Chapter 15

She was uneasy at suddenly living in the Heres house but happiness gushed forth within her at the thought of being able to cuddle closer with Albert from tonight onwards. Not just for short thirty minutes. She doesn't know at what time Albert would be coming home but she would be able to attend to him for a few hours. If so, then wouldn't his fatigue also turn greatly for the better? Corinna looked at Albert's face as she thought, I'd like him to quickly rest.

As she thought, it might have been best for her to live in the Heres house from today onwards. As she expected, she can't just ignore Albert.

While she was thinking that, the carriage had arrived at the Royal Palace. Albert said, "I'm sorry for the urgency but I'll see you at home," and quickly went back to work.

Corinna was given a day off so she wasn't able to go back to work. And yet she had to move out of her room and discuss about her job with her superior.

When she went to meet with her superior, thinking of informing her ahead of time, her superior smiled, having already heard.

"Oh my, oh my, soon after it happened, it's already progressed this fast, huh. But I knew it would turn out like this. There's nothing to be done since you're marrying into the Heres house."

"I apologize for the trouble I've caused."

"It's fine, Corinna. You're worked hard in just one year. Things might get difficult from here on out for you but try your best."

"Thank you very much."

Corinna's eyes felt warm with her head bowed. One year. Just one year, she won't be able to experience more than that. She thought that a year had passed just like that but when she remembered the people she's met and what she's experienced in this year, she thought of just how long a year felt like. The Corinna who had attended etiquette school and the current one. In just one year, things had turned out into something she couldn't have even imagined back in those days.

"I'm sorry. We'll be looking for someone to replace you starting tomorrow but it might take some time."

"Yes, of course I don't plan on immediately quitting today."

What Corinna discussed with her superior was that her work time would be shortened in the meantime and increase her days off. They adjusted her schedule so that she'll be able to completely leave her job after one month. Corinna bowed, thanking her for everything up till now.

Work at the Royal Palace had been busy. And yet, for the inexperienced Corinna to be able to continue working here for a year, she thought from the bottom of her heart that it was thanks to all the excellent people around her, such as her superior and her fellow court ladies. As for the part about being busy, her superiors had acted thoughtfully so that relationships with others wouldn't turn strain. Even the time when about the rumors about Corinna and Albert, they didn't interfere too much.

Deep down, she thought, it's the same with her family and even at school but she was blessed with such wonderful people. Thinking that, she realized, Then wouldn't that mean I'd be able to get along well with the members of the Heres house as well? a well of security miraculously gushed forth.

She tidied up her room as she seriously looked back on this year. It seems this room will be kept empty for about a week. It might be okay to not have to immediately remove everything today. She just has to clean up on the days she comes to the Royal Palace.

In the meantime, Corinna had packed the clothes and accessories she had brought from her home into a bag but in the end, looking at the bag she had put everything into, she knitted her eyebrows.

Would it be okay for a woman marrying into the Heres house to have this few possessions? She felt Frigga would be surprised, asking her, "You only have this much luggage?" For a moment, Corinna thought to show off, If I prepare about two or three bags, what should I put inside it? but bitterly smiled at such absurd thoughts.

She can't do anything even if she did show off. Corinna was the daughter of the Balleli, a lower noble family, who doesn't even have a decent dress and a court lady who was his subordinate at the Royal Palace. Even if someone like that showed off, the members of the Heres house would be able to immediately see through them.

The inside of her bag only had several, modest clothes of hers. She was provided with the uniform for court ladies for work so the only opportunities she had to wear her own clothes were on her days off, when she went home, and sometimes, when she went to town with her coworkers.

Aside from those, there were a few dresses that she loved. She'll put aside the ones she didn't like. She had nothing particularly expensive to bring to the Heres house. There might not even be a chance for her already to wear her own clothes once she marries into the Heres house. If she were to wear such plain clothes, upper class noble ladies might laugh at her instead.

Thinking that, Corinna really thought her luggage was extremely small. She smiled, as if she found something amusing.

After working at the Royal Palace, she realized that her personality had turned positive. She was slightly sad but when things are going downhill, she would go against it and say, "I'll be able to manage this."

This was her strong point that she didn't realized around the time she only stayed at home. As expected, Land family blood flows through me, Corinna thought, and just like that, felt she was slightly reliable.

"Let's see now."

With just one bag in hand, Corinna went to go get married.