“Ho-ho… Because I’m your fiancée, of course.” She chuckled and playfully stuck out her tongue.
She pointed out the window, and I turned to see the archduke there, winking and shooting me a mischievous thumbs-up.
Ah-ha-ha… So he’s in on it, too.
Melza flashed me a dazzling smile and said, “Please, let me stay with you for a while.”
“…This is the Grenville estate,” I said as the carriage came to a stop in front of my family’s main residence. It was large even by the standards of the imperial capital.
With the help of some minor illusion magic, Melza deftly concealed her telltale fangs. My biggest concern had been that the Grenvilles would discover her true identity, but my future fiancée masked herself with ease. She really was incredible.
“Oh-ho… So that little cottage over there is where you grew up…?”
“Yes.”
She must have surmised from our previous conversations that I had never lived in the main residence. Melza didn’t give the mansion so much as a second glance, looking only at the small cottage in the distance.
Just then, someone approached.
“Master Hugo! Welcome back… H-huh?!” The only one to come out and greet me was Ellen, and she gawked wide-eyed as Melza took my hand and slowly exited the carriage.
“Ellen… This is Meltreza—my intended fiancée.”
“Meltreza of Woodstock,” she introduced herself in an expressionless monotone.
Combined with her ethereal beauty, her demeanor came off as somewhat cold and distant.
“Oh… W-welcome! I’ll call Her Ladyship right away!” Ellen stammered, bobbing her head politely and scurrying off.
Now that Archduke Woodstock’s prized granddaughter was here, they couldn’t afford to show any disrespect.
“Oh-ho… She was rather rude, wasn’t she? Making a guest wait at the entrance…”
Melza smiled thinly as the coachman held a parasol over her head to keep her out of the sun.
“Ha-ha…”
I detected a hint of anger flickering in her crimson eyes. She must have seen right through Ellen’s false warmth.
We continued to wait for several more minutes, until…
“My deepest apologies. House Grenville welcomes you with open arms…”
My stepmother and Louis appeared at the entrance and bowed deeply—or one of them did, at least.
“…Louis?” His mother nudged him sharply.
“Oh… W-welcome…” My brother, dazed, hurried to lower his head.
That bastard… Could he be besotted with Melza…?
“Meltreza of Woodstock. I don’t see Marquis Grenville…,” she noted in a low voice.
“U-unfortunately, my husband is presently away…,” said my stepmother. She had broken out in a cold sweat.
“…I see. I don’t blame you, but is that not a little strange? I thought my grandfather dispatched a messenger to say that Hugh would be returning. Does the marquis usually send only a single maid to greet his son?”
“…I’ll give the servants a stern talking-to.”
“Hmm… I suppose that will do.” Melza breathed a deep sigh. “I hope His Lordship read the letter delivered to him.”
I had only learned about this during the carriage ride, but apparently the archduke had sent a written message in advance notifying my family that we were to be engaged at once and advising them that I would be living with the Woodstocks once the official ceremony was out of the way. On top of that, it explained that Melza would be staying with me at the Grenville estate until then, with us both returning to the Woodstock holdings a week later, after the ceremony.
“I-I’ll need to ask my husband about that…”
“…When will His Lordship be returning?”
“I-I’ve sent a servant to let him know you’re here. So I expect he will be back soon…”
Mmm… Melza is clearly calling the shots here. I guess that’s only natural, considering that my stepmother is the daughter of a baron—not to mention she’s my father’s former mistress.
“Hugh?” Melza said, turning to me. “Until then, I’d like to stretch my legs a little. Would you mind showing me around?”
“Of course. Right this way,” I said, taking her hand and leading her toward the cottage.
“…N-no, please come this way!” my stepmother gibbered, trying to usher her toward the main residence.
“Does Hugh spend much time in the mansion?” Melza asked nonchalantly. “He mentioned yesterday that he lives in a small cottage…”
“Oh. Um. About that…” My stepmother clammed up, unsure how to answer.
“I’ll go back to the cottage, Melza. You should stay in the main residence…”
“That won’t do. I want to be close to you, Hugh.” She pouted, turning her head with a dismissive Hmph!
At this, my stepmother turned deathly pale. How could she not? No one in their right mind would let Archduke Woodstock’s granddaughter stay in the run-down, neglected cottage I’d long called home.
“H-Hugo can stay in the main house, too, of course! He is my husband’s eldest son, after all!”
Ha-ha… This from the very woman who whipped my legs every time I dared set foot in it.
“Hmm… What do you think, Hugh?”
“…Sorry, Melza.” I shook my head. “I’d better refrain.”
“Don’t be so selfish and self-indulgent!” said my stepmother, raising her voice. “You must come up to the main house!”
My attitude must not have sat well with her, as she ended up scolding me right in front of Melza.
“Excuse me, but what is the meaning of this…?” Melza’s icy tone seemed to freeze the very air. “Is that how you address my husband-to-be?”
“Oh…” Only then did my stepmother realize her blunder, and her face contorted in embarrassment.
“…I believe I’ve understood the reason for Hugh’s unease. I’ll be staying with him in the cottage, so please inform me as soon as His Lordship returns.”
“I-in that case, I’ll be your chaperone,” Louis said, butting in.