After much deliberation, Neris decided to wear a black veil until the dinner table.
Since arriving at the castle, Neris had been dining with her mother in the Seogung. So far, the only servant Neris had seen in the Seogung was Dora, but the small dining room on the first floor of the Seogung was always clean and meals were warmly prepared when it was time to eat.
Thanks to this, she had been able to continue living without the veil in the Seogung, so she felt awkward wearing it in front of the landlord during dinner. It wasn't appropriate at the moment.
However, instead of pointing out her attire, Cladwin asked her affable questions. That seemed to be the only thing that mattered to him.
"Is the meal to your liking?"
The dinner at White Swan Castle was delicious. Moreover, the dishes presented before them now were a formal dinner with at least a dozen different dishes served one after another. Only the finest ingredients were used.
But was that the issue?
"...Yes. It's delicious."
"You're slow to answer. If you're concerned about Lady Trude, I also thought it would be nice to dine together. However, I feel like we have some important matters to discuss first."
His last words were an undeniable fact. But in Neris's opinion, what was more unusual than the dinner between her and Cladwin was the fact that her mother was also part of the meal.
Why would a subordinate and her mother dine with the employer? It wasn't a special situation where the employer visited the subordinate's home or anything like that.
However, Cladwin stated it as if it were an absolute truth.
Perhaps this was the culture of the North? Neris pondered seriously.
"Ellen mentioned that you didn't request any items necessary for daily life. I assume there might be many things lacking in the empty room. Feel free to ask for anything."
Neris's room, right next to her mother's room, showed special care from the moment you entered. Furniture with intricate carvings, a table made entirely of jade, delicate bedding, a balcony overlooking the courtyard...
In fact, it was too obvious that special care had been taken.
"I didn't request anything extra because there was nothing lacking. Actually, we should talk about that. There are too many expensive furnishings here, not suitable for me to stay."
Except for a few rooms used by Neris and her mother, all other rooms in the Seogung were closed. However, even without added decorations, the building's elegance was evident through the embellishments on the floor and ceiling alone.
Considering various factors, Neris had a reasonable suspicion that the Seogung was originally designed for the Duke's family. It was too... meticulously and expensively decorated in every corner.
Cladwin casually replied, "What wouldn't be suitable? It's an empty palace meant for whoever needs to use it."
"What if people misunderstand?"
Neris suspected that Ellen's warm welcome from the beginning might be related to the location of her residence.
Perhaps Ellen didn't even consider Neris as a potential fiancée for Cladwin. After all, there was no reason to bring only a mother and daughter to a building suitable for the Duke's family.
Cladwin shrugged, "No misunderstandings. Everyone knows I don't conform to conventions."
...Is that so?
Cladwin's firm attitude made Neris slightly hesitant about confronting him before the dinner.
However...
"It would be nice to have a Duchess present."
"Neris was originally not very interested in others, but lately, there was a subtle nuance in Ellen's treatment that made her think. Since Cladwin seems to be interested in this side, it would be nice to just sit like this...
If that was Ellen's true wish, she was having absurd thoughts. A position as important as a Duchess should naturally be filled after various political considerations.
Placing a baseless lower noble girl subtly in that position? It was an absurd idea.
But as the advisor of White Swan Castle, there seemed to be a need to make that damn 'consideration' quickly.
Cladwin chuckled.
"Do you want to?"
Even this person. Neris blinked. It might not have been visible behind the veil.
"No."
"Why?"
"Think about it. Anyone you bring would be better than me right now."
Even in terms of status... and.
Neris's heart felt very stifled for a moment.
Looking for a successor for a Grand Duke without a direct heir was a very important issue. For the stability of the dynasty, for the influence of the noble family. That's why she thought it was necessary to bring in a Duchess quickly.
But she...
For several years since marrying Abelus, she had no children. She hadn't even been pregnant.
If the prince and princess continued to have no children, anyone in the empire would inevitably be concerned about that issue. So, what did the physician who came to see her say?
Not wanting to dwell on it further, she decided to move on from that matter.
"Moreover, what is an advisor as soon as you arrive? That's a position for experienced elders to sit in. Would it be okay to seat a newbie like me?"
"It's fine, she's seated."
"She seemed quite resistant."
"I heard differently. They said she was won over completely. They also mentioned that no one would dare to question your age or experience. ...Is that all you have to say? Aren't you curious about the gift I brought?"
She wasn't curious.
But Cladwin's face was too expectant to say that. Besides, discussing the position of an advisor now seemed futile.
There was no choice.
"...What is it?"
"Gilbert."
Cladwin called the butler who stood a step behind him. Gilbert, the butler of White Swan Castle, took out a carved wooden box from his arms. The box had geometric decorations where different pieces of wood fit together on the sides and lid.
Judging by the size and depth of the box, it didn't seem to contain jewelry. It also didn't seem to be stationery. As Neris tilted her head in confusion, Gilbert placed the box in front of her. Slowly, he opened the lid.
A radiant glow emerged from the box, shining like the sunset illuminating a dining table.
Dazzling and clear diamonds, deep and dark rubies like pigeon blood, sapphires as blue as the depths, emeralds as green as a forest...
The box was filled with high-quality gems fit for a royal treasury.
Neris's eyes widened beneath her veil. As she stared intently at the gems, Gilbert gently traced a pattern on the bottom of the box with his gloved hand.
The seemingly inconspicuous pattern turned out to be a hidden mechanism. Suddenly, a small handle popped out from the bottom of the box. As Gilbert pulled it, a small drawer was revealed.
In the center of the black velvet cushion lay a pair of earrings adorned with hundreds of small diamonds in golden flower shapes, with large white pearls shaped like water droplets hanging below.
"As the grade increases, where would you find inexpensive gems, but pearls were special. Unlike other gems, pearls are entirely made at the whim of nature. And as time passes, their luster fades, so even if a truly exquisite pearl is born in the world, its value is not preserved.
In her previous life, Neris had never owned really good pearls.
However, at that time, Megara had a pair of precious pearls. When it was fashionable in social circles for men to gift pearls to women they loved, Abelus presented the treasure that came as a diplomatic gift from a foreign land to the government.
The large, white, teardrop-shaped pearls soon became the object of everyone's admiration in the form of earrings.
The item she was looking at now was much more lustrous than what Megara had. This time, Neris's mouth fell open.
She had never done anything to deserve such a gift. Just that pair of pearls alone could buy a fairly large estate.
"...What is this?"
"It's a gift."
"Why suddenly give a gift?"
"Does a gift always need a reason to be given?"
"If it's this valuable."
Even pearls, which only come from warm seas, would be even more expensive in the North.
Neris looked at Cladwin with a suspicious gaze without realizing it.
Did he know about gems? Was he trying to persuade her? Neris felt a slight tension.
"Consider it a reward for me not going out to meet you upon your arrival. The last of the fleeing elders was causing a commotion, and we had to subdue him quickly. I should have dealt with it before your arrival, so I apologize for not doing so."
"Which lord goes out to meet their subordinate?"
"If it's important, it could happen."
"If I were to neglect important matters and do that, I would actually be disappointed. If you give me something so nice, I would feel burdened, what should I do?"
"No need to feel burdened. You can use it for political funds, or even throw it away when it annoys me."
Jewels...?
Cladwin seemed to have no intention of taking the box away. Even with the explicit expression of feeling burdened.
In the end, Neris could only nod her head in resignation.
"Thank you. Um... I'll use it when needed."
It's easy to work with money... If there's another commotion next time, I can donate it.
The chef's meticulously prepared dishes continued to be served. Neris occasionally glanced at the box and sometimes at Cladwin while dining. The food made from ingredients unique to the North was undeniably delicious.
After the meal, the two headed to Cladwin's study. While there were several offices within the main palace, Cladwin's study, where he mainly worked, was slightly larger than Neris's and filled with books.
As they entered the book-filled room, Neris somehow felt a sense of calm. Perhaps it was due to memories of meeting him in the library when she was young.
Following Gilbert's lead, the two sat at a table in the study. Neris hesitated as she looked at Gilbert, who had brought the tea, and he quickly said, "If you need anything, please let me know."
"Thank you."
"No, Madam Advisor."
Neris had been too busy with the flood damage to have a proper conversation with Gilbert. However, Gilbert greeted her skillfully and appropriately, as if he knew her well.
Click. With Gilbert's exit, only the two remained in the study. Cladwin smiled and looked at Neris sitting across from him.
"Why, what are you trying to tell me?"
"I have something to show you."
"Show me."
"Just a moment."
Thump, thump.
Neris's heart pounded.
She knew best that she could use these eyes for evil if she wanted to.
She wouldn't mention her abilities, but what did it matter? If Cladwin truly wanted, he could even claim her as 'royalty.'
He was a clever man, he would use it in the best way possible.
But he...
He...
Didn't seem to harm Neris.
'Seems,' what a comforting phrase, she berated herself. But what good would it do to ponder long now, she had already decided to walk with him by bringing her mother here...
Her delicate hand slowly reached for her hat.
The hat secured with a pin swiftly fell off her head. And the black veil draped from the hat, covering the upper part of Neris's face, fluttered away.
The true form of her eyes fully revealed.
Cladwin's gray eyes sparkled, but their radiance couldn't compare to the real brilliance of her eyes. Deep purple, bright crimson, reddish-purple tinged with blue... countless shades and depths shimmered, revealing hundreds, thousands of facets.
Like a brilliant-cut gem meticulously crafted by a master artisan.
Cladwin stared at Neris for a moment, unable to look away. Feeling awkward about continuing to meet his gaze, Neris lowered her eyes and spoke.
"...It's peculiar, isn't it...? I asked Gilbert to leave so I could show you this. You can decide whether or not to reveal it..."
The eyes of royalty are a deep azure blue, so they don't shine as brightly as Neris's. Nellusion occasionally stared at Neris's eyes, observing them. He said he felt pride in his family.
However, Cladwin's reaction wasn't the surprise Neris had anticipated. It wasn't shock, not even betrayal.
He looked at Neris's eyes as if they were a great treasure, but he didn't show greed. Instead, he... like...
He looked at her as if he were looking at something lovely.