Chapter 6

"Explain why you kicked the young lady out. If it wasn't because she was trying to steal, you should be able to explain it!"

"T-that is... "

At her feet were scattered items and a bag that seemed to be her personal belongings.

It seemed that the jewels in her pocket had been discovered by the butler.

"The young lady... I was afraid she might be uncomfortable..."

"Speak sensibly! Get rid of her quickly!"

"S-save me! If not here, I... Ahh!"

Two burly male servants rushed over and dragged Amber away like a piece of luggage.

Despite her desperate struggle, she couldn't match the strength of the two men.

It didn't take long for her screams to fade into the distance.

Nadia approached the sighing butler and asked,

"What happened?"

"Oh, nothing much. A maid was caught stealing. It's not something the young lady should worry about."

"That's quite a thing. Managing the staff must be tough."

"Not at all. It's just my duty."

A faint smile appeared and then disappeared from the corner of Nadia's mouth.

Impressively, she was kicked out so early.

"From tomorrow, a different girl will be responsible for cleaning the room. I'll make sure this doesn't happen again by thoroughly educating her."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

On the first day of her return to the past, she not only avoided her engagement to Lee Jiho but also expelled Karain's lackey.

Moreover, she secured her own funds under the guise of a dowry.

To achieve such results on the first day. Her steps back to the annex were light.

* * *

The return ceremony for the Karai expedition was held by unanimous decision of the nobility council.

There was no valid reason to oppose it, and with the support of the head of the nobility council, Duke Balazit, no one was bold enough to cast a dissenting vote.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the ceremony. Nadia, like in her previous life, was sitting in the VIP seat on the dais, watching the procession of the army.

The only change from the past was that the owner of the laurel wreath she had made herself was different.

The dress she wore for the ceremony and the type of jewelry she wore were all the same.

However, it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous.

Nadia took a small sigh and stroked the gem on her necklace.

This necklace was one of the few mementos left by her mother, who said it was a gem given by the duke when she was pregnant with Nadia.

"Just try to scratch my gem. I'm only lending it to you because Father ordered it."

...Though it was a mystery why such an item was in Karain's jewelry box.

Nadia glanced to her right.

The seating arrangement was the same as in the past, so her half-sister was sitting next to her.

Karain openly scanned her up and down and muttered,

"I lent it to you out of pity. This is your first conversation with a man you'll have to beg to marry."

"..."

"Congratulations on your marriage, sister. I don't know if the family of the man you'll marry will welcome you, though."

Nadia didn't want to respond, so she kept her mouth shut.

Interpreting her silence as a loss in the battle of wills, Karain just smiled.

Nadia then turned her head with a snort.

At that moment, her father whispered in her ear,

"They're about to arrive. Get ready, Nadia."

It seemed he wasn't lying, as the cheers of the spectators were growing louder.

It meant the procession was getting closer.

Only a few soldiers could ascend to the dais where the king was seated.

Soon, the four recognized commanders began to ascend the dais one by one.

Nadia watched them with intense tension.

The first to catch her eye was the foreigner with black hair, Lee Jiho.

His slightly darker skin tone compared to the kingdom's people, his jet-black hair and eyes, made him impossible to miss.

His appearance seemed to declare he was a foreigner. He was more elaborately dressed than usual, perhaps due to the ceremony.

Nadia's eyes sank deeply as she looked at Lee Jiho.

'I didn't truly love that man.'

Their engagement was solely due to her father's order.

To her, Lee Jiho was just a good business partner.

Since their relationship was initially based on profit, it was only natural to abandon him for greater profit.

But even so, the betrayal still stung.

If she didn't have to deal with the consequences, she would have slapped him right then.

Her expression hardened as she tried to suppress her anger.

Her father spoke to her again, noticing her silent rage.

"You already know, but the silver-haired one is Duke Glen Winterfell. Make sure you don't make a mistake."

"...Yes."

Nadia tried to think rationally. The important thing now was to successfully carry out the planned performance.

Her eyes scanned the dais, searching for Duke Winterfell.

Although he was seated far from the stairs, recognizing him was not difficult.

His presence, much larger than an average person, was distinct even from a distance.

His short silver hair, thick eyebrows, and well-defined features were just as she faintly remembered.

He crossed the wide dais in large strides and stopped opposite the king.

"I dedicate the glory of victory to His Majesty the King."

In the past, she hadn't paid much attention to him, so this scene was blurry in her memory.

It was always surprising to see a vague memory come to life vividly before her eyes.

Duke Winterfell knelt on one knee before the king, showing the respect of a subject. The other commanders, including Lee Jiho, did the same.

The king, who was praising the expedition's success, singled out Glen.

"By the way, I heard that Duke Winterfell performed exceptionally well on this expedition."

Glen replied calmly,

"It's just an exaggerated rumor."

"There's no need to be modest. The previous Duke Winterfell was also an outstanding knight. Your father, who is bedridden, would be pleased to hear of your achievements."

"..."

"Such loyalty from generation to generation is truly commendable. I should bestow some reward on the family of a loyal subject..."

"Your Majesty's recognition of my loyalty is enough."

"Hehe, you are indeed a serious young man."

He then burst into hearty laughter and addressed the people on the dais.

"This is a celebration of the victory of the Karai expedition and the heroes who led it. I hope you will bless the heroes who have worked hard on the expedition."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The first to step forward was Duke Balazit.

The subtle tension between Duke Balazit and Duke Winterfell was well-known.

When the two rivals met, the temperature on the dais dropped sharply.

The king, oblivious to the tension, seemed to be in a good mood.

"Duke Winterfell... or rather, Duke Winterfell now."

The atmosphere was so tense that even seasoned politicians would be cautious.

Duke Balazit was the first to start the banter.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you."

"..."

It was a natural form of informal address. If he were still a young duke, it might have been acceptable, but to address the head of the family who had inherited the title and land in such a manner was unusual.

Glen's eyebrows slightly raised. But he was no pushover.

"I've only recently inherited the title. The expedition to Karai has kept me busy."

"..."

The attitude that ignored the age difference between them, which was that of a father, made Duke Balazit's expression subtly stiffen.

"Heh... Hehe, that's understandable. You're still young and inexperienced."

It meant, "Don't act so cocky, you young brat."

Duke Winterfell, who quickly grasped the hidden meaning, countered immediately.

"What could be difficult at the prime of life? If excess energy is a problem, then it's a problem."

It meant, "I'm young, but you're almost dead, you greedy old man."

"Y-you!"

The noble insult made Duke Balazit's face turn red.

But it was only for a moment. As a seasoned noble, he quickly hid his expression and burst into exaggerated laughter.

"Ha, hahaha!"

"What's so funny? Don't keep it to yourself. Share it with everyone here."

"Ah, it's nothing. Your spirited attitude reminds me of the previous duke. Indeed, a lion's son is born to a lion."

"..."

This time, Glen's expression twisted.

The sudden accident of the previous duke was widely believed to be the result of a conspiracy.

And the number of people who wanted the previous duke dead was limited.

It was not easy to maintain composure when the one who harmed his father was openly provoking him.

Just as Glen was about to lose his temper,

"Hey, stop it on such a good day!"

The king stepped between the two, waving his arms.

"On such a day, you should also show some restraint. Today is about honoring the brave warriors. Even your daughter has prepared a gift for the hero."

"I was too hasty. Your Majesty is right."

A gift for the hero? One of Glen's eyebrows raised at the king's words.

Looking back, a young woman was standing behind the duke, holding a laurel wreath.