Chapter 259
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The compensation plan proposed by the hotel was a refund, a one-night stay voucher for the finest suite, and free access to the lounge bar.
However, since Nina had no intention of ever using this hotel again, she decided to receive everything as monetary compensation instead.
The hotel, having lost a high-ranking client, would surely feel bitter, but what could be done.
It was their fault for failing to screen out even a single swindler.
“…Madam, we have secured enough firewood to last through this winter, so there should be no cause for concern.”
Back home, Nina nodded as she listened to Melanie’s report in the sitting room.
“We’ll go over the detailed report on that later.”
Melanie tilted her head slightly.
It was unusual for Nina, who normally didn’t request rechecks unless something was amiss, to ask for a detailed report.
“Understood.”
Checking firewood reserves ahead of winter was one of the important items.
Melanie quickly accepted it and nodded.
‘I know Melanie is meticulous, but…’
Melanie’s idea of a sufficient amount and Nina’s were bound to differ.
If she followed Melanie’s standard, she might end up hoarding firewood like a miser and rationing it carefully.
‘Ugh, I refuse to be even a little cold.’
Nina had deep-seated trauma related to the cold.
Up until now, her motto had been moderate spending and consumption, but to avoid triggering her trauma, the ducal residence had to be warm and cozy without question this winter.
Late autumn had passed, and early winter was fast approaching.
Perhaps because of that, even with the windows closed, a chill lingered inside the residence.
As Nina wrapped her shoulders in a shawl and warmed herself with hot tea, Marsha entered the room.
“Madam, we’ve redecorated the bedroom. Would you like to take a look?”
At Marsha’s news, Nina rose with a rather complicated feeling weighing her down.
“…Yes, I should take a look.”
With the change of seasons, the bedroom also needed redecorating.
Thicker bedding and curtains, and the carpet replaced with a winter one.
So why did her heart feel so complicated?
“…They did decorate it well.”
Nina smiled awkwardly as she looked around the room.
Because the newly redecorated bedroom was the ‘marital’ bedroom.
The Duke’s, that is, Ash’s bedroom furniture had all been replaced with items meant for a married couple.
“Madam, are you really alright…?”
Marsha, who had supported Nina’s divorce more than anyone, asked worriedly.
“Well, I have to be alright.”
She had already decided, and there was no turning back.
How had it come to sharing a bed.
Was it because of a single remark she’d heard from Ian on the day they checked out of the hotel?
“I’m so happy that you and Uncle spent the night together, Aunt. I feel like I can finally relax now.”
“Ugh…”
Nina groaned, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
She had suspected that Ian worried about being a hindrance between the two of them.
But she hadn’t realized that anxiety ran so deep.
‘…To think he actually locked the door with the latch.’
When she found out that Ash, even after leaving his room, had been unable to enter any room and had wandered the streets until morning, she’d been utterly aghast.
“He said that if we were sleeping separately because of him, then we shouldn’t do that. I explained that there was another reason, but he didn’t seem to believe it.”
Sharing a bed.
This had been entirely her own decision.
She carried a burden in her heart regarding Ian.
If she had not married Ash, Ian would have had no reason to feel such anxiety.
Besides, by now Count Azelot would likely have filed a ‘petition for change of guardianship’.
Soon, a family affairs investigator would visit along with the complaint.
Sleeping in separate rooms could also be seized upon as a flaw.
To have the petition dismissed without issue, they needed to share a room.
In the end, even without Ian’s words, it meant they would have had to merge rooms anyway.
After looking over the new bedroom, Nina turned and headed into the guest room.
Ash was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a thick blanket, reviewing documents.
“Why aren’t you resting. What are you doing?”
“…I was planning to rest after I finish this.”
Ash brushed his bangs, damp with cold sweat, back.
His wrinkled brow, the area around his eyes flushed red with fever.
Because he had wandered the streets all night in light clothing without even a coat, he’d caught a cold.
It was obvious at a glance that his condition was not normal, yet he was still working.
Seeing the man who had once seemed like someone who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed now visibly ill made her heart feel heavy.
