Baby Prisoner of the Winter Castle

And the child, who opened her eyes again, smiled very brightly at the two adults staring blankly at her. 

“Adults who like each other said they were writing love letters. Uncle Quentin!”

Clarisse glanced at the inner wall and winked lightly in one of her eyes.

She couldn’t hear it, but it was clear that all the stones that made up the inner wall were probably cheering with joy by now. 

It is the moment when their long-cherished wish comes true.

* * *

Clarisse went back to the room first after eating dessert.

The Duchess worried that the awkwardness the story had caused would remain long after the child had left.

So… it was like being embarrassed by what they confessed to each other a little while ago.

“Thank you for eating with me today.”

But it seemed like there was no reason to worry.

The Duke treated her as bluntly as usual.

‘I’m… a fool, too.’

It was for Clarisse’s sake that they said they liked each other. 

Because they couldn’t talk about a contract marriage to such an innocent child. 

“No.”

Brielle smiled.

“I know that the Duke brought Clarisse because you had a purpose. I want to cooperate as much as possible.” 

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Then may I get up first? I have something to do.”

Actually, there’s nothing to do. 

But that didn’t mean she could honestly say, ‘I want to go quickly because being alone is somehow uncomfortable.’

“Something to do….” 

Instead of answering that ‘I understand,’ he muttered what Brielle had given him.

Maybe he noticed that the word had a different meaning.

Brielle became uneasy for no reason.

“Yes, yes. I have something to do.”

She got up from her seat without asking his permission.

“Are you… going to write?” 

But he asked in a rather cool voice.

“The love letter.”

Suddenly… love letter? 

Brielle didn’t understand what Maximilian meant when he said that, so she just stared blankly at him.

‘The love letter that Clarisse talked about…Does he mean to write to him?’

She thought so for a moment but then denied it.

Maximilian Sheridan was truly a Prince.

Only a good Lady could write a love letter to a man as nice as him.

Soon he spoke again.

“That night…The letter you were going to send.”

“Yes?” 

“…No.” 

His gaze, which had been fixed on her, slowly moved away.

Soon, he started telling a confusing story.

“I’m sorry. I… so…” 

Brielle didn’t know what to say to him, who looked different than usual, so she only pursed her lips.

‘That night… Do you think I sent a love letter to someone else and came back?’

It was the night that Brielle came over the fence.

“I made a mistake.”

Maximilian, who soon got up from his seat, bowed, and apologized.

“I wasn’t trying to dig into your private life. I sincerely apologize.”

“N, no…” 

When Brielle managed to answer, he straightened himself and held out his arm.

“I will take you to your room.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Brielle took a step back and rejected his kindness.

There was no reason to seek his help in the mansion, and being with him was uncomfortable for some reason.

“It would be better for the Duke to go first. I’ll sit down a little longer and then go.”

Fortunately, he didn’t trouble Brielle by saying he would stand by her side.

Brielle is grateful for that fact and, on the other hand—.

She was disappointed. 

“Then excuse me first.”

Maximilian walked out of the dining room in the same straight position he was in when he first entered.

It wasn’t until he was completely out of sight that Brielle leaned deeply in her chair.

“A little while ago… What was it?”

She recalled Maximilian’s unfamiliar appearance.

Why does he seem to find it unpleasant that she sent a love letter to someone else? 

‘Ah, that must be unpleasant… The Ducal family’s honor will be ruined on the day someone finds out.’

If that was the case, it was understandable that Maximilian’s expression had become somewhat awkward.

“Should I tell you the story?”

That it wasn’t a love letter.

‘But if that happens, I have no choice but to explain what kind of letter it is.’

To do so, she first had to confess the story that she was not ‘Asela’ but that she was one of her maids, ‘Brielle.’ 

She doesn’t know if there is a child, but it is dangerous to make such a confession in a state where the marriage could be annulled at any time.

Of course, this wasn’t a concern for Brielle herself.

There’s only one person she’s concerned about.

Mother.

She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to protect her poor mother, who was barely receiving treatment with the help of the Count. 

Because without her, Brielle wouldn’t have survived to this day. 

‘Mo…ther.’

Brielle muttered her long-cherished name only by the shape of her lips and then quietly got up from her seat. 

Now she won’t run into Maximilian and will be able to return to her room. 

Leaving the dining room, Brielle looked around the table for the last time.

‘…It was fun.’

She was surprised by what Clarisse said, but somehow she liked it.

‘She’s a really… lovely child.’

Brielle remembered the cute, honey-colored eyes carefully looking up at her and finally smiled.

* * *

Clarisse somehow felt better and jumped up and down alternately.

‘I found out that the Duke and the Duchess like each other!’

She was so proud of herself because she thought she did a great job.

The girl grinned as she turned to Sir Benson, who took her to her room.

“Ah, today is such a happy day.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Yes?” 

“To fall for the tricks of the prisoner…!” 

Clarisse was startled and stood still.

Benson was apparently angry that Clarisse, a prisoner, made a plan on her own.

‘W, what should I do?’

She promised to stay quiet in the castle, but if the Duke finds out that she didn’t even know her subject—.

“I, I…! I’ll keep quiet.”

“I won’t do anything bad.”

“….?” 

Benson blinked and looked down at the girl.

Clarisse’s amber eyes sparkled with a wish, ‘So please don’t tell the Duke.’

“Hmm!”

Clearing his throat, Benson crossed his arms and replied solemnly.

“Yes, it is natural for you to renew the resolution after receiving the grace of having dinner with the Duke.” 

“Yes, that’s right. The Duke’s grace has increased. Like a snowball!”

“Yes, it is not human to forget grace.”

Benson urged Clarisse into the room.

‘I’ve been presumptuous… Is he forgiving me?’

Clarisse stopped in front of her room, determined not to forget Benson’s kindness.

And at the time when she tried to enter the room, following Rosalie, who waited for her in front of the door.

“…That.” 

Benson suddenly called Clarisse.

“Yes, Lord Benson!”

“Well done, Clarisse.”

“…Yes?!”

Clarisse blushed at the sudden compliment, so she asked him back, but all he did was murmur to himself and scratch his head. 

“It is not human to forget grace…” 

What grace is he talking about all of a sudden?

Clarisse wanted to ask him a question.

But he stroked Clarisse’s hair with his big hand, said, “Thank you,” “Good night,” and left. 

Looking at his back, Clarisse pondered the meaning of his kind words.

‘Did Sir Benson know the feelings of the Duke and his wife?’

Maybe that’s why he praised Clarisse’s performance. 

‘In that case, even to Sir Benson… I’m helpful!’

Clarisse was so happy that she wanted to jump up and down on the spot.

But now, the priority for her was to greet back Sir Benson because she had to keep her manners. 

“G, good night Sir Benson!” 

He responded to her greeting by raising one hand and not looking back. He seemed to be having fun somehow. 

‘What should I do, I’m so happy. Perhaps… Couldn’t the inner walls be as happy as Sir Benson?’

Clarisse wanted to touch the wall immediately but couldn’t do it now.

As Rosalie had been waiting for her after getting ready for her bath.

‘They must be glad that a long-standing problem has finally been resolved, right? If the inner walls compliment me like Sir Benson, I will be embarrassed, what should I do…’

Clarisse imagined as she immersed herself in the warm water.

The lively inner voice shouted, ‘As expected, Clarisse is trustworthy!’.

She suddenly started to smile for no reason.

* * *

After leaving the dining room, Brielle returned to her room, careful not to bump into anyone.

Fortunately, she didn’t encounter anyone other than her newly assigned maid.

Brielle quickly sent her maid back, saying she would take care of it alone.

She did this because she worried that her maid would talk to her in a friendly way and ask, “Did you enjoy your dinner?”

Perhaps if that question were asked now, Brielle would be in trouble as she wouldn’t know what to answer. 

She went to the mirror, put her arms behind her back, and removed the necklace.  After that, she skillfully loosened the tightening strap behind her back. 

Since she was a maid, she was used to putting on and taking off her dress on her own, so she didn’t have any trouble.

After hanging her dress on the sofa, Brielle sat down in front of the vanity mirror and dressed lightly. 

“…Huh?” 

Brielle looked down curiously at something that wasn’t normally there.

It was a white envelope.