Chapter 6

The grand mansion near the palace, seemingly revealing its name as ‘Winter,’ was a lavish mansion. It may have been smaller in scale than the estate, but its exterior was even more splendid. Silverware, golden chandeliers, and elegant tapestries—none of them fell short in comparison to the nature of the territory.

It may have been an obvious story, given that the owner was the same, but I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the opulent appearance of the mansion.

“What’s that over there?”

“That is a tea set brought by the former Grand Duchess.”

“And what about that over there?”

“That is one of the heirloom swords passed down through the generations.”

“And what about that over there?”

“That was bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor,”

Thank you, working adult! Like a child in their developmental years, I kept asking about this and that, pestering the mansion’s staff with my never-ending questions.

Winter’s essence resembled its owner, thick and robust. The castle, optimized for defense and survival, gave off a sense of reliability rather than beauty.

The interior was also modestly and neatly decorated under Kalien’s influence.

In contrast to such a castle, the extravagant grand mansion was a delight to explore. It felt like going on a European trip without boarding an airplane. Although it seemed like I had paid with my soul instead of a ticket.

“Do you like such things?”

“Are there people who don’t like shiny things?”

“Well, ladies do like flowers and jewels.”

“If you have time to generalize, why don’t you come for a drink with me? My fondness for flowers isn’t because I’m a lady, it’s because they signal the changing seasons. As for jewelry—does anyone really dislike wealth?”

I picked up a rose from the vase, one that had caught my eye, and placed it behind Callian’s ear.

“There’s no one who dislikes beautiful things. You’re no different, right?”

“I have no interest in such superficial matters.”

“Funny, I suppose Callian doesn’t need to worry about such things. Besides, he can afford not to, given his appearance.”

Roses usually bloom in May, right? The empire has four seasons, but there seems to be a significant temperature difference between the north and the capital. If it’s already roses, I wonder how hot it gets in the summer?

If I were to walk around in those elegant dresses meant for appearances, I’d probably faint within ten minutes.

“What’s the meaning of that?”

“It means you have a high status and you’re handsome.”

The red rose against your jet-black hair suits you very well. The mansion staff who manage the estate tried to stifle their laughter and nodded knowingly, while the servants who came with us from the estate were diligently performing their duties.

“Don’t put on that expression. If you get wrinkles, you might really look like an old man.”

“Oh, really?”

“Why do you keep asking? I try not to think about it because Callian is handsome, but every time I see him, it feels like my age is floating above my head. Or perhaps, should I treat him as my elder?”

“What does my age have to do with anything?”

“Honestly, I’m not good at treating elders specially. Age is just a number, you know?”

Compared to the deputy manager from my previous job – and I apologize for making such a comparison – Callian was exceptionally handsome. But regardless, I had no intention of engaging in a romance with someone eleven years her senior.

I suddenly felt relieved that Adriana and Callian didn’t have children. Being someone’s spouse in another world was already dizzying enough; if they had children too, wow.

They might have thrown me out the window instead of a corset.

“I’ll be out for a moment. I know you won’t be coming with me because of the servants.”

Oh, yes, if they had children, there was a high chance that Adriana wouldn’t be here. In the world of romance novels, after all, the role of a mother was typically limited to giving birth and then dying.

“Going out?”

“Well, is there a reason why I shouldn’t? If there is, tell me. I’ll listen. No, I’ll ask first.”

Oh! Adriana’s mother died that way! Crazy, I almost said it without knowing, and I would have been in big trouble tomorrow.

“One thing, because the security in the capital isn’t good, are there still crimes targeting women?”

“No.”

“Two, is there something I should pray for, like having created a tremendous grudge while I’m in the capital, so that if I get caught, I’ll hope for my life to end smoothly, even as a corpse?”

“No.”

“Three, do I have any outstanding debts under my name that I haven’t settled?”

“None.”

“Then, there’s no problem!”

“Why is your imagination so grim? A corpse?”

The Grand Duke looked at me with a slightly disgusted expression. Thin wrinkles appeared around his slightly furrowed left eye. Well, what’s so special about events that happen in a Western-style romantic fantasy?

I just walked around the downtown area for a while, but I met the veiled Demon Lord, the heir of the dark forces who escaped from the slave market, and the Crown Prince who inspected it. And then I made a contract for my life – well, I’m not a heroine, so I don’t think so.

“I have no intention of going around spreading rumors that I’m a noble lady. If I just change my hair and eye color a bit, I could easily blend in, don’t you think?”

“What’s that supposed to-“

“Oh, of course, this deadly appearance won’t just be hidden like that. But that’s inevitable.”

I opened the brown suitcase to change into comfortable clothes. I left the cream-colored top and brown pants on top for easy access without digging through the bag.

It was a spacious and sturdy outfit that I wore most often when going outside, so the hem had frayed slightly over time.

“Are you really going out alone?”

“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”

“You’re the Grand Duchess. You should be aware of that.”

“Well, Grand Duke, why can’t I go out alone when Your Grace doesn’t mind? Do I need permission or something?”

“May I request permission for an outing? Please approve it. Wait, is this not an isekai but a job transfer? A thrilling new life with the highest approver?”

“What I told Callian was not a request for permission but an announcement. It was just a matter of courtesy to someone who shares my official schedule.”

“You-“

“Anyway, I’m going to change my clothes now and then head out. …Changing clothes? Well, do you like this dress? Should I lend it to you?”

After I had answered the Grand Duke’s questions and the servants, I finally felt somewhat alive. The dress I had chosen to make a grand impression on my first day at the Grand Duke’s residence was rather tight around the chest and waist.

I had to call for April because the ribbon at the back was too difficult for me to undo on my own. I should really tear up that dress when the time comes and change into a blouse with no embellishments and loose-fitting pants to feel more comfortable.

“You won’t get lost, will you?”

“If I get lost, well, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Huh?”

“How much can we walk anyway? And with this size, it’ll be visible from afar, right?”

“That’s true, but.”

“Even though I might be younger than Adriana, I’m an adult, you know? It’s fine.”

Originally, the owner of this mansion roamed here and there without a care, so why should Adriana be sitting quietly in this mansion?

I tied up my unruly hair and then took a potion that changed the color of my hair and eyes. It’s a tempting item, being able to change colors without causing permanent damage to the eyes and hair.

***

××.

Every great invention comes at a cost. For example, lenses that enhance vision make your corneas peel away layer by layer every time you put them on or take them off, and bleaching is a demon’s sorcery that sacrifices your hair and hairline.

This potion, which keeps both your hair and corneas in good condition, has a deadly flaw.

“Ugh….”

It’s horribly disgusting. Did I ever feel like this after running until the 4th round with my friends and eating Gorgonzola in the morning? Did I feel this way after casually mixing drinks at the company and taking love shots with the department head?

The effects appeared immediately, but the side effects emerged slowly. When I first took the medicine, the change in eye and hair color was astonishingly refreshing, but as I walked on, I felt like I had run on an empty stomach until dawn, and my mind became restless as if I had just woken up at the front gate of my house.

“Oh, slightly, it seems like that’s possible….”

“I should probably put a condom on my head, as soon as I arrive at the square, I lay down next to the fountain.”

“Fortunately, it was wide enough, carved like marble or something, for one person to lie down.”

“The sun was warm, and the flowers were in full bloom.”

“The sounds of people walking and talking echoed busily.”

“Lying there peacefully amid various intonations of conversation, it felt like I was on a journey or something.”

“My hair, left untamed, felt like it had been dipped in water, or maybe not….”

“Um, are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

Oh, the weather is nice….”

“Lady?”

“Ah, e-excuse me!”

Startled by the approaching voice, I tried to sit up, but my body tilted towards the fountain.

I almost got soaked all over. Phew, if this man hadn’t caught me.

“I must have startled you. I apologize.”

“Yes, well….”

“I thought there might be some discomfort, so you were lying down. Please forgive my rudeness.”

It’s the chest.

When I raised my head, there was a large chest there.

“Um, lady?”

“Oh, um, yes! I-It’s okay! Well, it could happen.”

“Are you not uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No, no. It’s okay. I was just lying down for a moment because of the effects of the medicine. There’s no problem.”

When I finally regained consciousness and opened my eyes from my chest, I saw straight eyes and a full chin.

From his short-cropped hair, scarred hands, and confident demeanor, I could deduce his profession.

“Um, the hair…”

“Why is your hair— Mom, it’s all wet?”

No wonder my head felt heavy. I must have absentmindedly dipped my hair into the fountain. If it’s soaked to this extent, I might as well wash it with soap. I gathered my hair forward and squeezed it tightly like a mop. The water streamed down.

A man who looked like a knight—probably a knight—approached and spoke.

“Aren’t you from here?”

“Yes, yes? ‘Here’? Maybe I’m not from here, but…”

“No, I meant, aren’t you from the capital? Your accent is a bit different.”

Oh, here we go again. I almost got caught up in the protagonist’s significant character introduction for no reason. After taking a few deep breaths, I managed to act nonchalant.

After taking a few deep breaths, I managed to act nonchalant.

“Oh, no? I’m from the capital. Well, I did live in the northern region for a few years.”

“Ah, the northern region.”

The man nodded as if he understood, and he raised his head on his own.

What’s this ‘northern region’? It’s a mix of dialects from South Korea’s new cities, but he’s using it well.

It seems that the only things that have increased since coming to another world are audacity and adaptability.

Oh, and a desire for makgeolli as well.

“Um, are you a knight from the capital?”

If he had a shabby appearance, I might have said, “Oh, thank you, fine,” and parted ways, but his strong chest captivated me.

I didn’t have any impure intentions of devouring this man immediately, but his short gray hair and a silhouette that couldn’t be hidden by thin cloth excited me.

“How did you know I’m a knight?”

“Well, it’s the atmosphere you exude when you speak. Your actions too. And seeing a lady lying beside the fountain, one would normally think she’s had a good drinking session during the day, wouldn’t they? Oh, maybe not. Anyway, it’s the way you look, too. Plus, big guys with a ‘gray’ vibe are usually knights.”

From novels.

“Yes?”

“Furthermore, the impression of someone with this level of beauty and, um, trustworthiness, who seems like they could scratch those hard-to-reach places! It’s like the feeling of the youngest imperial knight commander. A noble, devoted gaze focused on one person—”

The babbling that had been pulled along by my heart stopped.

The stern man widened his eyes and stared at me, making me want to cry. No, that’s not it.

I felt a strange déjà vu in this conversation.

I’m sure I’ve had something like this happen before.

I rolled my eyes and scanned the person from top to bottom who hadn’t even introduced themselves.

The visual of a sturdy build, neat lines, eyes the same color as gray hair, naturally made me think of a wolf—

“…Are you by any chance the youngest Imperial Knight Commander?”