Chapter 68

The mansion where Noah and I would live after our marriage was originally owned by the Einhardt family. Although it is quite close to the palace grounds where we both work, it is far from the Bloom family’s residence.

It is a distance that can be walked if you take your time, but I felt the time would be wasted, so I had Mark bring me by carriage.

I got off near the mansion and walked the rest of the way.

Our hands naturally touched, and without a word, our fingers intertwined. It made me happy to think that this felt so natural, as if we had always done it.

"By the way, it seems things are about to wrap up."

"…You mean Princess Camilla?"

The sky was overcast, but there was no sign of rain.

As we walked down the quiet street with few people, Noah spoke as if he had just remembered.

"Yes. Prince Sieg apparently went to the king to talk about it directly, saying it had gone too far. The king, who had been troubled by the ongoing issues, went to the Dowager Queen to protest."

"But the Dowager Queen will stay until her party is over, right?"

"Actually, the date of that party hasn't been set yet."

"Is that so…"

To go to such lengths to keep the princess in this country.

Perhaps it was because… the princess asked her to, but that might be an overly cynical view.

"When did this happen?"

"Last night. Captain Radine was also there, and he told me about it. …He also mentioned that you had been harassed and that you were taking some time off."

"Could that be why you took the day off today?"

"I was also in need of a break. I thought it would be nice to take some time off together."

His tone was light, but I could tell he was concerned about me.

He must have thought I was feeling down and wanted to be there for me. His kindness made me happy.

With my right hand still holding Noah's, I linked my left hand with his arm and leaned in.

I clung tightly to Noah's left arm as we walked, but he didn't complain. I could see the corners of his mouth curving into a smile when I looked up.

"…Thank you."

"It's nothing to thank me for. We're both working hard, so it's nice to take it easy sometimes, right?"

"Hehe, that's true."

Noah laughed as if it were nothing, and I couldn't help but laugh along.

If we turned this corner, the mansion should be just a little further.

I remembered the streets around here because I had only been here a few times, but they were very beautiful.

The street trees rustled in the wind. On sunny days, they must create a nice shade.

A carriage passed by us, but the road was wide enough that it wasn't dangerous. Still, I knew Noah was subtly protecting me. If I mentioned it, he would probably pretend not to know.

"Hey… When you said things are about to wrap up, does that mean the princess is going back?"

"Yes. She's leaving in three days. The Dowager Queen was crying, saying it was a pity, but she stopped immediately when she heard complaints and protests about the princess's behavior from various quarters. She must have realized that the responsibility would fall on her if things continued as they were."

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

It was no small matter to have been played around like this.

"So, there were indeed complaints?"

"The noble families have also filed complaints. Many of the knights, the library, and those who work in the palace are also from noble families, so complaints have come from those quarters as well. The Radine family, the Krenbauer family, and your family, of course, the Bloom Trading Company, have all filed complaints."

"…I see."

I didn't know about any of this because no one told me, but they had been doing a lot for me. I felt happy and relieved, and I took a deep breath.

"Probably… my brother has been doing a lot today too. I saw him entering the palace with a smile when I stopped by the knights' barracks this morning."

"Considering how angry he was when he heard about what happened yesterday, that might be the case."

I hoped he wasn't doing anything too extreme.

I could easily imagine my brother's actions, and I couldn't help but smile wryly.

Before we knew it, we were in front of the gate.

The mansion was surrounded by a high iron fence, but the beautiful ivy decorations on the fence made it feel less oppressive.

Noah and I entered the grounds together after he unlocked the gate. The front lawn was beautifully maintained, even though we hadn't moved in yet. Noah must have arranged for it. There were also flower beds, though nothing had been planted yet.

Looking up at the mansion, I still thought it was huge, no matter how many times I saw it.

The three-story mansion had a reception room, dining room, salon, library, and guest rooms on the first floor. The second floor was for the family, and the third floor was for the servants.

The white walls and blue roof were beautiful. The stone path from the gate to the entrance porch was made of various colored stones, making it look cute.

"Still, it's a big mansion."

"Considering the possibility of the family growing, this size is necessary. Besides, it's not as if there are that many rooms. If you want a different house, we can still—"

"There's no need to build a new one. This house is very beautiful, and I'm looking forward to living here."

"Good to hear that…"

I had forgotten that Noah had been planning to build a house.

Whether we bought or built one, he said I could choose the one I liked.

This house is truly beautiful, and while it feels big for just the two of us, I'm sure we'll get used to it soon.

We walked down the path to the porch, and Noah unlocked the blue-painted door. The door had gold decorations, which were elegant without being too flashy.

"Here you go."

I placed my hand on top of Noah's as he offered it to me.

The entrance hall was beautifully tiled. The tiles, made by the Bloom Trading Company's craftsmen, complemented the navy carpet on the central staircase.

Noah and I had chosen the tiles and the carpet together, but seeing them actually laid out made me feel a bit restless and excited.

Noah, noticing my excitement, gently led me by the hand.

I wonder which room we'll see first.

I couldn't suppress my excitement, and a smile escaped me.