Episode 103: Huh?
Highlander Zodiac Mansion
Despite the cold winter breeze, a warm and tranquil atmosphere lingered in the garden of the Highlander Mansion. Flowers, kept from wilting by magic, swayed gently in the soft breeze, their sweet fragrance subtly filling the air.
The mansion's servants stood at a respectful distance, eyes closed, ever-ready to respond to the sisters’ commands at a moment’s notice.
At the center of the garden—
Click.
Javella, Eris’s elder sister and a close friend of Princess Raeliana, placed her teacup down with a composed expression.
“So, what’s been bothering you these days?” Javella asked. Recently, Eris’s behavior had been strange. She seemed distracted, unable to focus on her responsibilities, and unusually absent-minded.
“Well…”
Eris tried to brush it off, but Javella’s sharp gaze made her hesitate. She would see through any lie.
“It’s just that…”
In the end, Eris lowered her gaze and cautiously opened her mouth.
“I think I… like Count—no, Duke Lahart…”
Eris’s voice trembled, her face flushed red.
Javella, who had been about to lift her teacup, froze mid-motion.
“Wait. You mean Yohan Lahart?”
“…Yes.”
Shocked by her younger sister’s confession, Javella’s lips parted slightly. Her ever-calm, ash-gray eyes wavered.
“…Do you even realize what you’re saying?”
Yohan Lahart wasn’t a man one could easily set their sights on. Even in the past, with Lady Fervache by his side, he had been unattainable. Now that he had become a duke, he was even more so.
“I know… but…”
“But what?”
“Well, the Duke… seems to practice polygamy…”
“…What?”
“…I think he practices polygamy.”
Javella blinked. Polygamy? For a man who seemed like the epitome of devotion? Her mind swirled with questions.
“…Are you sure about that?”
“Yes. I heard it myself…”
“My goodness.”
From her reaction, it was clear this wasn’t some fabricated story. Eris had no reason to lie.
“Where did you hear this?”
Javella’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a low tone.
“When I got injured, Lady Fervache herself came to heal me with her magic. While she was treating me, I overheard her and the Duke talking. It sounded like he already has another woman.”
Eris vividly recalled the shock of that moment. It wasn’t speculation—it was unmistakably true. Polygamy.
“Ha…”
Javella, equally stunned, let out a deep sigh. Yohan Lahart, who seemed incapable of even looking at another woman, now practicing polygamy? It was hard to believe.
“…So, what do you plan to do?”
Javella, trying her best to remain calm, posed the question to her sister.
“I… I want to be with the Duke…”
Though Eris’s voice was timid, her eyes gleamed with determination. Her hesitation wasn’t about beginning her love—it was born from the complexities surrounding it.
“What do you like about the Duke?”
When Javella asked, Eris answered without hesitation.
“He’s amazing. His face is exactly my type, his personality is wonderful, he always says the kindest things, and above all… he saved my life when I was in danger…”
As she continued, Eris covered her face with her hands. Her ears burned red. Just imagining him made her heart race.
“…You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yes…”
Javella rubbed her face with her slender hands, letting out a small sigh.
“I’ll try talking to our parents. Do what you want.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
Honestly, there were a lot of concerns, but she judged that it would be fine if it were him. Yohan’s reputation was excellent, his character was good, and his family and abilities were exceptional.
Of course, the polygamy part was unexpected…
‘Well, I mean…’
Was polygamy such a big deal? While the Four Great Houses didn’t practice it, other nobles did. It wasn’t a major issue.
Besides, Lahart wasn’t part of the Four Great Houses anyway.
“But there’s something I’m worried about.”
“What is it?”
Javella looked up at Eris.
Avoiding her sister’s gaze, Eris, who had been staring at the table, blinked repeatedly before finally speaking hesitantly.
“I don’t know how to meet him…”
As an inspector, Eris didn’t have many opportunities to meet Yohan. She wasn’t personally acquainted with him, nor were they connected professionally.
“Hmm…”
Javella rubbed her chin for a moment, recalling a recent announcement.
“The Purification Bureau is recruiting officers. Why don’t you try applying there?”
The Purification Bureau (淨化官)
It was a new upper-tier institution of civil servants established when Yohan Lahart was granted his dukedom.
Its primary task was purifying magul (corrupted areas/demonic lairs).
Though dangerous, Yohan Lahart, who once stood toe-to-toe with the Grand Swordmaster of Tenerope, Duke Aegis, was unlikely to let any harm come to her.
“That’s true… The Purification Agency was just created recently…”
With a stiff expression, Eris nodded.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Her fist clenched in determination.
“Phew…”
Javella exhaled softly, sipping her tea.
‘Yohan Lahart… does that man really have something special?’
Both Princess Raeliana and Eris seemed unconsciously drawn to him.
Well, his face did look like it was sculpted by a world-class artist. His social skills were remarkable, too.
And to top it off, his abilities were unmatched. He earned the only existing dukedom entirely through his own strength.
‘When I think about it this way, it would be strange not to fall for him…’
Without realizing it, Javella felt a sense of agreement.
***
Elsewhere…
Rudella had not been feeling well lately.
Maybe it was exhaustion, but she found herself constantly sleepy and had significantly lost her appetite. Certain food smells, in particular, seemed unbearably unpleasant.
‘It also feels like my chest has gotten bigger…’
Even her recovery time had greatly increased. The café she managed was now almost entirely handled by Vera alone.
‘How strange…’
She had never been picky with food before and had consistently exercised to maintain her health and stamina.
The only time she had felt this kind of fatigue was when she was simultaneously studying and managing the duties of a crown princess.
‘But it’s not like that fatigue has suddenly come back.’
Regardless, she had to pull herself together today.
After all, Yohan was personally coming to see her.
Rudella had missed him, but given that she had been living in hiding and Yohan was incredibly busy, they hadn’t had many chances to meet.
That’s why she had been eagerly awaiting this day.
To let her poor condition ruin their reunion?
That was simply unacceptable.
“Haa…”
Rudella let out a deep sigh, her sky-blue eyes brimming with determination. It had been a long time since she’d last seen him due to his duties, so she deserved to be showered with affection.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked on the front door.
At this hour, the only person who could come was Yohan. Rudella quickly went to the door and opened it.
“It’s been a while, Rudella.”
“Yohan…!”
Yohan smiled faintly.
A bright light flickered in Rudella’s sky-blue eyes.
But then—
“Am I invisible to you, Lady Bismarck?”
Standing next to Yohan was Francia. Rudella’s expression immediately stiffened.
Why was this woman with him? What was Yohan thinking? How could she receive the affection she deserved like this? Rudella’s mind was thrown into turmoil.
Still, it would be rude not to greet her, so Rudella bowed politely.
“…It’s been a while, Lady Fervache. And I am no longer Lady Bismarck.”
Her voice, however, was cold and rigid.
“Is that so? Then may I call you Miss Rudella?”
“Please, as you wish. I’m just a half-noble now.”
Rudella stepped aside cautiously.
“Please, come in.”
Yohan and Francia entered Rudella’s home under her guidance.
The quiet and tidy atmosphere of the house felt warm and comforting, giving a sense of peace.
And yet—
For some reason, Rudella’s heart did not feel at ease.
“…”
“…”
Between Rudella and Francia, a chilling tension filled the air. The atmosphere grew heavy, as though invisible swords were pointed at each other.
Gulp.
Yohan swallowed hard. It felt like swallowing a boulder; the air was that stifling.
Was it cold? No, the mansion was magically insulated, so no cold wind could seep in. This meant that the two women were locked in a silent battle of nerves.
‘Their relationship… isn’t good.’
Of course, it was to be expected. While Rudella had negotiated her acceptance of Francia into Yohan’s polygamous arrangement, theirs was still the dynamic of a primary wife and a concubine.
‘This isn’t something time can fix.’
There needed to be a catalyst—something that would force their relationship to improve.
While Yohan mulled over this, they reached the living room.
“Please, have a seat.”
Yohan and Francia sat down.
Rudella prepared the tea she had made earlier.
Once the three cups were filled, the real conversation began.
“Rudella, a Lahart mansion will soon be built in the capital.”
“…In the capital?”
Yohan nodded.
“It was part of the reward I received from His Majesty when I was granted my dukedom. The Imperial family is offering a plot of land they own and will build the mansion for me.”
Now that Yohan was a duke, it was essential for him to have a mansion in the capital.
“What do you want from me?”
Rudella tilted her head, puzzled.
“I’d like you to help manage the Lahart Mansion. And while you’re at it, live there with me.”
In essence, he was asking her to become the lady of the house. Rudella glanced at Francia.
Francia simply sipped her tea without any noticeable reaction. It seemed like something they had already agreed upon.
‘How strange.’
Surely, if it were Lady Fervache, she would have fiercely opposed the idea. Rudella couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Of course, managing the Lahart Mansion in the capital wasn’t an overwhelming task. However, the role of the lady of the house was a completely different matter.
Which meant…
“Leave it to me.”
Rudella smiled softly.
As she thought about the reason, it dawned on her—Yohan had come under the pretense of assigning her to manage the mansion, but his real intention was to bring her back.
“So, does this mean I’ll get to see you every day now?”
“That’s right.”
Truthfully, nothing else mattered. The idea of being able to see Yohan every day was enough to make her happy. Up until now, she had to set specific times to meet him.
As the conversation began to wind down, Francia placed something she had brought onto the table—a box elegantly wrapped in white paper.
Rudella tilted her head curiously.
“What’s this?”
“Dessert.”
“Oh, I’ll prepare it right away.”
Taking the box, Rudella quickly fetched a few plates and set up the dessert.
Francia picked up a fork and took a bite of the cake.
“As expected from a chef who used to work for the Imperial kitchen—it tastes amazing.”
“Does it?”
“Yes. Yohan, would you like a bite?”
“Sure.”
When Yohan slightly opened his mouth, Francia smiled brightly and fed him the cake.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious.”
But Rudella wasn’t about to stay idle.
“They all seem to have different flavors. Would you like to try mine too?”
“Of course.”
As Yohan leaned forward, Rudella carefully fed him a piece of her cake.
“This one is delicious too.”
“Is it?”
Rudella smiled softly, but at that moment, she felt a cold stare. Francia was narrowing her eyes as she looked in Rudella’s direction.
“…”
In response, Rudella subtly raised the corner of her lips, causing a shadow to darken over Francia’s expression.
“Yohan, you’ll feed me too, won’t you?”
Francia’s eyes sparkled as she asked, and Yohan immediately picked up a fork.
“Of course.”
After cutting a piece of cake, Yohan fed it to Francia, who opened her mouth like a baby bird.
“Mmm…!”
She chewed the cake with a joyful smile.
“It tastes even sweeter because Yohan fed me.”
“Yohan, what about me?”
Rudella, sitting across from them, had leaned forward slightly as well.
A rivalry had begun to brew between the two women.
“Yohan?”
Caught in the strange tension, Yohan blinked. Rudella tilted her head, urging him on.
“Oh, right. Of course, I’ll feed you too.”
Just as he cut a piece of cake to feed her—
“Ugh…!”
Rudella suddenly gagged.