ILBTD25

Chapter 24

I found myself staring blankly at the row of luxurious dresses hanging neatly on the rack in my room.

“What is all this?” I asked.

“What do you mean, my lady? These are gifts from the Duchess to Lady Lydia.”

“But I’ve already received dresses.”

“Oh my. Don’t you remember? I told you she had sent over all the gowns she purchased this season.”

Catherine beamed as she picked one out—the most extravagant of the seven. A vibrant red dress.

Holding it against my body, she smiled with satisfaction.

“Remember? Last time, there wasn’t enough time to alter more than one. Now all the rest are finished. Come! Let’s start with this one.”

I stepped back uncertainly.

“It’s beautiful, but isn’t it… too red?”

“Exactly! Bright and gorgeous, isn’t it? Do you know how rare the dye is that gives off this brilliant crimson? It will look perfect on you, Lady Lydia.”

Catherine, as always, didn’t really listen to protests.

I gave up resisting and allowed her to dress me in the scarlet gown. After all, I would eventually have to try them all; the order hardly mattered.

When I stood before the mirror, it looked better than I had feared.

“Oh, I knew it! It’s as though the color was chosen to match your eyes. You look stunning.”

“Thank you, Catherine.”

I gave her a shy smile, and she returned it with a pleased expression.

“Lady Elicia will surely be impressed as well. Now, let’s go, my lady.”

I let Catherine lead me toward Lady Elicia’s private drawing room. It was a little farther from the conference chamber where Castian remained, but as long as he didn’t leave the estate, it was fine.

Inside, Marcus had already arrived and was seated.

I tried not to betray my nervousness as I approached Elicia. Clearly, the original Lydia had never been a noblewoman—she didn’t even know how to greet one properly.

Bowing my head, I prayed Elicia would not smirk the way the Emperor once had.

“Thank you for inviting me, Duchess. And for the dresses as well.”

“They suit you.”

“Thank you.”

“Sit. Let’s eat.”

Her face betrayed nothing, but she did not reproach my clumsy manners. That was one hurdle crossed.

Then my eyes fell upon the five forks laid on the table. My head spun.

I sat where she indicated and carefully watched Elicia and Marcus.

So this wandering sage was quite used to such formal meals.

I copied him when he unfolded his napkin. Soon, the food was brought in, and again I imitated the two in handling the cutlery.

I was so tense I could hardly tell if the food was reaching my mouth or my nose. One thing was certain, however—

Even if eaten through the nose, it would still have been delicious.

Elicia spoke first with serene grace.

“As you might have guessed, the reason I’ve called you both is to express the gratitude of the House of Bernstein in Castian’s stead.

And I hear you both have decided to join the second expedition. Thank you for lending your strength.”

While I fumbled for words, Marcus answered smoothly.

“The Duke of Bernstein bears a heavy burden for the Empire. As one who partakes of the divine’s blessing, it is only natural that I contribute. In truth, Lady Lydia has made the harder choice.”

He ended by glancing at me.

Elicia tilted her head slightly.

“A harder choice? What do you mean?”

“As a fellow practitioner of black magic, it could not have been easy for her to stand against them.”

The moment the word black magician fell from Marcus’s lips, I dropped my fork with a sharp clang. Sauce splattered across the plate.

Both Elicia and I froze. Marcus, realizing too late, blanched.

“Ah… so the Duchess was unaware.”

Not just the Duchess! No one knew except the expedition members and you, you tactless priest without an ounce of discretion!

I glared daggers at him, but he looked genuinely flustered.

The real problem, however, was not Marcus.

I had no idea what to do either.

Elicia’s face remained as unreadable as ever.

The servants, however, were far less composed. All eyes fixed on me in shock. One maid even stumbled back in horror.

Then, in a voice calm as ice, Elicia broke the silence.

“I see.”

Dabbing her lips with her napkin, she spoke without a hint of disturbance.

For once, I was grateful for her indifference.

I forced words out of my dry throat.

“Yes. I am a necromancer. I apologize for not disclosing it sooner.”

I kept my head lowered, waiting for her reaction.

Would she drive me out of the room? Out of the mansion altogether? Castian had called me his lover—surely she would worry for her son.

The silence dragged. My mouth parched. Was she about to summon soldiers to drag me away?

Finally, she asked, in a measured tone:

“What sort of magic is necromancy?”

I raised my eyes. Her face was still devoid of emotion, patiently awaiting an answer.

At least she wasn’t glaring with disgust.

“It is a magic that calls upon the departed, borrowing their aid for a time.”

I gave the most favorable description I could.

For a fleeting moment, I saw something unexpected in her expression—curiosity.

“So you can commune with the dead?”

“Yes, Duchess.”

It wasn’t exactly communion so much as a one-sided invocation, but it wasn’t a lie either.

My heart pounded as I waited.

Elicia broke eye contact and addressed a maid behind me.

“Medel. Bring Lady Lydia a new fork.”

It was the same maid who had recoiled earlier. She moved quickly, her hands trembling as she placed a clean fork before me.

I couldn’t help but shrink at her visible fear.

Elicia’s voice, calm as ever, drew my eyes back.

“Eat. The food is getting cold.”

“Ah… yes, Duchess.”

And just like that, the meal continued as though nothing had happened.

Thanks to Elicia’s light conversation, the atmosphere soon lost its weight.

When the dinner ended and I stepped out of the drawing room, I let out a sigh of relief.

Whatever the process, the Duchess had not made an issue of my identity.

My heart had nearly stopped at Marcus’s blunder, but perhaps it was for the best. At least now I no longer needed to live in constant fear of discovery.

As I made my way unsteadily back toward my room, Marcus intercepted me, guilt etched on his face.

“I am sorry. I thought the household already knew.”

“It’s fine. I was planning to tell her soon anyway. Better this way, perhaps.”

“Even so, I made things difficult for you. I truly apologize.”

His remorse was clear. I couldn’t keep blaming him forever, so I accepted it—though his next words stung.

Of course it had been difficult. I had even apologized to Elicia for keeping it hidden.

But what Marcus meant was different: that naturally, I would have been in a difficult position because I was a necromancer.

Did he truly believe that even in a meal where the mother of the man whose life I saved expressed gratitude, I must still be the guilty one?

All because I was a necromancer?

“It’s really fine, Sir Marcus. Being a necromancer isn’t something to boast about, but it’s not as though I’ve done anything wrong. Don’t you think so?”

His clear green eyes wavered. He had never expected to hear such words from me.

Yesterday, I wouldn’t even have managed to say I was hurt. I would have bowed my head, hiding my expression, waiting for his judgment.

But not today.

Castian had told me he liked me because I was a good person.

So today, I lifted my head with confidence.

Marcus’s expression twisted as though he were confessing sins before his god, and he looked away.

“You have done nothing wrong, Lady Lydia. I only…”

His voice faltered. I waited for him to continue.

But at last he shook his head.

“…It is nothing.”

He turned and walked away, leaving only a lonely back.

I had received the answer I wanted, yet my chest still felt hollow.