Chapter 14
The last room of the West Tower.
From there, René’s private residence could be seen at a glance.
Genos moved with heavy steps and slowly pushed the door open.
A round room made entirely of stone.
It was a place rarely visited by people, yet it was neatly kept, ready to welcome its master at any time.
On the opposite side of the thick wooden door was a large window, and beside it hung a massive tapestry.
Embroidered with the family crest, the tapestry indicated that this place was reserved solely for the head of the Celeste estate.
“Hm.”
Genos slumped into a plush velvet chair by the window.
Thanks to the unusually clear weather, he could see the hill behind the Celeste estate and the quaint cottage in front of it through the glass.
There was no one in René’s front yard, as if the house itself were deserted.
“Ha…”
Standing near the window, Genos froze and let out a sigh.
Seeing his reflection in the glass suddenly filled him with self-loathing.
“Falling for an obvious lie… what am I even doing?”
From the start, Duke Celeste’s estate was heavily guarded, making it nearly impossible for an intruder to enter.
He knew this better than anyone, yet here he was, crawling in on a baseless suspicion.
He felt utterly pathetic.
Just as Genos was about to turn away from the window…
“!”
As if on cue, René Blanche appeared.
Though she was some distance away, Genos’s keen eyesight allowed him to see her clearly, for better or worse.
She wandered about energetically, clad in a red cloak that matched her eyes.
By the time she reached the front yard, she threw the cloak aside with a flourish.
Startled, Genos turned his gaze away, but she was wearing a fluffy fur outfit underneath.
The maids had wrapped her up so thoroughly that it was almost stifling.
‘Like a white ermine buried in snow,’ Genos thought calmly.
Then, suddenly, something strange happened.
“?”
“What… is she doing?”
It was surprisingly difficult for Genos to tear his eyes away from her.
René began jumping up and down in place, stretching her arms and legs as if following some rhythm.
To Genos, a swordmaster, it was…
‘Horribly clumsy.’
There was no rhythm to her movements.
She seemed utterly absorbed in what she was doing, but that was it.
After jumping a dozen times or so, René panted heavily and wiped her sweat diligently.
‘All that, and she’s already sweating this much?’
Genos felt a mix of disbelief and amusement.
Knock, knock.
“Your Grace, it’s Karl.”
“Yes.”
With a knock, the door opened, and the head steward, Karl, appeared.
Behind him stood a woman in a maid’s uniform, her expression slightly tense.
“I’ve brought the Duchess’s personal maid. She will report to you.”
“Yes.”
The maid stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Greetings, Your Grace, Duke. I am Betty, serving the Duchess.”
Betty stiffened her expression and waited silently for further instruction, quietly returning to her role as a composed maid.
“Report briefly.”
Genos spoke in a stern tone.
Swallowing nervously, Betty hesitated before speaking in a firm voice.
“Based on my observations over the past few weeks, the Duchess… is not someone you need to worry about, Your Grace.”
“On what grounds?”
“There’s no way such a tiny, innocent little rabbit could be a threat to you, Your Grace.”
“…?”
“Leave out unnecessary speculation.”
At Karl’s pointed comment, Betty scratched her head awkwardly.
“But it’s the truth. Since coming to the Duke, all René has done is clean the cottage, attempt to chop firewood and fall over, or get sick while tidying the library.”
Genos’s gaze returned to the window.
René, who had been jumping for a while, had now changed her movements.
This time, she flailed her arms up and down as if rowing or scooping something, in a controlled rhythm.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Everyone present watched René’s actions in stunned silence.
“See?”
Betty asked, pointing out her mistress’s usual behavior.
“…I see.”
Genos replied, finally accepting it with a hint of relief.
“You may leave now.”
“Yes, excuse us.”
Polite as she had been on arrival, Betty quietly exited.
Genos stared at René for a moment before annoyingly drawing the curtain.
He no longer wished to see her antics.
As he moved away, Karl, who had left the door ajar, followed quietly behind him.
In a low voice, he said:
“Considering the reports of the other servants, the personal maid’s account was accurate.”
The sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed through the tower stairs, mingling with Karl’s deep, cavernous voice.
“Karl, what do you think?”
“It’s difficult for me to be certain without speaking to Her Grace or serving her personally, but based on the servants’ accounts, the personal maid’s report, and testimony from the Blanche household staff…”
“Hmm.”
“I don’t believe she acts with any malice.”
Karl was an experienced steward.
He had a sharp eye for judging people, as well as the wisdom that came with age.
Thanks to him, the Duke’s estate ran smoothly.
Genos trusted Karl completely.
And after all, he had known from the start…
Perhaps his dislike wasn’t truly directed at René herself, but at her family, and by extension, the Empress and the court ministers.
‘René Blanche never had direct dealings with the Empress. But… then why did the Empress install her as the Duchess?’
Genos couldn’t shake his suspicion, yet subconsciously, his impression of René Blanche had already shifted since the beginning.
“Haah, haah, haah.”
Despite the clear skies, the winter air was sharply cold.
Every breath pressed the chill deep into her lungs.
Her heart pounded beneath her ribs, and her cheeks burned bright red.
Sweat streamed down her forehead like rain.
‘Why is this so exhausting?’
She forced herself not to collapse completely and sank onto a tree stump.
‘I… completely overdid it.’
She felt as though she had sprinted full speed, utterly drained.
In reality, all she had done was perform the national exercise routine…
Repeatedly, she reminded herself, she was far weaker than she realized.
No muscles, no basic stamina—she was starting from zero.
‘Did the previous owner just lie in bed all day?’
Even if that were true, she couldn’t afford to remain weak.
She decided to go back to basics.
National exercises, designed to improve the citizens’ general fitness, were actually decent workouts.
For her weak body, even managing them was an achievement.
Thus, the national exercises became her morning routine.
After a few days, it already felt slightly easier than before.
Maybe she was making progress.
“Phew. One more set.”
Spring would come, and she needed strength for the vegetable garden.
And above all, the firewood chopping that had left her battered before!
To retry chopping the thickest logs, she needed to strengthen her twig-like arms.
‘One day, like Betty, I’ll swing my strong arms and chop through the biggest logs.’
It was a strong motivation.
She forced herself upright, but her trembling body refused to cooperate.
Her legs wobbled uncontrollably, and she stumbled forward a few steps like a dog doing a silly dance.
“Pfft!”
