“Madam, the master is asking for you.”
“Aizen? Why?”
“He said you should get ready to go out. He wants you to accompany him somewhere.”
“Huh, is it a date?!”
It was the first time Aizen had ever suggested going out first.
Overwhelmed with excitement, she threw down her pen and cupped her cheeks.
Greta didn’t deny it, which only made her hope grow even more.
She chose the brightest dress she owned, except for the one her mother-in-law had given her.
It was a purple dress with distinctive puffed sleeves.
She put on the ring Aizen had given her and went downstairs, where he was waiting.
Accepting his escort, she asked in a thrilled voice as she climbed into the carriage.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Aizen replied with a mysterious smile.
The carriage carrying them rolled toward what she assumed was the most luxurious district in the North…
‘Wait, we’re not going that way? Where are we going?’
The carriage sped toward the residential area where commoners lived.
No matter how she looked at it, this didn’t seem like a date.
“…Dear, this isn’t about going on a date, is it?”
“No, it isn’t.”
“…”
“…Did you misunderstand?”
She forced a smile and shook her head.
She couldn’t exactly complain about her own misunderstanding.
But she couldn’t hide her disappointment, and until they reached their destination, Aizen kept glancing at her sideways.
“We’re here, my wife.”
“…Okay.”
The place he brought her to was a red-brick house surrounded by a wooden fence.
She looked around weakly, feeling increasingly puzzled.
Why are we here?
When she looked at him as if asking for an explanation, Aizen gestured for her to follow him.
In the spacious backyard, several children were running and laughing.
Their bright laughter rang out as clear as birdsong.
They all looked cheerful and happy.
“Who are they?”
“They’re the children rescued from the orphanage that was dealing with the illegal slave trader you caught.”
Her eyes widened, and she stared at the children intently.
Among those playing, she spotted one she recognized — the child who had been trapped in that cabin.
“Duke Kalard’s household has completely reformed the orphanage. All the children live here now.”
“So that means… those children are no longer…”
“They’ll never be in danger again. The duke’s family will be their shelter.”
Relief washed over her so completely that she couldn’t speak.
Aizen stood beside her and continued calmly.
“The children who wanted independence were given jobs. For example, a girl named Anna has become an apprentice maid at the ducal residence. She can now live with her younger sibling.”
“Ah…”
“We’ve also set aside extra welfare funds so that children without guardians won’t be neglected or harmed. You don’t have to worry anymore, my lady.”
When Aizen finished speaking, their eyes met.
His violet eyes, usually cool and distant, now carried a quiet warmth.
“You brought me here to show me this? Because of what I said before?”
“Yes. Of course, Duke Kalard’s household handled everything, but I wanted you to know.”
She looked up at him, her heart fluttering.
How handsome can one man be?
Her heart raced every time she saw him, but this time, it wasn’t just because of his looks.
He really listened to what I said.
She couldn’t hold back the wave of emotion welling up inside her.
“Dear, I…”
***
Aizen considered such measures only natural.
As a lord, it was his duty to respond after executing the slavers who had harmed his people.
But there was another reason he’d decided to show the new orphanage to Jena.
‘I owe her, and debts should be repaid.’
Because of her, Matthias hadn’t been dragged into danger, and he himself had been able to reconcile with his family.
Renée had even gone so far as to gift Jena a dress in gratitude, so Aizen couldn’t remain idle either.
Seeing Jena’s eyes glisten as she watched the children filled him with satisfaction — and a certain thought.
‘She’s really changed. She’s no longer pretending, she truly cares for people now.’
He had once doubted her back when it involved Renée, but from what he’d seen since, Jena had genuinely changed.
From someone who hurt others to someone who helped them.
Even so, he couldn’t afford to lower his guard completely, though he saw no harm in rewarding her kindness.
Then Jena suddenly turned toward him.
“Dear, I…”
She lifted a finger, pointed at Aizen, then pressed it sharply against her own cheek.
“…?”
Aizen frowned slightly, trying to interpret the gesture, then asked hesitantly.
“…Are you saying you’ll split me in half?”
So I repay her kindness, and she turns on me? Didn’t she say she liked my face?
Startled, Jena waved her hands.
“No! I meant I’ve fallen for you all over again! Don’t misunderstand!”
“Ah.”
“Thank you, dear. I’m so happy to be married to you. Meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life.”
Jena smiled bashfully.
She could only say that because she didn’t know the truth about how they had truly met.
Feeling a strange emotion stir within him, Aizen turned his head away without answering.
Jena didn’t mind and simply smiled brighter.
On the way home, she suddenly declared with determination.
“You know, I’ve decided to work even harder. I need to cure your illness and support the family.”
He didn’t need her to support them, but curing his illness was indeed urgent, so Aizen simply nodded.
Her next words, however, left him speechless.
“I’m going to make a name for myself in Northern high society.”
“…What?”
“If I become a famous noble lady, our business will thrive, and it’ll benefit us in every way!”
“Wait, my lady…”
Jena clenched her fists with determination.
Countless words rose in Aizen’s throat but died there.
They’d already spent about a hundred days together, long enough for him to learn that trying to stop her was useless.
He knew from experience it would only hurt his throat, but still, with a faint, hopeless smile, he asked.
“…Even if I tell you not to, you won’t listen, right?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
She’s already not listening.
Aizen shut his eyes tightly.
So this is what it means to repay kindness with trouble.
He sighed deeply.
***
After deciding to enter high society, the first thing I did was study.
Know your enemy and know yourself — then you’ll win every battle.
To blend in, I needed to understand the social scene well, and to deal with anyone who looked down on me.
‘Greta didn’t know much about it, and among the people around me, there’s only one who does…’
Just one person.
When I went downstairs to see her, I unexpectedly ran into another familiar face.
“Mother! I’m here! Oh my, Father, you’re here too?”
“…!”
My father, who had been tenderly massaging Mother’s shoulders, shot up like a startled cat.
He hid his hands behind his back and cleared his throat with forced dignity.
“I’ll be going now, Renée.”
“Huh? You can stay! If you give Mother a nice massage, maybe she’ll even let you kiss her on the—”
“Ahem!”
My father’s face turned red as he stormed past me without meeting my eyes.
He must be embarrassed.
It’s sweet that they’re so close, but he doesn’t need to hide it from me.
I quickly stepped in front of him, stood on my toes, and smiled brightly.
“Hello, Father!”
“…Hello.”
At last, he looked at me and replied in a low voice.
“I haven’t seen you around much lately. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
“What… are you trying to make me spend more time with you?”
“Yes.”
“W-what…?”
“But I’m not forcing you, Father. I just wanted to tell you that I’d like to see you more often.”
“Ha… And what would you do, seeing me often?”
“Oh, Father, families don’t need a reason to see each other. We just do because we’re family.”
Something about my words made him flinch and frown.
“…Family, huh.”
Then he strode past me and left.
What’s wrong with him? Is he going through a late rebellion phase?
While I sat there confused, Mother called me over to sit across from her.
“So, what brings you here?”
She had been treating me much more warmly lately, and I felt our bond growing stronger.
“I wanted to ask you something. How is the Northern high society structured?”
“Why do you ask?”
“After attending the ducal banquet, I got curious. There were so many kinds of people there.”
“Hmm, I see. Curiosity is good…”
Even if she wasn’t from a particularly powerful family, she certainly knew more than I did.
And my guess was right.
“Among the younger crowd, two women hold the most influence in the Northern social scene.”
“Who are they?”
“Lady Hoffman, the daughter of Marquis Hoffman, and Lady Wagner, the Marchioness. The unmarried ladies tend to follow Lady Hoffman, while the younger wives gather around Lady Wagner.”
Ugh, Lady Hoffman again…
Still, it was a relief there was another name in the mix.
“Though Lady Wagner isn’t very old, she’s well respected even among older noblewomen. Many debutantes deliberately try to get close to her.”
Then I’ll need to befriend her too.
It might not be easy though.
Thinking back to the nobles who had ignored her at the banquet, the Marchioness was bound to be even more aloof.
I’ll just have to handle that myself.
“Thank you, Mother. That was really helpful.”
“…Helpful for what, exactly…?”
“I’ll get going! Let’s have tea together next time!”
I bowed politely and went back to my room.
Pulling out a sheet of stationery, I began to write, smiling to myself.
If the straight road is blocked, I’ll just take a detour.
