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After thinking carefully, she replied, “Come in.” This situation may not be wrong in Biflten, since the lands were ruled differently. If so, chasing Den away may be the impolite thing to do. Ilyin’s words meant that Den should come in if he thought it apt. “But only for a minute,” she quickly added, still feeling unsure about allowing him to enter the room.

The door opened, and the black-haired man walked in. While his hair was neat, he seemed to have put on his clothes in a rush. She saw his white shirt as his jacket was unbuttoned, and Ilyin looked away as he reminded her of the Duke she’d partially seen yesterday.

“Are you uncomfortable?” He gently asked.

She suddenly remembered her dream yesterday, as her dream self had been very friendly with him. Ilyin shook her head as she shouldn’t have dreamt such a thing after her first night with her husband.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I am.” Ilyin’s answer was sudden, and she grabbed the blanket that was still up to her neck. “Is this acceptable in Biflten?” She had to ask him the question as the dream had made her more cautious.

“What?” Den tilted his head, and he looked sincerely surprised.

“If this was the Empire, you entering this room would be considered a heavy crime,” Ilyin spoke as calmly as she could, and Den hesitated as if he knew what she meant now.

“It’s acceptable here.”

Ilyin sighed but still felt uncomfortable. She would have to get used to the cultural differences, but the dream still bothered her and she wondered what would happen if this situation was illicit.

“I heard that the medicine made you unwell.”

“Medicine?” Ilyin came back to her senses. While she didn’t remember much, she did recall the doctor that came to see her, because she was surprised that he was also a man.

“Nened doesn’t suit those from the Empire so we are bringing medicine through Ecid, which will arrive soon.”

“Thank you,” she said, feeling grateful.

Den left abruptly, as he seemed to realize that his presence made her uncomfortable. Ilyin sighed in relief but she knew he was only doing his job. She had heard that the Duke didn’t stay in the estate often and thought that he would not ignore her illness. He had been so gentle with her last night and she smiled as she took in a deep breath and relived the evening in her mind.

***

“Sir, this goes against tradition!” Lidan said sternly.

Lidan of the Blue North visited the knights’ mansion often, and Aden looked at the old man with narrowed eyes before turning to look at the clock. It was late for a visitor. “What are you so dissatisfied about?”

“It is about the mistress’s maids.”

Aden tilted his head as he remembered the order of things, “Is this about changing them all to those from the Delroses?”

“Yes, as the Blue North has taken care of the bride for generations.” Lidan was saying that Aden had overstepped, and the Duke did not hide his annoyance. “We served Lady Elena…”

“Not when I was young,” Aden cut the elder off. Lady Elena was Duke’s mother. “I couldn’t find a Blue North maid after she became ill.”

Lidan hesitated for a long time before replying, “That was because Lady Elena preferred Delrose maids.”

“No, it’s because the Blue North did not take good care of her!” Aden glared at him coldly. “I am aware that the Blue North serves the bride.”

That was why Ilyin had come in through the Delrose’s carriage path, which was the fastest out of all routes to the Empire, and Aden thought back to when he’d first met Ilyin.

Ilyin was a small and delicate creature, yet only one Blue North horseman had accompanied her here. Aden had thought that the Blue North wouldn’t welcome someone from the Empire and he couldn’t hide a sneer. The Red Delroses chose practicality over luxury even though they were the head family. On the other hand, the Blue North owned the plains that had been the most beautiful of all the lands when Biflten had summer. That is why the duchesses had stayed there the longest, and while the plains were now covered by the snow, the beautiful buildings and traditions remained.

Aden knew that the Blue North served the bride. “That’s when you take care of the bride sufficiently, but it seems that the Blue North doesn’t know how to take care of someone from the sunny lands.” Aden picked up a dark-green nened leaf, common anywhere in the knight’s mansion, and looked at it intently. “That also goes for your horseman.” Lidan’s face grew rigid as Aden crushed the leaf in front of him.