It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 42

“It’s about time for you to head out.”

Hans stood politely by the door, slightly angled. Martenal strode into the room without hesitation, glancing briefly outside.

“But isn’t your attendant maid coming with you? She looked rather upset.”

Martenal’s pointed remark made me lower my head even more.

“Did something happen?”

“No, let’s just go.”

I shook my head and stood up. I couldn’t keep Giscal waiting because of me.

“Martenal, do you know where the flower garden is?”

“Hahaha, I know the training grounds full of sweat and passion, but a flower garden? Not really.”

He answered confidently. Hans frowned beside him.

“If you’re assigned to the mansion, it’s basic to know the layout.”

“Oh please, I can just find it now.”

Martenal replied even more boldly. I chuckled and headed down the stairs. A maid was passing by the landing. I braced myself and called out in the gentlest voice I could muster.

“Um, excuse me. Just a moment?”

The maid turned her head, revealing a youthful face. I smiled as kindly as I could, hoping she wouldn’t recognize me and faint in shock.

“Yes, did you call me?”

The young maid bowed politely and even smiled brightly. Unlike the palace maids who would widen their eyes in terror or freeze in fear.

Her unfamiliar reaction surprised me.

“Huh? Uh, so… you’re not scared of me?”

“Pardon?”

The maid tilted her head. It felt like a ghost actor in a haunted house asking why the guest wasn’t scared.

“No, never mind. Do you know where the flower garden is?”

“Yes, it’s spread out to the right of the training grounds behind the mansion.”

Martenal snapped his fingers.

“Oh, that lush area was the flower garden? Got it now. I can guide you.”

Even when I thanked the maid, she didn’t flinch—just bowed and went on her way.

I stared at her retreating figure. This was a first. No one was shocked, flustered, crying, or trembling in fear upon seeing my face. Even the palace maids hadn’t reached this level of composure.

This unfamiliar yet refreshing experience continued. The group of maids carrying laundry in the lobby also bowed calmly and passed by. None of them backed away, had their hair stand on end, or squeezed their eyes shut.

The maids I passed near the annex, the hurried servant, the gardener trimming trees, and even the guards patrolling the mansion—none reacted like they were facing the infamous villainess Arne. They treated me like any noble lady.

Why? Surely they had suffered under Arne for years? Her villainy didn’t start only after entering the palace. That much was clear from the diary, which detailed her behavior even before her palace days.

“Was that guard just hired?”

Hans asked, glaring at the guard we had just passed. Martenal shrugged.

“You noticed, huh? He wasn’t newly hired, but the guard assignments were completely reshuffled recently. It’ll take time to adjust.”

“As someone guarding Lady Arne, that seems rather lax.”

“That’s why I’m sticking close to her. Plus, I’m the bonus.”

“What did you just say…!”

Before Hans could snap at Martenal, I spoke first.

“Come to think of it, I heard the household staff were reassigned too. So the guards were included. But why the change?”

“Not sure. Maybe to change the atmosphere after the commander’s return? Though it’s not his first time returning from war. This kind of thing hasn’t happened before.”

It was similar to what Mary had said. No one knew the exact reason. But one thing was clear: the staff didn’t react to me because they didn’t know Arne’s reputation or misdeeds.

They treated me like a normal noble lady because they weren’t from Edelheit Mansion in the capital, where Arne was born and raised.

Whatever the reason for the sudden personnel changes, it was a blessing for me. I didn’t have to endure the unpleasant and overwhelming stares I faced at the palace.

I didn’t have to suffer the emotional wounds from people screaming and trembling at the sight of my face. Realizing that made me feel lighter.

I had thought I’d grown numb to it after leaving Arlin Palace, but that was a mistake. It wasn’t Arne, but me who had to endure the gaze directed at her—and it was incredibly stressful. Only after escaping that tension and anxiety did I realize how heavy it had been.

The first challenge I had braced for was resolved more easily than expected. And the second challenge—meeting Giscal—was no different.

“Do you remember the white foal I mentioned in my last letter?”

After exchanging greetings about my first day at the mansion, Giscal asked as he sat at the table. Of course I remembered. The birth of life itself was joyful, and that letter had shown Giskal’s thoughtful care.

“The foal arrived at the mansion’s stable last night.”

“Really?”

I stopped moving my fork and widened my eyes.

“Yes. Want to go see it later?”

“Sure. You said it was as white as snow in the letter, right? I’ve wanted to see it. Oh, did the mother horse come too?”

“Of course. She returned safely from the battlefield without injury.”

“That’s a relief.”

I sighed in relief. I had often wondered about the people mentioned in the letters. If things had gone well, I might’ve asked about them at the victory banquet. But my first meeting with Giscal had been very different from what I expected. Today, however, he was leading the conversation based on the letters.

He told me the servant boy had returned safely to his hometown, and that some of the young knights who had fought barehanded were now at the mansion, so I’d see them soon. He also said Martenal was a notorious troublemaker in the barracks.

When Martenal heard his name, he cleared his throat, and I chuckled. Giscal, seeing my laughter, began recounting Martenal’s outrageous antics in the barracks. His deadpan delivery made the bizarre stories even funnier.

Martenal’s legendary episode ended with her proving her skills after being mistreated as a newly appointed knight. And it was no ordinary ending.

“A bear appeared during a duel?”

“Yes.”

“And Martenal knocked it out with one punch?”

“Yes.”

I gaped, and Giscal continued.

“While dueling in the clearing, a bear showed up. The knights watching reached for their swords, but Martenal suggested whoever defeated the bear would win the duel. So a barehanded fight with the bear began. The opponent was usually rational, but that day… maybe his blood boiled.”

No sane person would accept such a challenge. But Martenal was clearly extraordinary.

“The opponent got knocked out by the bear. But Martenal knocked the bear out with a single punch. That silenced all who doubted her skills.”

Who would dare disrespect someone who could knock out a bear? I gazed reverently at Martenal’s broad back.

“Here’s the final dessert: lemon tart topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream.”

Already dessert? I was more surprised that the meal had reached its final course than by the tart’s tempting sweetness.

Time had flown. Today’s meal was nothing like our awkward first meeting. Giscal kept the conversation flowing, and since it was based on shared stories from the letters, it was comfortable and enjoyable.

This was exactly what I had hoped for in our first meeting. The kindness and care I had felt in the letters were now palpable.

Thanks to Giscal’s effort.

I pondered the word “effort.” Was effort really needed to talk warmly with one’s blood-related sister? I couldn’t find a better word.

Giscal, who didn’t seem fond of sweets, soon put down his fork and spoke slowly.

“You were surprised last time, weren’t you?”

I quickly swallowed the strawberry covered in whipped cream.

“Huh?”

“It had been so long, I think I was a bit stiff. Not just you—everything: the banquet, the palace, the capital. I didn’t feel good about acting so cold in front of the sister I missed.”

Giscal lowered his gaze. At the end of it were a few pieces of fruit separated from the cream. I hadn’t expected him to bring up our awkward first meeting in such a reflective tone. He could’ve let it fade away, but he chose to apologize. I waved my hands.

“No, I was awkward too. Haha, it had been a while for me too.”

“Thanks for understanding. Shall we go see the white foal now? And take a walk through the garden?”

“Sure.”

When I stood up, Giscal extended his hand like an escort. I gently placed mine on his. His large hand was firm but warm. Only then did I notice the colorful blossoms in the garden. I hadn’t seen them earlier, too focused on Giscal. Now that I felt at ease, the scenery finally came into view.

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