Return of the Female Knight

“Sister, when will you see him again?”

“It’s been a while since he stopped by, but it will happen.”

“Your relationship isn’t a secret anymore, so you should go out on a date. I’m worried you’re staying home too much.”

Mirabelle didn’t tire of acting as the Cupid between them. It wasn’t just Mirabelle either. Even the servants were completely absorbed by Carlisle’s visit that day, and whenever the maids saw Elena they would say things out of the blue like,

“My Lady, you and the crown prince look very good together.”

“…?”

At first she was startled by these casual remarks, but by now she was accustomed to it. Carlisle had swept by them like a storm. Her father’s reaction had also changed since the beginning. She didn’t know whether it was because Carlisle was the crown prince or some other reason, but he was certainly different. He didn’t say anything in particular to Elena, but the atmosphere allowed her to appreciate his meeting with Carlisle. She felt like she had made more progress than before, even though she had only introduced the prince to her family.

Life returned to normal, and she found herself busy managing the Blaise’s financial affairs these days. When the formal announcement of her marriage to Carlisle would be made and she really would become crown princess, the finances would be left to Mirabelle. Elena was diligently preparing for that day, hoping to minimize the stress and easing the transition for Mirabelle to manage the household.

Elena was sitting at her desk with her papers when Mary spoke up.

“Oh, it’s raining outside, My Lady.”

Elena lifted her head and saw that it was indeed starting to rain. The hour wasn’t late, but the sky was dark.

“Oh, I see.”

“I’ll check the mansion for any open windows and close them.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Mary stopped tidying the room and left. Elena turned her eyes away from the hectic stack of papers and watched the raindrops splash against the window. Not too long ago it would have snowed because of the cold weather, but the rain heralded the coming of spring.

‘…I hope it gets warmer.’

Mirabelle was sensitive to the cold and was more comfortable during the hot summers. But if someone asked Elena what was her favorite kind of weather, she would say a rainy day just like now.

Tak, tak, tak, tak.

It was when she was staring outside and appreciating the sound of the rain hitting the window that she noticed someone rushing from the garden of the mansion.

‘Who on earth is running so urgently on a rainy day?’

She was struck with a sudden curiosity. Mary, who left to close the windows, now hurriedly came in the room.

“You should come out now, My Lady!”

“…?”

Elena gave her a questioning look, and the maid continued.

“Master Derek is here.”

“…What?”

The unexpected news forced her to leap up from her seat.

*

*

*

As Elena hurried down the hall towards the first floor, she saw Derek with his raincoat on. Although she hadn’t seen him for a while, his tall, disciplined body, short blond hair and blunt expression were just as she remembered it.

“…Brother.”

Elena spoke in a soft voice as she approached him. The image of her coming down the stairs was reflected in his eyes as rainwater was brushed from his shoulders.

“Master.”

Derek pushed away the butler’s hand when he saw his sister. She came down the stairs with a single breath, and Derek reached her quickly in a few strides of his long legs. She couldn’t help but wonder as she looked into Derek’s eyes.

“Why are you here?”

“Do you expect your older brother to just stay still after sending that kind of letter?”

His voice was rougher than usual, and she could only guess how terrible his mood was. Only then did Elena realize that Derek must have felt betrayed by her secret love affair with Carlisle, just like any other family member would feel.

“I’m…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you first. But I couldn’t say that I was seeing him.”

“Who said I was asking? You are a grown woman and you’re free to have a relationship with any man you want.”

“…What?”

Elena was taken aback by Derek’s unexpected response. But his words didn’t end there.

“Why…why the Crown Prince?”

“What do you mean…?”

Elena didn’t understand what he was talking about. Derek frowned deeply.

“Don’t you know about the prophecy of the crown prince?”

It was only after she recalled the contents of the prophecy did she understand his anger.

[The first person to marry the Crown Prince will spend their life in solitude. They will live an unhappy life and die a miserable death.]

She had momentarily forgotten about it. Mirabelle was the only one in the family that did not know about the prophecy, as she was not active in society and had no chance to hear it from anyone. It was fortunate in a way. If Mirabelle had known and opposed her marriage to Carlisle, it would have been hell for Elena. Late in her past life, all the people of the country knew about the rumor, but so far only the nobles had whispered and not all the maids were aware of it. Elena replied in a low voice as she felt the curious eyes of the servants around her.

“Brother, I don’t think we can talk about this here.”

“Why? What’s keeping you from speaking here? Everybody should know.”

It was an unexpected ambush. Derek really seemed to oppose her marriage Carlisle. ‘Pass one mountain and come across another,’ she thought to herself, and tried to reassure her brother with as calm as expression and voice as possible.

“You’ve had a difficult journey, and you must change your clothes first. The cold weather makes it easy to get sick.”

In her past life she wouldn’t have known how to manage this situation. Now she spoke softly to the overemotional Derek. She understood that he simply cared about her.

“…!”

Derek’s expression hardened. Undeterred, Elena deftly took off his raincoat, splattering water on the marble floor.

“Butler, please take my brother’s raincoat.”

“Oh, yes, My Lady.”

Michael, who had been listening in on the pair’s conversation, quickly came up to Elena and took the coat. Then Elena turned towards Mary who was next to her.

“Clean up the water so that someone doesn’t accidentally slip.”

“Y-yes, My Lady!”

Mary hurried away to bring out the cleaning supplies. Derek was staring at Elena with a complicated expression, as if her disapproved of the situation, or was surprised by Elena’s changed image.

“I’ll show you your room myself. Wash yourself first and talk to me later.”

“…I see.”

Elena smiled faintly despite Derek’s reluctant answer. Even on a rainy day like this, her brother came to see her without stopping because he was worried about her. Her heart could not help but soften. For the first time in her life she couldn’t help but think that Derek was cute when he was angry.

“Come this way.”

Derek only looked awkwardly at Elena, and allowed himself to be guided to his room.