Chapter 248: Side Story 16 (END)
* * *
On the seventh day of Christmas and the last day of the year, morning dawned.
“This year’s banquet was a huge success.”
Having checked the mountain of gifts and mail early in the morning, Elliot couldn’t hide his satisfied smile.
The Duke and Duchess hadn’t attended the New Year’s ball in the capital for the past five years. Instead, it became a tradition to host a grand banquet at the northern duchy at the end of the year.
Up until a few years ago, the social reputation of the North was at rock bottom. Of course, the prestigious Carlyle ducal family, possessing wealth and power, had long been the object of fear and envy.
However, the only concern for the people regarding the Carlyle family was who would take the seat of the head; they had little to do with ostentatious balls or charitable works.
As a result, there were mocking comments about the ducal family, saying they were ‘barbarians overflowing with gold but lacking in grace.’
But in just a few years, that perception was turned around.
Didn’t Duke Carlyle build a theater for his wife, and in collaboration with the magicians, produce various expensive and rare magical tools? In a blink, the North became the center of culture and art.
Not only the nobility of the North but all the nobles of the Empire hoped to be invited to the exclusive Christmas banquet of the Duke’s house.
‘It’s so grand, right?’
‘How can we get an invitation?’
The Duke’s servants, secretly competitive with the imperial New Year’s ball, shed tears.
Each year, as the fame of the northern Christmas banquet grew, the popularity of the New Year’s ball hosted by the imperial family declined.
Now, there’s a mistress and a successor. Moreover, rumors abound that the Duke’s family is protected by connections with magicians and a mysterious dragon.
Of course, the real identity of the dragon was a child playing dolls with the young princess, but what mattered was what people believed.
The Duchy, skilled in intrigue over the years, enthusiastically spread the power of the family.
‘Good, good. Spread it more.’
Just by looking at the pouring invitations and gifts every day, one could guess how high the Ducal family’s status was.
‘Huh? Wait a moment.’
Sorting through the mail with satisfaction, Elliot paused.
A letter with the imperial seal caught his eye. The content was a routine greeting, but the interest in the young princess was quite blatant.
Elliot made a peculiar face for a moment.
The new Emperor had young sons.
‘But somehow, I feel the Master would be upset if he saw this…’
Considering the situation, Elliot thought he should be careful about what he said and headed downstairs.
There was some concern about the visit of the arrogant Emperor’s messenger, but excluding that, it was a very satisfactory Christmas.
With a reserved smile, Elliot checked the preparations for the last day’s banquet by looking around the banquet hall.
Tap-tap.
“Hmm?”
As Elliot was heading towards the kitchen after checking the banquet hall, he turned his head.
He thought he heard the sound of small footsteps coming from the corridor connecting the kitchen and the garden. Shrugging off the thought, he entered the kitchen and was horrified.
“…Eek!”
The cake, which had been peacefully placed in the kitchen just 10 minutes ago, now had half of it missing with its fancy decorations.
“Who would do such an unexpected act?”
While in confusion, Elliot soon found out the culprit.
“…Young lady!”
The nanny taking care of the two kids rushed out, saying the kids were not in their bed. Raising kids was similar to raising mischievous puppies.
“It’s not good!”
Quiet kids meant they were getting into trouble somewhere.
“I don’t know what it is, but don’t do it!”
“Come out quickly!”
Servants, unaware of the kids’ mischief, searched the garden.
The Duke and his knights, who had just returned from a morning horseback ride and hunting, witnessed the scene.
“It seems the princess has disappeared.”
The knights weren’t too surprised seeing the flustered Elliot.
It was a usual sight.
Ever since baby Lily started walking, she and the young dragon got into strange troubles whenever they were left unattended.
In a few months, baby Lily would turn two. She followed Nix everywhere, and since the baby dragon could go anywhere, it was inevitable.
“Shall we look for them?”
“…No.”
However, Lennox looked around the lit banquet hall.
In the hall, where the servants were setting table decorations, there were several large tables to be used for dinner.
Silently walking between the tables, the Duke stopped in front of one of them that looked the same as the others.
“Master?”
“…?”
The knights watched quietly as Duke Carlyle knelt on one knee in front of the table without understanding a word.
Shha.
Suddenly, Duke Carlyle bent down and swiftly lifted the tablecloth.
“Ah.”
Under the table, two children, sitting snugly, looked up in surprise.
With cream smeared around their mouths, the children blinked their wide-open eyes at the Duke.
Duke Carlyle grinned. It seemed like they had a delightful feast since the morning.
“Was it delicious?”
“Yes!”
Baby Lily, with cream on her mouth, replied energetically.
Upon hearing this, Nix beside her quickly shushed her.
“Shh, what if you answer…!”
“Uhuh. Shh!”
Lily, not understanding why Nix shushed her, placed her finger on her lips just like him. Recently, two-year-old Lily wanted to imitate everything her brother did.
Whispering, Nix, who just shushed Lily, quickly wiped the cream off Lily’s face with his sleeve and nervously met the Duke’s gaze.
Slyly hiding his sister behind him, Nix tried to act innocent.
“We didn’t eat!”
“No eat!”
Lily, not understanding the situation, excitedly imitated her brother. She seemed to be in a good mood after having something sweet in the morning.
Duke Carlyle tilted his head.
“What didn’t you eat?”
“Cake!”
“Cakeu!”
Although they tried to pretend, the two children were still too young and their act was quite unconvincing.
Watching the children, the Duke debated whether to laugh. He then took out a handkerchief and wiped Nix’s cheek.
“What about this?”
“…?”
The stain on the handkerchief was fresh cream.
Oops!
Nix’s pumpkin-colored eyes wavered. He had wiped off the cream from Lily’s face but never imagined there’d be evidence (cream) on his own face.
Nix looked downcast.
“…Actually, I ate a little.”
“Yes, a littwe!”
The knights, who had been watching with interest, barely held back their laughter.
The Duke’s eyes softened, but he purposefully asked in a stern voice.
“Weren’t you told it’s dangerous to sneak into the kitchen?”
Nix and Lily could go anywhere in the castle, but they had previously been scolded by Juliet for entering the kitchen because it was dangerous.
Being scolded by Juliet, whom they loved most in the world, was the scariest thing for them.
“We did wrong…”
“Did wong…?”
Only then did Lily realize the situation. She timidly peeked at the Duke with her hands folded.
“Come here.”
Nix and Lily quickly crawled out from under the table.
As the Duke didn’t scold them but only wiped their faces, Nix, who had been cautiously watching, tilted his head.
“…Will you tell Juliet?”
The Duke grinned and ruffled Nix’s hair.
“It’s a secret just for this time.”
“Yes!”
“Yesh!”
* * *
“These little troublemakers.”
Juliet, in her nightgown, brushed Nix’s tousled hair with her hand.
Despite the Duke’s promise of secrecy, as soon as she woke up, Juliet instantly understood what had happened when she saw the two children rushing into the bedroom.
“You ate cake, didn’t you?”
Lily and Nix looked up in surprise.
“Ah.”
“How did you know?”
Their faces were clean and they had changed their clothes!
“How did I know?”
Juliet smiled brightly.
“There’s such a sweet strawberry scent.”
Besides, since last evening, they had been singing about cake.
Juliet fixed Lily’s hairpin and straightened Nix’s collar.
‘So diligent.’
In a few months, Nix would turn four and Lily would be two. From the morning, they seemed full of energy.
Their addition to the Duke’s house didn’t just double the scale of mischief but quadrupled it.
“This, this, for you…”
Nix shyly handed over a small red flower and a thank-you card.
“It’s for giving to someone you like.”
“Who?”
“The Duke said so.”
“Me too!”
Baby Lily, who couldn’t yet read, proudly presented three red flowers.
They seemed to have secretly entered the kitchen to get the roses used for table decorations. The seventh and last day of Christmas was ‘Thanksgiving Day.’
“Oh my, how thoughtful.”
The watching maids smiled warmly.
As Juliet gave each child a kiss on the cheek in return, the two children, emitting a sweet strawberry scent, acted coy.
“Huh? It’s snowing!”
As the snow began to fall gently, the two children, like excited puppies, became eager to go outside.
Left alone, Juliet unfolded the thank-you card Nix had given her. Nix had learned to write quite well.
As Juliet was engrossed in reading the card, she didn’t notice the Duke approaching her from behind until a moment later.
“Ah, I’m a step late.”
Before she could turn around, he quickly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
“What is it?”
“I have something to give you.”
Juliet turned her head and lightly kissed his cheek.
“Not the one I got last night?”
At this, his eyes narrowed meaningfully.
“I thought that was a gift for me?”
At his cheeky response, Juliet burst into laughter.
“Close your eyes.”
Lennox led her to the downstairs hall to show her the gift he had prepared.
Upon seeing the gift, Juliet was momentarily speechless.
“I hope you like it.”
“…I do. More than anything.”
Juliet thanked him with a light kiss.
* * *
The last day of the seven-day Christmas festival was also the last day of the year.
In the morning, the Duke’s carriage stopped in front of a temple in the North. It was the very temple that had been grandly renovated a year ago, right before the ceremony of the princess’s baptism.
“Wow!”
Two children, dressed up from cloaks to boots like cute snowmen, lit up as they entered the temple. The candles brightly lit around the marble statue of the goddess was quite a sight, even for adults.
Baby Lily and Nix rushed to the candles, fascinated.
“This is where you light a candle and make a wish, kids.”
“Candle?”
“What’s a wish?”
As the priests demonstrated to the two children, Juliet was positioned where the goddess statue was directly visible.
Though northerners weren’t religious, the temple in the North was unique as it didn’t ask for offerings, thus many came to make wishes.
“…”
Juliet silently gazed at the splendidly shining goddess statue.
Years ago, on New Year’s Eve, Juliet had visited a temple alone to make a wish. Of course, it wasn’t in the North back then.
‘What did I wish for back then?’
Lost in thought, Juliet suddenly looked beside her.
Holding her hand was Duke Carlyle, who had just finished a formal greeting with the Archbishop.
“Lennox.”
“What were you thinking so deeply about?”
Juliet grinned:
“Just reminiscing about the past.”
“…”
Lennox slightly furrowed his brows.
He also sensed which ‘past’ she was referring to: years ago, at the grand temple in the capital, the day Juliet decided to leave him.
“What did you wish for?”
“Well, I can’t remember exactly, but-“
Juliet glanced at the chattering kids and smiled slyly.
“It seems to have come true, so it wasn’t a waste.”
“Waste?”
“I remember the price of that wish being quite high back then.”
Seeing the puzzled expression on his face, Juliet laughed joyfully.
“…Probably wished to be happy.”
Though she couldn’t recall the specifics, she was sure of the emotions from that time.
The day she decided to leave Lennox, she had been overwhelmed with fear, thinking a peaceful and happy future was impossible.
“But now I’m happy, so it came true, right?”
“…”
Lennox had to resist the urge to pull her close and kiss her.
Juliet grinned and asked:
“How about you? Any wishes you want to make?”
“My wish has already been fulfilled.”
Lifting the hand he was holding, Lennox gently kissed the back of it.
“A long time ago.”
Unbeknownst to her, what he had yearned for was already by his side. Confidence filled his soft voice.
Juliet smiled brightly.
The gift Lennox had prepared was a portrait of them, sketched a few months ago by an artist.
Initially, it was meant to be a family portrait once Lily was born, but they waited for the kids to grow, so it took 2 more years.
Suddenly, priests released doves, the messengers of the goddess, to commemorate the last day of the year.
People shifted to watch the soaring doves, but the couple in the temple remained still.
“…All I’ve ever wanted was just one thing.”
The only one to witness their tender, short kiss was the benevolent face of the goddess statue.
“I know.”
From within his embrace, Juliet giggled.
“I knew it from the start, actually.”
Juliet’s pale hand cradled his cheek.
“So, the rest of your days, they’re all mine.”
The sound of bells blessing their future echoed.
(Side Story: THE END)
Tl/note: Hi, it’s Kayi, the translator! Hope you enjoyed the series as much as I did. I’m glad we made it to the very end with all side stories, this novel was really exciting for me to translate.
I wanna thank readers for your support, and I would appreciate it if you have time to rate this novel on NU. Also eagerly waiting for you in my other projects (there are really interesting stories), so lets meet again there!
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