Chapter 13

The Godmother was not from the north. She previously lived somewhere blessed by the

warm weather and sunshine. It was said she fell in love at first sight with the then Duke of

Demancier, about 25 years ago. Since half the year was war and the other half was harsh

winters her family, the Southern aristocracy, were hesitant to send her to the Duke. But the

marriage went through and she came to the North with love and expectation. People thought

that the young Southern aristocrat would soon be overcome by the severe cold in the North, but

she continued to reign as the Duchess in the North until her husband died.

The Duke and Duchess were very happy together. I didn't see it in person but I heard

that Duke fell in love with his wife at first sight and cared for her deeply. The couple had a happy

marriage, but it was a difficult time in the North with no foundation. The Duke spent half a year

on the battlefield and the Duchess was not particularly well-connected among the Northerners.

Despite this she established herself. Even after her husband's death, she took in a

daughter-in-law and taught her everything she had to do as the new Duchess. After that, she left

the North. The Duchess retired in other words.

The Godmother of the North brought a simple suitcase along with her. Even though she

came a long way to get here. When she left the Duchy, she had all her luggage disposed of, so

there were no items of hers here. The simple suitcase was a sign that she would stay for a few

days. That's true. In the letter, you said you'd visit at least. I approached her from the carriage,

hiding my disappointment with a friendly look. Carl waddled with me on short legs.

"Nice to meet you. Godmother. This is Amanda Edith von Demancier. Please call me

Amanda."

"Oh, Amanda. Of course. As the Godmother, even if we are not mother and daughter by

blood, you are the wife of my son, Gellerhard, you, Amanda, are like a daughter to me."

"Can I call her mother?"

"Of course."

The Godmother said with soft strict-looking blue eyes. Perhaps the Duke's purple eyes

were inherited from his father. The Godmother was a rather small lady with sparkling blond hair

and blue eyes. How she commanded the large Duke with her small body could be guessed by

the harsh wrinkles around her eyes. The Godmother's voice was very clear and strong. It was a

good voice.

"My mother speaks down to me, too. Treat me as comfortably as Gellerhard."

Godmother held my hand tightly and nodded. Looking at her, she was more cooperative

than I thought, I'm sure she had been able to read into the lines of my letter. Since there was no

birthday or any event, but the new daughter-in-law sending a letter to meet a cute grandson, I

would think there would be something else to the invitation.

"Mother, let me introduce your grandson, Carlos. Okay Carl this is Grandma. Can you

say hello to your grandmother?"

"Hi."

The pronunciation was odd, but his clear voice was cute. Carl bowed his head

awkwardly as he greeted her. Then he looked up and reached out to me. I put my hands under

his armpit and held the baby in my arms. Carl, in my arms, looked at his grandmother for the

first time.

"Oh, my God, how cute!"

Black hair inherited from his father, a high nose and sparkling green eyes inherited from

his mother, and pretty lips. The baby's chubby cheeks were tinted red, he was so cute that one

would exclaim when they saw him. The Godmother smiled brightly at her exceedingly cute

grandson.

"Right? And you don't know how nice and gentle he is. Don't stay out here, let's go

inside, mother."

"Okay, let's do that. Before that, let me introduce my companion."

The woman standing behind Godmother stepped forward slightly at her words. Modestly,

she bowed slightly to her knees.

"This is Charlotte, Young Lady of Count Emile. She's always with me watching for my

health."

"Charlotte Helen von Emile, Count Emile's Lady. I greet the Duchess of Demancier."

"Nice to meet you."

Her name was somewhat familiar. I looked at her face with dark brown hair, she looked

like someone I knew. But she gave no indication to know me. Godmother added praise for

Charlotte.

"Charlotte is good with herbs. The headache that always bothered me is also gone

thanks to Charlotte."

In Demancier many ladies with high status and wealth have young ladies as attendees,

but the higher their status the better their poison was. They were like a lady's secretary, friend,

sometimes an elderly caregiver. They entertained the ladies by reading poems or playing

musical instruments if they were talented.

I could see how much Godmother praised Charlotte, thinking of her merits. I said to

Charlotte with a friendly smile.

"I see. I have a headache sometimes, can you help me?"

"Anytime."

Charlotte replied, but her eyes and attention were focused on Carl, who held his head

up. Our Carl is cute, though.

"Now Carl. Shall we say hello to Earl Emile, too?"

"Hi~"

While fiddling with the necklace around my neck Carl reflectively replied. How smart you

are! Godmother and I made a fuss saying Carl was the best. Carl grinned and rubbed his head

on my shoulder again.

We went into the castle together. Charlotte unpacked her suitcase, arranged her

luggage, and headed to her room to relieve some travel sickness. The maid guided her out.

When Godmother and I finished climbing the stairs, she said in a low voice.

"Poor child. The Earl loves her, but she can't get married because she can't give birth.

He asked me to bring her into my care. She's been with me for quite a long time, so I hope

Amanda welcomes Charlotte."

Hearing this, she seemed worried that I might be reluctant to bring Charlotte, who is

single, into the castle. I remembered the Duke for a moment. He loves to roll around with me,

but he doesn't go after other girls. I didn't think he would cheat on me. Above all, it wasn't the

risk of an affair that I was worried about.

"I didn't have a sister, but I'll treat her like one. But..."

I blurted out my words and lowered my gaze. Poor-looking face, poor-looking face. I am

now unstable and poor without believing in the world! Carl was the first to respond with a sad

face to me hypnotizing myself.

"Mandy."

Carl began to cry calling my pet name. All right, this better look pitiful for both of them. I

didn't soothe Carl. My sad face made Carl's face sad too. Carl's big green eyes filled with tears.

"But?"

I walked to the Duchess's drawing-room without being guided, I knew better than

anyone. Godmother's steps toward it stopped and the maids following us stopped too.

"I'll ring the bell if I have to, so go, everyone."

At the words of Godmother, the maids looked at each other. Godmother's expression

changed at once to the maids who did not readily obey her words.

"Since when did I have to speak twice at the Duchy?"

The cold voice matches with the Duke's. He must have learned from his mother... I

silently thought to myself. The maids recoiled and stepped back. Carlos' escort also stepped

back because of the circumstances. So only Carlos in my arms and the two of us remained.

"Their discipline is very messed up."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not trying to scold you. Let's go to the drawing-room."

The loud voice of Godmother soon warmed up as I apologized in a low-spirited tone. In

the drawing-room, there was no maid. I exaggerated my story and pretended to be pitiful,

Godmother listened and became agitated.

It wasn't too early to talk about the secret clash with Count Betrica. I've only recently

been using the Duchess's room, that was only because Gellerhard got angry that I was in the

guest room. Not to mention that the maids were more aware of Mrs. Blone's words than mine.

Additionally, Mrs. Blone telling me that I wasn't able to change the escort knights just because

she picked my former fiancee as the escort for Carl.

Mrs. Blone was an acquaintance of Godmother. She also noticed the situation when I

said I had been recommended by Count Vietrika and had Mrs. Blone as my staff.

"Those servants of yours!"

Godmother said with the most intense calm voice, holding back most of her emotion.

"I'll have to stay here for a while."

Charlotte and the maid that guided her came up to the drawing-room at the behest of

Godmother. The maid, Mrs. May, looked a little frightened when Godmother said that she would

stay for a long time. Charlotte accepted the order with a gentle face and went back to unpack

her long-term things to stay. Then Mrs. Blone returned to her estate a week later, saying she

was concerned about how her son and daughter-in-law were doing.

Godmother was worried about her young grandson and powerless daughter-in-law. So

she decided to stay in the Duchy and teach me the work of the Duchess. Perhaps she

remembered her old days when she was rejected as a stranger married from the south.

With this, I added another ally to my side. Winter was coming in the midst of the uproar.

Maybe it was time for my husband to come home.