"Rosi... I've found you."
----
Rosalind opened her eyes.
Looking up at the intricately carved wooden ceiling, she couldn't help but feel somewhat contemplative.
Why is it always that same dream... Rosalind often felt like someone was trying to remind her of something, but everything was just too vague for her to grasp.
Pushing aside her tangled emotions, she left the bed and walked toward the window. Outside, the snow continued to fall relentlessly.
"Your Grace, are you awake?" Elise knocked softly on the door.
Moments later, the door to the room opened, and the person who entered greeted Elise with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Elise!"
"Good morning, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?"
"...I'm fine. And you?"
Elise pulled back the curtain, her body shuddering lightly. "Yes, aside from the weather being colder than I expected, everything is fine."
She turned to face Rosalind and continued, "Just as the Duke said, the weather here changes in the blink of an eye."
Rosalind nodded, gently tightening her shawl. Just as Dorian had said before they arrived, the weather had worsened remarkably in the first week of their stay.
Yet, Dorian had to leave shortly after they arrived in Everforst to patrol the borders.
May the god Luxaris always be by Dorian Valemont's side, protecting him—she had prayed this every day since his departure.
In the days that followed, Rosalind began to grow accustomed to the people in the castle. They were far friendlier than they appeared on the outside.
Especially with the guidance of Maera, she also began to get a handle on the duties of castle management. But of course, she wasn't just to manage this castle, but the entire North, where the Valemont family's influence likely exceeded even that of the royal family.
As if recalling something, Rosalind turned to Elise. "Is the preparation almost complete for tonight's banquet?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
Ah, that's right, tonight she had a banquet to prepare for.
It was the official welcome banquet for the new mistress of the Valemont household.
At first, she had thought they should wait until Dorian returned to hold it, but Maera had said that border patrols could drag on indefinitely. They shouldn't let the event be delayed further for that reason.
"Some people here need to know that the Valemont family now has an official mistress, Your Grace." Maera had said.
As a newcomer to Everforst, Rosalind couldn't simply sit back and relax. After all, she was a princess of the Castillon - the symbol of the Astravelle Empire - and it was important for the people of the North to know who she was.
And perhaps this trial wasn't such a bad thing.
After all, she hadn't come here just to be a pretty wife sitting by Dorian's side. To do that, she had to start learning how to steer her own life.
For, in any place with power, there would always be cold hearts and gazes that weren't always kind. She understood—where there was power, there would always be undercurrents waiting to drown the innocent.
"Oh, my lady, you look so beautiful," Haiga couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing her.
But he quickly reined in his expression when Maera shot him a glance.
But who could not be moved by her beauty?
She was wearing a long evening gown made of purple velvet and white silk, hugging her form delicately. The long skirt swept lightly across the stone floor, embroidered with gold threads that resembled snowflakes.
Her hair was neatly styled in an elegant updo, exuding nobility.
Maera observed her with a contemplative gaze before quickly instructing Haiga to leave.
"Is something wrong, Maera?" Rosalind tilted her head slightly, glancing at the woman behind her through the large mirror.
"It seems this old woman forgot something important. Please wait for a moment, my lady." The sound of the wooden cane tapping steadily on the floor accompanied her steps.
When she reached Rosalind, Haiga returned with an intricately carved wooden box in his hands.
After a brief moment, Rosalind took it from Haiga.
Inside the box was a delicate silver chain, with a star-shaped pendant and a green stone in the center. There was also a small piece of paper.
"For you, my Rosi. Dorian."
The handwriting looked hurried but was still clear and firm.
He had made her feel something again.
Rosalind couldn't help but smile as she looked at the hastily written note.
Perhaps he had been serious when he said that he wanted to build a real family with her.
"He left this for you, Your Grace, before he departed. This necklace once belonged to late Duchess."
Maera quietly observed Rosalind's expression, her heart warming with the smile on her face. Perhaps the once lonely young Duke had finally found someone he could truly open up to.
"Thank you, Maera. I will be sure to tell him that when Dorian returns."
Yes, when he returns, she would personally thank him.
"I can't believe that princess arrived in Everforst and immediately held a banquet to invite us," one woman said, fanning herself.
"She's clearly just trying to get friendly with the northern nobility," another woman remarked.
"But this banquet is so extravagant. I wonder if the products from the capital are any different from the North?"
"Products from the capital? How wasteful."
"Exactly... exactly. While her husband is struggling at the borders, fighting against bandits, here she is, preparing this lavish banquet," one of the women in the group said, then turned to the woman beside her. "Don't you think so, Duchess?"
The woman called the Duchess took a glass of wine from a servant and sipped it gently.
"This is mulled red wine with cinnamon and dried oranges... is that right?" She turned to the server, smiling gracefully.
"Yes, madam, it also has honey. It was personally prepared by Maera," he replied, his voice full of pride.
"Maera? When did she return to Everforst?" one of the women in the group exclaimed.
"Oh... it's been a little over a week now."
The servant then excused himself, leaving the group of women gossiping.
"So this banquet was prepared by Maera? I didn't think she'd come back here."
"Indeed, it's hard to believe!"
In the grand hall of the castle, murmurs filled the air. A man in a black formal outfit with silver trim stepped forward. He raised his voice, deep and resonant, echoing through the crowded hall.
"Attention, everyone. Her Grace, Rosalind Valemont, the mistress of the Valemont family in Everforst, is entering."
The hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to the woman who had just entered.
She walked slowly, each step measured and unwavering. With perfect poise, she made her way to the center of the magnificent hall.
"I extend my greetings to all of you. I am Rosalind, the wife of Dorian Valemont. First of all, I sincerely thank you for being here, despite the harsh weather today. I hope that in the days to come, I will receive your help and support, just as the Valemont family and the North have always been closely connected."
As soon as she finished speaking, applause and cheers erupted.
Rosalind smiled, nodding gracefully, and then scanned the room, thanking everyone with her gaze.
But her eyes quickly locked onto one pair of eyes.
The owner of that gaze was a middle-aged woman, with her dark hair tied up high. She wore a black velvet high-neck gown, with gold embroidery on her cuffs, exuding aristocratic elegance. But most striking of all were her eyes—green, just like Dorian's.
"That is Lady Isolde Ravenshire, the Duke's aunt," Maera's voice whispered in Rosalind's ear.
Rosalind didn't turn to Maera but gave Isolde a slight nod, which was returned with a respectful nod.
Isolde's smile was friendly, but her gaze held no suspicion, instead piercing directly into Rosalind's.
Rosalind knew that look.
It was the look of someone winning a game, watching their defeated opponent with a sense of challenge.