Aidyn bowed her head with tears in her eyes.

She looked very sorry, but she was sure it wouldn’t work on Mrs. Grace.

She was famous for being very strict when she was managing housework with Gordon, the head butler.

“Tsk.”

Mrs. Grace, with a short tsk, opened her mouth.

“The price of your brother’s medicine, how much is it?”

“It’s about a gold a month.”

“Oh, it must be hard to cover it with a maid’s salary.”

Aidyn got to doubt her ears, because Mrs. Grace’s voice was as warm as spring.

Aidyn looked up slightly, unable to overcome her curiosity, and examined Mrs. Grace’s expression.

The wrinkled old woman’s face was filled with a feeling of pity.

“Come to think of it, you have a familiar face. I’ve seen you by the Marchioness’ side. How come she doesn’t take care of her servants?”

“…Pardon?”

Mrs. Grace said so as she got up from her seat. Then she approached one of her drawers and pulled something out of it.

“Take it.”

Clank.

The sound of something metal hitting sounds small. The object that fell on the floor was a small silk bag.

More precisely, a silk purse containing gold coins.

A gleaming gold coin came into her view through the loosened entrance.

“……!”

Aidyn looked up in surprise. As Mrs. Grace put on a more generous smile than ever, she stood tall in front of Aidyn.

* * *

Mrs. Grace came to see Nadia just after lunch.

Nadia was surprised and had no choice but to ask at the news of her visit.

“Madam Grace? What brings her here?”

“I’m not sure about that either…….”

“Anyway, tell her to come in. You can’t leave her outside.”

She was, afterall, the elder of Winterfell’s family.

While Nadia was organizing her desk, the visitor’s steps approached her before she even knew it.

“It’s been a long time, Marchioness.”

“……?”

Nadia had to raise her head wondering. Why was she speaking formally all of a sudden?

Noticing what Nadia’s puzzled expression was saying, Mrs. Grace coughed as if she was embarrassed.

“Now that you are officially the wife of Marquis, no matter how much older I am, I have to set a good example.”

“I see….”

Nadia replied to the gesture with a slight smile.

“I can’t thank you enough for respecting me.”

Of course, she had different thoughts in her mind.

‘You must have thought that there was no real benefit in keeping me in check by being rude and hostile. I guess it was because your brain wasn’t working?’

If Mrs. Grace acted rudely in front of people, she would only lose her reputation.

Especially at a time when most of the Winterfell family turned to Nadia’s side.

Mrs. Grace asked, looking over Nadia’s desk.

“It hasn’t been long since lunch, but you must have already been working. What have you been doing?”

“Oh, it’s my personal business. I was writing back to my father’s letter.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that I’m interrupting.”

“It’s not urgent anyway. We don’t have to talk standing up, so please have a seat.”

Nadia said, pointing to a table by the window. The two moved straight away.

The maids brought tea and snacks.

To the shame of their hospitality, Mrs. Grace brought up the subject before she even had a sip of tea.

“I came here today because I have something to apologize for.”

All of a sudden? Nadia’s eyes were round.

“I’ll be honest with you. I didn’t like it from the first time I heard that you were going to be with the House of Winterfell. The relationship between my family and the Duke of Balazit… No, I don’t need to tell you about this, so let’s not talk about anything uncomfortable.”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

“I apologize for being rude at our first meeting. Back then I thought that you were going to be part of the House of Winterfell for another purpose.”

“Then may I ask why you suddenly changed your mind?”

“First of all, it is largely due to the dedication that you have shown for Winterfell. Besides, I listened to other vassals and they said you have supported my nephew day and night.”

She made a slightly awkward expression as she said so.

“That’s why I realized that I was wrong. This old woman made the mistake of misunderstanding your true feelings. Will you accept my apology?”

“Of course!”

Nadia grabbed Mrs. Grace’s hand as she was fiddling with the teacup.

A bright smile spreaded over her puzzled expression.

“I don’t know how happy I am to hear you say this first. If Glenn’s aunt is just like my own. Please continue to be comfortable with me.”

“I should be grateful for your generosity.”

Then there was a friendly conversation.

It was mainly meaningless chatter, such as whether the weather got really warm, whether tea suited Mrs. Grace’s taste, and whether Nadia got used to life in the North.