~Chapter 13~
“Wait a moment, come to think of it—wasn’t your wedding to that man scheduled for about three weeks from now? Has the engagement not been broken off yet?”
“The Duke said he’d wait to proceed until the Mercenary King officially entered the Valencia family. I suppose he wanted everything to happen at once, but now it should be resolved soon. You’re going to join them, aren’t you?”
“……”
“…Or are you not?”
Was there some unresolved hesitation?
Rachel quietly looked up at him. The man who had met her gaze looked away.
“I will join. I hesitated, but in the end, it’s most important that I finish this with my own hands.”
His expression seemed tinged with bitterness, or was she imagining it?
Either way, it wasn’t something for Rachel to worry about.
Since he’d made his decision, that was enough. Setting down her teacup, Rachel rose from her seat. His eyes followed her with curiosity.
“My lady?”
“I think I’ll be going now. If you have any more questions, please send me a letter. I’ll answer.”
He stood as well after a brief silence.
“I’ll see you to your carriage.”
“…Thank you.”
Rachel hesitated for a moment before placing her fingers in his outstretched hand.
Perhaps because Paris had once escorted her as well.
It felt a bit awkward, but not so much that it made her uncomfortable. It was simply unfamiliar—his hand was rough in a way no knight’s was.
Click—
The door opened, and Becky, the knights, and the mercenaries all turned their eyes to them.
“You’re back, my lady!”
“Yes, let’s go home.”
Walking side by side with him, Rachel made her way to the carriage waiting at the entrance. As he helped her into the carriage, he hesitated.
“Will I be able to see you again?”
“…!”
For a moment, all eyes around them fell silent, then drifted away. Rachel’s eyes widened in surprise, but she soon gave him a picturesque smile.
“Didn’t I say I wanted to keep my distance from Valencia? Now that you’re part of Valencia, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your distance too. Please.”
“……!”
She let go of his hand and stepped into the carriage. Becky quickly joined her, and Sir Hoffman closed the door.
“We’re departing.”
“Yes.”
She could feel someone’s gaze on her, but Rachel didn’t look toward the window.
The carriage started off. Rachel let the polite smile slip from her lips. It was a strange feeling.
To be asked such a thing by a man who, in another life, had once been her enemy’s husband.
“To think he’d ask, ‘Will I see you again?’…”
She had never imagined it.
But drawing a firm line with him today had been unexpectedly satisfying. Who knew if he’d become the Duke of Valencia quickly this time?
“Still, if he has any conscience, he’ll respect my wishes.”
“……”
Becky, watching her quietly, finally spoke.
“My lady, since we’re already out, would you like to dine out before going home?”
“…Shall we?”
Who knew when she’d be able to go out again, once she returned home?
Rachel nodded happily.
Meanwhile, the Mercenary King, Nathan, was still standing before the now-closed gate. The Ingrave carriage was long gone.
Behind him, the mercenaries were deep in silent speculation.
‘What just happened?’
‘Did our captain just get rejected?’
‘Rejected? No way! She’s the one who uncovered the truth, isn’t she? Maybe he was just trying to be friendly, but she—’
“Enough.”
“……!”
With that one word, all muttering and shifting eyes fell silent. Nathan ran a hand over his face and turned away.
One way or another, this had cleared his head.
He didn’t know why he’d said such a thing.
“I’ve confirmed there’s no ulterior motive on her part. We leave for Valencia immediately.”
“Yes, sir!”
The mercenaries dispersed to gather their things—clothes, weapons, armor, gold. They’d been packed and ready to move for some time.
Nathan accepted the sword offered by his vice-captain, Vale. He never went without it, but had left it with Vale today as a gesture of reassurance.
…Which, in the end, proved unnecessary. Rachel hadn’t been particularly afraid of him.
‘…Or was it not so unnecessary?’
He’d felt odd tension in his body, and occasional discomfort. Perhaps having his sword would only have made it worse.
She hadn’t seemed to notice.
But someone at his level was always aware of what others couldn’t see.
“She did really smile—just once.”
“Sir?”
“It’s nothing.”
Nathan pressed his cloak over his head and took the reins. One of the officers, Rue, watched him with a strange look.
“What is it?”
“…It’s nothing, sir.”
The mercenaries formed up. By then, Nathan’s face was calm once more.
He set out for the Valencia estate. It was finally time to claim justice from those who had deceived him and his mother.
That evening—
The Duchess of Valencia, her personal knight Wayne, and Paris Valencia were all taken into custody. The Duke filed a full report with the emperor, detailing the Duchess’s crimes and deceptions.
He also demanded massive compensation from the Sabarnio Ducal House—his wife’s family.
The Duke requested the annulment of his marriage to the Sabarnio princess, and announced the existence of his true son, newly registered. The capital was thrown into chaos.
All of this unfolded within about ten days of Rachel’s regression.
Overnight, news of the Duchess of Valencia’s marriage scam and frauds swept the capital, and the Ingrave household was in an uproar.
Less than three weeks remained before Rachel’s wedding to Paris Valencia, and now it was said that Paris was not the true son of the Duke, and the real son had appeared.
By dawn, the Duke of Valencia and the Duke of Sabarnio had been summoned to the imperial palace.
Panicked, the Marquess and Marchioness of Ingrave went straight to Rachel’s room. Still in her nightgown, Rachel emerged half-asleep.
“What’s going on, so early?”
“Rachel!”
Her mother’s face was flushed with agitation from the long wait.
“My goodness! Do you know what’s happening? How can you just be sleeping—?”
Rachel sat on the opposite sofa and spoke flatly:
“That Paris is the son of a slave-born knight?”
“…!”
Ah, perhaps that wasn’t common knowledge yet.
But it didn’t matter. If anything, being this candid would help her take control.
Watching her parents’ eyes go wide, Rachel turned to Becky.
“Becky, could you bring tea?”
“Yes, my lady.”
“You, you—how can you talk about tea at a time like this…!”
“My lady.”
It was the Marquess, who had been silent until now, who interrupted his wife’s scolding.
Light blond hair. Pale blue eyes.
“……”
She hadn’t seen her father in months. Once, he’d been the stiff but clumsy hand that patted her shoulder in his way.
But what she remembered most vividly was their last meeting.
Paris is a cuckoo’s child.
After Paris had run away, a week into her own confinement, Rachel had stared blankly at her parents when they suddenly appeared.
Standing just inside the door, her parents barely seemed to care about their daughter, collapsed on the floor.
You’ll be tried soon. The new Duke of Valencia may execute you himself, or, if you’re lucky, you might get away with exile.
In a cold voice.
Her parents described her future, faces expressionless. Rachel clenched her fists tight.
…You really act like I mean nothing to you at all.
Of course. You’re not part of the Ingrave family anymore. Why would we care what happens to you?
