When Leticia, Collen, and Zion arrived in the Southern Dukedom, the sky was unusually cloudy.
A black carriage with the crest of the Duke appeared to greet them. Everyone standing at the gate bowed their knees in respect.
“Congratulations on the Duke’s return.”
“Respects to the ruler of the South.”
Collen helped Leticia into the carriage as if it were a familiar routine.
‘The influence of the Duke’s family in the South is tremendous.’
Leticia exclaimed in pure admiration.
“Is the Duke’s estate far from here?”
“It’s nearby. It takes less than an hour by carriage.”
How long have they been riding? Soon, the carriage turned onto a forked road. One side was a lush forest path, while the other was a slightly rougher route around the woods.
The coachman halted the horses and tapped on the window. Collen opened it, and the coachman respectfully spoke, removing his hat.
“We’ll take a detour through a path next to the forest.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go through the forest.”
“Pardon?”
The coachman hesitated. Leticia asked him.
“Is the forest path dangerous?”
“No, the path is well-maintained. However…”
The coachman faltered. Collen smirked at his expression.
“You still believe in such superstitions?”
Leticia raised her head in puzzlement.
‘Superstitions? What kind of story is there about the forest?’
Soon, the carriage entered the forest path.
Leticia stared out the window.
Then, she noticed a peculiar sight.
A man outside the carriage was shouting and gesturing wildly. The carriage had veered off onto the forest path.
“You fool! Didn’t I tell you not to take this treacherous path?”
“I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry…!”
“Even if you’re in a hurry, why would you come down this treacherous road? Don’t you know it’s common sense for people to avoid this route?”
It was a loud voice that seemed to have been simmered in frustration. Due to the angle, she couldn’t see the face clearly, but she could tell it was a middle-aged man.
‘What a bad temper he has.’
No matter how much of a mistake it was, was there a need to curse at the subordinate like that?
Leticia naturally frowned.
Moreover, when a leaf fell and brushed against his hand, he reacted with disgust, shaking it off.
‘Does he think he’ll die if a leaf touches him? Such a strange person…’
Leticia thought.
‘But why do I feel so chilly?’
Leticia felt strangely off. Was there something in the forest after all?
‘It sounds like a voice I’ve heard before.’
Collen noticed Leticia’s expression and spoke.
“Sir, it’s not good to raise your voice in front of my daughter. Perhaps we are on our way to the Southern Gathering.”
“It doesn’t make sense for someone to arrive later than the Duke. Find out who it is and take appropriate measures. Make sure they don’t attend the Southern Gathering,” Zion quickly replied, catching on.
“Ah, uncultured fools. No wonder I dislike the South.”
Collen grumbled in a bored tone.
* * *
The black Duke’s carriage came to a stop.
The estate of the Duke’s family in the Southern region, known as Forest Fell, stood proudly in the midst of the fertile land of the South.
Though small, the old castle stood tall with a lush forest as its backdrop, and scattered outbuildings surrounding it, all presenting a consistent image.
The owner of the estate was none other than the Duke.
And today was the day the Duke returned to the South after several years. All the servants rushed out to greet him.
Except for Elena, the members of the Southern Gathering lined up, passing through the path created by the servants.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“Congratulations on your return, Duke.”
Soon, the carriage door opened, and Collen, dressed in a black suit, stepped out.
“I must have told you not to go through all this trouble whenever I come.”
“It is a matter of etiquette and tradition, Your Grace.”
The butler of Forest Fell replied, sweating.
“And the people of the South always respond. Well, fine. That’s what the South is like.”
Collen raised the corner of his mouth and the carriage door opened again.
“Leticia, this is your Southern home. Take a look.”
“We’ve arrived already?”
The Duke lowered his upper body inside the carriage and gently picked up Leticia and put her down.
‘So small.’
That was the first thing people noticed.
The child, with eyes still half-closed, nestled against the Duke’s chest, and her cheeks turned rosy.
At first, they thought she had common brown hair, but when the sunlight touched it, her strawberry-colored blonde hair gleamed.
Blinking large green eyes.
Delicate pink lips.
In simple terms…
‘She doesn’t resemble him at all! She’s incredibly cute.’
Everyone was silently astonished.
The Duke and his so-called tomboyish daughters looked like this!
“And Elena?”
“Yes, Madam Elena is staying in her room.”
“Her ass must be heavy.”
“Her knees haven’t been good lately.”
“Hmm. The child needs to rest for a bit, so please show us to the assigned room.”
“Yes.”
The butler nodded silently.
Leticia followed Collen with small steps.
‘This is the Duke’s ancestral home in the South…’
Today, for some reason, she felt a slight tension in her shoulders.
‘I hope my outfit looks alright today.’
Being hastily kidnapped (?) and brought here from the temple, Leticia had personally changed her clothes this time. It was a schedule where not even a maid accompanied her.
She felt proud of herself for being able to dress in complicated garments now. The ribbon might be slightly crooked, but still!
Her hair flowed gracefully, and both of her stockings were worn properly.
When Leticia, Collen, and Zion arrived in the Southern Dukedom, the sky was unusually cloudy.
A black carriage with the crest of the Duke appeared to greet them. Everyone standing at the gate bowed their knees in respect.
“Congratulations on the Duke’s return.”
“Respects to the ruler of the South.”
Collen helped Leticia into the carriage as if it were a familiar routine.
‘The influence of the Duke’s family in the South is tremendous.’
Leticia exclaimed in pure admiration.
“Is the Duke’s estate far from here?”
“It’s nearby. It takes less than an hour by carriage.”
How long have they been riding? Soon, the carriage turned onto a forked road. One side was a lush forest path, while the other was a slightly rougher route around the woods.
The coachman halted the horses and tapped on the window. Collen opened it, and the coachman respectfully spoke, removing his hat.
“We’ll take a detour through a path next to the forest.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go through the forest.”
“Pardon?”
The coachman hesitated. Leticia asked him.
“Is the forest path dangerous?”
“No, the path is well-maintained. However…”
The coachman faltered. Collen smirked at his expression.
“You still believe in such superstitions?”
Leticia raised her head in puzzlement.
‘Superstitions? What kind of story is there about the forest?’
Soon, the carriage entered the forest path.
Leticia stared out the window.
Then, she noticed a peculiar sight.
A man outside the carriage was shouting and gesturing wildly. The carriage had veered off onto the forest path.
“You fool! Didn’t I tell you not to take this treacherous path?”
“I’m sorry. I’m in a hurry…!”
“Even if you’re in a hurry, why would you come down this treacherous road? Don’t you know it’s common sense for people to avoid this route?”
It was a loud voice that seemed to have been simmered in frustration. Due to the angle, she couldn’t see the face clearly, but she could tell it was a middle-aged man.
‘What a bad temper he has.’
No matter how much of a mistake it was, was there a need to curse at the subordinate like that?
Leticia naturally frowned.
Moreover, when a leaf fell and brushed against his hand, he reacted with disgust, shaking it off.
‘Does he think he’ll die if a leaf touches him? Such a strange person…’
Leticia thought.
‘But why do I feel so chilly?’
Leticia felt strangely off. Was there something in the forest after all?
‘It sounds like a voice I’ve heard before.’
Collen noticed Leticia’s expression and spoke.
“Sir, it’s not good to raise your voice in front of my daughter. Perhaps we are on our way to the Southern Gathering.”
“It doesn’t make sense for someone to arrive later than the Duke. Find out who it is and take appropriate measures. Make sure they don’t attend the Southern Gathering,” Zion quickly replied, catching on.
“Ah, uncultured fools. No wonder I dislike the South.”
Collen grumbled in a bored tone.
* * *
The black Duke’s carriage came to a stop.
The estate of the Duke’s family in the Southern region, known as Forest Fell, stood proudly in the midst of the fertile land of the South.
Though small, the old castle stood tall with a lush forest as its backdrop, and scattered outbuildings surrounding it, all presenting a consistent image.
The owner of the estate was none other than the Duke.
And today was the day the Duke returned to the South after several years. All the servants rushed out to greet him.
Except for Elena, the members of the Southern Gathering lined up, passing through the path created by the servants.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“Congratulations on your return, Duke.”
Soon, the carriage door opened, and Collen, dressed in a black suit, stepped out.
“I must have told you not to go through all this trouble whenever I come.”
“It is a matter of etiquette and tradition, Your Grace.”
The butler of Forest Fell replied, sweating.
“And the people of the South always respond. Well, fine. That’s what the South is like.”
Collen raised the corner of his mouth and the carriage door opened again.
“Leticia, this is your Southern home. Take a look.”
“We’ve arrived already?”
The Duke lowered his upper body inside the carriage and gently picked up Leticia and put her down.
‘So small.’
That was the first thing people noticed.
The child, with eyes still half-closed, nestled against the Duke’s chest, and her cheeks turned rosy.
At first, they thought she had common brown hair, but when the sunlight touched it, her strawberry-colored blonde hair gleamed.
Blinking large green eyes.
Delicate pink lips.
In simple terms…
‘She doesn’t resemble him at all! She’s incredibly cute.’
Everyone was silently astonished.
The Duke and his so-called tomboyish daughters looked like this!
“And Elena?”
“Yes, Madam Elena is staying in her room.”
“Her ass must be heavy.”
“Her knees haven’t been good lately.”
“Hmm. The child needs to rest for a bit, so please show us to the assigned room.”
“Yes.”
The butler nodded silently.
Leticia followed Collen with small steps.
‘This is the Duke’s ancestral home in the South…’
Today, for some reason, she felt a slight tension in her shoulders.
‘I hope my outfit looks alright today.’
Being hastily kidnapped (?) and brought here from the temple, Leticia had personally changed her clothes this time. It was a schedule where not even a maid accompanied her.
She felt proud of herself for being able to dress in complicated garments now. The ribbon might be slightly crooked, but still!
Her hair flowed gracefully, and both of her stockings were worn properly.
