Chapter 15
Reina made a dazed expression at the tremendous hospitality.
At that moment, someone who appeared to be the butler approached and greeted her.
“Nice to meet you, madam. I am Dive, the chief butler of Crensia Castle.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“We prepared a room in a hurry after hearing the news of your arrival, but I’m not sure if it will be to your liking.”
“I’m fine as long as I have a place to lay my head.”
Dive blinked at Reina’s nonchalant words. Then, Ben, who was nearby, whispered in her ear.
“It must be a royal-style joke.”
Of course, Reina was serious, but no one here took it as truth.
Dive nodded skillfully.
Originally, royals hated enduring even small inconveniences, so he judged it to be a joke.
Following Dive’s guidance, Reina arrived at the bedroom and immediately let out a shallow cheer.
“Goodness……!”
Unlike the austere exterior, the interior was very cozy and lovely.
For something prepared in a hurry, there was almost nothing missing.
Starting from the ornate vanity made of gold decorations, all the furniture was luxurious.
The plush-looking bed seemed like sleep would come just by lying down.
Reina headed straight to the curtained window.
Outside the window, a majestic snow mountain unfolded before her eyes.
The white mountain contrasting with the clear blue sky captured her gaze.
Reina felt regret foremost at the wondrously beautiful scenery.
It was because after her birthday, she wouldn’t be able to see this wonderful view anymore.
“It’s so pretty.”
Seeing at a glance that she liked the bedroom, Dive felt relieved.
It was a room prepared after suddenly receiving the marriage notice.
He thought a royal might find it inadequate, but fortunately not.
In fact, Reina was just overly admiring it; compared to an ordinary lady’s room, it showed signs of hasty preparation.
He had been wary that she might nitpick, but the reaction was unexpected.
‘Is she more frugal than I thought? Or is this some kind of act.’
Dive observed Reina closely without showing it on the outside.
The north had many who disliked royals.
The duke also detested the emperor, and suddenly the duchess who appeared was a royal.
Already, some northerners were viewing Reina, who suddenly appeared as the mistress, with unfavorable eyes.
Especially since the marriage was hasty and informal, most assumed it was an unwanted marriage by imperial command.
But Dive thought differently.
The Crensia Duke he knew was not one to decide marriage by imperial command.
There must be another reason.
Thus, trusting his master’s judgment, he held his tongue, but he couldn’t manage all the subordinates.
Dive stood silently behind Reina,
who was completely entranced by the scenery outside the window.
It was then that Kaiden arrived in the room just in time.
He approached Reina, who was glued to the window, and asked.
“Do you like the room?”
“Kaiden!”
Reina turned around with a spin and met his eyes.
Her eyes, sparkling more than usual, clearly revealed her excited emotions.
Seeing this, Kaiden’s eyes softened.
He leaned his arm on the windowsill and tilted closer toward Reina.
“From your expression, it seems you like it.”
“Thank you, Kaiden. I really like it.”
At that moment, Dive’s eyes widened as he listened to their conversation.
He had already lost his composure when Reina called Kaiden casually, and he couldn’t hide his surprise even more at Kaiden’s behavior.
It was because his master, who was usually far from gentleness, was showing a fairly kind response.
Moreover, he was smiling.
He, who rarely smiled, was smiling comfortably.
Inwardly, he had thought there must be some transaction between the duke and the princess.
Perhaps, as the rumors said, there really was a secret connection between the two? The thought occurred.
At that time, Reina pointed to the door that Kaiden had opened and said.
“Did you come in from there?”
“I did?”
“I thought the entrance was over there.”
Reina tilted her head while pointing to the door she had entered through.
Then, Dive added an explanation.
“The door madam entered through is the entrance connected to the hallway. The door over there has a living room connected to the bedroom where the duke stays.”
“Ah, so the bedrooms are connected to each other.”
“Yes. Since His Grace tends to sleep late, we separated the bedrooms for madam’s consideration. As you can see, you can freely move between bedrooms whenever you wish.”
“I see.”
Reina nodded quietly to Dive’s words, finding all of this novel.
Following that, as Dive was about to explain the castle’s structure, Kaiden interrupted him.
“Explain only up to there for today. Reina must be tired from using the portal for the first time.”
“Yes, then I’ll come with the head maid tomorrow to guide you on the rest.”
“Ah, I’m fine though…….”
Reina, who wanted to grasp the castle’s structure as soon as possible before going blind, showed reluctance. But Kaiden was firm.
“What do you mean fine. Do you even know what your complexion looks like right now?”
Reina made a startled expression at Kaiden’s nagging.
In fact, as he said, she had motion sickness from the portal she used for the first time, and her whole body ached from the long carriage ride.
She thought she hadn’t shown it, but she was flustered that he noticed right away.
Dive asked with a polite gentle smile.
“Then, shall I prepare the meal inside?”
“First, the bathwater. We’ll have the meal afterward in the bedroom.”
At Kaiden’s order, Dive left the room, and shortly after, two maids entered to attend.
“The bathwater is ready. Please come to the bathroom, madam.”
“I’ll be back.”
As Reina waved her hand, Kaiden also headed to the bathroom attached to his room.
* * *
The bathtub smelled faintly fragrant, as if essential oil had been added.
Reina lay in the bathtub and closed her eyes.
As she relaxed her body in the warm water, it felt like her fatigue was melting away.
Naturally becoming drowsy, as her vision started to blur, the maids changed her into pajamas.
The chemise nightgown made of silk was a material that showed the underwear clearly.
After putting on a robe over it, as she headed to the living room, Kaiden was sitting on the sofa.
As she tried to sit opposite, Kaiden tapped the seat next to him and said.
“Sit here.”
“Not over there?”
“You never listen the first time.”
Kaiden pulled the arm of Reina, who was questioning, and sat her next to him.
Then, placing Reina’s leg on his thigh, he started massaging her calf with his large hand.
“Ouch!”
Reina let out a faint scream at the sudden pain.
Kaiden continued the massage without caring about that reaction.
Every time his large hand rubbed her calf, it was painful.
As Reina instinctively flailed, he tightened his grip on her leg and said.
“Stay still. You have to do this so it won’t hurt tomorrow.”
“How did you know my leg hurts?”
“I saw you kept rubbing your calf earlier.”
As Kaiden muttered nonchalantly, Reina made a surprised expression.
She thought he was insensitive, but it was delicate observation.
Reina lowered her head and muttered.
“Actually, the carriage seat was a bit uncomfortable. My feet didn’t reach.”
“You should have asked for a footrest.”
“I didn’t want to bother them.”
“That’s more bothersome, so say it properly next time.”
Kaiden replied curtly and continued massaging her leg. He seemed accustomed to massage.
He found and rubbed the sore spots so well that afterward, Reina kept flinching.
But as time passed, the coolness grew more than the pain.
Reina, forgetting her embarrassment, half lay on the sofa and received Kaiden’s massage.
It was because she knew from previous experience that once he set his mind, he wouldn’t let go until the end.
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By Anna 💓
