The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Muffler, Siblingly Affection, and Letters

“Lady Melfina, the carriage is ready.”

“I’ll be right there. Oh, Serleine, wait a moment.”

Stopping Serleine who was about to leave the gathering room in high spirits, Melfina wrapped the muffler that had been kept in a basket around her neck.

“Sister, is this for me?”

“Yes, I knitted it for you, Serleine. Please use it.”

“Wow, thank you so much! I’ll treasure it!”

Serleine’s voice was filled with a newfound energy. Lately, he had been eating more, and although it was hard to tell because of his naturally fair complexion, his steps were light, clearly conveying his excitement for this rare outing.

“Marie, please give one to Cedric too.”

Marie handed a differently colored muffler and gloves to Cedric who was getting on his horse, making sure the neck warmer wouldn’t come loose in the wind.

“Are these for us too?”

“Of course, there’s enough for everyone at the Lord’s estate.”

In this world, there were no customs like celebrating Christmas or individual birthdays with gifts. Unless it was a special occasion like coming of age or marriage, there were rarely opportunities to exchange presents. However, it wasn’t uncommon for those in higher positions to occasionally give gifts or gestures of appreciation, including clothing or accessories.

… Before recovering her memories, Melfina had never had the opportunity to exchange gifts with her family, something she had wanted to experience at least once.

“From spring to autumn, I’ve been busy all the time, but while making these, I could leisurely think about everyone, and it was enjoyable.”

“Lady Melfina… I will cherish it.”

“I will also use it carefully.”

It seemed both of them were pleased, which was the best outcome.

They descended downstairs and boarded the prepared carriage. It wasn’t overly large; it comfortably accommodated Melfina, Marie, and the petite Serleine.

Felice, whose legs were short, was lifted by Marie and placed into the carriage. Marie sat beside Melfina, gently touching the gloves she had put on.

“These knitted gloves are my first, they’re warm.”

“They’ll be even warmer over fabric gloves. On chilly nights, I think lamb gloves would be better.”

“No, they’re very warm.”

“Me too! They’re really warm, Sister!”

“I’m glad you’re pleased.”

The carriage moved slowly. Despite the chilly weather outside, villagers harvesting beans occasionally waved through the glass.

Today’s purpose was a picnic in the meadows near Lake Moltre.

Despite a road being constructed from the Moltre Forest to the lake, Melfina had never approached the lake before.

Besides being busy since arriving in the Enkar region, villagers often invited her to pick berries with the children or to visit the beautiful scenery, but she had subtly avoided these suggestions.

…That place holds memories of Alexis and Maria.

For the current Melfina, that path seemed like a future that had never branched out, but there was some resistance to going to the place depicted with a still image of two people leaning close at night on the sparkling lake under a starry sky.

For the game version of herself, Maria was a hated enemy, and Alexis was the man who had cruelly rejected and ultimately abandoned her. However, “she” herself was also a dedicated player of the otome game Maria of the Kingdom of Hearts. She had spent time clearing all modes, held a high affection for Maria, and found each character in every scenario charming and likable.

She tended to be engrossed in clearing difficult games, not viewing them as romantic targets from her previous life, yet there were certainly complex emotions intertwined.

…Well, Enkar Territory is now my domain.

Maria only came to Enkar Territory during Alexis’s route’s hard mode to alleviate famine and implement agricultural reforms in the north. With those tasks accomplished before Maria’s arrival, even if she were to follow Alexis’s route now, there would be no reason for Maria to visit here.

Lake Moltre was also a crucial resource in Enkar Territory. Feeling it was unwise to continue avoiding it indefinitely, today’s plan could be likened to crossing that bridge.

After about an hour, the carriage stopped. As soon as the door opened, Felice darted out like an arrow. Serleine, who had descended from the carriage escorted by Roland, waved her hand.

“Felice! Come over here!”

Her voice reached Felice, who swiftly changed direction and returned. Serleine crouched low, arms open wide, catching Felice as she leaped into her arms effortlessly.

“Haha, good boy, Felice!”

Simon, arriving in another carriage on the rolling meadow, looked nervously concerned but relaxed as he watched Serleine playing joyfully.

Dressed warmly for the cold, Serleine had regained her color lately and hardly coughed.

Playing with the dog like this, she looked just like any ordinary child.

“Lady Melfina, please come to the tent if you’d like.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Heading towards the tent guarded by soldiers, set up for Serleine who had gone ahead.

Pulling back the cloth and stepping inside, fur rugs lined the floor, and sofas were arranged. Magical lamps hung from the ceiling, illuminating the interior brightly and providing warmth.

“The portable stove for travel is amazing. It’s warmer than inside the carriage.”

The makeshift stove for the tent was custom-made by blacksmiths Roy and Carl. One side of the footed box had a round hole where firewood could be inserted and lit. It was a simple structure with a chimney protruding from the top, but it proved sufficiently practical.

A pot was placed on the stove, simmering soup for lunch. The ingredients had been soaking in the soup, so by lunchtime, it would be well-cooked.

Separately, a small pot with evaporated milk and diced cream cheese was prepared. It was placed near the stove with a lid to prevent boiling.

“Your Highness Serleine! Please don’t run!”

“I’m fine! I’m feeling great today!”

The anxious knights’ voices and Serleine’s could be heard. Marie and Melfina exchanged looks and chuckled.

“Boys always tend to be reckless. It’s troublesome.”

Melfina’s younger brother, Rudolf, four years her junior and one year older than Serleine, was a mischievous child. He once brought a rose from the gardener’s cultivated garden to Melfina by pulling it out root and all. He also climbed a tree to chase a butterfly and got stuck.

Rudolf was the heir of the Crawford family. Settling as a lord in Enkar Territory, the northernmost part of the country, he had married in the north and had few opportunities left in his life to meet Melfina, who had settled there without any intention of socializing.

Hearing Serleine’s voice reminded her of a promise to write letters, which she had never fulfilled.

“My brother was a very quiet child. Looking back now, he must have always been nervous talking to me.”

Marie’s voice carried a hint of loneliness.

Marie had started serving the ducal family at a fairly young age. Although she had hardly spent any time with her brother, occasional words from her indicated she found him endearing.

Families come in various forms, and it’s not something strangers should easily comment on. Yet, in front of Melfina, Marie’s calm demeanor revealed a slight trace of loneliness that led her to speak.

“That’s probably like wearing the mask of a cat, isn’t it?”

“A cat?”

Marie looked at her with curiosity, and Melfina remembered that there was no such idiom as “wearing a cat mask” in this world.*

“Well, cats tend to be quiet in unfamiliar places, but elsewhere they chase mice, climb curtains, snatch food, and cause mischief. So, they’re actually mischievous, but they behave quietly in front of certain people, like they’re wearing a mask of a cat.”

“I see.”

“Maybe he wanted you to think he’s calm and composed.”

Marie caught her breath and then chuckled lightly.

“Talking about it makes me miss my brother. I hope he’s doing well.”

“I was just thinking the same thing. Your brother is in the capital, right? Should we write him a letter when we return?”

Except for the deepest winter when travel was difficult due to heavy snow, there was still some trade between regions during the winter.

You could leave letters with those traveling to the capital, and they would be taken to the guilds, temples, or churches, where they would be forwarded. The guilds were relatively cheap but prone to losing letters; temples were reasonably priced and fairly reliable but slow; and churches were the fastest but most expensive, catering to different needs.

Considering her status, Melfina might hesitate to use the guild, so this time it would be better to give a generous tip and rely on the church.

“A letter… I’ve never written one, so receiving one suddenly might surprise him.”

“That’s alright. Some surprises are pleasant.”

Marie fell silent for a moment, touching the scarf gently wrapped around her neck.

“…Yes, indeed. There are pleasant surprises.”

With that, she smiled gently and warmly.

“I want to write a letter. I want to tell my brother about everything that happened this year.”

“…Right now, I really feel like I want to be your younger sister.”

Marie’s smile was so “elder sister-like” that it contrasted with her usual cool demeanor and the occasional glimpses of a more vulnerable, younger sister-like expression she showed. Melfina found herself a little flustered by the contrast.

“No, Lady Melfina.”

Returning to her cool expression, Marie spoke.

“I am your younger sister, Lady Melfina, and I have no intention of giving up this role.”

With that, Melfina’s elder sisterly feelings were firmly grasped by her adorable “younger sister”.

* ’Wearing a cat mask’ is an expression in Japanese that means to behave meekly and modestly to conceal one’s true nature.