As Nadia walked through the corridor, lost in thought, Fabian suddenly rushed up to her. There was clear concern on his face. He had noticed the shift in how Glenn had been treating her lately. So he decided to tell her the story of Glenn's parents.
Years ago their carriage had fallen off a cliff in what was said to be an accident. Glenn's mother died on the spot, while his father barely survived, left in a coma ever since. And behind it all, one name had always lingered as the prime suspect. The Duke.
Fabian explained carefully. He knew his master better than anyone. Glenn was not pushing Nadia away out of hatred. He was struggling. Struggling with the idea that he might be falling for the daughter of the man believed to have destroyed his family. It was not about her. It was the situation. He just hoped Nadia would understand that.
And she did. She understood why people would hate her father.
But here was the twist. The Duke had not been the one behind it.
She had learned this in her past life. When she asked her father about it, he had been offended and had denied it outright. According to him, if he were to eliminate someone, he would not choose such a sloppy method. An accident that left a survivor? That was not his style.
Honestly, it checked out. If Glenn's parents had lived, Winterpel would have remained under weaker leadership. But with them gone, Glenn rose to power, and he turned out far more capable than his father ever was. That outcome did not benefit the Duke at all. If anything, it created a stronger enemy.
On top of that, no southern noble would dare act without the Duke's approval. Which left only one possibility. The culprit had come from within Winterpel itself.
Now Nadia started piecing things together. If she wanted to clear this misunderstanding, she would need proof. Simply claiming her father was innocent would convince no one.
Right as she was thinking this through, a letter arrived from the Duke. It was short, almost casual. He asked her to write to him more often.
But the message underneath was obvious. He was telling her to send information about Winterpel. Even if it made her look suspicious, the fact that he had reached out first was risky, especially when she had not sent him a single letter since arriving.
Now she was caught between two problems. Uncover the real mastermind behind the attack, and deal with a father who was quietly tightening his grip.
Either way, Nadia knew one thing for sure. She could not afford to stay still.
The following day, Nadia headed to the training grounds where Glenn was focused on his archery practice. She was determined not to let the distance between them grow any wider.
With a gentle smile she approached him and asked if he could teach her.
But when Glenn suddenly turned and walked away, her heart sank. Had she pushed too far?
Just as doubt started creeping in, her expression lit up. He returned holding a smaller, beginner-friendly bow. So that was what he had been doing.
Glenn positioned himself behind her, guiding her stance. His voice was calm, his movements careful. But how was she supposed to concentrate when he was this close? His face just inches away. Focus was officially gone.
Flustered, Nadia released the arrow and completely messed it up. Glenn told her she needed more practice.
After a brief pause, he apologised again for raising his voice at her before. He avoided her gaze, ears slightly red, quietly thanking her for approaching him first.
And somehow that simple moment made her smile. Sometimes closing the gap really did start with one small step.
That evening, Aideen sneaked into the woods to do some sewing on the side, only to be caught by Jacob, one of Grace's men. Thinking fast, she claimed she was just gathering firewood for Nadia.
Nice try, but not enough. Jacob spotted her sewing tools and quickly pieced it together. She had been taking on extra work, a direct violation of the rules for personal maids. So he dragged her straight to Grace.
Aideen panicked and even tried to bribe him, but Jacob shoved her to the ground and refused.
Puzzled, Grace asked what was happening. Once Jacob explained everything, he suggested dismissing her immediately. Desperate, Aideen begged for mercy, explaining that she needed the money for her sister's treatment.
That was when Grace smiled. The kind of smile that made you uneasy. Instead of punishing her, she handed Aideen a pouch filled with gold coins.
When morning came, Grace visited Nadia in her office and noticed that she was writing a letter to her father. They sat together, and out of nowhere Grace apologised. She claimed she had misjudged Nadia, saying the opinions of the household had changed her mind. She even started crying, asking for forgiveness.
Surprisingly, Nadia accepted right away, still wearing that innocent expression. Just like that, the tension seemed to melt away.
But Grace was not done yet. She suggested that Nadia visit Glenn's father, hinting that his condition might be worsening.
That caught Nadia off guard. When she first arrived she had not even been allowed near his room. Still, she agreed, because refusing now would raise more questions.
Grace left soon after. And the moment the door closed, Nadia's gentle smile disappeared. Of course she knew that woman was not apologising. She was making her move.
Lisa quietly approached Nadia, her voice filled with concern. She asked whether Nadia truly intended to visit Glenn's father.
Nadia answered honestly. Yes. But not just yet. Before that, she needed to uncover the real culprit behind everything.
Lisa warned her to stay cautious around Grace, and Nadia genuinely appreciated the concern.
As they glanced out of the window, they spotted Aideen speaking with Grace in the courtyard. Lisa looked confused. But Nadia simply took a slow sip of her tea.
At least now she had a clearer picture. Someone close to her might already be playing both sides.