Heartless Escort

The former mistress of the North said nothing for a moment.

She simply nodded, as if she understood perfectly. Yet there was no way a seasoned knight who had once led an army through a raging blizzard for three days and three nights didn't know that overloading a single horse on treacherous mountain paths was far more dangerous than riding separately.

Her sharp gaze then shifted toward Count Vogard's daughter.

"This is Lady Roselyn, Sister-in-law. Please escort her inside."

"Of course, Grand Duke. Welcome, Lady." Vivianne studied Roselyn from head to toe with the quiet precision of someone taking inventory — sizing up the first guest these halls had seen in years.

The two women walked into the castle together.

"Lady Roselyn, the Grand Duke specifically requested that I play host to you. So, please tell me how long you intend to stay, so I may adjust the household schedule accordingly."

"It seems I will be here for quite a while, Lady Vivianne."

"Surely you have an estimate, don't you? Do not misunderstand, I only wish to ensure you lack for nothing during your temporary stay."

"I am going to live here forever."

Vivianne’s footsteps ground to a sudden halt. She turned back and flashed a smile at Roselyn, though her hand instinctively clenched into a tight fist. "That does not seem to align with what the Grand Duke stated in his letter. He mentioned you merely required a temporary place to stay."

"Ah, you mean the letter sent via hawk before we left the Capital? A few things have occurred since then, Lady Vivianne. In short, I am going to become a part of this family. So, I look forward to your guidance."

The former mistress of the North fell silent for a moment, letting the heavy quiet fill the corridor. Vivianne did not offer a reply. She resumed her stride with a rigid posture, the sharp clicking of her high heels echoing against the stone walls.

They stopped before a massive, intricately carved door in the right wing of the castle. It was the smallest guest room in the entire estate.

"It truly is remarkably easy for the Grand Duke to take in a stray cat from the streets and care for it," Vivianne remarked coldly.

A cynical smirk played on her lips as her eyes darted to Roselyn’s bare ring finger, completely devoid of any jewelry. "He is far too merciful, is he not?"

"Indeed, he is merciful—so much so that he tolerates you spouting utter nonsense to his guests."

"I am his sister-in-law, Lady Roselyn."

"But you are not the master of this castle, are you? It seems you want to make an enemy out of me quite openly."

Tension crept heavily along the corridor of the castle's right wing. The surrounding servants bowed their heads incredibly low.

They are holding their breath as if the cold stone floor beneath their feet were far more fascinating than witnessing the dangerous sparks fly between the former mistress of the North and the Grand Duke's esteemed guest.

"But you are not the master of this castle, are you? It seems you want to make an enemy out of me quite openly," Roselyn said, her voice remaining perfectly calm and composed despite the icy atmosphere.

Vivianne scoffed lightly, her blue eyes narrowing. "I only wish to ensure my brother-in-law is not taken advantage of. For though he seems like an unyielding stone on the outside, his heart is actually quite soft. And you should know, Lady Roselyn, before you arrived, countless women have been ruthlessly cast out for attempting to seduce him."

"I have absolutely no such intentions, Lady Vivianne."

"And how am I to blindly trust the Holy Rose, who hails directly from the treacherous imperial faction that is actively trying to destroy Valthorne?"

The daughter of Count Vogard stepped even closer, intentionally narrowing the distance between them until she was staring directly into the piercing blue eyes before her. 

"I understand that it is difficult for all of you to trust me right now. But please remember that I have completely left the Sirius family behind. And I have never been involved in their political schemes at all."

"Hmph! Let time be the ultimate judge of that, Lady. Get some rest."

Without waiting for a reply, Vivianne spun sharply on her heel and swept away. Her navy velvet cloak brushed against the stone floor with a sharp, heavy hiss, leaving behind a suffocating trail of tuberose perfume that lingered long after her silhouette disappeared into the dark, silent corridor.