WYDM 37

The first anniversary party had been a day to reminisce about the past and express gratitude, but there was one more important reason behind it.

It was to steel her resolve to move forward another step while continuing what she’d accomplished over the past year.

“Now I need to start the next phase.”

Sehera muttered like she was steeling her heart.

The estate, which had been lively and cheerful, had become quiet again. No matter how much Sana was a child who spread joyful energy, she wasn’t chattering 24 hours a day, and especially now… she wasn’t even nearby.

“Surprisingly, she’s doing well with the nursing.”

It was the second day since she’d sent Sana in her place, feeling awkward about facing Ethan.

Her previous concern about letting others in had been that he might arbitrarily reveal his identity, so now there was no reason not to send someone.

Though she’d considered asking Rabo since nursing a sick person required strength, she’d sent Sana instead, thinking it too cruel to ask someone shy to watch over a stranger all day.

Sana had the social skills to probably become friendly even with Ethan, but she liked Sehera so much that she strongly disliked the “ex-husband” she’d heard about from her explanations, so Sehera couldn’t guarantee how she’d react.

Sehera took out the letters that had come from the current Count Planer. Though “over time” only meant two letters.

These were replies to her letter saying she’d properly returned to the estate and would reclaim the Planer name.

[My dear niece,

First, that you’ve returned to Planer—there could be no greater tragedy. Those around you won’t look kindly upon you, nor will they speak only kind words…

Why did you think to leave the ducal estate? He would have been a solid backing and support for you. It seems you were quite rash.

Yet I’m also thinking about how difficult things must have been for you to make such a choice.

The estate must be very quiet now, so I hope you gather your spirits there and begin living again.

Ah, I hear you’re doing interesting things, but don’t be a burden to the count’s house.

– Content Planer from Maplon]

Nowhere in his letter was there any mention of the count’s title. When Sehera had first sent him a letter, she’d deliberately minimized pleasantries and clearly written only about reclaiming the count’s title, so this complete lack of response could only mean he’d deliberately omitted it.

Fredil, who’d given that advice, had nodded while reading Content’s letter and immediately suggested starting with business.

He’d judged that groundwork was necessary for reclaiming the count’s title.

The second letter was the same. After much hardship, when Dirk’s shop in the capital had become quite well-known and they’d started showing pure profit even after paying everyone working there appropriately, she’d demanded the title be returned once more.

But Content’s response wasn’t much different from the first letter. Something like “I’m glad you’re doing well, contact me anytime you need help.”

Sehera pressed her lips tightly together. She hadn’t thought things would drag on like this. Perhaps it was only possible because she’d been a naive young lady.

Legally, he was simply receiving and managing it temporarily, and there was a clause stating he must hand it over to direct descendants at any time, yet he was acting completely oblivious.

‘Until you hand over the seal, stamp the document making me the official master of Planer, and place it in my hands, I can’t feel secure.’

She clearly remembered Fredil’s words. He’d said she needed to leave documents and hand them to a lawyer, but the hidden meaning before that was also important.

She had to ‘receive’ the seal from him. Stealing it would be useless. When creating documents, his mark also needed to be left.

Just like how two married people must each leave their records on the same document.

“Why on earth didn’t he process that?”

Even when she’d been at the ducal estate, he’d been busy going out, returning to rest, then leaving again, so Leri had handled all the estate’s management.

Come to think of it, she’d existed as a full mistress at the ducal estate, yet hadn’t touched the household management that was a wife’s greatest duty at all.

With no husband to care… there was no one to properly assign her a role either.

“No, that’s because I didn’t properly step forward. I have to claim my own rights.”

She’d never resented that. She’d just been a bit timid. When he disliked her so much, was it okay to step forward?

If he disliked her doing something here, wouldn’t offering to manage the household earn his disapproval—such… worries.

Sehera sometimes found herself either self-blaming or pointlessly resenting someone when her thoughts spiraled.

That was the one thing she shouldn’t do.

She clenched and unclenched her hands to steel her heart.

Acknowledging her mistakes was good, but falling into self-blame only made her flounder without helping solve problems. Likewise, resenting pointless people was just a waste of time.

If there was someone worth resenting, she should think of ways to get revenge on them.

Sehera made a small fighting pose and immediately left her room. To meet one person she could always find by going to the kitchen.

“Huh…?”

She’d come to the kitchen, but Romina wasn’t there. Because there was a door attached to the kitchen with her room beyond it, Romina, who was usually in the kitchen when working and in that inner room when not, was nowhere to be seen.

“Umm… where did she… Ah!”

Sehera, who’d been tilting her head and muttering, opened her mouth in realization.

She’d sent Sana to nurse, so all the work Sana had been doing had also become Romina’s responsibility… she hadn’t thought of that.

Then she couldn’t hope to meet her right away. She’d have to wander around to find where she might be.

Sehera immediately left the kitchen and began carefully looking around the estate.

She wanted to meet Romina because she was torn about whether to hold a small party at the estate or attend a party hosted by someone of high status.

Another purpose of holding the first anniversary party—it had also been an experiment to see if this estate had the capability to invite guests.

To invite nobles, she had to prepare thoroughly to meet a certain standard.

Especially since she’d learned through Fredil that she was being whispered about as the only noble guarding this estate, who’d also been divorced and had an image like a young lady who couldn’t manage a household well, she absolutely couldn’t show any gaps.

So there had been the opinion that rather than not preparing properly and perfectly, it would be better to be invited to someone else’s party.

First, the party with the village people and Fredil had ended very successfully. They’d deliciously eaten and enjoyed the abundantly prepared food.

“Oh my? Miss, what brings you all the way to the fourth floor?”

“Haa, haa…”

Though she’d said she looked around carefully, climbing to the estate’s fourth floor left her inevitably out of breath. Gripping the railing, she was concentrating hard on catching her breath without heaving too much.

And that sight only looked cute to Romina.

“I, haa… had something to discuss… whew…”

Romina gathered up the mop she’d been holding and waited until her breathing settled slightly.

Sehera, who’d been calming her breathing like swallowing it down repeatedly, soon returned to a composed face.

“I had some questions about the party. Should we go down and talk together?”

“Ah, Miss, there’s a nice place here on the fourth floor too. Would you like to talk there?”

While Sehera glanced at the stairs as she spoke, Romina looked to the side knowingly, understanding her dilemma. Following her gaze, she saw a door inside the fourth-floor hallway.

“Yes, if it’s okay, talking before going down would be good.”

Sehera obediently followed Romina’s suggestion and opened that door. Then an unexpected space opened before her eyes.

The place she’d thought would be a small room with a low ceiling was a space with large windows letting in abundant sunlight. While the ceiling was indeed lower than elsewhere, it was still fine for standing and walking around.

So it was extremely cozy.

“Wow… why didn’t I know this space existed?”

With a fluffy rug spread in the center, it looked exactly like an invitation to sit on the floor, and it looked quite comfortable. Sure enough, Romina walked right over and settled down on one side of the rug.

“This used to be a storage room. When you said last time to look for valuable things and organize them, I cleaned here, and I liked how the sunlight came in, so I decorated it separately.”

Sehera nodded. It was a moment when the estate, which she’d thought was just a familiar space, felt quite new. Though she hadn’t thought this space was boring…

“If it’s about the party, what did you want to discuss, Lady Sehera?”

Romina, who’d settled first, opened the topic she’d been about to bring up earlier so she could speak comfortably.

Sehera also settled on one side of the rug and sat comfortably. After arranging her full skirt, she laid out her concerns one by one to Romina, who was smiling at her appearance.

“Was it hard preparing for this party? Inviting ten people to host lunch, have tea time, then dinner too.”

It was too difficult to do alone, so not only Sana but even Sehera had joined the preparations, and they’d moved together for shopping too.

“Hmm~ Since there was so much to do for this party, with Sana and you helping, the work finished faster than expected.”

Romina readily provided the answer she wanted.

“Mmm… The reason I held this party was partly to test how properly we could host a party.”

“Aha. So there was such a deeper meaning…?”

When she’d just said it was to express gratitude to people, it had been nothing more than her usual work, but if it was a rehearsal for some other event, it would be quite interesting to Romina.

She waited for Sehera’s next words with sparkling eyes.

“Actually, what I’m wondering now is whether we can invite noble ladies or wives to this estate.”

“Ohhh.”

When talk came up of a small gathering where nobles would be the invited guests, Romina’s curiosity intensified even more.