Chapter 72

Even though they had only met once before, Agnes felt genuinely glad to see the women again and greeted them with a warm smile.

All the ladies marveled at the beauty of the greenhouse, their voices full of admiration and envy. The children, however, lost interest almost as quickly as they had been excited.

It started when Viscountess Tavella’s six-year-old daughter shouted, “I’m bored!” and dashed outside. One by one, the other children followed her out of the greenhouse.

Agnes watched them with mild surprise, unaccustomed to seeing children run so freely, and gently nudged Noah’s back.

“Go on, join the other children.”

Noah hesitated at first, unsure of what to do. Then Caron from the Orwellin family, the polite boy he had met before, approached with an encouraging smile. Taking Caron’s hand, Noah went outside with him.

Inside the warm greenhouse, the noblewomen chatted pleasantly while the cheerful sounds of children laughing and shouting echoed from outside.

In the capital, children were expected to sit still, play chess, or quietly imitate the adults, holding fans and whispering politely. The north was different.

Agnes thought she finally understood why northerners were so honest and easy to approach.

The northern social circle was far removed from the capital, free from the eyes and gossip of others. It was smaller and less constrained by formality.

Here, a single careless remark wouldn’t travel through countless mouths to twist into a scandal. There was no need for false enthusiasm or to hide one’s true feelings. Agnes found the atmosphere refreshing and sincere.

Viscountess Tavella smiled softly and asked her in a calm tone.

“Duchess, did you know that we also hold our own version of the Harvest Festival here in the north?”

Baroness Orwellin let out a girlish laugh before Agnes could answer.

“We already told her, didn’t we, Baroness Arbil? But she said it might be difficult this year since her husband is His Majesty’s beloved younger brother.”

“Oh, I see. What a shame. My daughter really likes young master Overhen. If she finds out she won’t see him at the festival, she might cry.”

Viscountess Tavella said honestly and nodded toward the garden outside.

Just as she said, the little girl was proudly holding Noah’s hand and showing him around.

The sight was so adorable that Agnes couldn’t help covering her mouth as she laughed quietly.

Then she remembered what Dylan had told her, that they might attend the northern festival after all.

“It’s not certain yet, but we might be able to attend.”

The three women brightened immediately.

“Oh my, really? I thought you’d have to attend the one in the capital.”

“We probably will, but I think we’ll return early.”

Baroness Orwellin clapped her hands in delight.

“Then we’ll have to prepare even better this year.”

Baroness Arbil tried to calm her, smiling as she spoke.

“She said it’s not certain yet, don’t pressure her.”

“But I can’t help being happy. Our northern gatherings are always so quiet, and it’s rare to meet someone new. Having the Duchess join us is such a pleasure.”

Baroness Arbil nodded in agreement, her smile gentle.

Agnes found their warm welcome both unfamiliar and touching.

They were not treating her kindly because of her status as a duchess.

They simply wanted to befriend her as someone who would live among them in the north. That sincerity was something she could easily sense in their voices and expressions.

Even her own family always wanted something from her.

It had been so long since she had shared such a genuine, selfless conversation that Agnes felt a faint sting in her chest.

* * *

Meanwhile, Noah was still being led by Viscountess Tavella’s lively six-year-old daughter through the estate.

Her name was Violet.

She had beautiful violet-colored eyes that matched her name, though her personality was far from delicate. She was bright, bold, and full of energy, more like a bird flying through the northern sky than a flower in a garden.

“Violet, the greenhouse is that way…”

Noah didn’t let go of her hand but kept glancing back toward the greenhouse, uneasy about getting too far from Agnes.

Violet placed her hands on her hips and declared confidently,

“The greenhouse is boring. I’ll show you something more fun. I got a pony as a gift not long ago.”

“A pony?”

Noah’s eyes widened with curiosity. He still didn’t want to go too far from his mother, but the idea of seeing a pony was too tempting.

Violet grinned mischievously, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Yes, a pony. It’s still a baby, so it’s small. Of course, it’s bigger than you, though.”

Her tone implied she herself was somehow taller than the pony.

Noah wanted to see if it was true, so he held her hand tighter and followed her eagerly.

The servants of the Tavella estate watched the small pair walking hand in hand with fond smiles.

“Young lady, are you showing the young master your pony?”

“Yes. Is my pony doing well?”

“Of course. Oh, but you can’t go in alone. Make sure the stable keeper goes with you.”

“All right, all right.”

Violet brushed off the reminder with an impatient tone and quickened her pace, still holding Noah’s hand.

To Noah, it was fascinating to see a noble girl talk so freely with the servants.

He had Lizzie, of course, but she was special to him, not quite like an ordinary maid. He had never chatted with other servants the way she did.

Violet, on the other hand, seemed close to everyone in the estate. Not only had she joked with the servant earlier, but she also greeted every worker they passed with cheerful confidence.

It was nothing like the Overhen mansion, where the servants were too afraid to breathe in front of their masters. Nor was it like the Vasteron mansion, where everyone was polite but still distant.

He hadn’t known homes like this existed.

In that moment, Noah’s small world grew a little larger.

Violet didn’t seem to notice what he was thinking. She probably just assumed he was having fun exploring the estate.

She pointed toward the main gate, visible not far away.

“See that gate? Once we pass it and walk a little more, we’ll reach the stables.”

The Tavella estate wasn’t very large, so the distance from the greenhouse to the main gate, and from there to the stables, wasn’t far. Even for children, it would only take a few minutes.

“Violet, don’t go too far!”

Caron’s voice called from behind, but Violet only stuck out her tongue playfully and ran faster, pulling Noah along toward the gate.

Noah followed quietly, wide-eyed, amazed by how this little girl could challenge even a thirteen-year-old boy without fear.

Just then, a carriage stopped in front of the gate.

Even Noah could tell it wasn’t an ordinary wagon.

Violet noticed the crest on the carriage and gasped.

“Oh! It must be Lady Marcella.”

She froze, still holding Noah’s hand, and turned toward the carriage. Because of that, Noah also ended up facing the person who stepped down from it.

A young woman appeared, probably in her mid-twenties.

She wore a calm gray dress with little decoration, the only ornament being a vivid green brooch shaped like a peridot on her chest.

When she lifted her head, her eyes gleamed with the same striking green as the gem.

The sharp gaze seemed to pierce straight through them, and Noah instinctively shrank back.

Violet, on the other hand, smiled brightly as if she knew the woman well and ran forward.

Noah hesitated but had no choice except to follow her to where the unfamiliar woman stood.

“Lady Marcella!”

Violet’s cheerful voice carried through the air. The woman smiled gently and crouched down to meet the child’s eyes.

“It’s been a while, Violet. You’ve grown even prettier. And who is this handsome young gentleman with you?”

“You too, Lady Marcella. Oh, this is Noah Overhen. Mother told me to call him young master Overhen.”

“And yet you’re calling him just ‘this boy’?”

Marcella laughed softly and pinched Violet’s cheek with affection.

Then her gaze shifted toward Noah.

“So, you’re young master Overhen. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I didn’t expect such a charming young gentleman.”

Her eyes, which had been warm when she looked at Violet, turned sharp and assessing when they landed on Noah. Feeling the weight of her gaze, he shrank behind Violet’s back.

Violet glanced at him in confusion, while Marcella rose to her feet, her expression smoothing back into a pleasant smile.

“But my mother said you weren’t coming today.”