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Aubrey was the youngest daughter of Count and Countess Jordyn. She was a 15-year-old girl who was still a child when she last met Cedric.

And he had more vivid memories when she was 7 and 8 years old.

Aubrey? You?

Cedric was startled.

Youve grown a lot.

Yes, Your Grace. Im an adult now. Im 18 years old.

Aubrey looked up as she clung onto Cedric.

Cedric gently shook his arms and pushed Aubrey off. When he was young, he loved her like a younger sister and she was cute, but this was the age that he shouldnt indulge such behavior.

Aubrey was shocked. It was the first time he didnt hug her when she clung onto Cedric.

Margaret quickly grabbed Aubreys arm and dragged her to the side. And she lowered her head.

Im sorry. Your Grace. I didnt raise my daughter very well.

No. Its been a long time so she was excited to see me. Aubreys already grown like this, I cant believe how long Ive been away.

Your Grace has changed a lot.

Aaron stepped in and laughed to avoid making the mood awkward. Cedric laughed too.

Three years ago, I was a kid.

Your Grace, even when you were only twenty, you were not an ordinary child.

Does that mean I look older?

Cedric stroked his cheek. And he looked back at Artizea with a sneaky glance.

Artizea tilted her head.

Why?

Nothing.

Cedric scratched his slightly red cheeks with his index finger. Then he reached out his hand to her with a soft face.

First of all, go to the room. Ill give you a guide to the castle after warming up and resting. Ill think about it tomorrow whether to have a greeting or having a reception.

I heard Its still Autumn.

Artizea smiled.

Not me, but you. Youve been on the boat for over a month, that your lips have turned white.

Im not so tired.

As Artizea said so, she put her hand on Cedrics hand.

Then Cedric flipped his hand and grabbed Artizeas hand.

Artizea flinched. Her embarrassed fingers flinched and scratched Cedrics palm.

Cedric succeeded in maintaining his normal expression, but his earlobes reddened.

The people of the Grand Duchy who saw it silently glanced at each other. The words they wanted to say, but no one took it out of their mouth.

Alice, Sophie, and Rize smiled happily with satisfaction.

Artizea turned her gaze to the wrong place. Her hands were cold, and Cedrics hands were hot.

Strangely, however, she had the illusion that even her own hands were hot.

It was a lie that she got used to it. Rather, it was getting strange, so even touching his fingertips made her head white.

For no reason, she was breathless. She kept reliving the memory of his embrace that she felt through her thin pajamas.

It was not known when the memory would disappear from her skin.

Lets go in.

Cedric whispered into Artizeas ear with a lower voice than usual.

Artizea lowered her head. Cedric pulled her hand and she folded her arms.

However, he did not let go of her hand.

Aaron took the lead in a hurry.

Ive cleaned up the Grand Duchess room. I did it on my own, but there is a limit to what I can do here. I was worried about it being unsophisticated, so I did not decorate it. How about doing it yourself?

Okay.

Artizea pretended to be calm on the outside, trying to press down her clamoring heart.

She then suddenly felt a gaze and looked back.

Aubrey was staring at Artizea without even thinking of hiding her roaring expression of hatred.

This.

Artizea got embarrassed.

This is difficult to handle.

She couldnt pretend she didnt know, though. If Aubrey was trying to hide her emotions, then she would have never known. However, she carried an expression that blatantly exposed her hatred. Leaving such a defiant distracts the family.

Cedric shook her hand lightly to make her focus on him.

Cedric smiled as she looked back at his gaze.

***

Artizeas bedroom was next to Cedrics bedroom. It was said to be a space used as a bedroom for the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess from generation to generation.

There was a door between the two rooms, so it was possible to go back and forth without going through the corridor.

You can lock both sides. The keys on both sides are different, so if you lock on one side, you cannot open on the other side.

At Aarons explanation, Artizea laughed.

Is it for a couples fight? So, to spread the distance and arrange a room.. Oh, was the door for in case of an emergency.

The retreat is on the side of my room. Ill show you how to open it later.

Cedric said so.

Isnt it a secret passage?

Its no secret how to go from inside to outside. Its prepared for emergencies. Since theres no one to communicate with Karam, anyone knows the passages.

Ah, yes. If thats the case, Ill keep that in mind.

There was a Tuvalet room and a small bathroom opposite Cedrics bedroom. There was also a space that could be used as a study next to the reception room.

The bedroom wasnt big. Fur hung tightly on the walls everywhere. The floor was also covered with fluffy fur enough to cover the ankles.

Artizea reached out her hand and touched the wall.

All rooms are made small because if the space is large, it gets cold quickly. There are many vacant rooms, so please tell us if you need more space.

Is this a bearskin?

Oh, yes. This is better than a tapestry, it blocks drafts better. If you dont like it, Ill buy something else.

No, its not because I dont like it, but because its too extravagant

Artizea muttered.

Even the predecessors Grand Duchess wore fur in the living space. Its still okay, but when Winter comes, its difficult for people who are not from this place to bear.

Yes. I see.

Artizea answered and turned to Cedric. Cedric nodded his head.

The warmth seems to be enough. Im warming up without doing anything too much. The people below will do well, but.. The only thing you cant do is take care of yourself.

I feel like a very incompetent person if you say that.

Cedric laughed.

First of all, take a break. Ill pick you up when its time for dinner. Ill first take a look at the situation.

Yes.

Lets talk in the evening about what to do tomorrow. There are many things Id like to ask for your opinion about.

Yes.

Cedric reached out his hand.

Artizea was shocked and stiffened her body. Cedrics thumb gently swept through Artizeas eyes.

Rest.

He spoke kindly and went out.

Aaron and other vassals bowed their head to greet her and followed Cedric.

Madam, have a seat.

Sophie took Artizeas cloak off. Artizea sat in the armchair.

She wasnt aware of the cold, but she melted as she sat in front of the fireplace.

She was bothered by the brooch that Cedric gave her. Artizea, caught in a subtle mood, fiddled with it in her hand mindlessly.

The brooch was engraved with the crest of Evron Grand Duchy.

She was busy in the capital, so she couldnt afford to think carefully. However, when she came here, she realized that she got the name of Cedrics wife anyway, even if it was only a formality.

For the time being, the mistress of this stronghold is herself.

Looking back at it, why didnt she ever think about getting married in her previous life?

Artizea recalled the past.

She never really thought that she hated political marriage.

When she was young, her mother and her brother were everything in the world to her, but as she got older, she might have wanted to run away with marriage.

It wasnt that there were no men who approached her at all.

Even when she became Marchioness of Rosan, even after Lawrence stabilized his position as the Crown Prince, there were men approaching her for her position and her fortune.

Artizea never paid attention to them.

Is it because I can see right through them?

Even superficial tenderness must have shaken her heart. Like she did when Lawrence was good at times.

Or maybe she did it because she knew that she would eventually be purged.

Whew.

Artizea leaned her neck against the backrest, and she briefly closed her eyes and then opened it.

Rize, go and call Margaret. Now I have to greet her.

Yes.

Rize quickly went outside.

Margaret was waiting outside with a butler, the chief maid, and several senior employees. When she was told that she was called by Artizea, she hurried in.

After Artizea was greeted by the employees, she said:

Its not a small thing to live in the stronghold, and it would be more so to someone who had stayed for a few months a year at the most. I want you to take care of it like youve done so far. If you are a person Cedric trusts, I can trust you as well. .

Thank you.

Most of my servants are the maids I brought. But the number will be insufficient, so if there is someone who is a good maid, you can choose a few people and send them to me. I hope my maid never fails to say what they have to say or do what they have to do.

Yes.

That was the only thing she asked of the employees.

After dismissing the butler and the chief maid, Artizea looked at Margaret.

Margaret was very nervous.

Margaret had no intention of disregarding Artizea as she is the newly married young mistress.

She was the Grand Duchess that Cedric chose. That alone was enough reason to be loyal.

But apart from that, Artizea carried a dignity she could not dare to relax and deal with. She was like a completely different person than when she was holding Cedric with her hand and blushing shyly.

Margaret, as you know, I didnt bring any lady-in-waitings from my family. Its because I didnt have any relatives and no acquaintances.

Artizea said in a slow voice. Margaret responded politely.

Yes.

The lady-in-waiting Im going to choose will be from among the Evron Grand Duchy and its closely related family. I hope you will advise me on that.

Knowing what would come next, Margaret took a breath.

First, I wonder, how about Miss Aubrey? If it were the daughter of Count Jordyn, she would be fitting if I considered her status, her loyalty, and her age, which is similar to mine, so our conversation would be good. I believe she can help me adapt to life here.

Artizea said so.

She had to sort out the ranks in advance.