Chapter 62
The best way to silence a rumor was to reveal who the real subject of it was, but the problem was that now wasn’t the right time to make public her relationship with Ellicia.
“Why not have a baby before marriage?”
“I think cutting off your head before making a baby would be better.”
As if to prove he meant what he said, Tirchen pulled open a desk drawer and took out a dagger.
Even though Kais knew he wouldn’t really slice his neck, he still panicked. He quickly hopped down from the desk he had been perched on.
“Calm down, Your Grace. Killing me won’t solve anything.”
“Kais is going to die?”
At that voice, both men turned their heads toward the door. Roeina was peeking in through the crack of the slightly opened door.
“I was just saying that if you’ve done wrong, you ought to pay the price.”
“Did he do something so wrong that he deserves death?”
Curiosity shining on her face, Roeina walked right up to the desk where Tirchen sat.
“The guilty one isn’t me.”
Kais protested with all the indignation he could muster. But he knew nothing good would come of staying longer.
“I’ll be going then. You can handle it however you like, Your Grace.”
Once Kais left, Roeina approached Tirchen.
“Did you two fight?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look so upset?”
“You don’t need to know, little chick.”
“Stop calling me that!”
Roeina shoved herself across the desk toward him and yelled. Her face was full of irritation at a brother who always treated her like a child.
Finding his little sister endearing, Tirchen reached out and patted her head.
Flattened on the desk and glaring up at him, Roeina’s eyes widened when she noticed the paperweight beside the books.
“Huh? What’s this? Is it broken?”
“It’s an old thing. Old things break.”
“Maybe, but this looks strange.”
Roeina picked up the paperweight.
It was a round stone sphere with one flat surface for sitting on the desk. There was a sharp crack running through the inside, yet the outer surface was intact.
“If it had been dropped or struck, the outside should’ve broken first, right?”
She turned it this way and that, running her finger over the cracked line. The outside was perfectly smooth, not a single jagged edge.
“This really is strange.”
“It’s just old, that’s all.”
Tirchen dismissed it lightly.
He couldn’t even remember who had given it to him or how long he’d had it. It wasn’t a keepsake, just something he had grown used to seeing in its place and using out of habit.
But right now, some old paperweight hardly mattered. The real problem at hand was the ridiculous rumor spreading through society.
The next day, perhaps afraid I’d try to take action myself, my foster father immediately increased my budget. He also replaced my coachman with Briel, which gave me greater freedom to move around.
Since I had handled Ketten’s matter in the front courtyard, where everyone could see, not a single member of the household was unaware of it.
“How amusing. Even the servants and maids who once fawned over the duchess and ignored me now can’t meet my eyes without flinching.”
“You were amazing that day, my lady!”
Lucille’s eyes sparkled as she thrust both thumbs up.
Beside her, Merbel, busy embroidering a handkerchief, nodded with a pleased smile. These days she looked at me with the eyes of a proud mother.
I was enjoying peaceful days, but I couldn’t allow myself to grow complacent.
“It’s time to really get started.”
“What do you mean? Do you need something, my lady?”
“Not right now, Lucille. I’ll write a letter for you to give to Briel. He’ll deliver it to Count Drak’s estate, to Theus, and bring back the reply.”
“Yes, my lady!”
When I moved to the table by the window, Merbel quickly set paper and pen before me.
“The weather’s so fine today. I’ll open the window to let in some fresh air.”
“Go ahead.”
I answered absently, which proved a mistake. A sudden gust of wind blew in, scattering the stationery and envelopes from the table. I reached out, but my hair whipped into my eyes, blocking my view.
“Oh no, what do we do!”
Lucille cried, rushing after the flying papers. But it was only the inside of a room; the papers didn’t go far before floating gently down onto the floor.
Another breeze ruffled Lucille’s hair as she crouched to gather them, revealing the pale line of her neck. Before she could stand, I was already beside her, my eyes fixed on the back of her neck.
A scar, deep and unmistakable.
“When did you get hurt?”
From its state, I could tell it wasn’t recent—it must’ve been a serious wound once.
“It was so long ago I don’t even remember. Mother said she doesn’t know either.”
“She doesn’t?”
“Yes.”
Her innocent face made it impossible to press further. Still, how could a mother not remember the kind of injury that left such a scar on her daughter? Strange. But I let it go.
Perhaps it isn’t my place to interfere in something she herself doesn’t dwell on.
Shaking off the thought, I wrote a brief letter to Theus—simply asking him to let me know when it would be convenient to meet.
There was something I wanted to ask of him.
No amount of scheming alone in my room was getting me anywhere; I needed his help.
Just then, I noticed the half-full plate of cookies on the table. I had told them to prepare plenty, so even after the three of us ate, many remained.
“Lucille, wrap the rest of the cookies in clean paper.”
“Yes, my lady.”
As she looked around for paper, Merbel brought a small box and some sheets.
“If you line the bottom with paper before putting the cookies in, they won’t break.”
“Thank you, Merbel.”
With great care, Lucille packed the cookies.
I handed her the letter as well.
“Give this to Lord Drak, and the cookies to Briel. Active men need sugar in their diet. And don’t forget to bring back the reply.”
“My lady…”
Lucille’s eyes immediately welled up.
So quick to cry at the smallest kindness, and once she started it was enough to wear out anyone nearby. Best to send her off before the flood began.
“Hurry and deliver it.”
“Yes, right away!”
Wiping her eyes, Lucille dashed out with the letter and box.
“Good thing—another tear storm was about to break.”
“Hehe, it’s only because she loves you so much, my lady. She said she’s never been treated kindly before. Always suffered until now.”
I knew full well how grateful she was.
And Merbel—who had stood faithfully by my side even when everyone else deceived and betrayed me. She might not know how much I valued her, which only made her dearer.
I stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Merbel.”
“My lady?”
She hesitated only briefly before embracing me in return, patting my back gently.
“As long as you are comfortable and happy, that is enough for me.”
Her words, so free of any selfishness, filled my chest with warmth. Surely she had always cared for me like a mother.
In this life, I will be happy. I won’t let Merbel’s efforts go to waste. I will repay the love you’ve given me.
As I made that silent vow, I patted her back.
Briel soon returned with Theus’s reply. He had written back promptly, setting an appointment.
But before I could even savor that, a message arrived from the palace. Empress Asta had previously sent word when she heard of my recovery, and now she was calling for me.
“What does she want today?”
Merbel’s eyes brimmed with curiosity as she eyed the sealed envelope in my hand. The wax bore the imperial crest.
“They didn’t say. I’ll have to see.”
Inside was a letter, in the same set of stationery, written in the empress’s own hand. She invited me to tea, saying she would summon me once her state duties allowed.
“A tea invitation. The date coincides with when I was to meet Theus.”
“Then you’ll have to postpone your appointment with Lord Drak.”
Theus was busy with merchant affairs; I couldn’t ask him to reschedule for my sake.
“No. I’ll visit the empress first and drop by to see him afterward. I’ll just need to push the time back a little.”
My heart fluttered slightly at the thought of going to the palace.
Tirchen hadn’t contacted me in days, likely busy with his own work. The palace was vast, and chances of meeting him by accident were slim. But having run into him once before, I couldn’t help but hope again.
As I was leaving for the empress’s, Letisa returned from an outing.
Since the day Gustavo had visited, she’d been avoiding me. Even now, when we crossed paths at the door, she flinched as though guilty. Truly, I hardly cared.
“Going out? I just came back from meeting friends. There’s a group I usually attend, and they nagged me to come since I’d missed a few. Couldn’t refuse.”
“I didn’t ask.”
She had rattled it all off nervously, watching my face. I answered without interest.
Where she went, who she met—it had nothing to do with me. The only thing I wondered, faintly, was whether she knew Gustavo’s eyes had turned to another woman.
“Oh, right! You must be too busy with your own matters to worry about mine.”
Letisa chuckled to herself as though she knew some secret, her odd smile prickling my nerves.
“If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, move aside.”
“Uh… okay.”
She stepped back, but then stopped me again.
“You’re not thinking of rekindling things with Lord Berato, are you?”
She bit her lip nervously, waiting for my answer. But she had completely missed the mark. Her problem wasn’t me—it was probably someone like Dana Essel.
“What does that have to do with you? Are you interested in him?”
“W-what? Of course not! Your betrothal was broken off ages ago. It’s just—at the gathering today, I heard some strange talk about you and the Grand Duke growing close again, so I wanted to ask.”
“Strange talk?”
