Chapter 32
The marquis walked ahead and guided the way. We naturally followed him into the mansion.
The marquis’s mansion, built with red bricks, was not as large as the duke’s mansion, but it was classical and showed care in every place you looked.
The garden, with plants planted in carefully considered color combinations, was beautiful, and the sound of water from the marble fountain was refreshing. The paintings hanging along the corridor walls, the bright smiles and neat clothing of the maids who greeted us politely — everything was perfect.
While walking to the place where the meal was prepared, everything I passed inside the marquis residence made the contrast with the duke’s mansion stronger in my mind.
It felt like living inside a gray ink painting and suddenly entering a colorful watercolor painting.
Even if the duke’s residence had no lady of the house and was filled with only men, I realized here for the first time that the imperial duke’s mansion — the second son of the emperor — was at a serious level.
The meal prepared for us was excellent from appetizer to dessert. Even the vase and flowers decorating the table made the meal more luxurious.
“I apologize on behalf of my daughter for the unfortunate incident during the last hunting competition.”
During the meal, the marquis naturally brought up that day’s incident and looked at me.
People must have kept whispering that someone tried to frame the duchess.
Of course, he was not apologizing because I was wronged. He was probably worried that the incident might have displeased Ricardo, and today’s meeting was also arranged for that reason.
“On that day, I spent good time with Lady, picking flowers and making flower crowns, but I don’t know where such ridiculous slander suddenly started. It must be cheap instigation from someone who was jealous of the relationship between the duke’s family and our family.”
The marchioness poured tea into my cup herself and supported her husband’s words.
Ricardo, who had been quietly listening to the couple’s effort, slowly put down his glass and said, as if trying to settle the matter here.
“As long as the Guineiro young lady is safe, that is enough. It was not a pleasant matter, so it is better to forget it.”
Ricardo’s words seemed to reassure them, and the dining atmosphere naturally softened afterward. Of course, I could not know what was hidden behind Yelena’s pretty smile.
Since I had achieved my purpose in the hunting competition, I didn’t want to make the problem bigger.
So I silently nodded as if agreeing with Ricardo.
After finishing the meal, Ricardo said he had something to discuss with the marquis and went up to the marquis’s study together.
Yelena had said earlier that she felt unwell and went upstairs first during the meal, so now only the marchioness and I were left.
The marchioness, who looked troubled while searching for a new topic, suddenly smiled warmly as if remembering something.
“I have some high-quality tea leaves that were recently shipped by merchant ship. Would you like to move to the reception room and try some tea and cookies?”
I gently declined her offer.
“Tea is nice, but I’m too full right now. The food was all excellent, so I may have overeaten. I want to walk a little to help digestion. If it’s not inconvenient, could you show me around the mansion?”
My suggestion seemed pleasing to her, and the marchioness’s eyes sparkled as she smiled widely.
“It would be my honor. There is not a single place in this mansion that my hand hasn’t touched.”
“I thought so.”
I flattered her pride and slowly followed as she led the way.
Regardless of the fact that I didn’t particularly like the Guineiro family, I had to admit the marchioness’s refined taste and sense could be seen just by looking around the mansion.
While touring the mansion, she began explaining things I hadn’t even asked about, probably because she was pleased by my sincere admiration.
Among them, one thing caught my attention.
It was an exotic stone placed on a display shelf in the corridor.
From afar it looked like animal horns, or something with creepy blood-like veins, but when seen up close it was a clear red color without impurities, attracting people like a jewel.
Unknowingly, I examined it carefully, and the marchioness whispered beside me.
“Isn’t the color and shape very splendid?”
I looked away from the stone as if enchanted and agreed with her.
“It really is. It must be something precious brought from the sea.”
“As expected, you know well. When I first saw it, I was shocked. I wondered why such a terrifying thing was given as an imperial gift. I know Her Majesty the Empress is not friendly toward our family, so it felt uncomfortable. But strangely, the more I look at it, the more it charms my heart. It has an elegant and subtle beauty, more than any sparkling jewel.”
The marchioness took out her handkerchief and carefully dusted off a single speck of dust on the bright red coral.
“This was a gift bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress?”
I asked with a curious face. I thought the empress and the Guineiro family were not on good terms, so it was unexpected.
“Yes. When the war ends, many tributes enter the imperial palace. Usually, ministers are given titles, land, or money according to their military achievements. Jewelry and decorations like this are distributed by the empress to the wives of nobles.”
Somehow there were things that stood out in this mansion that didn’t fit.
If they were spoils taken from foreign countries during war, it was understandable.
‘But why?’
Even while understanding the situation, a big question mark formed in my mind.
In this novel, the one called the war hero was Ricardo no matter how I thought about it, and he was the one who delivered the most land and spoils to the imperial family.
Then why was there not even a single colorful stone decoration like that in the duke’s mansion?
The empress distributed them to noble ladies as if showing mercy — but the duke’s mansion, which had no mistress, sadly did not receive that mercy.
‘The labor belongs to the bear, but the money goes to the owner. Tsk tsk.’
Thinking about Ricardo fighting on the battlefield risking his life but not gaining practical benefits made my chest feel sour.
Not knowing my thoughts, the marchioness continued talking and finally let slip her inner feelings.
“The Countess of Tragi showed off the pink diamond necklace and earrings bestowed by the empress everywhere she went. Since the third prince’s fiancée is favored by the empress, all the good things flow into the Tragi family.”
“Is the Tragi count family the in-law family of Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes. It seems the spoils from this war will also be distributed soon, so we should see whether the empress will again openly favor only the Tragi family.”
Her voice was slightly different from before. Cold air seemed to be flowing — she must have had many complaints inside.
Perhaps thinking she had said something unnecessary, she looked at me and smiled awkwardly.
“Still, it is fortunate that I didn’t receive that strange painting. It might still be rotting somewhere in the imperial storage because nobody took it. Who would bother bringing such a bizarre thing home?”
The topic suddenly shifted to a painting, and I became curious.
“A painting?”
“Oh, there was a very ugly painting among the spoils.”
She took her gaze away from the red coral on the shelf and slowly turned to the painting on the wall.
Inside the frame was a picture of a little angel floating on clouds.
“As the saying goes, a painting should be holy and calm the heart when you look at it. But when I saw that painting, I frowned immediately. I can’t understand the taste of the barbarians living beyond the desert. Hohoho.”
She covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed.
A maid walked from the opposite side of the corridor and whispered something into the marchioness’s ear.
“Oh my. What should I do? I think I have to go somewhere. May I leave for a moment?”
“Of course. Please go. I will continue looking around slowly.”
After the marchioness walked away, I looked at the painting again.
The scattered fragments of original memories fitted together in my mind like a puzzle.
When I finally became certain of something, a smile naturally spread across my lips.
“Ugly painting… That must be it.”
Now that I knew the identity of the painting, my heart started pounding excitedly.
I wanted to return to the duke’s mansion quickly and plan the next move.
The holy, cute angel painting and the flashy coral were no longer in my eyes.
If I could get that painting, I would have nothing to envy.
