“This is the Castle of Shadows.”

Several people swallowed as they stepped out of the carriage.

They were the nobles of neighbouring fiefs who were invited.

They were invited to the castle only now because what they were supposed to come to was an engagement or wedding ceremony, but Daphne and Kael’s were held in an informal manner.

“It’s creepy.”

The black castle itself exuded a great sense of intimidation.

“They said we couldn’t see His Grace today, right?”

“Yes, they said he was away due to urgent business.”

“That’s a relief. The cursed grand duke…”

Hup. The man hurriedly shut his mouth, but everyone must be thinking the same thing.

A black castle, a territory where only winter comes, and even a cursed grand duke.

The castle alone was very frightening, but they might faint if they saw the grand duke.

“By the way,”

A man with his hair neatly brushed back intervened in the conversation.

“What kind of person would the princess be?”

“Ah.”

People’s faces changed in an instant. From horror and fear to displeasure and ridicule.

For them, who were of noble blue blood from birth, the commoner of the imperial family was an unwelcome existence in one way or another.

In addition, their displeasure intensified because they had to come to say hello like this.

“Well, wouldn’t she be a good person?”

“It was noisy when she was adopted, but there was no word after that, wasn’t there?”

When the emperor adopted Daphne, he published a large portrait and Daphne’s pitiful circumstances in the newspaper.

And he made himself like an extremely merciful man who adopted such a nice and pretty child.

He sold Daphne’s circumstances.

“I heard that the learning was too short to be let out.”

“I’ve heard that the tutors ran away with both hands raised each time.”

“Indeed.”

The man who first brought up Daphne shook his head.

“Since she has lived on the streets for more than eight years, her learning and temperament cannot be the same as ours.”

The man smiled brightly.

“So, even if the Grand Duchess makes a mistake today, let’s all move on nicely!”

Listening to Daphne roughly, pretending to understand and be considerate of her, but not on the inside.

They openly regarded Daphne as completely different from themselves.

The others nodded at the remark.

“That’s right, it’s probably her first time greeting guests. How many mistakes would she make? There’s no one to teach her.”

An ordinary aristocratic lady would have learned how to greet guests from the lady of the house.

However, the former lady of the house of the grand duchy was Zegman.

The second son of a poor count family, a wandering knight, and a playful and sly personality.

So there was an atmosphere of certainty that Daphne would not have learned anything.

“Let’s not be surprised if the grand duchess asks what a knife is.”

Hahaha! Some people laughed heartily among themselves.

The man with his hair brushed back laughed and stopped them.

“Alas, it’s overheating. I was just saying it because I was worried about the grand duchess.”

“Count Hins is thoughtful.”

‘Done.’

The man called Count Hins smiled inwardly.

Now these people won’t think otherwise when they see Daphne.

A wild personality, an uneducated commoner. They have that image in their heads.

‘Wasn’t it said that she was born to win people’s sympathy?’

How clever it is to be only thirteen.

‘Recruiting all the people of the Bertrand family and tormenting that angel?’

Count Hins still felt heartbroken when he recalled the letter he received in an urgent message a few days ago.

It was Rachel Theodore who sent the letter.

Count Hins had consistently proposed to her for several years.

The bullying was so severe that she even sent a letter asking for help.

The count shook his head.

‘An evil thing.’

The only thing she saw and learned on the street seemed to be to bully angelic people by pinning them down.

That’s why she was from the streets.

‘Lady Theodore said she had a plan.’

The request was brief.

It was simply to remind others that the princess was a commoner and to support her words when the time came.

It was a simple task.

‘I’m sure she will accept my proposal if I finish this job well!’

Rachel couldn’t have accepted Count Hins, who was far less wealthy than Count Theodore.

But Count Hins always had hope alone.

Wasn’t that in the books?

It was said that women are shy and accept marriage proposals only after refusing them over and over again.

‘She has refused for years, so now she will really accept it.’

It was a sad delusion. And it was an annoying delusion for Rachel.

Count Hins, who was the only one who didn’t know that, even hummed and took the lead.

“Tsk.”

Wessler, who was watching it all, clicked his tongue.

If Her Ladyship hadn’t ordered to observe the guests no matter what the rudeness was, they would have drawn their swords right away.

‘If His Grace had been present, he would have cut off their tongues.’

Saying they won’t need such a dirty tongue.

‘By the way, what is Her Ladyship thinking?’

What was she thinking, to leave such rude people alone?

While curious, Wessler dutifully guided the guests with the butler.

‘Let’s see what kind of girl she is!’

Count Hins took the lead with confidence. He was burning with a fighting spirit.

But it soon went away with a hissing sound.

“The wisdom and sagacity of the winter crows to you.”

Daphne, who greeted the guests at the door, greeted them politely.

Her hair half tied in a mature way was eye-catching pink, and her golden eyes were full of sparkles.

For a month, she ate well and rested well in the grand duke residence, so her chubby cheeks added to the loveliness.

There.

‘You’re really a child, aren’t you?’

Because she was a child.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know.

When Daphne was adopted, he also saw the newspaper distributed by the emperor and read the letter from Rachel.

So he knew very well that she was thirteen years old.

Nevertheless, as soon as he saw Daphne, Count Hins felt that his fighting spirit was lost.

‘No, no!’

He mustn’t fall over himself. Recalling poor Rachel Theodore, the count managed to pull himself together.

‘I need to find fault with it.’

He had to find fault and criticize. Only then will the Bertrand people come to their senses.

“Thank you for coming this far. Welcome to the Castle of Shadows. I am Daphne Bertrand.”

Daphne curtsied.

The attitude and content were impeccably perfect.

And what is that cute and lovely look?

They thought she was a dirty commoner, but now they could believe that she was an aristocrat from birth.

At Daphne’s greeting, people bowed their heads together.

‘Huhh?’

‘This isn’t it, is it?’

People were perplexed. Didn’t they just laugh at the grand duchess earlier for knowing nothing a little while ago?

But what is this perfect etiquette?

“I am Zegman Bertrand. Welcome to the Castle of Shadows.”

In addition, Daphne’s manners shone even more thanks to Zegman.

Because Zegman had no intention of being polite.

‘The grand duchy only taught how to greet.’

Count Hins nodded inwardly. It was clear that they only taught greetings intensively because it would be a shame if she stammered even at the first greeting.

If you invest a few days, it’s just a greeting. Well. Other kids can do this too.

‘There’s still a lot to pick on.’

There were more than one or two virtues that a hostess should possess.

One of them was to decorate the reception room for guests.

What kind of atmosphere, whether to use seasonal flowers or different decorations, and what kind of food to serve.

No matter how experienced the hostess was, she always had a hard time preparing for a party.

Can that child do such a tricky duty? Without anyone to help with that?

Count Hins’s gaze reached Zegman’s drooping yawn.

He was never someone who could help Daphne.

The count lowered his head quickly as his eyes met with Zegman.

‘I won’t miss each and every one!’

If it’s decorated too fancy, the grand duchess, who should set an example, can be accused of being extravagant.

If it was decorated simply, it can be a matter of sarcastic remarks that it lacked dignity.

If there are a lot of decorations that don’t match, then he can blame her birth for not having eyes to see…

“Oh my goodness.”

The missus who entered the drawing room first exclaimed.

Then the eyes of the people who followed into the drawing room grew bigger.

“I hurriedly decorated it because I heard there were precious guests coming, but I don’t know how it would be.”

Daphne smiled bashfully at such people.

Of course the Castle of Shadows was black.

Since it’s black, it’s named the Castle of Shadows.

‘I don’t check everything inside, but it’s dull.’

It becomes rather cozy only when you get used to it, but it was not for first-time visitors.

So Daphne overturned the entire drawing room with the largest window.

The semi-hexagonal window secured a breezy view, and the red old curtains were replaced with curtains made of blue satin that remind you of the sea.

Old and unused furniture was put out and a large table was placed in the middle.

A white tablecloth with blue accents was laid out on it and flowers made of silk were decorated on top of it.

‘That wasn’t enough.’

The gloom hadn’t completely vanished yet. So Daphne, after much consideration, uprooted several winter trees of moderate size.

Of course, Daphne didn’t pick it. Leon did it.

“It’s so beautiful. Did the Grand Duchess decorate it by herself?”

“No, everyone helped a lot. Mister Zegman also helped.”

It was true. Daphne thought about it, but she had to borrow hands to decorate.

‘I got more help from Leon than I thought.’

The silk flowers adorning the table and around the winter trees were also made at Leon’s house.

She couldn’t believe he made so many pretty flowers in just a few days.

‘I should go to Leon’s house next time.’

“What have I helped you with?”

Zegman grinned as he rubbed his chin.

“My baby did everything.”

“…..!!”

“Ba—by?”

Eventually, that name came out. Daphne’s face turned red.

The guests opened their eyes wide in surprise, but soon laughed.

“Mister Zegman really cares about the little lady!”

“It’s really nice to see. This is how families should be.”

“Come to think of it, the grand duchess and Mister Zegman’s health…”

The atmosphere instantly improved. Seeing that, Count Hins broke into a cold sweat.

There was nothing to find fault with again this time.

He was doomed.

Only that thought filled the count’s mind.