Chapter 139

“It’s soooo pretty!”

Diane had been squealing for a while now as she gazed up at White Swan Castle.

Nerys wore a rather unamused expression, and Joyce, seated with the two ladies in the same carriage, looked visibly concerned—especially as Diane, unbefitting of a noble young lady, kept bouncing in her seat.

“Di, you’ll get hurt. You need to sit still when the carriage is moving.”

“But the castle is so beautiful and the other buildings are blocking the view. If I twist my body just like this—I can see better!”

“You’ll have plenty of time to look while we’re staying here.”

“You can’t see the castle from inside the castle, you know. Brother, I just want to enjoy the emotion of this moment, okay? Stop nagging.”

Unable to stand the sibling banter, Nerys stepped in.

“When we go out again later, you can admire it then. Right now we’re on a slope—it’s dangerous. Sit still.”

Diane calmed instantly. Joyce silently thanked Nerys with his eyes.

A moment later, the carriage stopped at the gates of White Swan Castle. Joyce was the first to descend and offered his hand to help Diane out.

The snow-white castle was truly elegant and beautiful. Its style was different from the buildings Diane was used to, but there was no disputing its aesthetic excellence. Her eyes widened with joy as she took it all in.

Just as Joyce was about to offer a hand to help Nerys down next, Cledwyn—who had arrived earlier with the Platinum Order—stepped forward and extended his hand.

“Excuse me.”

Nerys took his hand and stepped down lightly, gracefully.

Joyce quietly pulled back his hand. At that moment, a woman approached and bowed.

“Lady Moriér.”

Diane greeted her first with delight.

“It’s been a while.”

Joan Moriér smiled warmly and bowed in return.

It had been some time since they last met.

❖ ❖ ❖

Even though it hadn’t been all that long, Ellen looked like she was about to cry when she saw Nerys. Compared to her, Nerys’s mother almost seemed cold for showing nothing but quiet relief after confirming her daughter was safe.

“Are you really alright, my lady? An assassination—what did you ever do to deserve such an unforgivable act!”

Ever since the former Grand Duchess’s chamber had been reopened, Ellen had become noticeably more emotional in front of Nerys. She remained the same competent and dignified head maid, but now she could smile with pure warmth, and when angry, her voice rose sharply.

Nerys understood what this change meant. She had gained a person.

Naturally, even the way Ellen spoke to her had softened.

“I’m fine, Ellen. We caught all the culprits, and now I’m back.”

“Thank goodness His Grace could meet you halfway. Shall we increase the guard around the west palace? We must be more careful with guests in the castle.”

“Yes, do that. Please take care of the MacKinnon family too.”

“Of course. I hear the young countess is a close friend of yours? I’ve already prepared everything to make her stay as comfortable as possible.”

“Thank you. Hearing that from you makes me feel very reassured.”

While Ellen and Nerys chatted warmly, Dora helped Nerys change her clothes. Though all the garments taken to Dreykum had been of fine quality, they’d been through travel and were no longer in ideal condition.

As Dora fastened the bodice of a fresh, refined dress that was both vibrant and formal, she commented cheerfully,

“I believe this dress has gotten a bit small, my lady.”

“Yes, I’ve gained a little weight recently. You saying it confirms it.”

Nerys replied without much thought.

The dress she wore now had adjustable ties to fit the wearer’s body, so it wasn’t a problem—but not all dresses were like that. Every time she had new clothes made, she thought how inconvenient it was. She was at an age where her body should’ve stopped growing, and had thought she’d no longer need new ones except in special cases.

“You haven’t gained weight, Riz.”

Her mother chuckled gently at her daughter’s words. Nerys blinked in surprise as her mother explained kindly,

“Your body’s fully matured now, so your shape is softening. It’ll keep changing for a few more years. It happened to me too. I was stick-thin while I was growing, but my figure changed over a few years as I became a woman.”

“Really?”

Nerys was genuinely surprised. Her gaze dropped, studying her own figure.

Unlike her mother’s words, in her previous life, Nerys had never experienced such “softening” even as an adult. Whether as a student, a duchess, or the crown princess, she had always remained slender and sharp-boned.

But in this life, her body shape was curiously different.

She was still petite and slim, but the lines of her body were far more graceful. The parts often considered attractive had filled out gently, while her waist and wrists were still slender—yet not bony.

‘Because I eat better now? Or because I live more comfortably?’

But the amount she ate wasn’t all that different, and both past and present, her life had been a constant cycle of sleepless work. So neither explanation seemed right.

‘Maybe… it’s because I’m at peace.’

In her past life, Nerys had spent this period crying herself to sleep, praying every night that tomorrow wouldn’t come. Of course there’d been no room for her body to fill out.

Ellen now smiled, clearly pleased as she agreed with her mistress.

“You’ve always been beautiful, but you’ve become even more charming lately.”

“You look truly radiant, my lady. The kitchen staff will be delighted too. Please, have a look.”

Having finished dressing her, Dora proudly gestured to the mirror. It was a full-length mirror placed in the center of the room whenever Nerys changed.

She had been deliberately avoiding it, but couldn’t any longer. Nerys cast a deliberately indifferent glance at her reflection. And then… she couldn’t look away.

It wasn’t because she was so beautiful she couldn’t stop staring. On the contrary, the reflection still didn’t quite feel like someone she liked.

But it was, somehow, a little better than before.

That alone was enough to surprise her. And the fact that she didn’t know why—that too was strange. Nerys blinked a few times at her own reflection. Then, as usual, once the unpleasant feeling crept in, she turned her gaze toward the window.

“The weather is nice.”

It was the only thing she could think to say.

Her mother kissed her freshly brushed hair and said,

“My baby, go do what you need to do. Just remember—your safety is always the most important thing.”

“Yes, Mom.”

The place her mother’s lips had touched felt warm. Nerys smiled and stepped out with Dora.

Exiting the west palace, they found a courtyard in full summer bloom. The restored greenhouse sparkled in the sunlight with its delicate frame, and crystal-clear water flowed along the edges of the flowerbeds.

The transformed west courtyard was now such a given that no one even commented on it anymore. As Dora briskly walked the colonnade’s edge, she asked Nerys,

“If you enter the negotiations, the young count will surely be surprised. Should I prepare anything in advance?”

“No. Sir Joyce will understand the situation quickly.”

Most people at White Swan Castle already knew that the Moriér Merchant Group belonged to Nerys. It had never been officially announced, but if it weren’t true, Joan wouldn’t have relocated to Penmewick and stayed for several months.

She provided goods that Maindulante needed at fair prices and sold what was useless here at high prices in the south. Ideal behavior, yet Joan Moriér never acted servile or condescending.

She simply upheld the principle that “a deal is only valid when both sides benefit.” Easy to say, hard to practice—but she maintained that stance under any circumstances.

Three seasons weren’t enough for people in Maindulante to fully trust a southern merchant group. But the Moriér name had built a positive image and was doing solid business.

Even if the negotiations between the Moriér and MacKinnon merchant groups were held here at the ducal castle, everyone would likely agree—“It benefits Maindulante, so it’s a good thing.”

‘Of course, even if the talks happened elsewhere, offering the venue ourselves makes it look better.’

Officially, the Moriér headquarters was registered in Joan’s hometown—but that was just for administrative convenience. Nerys was considering moving the headquarters to Maindulante, depending on how things went.

‘In case Camill ever tries to lay a hand on Joan.’

Just in case.

Nerys didn’t know exactly what that case might be. But before long, everything would begin to move in earnest.

‘Releasing the Marquis of Tipion was the first dice roll.’

Allies had to be placed somewhere safe. Those in ambiguous positions needed to be moved to places where their stance was clear.

Joan, by her position, was in the same boat as Nerys. As the assassination attempt proved, Camill had already started making moves. Nerys had to be even more cautious for Joan’s safety. Staying in Maindulante was physically safer than anywhere else in the Empire.

Joan’s younger siblings had also grown enough in recent years to help her. Once they moved here, Joan would be relatively free from threats.

With all this in mind, Nerys hoped the Moriér Merchant Group would prove its worth in this negotiation with the MacKinnon group. Even if Nerys failed, Joan had to survive.

And now the MacKinnon family had also been added to those under her protection.

So Nerys wanted them to see exactly what kind of dignity a proper partner could possess in Maindulante.

That included the future knowledge she held.

‘I’ll present it as intelligence—just a little at a time—but that alone is enough. The MacKinnon group already has strength. If they seize the opportunity, they’ll flourish.’

When she reached the main castle, an attendant was waiting to escort her to the meeting room. A MacKinnon knight stationed by the door gave her a confused look.

“I’m here to join the meeting. Open the door.”

The knight knew Nerys well. He also knew both Joyce and Diane would never want her left waiting outside. And given they were guests in this castle, he had no authority to block its own mistress.

There was no reason to refuse, so he opened the door without protest—though he still looked unsure of what was going on. Inside, Joyce mirrored that same confused expression when he saw her.

“Lady Nerys?”

“My lady.”

Joan and Joyce both stood, as propriety dictated. Nerys entered and offered a polite curtsy.

Seeing her naturally take a seat beside Joan, Joyce’s eyes widened in surprise. Joan spoke respectfully.

“Allow me to introduce the true owner of the Moriér Merchant Group.”

“…What?”

Joyce’s jaw dropped. A moment later, he bit his lip. Ever earnest, he accepted it quickly.

“This is problematic, Lady Nerys. If the negotiations go poorly, Di’s going to strangle me.”

It was his version of a joke. Nerys chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry, Sir Joyce. If anything, Di will just come to me and say she’s hurt I didn’t tell her.”

Her eyes sparkled with delight. This kind of dialogue—this exact kind of diplomacy—was where Nerys truly shined. It was her specialty, honed in her past life through countless foreign affairs.

Joyce, sensing the storm that was about to hit him, let out a faint smile.

And five hours later, he stumbled out of the meeting room—exhausted and stunned, but thoroughly satisfied.