Chapter 64

* * *

The inside of the carriage was comfortable enough to be called a room. If it had a bathroom, it almost felt like someone could actually live here.

“Mom, look at this. There are so many kinds of juice. There are cookies too.”

“That’s amazing…”

“Boni, you can eat this.”

“Is it really okay to eat it?”

Unlike Reina, who felt unsettled, the children got along well as they looked around the carriage and shared snacks.

Aside from Estelle occasionally putting a cookie into Reina’s mouth, Reina couldn’t bring herself to eat anything.

‘At least it’s not the main residence of a count’s family, so it shouldn’t be that flashy or big.’

Reina crunched down on the almond cookie still in her mouth.

Just then, Damian tapped on the carriage window from outside. Reina immediately opened it.

“We’re almost there, so get ready.”

As he said that, Damian swept his gaze through the inside of the carriage.

He seemed to be checking whether the children were fine and whether they felt sick.

Reina shifted her body so his eyes could easily reach the children.

“It’s closer than I expected.”

“It’s better if it’s somewhere I can reach even when I’m not around. At this distance, excuses like getting lost and taking a wrong road wouldn’t work.”

“Ahh…”

“…Just so you don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying you’d make excuses. I meant the possibility of a spy.”

“I see.”

“I’ve never suspected you of being a spy.”

“Yes.”

“…”

Perhaps feeling awkward, Damian cleared his throat a few times and closed the carriage window.

Just as he said, the carriage soon came to a stop and the door opened.

“I’ll get off first, then help you down.”

“Okay.”

Reina flung the door open.

“…”

“…That was close.”

Right in front of the door stood Damian, his face showing rare surprise.

One of his hands was stretched forward, as if he had been about to open the carriage door himself.

“M-My lord, why were you trying to open the door?”

“Who opened the door when you got in earlier?”

“That was you, my lord, but opening doors is usually something a servant like me does.”

“Whoever is available does it.”

Damian naturally took Reina’s hand and gently pulled her forward so it wouldn’t hurt.

Reina stepped down from the carriage as she was led.

Behind them, the coachman looked flustered. Damian’s behavior right now was clearly unusual.

‘Is it because of my lady.’

Was he doing this because he wanted to personally escort Estelle? Reina decided there was no other reason.

Leaving Reina lost in her own thoughts, Damian helped Estelle and Bonita down as well.

“Then let’s go.”

“…”

“Reina Botn.”

Reina didn’t hear him, having once again fallen into her own world.

Damian stepped closer and snapped his fingers in front of her.

“Reina Botn.”

“A-Ah. I-I’m sorry. How far were we talking?”

“There’s nothing to catch up on. Peter is waiting inside.”

Only then did Reina rub the back of her neck and slightly furrow her brows.

‘I’ve had too many stray thoughts lately.’

If it was already like this, she wasn’t confident she’d endure well later when they went up to the capital.

‘For now, I should just focus on what’s in front of me.’

Reina took a small breath and turned her head toward the residence. Thankfully, just as she expected, the mansion wasn’t that large.

“Is this the place?”

“Hm.”

Standing beside Reina, Damian pointed with his finger from the building at the far left all the way to the right.

After indicating a total of five buildings, he spoke.

“Five in total.”

“…There were that many residences?”

“No. Originally, the second one from the left was Count Embron’s private residence. He’s not a count anymore, though.”

“Then the other four are…”

“I bought them.”

Damian answered casually and walked ahead.

Reina stood frozen, unable to follow, only staring at the back of his head.

Noticing she wasn’t following, he turned around.

“What are you doing just standing there instead of coming?”

Reina felt puzzled.

A count’s residence wasn’t as massive as a ducal estate, but that was only natural.

‘That’s only compared to a ducal estate. It’s not small.’

Reina rolled her eyes upward and looked at the roof of the mansion. It looked at least three stories tall.

“Are you worried it’s too small?”

“N-No…”

“To be precise, I bought all the residences on this land.”

“Why?”

“What?”

“…”

The question slipped out of Reina’s mouth reflexively. Startled, she covered her mouth with both hands.

Damian didn’t seem bothered.

Lowering her hands, she gathered her courage and asked again.

“T-This scale feels a bit too large… Is it really necessary?”

“If I’m investing under the name of Winternight, it can’t be halfhearted.”

A question she wanted to voice filled her throat.

Is it really okay to provide such massive support for something that could fail and has no guarantee.

“This is half a joke.”

“Then?”

“If we conduct experiments, there’ll be explosions. There’ll be noise and damage. There won’t always be a mage on site, so when an accident happens, it can’t be handled immediately. It’s more efficient to turn it into empty space instead.”

“Ah, then what about the people who lived here?”

“I offered everyone a fair price and prepared temporary housing.”

“I see…”

Only then did Reina nod in understanding. So it wasn’t that everything was being used solely as an experiment site. As she accepted Damian’s reason for buying all the residences, another question suddenly came to mind.

“…You persuaded all the residents living here and relocated them in just half a day?”

“That’s right.”

Reina was stunned.

“Is that even possible?”

Damian looked at her as if he genuinely didn’t understand the question.

“Is there any reason it wouldn’t be?”

“…”

Reina stood stiffly, frozen in place.

Realizing something, Damian added quickly.

“…I mean that someone bearing the name Winternight shouldn’t be incapable of even that much. I wasn’t saying you should be able to do the same.”

“…”

“So don’t feel pressured, since I don’t expect this level from others…”

Damian kept adding words, then firmly closed his mouth.

A brief, subtle silence settled between them.

“…No matter what I say, does it sound strange?”

“N-No. I understand what you mean, my lord.”

“…”

Another awkward atmosphere passed.

Damian asked again.

“I won’t blame you, so what’s your honest feeling?”

Reina rolled her eyes and lowered her gaze.

“…A little, yes.”

Damian said nothing.

To explain it properly, he had lost his parents at a young age and had to inherit the dukedom, so he had to be overwhelming above all others.

Because of that, he ended up very different from other people.

Damian turned back and stood beside Reina.

“It’s hard, isn’t it.”

Reina blinked several times.

“Are you perhaps being careful about the way you speak?”

Hitting the mark, Damian couldn’t answer at all.

‘He really is paying attention to it.’

She thought he was someone who didn’t care about anyone other than Estelle. Reina tilted her head slightly, then held Bonita’s hand that hadn’t left her side.

‘Is it because of my lady?’

It wasn’t exactly a friendly tone for a child. Reina decided that had to be the reason.

Damian glanced over Reina and Bonita, then took Estelle’s hand as well.

“Let’s really go inside now. I’ll guide you.”

“Personally?”

“Don’t you like that?”

“N-No. I’m sorry…”

Reina almost let an apology slip out of habit again, but quickly closed her mouth.

Damian spoke as he led the way.

“This isn’t a situation that needs an apology.”

“…I don’t know what I should say.”

“There’s a better thing to say, isn’t there?”

Reina looked at him with complete confusion. Reading her expression, he said it.

“Words of thanks.”

“Ah… Th-Thank you?”

“Yes.”

Damian’s pace somehow slowed compared to earlier. It was a speed that let Reina walk comfortably beside him.

* * *

It seemed the entire mansion had been cleared out and cleaned. The spacious interior didn’t have a speck of dust. From the moment they stepped into the entrance hall, it was obvious that there wasn’t a single statue, potted plant, or famous painting in sight.

‘It’s clean.’

“Your Grace, Reina Botn. You’ve arrived.”

Peter, who had been giving instructions to people, noticed them and approached with a smile.

“Yes. Is everything ready?”

“Yes, yes. We tore down all the walls of the first floor rooms and turned it into one space. Three of the hired mages have already arrived. One tenth of the magic stones we purchased have arrived as well and have been sorted.”

“More than I expected.”

“Yes. When we explained the business plan, the mages were inspired and have already drafted several designs. Reina Botn should come take a look as well.”

“Would I even understand it if I look? I don’t have any magic power.”

“Magic power and understanding are different. You were the one who proposed it in the first place, weren’t you? The ones with final decision authority are Reina Botn and Your Grace.”