As I replied, Mio immediately stood up and greeted the visitor.
On the other side of the opened door was Mrs. Ryu-Ryu. Seeing the room, she let out a surprised exclamation.
"What's going on? A crowd gathered in Marie's room?"
By "a crowd," she meant me, Mio, Tunic, and Cyrus, a total of four people. The room was spacious, so it didn't feel cramped.
Cyrus, addressing his mother, showed her his black hair.
"The other day, when we went to the market, Marie gave me a ribbon to hold my hair. It's usable as it is, but Marie said she would add a little more to it."
"What are you doing, then?"
"I'm watching the work. I'm waiting to treat her if she pricks her finger with the needle."
In other words, he was doing nothing. As he said, Cyrus watched my hands with warm eyes.
I sewed emerald beads onto the high-quality silk fabric and embroidered the edges with gold thread to match the surroundings.
"Done!"
The moment I said that, Cyrus, still sitting in his chair, turned his back to me. It seemed he wanted me to tie his hair. I laughed and, as my fiancé wished, inserted my fingers into his black hair.
"Wow, Cyrus's hair is really beautiful..."
Hearing my honest comment, Tunic snorted and puffed out her chest.
"Everyone in this castle uses the special treatment made by this Tunic. Old and young, men and women, all have smooth, shiny hair."
"Ah, that reminds me, Topo always smells good too."
"That's the smell of food."
Beside Tunic, Mio muttered.
"Thanks to that, every time I pass by, I get hungry, which is a hassle."
Ahaha, that's tough.
The two people around the not-so-large tea table in my room were also doing nothing. They were just quietly watching me tie Cyrus's hair.
Umm... I feel a bit embarrassed with so many eyes on me.
Mrs. Ryu-Ryu laughed.
"What, you two look so innocent. You seem more like a newly met young couple in love than a politically arranged fiancé and fiancée."
"Actually, that's exactly right."
Cyrus said firmly. His passionate words were as usual, but he seemed a bit embarrassed in front of his mother, speaking a bit faster.
"Anyway, Mrs. Ryu-Ryu, do you have something urgent? If not, could you wait a moment?"
"Is there something else?"
"We're performing a ceremony."
"That, that's not something so grand!"
I hurriedly took out three bracelets made of shells from the pouch on my lap. I bought them at the market. I put one on myself, gave one to Tunic, and offered one to Mio.
"They're not grand, but I bought them to match. However, the string was a bit weak, so I replaced it with a stronger silk thread... For Tunic's, I removed the part that could collect water."
"Wow, thank you. They're cute!"
"Then, for Mio, I tried to file down the edges of the shells so they wouldn't rub against the cuffs of her long sleeves. How is it?"
"For me?"
Mio, with her always round blue eyes wide open, stared at my face intently. I tilted my head in confusion, and she calmly explained.
"Excuse me, but I understand that Lady Marie has little cash from her family and that the recent shopping was done with the reward from helping the Granado family."
"Yes, that's right."
"Then why for me?"
"Huh? If you ask why, it's a souvenir. While looking around, I wanted to bring something back for the people in the castle."
"Indeed, buying souvenirs is a joy of going out. I understand. However, I still have some questions."
"What is it?"
"After enjoying shopping, why did you spend your time and effort to further modify them to fit my lifestyle—"
"Just take it."
Tunic slapped Mio's head from behind.
"Ouch"
"Mio, you're so troublesome. Just be happy like me, saying 'Yay, I'm so happy!'"
"Ah, I'm sorry. If it's a bother, you don't have to take it if you don't want to."
As I tried to take it back, Mio dodged with lightning speed. She held the bracelet to her chest protectively and looked up at Cyrus.
Cyrus said nothing, just nodded. Finally, Mio relaxed.
"...I will take it. Thank you, Lady Marie."
I said, instead of "You're welcome."
"Thank you always. I love you, Mio."
The stoic maid lowered her eyebrows, narrowed her eyes, and pursed her lips, making an indescribable expression.
The Duchess watched this strangely grand yet warm "ceremony" with a chuckle, trying to suppress her laughter.
"Hehehe. Since Lady Marie came, the atmosphere among our servants has changed a bit."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is. And, as a gift from me to such a Lady Marie—"
The Duchess handed me the book she was holding. The moment I saw the cover, I let out a cheer.
"This! 'The Ragged Red Cat Story'! Amazing! You fixed it for me!"
"I just replaced the binding thread."
The Duchess was modest, but it wasn't an easy task. Old foreign books have unique binding methods that I couldn't figure out.
The paper that had been crumpled and torn was carefully straightened, and the pages that were out of order were put back in sequence.
A while ago, I consulted with Mrs. Ryu-Ryu in the library, and she took it to try and fix it. I never expected it to be repaired so beautifully.
I hugged the book, trembling with joy.
"...I'm so happy... It was an important book. Thank you."
I bowed deeply. Mrs. Ryu-Ryu laughed heartily.
"I'm glad you're so happy. And, there's one more thing... I have something else to give you. Here it is."
She handed me another book, which was large and thick, too heavy to flip through while standing. It was not a story but a dictionary or encyclopedia.
The title on the cover was in Flarian.
"...'World... Notables'?"
"Ah, that was my request."
Cyrus snatched it from behind.
Mio quickly removed the tea set from the table, and Tunic stood up, saying she was bad at serious talks, and left the room.
Cyrus placed the book on the now empty space and said to me.
"Marie, your grandmother... the wife of the previous Shadaran Baron, her name was Sasha, right?"
"Uh? Yes, that's right."
"Her maiden name was Tillych?"
When asked, I realized. Seeing me gasp, Cyrus opened the page with that name. Sasha Tillych. Indeed, there was an introduction to a person I knew well.
Mio, looking at the printed portrait, exclaimed.
"...Lady Anastasia?"
"No, that's her grandmother. Gregor Shadaran's mother. Since this is a post-war book, it's probably about fifty years ago... when Sasha was around twenty years old. Is that right, Marie?"
Cyrus answered. Yes, it was undoubtedly our grandmother, the young Sasha Shadaran.
I nodded, and Cyrus exhaled, "Good."
"When Mio mentioned that name, it sounded familiar. I thought it might be in the castle's library, so Wolfgang and I searched the likely shelves."
"That's when I found it. I knew Sasha Tillych too."
The mother and son nodded. I tilted my head.
"Was my grandmother famous?"
"What, you didn't know? Though I only vaguely remembered."
"Rather, she was famous abroad. Among women of our generation, many admired her."
Mrs. Ryu-Ryu traced the entry about Sasha Tillych with her finger, looking pleased.
"The 'Heroine Sasha.' Before the war, women's status and education were almost nonexistent. She overturned that common sense and is said to have sparked a revolution in women's entry into society.
She was a viscount's daughter but studied hard, surpassing her brothers, and entered the military as an interpreter at sixteen."
I followed Mrs. Ryu-Ryu's finger, silently reading my grandmother's history.
Military interpreter... It must have been a tough job. Just being selected was impressive, but she traveled the world with soldiers for five years, serving until the end of the war. She could speak seven languages. Even today, it's rare for a high-ranking male military officer. In that era, a teenage girl...
"Amazing..."
"What, are you making it sound like it's not about you? Marie, you really didn't know?"
"Yes. I never knew she was in the military or that she was a viscount's daughter. Since we had no relatives on that side, I thought she was just a village girl from the Shadaran estate..."
"The Tillych viscountcy was destroyed during the war. The estate was burned, and they were literally gone."
Cyrus continued.
I see...
After the war, with no place to turn, Sasha married into a baron's family, a local noble. Even now, it's difficult for a woman to live alone, and back then, it was even more so. Even if she became a doctor, there were no jobs for her. She spent the rest of her life, about seventy years, in the Shadaran mansion, suffering from illness.
I asked Cyrus.
"Why were you researching my grandmother, Cyrus?"
"No, not her history. ...I was looking for her portrait."
Portrait? Indeed, this book has a very vivid print of my grandmother's image...
Cyrus lowered his eyes and let out a sigh-like sound.
"More accurately, I was looking for Anastasia's image. I wanted to have a painter depict her as she was when she was alive."
"Oh... So, this was for reference?"
"Yes. But the person is no longer here, and it's difficult to describe her to the painter. Mio said there were no portraits of Anastasia in the Shadaran family... but when I heard that she looked exactly like her grandmother, it was a last resort."
"No, I think it was a good idea."
I looked at my grandmother's portrait and stated firmly.
I knew Anastasia looked a lot like Grandma Sasha. Even I was surprised. At the same age, they were almost indistinguishable.
"I think we can reproduce Anastasia's image by just adjusting the hairstyle and clothing. ...Thank you, Cyrus."
"That's not something to thank me for. It's the least I can do... No, it's not even an apology, just self-satisfaction."
Cyrus said, handing the book to Mio and instructing her to contact the painter. Mrs. Ryu-Ryu watched it being taken away with a wistful look.
"To think the Shadaran sisters were the granddaughters of Sasha Tillych. No wonder they're beautiful."
"Ah, I'm not really that similar to Grandma."
"Ahaha, well, in terms of features. But you inherited her intelligence, didn't you?"
"Is that so? I can't speak seven languages, and I'm shy, so I don't know if I could do translation in the military..."
As I bowed my head, the Granado family stood up simultaneously, making the same gesture, and shook their heads.
"No, no, Marie, knowing four languages is enough! Plus, your kind words and beautiful handwriting can touch people's hearts, transcending language barriers!"
"Marie has unique strengths. You're a good listener, and being naturally loved is an important social skill. There's no lack or dissatisfaction, and if there's any inconvenience, I'll help you, so there's no problem."
"You're humble and persistent, and most importantly, you enjoy it, so you'll keep learning and growing! I'm