It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 87

A few days later, at the funeral, Giscal von Edelheit fulfilled his role as the new Marquis and head of the family, but he couldn’t hide his somber expression. Those who hadn’t visited the mansion in a while assumed he was blaming himself for not being present at his predecessor’s deathbed, but the maids had a rough idea of what was truly troubling him.

The real reason for his dark expression was not the late Marquis, but rather his younger sister.

Arne hadn’t left her bed since the Marquis drew his last breath. She had collapsed as if fainting and hadn’t eaten for days.

“She must’ve had some affection for her father after all,” the maids whispered among themselves.

After the few mourners trickled away like the ebbing tide and the mansion was being tidied late into the night, Louis paused her hurried steps at the sight of a lone shadow.

It was Arne von Edelheit. No one knew when she had left her room, but she now stood silently in front of the late Marquis’s room, shedding tears. Louis blinked in surprise. She had known Arne for as long as Arne had lived, but it was the first time she’d seen her cry.

Later, lying in bed, Louis told her sister Lucy—who lay in the bed next to hers—what she had witnessed.

“Well, of course. Even Lady Arne would be sad if her father passed away,” Lucy responded nonchalantly.

Louis shook her head.

“But it felt… different somehow.”

“Different how?”

“It’s hard to explain in words, but it just felt different.”

“Hm, I don’t know. I just hope Lady Arne and Lord Giscal both find peace. Soon.”

“You sure pronounce Lord Giskal’s name clearly.”

Louis teased with a laugh, and Lucy pouted.

“No! And besides, I shouldn’t call him Lord Giskal anymore… I should call him Marquis now, but I’m still not used to it.”

“Do you miss it?”

“A little.”

Lucy whispered softly. Now, the only reason she had to call him by name was gone. Having fallen for Giscal at first sight, Lucy found that unbearably sad.

Louis watched Lucy turn away and sighed inwardly. Everyone experiences the pain of unrequited first love, but why did her sister have to fall for the head of the household they served? She could only hope Lucy’s feelings were fleeting and shallow.

After becoming the Marquis, Giscal became even busier than during his time as heir. Arne eventually emerged from her days of seclusion, but thankfully didn’t lash out at the maids.

With the change in leadership, the mansion’s staff had more chores than ever and paid little attention to Arne, who wandered about.

Rumors floated among the maids that she had extorted thousands of drangs from the steward Ortland to hire private investigators and mercenaries.

Just as Giscal settled into his role as the new Marquis and the staff adjusted to their new master, a major event shook the empire.

Gallea I, who had ruled as the empire’s sun for decades, died, and a new emperor ascended the throne. While commoners were content to pick up the coins scattered during the coronation, the Edelheit family—though not the most powerful—was still nobility and faced different expectations.

Especially since the new emperor decided to invade the Kingdom of Zaren and appointed the Edelheit Marquis to lead the vanguard.

The mansion’s atmosphere grew tense again. The new head of the household had barely settled in, and now he had to leave.

With Giscal absent, the final authority in the Edelheit mansion would naturally fall to Arne, the closest blood relative.

The staff feared a future ruled by an uncontrollable tyrant. Some quickly informed Steward Ortlang of their intent to resign. Among them was a maid close to Lucy, which made her feel gloomy. Louis patted her sister’s shoulder.

“Even if Roni goes back to her hometown, you can still exchange letters.”

“At first, yes. But then it fades. That’s what happened with Robin, Jesse, and Philip. Out of sight, out of mind.”

“People get busy. But you look especially down this time.”

Lucy gave a bitter smile.

“Yeah, I’m sad Roni’s leaving, but…”

Her gaze drifted upward, toward the window of the study where Giscal was working. Her eyes softened with melancholy. Louis immediately understood.

“So it’s not about Roni—it’s about the Marquis, isn’t it?”

Lucy didn’t deny it, only looked away. Her crush seemed to grow stronger by the day, and Louis sighed quietly.

“Don’t worry too much. He’s been sweeping battlefields with just a sword since childhood. And this time, he’s going as a commander. He’ll be fine.”

“But the enemy is the Kingdom of Zaren. Our empire always loses to them, and the casualties are huge.”

“Well, it’s the soldiers who die. Noble commanders usually escape while the troops shield them.”

“The Marquis isn’t like that!”

Lucy snapped at Louis’s sarcastic tone.

“You know he’s different from other nobles. People admire him not just for his looks. Remember when we passed him in the hallway? He asked if my wound had healed. He recognized me, even though Lady Arne doesn’t remember my face.”

“That… really happened?”

“Yes! And I heard he always tried to minimize casualties among common soldiers in past battles. That came from one of the knights who followed him.”

“Okay. Sorry. I’m sure the Marquis is different.”

Louis apologized, and Lucy finally looked satisfied. Louis wasn’t just saying it to appease her—Giscal truly was unlike other nobles.

Whether it was because he’d left the family early or focused solely on swordsmanship, he didn’t carry the usual aristocratic arrogance.

Who else cared about the welfare of their servants like he did? The people who came with him to the mansion were soldiers who had shared life and death with him on the battlefield, following him out of pure respect.

Louis admitted it. Giscal was a good head of household and a fine Marquis. But no matter how great he was, once he left for war, those left behind would have to deal with Arne, the tyrant.

As Giskal’s departure approached, the mansion staff dwindled, and the remaining workers became increasingly busy.

Louis and Lucy had to handle the bookkeeping for those who had left, working tirelessly for days.

Normally, the head maid would handle such tasks, but she trusted the sisters deeply—they were born and raised in the mansion and could read and write.

That day was no different. The two sat side by side, organizing the ledgers. When Louis grew annoyed with her bangs falling into her eyes, Lucy handed her a hairpin and returned to the books. It was an ordinary day.

But before they finished, the head maid summoned Lucy. As usual, she was dragged away, and returned shortly after, visibly excited.

“What happened? Something good?”

“Maybe not good exactly, but still good.”

“What does that mean?”

Louis grumbled, but Lucy couldn’t hide her joy. When Louis kept pressing, Lucy peeked into the hallway, locked the door, and whispered.

“I just met with the Marquis!”

“What?”

“When the head maid took me out, she said the Marquis wanted the most trustworthy maid. So she brought me to his study. She didn’t even go in herself.”

“So you met him alone? Why?”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

Lucy hesitated, then blurted it out.

“He entrusted me with the family seal.”

Louis tilted her head.

The family seal? Did she hear that right?

She doubted her ears, but when Lucy pulled out the golden seal from her bosom, she had no choice but to believe.

“Why do you have that!”

“The Marquis asked me to keep it hidden. He said he couldn’t entrust it to Lady Arne.”

“Still, why you?”

“Because the head maid recommended me.”

Lucy tucked the seal away again. Louis opened and closed her sweaty palms.

The seal itself was just a golden lump, but it was essential to be recognized as the true head of the family. The seal determined the extent of the Marquis’s authority.

If Giscal left and Arne, acting as interim head, started stamping documents recklessly, the Edelheit family could be ruined. But without the seal, such disasters could be avoided.

“Even so, why you? He could’ve kept it himself or given it to the head maid. There’s the steward too.”

“He can’t take it to the battlefield. What if the enemy captures it? And once he’s gone, Lady Arne will target the head maid and steward first. So they had to be avoided.”

“Well, that makes sense…”

Louis couldn’t argue. She understood why Giscal chose Lucy. But still—why Lucy?

“The Marquis asked me personally. I’ll protect it with my life. I’ll hide it where no one can find it.”

“Asked? More like ordered.”

“No, he said I could refuse if it was too much.”

“So, where will you hide it?”

Lucy held out her palms.

“No. I won’t tell anyone.”

“I’m not asking to tell others.”

“Even you, Louis—I can’t tell.”

Lucy firmly refused and left to hide the seal. That evening, she proudly declared she had hidden it where no one could find it. Louis asked a few more times, but Lucy kept her lips sealed. Louis gave up, knowing her sister’s stubbornness.

Especially when it was a request from someone she adored. She would never reveal it to anyone.

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