As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, its orange-red light bathed everything in a warm glow. The evening sky wasn't dark; instead, it carried a faint bluish radiance. The mountains, touched by the sunset's rays, were dusted with a thin layer of crimson.
"Dahlia, where are we going now?" Catherine blinked her eyes in confusion. "Dinner's about to be served at the castle. Don't tell me… we're not eating there again tonight?"
At the mention of this, Catherine's face fell into a pout. It had been a week since she arrived in Sedona City, and she'd only eaten at the castle six times. The rest of the time, Dahlia had dragged her out to eat elsewhere.
"We're going to find Elisa. We'll have dinner at her place tonight." Dahlia replied, gazing at the sunset as she tugged Catherine along the main road.
Catherine's unusual behavior in the study that morning had convinced Dahlia to test the waters and see if her friend had truly fallen for Lord Lucas. If she had, then certain precautions would need to be taken—especially regarding… well, sensitive matters.
For that, Dahlia needed an ally, and Elisa was the perfect choice.
"Alright then!" Catherine glanced back at the castle, pouting as if watching her beloved food slip away. We could've just had dinner first and then gone to find Elisa…
The castle's cuisine had won her over from the very first bite—sweet and tangy scrambled eggs with tomatoes, crispy, mouth watering fried chicken... The thought alone made her stomach grumble softly.
No! I can't think about food anymore! Catherine shook her head, trying to shake off the tempting images of delicious dishes. Still pouting, she trailed behind Dahlia, puzzled. Dahlia loves the castle's food just as much as I do, so why does she keep dragging us outside to eat?
Seeing Catherine's sulking expression, Dahlia let out a helpless sigh. "Catherine, we should move out of the castle in a couple of days."
"Ah? What? Why?" Catherine gasped, grabbing Dahlia's arm to stop her. Her brows furrowed. "Why do we have to move out? The castle's perfectly fine!"
"Sigh... Catherine, have you forgotten who you are?" Dahlia gazed at her calmly, her voice gentle. "You're the daughter of a duke. Staying too long in a male noble's home will stir up gossip."
In this era, noblewomen couldn't casually live in a man's household. Even as guests, they needed the presence of a brother, father, or another male relative to avoid rumors. Otherwise, whispers would spread—tales of ruined reputations or even speculations that the young lady had fallen for her host.
Among the nobility, a woman's reputation often carried more weight than her life.
"I..." Catherine's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She stared at Dahlia in a daze before lowering her head in defeat. She's right... These past few days, I'd nearly forgotten that I'm a duke's daughter.
Life in this city had brought Catherine genuine happiness and ease—especially within the castle. Neither Nicole, Annie, nor the others treated her as a duke's daughter. To them, she was just an ordinary girl.
"We've been staying here for a week already. It was fine before because you were sick, but if we stay any longer, people will start talking."
Dahlia's eyes softened as she looked at the crestfallen Catherine. Her voice was gentle yet firm. "I don't mind the gossip, but you're different. Your status means there are certain things you simply can't do as you please."
And besides... Dahlia thought to herself, recalling what Annie had told her. Kevin, Scott, and the other young nobles would soon be released. Their presence would only make things more complicated.
The decision for them to move out of the castle had actually come from her father, Joe. If it were just Dahlia staying, she wouldn't care about gossip. After all, she was merely the daughter of a fallen noble—now a merchant's child. Besides, her father had even encouraged her to pursue Lord Lucas if she had the chance.
But Catherine was different. If rumors began to spread, given the shameless nature of people like Kevin and Scott, they would surely exaggerate the stories upon returning to the royal capital. The consequences would be severe—Catherine would be placed under house arrest, and marriage negotiations would quickly follow.
As for Lord Lucas… the duke would undoubtedly seek retribution. To silence the rumors, he would crush Sedona City without hesitation. That was an outcome Dahlia wanted to prevent at all costs.
"...I understand." Catherine nodded reluctantly, her voice tinged with resignation. She understood exactly what Dahlia meant—this was the suffocating weight of status and social class.
She had to consider so many things—never bringing shame to the duke, never doing anything that might harm his reputation. Her life was bound by rules she had no say in.
Sometimes, she wondered how different things would be if she weren't a duke's daughter. Or what if she dared to rebel? What if I ran away from home? But who would dare take her in? With her father's status, most people would be too afraid of the consequences.
And that arranged marriage… Catherine's heart sank. It was only a matter of time before it became her turn. All her older sisters had already been married off according to their father's wishes.
She longed for a love like the ones she read about in Princess Lucy's novels—a romance where two people loved each other freely and wholeheartedly, then married with the blessings of their families. A love story without politics, status, or obligations—just happiness.
"Alright, it's not like you can't visit the castle. Even if you live outside, you can still go there." Dahlia said softly. Having spent years navigating the harsh world of business, she understood the dangers and nuances of society far more than Catherine did.
"Really?" Catherine's eyes lit up with hope.
"Of course. Just say you're visiting Miss Nicole. No one can gossip about girls spending time together, right?" Dahlia smiled reassuringly.
"Great!" Catherine's eyes curved into cheerful crescents as she bounced with excitement. "Miss Nicole invited me to try something called a 'hot spring.' I have no idea what that is, though."
"Hot spring? Well, you'll find out when you get there." Dahlia replied with a chuckle, pulling Catherine along as they continued toward the pizza shop.
"Dahlia, aren't you going too?" Catherine asked blankly.
"I need to keep an eye on the cargo storage." Dahlia replied with a shake of her head. The past few days had been hectic—either inspecting the ships or checking the goods.
Since their last gathering at Elisa's house, she had barely found time to spend with Catherine. Meanwhile, her father had fully embraced his role as a hands-off manager, leaving everything to her.
"Alright then." Catherine sighed, though she understood how demanding Dahlia's work was. Managing a fleet required constant vigilance—one small mistake could lead to massive losses.
"Don't forget, you still need to finish buying gifts. Maybe Miss Nicole can give you some advice. After all, we'll be heading back to the royal capital soon." Dahlia reminded her.
"Mm-hmm! I've already asked her for suggestions." Catherine nodded earnestly.
"Here we are." Dahlia glanced at the pizza shop's entrance. "I wonder if Elisa's ready to leave."
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.