Chapter 73

As Karentina sipped the warm tea, the fragrance of green grapes filled the air. It seemed to be Darjeeling. She took a big bite of the freshly baked scone, still warm, topped with clotted cream and jam. The rich butter flavor instantly filled her mouth, tantalizing her taste buds. The thick, clotted cream and tangy-sweet jam melted away almost immediately.

‘This is so good!’

It was definitely a scone she had every day, but the freshness of the ingredients made it taste unmatched.

Every dessert Madam Sharon served was exactly to her liking. The fruit jelly, in particular, wasn’t overly sweet, and the concentrated fruit flavor popped in her mouth, making it absolutely delightful.

‘Should I ask for the recipe?’

Karentina paused, thinking about Stella, who was back at the castle.

After satisfying her hunger a bit, she felt a little embarrassed.

Ignis and Baron Rodon barely touched anything but their tea as they discussed the upcoming storage building and the direction of their plans. Before long, Karentina found herself carefully listening to their discussion while planning for the New Year’s celebration. The sweet treats helped her think quickly.

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“Alright, if we go ahead with this, it looks like it’ll be finished soon.”

A smile spread across Baron Rodon’s wrinkled face.

Ignis quietly set his teacup down, casting a quick glance at the clock on the wall. The meeting, which she had expected to end quickly, had run longer than anticipated. Luckily, they were still able to meet the time he had promised the coachman. Karentina picked up the robe she had placed beside her and slowly put it back on.

“It’s a pity that you have to leave so soon.”

Baron Rodon’s eyes drooped with a look of regret. Karentina gave a small smile and answered for him.

“I’ll be sure to visit next time when I get the chance.”

“I’ve asked the butler to bring the carriage around to the front of the mansion, so please wait just a moment.”

Karentina nodded gratefully at the baron’s thoughtfulness.

How much time had passed?

As the silence lingered in the drawing room, Ignis broke it with a cold remark.

“He’s late.”

Her expression darkened. The butler, who had gone to call the coachman, still hadn’t returned.

“What on earth happened? I’ll go outside and check.”

As Baron Rodon stepped outside, Ignis crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa. The sky, which had been clear and bright in the morning, was now overcast with gray clouds. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

Just then.

“….!”

The sound of rapid footsteps drew Karentina’s attention, and she turned to look out the window. The heavy rain lashed against the glass, and given how hard it was coming down, it didn’t seem like it would stop anytime soon. Baron Rodon returned to the drawing room shortly after, his shoulders and hair damp from the rain.

“The butler came back, but he says the coachman is missing. It looks like he rushed off to get out of the bad weather.”

Karentina turned toward the baron, urgency in her expression.

“Baron, would it be possible to borrow one of the carriages from the mansion?”

“Pardon?”

“I think we should head back to the North quickly, before the rain gets any worse.”

Baron Rodon’s eyes widened. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, staring out the window with a concerned look.

“The weather in the western region is unpredictable during the winter rainy season. It might seem clear, but you never know when it’ll suddenly start pouring like this.”

“Pardon? The winter rainy season?”

Karentina felt her legs grow weak.

Baron Rodon alternated his gaze between Ignis and Karentina before speaking again.

“Why don’t you just stay the night at my mansion and head out tomorrow? As you saw when you arrived, the road is an unpaved shortcut, and there’s a risk of the carriage getting stuck in a ditch. With this rain, there could even be a serious accident.”

“We need to use the teleportation circle to get back to the north…”

A worried expression appeared on Karentina’s face. It seemed Ignis shared her concerns. The idea of staying here another day was the last thing either of them wanted.

Ignis, staring out the window at the rain, let out a quick sigh before speaking.

“I think we should follow Baron Rodon’s advice. The road is narrow and steep, so it seems impossible to reach the teleportation circle.”

“…I understand.”

Karentina nodded, swallowing back her tears. The rain outside the window continued to pour down even harder.

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The moment it was decided that Karentina and Ignis would stay at the mansion, the mansion’s employees were thrown into a panic. It wasn’t just any ordinary noble; she was the daughter of a high-ranking duke.

Until their rooms were prepared, Karentina and Ignis were asked to wait in the drawing room.

“The weather out West can be a bit temperamental, can’t it?”

Seeing Madam Sharon smile so warmly and kindly, she couldn’t help but return the smile softly.

“I never expected there to be a rainy season in the winter.”

Karentina wandered around the drawing room, admiring the small decorations on the mantel and the charming, delicate embroidery. Her eyes shone with delight.

“You must like the embroidery.”

“Yes, it’s beautiful and impressive.”