Chapter 97
Although Rietta had spent her early childhood under the hands of a dark magician, after being rescued by the paladin, she was adopted by good parents and grew up learning noble etiquette.
So, even though they weren’t attending a public event or formal gathering, she couldn’t believe that an unmarried man and woman could be together so late at night. Thoughts swirled in her mind, questioning whether the two had such a close relationship.
Sure, Lea had mentioned that Rea hadn’t been alone with him but had been with other paladins, yet none of it seemed to reach Rietta’s ears.
If they had merely been acquaintances or strangers, she might have just said, “Oh my, what a surprise.” But since it involved Theodore, the object of her affections, and Charlotte, who had tried everything to drive him away, Rietta’s anger wouldn’t dissipate easily.
Before Rietta’s fury could explode again, Lea quickly found out Theodore’s schedule. How she learned it was unclear, but she had researched thoroughly and even began carefully planning how Rietta could encounter Theodore naturally.
“Saintess, Sir Arbelche has no schedule tomorrow morning, and he’s supposed to visit the High Priest during the day. How about you go pray in the afternoon instead of the morning? I’ll keep watch, and as soon as Sir Arbelche leaves the High Priest’s office, I’ll let you know. That’s when you can approach him naturally.”
Lea slowly guided Rietta, who was alternating between anger and distress, to the powder room. It was a shame to waste the effort Rietta had put into dressing beautifully for Theodore, but she could always be even prettier tomorrow. While undoing the ribbon ornament from Rietta’s half-up hairstyle, Lea gently soothed her.
“Sir Arbelche was probably held up with Lady Blanche because she insisted. I’m sure it was awkward for him to refuse—after all, she’s the daughter of his respected teacher.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course! I’m certain he was bored. I guarantee it!”
Rietta blinked her honey-colored eyes prettily while staring at Lea in the mirror.
“Lea.”
“Yes?”
“Sorry for getting angry earlier. I was so upset I didn’t realize my voice got louder.”
Lea was startled and waved her hands.
“Saintess, apologizing to a mere maid?”
“You’re not just any maid. You’ve been my personal maid ever since I was selected as the Saintess. Next time, even if I get angry, I won’t raise my voice at you.”
“You’re far too kind, Saintess. Sir Arbelche will realize how gentle you are soon enough. Once the proper opportunity comes, he’ll fall for you in an instant!”
As Lea carefully combed Rietta’s golden hair, she showered her with praise bordering on admiration. Seeing Rietta’s mood lighten, she recalled a conversation she had overheard among the priests when finding out Theodore’s schedule.
“By the way, Saintess, I heard something surprising on the way here.”
“Is it about Sir Arbelche?”
“No, it’s about Lady Blanche.”
Lea, who could gauge Rietta’s mood faster than anyone else, bringing up Charlotte first meant it would be good news for Rietta and unpleasant for Charlotte. Rietta furrowed her brows slightly but listened closely to Lea’s whisper.
“Well, at the joint council meeting…”
Rietta, listening intently, turned sharply toward Lea in disbelief.
“What? A child?”
She asked again, as if confirming the truth.
“Is it true she asked permission to adopt a child?”
“Yes! She refused the reward offered by His Majesty and instead requested permission to adopt!”
Having stayed in Nostrie and returned, she must have frozen in the northern winter winds. Otherwise, why would she—neither married nor engaged—attempt to adopt a child not of her blood?
Moreover, Charlotte feared people’s eyes. Rumors, intangible as they were, were a terror she could never shake off. Yet, despite knowing the consequences, she still attempted to adopt?
“Tell me more. Did His Majesty grant permission? How?”
“Technically, she couldn’t formally complete the adoption papers due to the law, but by imperial authority, the mother-daughter relationship was recognized.”
Clever.
Rietta already knew a bit: it was a reward for capturing the Kenis couple in Nostrie and repelling the wolf-like monsters. To refuse that reward and ask for adoption instead—he may not have agreed, but he would at least have heard the request.
How the emperor was persuaded afterward depended entirely on Charlotte’s skill, but she was astoundingly clever. So, it wasn’t shocking that she gained the emperor’s recognition.
“What does the child look like?”
Not just what she looks like—but what kind of child would make Charlotte so desperate to adopt her, even refusing a substantial reward and asking in front of high nobles and the royal family at the joint council?
“I’m not entirely sure, but she’s said to look exactly like Lady Blanche.”
Rietta frowned slightly.
“Is the child a newborn?”
“No, five years old.”
Five years old—and a spitting image of her. Perhaps she had secretly given birth in another region and waited for the right moment to bring the child here?
Though it might seem absurd, such cases occurred more often than one might think. Young ladies sometimes ended up pregnant by another man; usually, responsibility was made to fall on the father, but if the man was undesirable or a commoner, the child was secretly sent elsewhere. Such children were sometimes abandoned, killed, adopted, or later presented as distant relatives through falsified official documents.
Could Charlotte have done something similar? Had she given birth five years ago and raised the child in secret elsewhere, only to bring her back when returning from the north under the pretense of recovery…? While plausible, it seemed unlikely Charlotte would have done this.
Rietta had been observing Charlotte for a long time to drive her away and planned her approach. Charlotte had extremely few personal relationships. The idea that she could have had a child with another man seemed improbable.
Meeting a man required frequent appearances at social gatherings, yet Charlotte strictly avoided them. The likelihood she’d pick up a child resembling her from the north was far higher than having one with another man.
‘But would others think the same?’
Even Rietta herself suspected the child might be hidden, but others would imagine something far more scandalous. A delicate, slightly chilling smile appeared on her lips.
Rietta was always quick to hear the latest from the social world through Lea. Currently, all that was known about Charlotte Blanche was that she had stayed in the north and returned to the capital. That was it. She had been isolating herself, rejecting all invitations, and interest in her was growing daily.
Now that the joint council had ended, news of Charlotte capturing the Kenis couple and defeating the wolf-like monsters in Nostrie would spread quickly.
The news about the child recognized as her daughter would too. Rietta needed to take the initiative. Charlotte would surely try to suppress any rumors about the child due to her achievements in Nostrie. An opportunity to tarnish Charlotte’s image was right in front of her—she couldn’t miss it.
‘The social world’s been quiet lately. It’s about time to stir things up.’
How the Marquis of Blanche would respond was crucial, but that could be spread through someone else; Rietta herself was fine.
“I should write a letter.”
“To whom?”
“To the young lady who’s been slowly returning to society lately.”
Rietta smiled gracefully.
“I’ll have tea with the Baroness of Potry after a long time.”
As soon as Charlotte returned as the Marchioness of Blanche, she went to find Anna.
Anna, coming down from the second floor, wore not her usual dark gray maid uniform but an elegant white indoor outfit made of luxurious silk. It had no embellishments or lace, but subtle embroidery on the sleeves and hem gave it a refined look. Her voluminous curly hair was pinned up with a sky-blue ribbon Charlotte had gifted her.
Having served Charlotte and Aria diligently in Nostrie, Anna continued as Charlotte’s personal maid after returning to the capital.
However, by special order of the Marchioness, she received privileges different from other maids. Her salary was raised, she was given a private room instead of sharing with other maids, and her duties shifted from cleaning and laundry to caring for Aria and keeping Charlotte company—a much more comfortable situation than in Nostrie.
Charlotte handed Aria to Anna and told her how she had been recognized as Aria’s mother at the joint council. Anna was overjoyed.
“Really, Miss?”
“Yes, His Majesty allowed it.”
“Oh my, then I should call her the little lady now!”
Anna happily rubbed her cheek against Aria’s, as if it were her own.
“Little lady, shall we have a bubble bath? We can have delicious scones and tea too.”
“Yes!”
“You’ll join us, Miss?”
“Yes. Go ahead and go first.”
“Yes!”
After sending Anna and Aria off, Charlotte turned to Esh, concerned about what had happened at the palace.
“Duke Valian, are you all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“At the palace, Theodore…”
Though Theodore had acted aggressively, Charlotte stammered as if it were her fault. Esh, in a warm voice, gradually eased her worries.
“I anticipated Sir Arbelche would notice, so I’m fine. Truly remarkable holy power. I thought only you, Marchioness Blanche, or Lord Ronan possessed such power.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried the whole way back.”
“I really am fine. I appreciate your concern. But…”
Esh trailed off, recalling Charlotte’s beautiful smile while looking up at Theodore. The memory made his heart flutter. It lingered in his mind for a while before fading.
“You seem quite close to Sir Arbelche.”
“Yes, we met again after five years, but he’s a dear friend.”
“Even after five years, you still call him by name—truly a valued friend.”
Esh paused, deliberating whether to speak his thoughts. Charlotte tilted her head slightly, and Theodore leaned forward, speaking almost in a whisper.
“Then what am I?”
“Excuse me?”
“Am I also considered your dear friend?”
Charlotte nodded. Esh was indeed a cherished friend. She hadn’t recognized him at first glance, but her childhood memories returned, and the Esh in her memory had always been kind.
Though taken aback by the sudden question, she nodded without hesitation. Esh’s smile deepened.
“Then may I be called by my name, like Sir Arbelche?”
