Hoffman had gathered information about Cecilia through the Ewen Guild.

Based on that, he had predicted that Cecilia would depart from the grand duchy’s villa after the winter and would take a route that would take over a month to arrive.

Hoffman liked to move with meticulous planning.

Now that everything was going awry, he felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

He had many tasks he had postponed, assuming he’d have at least six months to deal with them.

He would now have to reorganize everything from scratch.

‘I need to check when the furniture will arrive again, adjust the budget since we now have dozens of extra mouths to feed… Do we even have enough food?’

Several tasks came to mind immediately.

“The knights are leaving soon, which is a relief. I’ll confirm the exact schedule.”

At the aide’s report, Hoffman nodded.

Had the knights from the grand duchy stayed, especially with the lord absent, he would’ve lost sleep over the issue.

“Some of them are staying behind, so make sure to find out who they are and what they’re like.”

“Yes. And… the Madam seems a bit different from what we expected.”

When Hoffman looked at him, the aide continued.

“I don’t mean to judge the Madam, but…”

“Good, don’t judge.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t judge. Just think it to yourself. Keep your mouth shut. Do you think the number of outsiders in Lagos Castle is small? Don’t cause trouble with your mouth.”

“What did I even say? I just think the Madam seems like a good person—”

Hoffman cut him off right there, hissing and glaring at the aide. He fell silent with a sullen expression.

‘If only the world were as simple as you think.’

Hoffman clicked his tongue inwardly.

The aide spoke such carefree words because he wasn’t aware of the complicated circumstances behind this marriage.

‘…But it is surprising.’

Cecilia, the niece of Grand Duke Jericho, one of the seven grand dukes who ruled the continent.

There were probably very few people on the continent who didn’t know of her.

The rumors had spread even to the isolated Lagos.

It was said that Grand Duke Jericho cherished his niece like a delicate glass cup.

And why wouldn’t he?

Grand Duke Jericho’s growing influence over the past few years was thanks to Cecilia.

As her guardian, he managed all her vast wealth.

Cecilia had been pampered all her life, enjoying the best of everything.

The rumors described her as stubborn, spoiled, and constantly attended by her nanny, the ‘elder missus’, who took care of everything for her.

When Hoffman heard this, he wasn’t surprised.

Given her environment, such behavior was expected.

What surprised him was what he saw today.

She didn’t seem as dependent on her nanny as the rumors claimed, and she appeared more mature than her age suggested.

‘This is going to be troublesome.’

Hoffman wasn’t pleased.

It would have been easier if she had come as a spoiled child.

Now, he would have to be wary of not only Grand Duke Jericho but also of her.

It’s always the small thieves in one’s own house that cause more trouble than distant monsters.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

Cecilia woke up at dawn.

She tossed and turned for a while before sitting up.

When she looked out the window, it was still early morning.

She let out a weary sigh.

She had slept well on the first night after arriving, thanks to the exhaustion from the journey.

But once the carriage travel ended, so did her peaceful sleep.

Every time she fell asleep, she had nightmares.

In her dreams, she was constantly running in fear from an unknown entity.

‘How many days has it been, I wonder.’

Since arriving, she hadn’t left the bedroom.

This cozy room was the safest and warmest place in her life.

But outside this bedroom, Lagos was an unknown world.

She was afraid to go outside.

She wanted to hide in this room just like she had in her past life.

‘…I should get up.’

In her past life, this room had been a place of happiness, but now it wasn’t safe or warm anymore.

The nightmares created by her anxiety would continue to haunt her.