Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 153
The letter contained troubling news regarding the Count’s upcoming marriage.
Although Lady Eliope had been easily persuaded, this time there was a dispute over the property of the person set to become the wife of Serley. She had two daughters from her previous marriage, and her brother-in-law was attempting to seize her assets, claiming that she had no rightful heirs.
In an effort to protect her wealth, she had hastily remarried Serley as soon as she received Lady Eliope’s permission. However, opposition to the marriage was fiercer than expected, as people were concerned about losing their family’s territory and resources to an outsider.
Within days, the brother-in-law had garnered soldiers and followers, effectively taking control of the estate.
The letter said that resolving the matter would take some time, hinting at a potential trial and even war against those who had unlawfully seized the estate.
Just hearing about the situation was enough to give anyone a headache.
“It seems like it will be hard for him to come until things get sorted out…”
“Don’t be too disheartened. He’ll resolve it and be back soon.”
Roel managed a weak nod at the reassurance.
“…He mustn’t get hurt.”
Returning to her room, Roel penned a reply to Kyden. She urged him to stay safe, reassured him that she would be waiting, and said that she longed for his swift return, pouring her feelings into the letter.
She couldn’t afford to remain listless. During his absence, she had to manage the estate and the household effectively.
When he returned, weary from resolving the challenging matters, she wanted him to find comfort and peace.
From the next day onward, she resolved to regain her strength.
* * *
Even in a small estate, like any place where people gather, both minor and major incidents occur.
This was true within the mansion as well. Fights sometimes broke out among the servants, perfectly healthy horses would suddenly die, and a servant moving goods might fall down the stairs and get seriously injured.
The issues in the estate were even more varied.
Roel often found herself troubled by villagers who had embezzled taxes, and groups of vagrants that had turned to pillaging. As a result, some children ended up orphaned.
While Kyden was away, it was Roel’s responsibility to take his place. As such, she was the final decision-maker for all matters that arose.
After receiving reports and seeking counsel from her subordinates, she made her decisions with caution.
“The soldiers have subdued the group of raiders. They’ll need to be executed and displayed at the village entrance.”
“Were there any children among the raiders?”
“I heard there were a few women and children. But we can’t show them any mercy. They’ve killed five villagers.”
The captain of the guards asserted strongly, and the knight, who had been listening with his arms crossed, nodded in agreement.
“A clear example needs to be made. If we start showing leniency, the raiders will become emboldened.”
After much deliberation, Roel made her decision.
“…Execute the leaders to set an example. The others will be tasked with rebuilding the damaged village.”
“That’s too lenient. What will you do after the rebuilding is finished? There won’t be any villages willing to accept them.”
“For now, let’s focus on the rebuilding. We’ll decide on their treatment afterward. Harvest season is approaching, and we might need hands.”
“Understood.”
The captain of the guards and the knight agreed with her decision and turned to leave.
“Phew.”
Once the decision was made, Roel let out a silent sigh.
In the past, such situations would have left her feeling pale, but she had grown more composed in handling these matters, thanks to observing Kyden at work for so long.
She realized that she couldn’t just blindly follow their advice, nor could she dismiss it entirely. Being overly influenced would lead to a loss of authority and trust, while being too dictatorial would foster resentment.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Kyden. I hope nothing’s happened.’
It had already been two months since Kyden left. This was the longest he had ever been away from the estate.
Roel had been trying her best to fill his shoes, but it was inevitable that he occupied her thoughts during such moments.
Perhaps the stress of solving these major issues was getting to her, as she felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen accompanied by a headache.
‘Now that I think about it, my period has stopped.’
Roel typically had irregular cycles, so she hadn’t thought much of it when her period didn’t come the first month. But two months without it was unusual.
Was there something wrong with her body, or perhaps…
‘It’s probably just the stress of being without Kyden. I shouldn’t get my hopes up.’
She knew that if she expected something, disappointment would surely follow. Thus, Roel tried to avoid considering that possibility.
“Del.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Please call for the doctor. I think I haven’t been feeling well lately…”
While the maid went to fetch the doctor, Roel tried to focus on her work. The words on the page seemed to blur together. She couldn’t shake off the nagging worry creeping into her mind. In an effort to clear her head, she concentrated on her tasks.
‘It can’t be pregnancy. We’ve been so rough; there’s no way a baby could settle in after all that. After such rough treatment, how could a child find a place?’
Roel firmly believed in the baseless notion that if the affair was too rough and persistent, it would be difficult to conceive. For an entire week, she had been so vigorous that any potential child would have fallen out, so she suppressed her hopes of being pregnant.
Surprisingly, though…
“Congratulations, Madam! You’re pregnant!”
“Pardon?”
“Why did you wait until now to call for me? It seems you’ve been pregnant for about two months.”
Pregnant. After two years of longing and waiting, she was finally with child.
“I… This doesn’t make sense. Just two months ago, I…!”
She had been so wild and reckless, and now she could hardly believe it.
‘Is the child strong enough to overcome all those obstacles?’
If it was Kyden’s child, perhaps it could be. A strong and sturdy child, just like Kyden.
Overcome with joy, Roel found herself tearing up. The maid, having witnessed all of Roel’s efforts and struggles, gently patted her back in encouragement.
“Congratulations, Madam! The lord will be thrilled to hear this news!”
After a moment of sobbing, Roel lifted her head.
“How, how should I tell him?”
“Why not write a letter? He might rush back at the news!”
“He must be busy, so that wouldn’t be right. Plus, it feels a bit lacking to share such joyful news in a letter…”
Roel shook her head while caressing her lower abdomen.
What kind of child will it be? She felt that sharing this happiness through a letter would somehow be insufficient.
“It would be better to tell Kyden when he returns. Once all the troublesome matters are settled, I want to share this joyful news then.”
That night, Roel found it hard to sleep. The surprise from earlier kept her heart racing until the late hours.
