Chapter 21
The Hess townhouse was small in scale, but there was not a single person who looked dispirited.
The three maids were said to be triplet sisters, and without needing to speak, their coordination was perfect, allowing them to complete tasks quickly.
In their free time, they followed Nadia around to attend to her needs, which allowed Vivian to move freely outside the townhouse and take care of other errands.
Today as well, Nadia sat in the garden, enjoying tea and cookies brought by the maids.
In her hands was a grimoire that Vivian had recently managed to acquire for her.
With a rustling sound, the pages turned, and faint light occasionally flickered at Nadia’s fingertips before disappearing.
Each time, Nadia would carefully observe the light, then murmur to herself as she diligently continued reading the magic book.
“Like placing a ball on the tip of my fingers…”
“Lady!”
A loud voice broke her concentration.
Nadia closed the grimoire and turned toward the source of the sound.
Vivian had been in such a hurry that she hadn’t even changed out of her outdoor clothes and was rushing straight toward Nadia.
“You’ll fall—slow down.”
At Nadia’s gentle words, Vivian grinned proudly.
“I haven’t fallen since I was three years old.”
“That’s impressive. What’s got you running like this?”
“It looks like the letter you’ve been waiting for has arrived!”
Vivian, despite having run all the way there in a panic, respectfully handed over the letter.
Nadia tucked Vivian’s disheveled hair behind her ear and took the letter.
On the envelope, the sender’s name was written in elegant cursive:
— Your friend, Yulia Crimson.
Vivian had been right. It was the letter Nadia had long been waiting for.
Opening it, she found a simple invitation inside.
Before the social season begins, I want to meet you. I’ve renovated the townhouse—would you like to come see it? My father will be away in three days, so I’ll be the queen of the house.
It was a lively invitation very typical of Yulia Crimson.
Nadia couldn’t help but smile faintly as she set the letter down.
“Bring me writing paper. I need to send a reply.”
Three Days Later
Nadia arrived at the Crimson townhouse by carriage.
Despite being “just an earl’s house,” the Crimson townhouse was imposing.
The dark gate towered overhead, and instead of flowers, the garden featured large statues.
Rather than an earl’s residence, it felt more like an ancient ducal villa.
Nadia had once met Count Crimson during her life as Livenia, and she had remembered him as an ambitious man.
In the ten years since, that ambition had only grown to an unmistakable level.
‘So Count Crimson isn’t here today.’
It was a pity, since her ultimate target was him.
Still, if she strengthened her relationship with Yulia Crimson, opportunities would surely come.
Nadia entered the townhouse with the butler and several maids who had come to greet her.
After walking halfway through the garden—
“Nadia!”
Yulia Crimson came out of the townhouse smiling brightly.
“I wanted to greet you at the gate, but I was late. I’m sorry.”
“I should be the one apologizing. I hurried because I thought I might be late, so I arrived early… you must have been waiting outside.”
“Don’t say that! I told the butler to bring you in as soon as possible. I wanted to see you again as soon as I could!”
Yulia gently took Nadia’s hand. Seeing no discomfort from her, she tightened her grip slightly and led the way while chatting excitedly.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to visit the stables first? I’ve been raising a foal since it was tiny—it’s so beautiful. Oh, can you guess which of my horses is the fastest?”
“It was just luck last time. I’m not that good at judging.”
“Really? Then let’s guess together!”
Yulia looked delighted. She seemed genuinely eager for a friend to talk to and share her interest in horses.
It didn’t seem like she enjoyed gambling—only horses themselves.
Because both of them were wearing dresses, they couldn’t enter the stables, so a servant brought several horses outside.
Among them, the most striking was a snow-white foal.
“I named her Snow White because she’s white like snow and as pretty as a princess. It’s too long, so I just call her Snow.”
The horse—Snow White horse—approached Yulia as she came closer, clearly recognizing her.
Their bond seemed strong.
“What do you think? She’s beautiful, right? She really loves people.”
“It looks like she likes you more than people in general.”
At Nadia’s gentle remark, Yulia smiled brightly.
She likely thought it was just polite praise, but Nadia could see the faint mana residing within Snow’s body.
It was flowing toward Yulia as if the horse were eagerly greeting its owner.
‘Now that I can perceive mana flow, I can see things more clearly.’
Magic didn’t seem like such an extraordinary thing anymore, yet now that she could sense it, the world felt entirely different.
By extending the concentrated mana in her heart outward, she could faintly perceive the mana within living beings.
It wasn’t an absolute measure, but it could somewhat reveal emotions. In high society, this would be a powerful advantage.
Nadia released the mana and returned to ordinary perception.
Choosing the fastest horse without relying on mana was not easy.
Still, she carefully examined them and pointed out a healthy-looking horse, which made Yulia nod enthusiastically.
“That one is the fastest. For now. But I hope it will become the fastest permanently.”
Yulia stroked Snow’s chin softly.
“At least before I get married and leave this house.”
“Marriage.”
That was one of the topics Nadia had intended to approach.
She carefully asked, as if surprised.
“Will you take Snow with you when you marry?”
“I’ll probably marry someone from the North, and she’s especially sensitive to cold. She was born in a southern coastal region.”
It wasn’t hard to guess who the “northern person” was.
It was obviously Heinrich.
Arkis Flang—who had been walking with them—had been mentioned indirectly through earlier conversation as well.
Yulia tilted her head toward Nadia.
“You seem to know a lot, Lady Nadia. Have you heard the rumors about me?”
Nadia chose not to pretend ignorance.
She had approached Yulia for her own purposes, but she had grown to like her enough to avoid unnecessary lies.
“I’m from the North, so I couldn’t not know. I heard there are talks of a match with Duke Baldwin.”
Duke Baldwin’s name made Yulia smile lightly.
“Not everyone in the capital social circle knows yet. As expected of someone from my hometown.”
Yulia guided her toward the garden tea table.
Their conversation continued as they left the stables.
“I heard the Baldwin ducal house is in the North, but it’s quite warm there because of its abundant resources.”
“But if I bring Snow, I wouldn’t be able to take her everywhere. Even the ducal house can’t warm the entire North.”
Yulia clearly cherished Snow—not as property, but as something whose freedom and happiness mattered.
And her judgment was reasonable.
Even if she married Heinrich, it would be better not to take Snow with her.
“If I had to choose between Snow and Duke Baldwin, I would choose Snow.”
“What?”
Nadia’s eyes widened in shock.
Snow was a lovely horse, but this was not something she expected to be weighed against marriage to Heinrich.
In her mind, Heinrich was perfect: handsome, kind, intelligent, refined, responsible, wealthy—and a duke.
There was no better match.
Yulia laughed at Nadia’s stunned expression.
“You’re surprised. I look foolish, don’t I?”
“I wouldn’t say foolish, but not exactly logical either.”
“When are human feelings ever fully logical?”
Yulia rested her chin on her hand, smiling softly toward the stables.
“My father says I’m too emotional. I won’t deny it. I want to constantly share feelings with someone, like how Snow’s eyes light up when she sees me. But if I marry Duke Baldwin, I’d gain power without envy… and I think I would be very lonely.”
“Why do you think you’d be lonely?”
Nadia herself had lived eight years of marriage with Heinrich without ever feeling lonely. His warmth and sincerity could melt anyone’s heart.
Yulia leaned closer, as if sharing a secret.
The duke still misses his late wife.
Nadia froze slightly at those words.
Heinrich… still loved his deceased wife,