Chapter 9
A noble under the age of twenty-one requires a guardian. The guardian can manage the guardian’s assets on their behalf. Not only that, but he can also handle their marriage.
A woman automatically renounces her title if she marries a man of a higher rank before she turns twenty-one, the age at which she can inherit.
Gail embraced Sereina and said,
“Poor thing.”
He had to find a way to marry her off to a marquis or duke before she turned twenty-one.
“You’re here.”
Sereina offered a faint smile as she slipped out of her uncle’s arms.
She had once thought his embrace was as warm and comforting as her father’s, but now it repulsed her so much she could hardly bear it.
“You came too, Adriana.”
From behind Gail, the lavishly dressed Adriana poked her head out. Exhausted from the week-long journey, she was pouting her lips sharply.
It was because her father had rushed the trip for some urgent reason. Remembering how she’d felt delighted at that expression before, Sereina let out a soft chuckle.
She had thought of them as family. She had believed that just as she loved them, they loved her in return.
“Are you all right?”
Gail asked tenderly.
At the very least, if he hadn’t stabbed her in the back before returning, Sereina might have softened her heart.
No, that was a lie. She reminded herself once more that it wasn’t possible.
“Yes. You must be tired from the long journey.”
“Tired? Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything now. Just trust me.”
Yes. Those words.
Sereina struggled not to show a contemptuous expression. She had been fooled by those words. He had said he’d take care of all the difficult and hard things. That she just needed to trust him.
But it wasn’t true. The difficulties, the hardships—they were all things Sereina had to endure herself.
Because she hadn’t known that, she had failed once.
A tremendous failure.
“I’m fine, Uncle. The funeral preparations are done, and we only have the memorial service ahead. I hope Adriana brought a black dress.”
Huh? Me? At Sereina’s words, Adriana blinked her eyes.
Sereina remembered how, at the last memorial, Adriana hadn’t brought a black dress, forcing them to have one made anew. As a result, the funeral had been delayed by several days.
Gail cleared his throat and said,
“She must have brought one. Right, Adriana?”
At Gail’s question, Adriana wore a blank expression. A black dress? She hadn’t even thought about it. She had been too excited about the capital’s fashions and seeing performances.
The funeral was secondary. How envious she’d been every time Sereina sent letters detailing the capital’s trends.
“Now that Uncle and Adriana have arrived, I’ll need to call the priest so we can hold the funeral tomorrow morning.”
At Sereina’s words, Gail’s eyes widened.
Tomorrow morning? He stammered,
“T-tomorrow morning? Isn’t that too soon?”
“Too soon? We’ve been waiting a whole week just for you to arrive, Uncle.”
“Yes, Sereina. Now that I’m here, I’ll…”
“Uncle.”
Sereina quickly cut off Gail’s words. When she hadn’t known what he wanted, she’d been deceived. She’d truly believed he was looking out for her.
But now she knew.
She forced a smile and said,
“I want to bury my parents while their bodies are still somewhat intact.”
That left him with nothing to say.
Gail cleared his throat and turned to Adriana. She was twisting her body in boredom, but upon catching her father’s gaze, she asked Sereina,
“Can I pick my room?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
Sereina smiled warmly and said. Before her return, Adriana hadn’t even asked. By the time Sereina saw after the shabby funeral ended without a memorial, Adriana was already using the best room.
Gail relaxed at Sereina’s expression. His naive niece was different from what he’d imagined. It had been summer this year when they last met, so not even half a year had passed, yet in that short time, his niece had become somehow more mature.
Could it be that her parent’s death had suddenly made her grow up? While thinking it unlikely, Gail had unconsciously tensed at Sereina’s demeanor.
But when she smiled at Adriana just like before, his tension eased.
“Pick any you like. Goodwin.”
Continuing her words, Sereina called the butler. The butler, who had been waiting, approached and extended his arm toward the entrance.
“This way, please. Sir Hunter. And Miss Hunter.”
“This way? Where?”
At Sereina’s response, Adriana, who was already ascending the stairs, turned her head. Servants were already carrying the two’s luggage toward the entrance the butler pointed to.
“My bag! Where are you taking it?”
Adriana shouted, chasing after the servant.
The butler said,
“To Hunter House.”
“Hunter House? On whose authority!”
As Gail shouted, the butler’s gaze turned to Sereina. Following that gaze, Gail also looked at Sereina. Adriana alternated between the butler and Gail, looking confused about the situation.
“Sereina, did you order this? To Kicked me and Adriana out to Hunter House?”
“Kicked you out?”
Sereina widened her eyes in feigned surprise. Seeing her face, Gail thought it wasn’t her doing but the butler’s independent action and felt relieved.
Sereina continued, pretending not to know.
“This house is in mourning. How could we receive guests?”
“Guests? Why are we guests?”
At Gail’s words, Sereina wore an even more puzzled expression and said,
“But Uncle and Adriana don’t live here. Besides, when Father was alive, you always stayed there.”
“But Dad said from now on we’ll stay here…”
“Adriana!”
Gail quickly shouted at Adriana’s slip-up.
So that’s how it is.
Sereina looked at Adriana, who clamped her mouth shut with a displeased expression.
Until the very end, she had tried to think that Gail and Adriana hadn’t come with intentions from the start.
That their hearts had changed after staying in this house.
That they were originally good people, but her own foolishness had made them harbor bad intentions. She had tried to think that way.
“You’re right, Sereina.”
Gail said, managing his expression. He’d thought his naive niece would be easy to sway, but apparently not. He placed a hand on Adriana’s shoulder and continued,
“See you tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Uncle. And Adriana.”
Unlike Gail, Adriana couldn’t manage her expression. She glared at Sereina with displeasure before turning away.
“It’s cold there!”
Hearing Adriana’s grumbling voice, Sereina let out a sigh.
If she just stepped back and looked, it was so obvious, yet she hadn’t seen it. She was angry at her own stupidity to the point of rage.
After having the servants load Gail and Adriana back into the carriage and send them off, the butler approached Sereina.
“Shall I bring you some tea?”
“Yes. And bathwater too.”
She needed a warm bath.
Sereina climbed the stairs with weary steps, frowning. She’d forced herself to act as if nothing was wrong in front of her uncle, but her whole body was screaming.
The muscle pain was so bad her limbs wouldn’t move properly.
“Shall I call a healer?”
At Anna’s question, Sereina, soaking in the tub, smiled bitterly.
“For muscle pain?”
“But you can barely lift your arms.”
This morning, she’d dropped her fork. The household staff knew that every morning she gritted her teeth to get up.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m worried you’ll get hurt.”
“Better than dying.”
Pardon? Sereina saw Anna’s startled reaction at her words, but she closed her eyes.
Better than dying. Better than Ezra dying, losing her friends, being framed for all the crimes, and dying in disgrace.
This kind of pain was far better than the bloody tears she’d shed as she died.
* * *
“Must have spent a fortune.”
The next day, arriving at Hunter Manor for the memorial of the Earl and Countess Hunter, Dennis said to Ash.
Eyes poured toward the two in knight order uniforms, but neither batted an eyelash.
“Indeed.”
Ash replied with an indifferent expression, surveying the surroundings. The manor was brightly lit with candles and lamps. People were gathered in small groups around the refreshments set up on one side.
Sereina was nowhere in sight. As Ash searched for her with his eyes, a man approached.
“I’m Gail Hunter. Brother of Earl Hunter. Are you from the Ragomal Knight Order?”
Average height, average build. He didn’t resemble Sereina.
Ash nodded and said,
“Ash Graywind.”
“Dennis Balzac.”
The commander and vice-commander. Gail’s gaze turned to Ash. Knight commander and a duke. Nephew of the king too. If Adriana were here, he could have introduced her.
Gail’s mouth tasted bitter. The fool had completely forgotten a black dress.
If Sereina had been as naive as before, he could have delayed the funeral appropriately and had one made, but that wasn’t possible. Borrowing Sereina’s clothes was out too. She was smaller and slimmer than Adriana.
After shaking hands with the two, Gail said,
“Thank you for coming.”
“Sir Hunter, where is the chief mourner?”
Dennis had meant to ask where Sereina was but realized the Hunter before him was also Sir Hunter and rephrased.
Gail turned inward and said,
“My niece is inside.”
The two nodded immediately and headed in.
Damn. Gail watched their backs and clicked his tongue inwardly. If Sereina weren’t here, he could have taken the role of chief mourner.
But since she was the chief mourner, once guests knew, they all headed to her.
“Lady Hunter.”
Ash spotted Sereina first, ahead of Dennis, and approached. Seeing him, Sereina hesitated before greeting,
“Thank you for coming.”
“My condolences.”
Then Dennis said. Surprisingly, Sereina’s expression, which had stiffened rigidly upon seeing Ash, softened when she saw Dennis.
“Thank you for coming, Vice-Commander.”
At that expression, Ash’s gaze turned to Dennis. Unaware of his thoughts, Dennis grinned broadly and said to Sereina,
“What a wonderful memorial service..”
Sereina paused. When she was queen, praise had never truly been praise. If someone complimented her dress as antique, it meant outdated. If they called her hair ornate, it meant extravagant.
Sereina hesitated before saying,
“It’s the only thing I can do for my parents.”
“They would be proud of you.”
Ash said. Sereina’s gaze turned to him, then subtly avoided.
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