Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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(34) The Radiant Castle, A New Beginning

Several large carriages lined the front of Hartwood House, and servants bustled about loading belongings. From the ceramic pots arranged in the vegetable garden to the delicate tea set Rowan treasured, everything was carefully wrapped in cloth and carried away. The rumble of carriage wheels grinding against stone added to the sense of urgency.
“No, no! Don’t throw that away!”
Rowan rushed out and snatched something from a servant’s hands. It was a small herb pot she’d been cultivating beside the vegetable garden. Her eyes widened as she cried out.
“I told you I was going to keep growing that!”
But then Alexis appeared from somewhere, speaking with casual composure.
“Take that too.”
“What?! Even the herb pot?”
The bewildered Butler and servants asked in return.
“Of course. If my wife has grown attached to something here, we take it all.”
Instead of the formal vestments of a Holy Knight, Alexis wore his usual neat shirt, sleeves already rolled up to his elbows as he carried boxes alongside the servants. Not like a nobleman’s second son, but like a moving laborer. Like someone who had to leave this place as quickly as possible.
“I’ll take that.”
He swiftly seized the box a servant was about to lift, hoisting it with a flash of muscular forearms. The box contained clothes and accessories that Rowan frequently wore. The servants gasped and bowed in confusion, but Alexis laughed as though it were nothing.
“Hurry as much as you can. We need to finish everything by today.”
Rowan stood in the middle of the courtyard, her mouth agape. The sight before her was truly staggering. The courtyard was filled with packed boxes.
“Wait, just a moment!”
Finally, Rowan waved her hands frantically and shouted.
“Why are you rushing like this? You didn’t say anything about it until yesterday!”
At her cry, Alexis, who had been holding a box, paused.
“And I….”
Rowan’s voice trembled.
“I told you I wasn’t ready to leave with you yet.”
“….”
“You said you understood.”
Alexis’s violet eyes gazed at her with earnest intensity.
“This is what should have been done from the start.”
“What?”
Rowan blinked in confusion.
“There’s no reason for you to stay in the Annex anymore.”
His voice was low but resolute.
“Where you are is where I belong, and now that I have a castle… it’s only right that we go together.”
“But….”
“There’s no need for you to remain in a place that troubles you.”
In that moment, Rowan found herself unable to speak.
“I’ll have the vegetable garden you so carefully tended transplanted as well, so if you wish, you can tend a garden there in the castle too.”
“….”
“We’ll continue living together.”
Her resolve to protest crumbled at his single declaration. In the meantime, the Butler and servants bustled about, ferrying belongings as the carriage was methodically repacked.
“Miss Rowan, we’ll take these to the Castle!”
Lea came rushing over with her sleeves rolled up, her arms laden with Rowan’s possessions.
“Lea, you too…!”
Rowan muttered in frustration. Lea shot back.
“Why not! I’m going to live there with you now anyway!”
The courtyard had descended into chaos, crowded with belongings and people, leaving me bewildered in the midst of it all. The once-tranquil Annex was being completely emptied in a single day—a veritable whirlwind of commotion and bustle.
‘No, this isn’t what I wanted!’
I clutched my head. In that moment, a terrifying thought struck me.
‘Oh, that’s right!’
I lifted my head abruptly.
‘My belongings!’
I rushed toward the Living Room, but Lea suddenly grabbed and pulled me back.
“Miss Rowan.”
“….”
“Don’t worry.”
When I turned around, Lea was grinning.
“I’ve taken good care of everything.”
“Lea….”
I nodded, releasing a sigh of relief.
“You’re truly a wise person.”
“I do try, don’t I?”
Lea laughed brightly and immediately set about loading the carriage. When I glanced over, Alexis was beaming from atop the carriage, effortlessly hoisting a heavy crate and wiping sweat from his brow.
“Starting tonight, we’ll be sleeping in our Castle.”
“….”
“Isn’t that wonderful?”
In that moment, my heart trembled with an indescribable emotion. I suppressed it and approached Alexis with feigned composure.
“But….”
There was something else I wanted to say, yet entirely different words spilled from my lips.
“Why is the Butler acting like that?”
It seemed suspicious that the Butler was excitedly rushing about directing the servants. Alexis chuckled and answered.
“He came to find me secretly last night.”
The situation was this: having learned of the Reception Room’s circumstances, the Butler had fallen into turmoil. Given how matters had unfolded, it was only a matter of time before Alexis would depart with Rowan to his Castle.
‘It’s wonderful that Madam will find happiness, but….’
The Butler had deliberated. Though he had served the Glister Family loyally for many years, his heart was drawn to Rowan. Would she manage that grand Castle and conduct herself properly as the Holy Knight’s wife? No, this wouldn’t do. He resolved that his seasoned experience must be devoted to assisting Madam! Such loyalty had thus been kindled.
***
“If you take me with you, I’m certain I’ll be of great use, Young Master!”
Alexis regarded the Butler quietly. The Butler pleaded with him, beads of cold sweat rolling down his face.
“You’re a servant of House Glister.”
“Truthfully, it would be impossible for my lady to manage the mansion alone! If she were to collapse from exhaustion….”
“Give me a compelling reason why I need you specifically.”
Alexis cut him off mid-sentence.
“I can simply hire a new butler and additional staff. I’m already prepared to do so.”
“That is….”
The Butler mumbled miserably, his expression crumpling.
“In truth, I’ve grown quite fond of coming and going from the East Annex… and once I came to know my lady’s true nature, I genuinely wished to serve her.”
“….”
“And, and….”
Sharp violet eyes swept across the Butler’s face. Unable to contain himself any longer, the Butler suddenly dropped to his knees before Alexis.
“I would rather serve you and my lady than the members of the Glister Earl Family!”
“….”
“I have served you for a long time.”
“….”
“My heart belongs to you and my lady far more than to the people of the Glister Main Residence.”
The Butler spoke.
“I would rather go to the Holy Knight’s castle and work as a porter—it would be a hundred times better for me!”
Listening carefully to his words, Alexis fell into contemplation. Perhaps this wasn’t such a poor choice after all.
Observing how Rowan treated the Butler and how the Butler treated Rowan, it was clear the two shared a certain rapport. Though he found it not entirely to his liking, he wondered if having the Butler nearby might help Rowan feel more at ease in her new surroundings, given how suddenly everything had changed. Such thoughts crossed his mind.
“Very well.”
Having made his decision, Alexis spoke with ready approval.
“I’ll employ you as the butler of my new castle.”
The Butler’s face brightened immediately.
“I shall serve my lady with utmost devotion!”
The Butler exclaimed.
“I will manage the castle so that my lady need not be greatly troubled—please trust in me!”
One corner of Alexis’s mouth lifted. The long-serving butler had suddenly changed his place of employment; the people at the Count’s Residence would certainly have quite the headache over this for some time. There was a certain calculation in his amusement as well.
“Pack your things immediately so you can depart first thing tomorrow morning. And remember this well.”
Alexis said.
“I’m employing you so that Rowan can be comfortable. If my wife experiences even the slightest inconvenience or hardship, I can take immediate action—so keep that firmly in mind.”
“Have no concerns, sir!”
Thus, Alexis and Rowan would depart with both the Butler and Lea in tow. Rowan exhaled softly, surveying the servants rushing about in disarray all around her. Everything had truly shifted in an instant—her entire world overturned as swiftly as popping beans over a flame.
***
The Castle that Alexis had been granted was not far away. Situated in a most intimate location within the Royal Capital itself, it stood like a fortress. As Rowan descended from the carriage, escorted by Alexis, she looked around and her mouth fell open.
The Castle bestowed by the King’s decree was no mere structure.
White stone walls rose skyward as if cleaving the heavens themselves, constructed from silver marble that caught the morning light and transformed into gold, shimmering with such radiance as to seem suffused with divine luminescence.
Towering spires encircled the Castle, stretching endlessly toward the sky, and crystal orbs embedded at the tip of each tower scattered dazzling rainbows by reflecting sunlight during the day, while at night they captured moonlight and sparkled like silver flames.
The Castle gates were forged from massive black steel, and the Temple insignia carved upon them radiated majesty. Each time the gates opened, a deep resonant sound vibrated through and around the Castle, instilling awe in all who witnessed it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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