BVS CH 21

CHAPTER 21

I barely listened to Mary’s answer and headed straight for Martin’s study.

It wasn’t my first time going in there, but for some reason, I felt nervous—my hand on the doorknob was even sweating.

Martin’s study wasn’t flashy, but it was filled with rare-looking ornaments.

That’s unexpected.

It looked like he’d bought one here and there, almost like souvenirs, whenever he went on trips.

But I didn’t have time to admire them. I only had two hours.

“Ugh… where should I even start?”

A sigh escaped me.

I wished someone could help me—and right then, as if reading my mind, someone knocked.

“My lady. It’s Babel.”

Babel? What was he here for?

Maybe Martin forgot something?

“What is it?”

“I thought I’d see if there’s anything I could help you with.”

I tilted my head. Babel was Martin’s man.

So hearing him say he came to help me sounded strange.

But searching through all these books alone would take forever, so…

“Alright, come in.”

Without being told, Babel started pulling every book he could find about the royal family from the shelves.

He even climbed a ladder to reach the higher ones.

While flipping through a book, I asked,

“Babel, I have a question. How honest can you be with me?”

“I’ll answer anything I know.”

I liked that answer.

I closed the book with a thud and turned toward him.

“Okay. Why did you really come here today?”

“To help you, my lady.”

“That’s not the Babel I know.”

Seriously—it wasn’t.

Even when we prepared for Erica’s birthday party, he’d hesitated forever before agreeing to help.

So for him to suddenly volunteer without me asking?

A spy?

The suspicion was turning into certainty.

“This doesn’t make sense, Babel.”

“…Well…”

“Tell me the truth. Did my husband order you to be here?”

Babel flinched like I’d hit the mark, climbing down the ladder awkwardly.

Finally, he lowered his head.

“…Yes, I’ll tell you honestly.”

I knew it. Martin probably told him to keep an eye on me again.

“The duke told me to help you.”

“Let’s be real—what you mean is he told you to watch me, right?”

“N-no, it’s the truth.”

“Babel, you’ve gotten better at lying since the last time I saw you.”

His eyebrows scrunched downward as if to plead his innocence.

“I swear I’m telling the truth, my lady.”

“Really? Then can you answer this?”

“What is it…?”

“My husband said there’s someone in the royal family he doesn’t get along with. You know who it is, right?”

Babel hesitated, probably weighing if he should say it.

But his desire to prove he wasn’t lying won out.

Adjusting his glasses, he said sharply,

“If my guess is right, it’s Sir Stuart.”

“Sir Stuart?”

Arnold Stuart—the captain of the knights, and in the original story, the male lead Oscar’s closest aide.

So Martin didn’t like him even before the rebellion in the novel?

“Then you must know the reason.”

“I believe so… though I’m not sure I should say.”

Even though he’d already started, he hesitated again.

Still, since he’d brought it up, he couldn’t back out and kept warning me.

He even pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

“I’m only telling you because you’re his wife. If the duke finds out I told you, I’m dead.”

He looked so pitiful clutching the handkerchief that I felt a little bad.

“Alright, go on.”

“One more thing—please don’t be disappointed in the duke after hearing this.”

Disappointed? About what?

Why would I be disappointed in Martin?

It wasn’t like I expected much from him anyway.

I smiled calmly to reassure him.

Could it be… a first love or something like that?

Then Babel finally said it—

“He lost to Sir Stuart in a sparring match.”

“…?”

What did I just hear?

“Are you disappointed? I shouldn’t have told you…”

So… Martin and the captain didn’t get along because Martin lost to him in a sword fight?

“Wait, Babel?”

“Yes, my lady?”

“Are you saying my husband dislikes Sir Stuart just because he lost to him once?”

“Yes, exactly. You understand perfectly.”

Babel tucked his handkerchief back into his pocket, looking completely certain.

And I remembered—my husband was Martin Cloud.

Honestly… that does sound like him.

He was ridiculously competitive, even about little things.

That’s probably why he acted weird at Baron Gilbert’s exhibition.

Still… to hold a grudge just for losing once?

I shook my head.

Note to self—never provoke his competitive streak.

I dropped the conversation and went back to searching for information about King Leonard.

While Babel rummaged through dusty shelves, I went to Martin’s desk.

So this is where he works every day?

He spent more time here than in his bedroom—sometimes even sleeping on the sofa.

Without thinking, I opened a drawer.

Inside was Gemma’s ledger—the one Martin had shown me before—and another white document I didn’t recognize.

I was about to check it when—

“ Sister-in-law!”

Erica burst through the door.

I thought she was still sulking at me.

“What are you doing here?”

I quickly put the document back.

It was Martin’s drawer, so it probably had nothing to do with King Leonard anyway.

I smiled at Erica—but it didn’t last long.

“I just taught someone a lesson.”

A lesson? To who?

“What do you mean?”

“You were upset too, weren’t you? You just didn’t show it because you’re the duchess.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Don’t worry. I sent it anonymously. That guy will never guess it’s from me.”

…So my cheeky sister-in-law thought I was upset too about Aaron ignoring us.

Even though I had a mountain of work, I couldn’t just let this go.

Sensing my dilemma, Babel smiled warmly.

“I’ll keep searching through here.”

“Sorry to trouble you.”

“Not at all. This is my job. Please, go ahead.”

I needed to know what trouble Erica had caused, so I decided to question her somewhere more private.

“Thanks, Babel. Let’s go to your room, Lady Erica.”

We left the study, and Erica strutted into her room as if expecting praise.

As soon as she entered, she jumped onto the bed like an excited child.

“Is it that fun?”

“Of course! Now all that’s left is to wait for the reply.”

“What exactly happened?”

I tried to keep my voice calm.

“Just like I said—I wrote an anonymous letter.”

“What did you write?”

“I made it sound like I’m a warm-hearted sponsor. I even changed my writing style. You’ll see, he’ll reply soon.”

She smiled like a villainess.

“When he writes back, I’m going to ‘surprise’ him.”

So she still intended to sponsor him, but… something about this felt off.

Surprise him?

The Cloud family’s stubbornness sure popped up in strange ways.

For a second, she even reminded me of Martin.

“Shh—!”

When I tried to speak, Erica hushed me and went right back to drafting her next letter, not caring that I was there.

Feeling awkward, I backed toward the door—

“Ah!”

I bumped into someone’s chest.

I knew the scent instantly.

Looking up, I saw Martin.

“You startled me.”

“What are you doing?”

“I could ask you the same.”

“I was just passing by my sister’s room.”

“Oh really? I was just leaving hers.”

Martin smirked, amused by my mimicry.

I couldn’t help smiling too.

“Find what you were looking for?” he asked pleasantly.

“No.”

“Should you really be out here like this?”

He rubbed his chin and glanced at me narrowly.

What was that look?

I suddenly remembered—Babel was still in the study searching for books alone.

Oh no.

And I realized something else—

This was no time to be standing here smiling with my husband.