duchess, is also very beautiful. Her hair was silver, which matched Belzeit's hair perfectly."
Daisy, standing next to her, commented on Helen's first impression.
“Did you hear what she said to us? She was very nice.”
“What is most surprising is Your Highness’s kindness.”
“Isn't it because Her Highness, the Grand Duchess, is Princess of Bethstein?”
“Lily, have you ever seen His Highness act so nice just because of his high status? He didn’t even glance at Lady Rosanna, who was following him.”
Daisy imitated Aachen and imitated his expression.
“Now that I think about it, unlike usual, His Highness chose his accessories carefully several times this morning.”
Lucy remembered the morning's events, and after her silence, she spoke:
“Really, Lucy?”
"Yes."
“He must have wanted to make a good impression on Her Highness the Grand Duchess! Oh my God, will spring finally come to this barren Belzeit?”
As Lucy testified, Lily dramatically pretended to faint.
“I wish I could die happy now.”
“Lily. If you die now, you will not be able to serve Her Highness the Grand Duchess and the Little Princess.”
Upon hearing this, Lily quickly grabbed one of the bags in the hallway as if nothing had happened.
“This is unacceptable. Anyway, let’s do our best to serve them from now on. Let’s move these bags.”
At the conclusion of their conversation, Garen found himself nodding in agreement, almost unconsciously.
‘It has only been two months since His Highness ordered the master bedroom to be completely renovated.’
Aachen's behavior was unusual in many ways.
He visited the master bedroom several times, making sure everything was okay.
He even fired some servants who had a grudge against Beitstein.
“Is that all? Earlier, he kept smiling as he looked at Her Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
Aachen's view was far from ordinary, as it was far from a simple political marriage between two countries.
This was only the second time I'd seen him with that expression.
‘Was that eight years ago? Since his return from the Pauntawen Principality, a long time has passed.'
Since his childhood, Aachen had never opened up to anyone, always keeping his distance from others, as if he were surrounded by dense thorns.
When he accepted the marriage proposal from Amira Ghalazi, I couldn't believe it wasn't a dream.
It was clear that the cold and distant Aachen had Helen melting into his heart.
‘How long has it been since Hestor Castle was filled with this warmth?’
Overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude for the peace that had come to the once gloomy and dark castle,
Garen smiled broadly as he headed towards Aachen's office.