I Was a Substitute - Chapter 12

“Get off when you’re all dressed.”

 

“Is there a reason why we should get off here?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you? Horses can’t go from here.”

 

“If it’s not by horses, by any chance………….”

 

I quickly clasped my hands together, my eyes were fluttering.

 

This was my chance to finally see for myself the special means of transportation that only Mona Chareuteu used.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“…”

 

I looked at Blush as I always did, and immediately frowned.

 

“Ah…”

 

Because Blush didn’t reach out his hand to support me.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“No, nothing.”

 

I answered quickly and got out of the carriage.

 

In the capital, it was polite for the men to escort the ladies out of the carriage, but this was not the capital.

 

And this was only the beginning. From now on, there would be many more moments when it would no longer be the norm that I had known.

 

Thinking about this, I was at a loss for the road ahead.

 

‘Will I do well?’

 

When I was about to sigh I caught sight of a giant beast.

 

I quickly forgot about my worries and went over to Pezzan’s side.

 

“What is this creature, it looks so strange.”

 

“Don’t you know reindeers?”

 

“No. I’ve never heard of them before.”

 

“Well, in the capital, people ride horses.”

 

“If we walked and rode horses here like in the capital, we would all freeze to death before long. I didn’t tame the dogs and reindeer to pull the sleigh for nothing.”

 

Malaz intervened, his chest thrusted forward proudly as he moved his fingers.

 

“Then this unique looking carriage is a sleigh?”

 

“’Yes, that’s right.”

 

The sleigh didn’t look much different from a horse-drawn carriage, but instead of wheels, it had a raised board in front near the floor.

 

I was curious to see something new for the first time, so I circled the sleigh several times, secretly watching the reindeer.

 

The sleigh was just a carriage, but the giant beast actually aroused my curiosity a bit more.

 

“May I touch it?”

 

“Yes, but you have to be careful. It’s a sensitive animal.”

 

“Okay, I’ll be careful.”

 

Carefully, I reached for the reindeer.

 

Its huge body and large antlers felt threatening, but the warmth of its body against my hand made it less scary.

 

“It’s in great shape. It’s very hard. Must be very strong, right?”

 

“It’s strong enough. If you want, I’ll get you one for your wedding….Ah! Why are you hitting me!”

 

“There are things that you can and cannot say to the Grand Duchess.”

 

“That you don’t need to! Married life is very important…!”

 

Malaz’s voice, which had been chattering away, quieted for a moment.

 

When he turned around, he saw Blush, who already arrived

for some time, looking at him.

 

“Surely, His Highness will do just fine without the reindeer! I saw the other day when we were training, and His Highness’ body is really…”

 

“Pezzan.” Blush called.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ll take care of him.” Pezzan said.

 

Malaz lifted his thumb, smiling brightly at Blush.

 

But all that came back was Blush ordering him to leave.

 

“I’m sorry. My subordinate is too outspoken, and I’ll give him a good scolding later.”

 

As soon as Pezzan grabbed Malaz by the neck and dragged him away, Blush slightly bowed to me.

 

Contrary to my expectations, the word ‘sorry’ came easily from his lips.

 

“It’s okay, I’m sure he didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

 

If anything, I had more important things to worry about right now.

 

I caressed the beast’s neck, unable to take my eyes off the reindeer.

 

“You don’t look too happy.”

 

Blush clicked his tongue.

 

“I’ve never seen a beast like this before.”

 

I couldn’t help but be amazed at the fuzzy reindeer, an animal whose appearance I had never seen in the capital.

 

I looked around at the reindeer from one side to the next to check their condition.

 

The huge reindeer was made of solid muscles all over its body.

 

At a quick glance, they looked as if they could easily pull anything.

 

“Is this the only kind of sleigh?”

 

“This one is a little different from a normal sleigh. It was transformed to transport people.”

 

“So you’re saying that there are many different types of sleigh?”

 

“Yes. Mona Chareuteu uses a variety of forms of carriages, transforming them as needed.”

 

I nodded in satisfaction and asked him a few more questions, which he answered with surprising sincerity.

 

“Is it easy to get a reindeer sleigh?”

 

“In Mona Chareuteu, each family has their own sleigh. There is a saying that when a child starts to waddle, he learns how to pull a sleigh.

 

“Then that’s even better.”

 

“Better?”

 

One of Blush’s eyebrows went up.

 

“If sledding is so widespread, doesn’t that mean that there are a lot of people who can pull them?”

 

“Why does that matter?”

 

“Well, I don’t know yet.”

 

I chuckled to myself.

 

I had a not-so-bad plan in mind, but it wasn’t time to announce it yet.

 

The endless snowfields were still strange to me.

 

I still needed to get used to this place a bit more.

 

***

 

“This way.”

 

Even though it was the day the Archduke returned, Mona Chareuteu Castle was quiet.

 

I followed Blush, tightening my collar.

 

Even though we were inside the castle, the cold in the air did not change.

 

Mona Chareuteu was much colder and more desolate than I expected.

 

“Are you cold?”

 

“Winters in the capital are not this cold.”

 

“It’s a blessed land. The people who live there have no idea how wonderful it is.”

 

I gulped, feeling the thorn in Blush’s words as he mumbled in a low voice.

 

It wasn’t that he was intentionally expressing hostility.

 

I guess it was just his habit.

 

It seemed that the anger that Blush, or rather Mona Chareuteu, was harboring was more deep rooted than I thought.

 

“We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness. Did you have trouble on the way here?”

 

“It’s better than seeing the irritating faces of the royal family.”

 

“I’m glad you’re well.”

 

“Stop nagging me.”

 

Blush sighed briefly and turned to me.

 

It was only then that I finally got a clear view of the butler, who was hidden by his body a moment ago.

 

“Hello, I am Aiden Pilson, the chief butler of the Mona Chareuteu Castle.”

 

“Glad to meet you, Aiden. My name is Simphonia.”

 

“I’ve already asked him about you, so please be at ease.”

 

The old butler bowed his head.

 

I accepted his greeting with a smile on my lips.

 

“I look forward to working with you in the future, sir.”

 

“It’s rather what I should say.”

 

Aiden bowed his head again. His gesture was graceful.

 

“By the way, are you hungry? I’ll tell the head chef to prepare some food.”

 

“I think I’d like to take a bath first.”

 

Blush looked at me.

 

His gaze was on my shoulders as I shrugged.

 

“In that case, I’ll take you. I heard you were coming, so I prepared the room ahead of time.”

 

Aiden gave a quick nod and beckoned politely.

 

He kept smiling until he turned away.

 

But that was all.

 

I knew that the smile was not a simple fondness.

 

It was only well hidden by years of experience, but his eyes over his glasses showed signs of disapproval.

 

Even though he was following Blush’s wishes, he did not like the Grand Duchess from the capital.

 

But that didn’t mean I was disappointed.

 

The stares, prejudice, and discrimination would be my daily routine from now on.

 

It was too early to be sad.

 

***

 

“Hmm……”

 

It seemed I could breathe now.

 

I dried my wet hair with a towel and exhaled with relief.

 

From the moment I entered Mona Chareuteu, I was in dire need of a hot bath.

 

Now that I took one, I felt much better.

 

“It took you a long time.”

 

“Ah!”

 

“Why are you so surprised?”

 

“I didn’t expect to see you in my room.”

 

“Because this is my room too.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Before I could even have time to process the situation, the counter-question jumped out at me first.

 

I hastily took a deep breath and quickly continued.

 

“What do you mean it’s your room too? Don’t tell me we’re going to share the same room?”

 

“It’s normal for a couple to share a bedroom. Isn’t it the same in the capital?”

 

“That’s true, but you went to a different place just now, didn’t you? So I naturally assumed that in Mona Chareuteu the couple would have separate rooms.”

 

“There was only one bathroom in this room, so I had to use the bathroom in the training hall.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Once again, I considered their culture to be different from the capital.

 

I frowned.

 

“I think it’s a misunderstanding.”

 

“Yes, apparently so.”

 

“If I had known that in advance, I would have dressed more appropriately.”

 

I smiled embarrassedly and fiddled with my hair.

 

This was the first time I had ever shown anyone my disheveled appearance, except for the maidservant who was looking after me, and I felt my face hot.

 

“…”

 

“If it’s really inconvenient, I’ll go to a different room.”

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

A bit of confusion occurred, but I was already prepared for it.

 

Succession was the most important part of a noble’s duty.

 

I knew very well that once I was married, I couldn’t just sleep holding hands.

 

“You don’t have to burden yourself.”

 

“Honestly, it’s strange because I’ve never shared a room with anyone before, but I can do it. It’s not like we’ve only seen each other once or twice and I hope I get used to it soon.”

 

“I’m used to it. ……”

 

Blush turned his gaze away.

 

I followed him involuntarily and lowered my gaze.

***