Why the Northern Duke Wanders the Snowfields - Chapter 51

“The tea has such a lovely fragrance.”

The Lady Chamber, high enough to offer a sweeping view of Tennant City, was one of the most beautiful places in the ducal castle and Eloise’s favorite.

Agnes set down her cobalt teacup decorated with gold flowers and gazed out over the refreshing cityscape.

Pulling her soft dressing gown closed, Eloise sat across from her.

“I was a little surprised by your sudden visit.”

As a countess, Agnes ranked below Eloise, who was a duchess, but Eloise spoke respectfully to her because she was the daughter of a grand duke.

“Ah! What truly beautiful flowers,” Eloise exclaimed in admiration as she looked at the large basket overflowing with flowers on the table.

Elegant roses in shades of apricot and ivory, refreshing delphiniums, and even sweet peas carrying the scent of spring.

The flowers grown in Agnes’s glass conservatory were renowned throughout the North for being exceptionally beautiful and having particularly large blossoms.

Conservatories were extremely expensive and difficult to maintain. There was a small one in the ducal castle as well, but flowers rarely bloomed there, and weeds ran rampant at the slightest neglect, so it had now been all but abandoned.

The truth was, Eloise had no intention of hiring a skilled gardener. A skilled gardener demanded high wages.

Eloise didn’t want to spend a great deal of money on anything other than herself.

“The days are getting longer and the weather has been warm, so I coaxed the flowers into blooming a little early this year. I was thinking of holding a tea party in the conservatory sometime….”

Agnes began speaking as she adjusted her bonnet with elegant movements.

“I would be truly grateful if the duchess would grace the occasion with her presence.”

Eloise’s eyes lit up as she looked into Agnes’s smiling violet eyes.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Agnes’s tea parties weren’t small gatherings where a few ordinary noblewomen came together to chat.

There was once a time when every event she hosted was famous for being grand, daring, and lavish.

Before the current king took a queen, it was Agnes who had organized every ball and social event at the royal palace from a young age.

However, Agnes hadn’t held a single such party since coming to the North as Kaeloc’s nanny. That remained true even after she married.

Joy and excitement filled Eloise’s greedy gray-blue eyes.

‘A fair number of people will probably come from the capital as well, won’t they?’

Agnes still wielded considerable influence within the royal palace.

‘Surely even the queen won’t come, will she?’

Eloise swallowed dryly in nervous anticipation.

She was sick to death of the North’s long winters, and she was also tired of the ducal castle, which had been built solely for practicality.

If she could form a connection with the queen and enter the capital’s high society….

She began to grow excited at the thought of marrying Kaeloc to Aileen, then moving to the capital herself to enjoy a warm and glamorous life.

“The North will be bustling for the first time in a while.”

“That’s why I have a favor I’d like to ask of you, Duchess….”

A generous smile spread across Eloise’s lips, delighted by the invitation to Agnes’s tea party.

“Go ahead.”

“…It’s about Aubrianna.”

The delight in Eloise’s eyes instantly turned cold.

“You mean the maid employed by our ducal family?”

Although the person sitting before her was both a grand duke’s daughter and a countess, the thought of Aubrianna made it impossible for her to speak pleasantly.

“Why are you bringing up that maid?”

Hearing the chill in Eloise’s voice, Agnes regretted beginning with Aubrianna’s name.

‘I should’ve spoken about Kaeloc’s marriage first.’

But she had gone to the trouble of preparing a heavy basket of flowers early that morning and coming all the way to the ducal castle, so she had to state her business.

“I thought Aubrianna must have played a significant role in Kaeloc’s safe return from those supposedly terrifying snowfields.”

“And?”

The petals of Agnes’s flowers fluttered, releasing their rich fragrance, as a fresh spring breeze gently swept onto the terrace along with the warm sunlight.

The thin white silk awning, secured with cords to the pillars surrounding the terrace, fluttered softly.

“Since she rendered such a great service, shouldn’t she be rewarded?”

“So what, should we arrange a marriage for her?”

Agnes’s gaze wavered at Eloise’s sneering remark. But that faint flicker of discomposure vanished in an instant.

“As you know, Kaeloc is the duke of House Tennant, which rules the North.”

“It’s not as though I don’t know that.”

Agnes leaned forward, closing the distance between them with a steady gaze.

“I know very well how deeply you care for Kaeloc, Duchess.”

No matter how much opposition they faced, if Eloise, the duchess, gave her permission, there had to be some way to make the marriage between the two happen.

Her heart aching for them, Agnes tried once more to coax Eloise, speaking gently.

“I also care for Kaeloc very deeply.”

“I know. That must be why someone of your noble birth served as his nanny here. For seven whole years, no less.”

Eloise now looked visibly angry. Even though the wind was blowing, she fanned her flushed cheeks with a small fan.

Dorian, the attendant, quietly approached, refilled her teacup, and stepped back.

“But to push for his marriage to such a lowly maid? Is that truly what’s best for the duke?”

Faced with her adamant refusal, Agnes fell silent, at a loss for words.

***

“Kaeloc, that little….”

Tarion chuckled at the irritation carried in Agnes’s elegant footsteps as she walked down the corridor.

“Why are you blaming Lord Kaeloc for the duchess’s opposition?”

“If Aubrianna hadn’t given birth to a baby, she could’ve taken the Bellone name and marched proudly into this family, but Kaeloc ruined everything.”

“But you gained Young Master Theo.”

Agnes’s expression softened slightly at the thought of the adorable Theo.

“Yes, Theo.”

But that child was now illegitimate.

“That child must become the legitimate heir to this family.”

Even with Eloise’s opposition, Agnes had no intention of giving up. For Theo’s sake, if nothing else.

“But Lady Agnes.”

“What?”

“What about Lord Kaeloc?”

“What about Kaeloc?”

Tarion tilted his head. “I was wondering whether Lord Kaeloc would’ve married Aubrianna long ago if he truly wanted to.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that so? He had plenty of time. Aubrianna became his mistress years ago, and even after she became pregnant, there was more than enough time.”

Agnes’s steps gradually slowed until she finally stopped altogether.

“No matter how fiercely the duchess opposed it, Lord Kaeloc was the head of this family and held the authority to make every decision. If he wanted to do it, he would’ve had more than enough power to make the marriage happen, wouldn’t he?”

Tarion had a point.

“It’s not as though I haven’t thought of that myself.”

But whenever Agnes asked, Kaeloc always remained silent.

Then, in the end, at the duchess’s urging, he came close to becoming engaged to Aileen.

Aileen Lott.

Count Lott’s family was based in the North and owned land there, but they were nobles of the capital who lived primarily in the capital.

Agnes knew Count Lott and his wife well. They had money and influence in high society, but they were desperate for the prestige they lacked.

Kaeloc was currently the only high-ranking noble of marriageable age in the Kingdom of Trilan.

And Count Lott wasn’t the sort of man who would let a young and capable northern duke slip through his fingers.

At that moment, the young lady of Count Lott’s family suddenly popped out.

“Hello, Countess Bellone.”

Aileen smiled brightly as she curtsied with both elegance and liveliness.

“You’ve heard the news about the duke, haven’t you? Goodness, to think he returned safely. He must surely be under the goddess’s protection!”

“It’s been a while, Lady Lott.”

“Oh, honestly. You say that every time we meet. Please call me Aileen. I only arrived today. I was just beginning to grow tired of the parties in the capital when the duchess sent me such a joyful letter! I set off immediately in a fast carriage, and truly….”

Unable even to finish her sentence properly, Aileen’s face shone with anticipation.

“Have you seen the duke? How is he? Is he healthy?”

Looking slightly uncomfortable, Agnes exchanged glances with Tarion before answering, “The duke is healthy. It seems you came here to see the duchess.”

“Yes! I wanted to greet her first. She told me to come as soon as possible, so I truly couldn’t even pack more than a few dresses. I’m glad the North has grown much warmer.”

Was she always this talkative?

Agnes merely gave a slight nod and resumed walking.

She felt sorry for the young lady, but Agnes thought Kaeloc and Aubrianna were better suited to each other.

‘How should I put it? That young lady is so optimistic that she lacks any sense of reality, and although she’s innocent, she’s also rather immature.’

Kaeloc lost his mother and was raised by Agnes and the maids. Moreover, his father was almost always away from the ducal castle, trying to stabilize the border in fulfillment of his duties as duke.

‘He doesn’t know a parent’s affection, and Eloise has such a cold personality….’

Seven was already an age when a child no longer needed a nanny, and Agnes hoped that, if possible, he would meet an affectionate new mother.

But life always presented turning points.

Kaeloc, whom she expected to grow up without incident, began showing a cruel and coldhearted side at some point, breaking Agnes’s heart.

“A weak disposition is of no use when one must defend the border.”

When Agnes expressed her concern, Arc Tennant defended his son Kaeloc with those words.

That was why she hoped Kaeloc’s spouse would be someone cheerful and kind.

‘That’s exactly what Aubrianna is like.’

Before giving birth to Theo, she seemed shy and somewhat gloomy, but after having the baby, she appeared bold and lively.

‘Besides, if Kaeloc likes her, isn’t that all that matters?’