Chapter 12

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: No Mercy Chapter 12

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I stared fixedly at his broad shoulders as he personally led me to my room.

I was pleased that things had gone smoothly so far, but thinking about what lay ahead made the road feel endlessly long, like a journey of a thousand miles.

Engagements between noble families were often made and broken with ease.

That didn't mean they were trivial matters, though.

They concerned entire families, after all.

I recalled my parents' worried faces from back when it was announced that I would marry Reiton Bladia.

I wonder if things might have turned out differently if I'd listened more to their opinions and talked it over with them then.

I had a feeling they'd worry this time too.

Riplton, which I'd faced directly, was a more barren and lively city than I'd expected, but it carried a negative image for most people.

My parents probably wouldn't be any different.

What kind of faces would they make if they heard I'd become engaged to this man?

"Brilloxen Lady."

As I walked with my gaze fixed on Aden's back, his eyes and voice turned to me, and I tilted my head.

"Yes?"

"What are your plans for dinner? If you'd like, I can have something prepared separately."

"I'm not hungry, so I don't particularly want to eat a full meal. I was just going to have some fruit before bed."

His eyes fixed on me steadily.

Why was he looking at me like that? I tilted my head at an angle, and Aden slowly parted his lips.

"You don't seem like you need to lose any weight."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean you don't need to skip dinner. Is there any reason to fill your stomach with just fruit?"

"......"

So, he thought the only reason I wasn't eating was to lose weight?

His completely unexpected response drew a hollow laugh from me, half a beat late.

Aden's brows furrowed slightly at my laughter.

I stopped laughing and shook my head.

"That's not it. I'm really just not hungry, so you don't need to worry. I can't believe you thought I was skipping meals to lose weight......"

I approached his side with a soft laugh and flashed a bright smile.

"You're oddly thoughtful in the strangest ways."

I never imagined hearing from that man that I didn't need to worry about my figure.

It was embarrassing, but it wasn't a bad thing—in fact, wasn't it a compliment?

As if to let him see, I spread my arms and took a step back, and Aden hurriedly turned his head away.

"......Let's go."

With a smile tugging at my lips, I fell into step beside him.

Aden shortened his stride to match my pace.

As words faded and silence settled in, a quiet atmosphere descended.

Rubbing my arms in the unfamiliar mood, I glanced around.

This was the castle where an archduke resided—shouldn't it be brighter than this?

"Can I ask you something?"

Aden's head tilted slightly, his gaze turning to me.

His expression was light, as if inviting me to ask freely.

"The number of servants seems seriously low. Is there a reason for that? The castle is so vast, but there aren't enough people to manage it—even to place a single candle in these corridors. Don't you think you should hire more?"

At my question, Aden's eyes slowly scanned the interior of the castle.

He swept his gaze over every corner with deliberate slowness before clamping his mouth shut.

Was it a secret? Once his lips closed, they didn't seem like they'd open again.

They felt even more firmly sealed than before.

Had I been too rude with my question?

Just as I parted my lips to speak again, his voice dropped.

"There used to be more than this. Enough to maintain the entire castle. But now, that's not possible."

"Why not?"

Aden answered calmly.

"The budget is insufficient."

"......"

"Five years ago, we managed to catch our breath through a contract with the Bozbon family, but even that's become difficult lately. We've cut back where we can, but the budget just isn't there. So we reduced the staff. The current numbers are the maximum the budget allows."

His unexpected answer left me too stunned to reply.

Good heavens.

How strapped for cash did an archduke have to be to say there was no budget?

It was beyond absurd—it was ridiculous.

No matter how poor or small a territory was, the lord's residence was always bustling with people.

There might be extravagance, but that's how money circulated.

You hired locals to manage and clean the mansion and castle, paying them wages.

It was closely tied to the local job market.

That's why even the Brilloxen mansion employed over forty servants.

We'd hired a bit more than necessary to ease the workload and provide jobs to as many people as possible.

But they couldn't afford to hire because they lacked funds.

Should I pity them or be flustered?

"Still, you should hire more people. Without enough hands, the corridors are dark and eerie. It feels like no one lives here."

"It doesn't seem like an urgent need. Once summer passes and winter comes, the monsters will start thrashing against the walls in earnest. The path up here is cleared, but the rear defenses are still lacking. Supplying uniforms, equipment, and food for the soldiers stationed there is the priority."

I matched his steps as he started walking again.

Listening to him, I suddenly recalled that people had only begun living properly in Harmonia for about 150 years.

Before that, it had been called hell.

I could only imagine what it was like after the imperial family abandoned it.

The Riplton family had renovated and ruled it, creating a shelter for the people.

"Even so, leaving the archduke's residence like this isn't right......"

"Thanks to you, Brilloxen Lady, we can breathe a little easier now, so we might be able to hire more. However......"

Aden trailed off, looking down at me before smiling slowly.

Why was he smiling like that? I tilted my head, and he slowly spoke.

"Do you always fixate on something until you know every detail? Playing the lady of the house before we're even engaged."

His words made me realize I'd pried too much.

An outsider had no need to know internal affairs.

At least not before the engagement ceremony.

Aden had answered so straightforwardly that I'd even forgotten it was impolite.

"Sorry. It's a habit......"

When receiving reports, I always asked for every little detail from one to ten, and it had stuck with me.

Embarrassed and apologetic, I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

Worried I'd offended him, I glanced up, but Aden was quietly smiling.

"No need to apologize. I was just surprised that a lady is interested in this harsh Riplton fortress."

It was a smile so soft it was hard to believe it came from the Aden who'd treated me with cold, curt eyes and voice.

Though it lasted only a moment.

Stunned by the shift in his expression, he moved ahead and opened the door.

"This is a regularly maintained room, so it should have everything you need, but just in case, I can assign a maid."

"That's okay. I have my own attendant with me, so I'll call her. Your castle staff are all busy anyway."

I turned down the offer of a maid.

It felt uncomfortable to pull one of their limited people for myself.

Aden nodded briefly, looked at me, and bid farewell.

"Then, have a good night."

"Um, Aden."

As he turned to leave, I hesitated a moment before slowly calling his name.

His head turned back toward me.

With a calm face asking why I'd called, I smiled back and spoke casually.

"You permitted me to use your name. So you should call me by name instead of Brilloxen Lady too."

I forced a smile.

Aden stared at me wordlessly, as if pondering, then blinked slowly before parting his lips.

"May the lands of Harmonia slumber under the night's grace...... Sierra."

My name followed softly after his fading murmur.

Through the closing door, I could still see his eyes on me.

With a thud, the door shut, and the tension drained from my body.

I sank onto the bed and collapsed backward, closing my eyes.

"......Aden Riplton."

It was my first night in Harmonia.

About four days after signing the contract with Aden in Riplton.

Back in Brilloxen territory, I was finally shaking off the accumulated fatigue.

The maid kneaded my scalp to relieve the tension, and I soaked in the bathtub, eyes closed in languid comfort.

Next time, I should have Aden send word or stay a few days to rest there.

Marching through the rain had been utterly dreadful.

"Something good happen?"

"Why?"

"You've been smiling the whole time."

"I have?"

"Yes!"

The maid answered brightly.

I hadn't noticed smiling.

As I touched my face in confusion, someone knocked on the bathroom door.

The maid who'd been massaging my head went to the door, cracked it open, and greeted the visitor.

After exchanging a few words, she glanced at me cautiously, closed the door, and approached.

"Miss. The Bozbon Duke's Daughter is here."

"......"

Why had she come again? Did she think this was her house?

I sighed at the maid's anxious eyes watching my speechless reaction.

No helping it.

She wouldn't leave even if told to.

Besides, I wanted to see that face again.

Bellieta's oblivious imitation of me, unaware her fiancé might have been stolen.

"Prepare me."

I rose from the tub.

"Sierra."

The moment I stepped onto the wide terrace where Bellieta waited, her voice pierced my ears.

Bellieta rose from her seat and looked at me, speaking quickly.

"Did you deceive me?"

What nonsense was this, showing up out of nowhere?

Deceive you? About what?

I stared blankly, clueless.

Had news of Aden already leaked?

I hadn't planned to hide it, but I hadn't intended to announce it until it came from my mouth.